Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review see improving odds for the GOP in Missouri as Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill confesses to billing taxpayers for the use of her private plane. We also fret over President Obama’s obvious unease and lack of clarity and energy for the mission in Libya. And we learn how Donald Trump would deal with antagonistic regimes if he were president.
In the second half of our conversation, Texas Rep. Michael Burgess draws upon his experience in Congress and as a doctor to lay out the biggest challenges facing our existing health care system and the most efficient and practical ways to improve the system – from changing medical liability laws to giving young people more incentive to take on the years and financial burden of becoming a physician.
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review debate the wisdom of the current military action in Libya. They also note the grim anniversary of Obamacare being approved in Congress. And they enjoy the head of Amtrak scrambling to get to a ceremony honoring Joe Biden – because his train broke down.
Texas Rep. Michael Burgess is also a longtime physician. One year after passage of the Obama health care bill explains how the plan is quickly being implemented by the Obama administration, why House Republicans have yet to push for defunding the mandatory spending called for in last year’s bill and what we’ve learned about the new laws in the year since approval. We discuss it all with Rep. Burgess, author of “Doctor in the House”.
Earlier this week, Congress approved another short-term budget resolution, but this time GOP leaders watched dozens of their own members vote no and demand sweeping changes on the spending front. Iowa Rep. Steve King says something even more important is at stake – stopping Obamacare. How are the two issues related? What could be done to block funding in these budget debates? We discuss it all with Rep. King.
John Gizzi of Human Events assesses the natural and nuclear calamities in Japan and what the economic impact may be. He also defends the latest short-term budget resolution offered by House Republicans and sizes up the new landscape of the Nevada Senate race.
Over the past week, some of the most outrageous and incoherent public statements have come from actor Charlie Sheen and Libyan madman Muammar Ghaddafi. So the Capitol Steps bring them together in this week’s selection. Our guest is the Steps’ Brian Ash.
Greg Corombos and Jim Geraghty of National Review applaud House Republicans for defunding NPR. We also wonder why the Obama administration waited this long to make a decision on Libya – and then do so with almost no preparation. We also note the closing of Barack Obama Elementary School over budget woes.
In the days following the Japanese earthquake and onset of the nuclear crisis, several Democrats in Congress have advocated a temporary freeze on future construction of nuclear power plants. Is the drama in Japan reason for us to further delay the need for more domestic energy? What are the facts on nuclear energy? Where would Democrats get our energy if oil drilling and now nuclear energy are deemed unsafe? We ask Texas Rep. Michael Burgess, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to defund National Public Radio. The idea is likely to be killed in the Senate or by President Obama, but what should we know about the recent comments that put NPR on the defensive? Are liberals more intellectual than conservatives? Are universities a bastion of liberalism or is that just a right-wing talking point? How does all of this play into what happens at NPR? We ask Dr. Rich Brake, co-chair of the National Civic Literacy Project at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.
