Obama Golfs Through East Coast Earthquake

The Wall Street Journal's timeline of the earthquake:

Shortly before 3 p.m., Mr. Obama paused from his round at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs, Mass., to convene a conference call on the earthquake with top advisers, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. The president was briefed on the scope of the earthquake and its impact on infrastructure in the affected areas up and down the East Coast.

“The president was told that there are no initial reports of major infrastructure damage, including at airports and nuclear facilities and that there were currently no requests for assistance,” Mr. Earnest said in a statement.

Mr. Obama, who has been vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard with his family since last Thursday, had arrived at Farm Neck Golf Club just after 1:30 p.m., about 20 minutes before the 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit. It is unclear if he, like many on Martha’s Vineyard, felt the earthquake at the time.

The president was seen talking on a cell phone after teeing off on the first hole.

Hot Air adds a reminder of the double standard:

He was on the course for an hour after the quake struck without comprehensive information about how bad it was? Bush spent seven minutes reading “My Pet Goat” after the planes went in and he’ll hear about it until the day he dies.  Imagine if the quake had knocked a few bridges down and it turned out later that Obama had spent the following hour teeing off.  I’m amazed he didn’t run from the course as soon as he heard the news (presumably via that phone call after the first hole), just to be on the safe side.  A lot of people were lucky today that things weren’t worse. He’s one of them.

 

Thanks for the Endorsement

     I almost completely skipped over the recent rant by Steve Fetter on how righteous the abortion decision is.  Fortunately, I see he used my name so many times to identify me with the right for the unborn child to survive that I couldn’t miss it.  If identifying me and the Republican Party with the right for unborn children to survive was meant to be a slam Steve, please let me be the first to thank you for the endorsement.

      Steve does not understand that whether a person is Republican or Democrat tends to be insignificant on this issue.  It is indisputable that in Southern Indiana, most Hoosiers are pro-life.  I regularly speak with Democrats who call themselves pro-life Democrats.  Several of them are now becoming Republicans because they realize that their views on abortion cannot be justified with the stand by people like Steve who insist that the unborn child has no rights….least of which is the right to live.

      Thanks Steve for bringing out the most callous argument in support of abortion rights your side has to offer.  You say that children should be aborted because they are not wanted.  At least you are honest.  The statistics show that 99% of the abortions performed in our nation have absolutely nothing to do with any physical or emotional threat to the mother.  Simply put, the mother does not want the child.  And, our law authorizes unwanted children to be terminated.

     Steve argues that a child is better off terminated than being born into a world where they are not wanted.  Only so cold an argument could be used to support abortion as a remedy to crowded prison population and child abuse.  To suggest that Planned Parenthood should be credited for preventing the need for abortion is totally absurd.  Women go to Planned Parenthood for one purpose only:  to determine the availability of abortion services.  If they are seeking help in dealing with how to keep their baby, they turn to services provided by volunteer organizations like Choices for Women.  And Steve, please notice that none of your tax dollars go to their agency.  Planned Parenthood cannot say the same.

      Actually Steve, I need to thank you for one other thing.  Every time you rant about the rights of women to terminate their pregnancies, you reinforce the argument that where you stand politically must agree with where you stand morally.  No one can deny the fact that the Democratic Party platform defends abortion rights and Republicans defend the right to life.  The line is very clear.  Every time you use arguments like the one you used in your article, you convince another Democrat that their Party has left them by choosing the moral low ground on this argument.

      As I have said many times before, I welcome those on the pro life side of this argument to come join our Party and vote for Republicans.  It isn’t because we think we are morally superior.  It is because we believe that it does make a difference what you believe and your politics should align with those views.  I don’t expect to see you joining us any time soon Steve.

See the whole stream at www.daveweb1a.com/gop/abortion.html

Congressman Young Proposes and Amendment

     YOUNG AMENDMENT PASSES: U.S. Rep. Todd Young offered his first floor amendment on the floor of the House, which was adopted by voice vote.
     The amendment was to the FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill.  It would cut 10 percent from part of the USDA's budget used for "general administration and miscellaneous supplies."  In essence, it's non-specific money that federal employees in Washington can use as a sort of gift card or blank check.
     In his remarks about the amendment, Young said, "If we want job creators to put Americans back to work, we have to let them know we're serious about cutting unnecessary spending in Washington wherever we can find it."  The full bill should be voted on later this week.

