The following op-ed was published online at AOL News on March 17, 2010. Imagine a bill that dramatically increases the power of the federal government in Americans' lives. It expands the federal bureaucracy to administer a vital service. Democrats argue it will save money over time because the federal government is more efficient than the private sector -- yet the American people are suspicious of... Read more »
Thank you Madam Chair. Good morning and welcome to all the witnesses. This morning’s hearing is, in congressional terms, a “legislative hearing” – in other words, it’s a direct examination and review of a particular piece of legislation, in this case the Protecting America’s Workers Act. This bill was introduced in April of last year and, since that time, has undergone some fairly substantial revi... Read more »
Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the top Republican on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement in response to “A Blueprint for Reform,” Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s outline for reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: “Education reform is one of the great challenges of the 21st century. To keep America competitive and prosperous, we need a ... Read more »
After directing a trillion dollars toward failed economic policies, Democrats are coming back for more with a $100 billion spending package eerily similar to last year’s stimulus bill. Billions in borrowed dollars would be directed to state and local governments to cover their budget deficits – saddling future generations with even more debt for a policy that has already failed to bring about last... Read more »
The Ranking Republican Members of 11 committees of the U.S. House of Representatives issued the following statement today endorsing an immediate moratorium on earmarks for members of the Republican Conference: “The American people are tired of out-of-control government spending, taxing, and borrowing. To earn back their trust, we need to immediately cut off the earmarks that have given Washington ... Read more »
Good morning. I would like to welcome you all to our hearing today. As we explore our existing juvenile justice system, it is ever important that we also examine the unique experiences faced by girls who enter the system. Today we will hear from a well-regarded group of witnesses who will be able to provide insight to the challenges and characteristics of female offenders. Although recent studies ... Read more »
Good morning and thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to begin by thanking our distinguished panel for appearing today. We appreciate that they have taken time out of their busy schedules to share their experiences and expertise with us. Firefighters and public safety officers do a tremendous job protecting our communities. They are on the front lines of emergencies and represent a key component ... Read more »
The following op-ed was published in The Hill on March 8, 2010. As the outlines of the Democrats’ health care endgame begin to emerge, one thing has become perfectly clear: The majority party in Washington, D.C., has no intention of bipartisanship. Before last month’s televised summit, President Barack Obama submitted an 11-page proposal that included “targeted changes” to the 2,700-page Senate bi... Read more »
The U.S. Department of Labor announced this morning that 36,000 jobs were lost in February, while the national unemployment rate remained at 9.7 percent. Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the Senior Republican on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement: “Day after day, Democrats tell the American people their policies will create jobs and spur economic recovery. Yet mont... Read more »
Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4247, the Keeping All Students Safe Act. This legislation establishes new federal requirements and limitations for the use of seclusion or restraints in schools and comes in response to a 2009 Government Accountability Office (GAO) analysis of incidents in which students suffered injury or death as a result of abuse of these practices. While there is... Read more »
