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Republicans in Congress keep telling us that they have a plan to create jobs and improve the economy; but what have the republicans in the 112th Congress actually been saying and doing the last ten months?
After the freshman class was sworn in, republicans got right to work. Their first order of business: "Repeal the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act" (H.R. 2); a completely symbolic gesture that had absolutely no chance of reaching the President’s desk and offered no solutions for reducing unemployment or strengthening the economy. But that was just the first of many republican sponsored bills that had nothing to do with addressing the real issues that the overwhelming majority of Americans are most concerned about right now: reducing unemployment, creating new jobs, and stimulating the economy. Instead, the republicans have focused their efforts on: repealing the health care law, dismantling the EPA, eliminating regulations that protect the environment and the consumer, protecting the interests of wall street at the expense of main street, and, their perennial favorite, limiting a women's right to an abortion.
The republicans in Congress want us to believe that they have a plan to create jobs and improve the economy but that’s not what they are saying or doing. What republicans really want is for the economy to get worse, unemployment to stay where it is or go higher. In short, they want things to stay bad or get worse because they believe Americans will then blame the President and vote him out in 2012. That’s their real plan.
Republicans want our economy to fail in order to win an election, and they’re willing to take the people of this country down with them. But they are not just sitting around hoping that things will get worse, no, it’s much more sinister than that; through their divisive rhetoric and their unwillingness to compromise, they are actively and aggressively attacking any efforts by the President and the Democrats to solve the economic problems we are faced with. Their “just say no” attitude is not because of ideological differences, it is an organized and calculated effort on their part to achieve their stated goal of limiting President Obama to one term.
What Republicans are saying:
Mitch McConnell:
“the single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term President.”
Michelle Bachmann:
“The all-important must have for 2012 is making Barack Obama a one-term president."
Paul Ryan:
“Help Make Barack Obama a One-Term President”
What Republicans are doing:
Republican sponsored bills to repeal or dismantle the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (PL 111-152):
H.R. 2, Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, Sponsor: Cantor, Eric (VA-7), 1/5/2011, Passed The House
Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, effective as of its enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by such Act. Repeals the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of the Act's enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by the Act's health care provisions.
H.R. 21, Reclaiming Individual Liberty Act, Garrett, Scott (NJ-5), 1/5/2011, Referred to House Committee
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal provisions added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requiring individuals to purchase and maintain minimum essential health care coverage.
H.R. 119, Keep Out The IRS Act 2011, Fleming, John (LA-4), 1/5/2011, Referred to House Committee
Keep Out the IRS Act of 2011 - Prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from filling any position, by transfer or any other appointment taking effect on or after the enactment of this Act, if the duties and responsibilities of such position include the implementation, administration, or enforcement of any provision of, or amendment made by, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
H.R. 127, To deauthorize appropriation of funds to carry out the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Graves, Tom (GA-9), 1/5/2011, Referred to House Committee
Declares that no funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and any amendments made by either such Act.
H.R. 141, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, King, Steve (IA-5), 1/5/2011, Referred to House Committee
Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of their enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by such Acts.
H.R. 145, Revoke Excessive Policies that Encroach on American Liberties (REPEAL) Act, Mack, Connie (FL-14), 1/5/2011, Referred to House Committee
Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of their enactment. Restores or revives provisions amended or repealed by such Act or such health care provisions.
H.R. 154, Defund the Individual Mandate Act, Poe, Ted (TX-2), 1/5/2011, Referred to House Committee
Prohibits any funds appropriated or otherwise made available to any federal department or agency from being used to implement or enforce any federal mandate to purchase health insurance.
H.R. 215, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and title I of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010..., Young, Don (AK), 1/7/2011, Referred to House Committee
Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, except provisions related to the Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009, and the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective in 60 days. Restores or revives provisions amended or repealed by such Act or such health care provisions.
H.R. 299, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010..., Broun, Paul C. (GA-10), 1/18/2011, Referred to House Committee
Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of their enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by such Acts. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the tax deduction for medical expenses without the gross income percentage limitation.
