Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, and Germany

I am currently in the Middle East, visiting Iraq, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with other Members of Congress. This is my fourth visit to Iraq and the region. I wanted to visit Iraq one last time before the drawdown of American troops begins. I was pleased to have a meal with the soldiers from the 1109th Aviation Classification and Repair Depot based out of Fresno.

The situation is greatly improved in Iraq. Baghdad, once strife-torn, is now vibrant. The surge has worked and we owe our military and intelligence community a tremendous debt of gratitude. The surge rooted out the bad guys, many foreign infiltrators, and has left Iraq a much better place than when I first visited in 2005. Iraq still faces the problem of long-term ethnic and religious differences. But the country has the potential to be one of the richest in the Middle East with abundant oil reserves and agricultural resources. I have been impressed with the commitment of many Iraqis to see this happen.

We will finish our trip to the region in the UAE and visit U.S. Navy personnel. Then we will depart for Germany on Friday, where we will visit our military installations in Stuttgart and Ramstein and spend time with some of the wounded soldiers.

Basic Math

Liberal activists and Democratic party faithful continue to blame Republicans for the failure of Congress to pass health care reform. These political operatives apparently failed basic math.

Democrats control the House of Representatives with 256 votes. It only takes 218 votes to pass legislation. Using some simple math, we find the Speaker and the President have 38 votes to spare in their quest for socialized medicine – at least in the House of Representatives.

256 – 218 = 38

Democrats also control the Senate – with a filibuster proof majority. No GOP obstruction possible there either.

So why hasn’t the President been able to get his way? Where are our new government health insurance cards?

The dirty little secret is that the Democrats themselves are scared of Obama care and for good reason.

A man-made drought? "I beg to differ," says Secretary Salazar

by Devin Nunes

Earlier today, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar testified before the House Budget Committee.

You may recall that Secretary Salazar visited Fresno recently to hear your concerns and promised his full cooperation in resolving our water shortages. This hearing provided me an opportunity to follow-up on the Secretary’s promises and to inquire as to whether or not he would be seeking a re-consult on the biological decisions that have kept the Delta pumps from running.

The Secretary refused to answer my question about a re-consult and instead implied that global warming was the reason we are experiencing shortages. He went on to say that there is no “man-made drought” and rebuked me as being unhelpful when describing the problem in this manner.

Of course, the lack of water south of the Delta is the direct result of pumping restrictions imposed by our government – a man-made drought or government-imposed drought is the most descriptive way to describe the crisis.

Click here for a short video of today’s hearing.

Turn on the Pumps Act Killed

By Devin Nunes

Yesterday, House Democrats defeated my effort to force a vote on H.R. 3105 – the Turn on the Pumps Act. The Speaker used a procedural tactic to “table” my appeal for a vote – thus killing consideration of my bill.

It is noteworthy that, despite the claims of bi-partisan support for returning Delta pumping to normal operations, only three Democrats – Rep. Griffith (D-Alabama), Rep. Kratovil (D-MA), and Rep. Minnick (ID) supported my bill on the House Floor. Not a single California Democrat voted in favor of the Turn on the Pumps Act (see how they voted). Meanwhile, communities across the Central Valley face severe water shortages – shortages that are also impacting Southern California.

A video of the floor proceedings can be found on my YouTube Channel by clicking here.

House blocks Rep. Nunes' try for water bill

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives on Thursday dismissed the latest public maneuver by Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, to summon attention to the San Joaquin Valley’s water shortage.

By a nearly perfect party line vote of 249-179, the House blocked Nunes from bringing to the floor a bill removing restrictions from Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta pumping plants. The restrictions have been put in place to protect vulnerable species and habitat.
Nunes has been increasingly blunt in his partisan appeals on the water issue, and he noted Thursday that “not a single California Democrat” supported his long-shot parliamentary tactic.

Several committees have previously defeated Nunes in related efforts, either directly or by blocking his request to obtain a House vote.

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Published online on Thursday, Jul. 23, 2009
By Michael Doyle / Bee Washington Bureau

Mayo Clinic Says That American People Will Lose Under House Democrats' Government-Run Plan

by DEVIN NUNES

"Although there are some positive provisions in the current House Tri-Committee bill – including insurance for all and payment reform demonstration projects – the proposed legislation misses the opportunity to help create higher-quality, more affordable health care for patients. In fact, it will do the opposite.

"In general, the proposals under discussion are not patient focused or results oriented. Lawmakers have failed to use a fundamental lever – a change in Medicare payment policy – to help drive necessary improvements in American health care. Unless legislators create payment systems that pay for good patient results at reasonable costs, the promise of transformation in American health care will wither. The real losers will be the citizens of the United States."


Read the Mayo Clinic’s reaction to House Tri-Committee bill (click link).