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Subscribe to RSS“When President Barack Obama meets with labor leaders Tuesday about looming tax and spending decisions, he will confront a liberal wing of his party energized by last week's election and dug in against making deals with Republicans. These groups held more than 100 events last week to trumpet their success at the polls and remind voters that many Democratic candidates pledged during the campaign to push for higher taxes on upper-income earners and oppose cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits,” The Wall Street Journal writes. “Mr. Obama's challenge on Tuesday, and for at least the next several weeks, is to convince the left that he needs some latitude to fashion a deal with Republicans that might include compromising on some positions the liberal wing considers nonnegotiable.”
The Financial Times: “The US Congress should agree to higher taxes on the wealthy to avoid the fiscal cliff, a top Republican economist has said in a sign of the rapidly shifting political climate in Washington before negotiations to avert the looming budget crisis. Writing for the Financial Times, Glenn Hubbard, who advised Barack Obama’s rival Mitt Romney on his losing presidential bid, is the latest prominent conservative to suggest Republicans should change tack and accept the president’s structure for impending budget talks. “The first step is to raise average (not marginal) tax rates on upper-income taxpayers,” he wrote. “Revenues should come first from these individuals.”
The Washington Post: “President Obama is considering asking Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) to serve as his next defense secretary, part of an extensive rearrangement of his national security team that will include a permanent replacement for former CIA director David H. Petraeus. Although Kerry is thought to covet the job of secretary of state, senior administration officials familiar with the transition planning said that nomination will almost certainly go to Susan E. Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.”
“The FBI is preparing a timeline of its criminal investigation that brought to light CIA Director David Petraeus' extramarital affair so the bureau can respond to members of Congress asking why they and the White House weren't notified of the probe months ago,” the Associated Press reports.
“Gen. John Allen, the top American and NATO commander in Afghanistan, is under investigation for what a senior defense official said early Tuesday was “inappropriate communication” with Jill Kelley, the woman in Tampa, Florida who was seen as a rival for David H. Petraeus’s attentions by Paula Broadwell, who had an extramarital affair with Mr. Petraeus,” The New York Times reports. “In a statement released to reporters on his plane en route to Australia early Tuesday, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said that the F.B.I. on Sunday had referred “a matter involving” General Allen to the Pentagon.”
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I trust Obama to do the right thing, his first four years should have taught him that to negotiate with today's republicans one must be on guard. Two things must be on Obama's side of the line. The Bush tax cuts need to be extended for those making under $250,000 a year and the so called entitlements must not be cut in any fashion. Simply remove the cap on Social Security, and means test the benefits. Let those that can contribute the most do it.
The rich say they all the poor want is entitlements. But they feel entitled to big tax breaks. See entitlements go both ways.
Agree John, I hope the president has learned that you can't really negotiate with the republicans, that they will agree to accept everything he offers them, but then they go back and vote against everything. They are not to be trusted and by now I think he knows this. Smitty- right on, I never understood how the republicans could hate those "entitlements" so much when we have all paid into them and by right are entitled to what we have paid in, but why on earth are they entitled to big tax breaks or lower tax rates? The only way I see them entitled thos those things is if they actually use those breaks and rates to hire workers - which they don't or we would have very little if any unemployment. Want big tax breaks and low tax rates - earn them by using that money to create jobs, othewise, pay up like the rest of us do each time we receive a paycheck, which for my family is every other week.
I agree with removing the income cap on SS contributions. That never made any sense.
But it is wrong to suddenly impose a means test on the benefits. I am 64 years old, in good health, and plan to work for as long as I am able to because I like working.
I have paid into Social Security since 1967. The deal from then til now, after 45 years of paying into it, was that I would be entitled to benefits based on the amount that I paid in, NOT on a means test. Thanks to lots of hard work and some good luck I have done pretty well in those 45 years and will have a comfortable retirement plus the Social Security check. That is ALL MINE, including the promises made by the Social Security system, and the promise was and is that it is NOT subject to a means test.
I have also paid Medicare payroll taxes for those 45 years. That is MINE too. I am entitled to the Medicare that I paid IN ADVANCE for, for 45 years, and it is not yours to take away now that I am about to reap the benefits of those years of hard work.
Call that an entitlement? You are darned right. I am entitled to it because I EARNED it by keeping my end of the bargain.
So True RAB. We need to educate others about the truth. People worked hard and paid in, they deserve to have that benefit. They also deserve a congress who doesnt squander their payments to wage wars.