H.R. 334, Prevent IRS Overreach Act of 2011, Forbes, J. Randy (VA-4), 1/19/2011, Referred to House Committee
Prevent IRS Overreach Act of 2011 - Prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from filling any position, by transfer or any other appointment taking effect on or after the enactment of this Act, if the duties and responsibilities of such position include the enforcement of any provision of, or amendment made by, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
H.R. 371, Health Care Choice Act of 2011, Blackburn, Marsha (TN-7), 1/20/2011, Referred to House Committee
To repeal title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered in interstate commerce.
H.R. 429, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010..., Issa, Darrell E. (CA-49), 1/25/2011, Referred to House Committee
Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of the enactment of such Act and provisions. Restores provisions of law amended by such Act and provisions.
H.R. 434, To prevent the Secretary of the Treasury from hiring new employees to enforce the individual health insurance mandate, McMorris Rodgers, Cathy (WA-5), 1/25/2011, Referred to House Committee
To prevent the Secretary of the Treasury from hiring new employees to enforce the individual health insurance mandate.
H.R. 636, Affordable Health Care Expansion Act of 2011, Granger, Kay (TX-12), 2/10/2011, Referred to House Committee
Affordable Health Care Expansion Act of 2011- Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Restores provisions of law amended by such Act or provisions.
H.R. 643, To prevent the Secretary of the Treasury from hiring new employees to enforce the individual health insurance mandate, McMorris Rodgers, Cathy (WA-5), 1/25/2011, Referred to House Committee
Prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from hiring any employee to carry out or enforce the provision of the Internal Revenue Code, as added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, that requires individuals and their dependents to maintain minimum essential health care coverage.
H.R. 1010, To provide for expedited consideration by the Supreme Court of certain actions challenging the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Forbes, J. Randy (VA-4), 3/10/2011, Referred to House Committee
Directs the Supreme Court to expedite the disposition of any action and appeal challenging the constitutionality of any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act if a petition for writ of certiori is filed under Rule 11 of the Rules of the Supreme Court on or before the enactment of this Act.
Republican sponsored bills to weaken or remove environmental and/or consumer protections:
H.R. 87, To repeal the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Bachmann, Michele (MN-6), 1/5/2011, Referred to House Committee
Repeals the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Revives or restores the provisions of law amended by such Act as if it had not been enacted.
H.R. 39, Polar Bear Delisting Act, Young, Don (AK), 1/5/2011, Referred to House Committee
Polar Bear Delisting Act - Provides that the determination by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service of the threatened status of the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the listing of such species as threatened shall have no force or effect.
H.R. 1062, Burdensome Data Collection Relief Act, Hayworth, Nan A.S. (NY-19), 3/14/2011, Placed on the Union Calendar
Amends the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to repeal the requirement that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) amend certain federal regulations regarding executive compensation to require each issuer of securities to disclose in any filing: (1) the median of the annual total compensation of all the issuer's employees, except the chief executive officer; (2) the annual total compensation of the chief executive officer; and (3) the ratio of the first amount to the second.
H.R. 1292, Energy Production Freedom Act, Cueller, Henry (TX-28), 3/31/2011, Referred to House Committee
Energy Production Freedom Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to: (1) exclude from the definition of the term "air pollutant" carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, or sulfur hexafluoride; and (2) declare that nothing in the Act shall be treated as authorizing or requiring the regulation of climate change or global warming.
S. 712, Financial Takeover Repeal Act of 2011, DeMint, Jim (SC), 3/31/2011, Referred to Senate Committee
Financial Takeover Repeal Act of 2011 - Repeals the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and revives or restores those the provisions of law amended by it as if that Act had not been enacted.
S. 746, Repeal Act of 2011, Shelby, Richard C. (AL), 4/6/2011, Referred to Senate Committee
Repeals titles I through XV of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Restores or revives the provisions of law amended or repealed by such titles as if the Act had not been enacted.
