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.
Obama’s so called “Dreamers” now welcome to stay in US
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.
Obamacare: Tax or Penalty?
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.
Who has Waged War on Women?
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.
Tax Hikes = 700,000 Lost Jobs
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.
Three Martini Lunch 8/1/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review cheer the resounding Texas primary win by staunch conservative U.S. Senate nominee Ted Cruz. They also unload on Harry Reid for blindly accusing Mitt Romney of not paying taxes for a decade. And they have some fun with the news that London Mayor Boris Johnson got stuck on a zip line during a promotional stunt on Wednesday.
Hercules Wins Round 1
Earlier this year, the Obama administration announced that employers would now be forced to cover all costs for contraception and even abortion-inducing drugs. After a torrent of protest, the administration made an exception for religious organizations. The outcry against the mandate extends far beyond faith-based groups. Hercules Industries of Denver, Colorado, filed suit against the government in April, contending the mandate conflicted with the deep Christian faith of the owners of the firm. The government fought back, claiming that since Hercules makes HVAC equipment and is not a faith-based organization that is cannot be exempted from the new rules. Therefore, Hercules Industries had to comply with the law or face onerous fines. Hercules sought an injunction in federal court and received one last week. Hercules Vice President Andy Newland tells us how this court fight began, what benefits are already offered to his employees and what the reaction has been to this court fight from his company and across the nation. Matt Bowman of the Alliance Defending Freedom is representing Hercules Industries in court. He says the government mandate on contraception is blatantly unconstitutional and he expects the case to be watched very closely by the Catholic Church and other challengers to the mandate.
Three Martini Lunch 7/31/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are somewhat pleased that the markets may be rallying because investors predict a Romney win in November. They also slam NBC and Twitter for a fierce critic of NBC’s Olympic coverage being banned from the social media site. And they rip the press and a Romney media aide for their dust-up in Poland.
Explaining the Pain at the Pump
Adam Ulbricht of Radio America examines how gas prices are set. There is no simple answer to how the price consumers pay at the pump really works. Instead, prices are set through a process that begins with drilling and ends at gas stations across the country. Taxes, regulations and crude oil prices are all major factors that increase the price you pay. Dan Kish of the Institute for Energy Research, John Felmy of the American Petroleum Institute, Scott Drenkard of the Tax Foundation and Rob Underwood of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America each help explain the complex issue.
Democrats a Criminal Organization?
During an election year, passions run high and accusations get thrown around with regularity. Usually those charges relate to the current candidates or the present-day politics of the party. But former Time magazine associate editor Michael Walsh says the entire history of the Democratic party is one of crime and corruption – from Aaron Burr’s building of Tammany Hall to how Democrats tried to defeat Abraham Lincoln’s re-election bid and from Franklin Roosevelt’s rise to the presidency to the Chicago machine connected to the current administration. Walsh says doing whatever it takes to win led to these political machines that seemed to run big city politics for years. Walsh explains why he believes this trend is worse among Democrats than any other party and why the current administration is not that different from previous generations of Democrats – just more direct about it. Walsh also indicts his former colleagues in the mainstream media for doing little more than carrying water for their preferred candidates and issues.