Rab, if you are really 64 years old and started work in 1967 you should know better. Yes, you paid in, but you paid for those that retired as you worked. Now it is time for the younger generation to contribute to our retirement, I am 66, and I took my retirement. That is a choice you are making. I liked work too, but enough is enough. I feel means testing should be invoked, no body, not you, not me not bella needs the money after a certain amount. $50,000 and more could afford to take a cut, and somebody receiving $100,000 a year shouldn't take anything. I don't G.A.F. what we paid in. It is about making it strong for the younger's that work and do the right thing and want to retire. Don't change the age, don't cut the benefit for most. That is my opinion. The first time I heard that S.S. wouldn't be there for me was in 1965. Guess what its still here and I have an obligation to see it is here for the kids and grand kids.
John:
I think were on the same page when it comes to means testing. I believe the we also have to remove the cap on contribution.
John in Battle Creek your so right. The republican party are Un-American! The American People are dumb! Americans are showing a lack of a good education, emotional intelligence, social intelligence and of insight. The Republicans are just wasting time playing stupid games. Americans lack the intelligence to see or to understand how our Government works!
If they did they would know what is really going on. most Americans act like two year olds.
This is for all you little girls and boys out there.
Boy: Woof! You sure gotta climb a lot of steps to get to this Capitol Building here in Washington. But I wonder who that sad little scrap of paper is?
I'm just a bill. Yes, I'm only a bill.
And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill.
Well, it's a long, long journey
To the capital city.
It's a long, long wait
While I'm sitting in committee,
But I know I'll be a law someday
At least I hope and pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.
Boy: Gee, Bill, you certainly have a lot of patience and courage.
Bill: Well I got this far. When I started, I wasn't even a bill, I was just an idea. Some folks back home decided they wanted a law passed, so they called their local Congressman and he said, "You're right, there oughta be a law." Then he sat down and wrote me out and introduced me to Congress. And I became a bill, and I'll remain a bill until they decide to make me a law.
I'm just a bill
Yes I'm only a bill,
And I got as far as Capitol Hill.
Well, now I'm stuck in committee
And I'll sit here and wait
While a few key Congressmen discuss and debate
Whether they should let me be a law.
How I hope and pray that they will,
But today I am still just a bill.
Boy: Listen to those congressmen arguing! Is all that discussion and debate about you?
Bill: Yeah, I'm one of the lucky ones. Most bills never even get this far. I hope they decide to report on me favourably, otherwise I may die.
Boy: Die?
Bill: Yeah, die in committee. Oooh, but it looks like I'm gonna live! Now I go to the House of Representatives, and they vote on me.
Boy: If they vote yes, what happens?
Bill: Then I go to the Senate and the whole thing starts all over again.
Boy: Oh no!
Bill: Oh yes!
I'm just a bill
Yes, I'm only a bill
And if they vote for me on Capitol Hill
Well, then I'm off to the White House
Where I'll wait in a line
With a lot of other bills
For the president to sign
And if he signs me, then I'll be a law.
How I hope and pray that he will,
But today I am still just a bill.
Boy: You mean even if the whole Congress says you should be a law, the president can still say no?
Bill: Yes, that's called a veto. If the President vetoes me, I have to go back to Congress and they vote on me again, and by that time you're so old...
Boy: By that time it's very unlikely that you'll become a law. It's not easy to become a law, is it?
Bill: No!
But how I hope and I pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.
Congressman: The President signed you, Bill! Now you're a law!
Bill: Oh yes!!!
I hope you Learn some thing today, girls and boys.
I am so glad you grew up with School House Rocks. LOL. People don't have a very good grasp of government and could learn from that little ditty. They actually (because of their hate resources) think that Obama is responsible for spending, the debt, the deficit, etc. and he is in this regard, he has to sign any appropriation bill in order for it to be law. However it is congress and specifically the House of Representatives that actually has the check book and while the Senate and president have to sign off on it. They are the ones that set the agenda. I am old enough to remember how the Viet Nam war ended, congress simply refused to fund it and Nixon had no choice. End the war or starve the troops.
I've always believed that to secure Social Security,the Cap on Income needs to be removed. But I don't believe there should be a means test for benefits. Removing the Cap will mean all of the wealthy would be included in Social Security. And thus,just as they would be fairly required to contribute to it. They should also fairly be able to share in it.
