The job numbers from December show a drop in the unemployment rate to 9.4 percent and an addition of 113,000 new private sector jobs. But the growth numbers are still less than expected. So what are the keys to unleash job growth? What must Washington stop doing and what policies need to be pursued? How would repealing the health care laws make a big difference? How serious are Republicans about slashing spending? Where do they specifically want to cut? We discuss all of this with Texas Rep. Kevin Brady, vice chairman of the Joint Economic Committee and sponsor of the CUTS Act to reduce government spending.
Are Republicans Breaking Pledges?
As Republicans take over the House of Representatives with promises of transparency and openness, Maryland Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen says the GOP is not practicing what they preach. What new rules does he say show an even greater level of partisanship and behind-closed-doors decision-making? How does this fit into the debate over repealing the new health care laws? How does he respond to Republican explanations for not using numbers besides the ones generated by the Congressional Budget Office? We discuss it all with Rep. Van Hollen.
New Congress, Same Fight
The Capitol Steps welcome in the new Congress and the renewed debate over the new health care laws. As House Republicans get ready to repeal the laws, the Capitol Steps look back to the summer of 2009, when opposition hit a fevered pitch. Our guest is Steps star Elaina Newport.
Three Martini Lunch 1/7/11
Greg Corombos and National Review’s Jim Geraghty celebrate the start of the debate to repeal Obamacare, rip two Republican members of Congressmen for missing their oaths on the House floor and slam Democrats for opposing the recitation of the U.S. Constitution on the second day of the new Congress.
Mr. Webster Comes to Washington
What is it like to be sworn into Congress for the first time? How ready are freshman Republicans to tackle spending, job creation and the repeal of Obamacare? We ask Florida Rep. Dan Webster, who is also a member of the House Rules and Transportation Committees. We ask Webster to discuss the fierce debate over House rules for the new Congress and how the Transportation Committee will try to avoid becoming a haven for pork barrel spending once again.
Let the Spending Cuts Begin
It’s just the second day of the new Congress, but Republicans seem ready to cut spending. But after all the campaign rhetoric, what can we actually expect from the House Appropriations Committee when it comes to spending? Just how much do they hope to slash? Why might these aggressive cuts have a chance of making it through the Senate? What are the keys to job growth in the new Congress? Why is confronting bureaucratic regulators essential to saving and growing jobs? We ask these and other questions to Texas Rep. John Carter, a member of the GOP House leadership and the House Appropriations Committee.
Three Martini Lunch 1/6/11
Greg Corombos and National Review’s Jim Geraghty cheer John Boehner’s performance on his first day as Speaker of the House. They also rip Nancy Pelosi for trying to upstage Boehner in a rather graceless way and make a big deal deal out of the first-ever “Fiscy” awards – given to those supposedly exercising fiscal discipline.
Republicans Ready to Roll
Republicans took control of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, and the GOP is ready to jump into several major debates right away. What will be the strategy in trying to repeal Obamacare? How do Republicans respond to Democratic arguments that the repeal debate is covering old ground and a waste of time? What do Republicans mean by ‘repeal and replace’? Will the GOP go along with raising the debt ceiling? What would they demand in return? And what other legislation can we expect sooner rather than later? We ask Georgia Rep. Tom Price, a new member of the GOP House leadership as Republican Policy Committee Chairman.
Major Cancer Breakthrough?
This week, Massachusetts General Hospital discussed the very early but very successful tests of a new cancer screening system that could detect cancer much earlier than current methods. It could also give doctors much better information in determining treatment and much quicker results in determining the effectiveness of treatment. We discuss the early promise of this technology with Dr. Licia Sequist, a thoracic oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. She was also lead principal investigator for the hospital’s clinical trials of this new cancer screening technology.
Three Martini Lunch 1/5/11
Greg Corombos and National Review’s Jim Geraghty celebrate Republicans taking control of the House and appearing ready to actually make good on their promises. They also slam Nancy Pelosi’s parting shot on health care and discuss President Obama’s plea that Congressional Republicans not engage in partisan politics well before the 2012 elections.