by DEVIN NUNES
I and a growing number of others believe Congress needs to act today to address our nation’s long-term financial challenges and we have a plan. Our proposal is called “A Roadmap for America’s Future” (Roadmap for short) and was introduced in Congress on January 27th (see video).
Today, President Obama admitted that our plan, authored by Rep. Paul Ryan (WI), was a legitimate attempt to solve the economic and fiscal crisis facing the United States (see the video here). In fact, to date, the Roadmap is the only bill that addresses both short and long term challenges related to our economy, health care system, and entitlement programs.
More information about this important reform package can be found by visiting my webpage www.nunes.house.gov or by visiting http://www.americanroadmap.org/.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Republican Congressmen Blast Administration’s Misleading Announcement on Water Delivery to San Joaquin Valley Farmers
The Department of the Interior announced that it would "make available" nearly 400,000 acre feet of water from the San Luis Reservoir. Secretary Salazar failed to explain that this is not "new" water, but actually saved water bought and paid for by water users. In this case, at the end of every year, farmers conserve water to ensure that they will have enough water for the beginning of the next planting season. Farmers have paid for this water and store it in the San Luis Reservoir, as they do every year. The Department of the Interior is under contract to deliver this stored water back to the farmers. Secretary Salazar’s claim that this "assured water supply" is a result of recent storms is misleading and provides false hope to Valley residents.
"The actions of the Department of Interior are a classic Ponzi scheme that would make Bernard Madoff jealous. In this case, the Secretary is providing water users with the water they already bought. The Secretary’s generosity knows no bounds. Mr. Salazar seems to think he can gift to farmers their own water. This kind of thinking is exactly why radical environmentalists dominate Washington. Salazar, the Obama Administration, and the Democratic Congress refuse to recognize property rights. Whether the property in question is your water, land or hard earned tax dollars, everything is fair game to them. If you are lucky enough to get to keep what you have worked hard for, Obama and his crew will send out a press release and take credit." - Congressman Devin Nunes, sponsor of H.R. 3105 (CA- 21)
"The Administration is publicly patting itself on the back for doing exactly what they are obligated to do – provide farmers with the water they already own. Political spin will not help the thousands who are unemployed, and it will not help the farmers who have had no choice but to sell their land and lay off workers. They need real action, and they need it now. We have the ability to solve this problem - all we have to do is turn on the pumps. If Secretary Salazar wants to prove that this Administration hasn’t turned its back on San Joaquin Valley communities, he will support legislation to restore the flow of water." - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Republican Doc Hastings (WA-04)
The day after our water forum in Fresno, the Interior Secretary used his authority to 'release' up to 400,000 acre-feet of water already owned by Central Valley farmers. Having demonstrated his authority to act, he now needs to follow through and release the water that he holds hostage to the Delta Smelt." - House Water and Power Ranking Republican Tom McClintock (CA-04)
"This is just one more example where this Administration gives the appearance of addressing a problem, when all they are really doing is providing window-dressing. Secretary Salazar is playing politics when we need real, long-term solutions that bring people back to work. As I heard at our recent Congressional Water Forum in Fresno, the time to act is now." - Western Caucus Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01)
"We are in a dire water situation in California, and are facing a situation where a tiny fish is taking precedence over our local farmers and workers, which is killing jobs and our local economies. The Central Valley should not be ignored as we suffer thorough a man made drought caused by regulations resulting in mandated water reductions. Our farmers, families, and communities are tired of the continued lip service paid to our problems, and it is time for the Administration and the Democratic Leadership to wake up and get the message that jobs grow where water flows." - Congressman Kevin McCarthy (CA-22)
Background:On Monday, January 25th, Republican Members of Congress hosted a Water Forum in Fresno, California on addressing the San Joaquin Valley water crisis. Secretary Salazar turned down an invitation to participate in this forum or send a representative from the Department of the Interior. Hundreds of farmers and residents throughout the Valley attended the meeting and expressed the urgent need for the government to take action to restore the flow of water to farmers.