No I have to say! The republican party are Un-American! The American People are dumb! Americans are showing a lack of a good education, emotional intelligence, social intelligence and of insight. Texans are so stupid that it's not even funny. A mind may be a terrible thing to waste! LEARN THE F-ING RULES OF THE F-ING GAME YOU DUMB Mother F***ers! You make me sick! The Republicans are just wasting time playing stupid games. Americans lack the intelligence to see or to understand how our Government works!
Learn how America's federal, state and local governments work to enact the will of the people, The legislative branch, the executive branch. Learn The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the United States. Empowered with the sovereign authority of the people by the framers and the consent of the legislatures of the states, it is the source of all government powers, and also provides important limitations on the government that protect the fundamental rights of United States citizens. Learn the Bill of Rights.
The Legislative Branch
Established by Article I of the Constitution, the Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.
The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. In addition, there are 6 non-voting members, representing the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other territories of the United States. The presiding officer of the chamber is the Speaker of the House, elected by the Representatives. He or she is third in the line of succession to the Presidency.
Members of the House are elected every two years and must be 25 years of age, a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and a resident of the state (but not necessarily the district) they represent.
The House has several powers assigned exclusively to it, including the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, and elect the President in the case of an electoral college tie.
The Senate is composed of 100 Senators, 2 for each state. Until the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913, Senators were chosen by state legislatures, not by popular vote. Since then, they have been elected to six-year terms by the people of each state. Senator's terms are staggered so that about one-third of the Senate is up for reelection every two years. Senators must be 30 years of age, U.S. citizens for at least nine years, and residents of the state they represent.
The Vice President of the United States serves as President of the Senate and may cast the decisive vote in the event of a tie in the Senate.
The Senate has the sole power to confirm those of the President's appointments that require consent, and to ratify treaties. There are, however, two exceptions to this rule: the House must also approve appointments to the Vice Presidency and any treaty that involves foreign trade. The Senate also tries impeachment cases for federal officials referred to it by the House.
In order to pass legislation and send it to the President for his signature, both the House and the Senate must pass the same bill by majority vote. If the President vetoes a bill, they may override his veto by passing the bill again in each chamber with at least two-thirds of each body voting in favor.
The Legislative Process
The first step in the legislative process is the introduction of a bill to Congress. Anyone can write it, but only members of Congress can introduce legislation. Some important bills are traditionally introduced at the request of the President, such as the annual federal budget. During the legislative process, however, the initial bill can undergo drastic changes.
After being introduced, a bill is referred to the appropriate committee for review. There are 17 Senate committees, with 70 subcommittees, and 23 House committees, with 104 subcommittees. The committees are not set in stone, but change in number and form with each new Congress as required for the efficient consideration of legislation. Each committee oversees a specific policy area, and the subcommittees take on more specialized policy areas. For example, the House Committee on Ways and Means includes subcommittees on Social Security and Trade.
A bill is first considered in a subcommittee, where it may be accepted, amended, or rejected entirely. If the members of the subcommittee agree to move a bill forward, it is reported to the full committee, where the process is repeated again. Throughout this stage of the process, the committees and subcommittees call hearings to investigate the merits and flaws of the bill. They invite experts, advocates, and opponents to appear before the committee and provide testimony, and can compel people to appear using subpoena power if necessary.
If the full committee votes to approve the bill, it is reported to the floor of the House or Senate, and the majority party leadership decides when to place the bill on the calendar for consideration. If a bill is particularly pressing, it may be considered right away. Others may wait for months or never be scheduled at all.
When the bill comes up for consideration, the House has a very structured debate process. Each member who wishes to speak only has a few minutes, and the number and kind of amendments are usually limited. In the Senate, debate on most bills is unlimited — Senators may speak to issues other than the bill under consideration during their speeches, and any amendment can be introduced. Senators can use this to filibuster bills under consideration, a procedure by which a Senator delays a vote on a bill — and by extension its passage — by refusing to stand down. A supermajority of 60 Senators can break a filibuster by invoking cloture, or the cession of debate on the bill, and forcing a vote. Once debate is over, the votes of a simple majority passes the bill.
A bill must pass both houses of Congress before it goes to the President for consideration. Though the Constitution requires that the two bills have the exact same wording, this rarely happens in practice. To bring the bills into alignment, a Conference Committee is convened, consisting of members from both chambers. The members of the committee produce a conference report, intended as the final version of the bill. Each chamber then votes again to approve the conference report. Depending on where the bill originated, the final text is then enrolled by either the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate, and presented to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate for their signatures. The bill is then sent to the President.
