John Gizzi of Human Events analyzes the biggest stories of the week, including Friday’s jobs report showing the national unemployment rate increasing to 8.3 percent. He also weighs in on America’s “secret” support of Syrian rebels, On the political front, Gizzi explains the fallout of the Obama administration suing Ohio over a law granting additional flexibility to military voters. And he offers new predictions on the tight Republican Senate primaries coming up in Missouri and Michigan.
The Capitol Steps caught Olympic fever this week and greatly enjoyed the royal family attending the opening ceremonies. In that spirit, the Steps bring back their parody from the time of Prince Charles’ marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles. Our guest is Steps star and co-founder Elaina Newport.
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are glad the House of Representatives has shed much more light on the Solyndra scandal, even though what we’ve learned is very troubling. They also sigh as the July jobs report shows another lackluster month when it comes to hiring. And they explain why a new poll showing a healthy Obama lead is because the pollsters included far for Democrats than Republicans.
On Wednesday, President Obama traveled to eastern Ohio to campaign in one of the most critical states of the 2012 race. But in the very same region where Obama asked for another four years in office, Rep. Bill Johnson says anti-coal regulations just resulted in scores of layoffs at a coal-fired power plant. Johnson tells us what regulations triggered this downsizing and why he believes we may soon be looking an an 800 percent increase in utility rates. Johnson also recounts his confrontation with Environmental Protection Agency representatives in his district.
Last week, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney evaded a direct answer on which city the U.S. recognizes as the capital of Israel. Connie Lawn of IRN USA Radio News asked Carney whether it was Jerusalem or Tel Aviv and Carney simply replied that the policy had not changed. That led to a back-and-forth involving multiple reporters. Lawn tells us why she asked the question in the first place and what a real answer to the question would have revealed. She also explains why it was a politically sensitive issue and how she will pursue the matter since her question was never answered. She also offers some fascinating insights on the culture of the White House press room.
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review cheer the enthusiasm of Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day and hope it’s a sign of how motivated conservatives to vote in November. They also worry about what Obama’s secret plans in Syria might entail. And they discuss the oddity of Olympic champions being forced to pay taxes on the honorarium they get for winning a medal.
Radio America’s Morgan Wampler speaks with experts from Heritage Foundation, Numbers USA and Federation for American Immigration Reform that will weigh in on Obama’s recent executive order on immigration. Critics discuss the consequences this executive order may yield, while proposing E-Verification as a solution.
Adam Ulbricht of Radio America sheds light on the debate over the taxing provision of the Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court ruled that the provision is constitutional as a tax, but the Obama Administration contends that it is a penalty. The provision is at the heart of the individual mandate that requires every American to purchase health care insurance. Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, Hans Von Spakovsky of the Heritage Foundation and Francesca Lo Basso of Health Care Now! provide insight on the issue.
The 2012 presidential election is quickly approaching, but the women’s vote is still unpredictable. President Obama and Mitt Romney have been battling for the allegiance of American women and phrases like the “war on women” have made headlines around the country. Radio America’s Vanessa Oblinger talked with Young America’s Foundation Vice President Kate Obenshain, Regnery Publishing President Marji Ross, Executive Director of the National Council of Negro Women Dr. Avis Jones Deweever and Chair Woman of the National Council of Women’s Organizations and President of the Women’s Institute of Research and Education about the different aspects and components of the alleged war on women. Obamacare, religious freedom, global women’s rights, family dynamics, equality in the workplace and the equal rights amendment are all different aspects of the war the women covered along with debating who the best presidential candidate is in this year’s race.
President Obama says it’s time for wealthier Americans to pay higher taxes and last week the Democratically-controlled Senate agreed. But on Wednesday, the Republican-led House of Representatives began debate on a tax bill of its own. The GOP is pushing to extend existing tax rates on all income brackets and on capital gains, dividend and estate taxes as well as the Alternative Minimum Tax. Georgia Rep. Tom Price is a member of the House Budget Committee and the House GOP Leadership. he says the Senate bill was unconstitutional because all tax legislation must start in the House. He also says the tax hikes on the wealthy are a bad idea, especially in a struggling economy. Price says the majority of small businesses file in the top individual tax bracket and raising taxes could mean the nationwide loss of more than 700,000 jobs. Price also elaborates on where the fight goes from here, given sharp disagreements between the parties and a massive tax hike for everyone looming in January is a deal cannot be struck.