Mike Pence Announces Run for Governor

Today we officially kicked off our campaign for governor of Indiana.  Karen, the kids and I were joined by supporters from around the state in my hometown of Columbus and we were overwhelmed by the response.  We are looking forward to the months ahead.  I thought you might be interested in my remarks at today's rally, which I have attached below.

June 11, 2011

"Thank you Michael, Charlotte and Audrey, and thank you to the love of my life and my first lady for 26 years, Karen Pence. Isn't she great?  You know, Karen and I met at a little church across the street from the governor's residence in Indianapolis back in 1983. Honey, I think these people want us to go back to where we started!

"I am especially grateful to be joined by so many distinguished guests, party leaders, elected officials, supporters and friends who have taken the time to attend.  Welcome to my hometown, Columbus, Indiana!

"I was born and raised in this town.  I grew up in a small house not far from here with big dreams and a cornfield in my backyard.  My grandfather was an Irish immigrant who came to this country in 1919. My parents came to Indiana before I was born and raised a family of four boys and two girls. I was raised to believe, 'To whom much is given, much will be required,' and our folks required a lot of us.

"At our house, we worked.  My first job was washing dishes at Gene's Cafeteria. After that, I worked for five years as a gas station attendant up on Highway 31 to help pay my way through college.

"I went to college down on the Ohio River, went to law school in Indianapolis, met the girl of my dreams, raised a family, started a business and spent ten years traveling this state, talking with everyday Hoosiers from the airwaves to co-ops, to county fairs.

"And then I had the chance to fulfill a boyhood dream representing Indiana in our nation's capital, which brings me to today.

"On behalf of my family, here and gone, on behalf of all those who have stood with me for so many years, on behalf of conservative Hoosier values, I am here to make it official:

"I'm Mike Pence, I'm from Columbus, and I'm running for governor of Indiana.

"Next to being a husband and father, serving Indiana as governor would be the highest honor of my life but that's not why I'm running for governor. There are really three reasons.

"First, I'm running for governor because I love this state, and I believe Hoosiers are the best people in America.  Anybody will tell you, I do love Indiana.  I love everything about it.  From the Ohio River to the Golden Dome, from high school basketball to the Oaken Bucket, from the steel mills to the Speedway, Indiana is special.

"But it's the people of Indiana who make it special.  I've heard it in the wisdom of everyday Hoosiers who called me from kitchens, shop floors and tractors.  I've seen the character of Hoosiers in the patriotism at Fourth of July parades and at quiet Memorial Day services.

"I've seen it in the eyes of Hoosier soldiers from Camp Atterbury to Kabul and Jalalabad, Baghdad and Ramadi. There's a reason Indiana has one of the largest national guards in America: Hoosiers believe in serving their country.  And through it all I've seen the goodness, generosity, decency and wisdom of everyday Hoosiers.

"Like three years ago this week in the aftermath of a 100-year flood that devastated this hometown of mine, including my boyhood home on 31st Street.  As I drove through one neighborhood in a squad car, the police officer told me, 'A few hours after the flood was over, the only thing you couldn't find in this neighborhood was a parking space.' I said, 'What do you mean?'  He said, 'People just started showing up from all over with coolers full of food and water, toolboxes and pickup trucks to help families put their lives back together.'  One man at a shelter told me, 'These fellas showed up the day of the flood, said they was from the Baptist church and were there to fix my house. I told 'em, "But I'm not a Baptist," and they said, "We don't care.""

"That's Indiana: decent, generous, modest and hardworking.  And that's why I want to be governor.  Because I think the people of Indiana are the heart of the heartland.  There is nothing the people of Indiana can't accomplish if we work together with the common sense and common values that make this state great.

"Second, I'm running for governor because I believe Indiana is on the verge of an era of growth and opportunity like no other in my lifetime, and we can't go back now.  After 16 years of leadership at the Statehouse that left our state with record debt and higher taxes, with our state roads and bureaucracy crumbling, thanks to the leadership of Governor Mitch Daniels, Indiana has balanced budgets, lower taxes and improved state government in countless ways, including the most promising education reforms in the country.

"Because of what Hoosiers have done together, Indiana has become the fiscal envy of the nation and had the third fastest growing economy in the country in 2010.  But despite all the progress we've made, we can't afford to stop.  For as we gather here today, thousands of Hoosier families are hurting, struggling to find work. Some are trapped in failing schools. Others are going home on unsafe streets or to families in crisis.

"Despite some recent good news, unemployment in Indiana is still over 8 percent, and thousands have quit looking for jobs altogether.  Food stamps and welfare rolls are swollen.  These are hard times for too many in our state.  So, our work is far from over.

"Everywhere I've gone in Indiana over the past six months, the message is the same: Hoosiers appreciate the progress we've made. But almost to a person they say, 'We gotta keep it goin'!' And they're right. We gotta keep Indiana growing, but that won't happen without a fight.

"Right now, Hoosiers are faced with an avalanche of unfunded mandates, regulations and taxes that threaten our freedom and stifle our growth. To keep Indiana growing, we need to be willing to put Indiana first.  We need to be willing to say 'Yes' to Indiana and 'No' to Washington, D.C.

"Those who know me know I fight for what I believe in, and I believe in Indiana.  As your governor, I'll fight for the freedom of every Hoosier to live, to work, to run our schools without unnecessary federal intrusion and Indiana will lead the fight against cap and trade and ObamaCare.  To keep Indiana growing, we need a positive vision that builds on the success of the recent past, which brings me to my third and final reason.

"I'm running for governor because I have a vision for an even better Indiana.  Good jobs, great schools, safe streets, strong families.  And everything starts with a good-paying job.  Some think you stimulate the economy through government borrowing, spending and bailouts.  Hoosiers know better. The best stimulus plan is simple: less taxes, less red tape and more fiscal responsibility equals more jobs.

"To keep Indiana growing, we need to continue to live within our means, and as your governor, I'll fight to keep Indiana on the path of fiscal responsibility and reform.  But we won't just keep taxes low, we'll fight for more tax relief for working families, small businesses and family farmers, cut red tape and encourage investment, jobs and growth in the city and on the farm, until Indiana becomes the best place in America to grow a business or start a business in the city or on the farm.

"To build an even better Indiana, we have to continue to recognize that we cannot succeed in the marketplace if we fail in the classroom.  I believe education is a state and local function. That's why I opposed No Child Left Behind. We don't need bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. telling us how to run our local schools, but we do need to stay on the pathway to reform.

"As your governor, I'll look for ways to continue to fund excellence in education by cutting federal red tape, empowering parents and teachers, and promoting equality of opportunity for every Hoosier child through choice, more charter schools and innovation until Indiana has the best schools in America, period.

"And, to build an even better Indiana, our families and businesses have to be safe. Our prosperity depends on your security.  As your governor, I will fight against the drugs and violence claiming Hoosier lives and give law enforcement, fire, public safety and the National Guard the tools and resources and reforms they need to protect our families and come home safe to their family. We owe them no less.

"And, finally, to build an even better Indiana, we must recognize that our present crisis is not just economic, but moral.   At the root of these times should be the realization that people in positions of authority have walked away from the timeless truths of honesty, integrity, an honest day's work for an honest day's pay and the simple notion that you ought to treat the other person the way you want to be treated.

"To restore our economy we must reaffirm our respect for the institutions and traditions that nurture the character of our people: the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and the importance of organized religion in everyday life.

"On a day like today, I can't help but think of my dad.  He's gone now 23 years, but his influence and example are still a guidepost for my life.  He was like a lot of you in this room.  Grew up in the big city, he put on the uniform, went to Korea, came home with medals that went in the drawer and were never talked about again.  He married the daughter of immigrants, talked her into moving to Indiana to follow their dreams.

"He built everything that matters: a family, a business and a good name.  He left me, my three brothers and two sisters too soon with a legacy of hard work, faith, patriotism and a few words to live by.