H.R. 1405, To prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating coal combustion byproducts as hazardous waste under subtitle C of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, and for other purposes, Latta, Robert E. (OH-5), 4/6/2011, Referred to House Committee
Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to exempt fly ash waste, bottom ash waste, slag waste, and flue gas emission control waste generated primarily from the combustion of coal from regulation as hazardous waste under such Act.
H.R. 1838, To repeal a provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act prohibiting any Federal bailout of swap dealers or participants, Hayworth, Nan A.S. (NY-19), 5/11/2011, Referred to House Committee
Amends the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to repeal the prohibition against federal government assistance to (bailouts of) registered swap dealers, security-based swap dealers, major swap participants, or major security-based swap participants with respect to any swap, security-based swap, or other activity.
H.R. 2250, EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011, Griffith, H. Morgan (VA-9), 6/21/2011, Passed the House
EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 - Provides that the following rules shall have no force or effect and shall be treated as though they had never taken effect: (1) the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Major Sources: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters; (2) the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area Sources: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers; (3) the Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units; and (4) Identification of Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials That are Solid Waste.
Republican sponsored bills that are really about abortion (not health care, or jobs or the economy as some of the titles might suggest):
H.R. 3, No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, Smith, Christopher H. (NJ-4), 1/20/2011, Passed the House
H.R. 358, Protect Life Act, Pitts, Joseph R (PA-16), 1/20/2011, Passed the House
To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to modify special rules relating to coverage of abortion services under such Act
H.R. 364, Common Sense Health Reform Americans Actually Want Act, Latham, Tom (IA-4), 1/20/2011, Referred to House Committee
Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of their enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by such Acts. Prohibits the expenditure of funds authorized or appropriated by federal law or funds in any trust fund to which funds are authorized or appropriated by federal law for any abortion. Prohibits federal funds from being used for any health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion. (Currently, federal funds cannot be used for abortion services and plans receiving federal funds must keep federal funds segregated from any funds for abortion services.) Sets forth certain exceptions, including for rape and a life-endangering physical condition.
H.R. 397, Reform Americans Can Afford Act of 2011, Herger, Wally (CA-2), 1/24/2011, Referred to House Committee
Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of their enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by such Acts. Prohibits funds authorized or appropriated by federal law and funds in any trust fund to which funds are authorized or appropriated by federal law from being expended for any abortion.
S. 877, Protect Life Act, Hatch, Orrin G. (UT), 5/4/2011, Referred to Senate Committee
Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to prohibit federal funds from being to used to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion services. (Currently, federal funds cannot be used for abortion services and plans receiving federal funds must keep federal funds segregated from any funds for abortion services.)
S. 906, No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, Wicker, Roger F. (MS), 5/5/2011, Referred to Senate Committee
Prohibits the expenditure of funds authorized or appropriated by federal law or funds in any trust fund to which funds are authorized or appropriated by federal law (federal funds) for any abortion. Prohibits federal funds from being used for any health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion. (Currently, federal funds cannot be used for abortion services and plans receiving federal funds must keep federal funds segregated from any funds for abortion services.)
Other republican sponsored bills that have nothing to do with creating jobs or improving the economy:
H.R. 185, Permanent Tax Relief Act of 2011, Wilson, Joe, (SC-2), 1/5/2011, Referred to House Committee
Permanent Tax Relief Act of 2011 - Makes provisions of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 that reduce income tax rates on dividend and capital gain income permanent. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce individual income tax rates for calendar years after 2010.
H.R. 189, To repeal the Troubled Asset Relief Program and to prevent future bailouts., Woodall, Rob (GA-7), 1/5/2011, Referred to House Committee
Repeals all but specified provisions (among them the temporary increase to $250,000 in deposit and share insurance coverage) of title I (Troubled Asset Relief Program) (TARP) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. Restores or revives the provisions of law amended or repealed by such title as if it had not been enacted.
