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Subscribe to RSS“The Republican Party won dozens of elections last fall after claiming Democrats had focused too little on creating jobs, but now GOP lawmakers stand accused of the same thing,” the AP writes. “Republicans are using their new House majority to push for a repeal of President Obama’s health care law and for restrictions on abortions, and to highlight other social issues important to their most conservative supporters. Examples include limiting jury awards in medical malpractice cases and expanding the District of Columbia’s school voucher program. Representative Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who oversaw GOP House campaigns in past years, defended the early focus on health and abortion. ‘These are commitments we made’ during the fall campaign, he said, adding that a heavier emphasis on jobs is coming soon.”
“Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl plans to announce his 2012 intentions in February, and a decision by the Arizona Republican to retire could ignite a heated race for his No. 2 slot while unleashing significant changes within the GOP leadership,” Roll Call writes.
AP
Republican Marco Rubio speaks after winning his Senate bid in November.
Roll Call: A year ago, then-candidate Marco Rubio received a megastar welcome when he was introduced by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) as a keynote speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference annual gathering in Washington, D.C. But when CPAC kicks off next week, Florida’s freshman Senator plans to be miles away from the gathering — with Lincoln Day dinners in Miami-Dade and Pinellas counties as the top priorities on his February calendar. The invitation to address the widely covered conservative meeting is far from the first request Rubio has turned down; it is part of a calculated effort to stay out of the national spotlight as much as possible."
AP
Republican David Rivera is shown speaking to supporters in Coral Gables, Fla. in November.
“Rep. David Rivera (R-Fla.) is facing heightened criticism Friday after the Associated Press reported that the freshman lawmaker paid himself more than $60,000 in unexplained campaign reimbursements during his time in the state Legislature,” Roll Call writes. “Specifically, the Associated Press found that Rivera, who was already facing a state criminal investigation of his finances, didn’t report any details for more than one-third of the expenses for which he reimbursed himself. He simply called them ‘campaign expenses,’ according to the AP review.”
Republicans aren’t the only ones with an ethics problem. “Rep. Gregory Meeks is the subject of a congressional ethics probe centered on his financial-disclosure forms, which have been rife with omissions, The [New York] Post has learned. The investigation by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct is ongoing even as the panel's leadership changed with the new Congress, a source told The Post. The lapses in the Queens Democrat's annual financial filings include his failure to reveal at least one of his wife's sources of income -- a teaching job at Queens College, The Post has learned.”
“Senate Republicans are divided over whether to demand a balanced-budget amendment from the White House as a precondition for increasing the national debt ceiling,” The Hill reports.
Glad that’s settled… Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) “settled a suit against a Capitol Hill cafeteria that he filed after he damaged his tooth biting down on an olive pit in a sandwich wrap in 2008,” the New York Daily News reports, adding, “On Friday, the two sides settled for an undisclosed amount, that was supposed to reflect the out-of-pocket damages Kucinich had to pay for his woes.”
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I don't think Jon Kyl should retire. I feel kyl should be run out of town on a rail.
I suppose after 4 years plus of democratic control of house and senate and the steady loss of jobs , a couple weeks will not hurt .The American people can see the light at the end of the tax and spend democratic frenzy so jobs will soon follow. Immediately after the people put the republicans in control of the working taxpayers checkbook the economy started to pick up ,slowly but at least in the right direction.the republicans need to slash the government budget by 20% on all levels this year and then 10% per year until all is well,,,tighten your belts and break out the plows America.
First of all witzzz you whined where are the jobs for two years, and now it won't hurt to wait a couple more weeks.
BTW: Do you honestly believe the republicans will give you anything on jobs soon. I see your still buying their BS, but as long as you uninformed conservatives keep eating their lies they'll keep feeding them to you.
So.. The GOP will get focus on Jobs soon? I never heard one time the mention of the Abortion Law during campaigning. If the American people put these idiots in office for Abortion, Medical Malpractice, etc. then you are getting what you deserve and stop whining about Jobs or the debt.
Yep, it absolutely never fails the "get the Federal Govt. off my back crowd" wants to be in charge of the most intimate decisions that families make. Well, that and create a theocracy with education. But concern about the real issues for Americans? Not so much. Watch for the continual erosion of job protections as they continue to pay back their corporate masters. Should be good fun to watch as the "teabaggers" slowly wake up to the idea that the Republican party has no intention of doing anything but continue to pillage the middle class until it is extinct.
Spot on NDD.
NDD,
Ah, the gloom and doom of the day.
I am guessing that there is not a single Democrat in the Congress or White House that is not beholden to the corporate world.
I am just wondering why our congress & president made a health care law that mandates that individuals must purchase health insurance from private corporations? Wouldn't have been better for the American people to have a government run, cheaper health insurance?
BigBear
Then you should have supported clinton or edwards in 08 for, to the best of my knowledge, Obama made no promise on having a government option. However, in order for any health care bill to pass deals, including the No Public Option, had to be made. Something in this case is definitely better than nothing.
So TeaParty darling Rubio, now that he's in, is shunning CPAC. Hmmmmmmmmm, no problem there, he has 6 years to worry(if any) about being reelected.
Ethic's problems for elected officials"say it aint So" !
Forget classes on the Constitution, lawmakers need classes on economics. While a balanced budget amendment may be okay for state and local governments or your household, it is a horrible idea for federal governments that set interest rates and determines a country's money supply. Tying the hands of the federal government by not allowing government debt is a formula to create economic disaster during economic downturns. It may sound good but on a macroeconomic and national level, it is a very bad idea.
That is spot on Matthew.
WTF? How do you pass a balanced budget amendment and then increase the debt ceiling? "You got some splainin' to do Lucy!" Talk about pandering to the base.
