President Obama will launch an effort on Thursday to convince America that passing the health reform bill was the right thing to do – despite sustained public opposition. So what response will the Iowa Republican Party have waiting for him? Why do Iowans have a much different impression of Obama than they did two years ago? How will the health care vote impact three Democratic House members in November? We ask Iowa Republican Party Chairman Matthew Strawn.
Dems ‘Dismantling Free Enterprise’
The passage of the Democratic health bill has triggered a huge wave of anger and frustration across the nation. It’s also inspiring many people to jump into the political arena to change course in Washington. Perhaps the congressional challenger aiming the highest is Dana Walsh, who is running against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. What issues have her most fired up? How critical is this midterm election to the future of America? How does she hope to defeat Nancy Pelosi in the heart of San Francisco?
The News
President Obama signs health bill in what he calls a major historical moment, Republicans fight back in Congress and in court and President Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
States Rally Against Obamacare
Christie Herrera of the American Legislative Exchange Council says the passage of the Democratic health bill is triggering a feverish effort in 39 states to pass laws protecting residents from having to comply with the bill’s requirement for all adults to purchase government-approved health insurance. How does this work in conjunction with the efforts of 13 states today to sue the government over the mandate? Is this debate partisan or bipartisan at the state level? Why are many state lawmakers worried about going broke over the new laws in addition to the loss of freedom for their constituents? How strong is the Constitutional ground for these proposed state laws?
Obama’s Israel Problem
Today, President Obama is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in what will likely be an intense meeting over settlements, the peace process and Iranian nuclear ambitions. Why is Obama being so tough on Israel over settlements? Are the new settlements even in disputed territory? Does Obama see Israel as a bigger problem than Hamas? What can Obama really do about the Iranian nuclear threat? And what message is being sent when Obama will not allow any photos or video of his meeting with Netanyahu? We ask retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Bob Maginnis, now a senior strategist with the U.S. Army.
Obamacare Repeal Effort Begins
Iowa Rep. Steve King leads the charge among House Republicans to repeal the health care legislation passed Sunday night without a single Republican vote. How much support is there for repealing a bill that just passed? How much is this effort geared towards repeal and how much is aimed at winning seats in November? And Rep. King says the Stupak compromise on abortion is worthless. How does he know? He’s challenged the legality of an executive order before – and won.
The News
House Democrats pass the Senate health bill and their proposed ‘fixes’, Obama and Pelosi cite historical achievements while GOP blasts flawed process and attack on freedoms, Stupak decision draws fire from pro-life groups, tea party activists accused of racist verbal assaults, GOP leaders seek to have individual mandate declared unconstitutional.
Obamacare Unconstitutional
Texas Rep. Ted Poe was also a judge for many years before coming to Washington. Why does he think the individual mandate fails to meet Constitutional standards? How would his legislation stop the mandate from being enforced? How confident is he that state challenges to the new law will be upheld?
Dems on Obamacare Defensive
On Sunday, many House Democrats cast votes that could come back to haunt them in November. One of those key races is in Florida’s 22nd Congressional district where Democrat Ron Klein is trying to keep his job. We talk with GOP challenger Allen West, who says this bill will badly hurt the many Medicare recipients in the district. He also says instead of punishing insurance companies, this plan will make them richer than ever. So how big will this issue be in the midterm campaign? How did Klein duck the issue inside the district? What will determine who wins in November?
‘We Can Declare Victory’
Even as the Senate prepares for it’s latest role in the health care fight, Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe is also preparing for other major legislative battles. He says the momentum in the debate over so-called ‘climate change’ is now working against President Obama. He calls the cap and trade agenda the ‘greatest single tax increase in the history of America’ and slams senators of both parties for trying to bring back the same bill in new packaging. Inhofe also rips the proposed deal that would close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay while trying more terrorists before military commissions – saying he ‘can’t imagine anything worse’ than closing Gitmo.