Congressman Devin Nunes has introduced "Turn on the Pumps Act" (H.R. 3105), to provide immediate relief. This bill would suspend portions of the Endangered Species Act to turn the pumps on to full operating capacity. Secretary Salazar and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have refused to support this legislation.
Congressman Devin Nunes has introduced "Turn on the Pumps Act" (H.R. 3105), to provide immediate relief. This bill would suspend portions of the Endangered Species Act to turn the pumps on to full operating capacity. Secretary Salazar and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have refused to support this legislation.
Monday, January 25, 2010
My opening statement at the Congressional forum/townhall in Fresno on the San Joaquin Valley water crisis
Mr. Chairman,
The tragedy blanketing the San Joaquin Valley has been
decades in the making.
relentlessly abused our judicial and political system. This has placed a
stranglehold on our economic future.
Policy Act followed by the Endangered Species Act three years later.
These two laws have created a cottage industry of environmental lawyers
marching to the agenda of the 1960s radicals.
Improvement Act – also known as the Miller/Bradley – drafted by left wing
liberals who had strong ties to the radical environmental movement.
California water to the environment. At the time, we were told this is
all the water that will be needed to restore the ailing Delta.
biological opinions on the Delta smelt and Killer Whale; and a disastrous San Joaquin
River Settlement – all taking an additional 325 billion gallons of water we
cannot spare.
to the environment and 76% of all water arriving in the Delta dumps into the
ocean. Yet, we are no closer to a solution on the Delta.
vilified as a scourge to our environment. They have been told that the
life of a three inch minnow is more valuable than their jobs. And in
consolation for their unemployment, they are offered token government
assistance – including carrots from China.
tumble weeds are king and famers are endangered species.
justified in that case, it is even more justified now.
and shuffled papers.
sending the following statement:
and Deputy Secretary, have traveled to the Central Valley and learned
first-hand of the conditions caused by the current drought. The department
wants the residents of the Central Valley to know of our continuing attention
to and concern over this situation …”
– there is a drought of political courage in Washington.
The tragedy blanketing the San Joaquin Valley has been
decades in the making.
relentlessly abused our judicial and political system. This has placed a
stranglehold on our economic future.
Policy Act followed by the Endangered Species Act three years later.
These two laws have created a cottage industry of environmental lawyers
marching to the agenda of the 1960s radicals.
Improvement Act – also known as the Miller/Bradley – drafted by left wing
liberals who had strong ties to the radical environmental movement.
California water to the environment. At the time, we were told this is
all the water that will be needed to restore the ailing Delta.
biological opinions on the Delta smelt and Killer Whale; and a disastrous San Joaquin
River Settlement – all taking an additional 325 billion gallons of water we
cannot spare.
to the environment and 76% of all water arriving in the Delta dumps into the
ocean. Yet, we are no closer to a solution on the Delta.
vilified as a scourge to our environment. They have been told that the
life of a three inch minnow is more valuable than their jobs. And in
consolation for their unemployment, they are offered token government
assistance – including carrots from China.
tumble weeds are king and famers are endangered species.
justified in that case, it is even more justified now.
and shuffled papers.
sending the following statement:
and Deputy Secretary, have traveled to the Central Valley and learned
first-hand of the conditions caused by the current drought. The department
wants the residents of the Central Valley to know of our continuing attention
to and concern over this situation …”
– there is a drought of political courage in Washington.
My opening statement at the Congressional forum/townhall in Fresno on the San Joaquin Valley water crisis
Mr. Chairman,
Friday, January 22, 2010
Secretary Ken Salazar and the Department of the Interior will not be attending the town hall on Monday
The ineptness of Secretary Ken Salazar and the Department of the Interior continues unchecked. They refuse to turn on the pumps, they refuse to build the two gates project, and now they refuse to attend a water town hall in Fresno on Monday – a town hall in which they would hear directly from the citizens.