"My dad said two things more often than any other: 'Not my will but thine be done' and 'Climb your own mountain.'  And as we face the challenge of putting Indiana first, getting Hoosiers back to work, restoring opportunity for every Hoosier child, securing our streets and strengthening our families, let's think about those who went before.  Who, in their time, made the sacrifices, faced the hard times with faith and courage.  Who climbed their own mountain. Now it's our turn.  And this is not my mountain, it's ours.

"Our journey begins today.  Our past behind us, the future before us.  We ask you to join us.  If you love Indiana and believe in the people of this great state, join us.  If you see how far we've come and know we can't stop now, join us.  If you believe we can build an even better Indiana for every Hoosier with good jobs, great schools, safe streets and strong families, join us.

"This is our challenge: to build an even better Indiana.  And as we build an even better Indiana, I believe with all my heart, Indiana will continue to lead the way for a better and stronger America, so help us God.  I'm Mike Pence. I'm running for governor. And I ask for your support."

Abortion Attitudes - May 24, 2011

     ABORTION.  There are lots of topics we discuss that could be described as “hot”.  In other words, they generate more division, more passion, more derision than any other topic you could choose.  The abortion topic is right there at the top.  That makes me wonder why the News and Tribune chose it to “fall on their sword” over.

     Certainly, this hot topic will generate more discussion and controversy than any other.  That can result in increased readership which might ultimately make more profit for the newspaper.  It may be a smart business decision.  But, taking one side of the argument unfortunately defines your paper and can alienate, in this case, half of your readership.  At the very least, it sacrifices any claim you may have to being unbiased.

     Without question, this issue divides us locally and nationally like no other issue.  I asked one of our New Albany mayoral candidates how he justified his campaign with what he confessed to me was his stand on abortion.  He rather naively told me he didn’t think abortion was an issue for New Albany.  I asked him to tell that to his constituents representing Choices for Women and Planned Parenthood.  It is easy to see, if by nothing more than reading the comments on the recent Tribune articles on this topic, that New Albanians, Southern Indiana Hoosiers and Americans in general are very passionate about this topic.

     What seems to come through loud and clear in these discussions is that the issue is polarizing.  On one side, it is true that the Supreme Court has declared this procedure legal.  Of course, if you actually read the ruling on Roe vrs. Wade, you will find that the Supreme Court only ruled that it is a woman’s “right to privacy” that would not be violated and that she has a right to do with her body whatever she wants to.  The Supreme Court flatly refused to even consider rendering an opinion on whether the baby inside the mother was life or not.  If they had ruled it life, of course, then they would have been obligated by the Constitution to protect it.  Half of us believe that it is life while the other half insist that it is just a tissue.

     I would ask those who would choose to judge our Governor for his “irresponsible” actions in agreeing with the majority of our elected representatives to defund Planned Parenthood in Indiana to remember that his decision does represent the opinions of at least half of us Hoosiers.  I would even go so far as to suggest that in our area where most Southern Indiana Hoosiers describe themselves as “conservative” that number is way over half.

     As the GOP chairman, I’m always amazed by Democrats who call themselves “pro-life” Democrats…..especially since the platform of the Party clearly identifies itself with the pro-abortion or pro-choice stand.  I always emphasize that your vote not only identifies you with an individual but with a set of beliefs that that individual and his Party represents.

      I would encourage each of us to return to an attitude that continues to respect the differences of opinions we all have without resorting to objectionable behavior to win our arguments.  I would also encourage us….as I have done many times…..to truly decide who to support and vote for this November, not just for what they can give us but for what they stand for and truly believe.  It takes time and work, but it produces better elected officials and helps us stay involved.  In the end, we get the government we deserve…..unless of course, you’re one of those individuals who doesn’t even vote.  But that is a topic for another time.

Congressional Budgets - May 13, 2011

     OH PLEASE!  Am I the only one who notices the disconnect and hypocrisy in former Congressman Lee Hamilton’s article, “This Is No Way to Run a Government?”  Can he seriously deride the current Congress because it can only pass a budget in the “last minute” while purposely ignoring the fact that the only reason Congress is wasting their time doing this is because the previous Congress, represented by his Party, failed to do the job while they were in office?

     According to Mr. Hamilton, “the way Congress used to work, budgets were crafted by a series of committees holding public hearings and debating separate appropriation bills.”  I assume he is acknowledging that if this had been done in September 2010….when it was supposed to have been done by the Democrat Congress…these “last minute” measures in April of 2011 would not be necessary.  And are we to assume that Mr. Hamilton was never involved in measures of Continuing Resolutions as a Congressman himself?  Check the records!

     Of course, it’s easier to criticize the Republican majority in Congress for using Continuing Resolutions to reduce the deficit than it is to blame the President of his own Party for producing the debt in the first place…a debt which threatens to make us slaves to our creditors (the Chinese) for generations to come.  It sounds to me like someone is “stumping” for next year’s elections for President and Congress in an attempt to get rid of those who would actually expect us to be accountable for our excessive spending and our debts.

     Lee talks about a “deal put together behind closed doors by a handful of people” which was “presented to the bulk of Congress for a take-it-or-leave-it vote”.  Is he talking about the budget or health care?  It is always effective to use the same arguments against your opposition as they used against you to get elected.  That way, we might forget who and what got us into this mess in the first place.  Oh, and Lee, we are a Republic, not a Democracy.  If our Congressmen don’t know the difference, how can we expect our high school students to?

     This is the same, tired old rhetoric that is used every time we actually get representatives who try to bring spending back under control.  Congress has gotten into the habit of out-of-control spending that must stop.  It is time to take the credit card away from Congress and cut it up.  We don’t need more taxes….we need less spending.  Let’s see, is there any other way I can say this?  Stop spending like drunken sailors……no disrespect to drunken sailors.  You get the idea.

Mike Pence: Servant Leadership

Congressman Mike Pence in a forum in Washington D.C. January 12th stated the following:

"Challenge yourself to think about servant leadership. Challenge yourself to ask the question, where am I needed most. If you do that in a way that puts your faith and family first, then America will be better for it." -US Rep. Mike Pence

I encourage everyone to view the video at:
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/297453-7

By the way, Mike Pence will be speaking at the Floyd County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, March 18th.  Plan to join us to meet Mike!

Obama Oil

Obama’s Ultimate Betrayal

January 12, 2011 by John Myers 

     Welcome to 2011; another year for President Barack Obama, whose energy policies are dictated not from the White House but from Abu Dhabi and Riyadh.  Obama’s Christmas gift to the nation was the December announcement by the President himself to clamp down further on domestic oil and gas drilling. Welcome to the New Year where pump prices now average more than $3 per barrel.
Despite the worst recession since the Great Depression, we are paying the highest gas prices since 2008. All thanks to Obama’s need to go Green, which is enriching Arab oil producers while putting America’s future at risk.
     Obama regulators have been busy slipping in ill-advised energy policies. First came the pre-Thanksgiving announcement that oil exploration and drilling in Alaska would be curtailed. All for a good cause, said the Obamaites, to help save vast expanses of polar bear habitat. Then Obama’s Department of the Interior made a pre-Christmas policy change that would further cut domestic oil supplies by making energy-rich lands untouchable.
     It seems that Obama forgot that designating Federal lands as wilderness areas was supposed to require an act of Congress. Yet the day before Christmas Eve, Obama’s Department of the Interior did a coup d’état. As a result, the Obama administration alone is able to judge where oil can or cannot be drilled. In doing this, Obama has thwarted George W. Bush’s policy that restricted unilateral action by the White House.

     Then there is the drilling in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico. Nearly three months after the Obama administration lifted its ban, oil companies are still waiting for approval to drill the first new oil well in the Gulf. In fact, the petroleum industry expects the wait to continue until the second half of 2011, and perhaps well into 2012.

     This long delay by the Obama administration is costing Big Oil billions of dollars that they have tied up in Gulf projects; projects that are now on hold while petroleum companies pay out thousands of dollars every day on rigs that stand idle.

     Last week the Wall Street Journal wrote this indictment of Obama’ energy policy:

“Their impact goes beyond the oil industry. The Gulf coast economy has been hit hard by the slowdown in drilling activity, especially because the oil spill also hurt the region’s fishing and tourism industries. The Obama administration in September estimated that 8,000 to 12,000 workers could lose their jobs temporarily as a result of the moratorium; some independent estimates have been much higher.

