The stimulus package is having an impact on the economy – a negative one. Brian Wesbury, former chief economist for the Joint Economic Committee in Congress, explains why he thinks the government intervention has stifled the economy’s natural corrective course. He also discusses the hidden costs of the stimulus plan, which he says vastly outweigh the visible benefits. He also discusses why the second stimulus plan being proposed in Congress is also a bad idea.
More Energy, More Jobs
President Obama is announcing a push for more nuclear power, but is he serious or just trying to look bipartisan? And why would opening up oil and natural gas exploration create far more revenues and more jobs than anything being pushed in Washington right now? We ask Dan Kish of the Institute for Energy Research.
The News
The number two figure in the Afghan Taliban is in U.S. custody but how much intel will we get? President Obama pushes for more nuclear energy and we look inside the Indiana Senate race.
The Indiana Senate Shake-up
On Monday, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh announced he would not seek re-election. Republican hopeful and former GOP Rep. John Hostettler says he is running to make sure government shrinks back to its appropriate size and to ensure the people have a government that listens to them. He also foreshadows a bruising Republican primary against former Sen. Dan Coats.
Interrogating the Taliban
Michigan Rep. Pete Hoekstra praises the capture of the top Taliban commander, but he’s unsure how much good intelligence can be pulled from the prisoner because of the Obama administration’s watering down of usable interrogation tactics. He also slams the administration for sugarcoating the Ft. Hood massacre and for allowing the Christmas Day bomber to be read Miranda rights. Hoekstra also discusses the foundation for his campaign for governor of Michigan.
U.S. Debt Crisis Worse Than Greece
Much attention has been paid in recent weeks to the debt crisis facing Greece, which looks to the rest of Europe for help. But government waste expert and economist Martin Gross says the U.S. is in an even more financially precarious position. Why does he say that? Isn’t the U.S. much more creditworthy than Greece? What are some specific areas that could be cut from the budget and save taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars more than anything President Obama is suggesting?
The News
Harry Reid kills the bipartisan job creation bill, Republicans call for new stimulus spending to be offset and for tax cuts, Rep. Patrick Kennedy will not run for re-election, Bill Clinton is home from the hospital and the government wants warrantless access to your cell phone records.
Tax Holiday = Job Creation
Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert says the real key to job creation is to cut taxes for everyone that pays taxes, saying rebates should only go to those who use their own bait. Gohmert says we need health reform, but not the version pushed by Democrats. He says small business owners do not want Obamacare or the current energy bill, which he dubs “crap and trade”.
Clinton’s Heart Lessons
On Thursday, former President Bill Clinton underwent surgery to have a stent placed inside one of his coronary arteries. What are the warning signs that you may be having cardiac problems – maybe even a full-blown heart attack. How quickly should you act if you start to feel some of these symptoms? And what are the best ways to stay heart-healthy? We ask Peter Moore of Men’s Health magazine.
Government v. Civil Liberties
For years now, courts have been deciding where government power ends and the privacy of citizens begins. Now the government wants access to your cell phone records without getting a warrant. Opponents say this would put a chill in 21st century privacy. Which side is right? What’s the government’s argument? And which side do the courts usually take on these issues? We ask Prof. Robert Pugsley of the Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles.