Latest on the shutdown

I’d like to share a few recent interviews in which I explain my position on the shutdown – that we need to repeal ObamaCare, but that the shutdown strategy cannot achieve that goal. I discussed my views with Chris Daniel here, and yesterday evening I talked with John Batchelor here.

Additionally, if you missed it, see my interview with National Review here.

The shutdown continues

The government shutdown has entered its second week. As you may know, I have fought hard to repeal ObamaCare, which I believe is disastrous for the American economy and for our healthcare system. However, I am critical of the strategy that brought us to this point – I have long believed that this strategy would result in a shutdown but would not achieve its goal of dismantling ObamaCare.   

With that in mind, I wanted to share a few links related to the current situation: 

·         John Batchelor and I discuss the shutdown here.

·         John Batchelor discusses the ObamaCare rollout and the shutdown with Victor Davis Hanson and Larry Kudlow here.

·         National Review interviews me on the shutdown here.   

Goverment shutdown update

I wanted to share my views with you on the government shutdown. I strongly oppose ObamaCare, and I have voted to repeal or defund it around forty times. I also have argued that the Republicans’ current political strategy would result in a government shutdown but would not succeed in dismantling ObamaCare – essentially the worst of both worlds.

I will be discussing the shutdown today on America’s News HQ around 10:30 am PST and on Justice with Judge Jeanine around 6:25 pm PST – both on Fox News. For more information about my thoughts on this issue, please see the NewsMax article here, the Fresno Bee blogpost here, and my recent appearance on CNN here.

Nunes intern opportunities

Intern positions are available now in my Visalia district office, and I am seeking applications for Washington, D.C. interns who can begin in January 2014.

If you know someone who is interested in politics, wants to gain professional experience, and excels in a fast-paced environment, please pass along this message.

Interns provide critical staff support functions such as organizing events, conducting research, and helping with special projects. The application process is ongoing for both part-time and full-time positions.   

All prospective interns must have a high school diploma and must be enrolled or have recently graduated from a college or university. I have positions available in Visalia for fall, winter, and spring, while my Washington office is seeking applications for winter and spring only. Applications can be downloaded from my website here. 

If you have questions about my intern program, please call (559) 733-3861.

 

Separately, take a look at the updated Nunes Digest here, and watch a good, short video on tax reform here.

 

Syria update

Dear Friends,

Today Congress is continuing to discuss possible U.S. military action in Syria. The Senate is likely to vote on authorizing the use of force in the middle of this week, with a House vote to follow later in the week or early next week. Meanwhile, I am working with Democratic Senator Joe Manchin on a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would oppose the use of force at this time. You can read a short update on my efforts here and in the following write-up at National Review Online:

Representative Devin Nunes (Calif.)
Nunes, a member of the House’s right flank who is opposed to military intervention, is working with Democratic senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who is also opposed, to urge Congress to pursue a diplomatic response to Assad’s use of chemical weapons. Nunes, like McCarthy, comes from a Western district that’s deeply skeptical of the president, but he doesn’t want to ignore the civil war. Rather, he’d like the administration to come up with a long-term diplomatic strategy for the whole region. He and Manchin both hope that anti-war Democrats and conservative critics can jointly seek a third way on Syria.

Republican hawks are worried that the Nunes-Manchin proposal could peel away support for a strike, but no one knows at this point how much support their proposed resolution might garner. In the meantime, keep an eye on Nunes as he works the halls of the Capitol. If his plan gathers steam with conservatives, it could kill the White House’s hopes of winning an authorization for war. House Democrats, who are hardly rushing to support a strike, could be tempted to sign on, and House Republicans would be able to tell constituents that they have a plan to deal with Assad, even though they’re not for war. “If Obama’s resolution is defeated, you may see members from both parties rally behind this kind of legislation,” predicts one House Republican aide.

 

ObamaCare's flexible timeline

Just before the long fourth of July weekend, the Obama administration revealed in a little-read blog post that it would delay the employer mandate – a major element of ObamaCare – for one year. The administration had previously suspended other ObamaCare stipulations, and had offered more than a thousand “waivers” that temporarily exempted select companies, unions, and even entire states from various ObamaCare regulations.    

At an August 1 Ways and Means hearing, I asked Health and Human Services official Gary Cohen about other possible delays in ObamaCare. You can view the exchange here. Here’s a transcript:

Devin Nunes: Mr. Cohen, do you foresee any additional ObamaCare provisions that may not be ready for implementation?

Gary Cohen: No.  

That was Mr. Cohen’s entire answer. So you can imagine my surprise just eleven days later when the Obama administration announced it would delay until 2015 ObamaCare’s limit on out-of-pocket costs.

Nancy Pelosi famously said we’d have to pass ObamaCare to find out what’s in it. Well, now we’re finding out. They promised us this:

 

 

Instead, as Democrat Senator Max Baucus observed, we’re getting this: