On Friday, the latest jobs report showed the unemployment rate is still 9.1 percent and a net 103,000 jobs were created in September. So is this reason for optimism? Not to Georgia Rep. Tom Price. What does he say is the main reason for the job growth exceeding expectations? How to respond to President Obama’s demands for Congress to pass his jobs bill? What is the Republican approach for stimulating job growth? And how does Rep. Price assess the Occupy Wall Street protesters? We discuss it all with Rep. Tom Price, who is also a member of the House GOP leadership.
Three Martini Lunch 10/7/11
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review applaud the Associated Press for its fact-checking feature that proves President Obama lied on many issues in his press conference. They also sigh as the latest jobs report suggests a stagnant economic environment. And they offer their latest thoughts on the foul and increasingly dangerous Wall Street protesters.
Boilers and Bad Loans
Virginia Rep. Morgan Griffith is taking aim at regulations on boiler emissions as part of the House GOP effort to remove what it considers burdensome regulations on American businesses. What do the new rules demand? Why does Griffith want them delayed at least 15 months? And will it be passed in the House? Rep. Griffith also reacts to President Obama’s claim that investing billions of dollars in ‘green energy’ is a good plan but there will be some firms that don’t work – including Solyndra.
The Price of Pesticides
House Republicans are focused on rolling back new government regulations they believe will cost jobs and prevent the creation of new ones. Ohio Rep. Bob Gibbs is sponsoring a bill to postpone new government rules on how farmers, ranchers and anyone else using pesticides must change in order to protect nearby water supplies. What do the regulations demand? What would it cost business owners in time, paperwork, and jobs? Would the rules even result in cleaner water? We ask Gibbs, who also says Democrats who don’t see this as a job creation bill are not talking with any small business owners.
Steve Jobs: An American Story
On Wednesday, Apple Computer Chairman Steve Jobs died at age 56. He is being hailed as one the greatest innovators in American history and in the same league as Thomas Edison. Guy Sorman of the Manhattan Institute’s ‘City Journal’ says the story of Steve Jobs was only possible in America. Why does he believe that? What is unique about the American marketplace and our institutions that allowed Steve Jobs to be such a success? What did he understand about American consumers that other entrepreneurs did not? And why would it be much tougher for Jobs to start his business today? We discuss it all with Guy Sorman.
Three Martini Lunch 10/6/11
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are glad the GOP presidential field is finally set, even though many conservatives are disappointed that Sarah Palin will not be running. They also discuss the incredible accomplishments of the late Apple Chairman Steve Jobs. And they wonder why President Obama is appointing Colombian singer Shakira to a special commission on Hispanic education.
More Heat on Holder Over Gun Scam
Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar is a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is investigating Operation Fast & Furious. That’s the operation that intentionally placed firearms in the hands of Mexican drug cartels. The weapons have been found at numerous murder scenes, including the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent. New documents suggest Attorney General Eric Holder knew far more about the operation than he admitted to Congress in recent testimony. So what does this mean for the investigation? What does it tell us about Holder? How was the operation really about clamping down on gun owners in the U.S.? We discuss it all with Rep. Gosar.
Rolling Back Regulations
House Republicans are targeting more new Obama administration regulations that it sees as unnecessarily burdensome of business owners and stifling job creation. Why is there a new rule on cement plant emissions? What impact would it have? Are emissions that bad? How do Republicans react to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson saying it isn’t her job to worry about the economic impact of new regulations? Will this legislation actually foster new job creation or just prevent the loss of others? And will this bill get any traction in the Senate? We ask Oklahoma Rep. John Sullivan, vice chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
Three Martini Lunch 10/5/11
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Daniel Foster of National Review Online enjoy watching Senate Democrats thwart the president’s jobs bill. They also explain why the Occupy Wall Street protesters are nothing like the Tea Party and they discuss the strategy of fighting childhood hunger with muppets.
Mullen ‘Failed Our Troops’
On Friday, U.S. Navy Admiral Mike Mullen stepped down as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. What were Mullen’s most important moments in prosecuting the war on terror? What was his major contribution? How was his approach to the job much more political than any of his predecessors? Why will he be best remembered for his impact on the culture of the military? Why does retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Bob Maginnis say Mullen failed our troops? Why was his handling of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” burdensome for commanders and troops? And what does Col. Maginnis expect from Mullen’s successor, U.S. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey?