Good Politics Radio

The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Representative Bill Schuster of Pennsylvania.

In this week’s address, Congressman Bill Shuster, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, discusses the FAA furloughs caused by President Obama’s sequester. Instead of leading, the President played politics and allowed massive flight delays to occur across the nation. It’s time to stop this manufactured crisis and end these unnecessary delays.

The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Representative Jackie Walorski of Indiana.

In this week’s address, Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) discusses the disappointing facts in President Obama’s budget: a tax increase on middle-class families, hundreds of billions of dollars added to the national debt, and never achieving balance. Americans don’t need another tax increase, especially with April 15th around the corner. House Republicans have a solution to reign in wasteful spending and simplify our tax code with a balanced budget: http://GOP.gov/budget

The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska.

Senator Fischer pointed out that with the tax debate over, Washington can now focus on the real source of our nation’s deficits: out-of-control Washington spending. Sen. Fischer called on Congress to make the difficult decisions now: “It’s time for serious action. No more kicking the can down the road.  No more using the threat of middle class tax hikes to force last minute deal-making. The debate over taxes and revenues is done. Tax increases barely pay for a few days of government spending and in all my years of public service, I have never had constituents ask me to raise their taxes. The problem is not that the American people are taxed too little; it’s that the federal government spends too much.”

The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Representative Vicky Hartzler of Missouri.

Rep. Hartzler, a working farmer and small business owner, talked about the importance of taking on the big challenges facing our country, including President Obama’s small business tax hike, which according to Ernst & Young, would destroy more than 700,000 jobs. Rep. Hartzler noted that the Democratic-controlled Senate has failed to act on, among other items, House-approved measures to stop the small business tax hike and help farmers devastated by the ongoing drought.

“Hi, I’m Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler from the great state of Missouri. Just a little bit about myself: in addition to serving on the House Agriculture Committee, my husband and I own and operate a farm near Harrisonville, where we raise cattle and grow corn, wheat, and soybeans. We also run a small business that sells and services farm equipment – we’ve got three stores and about 50 employees.

“Around the country, it’s that State Fair time of year. Our fair, taking place this week in Sedalia, showcases the best of Missouri agriculture, and this year that means recognizing the perseverance of our farmers and ranchers as they face the worst drought our country has suffered in decades.
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Mitt Romney delivered the following remarks in Norfolk, Virginia after he selected Paul Ryan to be his Vice Presidential running mate.

“Ladies and gentlemen:

“It’s great to be back in Virginia and here in Norfolk. Your city’s beauty is only matched by its proud heritage as a defender of freedom. Today we take another step forward in helping restore the promise of America. As we move forward in this campaign and on to help lead the nation to better days, it is an honor to announce my running mate and the next Vice President of the United States: Paul Ryan.

Paul Ryan is a leader.

His leadership begins with character and values. And Paul is a man of tremendous character, shaped in large part by his early life.

Paul’s father died when he was in high school. That forced him to grow up earlier than any young man should. But Paul did, with the help of his devoted mother, his brothers and sister, and a supportive community. And as he did, he internalized the virtues and hard-working ethic of the Midwest.
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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.

Utah Senator Orrin Hatch delivers the Weekly Republican Address on the need to prevent Taxmageddon on January 1, 2013, explaining: “In just over five months, middle-class families, job creators and seniors will get hit with a massive tax hike unless the President and Congress act. This would mean that taxes would go up on virtually every single taxpaying American.”

Sen. Hatch continues: “Unfortunately, Washington Democrats’ default position appears to be to let everyone’s taxes skyrocket, if Congress doesn’t agree to their plan to raise taxes on one of the most productive segments of our economy. The group charged with representing small businesses found that 25 percent of our workforce is employed by those very small businesses that would be hit by the President’s proposed tax hikes.”

Finally he concludes: “This isn’t the time for political games and vilifying job creators. The President and his Washington allies need to stop holding America’s economy hostage in order to raise taxes on those trying to lead our economic recovery. Let’s roll up our sleeves to ensure that America remains the leader we know it to be.”

