The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the Washington Post. -Staff
America's Founders gave us a system of governance designed to limit government power and maximize liberty. The legislative branch is different from the executive, and the Senate is different from the House. No single branch has all the power. That can be frustrating for those with ambitious agendas, but everyone benefits by respecting those checks and balances even as we fight over policies.
While the House is designed for action, the Senate is designed for deliberation. That is why Senate rules and procedures give a minority of senators the power to slow or even stop legislation. Both parties do it when in the minority, and both find it frustrating when they are in the majority. But such checks are central to the nature of the institution and to the Senate's place in our constitutional system. These rules temper majority power and generate strong incentives to develop mainstream legislation that commands broad, bipartisan support.
To impose the will of some Democrats and to circumvent bipartisan opposition, President Obama seems to be encouraging Congress to use the "reconciliation" process, an arcane budget procedure, to ram through the Senate a multitrillion-dollar health-care bill that raises taxes, increases costs and cuts Medicare to fund a new entitlement we can't afford. This is attractive to proponents because it sharply limits debate and amendments to a mere 20 hours and would allow passage with only 51 votes (as opposed to the 60 needed to overcome a procedural hurdle). But the Constitution intends the opposite process, especially for a bill that would affect one-sixth of the American economy.
Fourteen years ago, President Bill Clinton created the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument without Utahns' input or consent. Now we have the Obama administration poised to do the same thing.
Just last week an Obama administration memo was leaked that outlines two Utah areas for the president to consider for monument designation through the use of the Antiquities Act of 1906. Limited in scope, this act allows the president, without input from Congress or the public, to protect "historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest ..., the limits of which in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected."
The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the Deseret News. -Staff
Health care reform is a critical national issue that must transcend political labels and parties. It should be guided by the voices of the American people, who expect Congress to work together to solve this challenge in an open, bipartisan and fiscally prudent manner. If we take a realistic approach, we can achieve responsible health care reform that enjoys support on both sides of the aisle.
Americans want health care reform that reduces costs and provides affordable access. But they also worry about preserving their current quality of care, improving a struggling economy and reducing the nation's debt. Amid this uncertainty, Congress should be careful about doing too much, too fast and risking mistakes that cannot be undone.
The following originally appeared as an op-ed in USA Today. -Staff
Obama's big-government proposal attempts to do too much, too fast.
Americans want health care reform that reduces costs and provides affordable access. But they also worry about preserving quality, improving a struggling economy and reducing the nation's unsustainable debt. Amid this uncertainty, we should be careful not to do too much too fast, risking mistakes of lasting consequence.
The following originally appeared as an op-ed in Politico. -Staff
During his State of the Union address last week, President Barack Obama attacked the Supreme Court -- with the justices sitting right in front of him -- for its decision that will allow American corporations and labor unions to speak during election season. Whether or not the criticism was appropriate, it should at least have been correct. Unfortunately, this time he was flat wrong.
The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the National Review. -Staff
Tomorrow night, President Obama will head to the Capitol to deliver his State of the Union address to the nation. While it is sure to include the rhetorical flourishes and impeccable delivery that President Obama is renowned for, I fear it will unfortunately be dominated by populist rhetoric instead of the actual policies the administration is pushing behind closed doors -- away from the scrutiny of the American people. Health care is a prime example.
The following originally appeared as an op-ed with Charles Schumer in The New York Times. -Staff
With national unemployment rate at 10 percent, and more than 15 million Americans looking for work, ideas to spur job creation are at the forefront of everyone's minds. While we may represent different political philosophies, we recognize that high unemployment -- particularly long-term unemployment -- is not a liberal problem or a conservative problem; it's a national problem that takes a huge toll on families.
Working hard and living within our means is something that, as a father, I tried very hard to instill in my children. But as a parent, I can't think of a worse role model than the federal government. One of the first votes the Senate will take this year will be to raise the $12.4 trillion debt limit -- the amount Washington can charge to the nation's credit card -- just a month after they increased it by $290 billion. This shouldn't be how we start the new year.
The following originally appeared as an op-ed with Mark Shurtleff in the LA Times. -Staff
Congress is ignoring the Constitution by requiring all Americans to buy health insurance and ordering states to establish health benefit exchanges to run the new federal healthcare system.
The House and Senate have passed their respective versions of the legislation to take over the healthcare system, and a common bill is being hammered out, once again behind closed doors. The essential elements that we know will be in the final product are bad policy for America and, perhaps worse, a threat to liberty itself. The courts may have to enforce the constitutional boundaries that Congress has ignored.