Read for yourself – this is the statement they sent:
“Because of other commitments, particularly the NAS panel meeting happening the same day in Davis, the Department of the Interior will be unable to send a representative to the event. We are aware of the severe economic and social impacts on Central Valley communities of the water supply situation. Representatives of the Department, including the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, have traveled to the Central Valley and learned first-hand of the conditions caused by the current drought. The department wants the residents of the Central Valley to know of our continuing attention to and concern over this situation, and that we remain committed to taking short and long-term actions that can address the situation.”
They have said the same thing for a year! When will they actually do something?
I urge you to attend this town hall at the Fresno City Council Chambers, 2600 Fresno Street, 2nd floor, Fresno, California on Monday, January 25, 2010 at 8:30am. Diverse witnesses will be invited to testify and members of the public will have the opportunity to speak.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
A missed opportunity on health care reform
By Mary Claire Kendall
The Daily Caller
January 19, 2010
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) must be smarting now that Democrats aretalking about pulling the plug on the “deal” they crafted just for himand his State of Nebraska as the price of his support for Obamacare,now polling at W’s lows and threatening the loss of Ted Kennedy’sseat—a provision that would exempt Nebraska from paying for theMedicaid expansion designed to cover currently uninsured low-incomefolks.
Before they cut that deal, the White House brazenly threatened to hurtNelson, a coalition of physicians allege in a lawsuit, by puttingOffutt Air Force Base on the Base Realignment and Closure Commission(BRAC) list, slating it for closure, unless Sen. Nelson voted the rightway. Offutt AFB, Strategic Air Command headquarters, employsapproximately 10,000 military and federal employees in SoutheasternNebraska. (So, Americans might not have jobs—either by an Act of God,an Act of Obama, or an Act of Financial Recklessness, if you don’tbelieve Lloyd Blankfein’s version of events—but they’ll have healthcare to deal with the resulting ulcers.)
Nelson’s was justone of many tailor-made deals that—Clinton’s right—are patently unfairto everyone else not in on the fix. Sen. Nelson, recognizing theobvious injustice, now says he wants to scratch the Nebraska provisionbut then replace it with a much more expensive provision that wouldexempt every state from the costs of expanded Medicaid coverage.
Problem is, Obama’s contention that health care reform would save moneywould then, finally and irrevocably, be exempted from reality, sinceNelson’s “solution” to other states’ legitimate grumbling would explodecosts, making former Comptroller of the Treasury David Walker’s quip atthe budget commission’s opening hearing last month that “Harry andLouise” have morphed into “Thelma and Louise” a fitting summation ofthe year-long health care “debate.”
And, to think, the mess Democrats find themselves in was all so unnecessary.
If they had taken a cue from the Republicans, who contrary to repeatedfalse assertions by Democrats that they were only obstructionists, did,in fact, offer an excellent alternative: It’s called the Patients’Choice Act (PCA)—co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and RichardBurr (R-N.C.) and Reps. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) and Devin Nunes(R-Calif.)—that in contrast to the Democrats’ Patient Protection andAffordable Care Act, would achieve universal coverage and create a trueinsurance market, thus removing anti-competitive inequities currentlyplaguing the system.
And, most brilliantly, it transformsMedicaid from its current third-rate status to a first-class,stigma-free health care system for low-income, making it the naturalcorollary to Republican-crafted welfare reform Bill Clinton smartlyco-opted in one of the crowning achievements of his presidency. Plus,it saves money and tackles health care’s structural deficiencies [2] byrealigning “how nearly $1 trillion, currently assumed under law, isspent by involving individual beneficiaries in a way that deceleratesthe healthcare spending growth rate, through a carefully calibratedtemplate and formula that emphasizes health outcomes…”
States would save $1 trillion and the federal government $300 million,thus responding to voters’ most pressing concern—to contain explodinghealth care costs.
Not only that, Democrats could havecounted on Sen. Nelson’s vote without resorting to such unseemlytactics. And, today’s effort, sailing in the perfect storm to save TedKennedy’s seat, wouldn’t seem like Mission Impossible.
Mary Claire Kendall is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and screenwriter, working with Providence Productions in LA.
To see the article with links click here.
