JOHN BOEHNER

Last week House Republicans exposed the fact that the massive spending bill passed by House Democrats for FY 2007 includes hundreds of millions of dollars worth of funding for hidden earmarks, despite Democratic leaders' public pledge that their spending bill would be “earmark-free.” Today the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call provides additional confirmation of the Democrats' hidden earmark scheme, reporting that Members and lobbyists have been quietly calling federal agencies to ensure their hidden projects will be funded by the money in the massive bill.

The back-door earmarking is apparently taking place without opposition from top Democrats, who have yet to publicly comment on the practice, much less condemn it.

“Members — and the lobbyists who push for funding of specific projects — have turned their attention to the executive branch agencies doling out chunks of money that otherwise would have gone for earmarks,” Roll Call reports (Kate Ackley & John Stanton, “Members Earmarking Without Earmarks,” 07 Feb 07). “Members, especially those on the Appropriations and authorizing committees, can wield considerable behind-the-scenes power to make sure their favored projects get funded by executive-branch agencies."

“One appropriations lobbyist, who would not be quoted by name, said Members and staffers alike have been calling agency officials to protect their 2007 earmarks,” Roll Call reports.

“I heard Members and staff already made the calls before they put the money in the omnibus bill,” the lobbyist reportedly told Roll Call. “They would say verbally, ‘If we have this group submit an application — as long as it is complete and accurate and fits within the parameters of the program — you will honor that, right?’”

“Senate aides privately acknowledged that their offices likely would begin contacting agencies to stress their desire that funds earmarked in the appropriations bills passed last year make it to those specific projects,” Roll Call reports.

Among the hidden earmarks funded through the Democrats’ massive spending bill:

• The Tropical Rain Forest in Iowa is Back. The whopping measure keeps the infamous rain forest biosphere project in Iowa on track to receive $44.6 million.

• Department of Energy (DOE) Weapons Projects Total $495 million in Earmarks. The bill allows funding to continue for:

• $149 million for three construction projects nearing completion in FY 2007.
• $80 million for the cancelled Life Extension Program for the W80 warhead.
• $266 million for cancelled earmarks contained in the FY 2006 conference report.

• Department of Energy (DOE) Fossil Energy Research and Development Total $114 million in Earmarks. The measure allows continued funding for:

• $49.7 million in duplicative funding for oil and gas research at DOE even though the program now has a similar mandatory funding stream which began under the 2005 Energy Policy Act.

READ MORE:

• Boehner: House Republicans Will Move to Shut Off Earmarks in Democrat Spending Bill (1/31/07)
• House Democrats’ Giant Spending Bill Includes Hidden Earmarks (1/30/07)
• What's Buried in the Democrat "Cromnibus?” (1/29/07)

A move by Senate Democrats to refuse a vote on a GOP measure stating that Congress will not cut off funding for American troops serving in harm's way has ignited a firestorm of criticism. Even the New York Times took Senate Democrats to task this morning:

The question now is whether House Democrats will allow a vote on a bill by House Republicans aimed at protecting funding for America’s troops who are in a combat zone.

The House Republican bill (HR 511), authored by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX), takes a stand against those who would cut off funding for our troops. Top Democrats have already short-changed American troops by reducing funds for critical war operations in their $463.5 billion spending bill. The package pushed to the House floor last week under-funded stability and reconstruction programs essential to improving the safety of our troops in Iraq by more than $650 million. And in this morning’s issue of Roll Call, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) proposes going further:

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said in an interview yesterday “he hoped the GOP would be permitted to seek a vote” on Republican legislation supporting the President’s new strategy and ensuring the Congress does not cut off or restrict funding for America’s troops who are in a combat zone. Boehner also noted the stakes in the war in Iraq and the consequences of failure:

Members of Congress have a duty to go on record if they support cutting off funding for American troops, and the American people deserve to hear why.

Imagine it is November 2008 and your community leaders decide not to hold elections. Instead of heading into a voting booth like you always have, you’re told to show up at town hall and declare publicly – in front of your neighbors and community leaders – for whom and what you’re voting. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Well hold on to your punch card because House Democrats are proposing something similar for your workplace.

A bill introduced this morning by House Democrats would strip American workers of the right to choose – freely and anonymously – whether to unionize, while leaving them open to harassment, intimidation, and union pressure.

Current law allows for unions to organize through either a federally-supervised private ballot election or a “card check” system – a process whereby union bosses gather “authorization cards” purportedly signed by workers expressing their desire for the union to represent them. The Democrats’ bill does away with federally-supervised private ballot elections altogether, forcing workers into unions without even allowing them the opportunity to express their wishes free from intimidation by co-workers, union organizers, and employers.

An editorial in today’s Grand Rapids Press blasts the proposal, arguing that “[e]very American should have a government-protected right to join a labor union. But there must be an equal opportunity to not join.” The editorial explains:

Ranking Republican on the House Education & Labor Committee, Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), recently pointed out that card check supporters claim private ballot elections aren’t necessary, except for when workers want to break ties with a union. As McKeon said:

It’s clear that this bill is little more than a sop to the Big Labor bosses that helped Democrats take the majority in Congress – special-interest payback aimed at boosting flagging union membership. After all, the easier it is to force workers into unions – and keep them there – the more money will be available for Democratic candidates and causes.

If Democrats are willing to take away a right as fundamental as the private ballot, what else could be in store?

The Wall Street Journal makes a convincing case this morning for balancing the federal budget without raising taxes. Republicans want to balance the budget by promoting pro-growth policies that grow our economy and cutting wasteful spending. The Journal emphasizes the impact a strong economy and pro-growth policies can have on the budget:

The San Francisco Chronicle quoted House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) saying:

The Journal also notes that “with a little spending restraint, Congress could balance the budget in no time.” In addition to opposing tax hikes, Congress must also cut wasteful spending, reduce earmarks, and pass the line-item veto to crack down on worthless pork. In an op-ed for RedState.com, House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) discusses some of the progress made last year on spending restraint as well as the work ahead:

The U.S. economy, spurred by Republican pro-growth policies, is growing at a robust pace while creating millions of new jobs, holding inflation in check, and ratcheting down the deficit. This provides Congress with a unique and important opportunity to balance the federal budget – one we can’t afford to let spendthrifts in Washington squander.

Democrats have a choice: will they work with Republicans to balance the budget by promoting pro-growth policies that grow our economy and cutting wasteful spending? Or will they raise taxes?

READ MORE:

• Democrats Predicting Tax Hikes Necessary to Balance the Budget (2/5/07)
• Republican Pro-Growth Policies Power New Job Creation, Working to Balance the Budget (2/2/07)
• Pro-Growth Republican Policies Help Shrink Budget Deficit (1/29/07)

This morning, President Bush submitted to Congress his plan to balance the federal budget without raising taxes. Before the proposal even landed on Capitol Hill, Democrats were advocating tax increases on working Americans instead of spending restraint or pro-growth policies to strengthen the economy. According to the Washington Post:

This isn’t the first time Democrats have chosen tax hikes at the expense of working Americans: on their very first day in power, Democrats voted to make it easier to raise the family tax burden with their “pay [more taxes] as you go” (PAYGO) scheme. And as part of their “100 hours” agenda, Democrats voted to impose tax hikes on American energy producers, increasing our dependence on foreign sources of energy.

Unfortunately for Democrats, their rhetoric on taxes doesn’t square with the facts. Whereas tax hikes would have a devastating impact on the robust economic growth that is creating the new jobs of tomorrow, Republican pro-growth policies have helped the U.S. economy grow by encouraging investment and keeping more money in the pockets of working Americans. For example:

• The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) confirmed last week that the tax cuts of 2003 helped boost federal revenues by 68 percent, another signal that keeping taxes low, coupled with fiscal restraint and economic growth, is spurring significant progress towards eliminating the federal budget deficit.

• The Wall Street Journal recently reported that “U.S. exports are booming, as growth elsewhere accelerates. Exports rose 10% in the quarter and a very robust 9.2% for the year.”

• The Department of Labor (DOL) announced our economy created an average of 187,000 new jobs each month last year.

The U.S. economy, spurred by Republican pro-growth policies, is growing at a brisk 3.5 percent rate while creating millions of new jobs, holding inflation in check, and ratcheting down the deficit. This provides Congress with a unique and important opportunity to balance the federal budget – one we can’t afford to let spendthrifts in Washington squander. House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said this morning:

Democrats also have a choice: will they work with Republicans to balance the budget by cutting wasteful spending and promoting pro-growth policies that grow our economy? Or will they raise taxes?

READ MORE:

• Republican Pro-Growth Policies Power New Job Creation, Working to Balance the Budget (2/2/07)
• Pro-Growth Republican Policies Help Shrink Budget Deficit (1/29/07)

According to a report released today by the Department of Labor, the U.S. economy created 111,000 new jobs in the month of January. But the good economic news doesn’t stop there – according to the report, the number of jobs created in both November and December 2006 was much higher than originally reported:

A growing U.S. economy means more jobs and higher wages for American workers, and it will bring a balanced federal budget in Washington. Republican pro-growth policies - keeping taxes low, expanding markets for American businesses, and holding the line on government spending – are powering this expansion. According to the Wall Street Journal:

American businesses, farmers, and entrepreneurs are the most productive and competitive in the world – the biggest threats to their growth and success aren’t from other countries, but from right here at home:

Next week will mark the beginning of a critical debate about our country’s budget future, and the impact on our children and grandchildren. Will Democrats join Republicans in working to balance the budget without raising the family tax burden? Republicans are committed to balancing the budget without raising the family tax burden, and doing so by holding the line on spending, reducing earmarks, and passing line-item veto to crack down on worthless pork.

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) announced this morning that House Republicans will move to shut off funding for nearly $500 million in hidden earmarks stuffed into the Democrat “CROMNIBUS” spending bill. Under the Republican proposal, this money would instead be used to support America’s military and enforce anti-drug laws.

Yesterday it was revealed that a number of ongoing earmarks will continue to receive funding in Democrats’ massive $463.5 billion spending measure, despite claims by Democrat leaders to have stripped the bill of earmarks. The Republican Motion to Recommit will help Democrat leaders live up to their promise by shutting off hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for earmarks Democrats saw fit to protect. Specifically, it will support military housing for our men and women in uniform and restore cuts in anti-drug enforcement to address the scourge of methamphetamine abuse and reduce drug-related crime and violence.

Yesterday it was revealed that the Democrats broke their pledge to shut down earmarks in their massive $463.5 billion spending measure. In fact, their bill includes hundreds of millions of dollars for hidden earmarks – earmarks such as the $44.6 million for a Tropical Rain Forest in Iowa, and $266 million in previously cancelled earmarks going to the Department of Energy (DOE).

In today’s Washington Post the new chairman of the Appropriations Committee – the House Democrats’ point-man on spending – acknowledged reality:

“I don’t love this proposal and we probably have made some wrong choices.”

Why was it necessary to keep this $463.5 billion spending measure hidden from public scrutiny until the last possible moment? With hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks that continue to receive funding under the bill, we now have our answer.

READ MORE:

• House Democrats' Giant Spending Bill Includes Hidden Earmarks (1/30/07)
• What's Buried in the Democrat “Cromnibus?” (1/29/07)

Nearly everyone acknowledges that the congressional “resolutions of disapproval” – non-binding criticisms of the President and his new strategy for success in Iraq – are nothing more than political statements. Now more and more Democrats are acknowledging it themselves. Roger Simon described the state of play in a Politico column earlier this week:

It goes on to describe Senator Russ Feingold’s (D-WI) challenging the “timidity” of his own party: “If you are really against this war, [Feingold] is going to tell them, now is the time to show it.” The Wisconsin Democrat plans to introduce legislation cutting off funding for the Iraq war.

Presidential candidate John Edwards also dismisses non-binding resolutions opposing the President’s strategy as “useless,” telling Politico it is “Exactly like a child standing in the corner and stomping his feet.”

House Democratic leaders have promised to consider a similar “useless” resolution of disapproval in the coming weeks. What is the point of these resolutions of disapproval exactly? Consider this exchange from the New York Times last week which describes Democrats’ futile attempt to claim their motivation for pushing resolutions of disapproval is to encourage the Iraqi government to step up and take on more responsibility:

Victory in Iraq is critical to America’s strategic interests. House Republicans have outlined a proposal which is explicitly designed to support our troops and help the President’s new strategy succeed in Iraq. What is missing in this debate is a plan for success in Iraq from the Democrats.

What exactly is the Democrats’ plan for success in Iraq?

Yesterday House Republicans asked what is buried in the Democrats’ massive spending bill that caused them to keep it hidden from public scrutiny until the last possible moment.  Now we know the answer: contrary to Democratic leaders’ claims, the bill contains hidden earmarks that Democrats apparently hoped to ram through the House without debate.

In December, key Democrats pledged to put a moratorium on earmarks for the rest of this year’s budget process, specifically stating:  “There will be no congressional earmarks in the joint funding resolution that we will pass.”

Yet, with no input from rank-and-file Republicans or Democrats, this massive $463.5 billion Democrat measure allows plenty of on-going earmarks funded in previous years to continue to receive funding.  Among those earmarks overlooked by the Democrats:

• The Tropical Rain Forest in Iowa is Back.  The whopping measure keeps the infamous rain forest biosphere project in Iowa on track to receive $44.6 million.

• Department of Energy (DOE) Weapons Projects Total $495 million in Earmarks.  The bill allows funding to continue for:
• $149 million for three construction projects nearing completion in FY 2007.
• $80 million for the cancelled Life Extension Program for the W80 warhead.
• $266 million for cancelled earmarks contained in the FY 2006 conference report.

• Department of Energy (DOE) Fossil Energy Research and Development Total $114 million in Earmarks.  The measure allows continued funding for:
• $49.7 million in duplicative funding for oil and gas research at DOE even though the program now has a similar mandatory funding stream which began under the 2005 Energy Policy Act.

As former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill (D-MA) used to say, “Haste makes waste in the legislative process.”  Indeed, Members of Congress deserve to know exactly how much pork, waste, and imprudent spending is in this bill before it is brought up tomorrow.