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House Republican Unveils Conservative Response to King v. Burwell [+video]

June 25, 2015/1 Comment/in Featured, News /by Melissa Quinn

As Republican lawmakers brace for the U.S. Supreme Court’s King v. Burwell decision, a conservative plan has emerged that would eliminate the subsidies awarded under the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare.

In anticipation of the King v. Burwell decision, Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., introduced the Premium Reduction and Insurance Market Reform Act. The bill would end Obamacare’s subsidies and eliminate the law’s age rating restrictions, benefit mandates and minimum actuarial value requirement—addressing the issue if the Supreme Court rules against the Obama administration. A decision could come as early as Monday.

The Supreme Court is examining the legality of subsidies awarded to consumers purchasing health insurance on the federal exchange. As it was written, the law limits the availability of subsidies to states operating their own exchanges. Just 16 states and the District of Columbia originally established their own exchanges.

However, the administration extended the tax credits to include the remaining 34 states using the federal exchange, HealthCare.gov.

If the court rules against the Obama administration, striking down federal subsidies, Republicans are expected to roll out a response to the decision that would still provide a safety net for the approximately 6.4 million Americans at risk of losing their tax credits.

GOP lawmakers in both chambers gathered Wednesday night to discuss legislative options.

A plan from Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., being discussed in the House allows for the allocation of block grants to states wanting them. Those states would be able to determine how to best spend the block grants to cover consumers. States that do not want the block grants would be able to keep the subsidies offered under Obamacare.

“It block-grants the money to states that opt into our state program, and then they can set up their own exchange; they can give tax credits; they can set up health savings accounts; they can do whatever they want,” Rep. John Fleming, R-La., told The Hill.

In the Senate, Republicans are discussing options that include extending Obamacare’s subsidies through 2017.

“We’re going to be prepared,” Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, told Politico. “We wouldn’t call them subsidies. But we’d certainly keep people whole so that they wouldn’t suffer because of this interim time.”

Republicans are also looking into aspects of legislation introduced separately by Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Ben Sasse, R-Neb.

Though GOP senators appear to be uniting behind a plan that extends subsidies to those living in states on the federal exchange, conservatives like Gosar are pushing for the elimination of them.

In a statement, Michael Needham, chief executive of Heritage Action for America, praised Gosar’s legislation for getting rid of the subsidies. The group touted the plan as the “conservative” response to King v. Burwell.

“A continuation of illegal subsidies will simply cover up the law’s costs while giving the impression Republicans believe subsidies are necessary for Americans to afford health insurance,” he said. (“House Republican Unveils Conservative Response to King v. Burwell”, originally posted HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Terrorist Group Hamas Likes Democrats More Than Republicans

June 8, 2015/3 Comments/in Featured, International /by WND

Photo Credit: WND When it comes to a choice between a Democratic or a Republican president, Hamas prefers Democrats.

That’s the conclusion reached by senior Hamas leader Salah Bardawil, who is also a member of Hamas’s parliament . . .

“Obviously the president of the United States sets the foreign policy for the Middle East,” stated Klein, “so it’s very important for what’s going on in Israel, in the Palestinian arena, in the Gaza strip, and beyond. Coming toward the 2016 election, obviously we have no idea right now who the candidates are going to be at the end … is there any candidate or party that Hamas has an interest in, that Hamas thinks will change things for the better in the Middle East?”

[Bardawil responded,] “When it comes to make the decision between who is bad and who is worse … there is no doubt that the Democrat candidate is less worse for us than the Republican.” (Read more from “Terrorist Group Hamas Official: Democrats ‘Less Worse’ Than Republicans” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Party’s History of Establishment Picks Could Be Over [+video]

June 4, 2015/3 Comments/in Featured, Video /by Stuart Rothenberg

Battles for the Republican presidential nomination almost always come down to two alternatives — an establishment-backed candidate with pragmatic instincts and an insurgent (often significantly more conservative) who tries to appeal to constituencies that feel ignored.

And except for 1964, when an insurgent Barry Goldwater defeated a slew of establishment opponents, and, possibly, 1980, the establishment has won these fights to select the party’s presidential nominees.

But have we entered a new era in Republican Party politics? Has the establishment candidate become the underdog in 2016 and for at least the near future? And if so, does that change the meaning of “the establishment?”

Mitt Romney tried (with very limited success) to wear the mantle of insurgent in 2008 against pragmatist John McCain, but four years later the former Massachusetts governor unquestionably was the choice of the party establishment over the likes of Herman Cain, then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry, then-Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Sen. Rick Santorum.

