Congressional Contributors
Posted at 3:13pm on Feb. 8, 2008 The 2008 CPAC Conference: These Kids Are Alright
By Rep. Thaddeus McCotter
While appearing as a panelist at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), I was heartened to see so many young conservatives in attendance.
I was not swept with nostalgic sentiment for my youth as a nascent Reaganite, though those days were filled with excitement and exploits – a few of which can be recounted in polite company. What struck me was the prescience of modern conservatism’s intellectual founder, Russell Kirk. Today, as this generation of young conservatives embarks upon their service to America, I hope they will be inspired and guided by Kirk’s caution to my Generation X conservatives, many of whom did not heed his wisdom:
“…all ideologies work mischief. I am fortified by a letter from an influential and seasoned conservative publicist, who applauds my excoriation of young ideologues fancying themselves to be conservatives, and of young conservatives fondly hoping to convert themselves into ideologues. This latter correspondent agrees with me that ideology is founded merely upon ‘ideas’ – that is, upon abstractions, fancies, for the most part unrelated to personal and social reality; while conservative views are founded upon custom, convention, the long experience of the human species. He finds himself confronted, from time to time, by young people, calling themselves conservative, who have no notion of prudence, temperance, compromise, the traditions of civility, or cultural patrimony.”
Again, he is talking about my Generation X conservatives.
Read on . . .
Posted in Congress | Congressional Contributors — Comments (9) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 12:39pm on Oct. 30, 2007 Internet Tax Ban Must Be Made Permanent
By Congressman Paul Broun
The Christmas catalogues are arriving in the mail. Forget the post-Thanksgiving rush. Holiday shopping has already begun – and begins earlier each year -- thanks to the World Wide Web.
But if the Democratic Congress has its way, consumers could pay up to 17 percent more to shop online if the federal ban on the state and local taxes on Internet sales is allowed to expire on Nov. 1.
For years, Republican leaders have pushed for a permanent ban on taxing sales on the Internet – something I firmly support. Instead, Congress continues to argue about proposals that would continue a short-term ban on state and local governments from levying taxes on web sales.
Posted in Congressional Contributors | Economy — Comments (12) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 10:23am on Sep. 26, 2007 House Rules Committee is "Out of Order"
By Congressman Pete Sessions
“Out of Order” – A sign that deserves to be hung across the doors of the procedurally-bankrupt House Rules Committee.
Originally designed to determine House floor legislative business and to enforce the Rules that protect the integrity of the legislative process, the Democrat-controlled Rules Committee now represents a complete breakdown of debate, decorum, and deliberation for the House of Representatives.
And my Republican colleagues and I on the Rules Committee have had enough.
Today, we are releasing a report that outlines the widening chasm between the new Democrat Majority’s promises to lead the “most honest, ethical and transparent Congress in history” and the reality of the 110th Congress.
Read on . . .
Posted in Congress | Congressional Contributors — Comments (8) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 8:23am on Sep. 18, 2007 Iraq: A Quartet of Critical Inquiries
By Rep. Thaddeus McCotter
As a person’s word is their bond, a nation’s word is its bond. Once broken, “its word is no good.”
In 2002, with the world – and especially our enemy – watching, America gave its solemn vow to the oppressed Iraqi people we would emancipate them from a tyrant to experience their God-given right to liberty. Over four years later, in Iraq our soldiers and civilians continue striving and sacrificing to honor America’s pledge; but, on the home front, the Left is bent upon breaking America’s promise to liberate the Iraqis, in particular, and forsaking America’s dedication to liberty, in general.
Before acquiescing to this execrable outcome, Americans must demand the Left answer this quartet of critical inquiries regarding Iraq:
Read on . . .
Posted in Congress | Congressional Contributors — Comments (10) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:45am on Sep. 14, 2007 Partisanship Should Not Undermine Progress in Iraq
By Congressman Bill Shuster
Last week, the nation’s attention focused squarely on Washington as General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker delivered their much anticipated report on American progress in Iraq. After hearing their testimony and reflecting on my own recent trip to Iraq, I believe General Petraeus’ security plan is working. However, their testimony also reinforced the alarming fact that our progress remains extremely fragile and requires our continued commitment to the Iraqi people.
Violence across Iraq is down. Anbar Province, once a notorious Al-Qaeda stronghold, has become one of the safest places in the country due to the surge. Across Iraq, militants who were once allied with Al-Qaeda are turning against the terrorists and joining the fight along side American forces. We have the initiative and we are on the offensive against Al-Qaeda and their enablers.
I was very encouraged to learn that our progress will enable General Petraeus to immediately begin a draw-down of American forces to pre-surge levels by the middle of next year. Better still, this draw-down would not risk imperiling our achievements.
Read on . . .
Posted in Congress | Congressional Contributors — Comments (17) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:19am on Jun. 11, 2007 Immigration: The New Third Rail
By Rep. Chris Cannon
The consummate republican constitutionalist, James Madison, said, "A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both." What took place in the Senate last week was both. It was a farce in that the "world's greatest deliberative body" ground to a halt with amendments and parliamentary posturing instead of debating substantive measures. The tragedy involved the way this farce was conceived. Backroom dealing, closed door meetings, and self congratulatory press conferences are not the way to make policy.
There are, however, silver linings to this. Elected officials of both parties and of all ideologies got a wake up call that the American people will not blindly follow a political pied piper. More importantly, the Congress and the White House should recognize this as a demand for greater openness to outside ideas and transparency in the process. Never again should anyone underestimate the will of individual Americans to preserve our nation, secure our borders, and do justice under law. In order to achieve legislative success, we must achieve participatory success. Put another way, unless the American people have a seat at the negotiating table, any future legislation is also doomed.
But that seat at the table cannot be claimed only by the extremes. This is an issue that demands reasoned, thoughtful solutions. Not bumper stickers.
Read on . . .
Posted in Congressional Contributors | Immigration — Comments (197) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 7:37pm on Jun. 8, 2007 Lawful interrogation proven to be a key tool in the war on Terrorism
By Rep. Vito Fosella
By Rep. Vito Fossella
When police arrested three alleged terrorists this past weekend on charges that they were plotting to blow up Kennedy Airport in New York City, it was a chilling reminder that our nation is still at war with an evil enemy.
Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to law enforcement for stopping yet another attack before it occurred. In fact, the failure of these terrorists, as well as those who've also tried to murder innocent Americans since September 11th, is due, in large part, to a series of comprehensive security measures that have strengthened our ability to stop the enemy.
Read on.
Posted in Congressional Contributors | Spotlight Blogs | War — Comments (11) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 9:58am on Jun. 6, 2007 American Citizenship: A Privilege, Not a Right
We Must Close Loopholes That Will Allow Felons to Legalize
By Senator John Cornyn
As the Senate debates the compromise immigration bill this week, an important question is before my colleagues: Whether or not Congress should permanently bar from the United States and from receiving any immigration benefits, the following categories of individuals: members of terrorist organizations, violent gang members, sex offenders, repeat drunk drivers, and those convicted of felony identity theft.
The answer to that question would appear to be simple – yes, they should be barred.
It’s for this reason that I hoped to find strong bipartisan support for an amendment with a very simple premise – that we ought not to make citizens out of violent or aggravated felons. My amendment would close several gaping loopholes in the current bill to that effect.
Read on . . .
Posted in Congressional Contributors | Immigration — Comments (25)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 3:05pm on Apr. 25, 2007 Speaker does a disservice to troops by skipping out on Petraeus briefing
By Congressman Roy Blunt
Later this afternoon, members of Congress will gather in a House committee room to receive an update on our progress in Iraq. But the classified briefing won’t be conducted by committee staff, counsel, or outside experts – it’ll be run by two four-star generals who also happen to be the commander of our Multinational Forces in Iraq and the highest-ranking military officer in our country.
Trust me: It’s not every day that sees this level of expertise and operational knowledge assembled in the same room at the same time for the same purpose. And best I can tell, it’s not as if General David Petraeus and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Peter Pace have nothing better to do today.
Read on...
Posted in Congress | Congressional Contributors — Comments (67) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 12:04pm on Apr. 9, 2007 The Party of Firsts
By Congressman Tom Price
The Democrat Party is beginning to define themselves as the party of firsts. They were first to declare Congress as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. They were first to strip the right to a free and secret ballot from American workers. And, today, they are making a name for themselves by being in first place, again, to be the party foisting upon the American people the largest tax increase in American history.