The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Senator Rob Portman of Ohio. In the face of 41 straight months of unemployment above 8 percent, President Obama is calling for a tax hike on nearly a million business owners. In the Weekly Republican Address, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) says there’s a better path forward: “The way to an American economic comeback, the way to help those out of work today find a paycheck, is to unleash the forces of job creation in America.”

“I’m Rob Portman, a United States Senator from Ohio.

This week, 13 million Americans won’t go to work, not because they’re on vacation, but because they can’t find jobs.

As a candidate, Barack Obama promised to help these Americans find work.

And exactly three years ago today, he pledged ‘To get this economy back on its feet.’ He said about the economy, ‘Give it to me.’

Well, America did give it to him. We gave him the ability to turn things around. And three years later, the results are in:

Unemployment is over 8 percent for the longest period since the Great Depression. And it’s actually higher than that because so many Americans are so discouraged — they’ve stopped looking for work.
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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming. Senator Barrasso called for full repeal of Obamacare following the Supreme Court’s decision this week to uphold the President’s health law. A doctor who has practiced medicine for 25 years, Sen. Barrasso said the Court’s ruling did nothing to improve the failed health care law: “It remains unworkable, unaffordable, and very unpopular.” Sen. Barrasso said congressional Republicans are committed to repealing Obamacare and replacing it with health care reform that ensures Americans “get the care they need, from the doctor they choose, at a lower cost.”

“Hi. I’m Dr. John Barrasso, United States Senator for Wyoming.

“The President and his allies in Congress are going to try to convince the public that the Supreme Court just gave the health care law a seal of approval.

“The fact is that this is the same failed policy that won’t lower the cost of health care in America.

“On Thursday, I was in the courtroom as the Supreme Court ruled that the President’s health care law is what the President claimed it was not: a new tax.

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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Representative Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Congressman Cassidy, a practicing physician himself, talked about the need to repeal the health care law and to lower the costs of healthcare in a more systematic way.

“As you know, the U.S. Supreme Court will soon rule on the constitutionality of the president’s health care law, a law which continues to hurt job creation and damage our economy. Not only is President Obama’s health care law not working – it makes things worse by driving up health care costs, making it harder for small businesses to hire workers. The only way to change this is by repealing ObamaCare entirely.

“So, unless the Court throws out the entire law, we should repeal what is left and implement common-sense, step-by-step reforms that protect Americans’ access to the care they need, from the doctor they choose, at the lowest cost.

“In this tough economy, the top health care concern of families and small businesses is out-of-control costs. Health care coverage has become too expensive for too many people. Two years ago, Washington Democrats pushed through ObamaCare and its 2,700 pages with promises that it would fix all this. It did not have popular support. It did not have bipartisan support. But its authors insisted that ObamaCare would make health care more affordable, and of course Americans hoped that would be true.
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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin. Governor Walker called for getting America’s “fiscal house on track and…our economy back in order” saying that “more big government is not the answer as the President contends. Instead, we need to confront the powerful special interests in Washington and put the hard working taxpayers back in charge of our government.”

“Hi. I’m Scott Walker from Wisconsin.

“Last fall, my wife Tonette and I had a chance to visit Independence Hall. It was quite an experience. You see, as a kid, I loved history and thought of our Founders as being well, bigger than life…almost like super heroes…so looking at the desks and the chairs where they sat was really pretty amazing.

“Standing there it dawned on me that those who had assembled in these chambers were ordinary citizens who did something quite extraordinary. They didn’t just risk their political careers or their business ventures; they risked their lives for the freedoms we hold dear today.

“It reminded me that what has made America great, what has made us exceptional for more than two centuries, what has made the United States arguably the greatest country in the history of the world; is that in moments of crisis—be they economic or fiscal, be they military or spiritual—there have been men and women of courage who thought more about the future of their children and grandchildren than they thought about their own political destiny. We need leaders like that today.
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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Representative Erik Paulsen of Minnesota. Representative Paulsen highlighted the House’s focus on jobs as the president’s policies continue to make our economy worse.

“Hello, I’m Congressman Erik Paulsen from the great state of Minnesota.