Early during the 2000 cycle, George W. Bush rallied both conservatives and, because of his father’s connections and reputation, the party establishment behind his candidacy. McCain’s challenge against him was less about ideology and more about the Arizona senator’s personal style and outsider message. (Read more from “Party’s History of Establishment Picks Could Be Over” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Republican Lawmaker: Sodomy Law Needed for Public Health

March 19, 2015/3 Comments/in Featured, News /by David Edwards

[Editor’s note: This excerpt is biased but is included for its news content] Texas Republican state Rep. James White has said that the state’s unconstitutional ban on same-sex sodomy should not be repealed for “public health” reasons and to stop bestiality.

The San Antonio-Express News recently asked White if he would support repealing the ban since he had filed a bill to rollback regulations on hair braiding.

Even though the Supreme Court struck down the sodomy law in its 2003 Lawrence v. Texas decision, White insisted that it should be kept on the books. The law specifically bans “deviant sexual intercourse with another individual of the same sex.”

“Absolutely, there is a difference,” White said, arguing that hair braiding regulations were “a way of disenfranchising them out of the marketplace. I don’t necessarily think this was the case with sodomy.”

According to the Republican lawmaker, the anti-gay law represented “a community coming together and having a moral standard, per se, as opposed to using the regulatory environment to disenfranchise people.” (Read more from “Republican Lawmaker: Anti-Gay Sodomy Law Needed for ‘Public Health’” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith: Every Black Person Should Vote Republican for One Election

March 19, 2015/2 Comments/in Featured, News /by Derryck Green

ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith has offered an opinion that’s sure to cause some controversy . . .

While giving a speech at the Impact Symposium at Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee, Smith said:

“What I dream is that for one election, just one, every black person in America vote Republican,” he said. “Because from what I’ve read, and I’m open to correction, but from what I’ve read, Barry Goldwater is going against Lyndon B. Johnson. He’s your Republican candidate. He is completely against the Civil Rights Movement. Lyndon B. Johnson was in favor of it. What happens is, he wins office, Barry Goldwater loses office, but there was a senate, a Republican senate, that pushed the votes to the president’s desk. It was the Democrats who were against Civil Rights legislation. So because President Lyndon B. Johnson was a Democrat, black America assumed the Democrats were for it” . . .

He went on to say that if blacks did vote for the GOP would force both parties to make black concerns seriously.

“Black folks in America are telling one party, ‘We don’t give a damn about you.’ They’re telling the other party ‘You’ve got our vote.’ Therefore, you have labeled yourself ‘disenfranchised’ because one party knows they’ve got you under their thumb. The other party knows they’ll never get you and nobody comes to address your interest.” (Read more from “ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith: Every Black Person Should Vote Republican for One Election” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

GOP Votes to Fully Repeal Obamacare, No Help From Democrats

February 4, 2015/2 Comments/in Featured, News /by Pete Kasperowicz

The GOP-House voted Tuesday evening to fully repeal Obamacare, sending the bill to a Republican Senate that seems likely to at least try to pass it in the coming weeks.

There was little doubt the bill could pass in a House with a stronger Republican majority, and it passed easily 239-186.

Republicans have held full Obamacare repeal votes in every session of Congress, and have won the support of just a few Democrats. This time around, no Democrats voted with Republicans, and three Republicans voted against the bill: Reps. Bob Dold (Ill.), John Katko (N.Y.), and Bruce Poliquin (Maine).

The debate and vote gave both parties a chance to run through their usual arguments for and against the law. Republicans said said the law is leading to higher healthcare costs and less choice for Americans who have seen many of their insurance plans canceled because they don’t meet new standards under the law.

Republicans also said a repeal is needed so Congress can start over and build a new reform plan that gives people more choice. (Read more about the vote to repeal Obamacare HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Poll: Registered Voters Want A Republican House AND Senate

August 4, 2014/3 Comments/in Featured, News /by News Editor

Photo Credit: REUTERS / Kevin Lamarque

By Katie Frates.

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid may be in trouble.

NBC/WSJ/Marist has published a new poll, conducted July 28-31, that shows a plurality of registered voters want a Republican majority in both the House and Senate.

Respondents were first asked if they thought Congress had been very productive, somewhat productive, somewhat unproductive or very unproductive. 50 percent of registered voters said they thought Congress had been very unproductive, with only 3 percent saying Congress had been very productive.

Even though the 50 percent who think Congress was very unproductive are in part talking about the Republican House, they don’t want the majority to change.

They were asked if they would like to see the majority in the House stay Republican, or become Democrat. 43 percent of registered voters wanted Republicans in the majority and 41 percent wanted Democrats in the majority, with 16 percent unsure.

