|
Washington Beat
By Katie Pavlich
1000 WAIVERS AND COUNTING
The arguments against ObamaCare continue to line up as the Department
of Health and Human Services handed out the 1,040th health care waiver
this week, exempting them from the government takeover for at least a
year. The number comes at the same time Health and Human Services
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius admits double counting money for funding of
the bill after being called out by Illinois Republican Rep. John
Shimkus during a budget hearing.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POSTS LARGEST DEFICIT EVER
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the federal government
will post a $223 billion deficit for the month of February, making it
the largest monthly deficit ever posted in U.S. history. The number
comes as the debate about cutting federal spending continues to rage on
Capitol Hill as Democrats call $61 billion in cuts proposed by
republicans “draconian,” while “meeting the GOP half way” by presenting
their mere $1.6 billion in cuts as the threat of a partial government
shutdown looms for the second time in less than three weeks.
RADICAL ISLAM IN AMERICA
New York Rep. Pete King, who sits as chairman on the House Homeland
Security Committee, will hold hearings this week focusing on the
radicalization of Muslims in the American-Muslim community. Rep. King
is already seeing protests against the hearing and opposition from
radical Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the man behind the push for a mosque at
Ground Zero, and the Council on Islamic Relations, a Muslim group with
ties to Hamas. Over the weekend, hundreds gathered in New York City to
protest against the hearings, saying King is unfairly targeting
Muslims. Regardless, King isn’t backing down, saying he will not put
political correctness ahead of America’s security and that these
hearing are essential to keeping Americans safe.
RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 2012
Potential competition for President Obama were in Iowa this week
testing the presidential waters. Herman Cain, former Speaker of the
House Newt Gingrich, former Senator Rick Santorum, former Louisiana
Governor Buddy Roemer and former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty
attended the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition forum and covered topics
ranging from the economy, social issues and religion while stressing
the need for a conservative path moving forward.
ATF WATCHING GUNS GO TO MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS
As the Obama Administration and the Justice Department threaten to
crack down on law abiding gun shop owners along our southern border to
“stop the flow of guns into Mexico,” the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms has been watching drug cartel suppliers purchase hundreds
semi-automatic weapons, resulting in thousands of innocent deaths.
Meanwhile, President Obama met with Mexican President Felipe Calderon
this week and made it clear U.S. federal agents operating in Mexico,
aiding the Mexican government in its war on the cartels, would not be
armed. This comes after ICE agent Jamie Zapata was killed while unarmed
in Mexico by drug cartel members.
OIL PRICES RISE, FEDS WANT TO TAP RESERVE
With the Middle East continuing to crumble, oil prises are nearing
record highs and officials in the Obama administration say they are
aware of the strain high prices are putting on American families,
putting the opening of U.S. emergency oil reserves, which would only
last for 37 days, on the table as an option to help ease the pain at
the pump.
Meanwhile, the Obama administration is being accused of deliberately
withholding domestic energy as officials continue to withhold drilling
permits in the Gulf of Mexico.
|
|
|
|