“The slowdown also has long-term implications for U.S. oil production. The Energy Information Administration, the research arm of the Department of Energy, last month predicted that domestic offshore oil production will fall 13 percent this year from 2010 due to the moratorium and the slow return to drilling; a year ago, the agency predicted offshore production would rise 6 percent in 2011. The difference: A loss of about 220,000 barrels of oil a day.”

     All of which leaves America more susceptible to an Arab oil embargo. The last one happened in the 1970s when the U.S. was pumping twice as much oil as it is now.  With the U.S. gulping more foreign crude than ever, Arabs could bring America to its knees. You would think that a President as smart as Obama would understand the risk he is putting the nation in; a nation which he has sworn to protect.

     Perhaps the greatest waste of American resources is out West where there is potentially hundreds of millions of barrels in oil reserves and trillions of cubic feet in gas deposits; all of it just waiting to be drilled and pumped to a thirsting nation. Yet our President is obstructing America from meeting its energy needs.

     Ben Lieberman of The Washington Times explains:

“Utah is particularly hard hit, with up to 6 million acres in jeopardy of being locked away from development. Rep. Rob Bishop, Utah Republican, told The Salt Lake Tribune, “[This decision will seriously hinder domestic energy development and further contribute to the uncertainty and economic distress that continues to prevent the creation of new jobs in a region that has unduly suffered from this administration’s radical policies.”

     But there is more. Two days before Christmas the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) undertook a Pearl Harbor-like pre-emptive attack on U.S. refiners with an order that will place severe limits on carbon-dioxide emissions. The EPA, in language Joseph Stalin would have been proud of, said: “The details have yet to be determined.”

The Moroccan Candidate
     The bottom-line is that under Obama, Washington is certain to increase the cost of converting oil into gasoline. If you are looking forward to spending $5 per gallon at the pumps, you will love Obama’s bold new move to make America more green.

     The $5 per gallon is not just a number I picked out of the air. The former president of Shell Oil says that’s entirely possible as high demand pushes the price of crude oil higher and higher.

     Culminating some time by the third quarter of 2012, retail pump prices in places like California and New York will reach roughly $5 per gallon, said former Shell Oil president John Hofmeister.

Former energy secretary Bill Richardson was asked about Hofmeister’s stark prediction: “I hope he’s wrong, but this is a very volatile energy market and we haven’t moved as fast as we should in America towards reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.”

     Hofmeister underscores the urgent need to develop domestic oil production and he even accuses the Obama administration of being anti-oil.  “I have no problem moving beyond oil but not today, not tomorrow, not 2011 or 2012. We can’t. It’s simply impractical and unreal,” Hofmeister said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy (DOE) has put out a statement saying it will continue to pursue responsible oil and gas production while focusing on vehicle efficiency standards and investing in electric vehicles, bio-fuels and mass transit.

     Obama’s DOE must think America alone can make the Earth green. What the President seems to forget is the fact that China, India and Russia, along with a host of Third World polluters, are using coal and even wood furnaces to drive their industries.

     It appears to me that Obama’s Green policies are nothing more than collateral damage to a nation that needs domestic petroleum and the jobs that that industry provides. Instead Obama’s policies seem to be helping Arab oil exporters.

     If you think I exaggerate, consider this from the Dec. 29 Economist, not known as a bastion of conservative ideals: “Mr Obama’s team of managing the Middle East is even more inept than Mr Bush’s. The American right and many Israelis think he is too pro-Arab.”

Dubya Billboard: “MISS ME YET?”
     People in the petroleum industry don’t believe Obama is pro-North America, at least not when it comes to energy. Canada’s oil sands — which help keep America on the road every day—have been labeled “dirty oil” by Obama Democrats (as if the crude they pump out of the Saudi desert was somehow clean). And given the political realities that exist in many parts of Alaska, Sarah Palin has a greater chance of hitting a gusher with an errant shot from her AR-15 than Big Oil has with a drill-bit.

     Despite Bush’s multiple mistakes in the Middle East, he was a patriot who at least wanted to ramp up domestic oil and gas production. That’s not true of Obama, who seems intent on increasing America’s dependency on Arab oil.

