Entries

GOP Senators Talk Debt with Obama

Politico reports : A potentially uncomfortable meeting between Senate Republicans and President Barack Obama over debt negotiations went smoothly on Thursday senators said, though Obama did more listening than dishing. Unlike the last time the Senate Republican Conference met with …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 12, 2011

WH to GOP: Don't Cut Intel Funds

The Hill reports : The White House on Wednesday did not issue a veto threat but warned the House not to cut intelligence funding. The White House on Wednesday stopped short of a veto threat but warned the House against cutting intelligence funding. The House on Thursday is set to begin …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 12, 2011

Oil Execs Ask to Keep Tax Breaks

The Hill reports : Senate Democrats clashed with top executives at the country’s five largest oil companies Thursday amid efforts to eliminate billions of dollars in tax breaks for the industry. The executives — from Exxon Mobil, Shell Oil, Chevron, BP and ConocoPhillips — roundly …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 12, 2011

Ethics Panel Sends Ensign Case to DOJ

TPM reports : The Senate Ethics Committee has uncovered evidence that former Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) and others broke U.S. law by trying to cover up an affair Ensign had with a campaign aide, the wife of one of his top Senate staffers. The panel has forwarded the evidence of criminal …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 12, 2011

Romney: No Apologies For Romneycare

In a speech Thursday, Mitt Romney defended his Massachusetts health care plan and argued that it didn't resemble the President's health reforms. Here is a link to Romney's power point slide. Here is where he defends the mandate: For some, Romney's ability to defend the …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday May 12, 2011

Mississippi River at Flood Stage

CNN reports : With the overflowing Mississippi River bearing down on New Orleans, where the water level was already at flood stage, the Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday it is opening more bays along a major spillway. By the end of the day, the Corps will open 113 more bays -- …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 12, 2011

Romney's Health Speech Venue: Another Misstep?

Romney is set to deliver a major policy speech at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center. But the venue is raising some eyebrows. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich got off to a not-so-great start yesterday with some website problems just as he announced to 1.3 million people on Twitter that …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday May 12, 2011

Journal's Romneycare Attack Misses the Mark

Today's Wall Street Journal savagely criticizes Mitt Romney's health care record. But their argument isn't very convincing. Today's Wall Street Journal savagely criticizes Mitt Romney's health care record. Let's try to reverse-engineer the editorial to see what the editors believe …

Written by David Frum on Thursday May 12, 2011

Paul to Launch Prez Bid Friday

Politico reports : Ron Paul is set to officially launch his presidential campaign Friday morning, a Paul source told POLITICO. The Texas congressman will make his announcement from New Hampshire during the 7:00 a.m. hour of ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Paul is then scheduled to speak …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 12, 2011

Al Qaeda Threatens Obama's Grandma

ABC News reports : Security has been increased around the home of President Barack Obama's step-grandmother in Kenya after an African al Qaeda branch issued a personal threat against her, police said today. Kenyan police told ABC News they are patrolling round the clock after Al Shabaab, …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 12, 2011

CT Gov Ignores Long Term Fiscal Problems

Zachary Janowski writes : Gov. Dannel Malloy signed a new budget into law last week, putting in place a framework for solving Connecticut’s projected $3.5 billion deficit, but the state still has long-term financial challenges it needs to face. Malloy’s budget hinges on the ability of …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 12, 2011

Bin Laden's Kid Lashes Out

When I first heard that Osama Bin Laden's son Omar was calling his father's death a violation of international law, I had to assume it was a joke. One’s first reaction is that it’s a joke – a parody to attract attention. But no. It’s apparently for real. If so, it shows how hopeless it is to …

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday May 12, 2011

FroshUpdate: Ribble Gets New Appt; Rigell Keeps Carrier in VA

Scott Rigell scores a victory yesterday when the House Armed Services Cmte adopted his proposal to cancel the transfer of a US Navy carrier from Norfolk to Florida, while Reid Ribble gets a new appointment - to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Rick Berg is just a …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday May 12, 2011

Why's FDA Wasting Time on Vending Machines?

Whatever one thinks about candy consumption by Americans, the FDA has more important things to focus on than regulating vending machines. Under the terms of Section 4205 of the Patients Protection and Affordable Care Act, vending machine operators who own or operate more than twenty machines …

Written by Horace Cooper on Thursday May 12, 2011

McCain: Torture Didn't Net Bin Laden

Politico reports : Torture didn’t lead the United States to Osama bin Laden, and the mission shouldn’t be used to justify the country’s use of it in the past, argues Sen. John McCain. Writing on Thursday’s Washington Post op-ed page , the Arizona Republican — and himself a …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 12, 2011

Team Huntsman: GOP Field is Weak

Time reports: So careful that he's disinclined to weigh in on any matter on which he hasn't been fully briefed or made up his mind, Huntsman is nonetheless plenty open about wanting to compete for Obama's job. Already he's in primary-season mode, moderating his previously moderate views by …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 12, 2011

Paul Would Not Have Ordered Bin Laden Mission

Politico reports : Ron Paul says he would not have authorized the mission that led to the death of Osama bin Laden, and that President Barack Obama should have worked with the Pakistani government instead of authorizing a raid. "I think things could have been done somewhat differently," …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 12, 2011

What Congress Really Thinks of Canada

A new study looked at the Congressional record to find out what representatives and senators really think about our neighbor to the north. What do American members of Congress really think of Canada? Well, it depends on the issue. Indeed, a Fraser Institute study examining 1,830 mentions of …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday May 12, 2011

Toomey's Budget: Too Good to Be True

Sen. Toomey's budget proposal promises a budget surplus achieved painlessly through a combination of tax cuts and spending increases. It's not going to happen. I am mightily impressed by Sen. Toomey’s budget proposal. It promises to achieve a budget surplus and, most importantly, it does that …

Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Thursday May 12, 2011

GOP: $46B More in 2012 Cuts

Politico reports : Picking up where April’s budget agreement left off, House Republicans outlined plans Wednesday to cut another $45.7 billion from domestic spending and foreign aid next year, an 11 percent reduction designed to roll back appropriations to the levels set prior to the …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday May 12, 2011