H.R. 408, Spending Reduction Act of 2011, Jordan, Jim (OH-4), 1/24/2011, Referred to House Committee
Amoung other things: Repeals ARRAstimulus authority with respect to: (1) assistance for unemployed workers and struggling families, (2) premium assistance for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) benefits, (3) Medicare and Medicaid health information technology, (4) state fiscal relief, (5) broadband communications, and (6) limits on executive compensation. Deauthorizes appropriations to carry out the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA), or any amendments made by them. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require every individual, regardless of income tax liability for the taxable year, to designate a specified overpayment amount to reduce the federal deficit. Amends the CAA of 2011 to prohibit the use of appropriations or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to this Act to carry out any program under, promulgate any regulation pursuant to, or defend against any lawsuit challenging any provision of the PPACA or the HCERA or any amendment made by them.
H.R. 599, Stimulus Repeal Act, Woodall, Rob (GA-7), 2/9/2011, Referred to House Committee
Stimulus Repeal Act - Repeals the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Restores provisions amended or repealed by such Act and rescinds all unobligated balances of the budgetary authority made available in such Act.
H.R. 830, FHA Refinance Program Termination Act, Dold, Robert J. (IL-10), 2/28/2011, Passed the House
FHA Refinance Program Termination Act - Rescinds and permanently cancels all unexpended funding remaining available and allocated for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Refinancing Program of the Making Home Affordable initiative of the Secretary of the Treasury (under which borrowers owing more on their mortgage than the value of their home are provided opportunities to refinance into a FHA loan). Terminates the program.
H.R. 836, Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act, Hensarling, Jeb (TX-5), 2/28/2011, Passed the House
Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act - Rescinds and permanently cancels all unobligated funding remaining available under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act for the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program. Terminates the program.
H.R. 839, HAMP Termination Act of 2011, McHenry, Patrick T. (NC-10), 2/28/2011, Passed the House
Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to terminate the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to provide new mortgage modification assistance under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), except with respect to existing obligations on behalf of homeowners already extended an offer to participate in the program.
H.R. 1036, Job Creation and Innovation Investment Act of 2011, Billbray, Brian P. (CA-50), 3/11/2011, Referred to House Committee
Job Creation and Innovation Investment Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax deduction for dividends received from a controlled foreign corporation, to: (1) eliminate limitations on the amount of such deduction, and (2) allow a 100% deduction for companies that reinvest such dividends in a qualified domestic reinvestment plan. Defines "qualified domestic reinvestment plan" as an approved plan for the reinvestment within three years after payment of such dividends in the United States for research and development expenses, expansion of facilities, proof of content centers, early stage venture capital investment, or manufacturing startup costs.
H.R. 1076, To prohibit Federal funding of National Public Radio and the use of Federal funds to acquire radio content, Lamborn, Doug (CO-5), 3/15/2011, Passed the House
Prohibits federal funding to organizations incorporated for specified purposes related to: (1) broadcasting, transmitting, and programming over noncommercial educational radio broadcast stations, networks, and systems; (2) cooperating with foreign broadcasting systems and networks in international radio programming and broadcasting; (3) assisting and supporting such noncommercial educational radio broadcasting pursuant to the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967; (4) paying dues to such organizations; or (5) acquiring radio programs by or for the use of a radio broadcast station that is a public broadcast station as defined in the Communications Act of 1934.
S. 723, Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011, Vitter, David (LA), 4/5/2011, Referred to Senate Committee
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to consider a person born in the United States "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States for citizenship at birth purposes only if the person is born in the United States of parents, one of whom is: (1) a U.S. citizen or national, (2) a lawful permanent resident alien whose residence is in the United States, or (3) an alien performing active service in the U.S. Armed Forces.
S. 804, Social Security Solvency and Sustainability Act, Graham, Lindsey (SC), 4/13/2011, Referred to Senate Committee
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) to increase the normal retirement age by specified graduated stages to age 70. Raises the early retirement age by specified graduated stages to 64 for an individual who attains age 62 after December 31, 2027. Revises the formula for the maximum age for delayed retirement credit.