“Pro-life” Senator Votes to Overturn Hobby Lobby Ruling

July 18, 2014/9 Comments/in Featured, News /by Cortney O'Brien

Photo Credit: TownHall

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin (D) has some explaining to do. Although the senator has proclaimed to be pro-life, his recent support of a Democratic bill to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling on Hobby Lobby v. Burwell, suggests otherwise. This failed legislation would have reversed a decision that protects the Christian company’s religious freedom and avoid providing employees abortion-inducing drugs.

Manchin explained his support for the bill as such:

“Today, I voted in support of overturning the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision that ruled for-profit companies can opt out of providing contraceptives to their employees because of religious beliefs,” Manchin said. “As Governor and U.S. Senator, I have always fought to protect the sincerely-held religious views of non-profit organizations, like soup kitchens, colleges, hospitals and similar non-profit organizations…

Miller Changes Minds with Debate Performance

June 28, 2014/2 Comments/in Alaska News, Featured /by News Editor

GOP US. Senate Debate Anchorage – Aim, Inc.

Joe Miller turned in a strong performance at last night’s GOP U.S. Senate debate in Anchorage. The event was was sponsored by KVNT and KOAN and organized by the Anchorage Republican Women’s Club. One political analyst, who had been a critic and published an article with Politico this past spring stating why Miller could not win, reversed course.

During a TV news interview following the debate last night in Anchorage, he described Miller’s performance as “impressive” and when questioned who won said, “To be honest with you, I believe Joe Miller helped himself the most. I plead guilty to writing him off a year ago. But his candidacy is alive and well. I thought his performance tonight really showed that.” His conclusion, “It’s anyone’s race.” This analysis matched those of other pundits and attendees of the debate.

“Joe established himself as the true principle-driven constitutional conservative in the race and demonstrated why he is the one best able to take on and defeat Mark Begich this fall,” said Miller campaign spokesman Randy DeSoto. “He is committed to going to Washington and helping reverse our nation’s current disastrous direction. His two Establishment opponents’ record and even campaign rhetoric point to a willingness to play the Washington game.”

Major differences on amnesty, the role of international law, the future of the IRS, and foreign policy came into clear relief during last night’s debate. Miller opposes amnesty, believes our Constitution must remain the unchallenged law of the land (and that we must not yield to the forces of internationalism). As someone who has seen war, Miller believes our military must be the strongest on earth and used only in defense of our vital national interests. He does not believe the Founders intended for us to be involved in nation-building: the price in life and treasure is too high, and the results are often contrary to our country’s intended goals. Miller’s opponents stand on the opposite side on these issues. (View a candidate comparison HERE.)

In his closing statement, Miller responded to the question why he is running for U.S. Senate stating, “If America falls, there is no place else to go.” We must preserve this last bastion of liberty for ourselves and future generations.

You can listen to the debate HERE.

Alaska Republican Assembly Endorses Joe Miller for U.S. Senate

June 26, 2014/1 Comment/in Alaska News, Featured /by News Editor

The Alaska Republican Assembly (“AKRA”) has voted by a super-majority to endorse Joe Miller for U.S. Senate.

The group’s Vice President Ron Johnson stated, “The bar for endorsement by the AKRA is high; a Republican candidate must receive the vote of two-third’s of the voting members at the endorsement convention.” Only 4 of the 72 candidates running for office in Alaska reached this threshold. “AKRA actively works to develop and promote true conservative Republican candidates for public offices. In short, we are the Republican wing of the Republican Party,” said Johnson. AKRA strongly identifies with the principles championed by Ronald Reagan.

Miller responded to the endorsement stating, “I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Alaska Republican Assembly. I am convinced that only a return to our constitutional foundations, along with the economic and moral principles that made this greatest on earth, will enable us to overcome this present crisis.”

Just this week, it was reported that the nation’s Gross Domestic Product decreased at an annual rate of 2.9 percent, significantly more than previously reported. Ronald Reagan and one of his chief economic advisors Milton Friedman could have easily predicted that outcome. When you tax and regulate something more, you get less of it. It’s as simple as that. As Friedman famously noted, “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there would be a shortage of sand.”

That is what Barack Obama and one of his most reliable lieutenants in the U.S. Senate, liberal Democrat Mark Begich, have done to our nation: higher taxes, more regulation, the takeover of our healthcare system, and the list goes on.

“It can be morning again in America, but it will require new leadership in Washington,” stated Miller. “I am committed to being part of the solution, not part of the problem. As Ronald Reagan said, ‘It is time for us to realize that we’re too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams. We’re not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing. So, with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope.'”

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