     As I write to you, oil has topped $90 per barrel. I believe that by summer it will break over $100 per barrel. That makes Big Oil a good investment. But at what cost?

     Under Obama’s presidency we are headed for an energy crisis worse than anything President Jimmy Carter could have engineered. Just how high oil prices will go I don’t know. Much depends on what happens in the 2012 election.

We Got Them There....

OK.....we got them there.  Now, let's see them actually fix the budget that the Democrats have done such a fine job messing up.  Look especially at our friends from Indiana...THREE OF THEM...Rokita, Stutzman and Young on this committee.  Go to it guys.......learn quickly......remember the vows:  Smaller government, lower taxes, responsible spending.  Watch this space!

GOP names 11 freshmen to House Budget Committee

By Erik Wasson

The House Republican Steering Committee on Thursday named 11 incoming freshmen and two returning members to the House Budget Committee. The newly elected fiscal conservatives are expected to back GOP efforts to pass an austerity budget resolution next year.

The incoming GOP freshmen are Justin Amash (Mich.), Bill Flores (Texas), Tim Huelskamp (Kan.), Mick Mulvaney (S.C.), Jim Renacci (Ohio), Reid Ribble (Wis.), Todd Rokita (Ind.), David Schweikert (Ariz.), Marlin Stutzman (Ind.), Todd Young (Ind.) and James Lankford (Okla.).

The returning GOP members are Todd Akin (Mo.) and Tom McClintock (Calif.)

“The fiscal and economic challenges before us will require policymakers committed to reform and unwavering in their convictions. For this reason, I am excited to welcome an impressive group of new members to the House Budget Committee, each of whom bring considerable talent and energy to help get a grip on the explosive growth of government spending,” incoming House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said in a statement. 
McClintock's office noted in a statement that as a fiscal hawk in the California legislature he introduced "hundreds of specific budget reforms, including tax, spending and borrowing limitations; contracting out of state services; pension, welfare and education reform and bureaucratic streamlining."

Does it pay to succeed?

Why Work Hard When Wealth is Being Redistributed So Effectively?
     There is an astonishing study posted this week at National Review Online of a look at disposable income and household economics that is rather concerning. Does it pay to work hard and avoid scamming the system anymore? It is a question that points back to our foundational principles and the observation made by founders like John Adams who noted that our system of government is made only for a moral and virtuous people, it is wholly inadequate for the governance of any other.
     There is a lot of talk about the rich paying their fare share. Yet, it seems that it is not just the rich who are getting soaked, but also the middle class who are paying for others' lifestyles.
     The study compared a one-parent family of three making a minimum wage of $14,500 a year with a middle-class family making $60,000. What they found is that the $14,500 household may have more disposable income at the end of the day . . . and you, the taxpayer, are footing the bill under current government policies. Take a look:

Perhaps the president and those in congress should spend more time looking at this problem instead of complaining that the rich don’t pay their fair share.

Campaigning in Public Schools - A Level Playing Field

     Apparently, Chuck wants it both ways.  He wants to deliver these campaign stickers to a teacher just getting ready to teach a class (notice the student's feet as he takes a photo of the box with his cellphone camera) and yet tell us he did all his school campaigning outside school hours.  Hmmm.
     It is good to know that Chuck sends his congratulations to all the Republican candidates for their wins in the recent election.......except me, of course.  You can read his claims and complaints by going to this link:  Equal Access for All    If you were interested in this part of the election and where it goes from here, check out the link.

Tis the Season

Twas the month before Christmas when all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying nor taking a stand.

The PC Police had taken away,

The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt folk's feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th, just another 'Holiday.'

The shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod

Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'

Sipping your Starbucks, please listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christ is the Reason for the Christ-mas Season!

Mike Pence Promise to End Abortion Funding

Dear Fellow American,

Barack Obama has led the most pro-abortion administration since Roe v. Wade.

Reports show that Planned Parenthood, America's largest abortion provider, receives nearly one-third of its $1 billion annual budget from the federal government. And it's about to get worse, because Obamacare is hiding even more tax dollars in handouts for abortion providers.