The American people are justifiably frustrated with Washington’s inability to balance its own checkbook. However, both parties are charging forward with their plans to do just that, and there are fundamental differences between Democrats and Republicans on who will ultimately be held responsible for assuming this burden.
Read on . . .
Posted in Congressional Contributors | Democrats — Comments (5)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 7:53am on Apr. 9, 2007 Trading with the Adversary (Part III): Vietnam Be-Trade Again
By Rep. Thaddeus McCotter
This week, let us move on to examine another communist regime rife with economic opportunities for Westerners inured to human misery: the workers’ paradise of communist Vietnam.
Rising from its death bed with a fitful and fitting final gasp, the Congressional Republican majority passed H.R. 6111, a free trade agreement with communist Vietnam; and, on December 20, 2006, Republican President George W. Bush signed the bill into law. It is unknown whether or not Jane Fonda hailed this Republican legislation, though she likely took a guilty pleasure in its enactment. It was, after all, one more American betrayal of the Vietnamese people.
Read on . . .
Posted in Congressional Contributors | Economy — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:30am on Apr. 5, 2007 Mr. President, Veto This Bill
By Congressman John Boehner
Can someone please explain why a quarter-billion dollars for the Milk Income Loss Contract Program belongs in a funding bill for troops under fire in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Democratic leaders are so brazen—or callous?—as to brag about their vote buying on national television. When asked by NBC’s Meet the Press host Tim Russert why his party piled billions in pork projects on such a serious bill, Way & Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) last Sunday said, “Because we needed the votes.”
Please do keep reading . . .
Posted in Congress | Congressional Contributors — Comments (59) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 5:51pm on Apr. 2, 2007 Trading with the Adversary (Part II) "Make Loot not War"
By Rep. Thaddeus McCotter
When last we chatted, I noted how the Republican Party neglected to send me the memo renouncing anti-communism; and how someone neglected to send the communists a memo informing them they were no longer evil. I imagine the latter memo read thus:
Dear Friends (nee “Comrades”),
Since you lack a free press, let us be the first to inform you the West has won the Cold War against the Soviet Union. Sure, we did not directly defeat your tyrannical regime, but the big bear is tamed and so are you.
Thus, it is time for you to be sporting about this:
(1) Abandon your evil ideology;
(2) Free your enslaved peoples; and
(3) Play nice.
To hasten you transition, we have taken the liberty (no offense meant) to attach an article on “The End of History” and a copy of the 1970s’ seminal foreign policy treatise, “I’m O.K., You’re O.K.” If this insufficiently helpful, we will wage a campaign of schlock and awe against your tyrannical regimes which will culminate in a group hug on Oprah or an unwelcome visit from James Earl Carter. (Name your poison!) If still you persist, we will achieve your utter destruction by unleashing upon you a rain of riches unseen in human history.
Humbly Submitted,
The West
Read on . . .
Posted in Congress | Congressional Contributors — Comments (6) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:00am on Mar. 26, 2007 Shouldn't the GOP At Least Be Anti-Communist?
By Rep. Thaddeus McCotter
But, hey! Since the inquisitional tide is high, let’s surf the zeitgeist and add a new GOPique: Maybe I missed the memo, but when did the party of Ronald Reagan stop being anti-communist?
Please do keep reading . . .
Posted in Congressional Contributors | Republicans — Comments (39)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 3:50pm on Mar. 21, 2007 Importing Terrorists
By Rep. Tom Feeney
Any plan to welcome known terrorists to U.S. soil a few short years after 9/11 makes a mockery of the goal of national security. Terrorists are not common criminals, and they must be treated like the dangerous killers that they are. In 2000, Manhattan Metro Correctional Center inmate Mamdouh Mahmud Salim, a high ranking al-Qaeda terrorist awaiting trial for the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, attacked one of his prison guards and stabbed him in the eye with a sharpened comb. As a result of the stabbing, Louis Pepe, the prison guard, is now half-blind, half of his body is paralyzed, and he is unable to speak clearly. Considering that Guantanamo Bay holds the worst of the worst of America's "Most Wanted" terrorists, like the even more hardened and fanatical al-Qaeda members connected to the 9/11 attacks, it is madness to bring them into our country, into our back yard.
Read on . . .
Posted in Congress | Congressional Contributors | Gitmo — Comments (13)/ Email this page » / Read More »
