The 2009 Pig Book is out courtesy of Citizens Against Government Waste. So what does the book include? Are new earmark rules lowering the amount of pork barrel spending? Do members even follow the new rules? Which members of the House and Senate are the worst offenders? And what are some of the most ridiculous earmarks? We ask Leslie Paige of Citizens Against Government Waste.
We have Tuesday’s top news… What is President Obama saying about the state of the economy? How does he answer critics who blast his huge spending spree? What can we expect with respect to the “Tea Parties” tomorrow? Why are many states looking to free themselves from excessive Washington control? Who does the Department of Homeland Security see as a right-wing extremist? Who is the declared winner of the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota? What happened on Wall Street today? We have the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Tuesday, April 14, 2009.
President Obama says our economy has a long way to go but we can see glimmers of hope. Is he right that we may be seeing the beginning of the end of this recession? How much credit does he deserve if we are in the early stages of a recovery? Is he right in saying spending cuts would harm the economy despite our record deficits? If Obama’s policies won’t help the economy, how will we recover? We ask Curtis Dubay, senior tax policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation.
A new Department of Homeland Security assessment instructs national, state and local authorities to be watchful of threats posed by ‘right wing extremists’. But how is extremist defined? Why does opposition to Obama administration policy constitute a threat to public safety or national security? What is really at work here? And what is the Obama end game? We ask Roger Hedgecock, former mayor of San Diego and host of The Roger Hedgecock Show on Radio America.
On Tuesday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he would support legislation in his state that would limit federal control over the Lone Star State. So what is the state sovereignty movement all about? What does it call for? How many states are doing something similar? What kind of reaction can we expect from Washington if it passes? We ask Jonathan Williams, Director of Tax and Fiscal Policy at the American Legislative Exchange Council.
The scourge of Somali pirates is front and center after the drama involving the Maersk Alabama and the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips. But the huge rise in piracy is believed to be linked to virtual lawlessness in Somalia. What kind of government is in place now? How much power does it really have? Who really calls the shots throughout the country? What is life like for most of the Somali people? What role can the U.S. or other nations play in bringing back stability to Somalia – as well as a decrease in piracy in neighboring waters? We ask Fred Oladeinde, President of the Foundation for Democracy in Africa.
We have Monday’s top news…What is President Obama saying about the successful and dramatic rescue of Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates? What is the Obama plan for dealing with the pirates on a long-term basis? Why is Obama touting the stimulus bill as a model of fiscal discipline and efficiency? What changes is Obama making to the U.S. policy towards Cuba? What plans is General Motors making as the clock ticks down on its chance to secure more taxpayer dollars? What happened on Wall Street today? And what legendary broadcaster passed away on the job today? We answer those questions as we bring you the biggest stories for Monday, April 13, 2009.
On Sunday, Navy SEAL snipers killed three Somali pirates and rescued Captain Richard Phillips, who had been held hostage by the pirates. So how did the Navy pull off something so precise? What tactics were used in this operation? Was this plan a result of those on the scene or people back here in Washington? What is the best approach to the piracy problem off the coast of Somalia? Can we attack their home bases or will that pull us into another chaotic military operation in a country that proved very complicated for us 15 years ago? We ask retired Air Force Gen. Tom McInerney.
On Monday, President Obama relaxed some of the U.S. restrictions aimed against Cuba. Travel to and from Cuba will no longer be restricted and it will also be easier for people in the U.S. to send more money more frequently to their relatives living in Cuba. So is this significant or relatively minor? Is this rewarding a repressive regime? What other issues and policies should Obama visit with respect to Cuba? We ask Philip Peters, Vice President of the Lexington Institute.
On April 15th, “Tea Parties” will be held across the country to protest what organizers see as excessive government spending and taxation. But how much media coverage will these events get? How much do they deserve? Why aren’t the major networks devoting much attention to the parties? We ask Dan Gainor, Vice President of the Media Research Center’s Business and Media Institute.