Nearly 3,500 abortions are performed every day in America. That's 3,500 lives taken away, many on the government dime without the knowledge or direct approval of taxpayers! It's reprehensible and we can't allow it to continue.

House Republicans vowed to prevent abortion funding in our Pledge to America, and I'm ready to deliver on that promise with new legislation that will prevent abortion providers like Planned Parenthood from receiving a single dime from the federal government.

But your support is critical. With a new Republican majority, Planned Parenthood is running scared. The fear of losing their federal funding has led them to target me for my pro-life positions. They even named me to their 2010 Election Hall of Shame for advocating a pro-life agenda on Capitol Hill! But I refuse to back down. I will continue to stand strong for the sanctity of life.

With pro-abortion sympathizers rallying behind Planned Parenthood, you can bet that they will be fighting tooth and nail to hold on to their taxpayer-subsidized funding. We must be ready to fight back!

Our tax dollars should not be spent on abortions. I know it. You know it. Let's make sure that every member of Congress knows it! Please join me in standing for life by following this link to make an immediate contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250 or more and show Congress that we will not tolerate federal funding of abortions.

I hope that I can count on you to stand with me in the fight for the sanctity of life.

Thank you in advance for your support!

Sincerely,

Mike Pence
Member of Congress
Chairman, House Republican Conference

Post Election Post

I thought I’d wait a while before I wrote about my feelings on our election victories Nov. 2. In the first place, no one likes a “gloating” victor. Second, everyone has an opinion as to why the Republicans did so well. And like noses, you can’t get two to agree. I don’t think that is exactly how that metaphor goes, but you know what I mean.

I appreciated Jeff Roudenbush’s congratulatory letter to our winning Republicans that printed in The Tribune. So much of what he said is true, whether our citizens agree with his opinions or not. My compliments also go to The Tribune and Evening News staff who allow their readers to respond to stories by commenting in the Discussion section next to the letters. I learn a lot from those comments. I encourage more citizens to sign up to add their comments. It is a great way to get your voice heard.

One comment that I had to pay close attention to was the one that claimed that “Democrats elect candidates in Floyd County.” I’m not so sure that is necessarily true any longer. We all know that more and more, the county is leaning heavily Republican while the city tends to remain loyally Democrat. Of course, the question I have to answer as the GOP chairman is how I can encourage more city citizens to join our team.

Democrat or Republican, there are few who would disagree with me that citizens of Floyd County are largely conservative. We have a few, but not many, “flaming liberals” in our neck of the woods. But I agree with Jeff when he stated that this election was about voters who “went to the polls to stand up for their values of conservative America.” Of course, I have to examine that sentiment in light of an overwhelmingly vote two years ago that seemed to reflect the opposite.

As you would expect, I strongly defend the values of our platform as a Party that say we believe in smaller government, lower taxes and conservative, moral values. I believe that if you believe in those values you should vote for Republican candidates. Surprisingly, most Democrats in our county tell me they do not agree with their Party’s stand for larger government, increased taxes to achieve wealth distribution and liberal, moral values. Problem is, they still vote Democrat. My job is to convince voters that we Republicans mean what we say, actually have better solutions to our problems and are a better choice than our Democratic opponents.

I will be the first to admit that if our “conservatives” get into office and then, hypocritically, give you larger government, higher taxes and do not represent your values, then we as Republicans have done nothing to keep your trust. On the other hand, if you conservatives in Southern Indiana really have a conservative “world view” and expect your candidates to reflect them, then there really is no reason why we should expect next year to be different than this one. If only the world worked that way.

I have been criticized for opening the door to conservatives who have called themselves Democrats in the past to join our ranks. But frankly, I don’t know why, with the values our Party says they represent, we wouldn’t continue to have a growing number of Republicans in Floyd County. It may be that that is what the numbers from Nov. 2 are teaching us. Yes, I know there are those of you out there who think as Republicans, we don’t care about people, we only want riches for the wealthy and we callously want to destroy a woman’s right to choose. But I can’t help but think that there is a growing number of us who have decided that our President has taken us so far left that only a revival in real conservative values and votes that reflect those will bring us back from the brink. Come on over to the right, Floyd County. The water is fine!

Hoosier GOP

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