Archives for February 2012

In his State of the Union address, President Obama publicly embraced an “all of the above” position on expanding our domestic energy supply.  Republicans promoted that same policy just a couple of years.  Clearly, they don’t mean the same thing, so we ask Virginia Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen what the biggest differences are.  Allen discusses the type of job growth, economic gain and federal tax revenue that would be available if his state were permitted to drill for oil and natural gas in the Atlantic Ocean.  He also explains why America’s rampant deficit spending is contributing to the soaring price of oil and gasoline.

Standard Podcast [ 9:39 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As the Republican field advances through the primary season, voters are evaluating the candidates on a number of issues.  However, conservative stances on spending and taxes loom even larger than they did in previous years.  With every candidate posturing as the real fiscal conservative, the National Taxpayers Union combed through the congressional voting records of Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul.  NTU Executive Vice President Peter Sepp explains which one does the best job of talking the talk and walking the walk.  He explains how each of them stack up against fellow Republicans during that same stretch.  He also offers some thoughts on Mitt Romney’s record and review President Obama’s Senate voting record and his policy choices since being elected to the White House.

Standard Podcast [ 7:56 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review applaud Mitt Romney for being on message during his victory speech and conclude that Santorum’s efforts to win Democratic votes with a liberal argument was a flop.  They also aren’t mourning the retirement of moderate Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe but they are unhappy that a safe Republican seat is almost sure to be picked up by Democrats.  And they question the math of a Georgetown student who told lawmakers that contraception costs $3,000 over the course of law school.

Standard Podcast [ 8:59 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

On Wednesday, the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will consider a plan to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).  It’s a creation of the new health care laws that would be tasked with determining which procedures would be covered by Medicare.  Critics say the board of unelected officials would be engaging in nothing less than health care rationing.  Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Pitts is chairman of the subcommittee.  He explains what will happen on Wednesday when the panel takes part in a “mark-up” of the bill and he tells us why he is strongly in favor of repealing IPAB.  Pitts also explains why he rejects Democratic arguments that the board is an important tool in keeping health care costs from spiraling our of control.

Standard Podcast [ 7:21 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are pleased that Republicans have an intelligent energy strategy while Democrats are pushing bad ideas or no ideas at all.  They slam Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney for their pathetic attacks on the eve of the Michigan primary.  And they have fun with the odd combination of Romney and his latest supporter, Kid Rock.

Standard Podcast [ 13:12 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Last week, President Obama said there was no silver bullet to solving the problem of rapidly rising gas prices and he mocked the idea that anyone has a plan to get us back to prices around $2.00 per gallon.  Diana Furchtgott-Roth isn’t promising two dollar gas but she she categorically rejects the idea that there is no way to bring costs down in short order.  Furchtgott-Roth is a former chief economist for the U.S. Department of Labor and is putting forth a six-point plan for bringing oil and gas prices down quickly.  Furchtgott-Roth explains we’re in this mess and why she believes aggressively increasing our supply of domestic energy should be at the top of the agenda.  She discusses specific and general policy goals to achieve it.  She also explains why we ought to wean ourselves off ethanol mandates, why greater flexibility with fuel blends is a must and why forcing oil companies to pay higher taxes is a prescription for disaster.

Standard Podcast [ 11:50 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Experts disagree on how close Iran is to a nuclear weapon, but most agree such weapons and a competent missile delivery system would be a horrific combination.  Assuming diplomatic efforts fail to prevent the Iranians from developing nukes, retired U.S. Navy Captain Randy Duncan says effective missile defense is our best option.  Captain Duncan says President Obama is not doing what’s needed to protect us and our allies and is actually degrading our missile defense capabilities.  Duncan explains what steps are needed to keep us one step ahead of the Iranians and what the future of the program ought to look like.

Standard Podcast [ 8:22 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review like new polling numbers showing President Obama’s approval numbers in decline.  They lecture Chris Christie on making statements about being recruited to join the presidential race.  And they discuss the politics of the Oscars and the waning influence and popularity of Hollywood.

Standard Podcast [ 12:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

President Obama rolled out a new tax reform plan earlier this week.  And while the plan has been kicked off the front page thanks to international turmoil and skyrocketing gas prices, there is still plenty of reaction.  South Carolina Rep. Mick Mulvaney sits on the House Budget Committee and the House Small Business Committee.  He says any cut in the corporate tax rate is welcome but he’s bewildered as to why Obama wants to significantly raise taxes on overseas corporate profits.  Mulvaney says some companies want to bring that money home to invest in the U.S. but won’t because the government will take a huge bite out of it.  Rep. Mulvaney is also no fan of higher taxes on small businesses but he’s pleased the president finally seems to be defining what he means by ‘fair share’ in that small businesses and the wealthiest individuals will be paying around 40 percent to the federal government.  The congressman believes that percentage is far too high and he’s also disturbed by new reports showing that almost 50 percent of Americans pay nothing in federal income taxes.

Standard Podcast [ 9:07 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Ohio Rep. Bill Johnson is mincing no words in expressing his frustration with President Obama and his energy agenda.  Johnson says Obama is pursuing energy policies that frustrate businesses rather than partner with them to grow the economy.  Johnson rips Obama for ignoring our own vast natural resources while pumping billions into failed ‘green energy’ firms like Solyndra.  Johnson is particularly incensed at what he considers a crippling regulatory burden coming from the federal government – regulations that that have already closed multiple coal-fired power plants.  Rep. Johnson also highlights what House Republicans are doing to increase domestic energy and bring soaring fuel costs back under control.

Standard Podcast [ 8:43 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download