Radio America Online News Bureau

In just the past few weeks, the mayor of Boston has banned sugary sodas from being available at schools, a Chicago school has banned parents from making school lunches for their kids and Washington, DC public schools are planning to ban chocolate milk.  Why are we seeing so many edicts telling kids and everyone else what they can and cannot eat?  Why is the government even leaving parents out of the equation?  Do these tactics really help anyone make better decisions?  What is the result of previous efforts to tell us all what to eat?  And where does this big government intend to go next?  We ask Jeff Stier of the National Center for Public Policy Research.

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For the first time since President Obama took office, America now has an ambassador-at-large on the issue of international religious freedom.  Who or what is responsible for this delay?  What do we know about new ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook?  What should be her highest priorities?  And how serious is the Obama administration about promoting international religious freedom?  We ask Lindsay Vessey, advocacy director at Open Doors USA, one of the leading groups assisting the persecuted Christian church.

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Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review cheer House Republicans for strongly advancing the Ryan budget.  We cringe as the S&P forecasts a negative future for the U.S. economy and we shake their heads as Democrats continue demanding no conditions for an extension of the debt ceiling.

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Over the past several days, Rep. Paul Ryan and President Obama offered very different plans to address our nation’s soaring debt.  Both identified Medicare reform as a major part of cutting costs, but they disagree strongly on tactics.  So what’s the truth about Ryan’s plan to allow seniors into the health coverage marketplace and what difference would Obama’s efforts to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse really have?  Are Republicans trying to sock it to seniors in order to give breaks to the rich?  And will middle-aged Americans embrace the changes Ryan is suggesting or will any talk of major reforms cause them to keep the status quo?  We discuss it all with Louisiana Rep. John Fleming, who served as a physician for many years before coming to Congress.

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The Capitol Steps bring back one of their greatest parodies to mark the depressing occasion of the federal income tax deadline.  Our guest is Steps star and co-founder Elaina Newport.

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In the days leading up to Thursday’s budget resolution, more and more House Republicans were convinced that the compromise widely hailed on Friday was far less than promised.  In the end 59, GOP House members voted against the plan and Democratic votes were needed to put the vote total over the top.  So is this a success or a failure for Speaker John Boehner?  What will he have to do to prove to the Tea Party that there really is no daylight between them as he’s suggested?  We discuss that and the growing 2012 budget battle with John Gizzi of Human Events.

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Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review discuss focus on the dreaded event known as Tax Day 2011.  They explain what they like about it (not much), what they don’t like (plenty) and what they find most bizarre about the tax code.

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On Thursday, the House of Representatives approved a resolution to fund the federal government through September.  But 59 Republicans voted against the plan, making Democratic support necessary for passage.  Louisiana Rep. John Fleming joins Greg to explain why he opposed the bill, how much it really saves and how he approaches the upcoming vote on raising the debt ceiling.

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Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review unload on President Obama for his petulant, dishonest speech on the debt that relies on the same old liberal arguments.  We also cheer Rep. Paul Ryan for describing the speech as an unserious partisan broadside that does nothing to seriously address our debt crisis.  And we tear into the House Republican leadership for agreeing to a budget resolution that looks increasingly lame.

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On Wednesday, President Obama delivered his highly touted speech outlining his plan for reining in deficits over the long term.  He calls for higher taxes on wealthy Americans, cuts in military spending and generally tighter purse strings elsewhere in the budget.  So how are House Republicans reacting to Obama’s plans?  How does the GOP react to Obama suggesting the House GOP budget would reward the rich and punish seniors and students?  What is the GOP plan?  We ask Michigan Rep. Tim Walberg.  We also ask Rep. Walberg where he stands on an increasingly controversial budget resolution to fund the government through September.

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