“Last week the U.S. Department of Labor gave Americans some very bad news. Only 69,000 jobs were added in May, and the unemployment rate is 8.2 percent – far above the level the Obama administration promised it would be by now when the president’s “stimulus” spending bill was enacted.

“It’s clear that getting our economy going again should be job number one for everyone in Washington. Too many Americans are still having a hard time finding jobs, small businesses are struggling to create them, and there’s little mystery as to why. The president’s policies are standing in the way of a stronger economy. His health care law well may be the worst offender, driving up costs and making it harder for small businesses to hire workers. It’s making things worse in our economy, and it needs to be fully repealed.
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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Representative Lynn Jenkins of Kansas. Representative Jenkins honored America’s fallen heroes and talked about how best to ensure our servicemembers come home to a strong, growing economy. With Americans continuing to ask ‘where are the jobs?,’ Rep. Jenkins touted Republicans’ Plan for America’s Job Creators and the nearly 30 House-passed jobs bills that are stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

“Hi, I’m Lynn Jenkins, I represent the Second Congressional District of Kansas, home to Fort Leavenworth, the oldest active Army post west of our nation’s capital, Fort Riley, home of the Big Red One, the 190th Coyotes at Forbes Field; and nearly 12,000 National Guard and Reserve members.

“It’s an honor to speak with you on Memorial Day weekend, a time to pause and thank the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who have died in the defense of our country. As we honor the fallen, we pray for our sons and daughters who are risking their lives so that we may live in freedom and security.
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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. Senator Johnson discussed Senate Democrats’ refusal to pass a budget.

Sen. Johnson says: “It has been over 3 years since the Senate passed a budget. Think about that. Even though families and most businesses produce budgets to help control their finances, the largest financial entity in the world is operating without one. Why? Because Democrats in the Senate refuse to be held accountable. They either don’t have a plan, or they simply do not want their fingerprints on one.”

He adds: “For his part, President Obama has done nothing to encourage the Senate to pass a budget. Just this week in the Senate, the President’s budget lost by a vote of 0 – 99. Last month, it failed in the House by a vote of 0 — 414. And last year, his budget lost 0 – 97 in the Senate. This is a stunning repudiation of his leadership.”

He concludes: “We can do better than this. America should do better. It is time to return to the values and principles that made this country great. I grew up in an America that valued hard work and celebrated success. America became the economic engine of the world, not because of government, but because millions of Americans had the freedom to pursue their dreams. We can reclaim this heritage once again and build a society where hard work is rewarded and every American has the opportunity to succeed. Republicans are ready, willing, and able to lead this noble effort.”

The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. Congressman Ryan discussed Republicans’ Path to Prosperity budget, which cuts government spending to protect hardworking taxpayers, strengthens health and retirement security, and lifts the crushing burden of debt.

“Hello, my name is Paul Ryan and I represent the first district of Wisconsin.

“As I go around Southern Wisconsin and visit with Americans across the country about the debt and the economy, people often ask: is it too late to save America from a diminished future?

“It’s a difficult question, it’s one that makes me worry about my children’s future, and I know you’re worried too.

“But the honest answer is this: It’s not too late to save the American Dream.
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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Representative Cory Gardner of Colorado. Congressman Gardner said that Americans are fed up with President Obama’s failure to tackle rising gas prices, but there’s still time for him to do the right thing and urge the Democratic-run Senate to act on bipartisan, House-passed energy bills.

“Driving around the district these days, the first, and often times only, thing my constituents want to talk about is the pain at the pump. In our state, gas prices have gone up 40 cents a gallon in just one month. This hurts everyone … families, commuters, job seekers, and especially small business owners. It isn’t just American dollars at risk with high gas prices – it’s American jobs, too.

“People in my district and around the country are fed up with the way the president is handling this issue, and rightfully so. The most forceful thing the president has done about high gas prices is try to explain that he’s against them. Americans are right to expect more from their leaders.

“To be fair, there have been signs of hope. Last month, the president told leaders in Congress he would be willing to work with Republicans on an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy.
That was encouraging. Republicans have long supported an ‘all-of-the-above’ strategy to develop our own resources – both traditional and renewable – so we can lower costs and improve America’s energy security. (more…)

The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.  Senator Rubio explained the failures of the Obama administration. He contrasted those with the promise of America that he and Republicans believe in, if the government stops doing the wrong things.