When receiving a bill from Congress, the President has several options. If the President agrees substantially with the bill, he or she may sign it into law, and the bill is then printed in the Statutes at Large. If the President believes the law to be bad policy, he may veto it and send it back to Congress. Congress may override the veto with a two-thirds vote of each chamber, at which point the bill becomes law and is printed.
There are two other options that the President may exercise. If Congress is in session and the President takes no action within 10 days, the bill becomes law. If Congress adjourns before 10 days are up and the President takes no action, then the bill dies and Congress may not vote to override. This is called a pocket veto, and if Congress still wants to pass the legislation, they must begin the entire process anew.
Powers of Congress
Congress, as one of the three coequal branches of government, is ascribed significant powers by the Constitution. All legislative power in the government is vested in Congress, meaning that it is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing laws. Executive Branch agencies issue regulations with the full force of law, but these are only under the authority of laws enacted by Congress. The President may veto bills Congress passes, but Congress may also override a veto by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Article I of the Constitution enumerates the powers of Congress and the specific areas in which it may legislate. Congress is also empowered to enact laws deemed "necessary and proper" for the execution of the powers given to any part of the government under the Constitution.
Part of Congress's exercise of legislative authority is the establishment of an annual budget for the government. To this end, Congress levies taxes and tariffs to provide funding for essential government services. If enough money cannot be raised to fund the government, then Congress may also authorize borrowing to make up the difference. Congress can also mandate spending on specific items: legislatively directed spending, commonly known as "earmarks," specifies funds for a particular project, rather than for a government agency.
Both chambers of Congress have extensive investigative powers, and may compel the production of evidence or testimony toward whatever end they deem necessary. Members of Congress spend much of their time holding hearings and investigations in committee. Refusal to cooperate with a Congressional subpoena can result in charges of contempt of Congress, which could result in a prison term.
The Senate maintains several powers to itself: It ratifies treaties by a two-thirds supermajority vote and confirms the appointments of the President by a majority vote. The consent of the House of Representatives is also necessary for the ratification of trade agreements and the confirmation of the Vice President.
Congress also holds the sole power to declare war.
Government Oversight
Oversight of the executive branch is an important Congressional check on the President's power and a balance against his discretion in implementing laws and making regulations.
A major way that Congress conducts oversight is through hearings. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs are both devoted to overseeing and reforming government operations, and each committee conducts oversight in its policy area.
Congress also maintains an investigative organization, the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Founded in 1921 as the General Accounting Office, its original mission was to audit the budgets and financial statements sent to Congress by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Today, the GAO audits and generates reports on every aspect of the government, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent with the effectiveness and efficiency that the American people deserve.
The executive branch also polices itself: Sixty-four Inspectors General, each responsible for a different agency, regularly audit and report on the agencies to which they are attached.
Wow! GetReal: The anger in the first paragraph takes away from a very good civics lesson. Very unlike most posts. As a liberal Federalist I feel it is important for all Americans to have a better handle on the workings of our government. At the least a working knowledge of our Constitution. Thank you. ☺
The President needs to hold his ground eonomically and politically. President Obama needs to take his message to the streets, and inform the American People on what his strategy is for moving forward. Do not sit in Washington Mr. President. It is time to take to the road. The President needs to read very carefully the book by Robert Draper called. "Do Not Ask What Good We Do." The President will be walking into a huge GOP/RNC "Snake Pit," and the President needs to be alert to all their "Political Puking." Listen to your base very carefully, and please do not get fooled. Again! The President needs to keep in mind that these Tea Beggers are very much obstrucionists, intolerant of others, and very disrespectful of others. The Tea Beggers in their "House Of Hoodlum's" have never retracked their Tax Pledge they gave to "Goofy Grover." In the US Senate "Mickey Mouse Mitch McConnell" never retracked his "Treasonous Statement." The Tea Beggers that attended the "Caucus Conspiracy" have never retracked their "Blood Oath" that they made on Janruary 20, 2009. Heck Mr. President these Fourteen GOP Felon's will not say a word about their 'conspiracy.' America needs to get reading, researching, and demanding answers about the GOP/RNC "Caucus Conspiracy." Do not let "Historical Hacks" like little "Nutty Newt" try to explain away his acts of 'conspiracy.' Some how "Nutty Newt" thinks that because others have done this that it is just fine. Here is the kicker America! It is not the same at all!
I have to believe that our Country will begin to move forward again and I hope that the President can maintain enough leverage to get everyone to work together. Let's call on God to Bless our Country and help us grow.