Congressman John Kline (R-MN) today criticized congressional Democrats’ refusal to increase funding for special education programs, arguing that Congress has ignored its obligation to fully fund its share of expenses under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for far too long. Kline, the top Republican on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, offered an amendment to the a... Read more »
Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee’s Senior Republican Member, today joined fellow members of the House GOP Health Care Solutions Group for a hearing that examined patient and doctor experiences with other countries’ government-run health care systems. “This hearing looked at a side of government-run health care that its proponents have willfully ignored: the deva... Read more »
Sniff…what’s that odor? The “new” Employee Free Choice Act does not pass the smell test, two newspapers say. Both the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and the Harrisonburg, Va., Daily News-Record decried the act’s stench of bad lawmaking in editorials – even after reports that one of its smelliest features, “card check,” would be removed. Senators are being tight-lipped about this alleged compromise, so ... Read more »
The debate over the Employee Free Choice Act is about many things. It’s about a worker’s right to a secret ballot, of course, as well as jobs. But it’s also about forced government contracts, a “disastrous” part of the bill that has taken center stage now that there are reports its “card check” provision could be removed. There are several reasons to oppose binding arbitration, but Investor’s Busi... Read more »
The U.S. House Education and Labor Committee continued its march toward a bigger, more intrusive federal government today with passage of sweeping legislation to impose a fully government-controlled student lending system on students and schools. The Democrats’ legislation, H.R. 3221, abolishes the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program and redirects tens of billions in government savings an... Read more »
Supporters of the Employee Free Choice Act should take a long, hard look at Michigan before moving forward with the proposal – especially in this struggling economy. That’s what The Detroit News suggested in a Sunday editorial about one of the most destructive features of the act: forced government contracts. The News knows its stuff here. Michigan enacted a similar law in 1969, Public Act 312. It... Read more »
I have to confess a certain feeling of ‘déjà vu all over again’ as we prepare to vote on yet another budget reconciliation bill that vastly expands the reach of government. Last week, we approved a plan that sets up the federal government to take control of our health care system. This morning, we’ll be voting on a bill that will put the federal government in complete control of student lending. W... Read more »
I appreciate the opportunity to speak, but I regret that my comments will be in opposition to the bill before us. I was named Ranking Member on the Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee earlier this year with great excitement. After all, workforce development and higher education were key priorities for me as a State Senator, and I was anxious to get to work on bipa... Read more »
Even though the “card check” aspect of the Employee Free Choice Act received a major blow last week, it’s no time to celebrate. A Wall Street Journal editorial today offers a glimpse of some equally bad ideas in the “new” card check, which is currently brewing in the Senate: "One proposal would slash the time for an organizing vote, requiring that it be held within five or 10 days after 30% of wor... Read more »
Democrats on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee approved their planned government takeover of our nation’s health care system this morning after forcing an overnight legislative session to meet their arbitrary deadline for committee passage this week. Three Democrats joined Republicans in unanimous opposition to the plan. Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the panel’s top Republican, issued the fol... Read more »