“As you know, earlier this week, President Obama delivered his fourth annual address to Congress. It was an opportunity for the President to talk about his accomplishments over the last three years and to lay out his plans for the year ahead.

“And he missed on both counts.

“You didn’t hear much talk about the success of his Administration—and that’s because there isn’t much.

“Yes, this President inherited a significant national debt, but over the last three years he’s made it worse. Our national debt has grown by nearly 50 percent since he took over, and now, for the first time since World War II, our national debt is larger than our country’s economy.

“Yes, this President inherited an economy where unemployment was too high, but over the last three years he’s made it worse. Today our unemployment rate is higher than the day he took office. In fact, since he took over, it’s been stuck over 8 percent every single month. (more…)

The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia who talked about job creation, fundamental tax reform, regulatory reform and energy security.

“I’m United States Senator Johnny Isakson from the great state of Georgia. I hope that you and your family have had a very blessed holiday season. On this New Year’s Eve, I’d like to wish you a very happy and healthy 2012.

“As a businessman who ran a company in the private sector for 22 years, I always began each year by setting goals for myself and my company. I’d like to take a moment to set some goals, or in this case, ‘commitments,’ that we as Republicans make to the American people for 2012.

“It’s no secret that the number one issue facing our country is jobs. So the number one goal of the Republicans for 2012 is to continue to make it easier for American small businesses to create jobs.

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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by House Speaker John Boehner who touted the Middle Class Tax Relief & Job Creation Act, legislation the House will vote on next week that will help to create thousands of new American jobs while helping families struggling with the consequences of President Obama’s failed economic policies.

“There’s no more urgent task for Washington than getting our economy back to creating jobs. Unemployment is still well above eight percent. Millions of Americans are looking for work or have simply stopped looking altogether. That’s unacceptable, plain and simple.

“Republicans have, as promised, focused all year on our plan to remove government-made barriers to job creation. In all, 27 bipartisan, House-passed jobs bills are now waiting for a vote in the Democratic-run Senate. One of those initiatives is the REINS Act, passed just a few days ago. It would require Congress to review any new regulation that has a major impact on the economy.

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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine. Sen. Snowe talked about the wisdom of a balanced budget amendment.

“Hello, I’m Senator Olympia Snowe from Maine. In the coming days, the United States Senate will have a long overdue debate and vote on a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget. And let there be no mistake, we have no greater duty than to once and for all obligate the government to live within its means and spend no more than what it takes in.

“I have been a longtime champion of a balanced budget amendment in both the House and Senate to prevent precisely the kind of fiscal quagmire we are enmeshed in today, as our federal government borrows an astounding 40 cents of every dollar we spend.

“The fact is, debts and deficits do matter. We have now entered what some have called an ‘economic danger zone.’ Our outstanding debt, which has now reached $15 trillion, has stunted economic growth, costing millions of American jobs. Just as disturbingly, the government currently pays a staggering $200 billion per year in interest to foreign countries that hold our treasury bonds…countries like China, and Russia. And that number is projected to increase to $1 trillion per year by 2021.

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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. Sen. Pat Toomey , a member of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, discussed the importance of “restoring economic growth and bringing our deficits under control.”

Sen. Toomey says, “The best way to revive the American economy is to reform our broken tax code. We should seize this opportunity to throw out this unfair monstrosity and replace it with a system that will lower tax rates for every single American, simplify the code, and get rid of the special interest tax breaks and loopholes that make this code the 70,000 page mess that it is. Our tax code has to go. Every bipartisan commission that has looked at our deficit crisis has come to the same conclusion: Pro-growth tax reform is a vital part of the solution. That’s why we Republican members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction have proposed a plan that replaces our current tax code with a simpler and fairer version that will encourage small businesses to expand and hire new workers and encourage creative hardworking Americans to open new businesses. Furthermore, this reform should be permanent so that job creators across America will know they will not be subject to the biggest tax hike in American history, which is currently looming a mere 14 months away.”

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