Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are lukewarm on another Romney candidacy but we like his tactic of going after Obama on jobs. We’re very worried about Pakistan ordering many of our covert personnel out of the country. And we skewer Chicago schools for banning homemade lunches.
Silly Argument Wins in 9th Circuit
On Monday, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Justice Department’s challenge to the new Arizona immigration laws. Iowa Rep. Steve King, one of the leading voices for border security in the Congress, explains where he thinks this case is headed and why he believes the Obama administration has no legal grounds for this lawsuit.
An Historic Opportunity Wasted
Late Friday, House and Senate leaders agreed on a deal to cut spending and keep the government operating. So why was the deal not good enough for Iowa Rep. Steve King? What does he think of the separate vote agreed to on Obamacare? Does he see any chance of defeating the budget deal this week? And how does he react to President Obama demanding a ‘clean’ bill to raise the debt ceiling without any concessions on spending or entitlements? We discuss it all with Rep. King.
Three Martini Lunch 4/11/11
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are generally positive about the new budget deal. They groan as President Obama prepares to make taxing the rich a key part of his deficit-cutting plan. And we make fun of Obama going to the Lincoln Memorial to take credit for the aversion of a government shutdown.
Rubio Rips Dems on Budget Impasse
As the clock ticks closer to a government shutdown, Florida GOP Sen. Marco Rubio tells us why he does not believe Democrats have been serious in trying to reduce spending. If there is a deal, what will it take to win Rubio’s vote? What does he believe are the true motives of Senate Democrats and how does he assess President Obama’s role in this fight? How does he respond to allegations from Democrats that Republicans are denying health care to women because they want to deny funding for Planned Parenthood? What is he hearing from his constituents? And what does he think about Democrats refusing to back a one-week budget resolution that would make sure our troops are paid through the end of the fiscal year? We discuss these questions and more with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
Myths and Benefits of A Shutdown
Both parties on Capitol Hill are publicly demanding the passage of a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown and fund government operations for the next six months. But would a government shutdown really be the calamity that so many people seem to believe? What would be the worst aspects of shutdown? How do previous shutdowns suggest this one might end? And what could some major benefits of a shutdown be? We ask Diana Furchtgott-Roth, former chief economist for the U.S. Department of Labor and former chief of staff for the President’s Council of Economic Advisers. She is now an adjunct scholar with the Manhattan Institute.
Three Martini Lunch 4/8/11
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are thrilled that newly discovered votes seem to make an incumbent Wisconsin Supreme Court justice winner of a highly-charged race. We also rip Congressional Democrats for choosing government shutdown over paying our troops. And we examine some of the impact that would be caused by a shutdown.
Cut! Cut! Cut!
We’re just over 24 hours away from an increasingly likely government shutdown. Will we see an 11th hour deal to keep Uncle Sam fully operational or are we headed to a shutdown? Is it more important for Republicans to keep the government open or to stick to their commitments to reduce the size of government? And will the GOP’s efforts to pass a one-week resolution have any chance of passage? We ask Tennessee Rep. Diane Black, a member of the House Budget Committee.
The GOP’s Fiscal Vision
Earlier this week, House Republicans outlined their ambitious plan to reform Medicare and Medicaid and reduce spending by about six trillion dollars over the next ten years. So how exactly would these plans work? How would block granting Medicaid money to the states be better than what we have now? How would the GOP inject competition and better service into health care options for seniors? And can something this big ever get approved in a Congress that can’t agree on $61 billion in cuts? We discuss it all with
Shutdowns and Senate Races
John Gizzi of Human Events offers updated predictions on whether there will be a government shutdown. He also sizes up the long-term Republican fiscal plan unveiled this week by Rep. Paul Ryan. Gizzi also reacts to former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine entering the open Senate race and likely facing former Sen. George Allen.