Not to mention the restrictions on the military if a international conflict threaten the existence of the free world.
First we have to kiss our base's backsides then we might do something to get our Corporate Masters to get up off their collective wallets!
SO IS 2012 !!!!
If the Republicans don't get to work soon creating jobs and end their infatuation with legislating a woman's body then the GOP will be known as a "Group Of Perverts".
Nope, that dog won't hunt!
During the election it was jobs, jobs, jobs - where's the jobs, Mr. President!
Now, were going to fix society's ills - you know the chance for health care, abortion, tax cuts for the Koch brothers ...
And Mr. Kyl and his friends will "get around " to jobs!
Give me a break!
Just not soon enough.
You know we really didn't mean we were going to actually help you working class clowns. Saps! We only needed you fools to further our corporate backside kissing ahh... I mean agenda.
The great thing about the GOPTP is you get bait AND switch!! It's like a twofer!
What? You really thought those clowns wanted to get into office to create jobs???!!! Really?? Hah! I could have written this script months ago. Republicans don't give a rat's a** about jobs for middle class Americans...never have, never will. They care more about what the Koch brothers think and want than whether this country supplies even one more job. If they could only just get control of women's bodies, then all the ills of the country will go away. You know these damn women want to much as it is. If we can keep 'em bare foot and pregnant, well we've just solved the unemployment issue now haven't we. Then if we can install a voucher system for education, well then we've dismantled public education without even a whimper from that pesky middle class. Oh and now that we're on a roll and we can slip in privatizing Medicare and Social Security and call it deficit reduction we and our rich buddies are home free for good. Too bad grandma's voucher for health care insurance isn't good anywhere. We didn't say she would actually be able to buy anything with it. That's up to our buddies in the private health care industry to help grandma out now. Thank goodness we finally got the seniors of this country off our backs.
Where are all of those jobs that McConnell and Boehner promised to create once they came to power in the House? As usual that has been shown to be another crock of teapugnicant lies. If the country could convert all of the lies that the gop spits out, on a daily basis, into gold we wouldn't have a budget problem.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't one of the major commitments made by the Republicans to promote job growth? Of course, they can say "well the Democrats focused on health care too?" but they come across as a bunch of whiny five year olds when they do so.
How about your commitment to the voters that elected you? Or do they only count ever two-six years?
CONSERVATIVES YOU GOT SUCKERED AGAIN!!!! I guess you'll blame PRESIDENT OBAMA for the REPUBLICANS NOT CREATING JOBS. The REPUBLICANS got you to do their biding, by getting up piss-off at PRESIDENT OBAMA by saying evil things that was and is not true. They hand fed you all kind of lies. I KNOW YOU WILL NOT ADMITT IT, THAT YOU ALL GOT SUCKERED, SO I WILL SAY IT FOR YOU. YOU GOT SUCKERED. I know you must feel funny being the only ones on the SHORT YELLOW BUS. And the REPUBLICANS will pull the same yellow bus out in a few months, are you going to be on it?????
Yeah right! Now they are going to focus on jobs, give me a break. The current losers in control of our government would not know a job if it hit them in the face. These morons hired Bill Daley as Chief Mutt in Charge and he thinks more spending is required. What a bunch of morons.
These idiots are tone deaf and will never get it!! Can not wait until 2012 to send them all packing. This goes for any Demorat or Repub who supports the current so-call leadership in our country.
Start listening to the American people. Repeal the stupid healthcare and get on with cutting spending and get jobs for Americans.
Hey Ric, Repealing health care legislation which BTW is creating jobs and cutting spending will only serve to cut more jobs out of the economy. It's a nice sound bite isn't it but think for a minute. If the Federal Government cuts spending which means for all intents and purposes money being sent to the various states in one form or the other, then real people get laid off in real jobs because the state governments use federal dollars to promote businesses in their states and government services such as transportation, police and fire and the like. So when you say cut federal spending what you are really saying is increase unemployment in this country. Perhaps you should do some research and get educated before you throw big words around that you don't understand the meaning of.
Jobs focus coming soon from GOP, they promise. Is that after the repeal financial reform, after they pass their latest abortion law, after they repeal whatever they didn't like? Sure guys/gals, keep talking and spinning. If they cut any more taxes, they'll add to the debt and zero won't pay for the military, homeland security or their wages and benefits. They don't want to invest in America's infrastructure which WOULD create jobs. Let's see, that leaves tax breaks for big business in the hopes they'll turn loose of their record-breaking profits and hire some people.
How is the SMALLER GOVERNMENT going to control every pregnancy, and stay out of our lives at the same time what disconnect you Ideologues have really thought that one out. Bonehead where are the Jobs I have 700 billion reasons to hate Republicans right now! Trickle down that trickle down this total BS.
Hey Rick
Is your last name Lazio?
Rick in Colo;
Wow the best post I've read all day, you said it man, you tell the idiots in Washington to cut taxes and repeal Health care, create jobs and all will be great again in the Good Old USA.
Whats the oxygen level in Colorado?
I’m sorry, but it sounded like the most ridiculous post of the day. It’s more of a tea drinker post, without thought.
FOCUS on jobs and only jobs. Put people to work no need for all the other crap. We create jobs everything will fall in line. Consumers will have more money to spend,employers will pay more payrole taxs. The bad thing is they keep putting job creations off because politticians dont have clue on what to do. Im a small business owner and have had to let 1/2 of my workforce off,so I dont pay as much taxs as I was 2 or 3 years ago. I know im not alone,goverment revenue is way down because of lack of jobs. Creating jobs should be first on agenda not anything else.I am only one simpleton in country of no-it-alls. I cant even spell or puncuate rite'but i can use a calculator and know if revenue down we borrow more money wich means more debt. It should be business first and everything else will fall in line.