The Daily Caller
January 19, 2010
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) must be smarting now that Democrats aretalking about pulling the plug on the “deal” they crafted just for himand his State of Nebraska as the price of his support for Obamacare,now polling at W’s lows and threatening the loss of Ted Kennedy’sseat—a provision that would exempt Nebraska from paying for theMedicaid expansion designed to cover currently uninsured low-incomefolks.
“Get as much gunk out of the Senate bill as possible.That Nebraska thing is really hurting us,” Bill Clinton told HouseDemocrats in a closed-door speech during their annual “retreat” thisyear at Capital Visitor Center, far from the spa resort in colonialWilliamsburg they usually decamp to. (Washington Post, 1/16/10)
Before they cut that deal, the White House brazenly threatened to hurtNelson, a coalition of physicians allege in a lawsuit, by puttingOffutt Air Force Base on the Base Realignment and Closure Commission(BRAC) list, slating it for closure, unless Sen. Nelson voted the rightway. Offutt AFB, Strategic Air Command headquarters, employsapproximately 10,000 military and federal employees in SoutheasternNebraska. (So, Americans might not have jobs—either by an Act of God,an Act of Obama, or an Act of Financial Recklessness, if you don’tbelieve Lloyd Blankfein’s version of events—but they’ll have healthcare to deal with the resulting ulcers.)
Nelson’s was justone of many tailor-made deals that—Clinton’s right—are patently unfairto everyone else not in on the fix. Sen. Nelson, recognizing theobvious injustice, now says he wants to scratch the Nebraska provisionbut then replace it with a much more expensive provision that wouldexempt every state from the costs of expanded Medicaid coverage.
Problem is, Obama’s contention that health care reform would save moneywould then, finally and irrevocably, be exempted from reality, sinceNelson’s “solution” to other states’ legitimate grumbling would explodecosts, making former Comptroller of the Treasury David Walker’s quip atthe budget commission’s opening hearing last month that “Harry andLouise” have morphed into “Thelma and Louise” a fitting summation ofthe year-long health care “debate.”
And, to think, the mess Democrats find themselves in was all so unnecessary.
If they had taken a cue from the Republicans, who contrary to repeatedfalse assertions by Democrats that they were only obstructionists, did,in fact, offer an excellent alternative: It’s called the Patients’Choice Act (PCA)—co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and RichardBurr (R-N.C.) and Reps. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) and Devin Nunes(R-Calif.)—that in contrast to the Democrats’ Patient Protection andAffordable Care Act, would achieve universal coverage and create a trueinsurance market, thus removing anti-competitive inequities currentlyplaguing the system.
And, most brilliantly, it transformsMedicaid from its current third-rate status to a first-class,stigma-free health care system for low-income, making it the naturalcorollary to Republican-crafted welfare reform Bill Clinton smartlyco-opted in one of the crowning achievements of his presidency. Plus,it saves money and tackles health care’s structural deficiencies [2] byrealigning “how nearly $1 trillion, currently assumed under law, isspent by involving individual beneficiaries in a way that deceleratesthe healthcare spending growth rate, through a carefully calibratedtemplate and formula that emphasizes health outcomes…”
States would save $1 trillion and the federal government $300 million,thus responding to voters’ most pressing concern—to contain explodinghealth care costs.
Not only that, Democrats could havecounted on Sen. Nelson’s vote without resorting to such unseemlytactics. And, today’s effort, sailing in the perfect storm to save TedKennedy’s seat, wouldn’t seem like Mission Impossible.
Mary Claire Kendall is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and screenwriter, working with Providence Productions in LA.
To see the article with links click here.
A missed opportunity on health care reform
by MARY CLAIRE KENDALL
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) must be smarting now that Democrats aretalking about pulling the plug on the “deal” they crafted just for himand his State of Nebraska as the price of his support for Obamacare,now polling at W’s lows and threatening the loss of TedKennedy’s seat—a provision that would exempt Nebraska from paying forthe Medicaid expansion designed to cover currently uninsured low-incomefolks.
Nelson’s was just one of many tailor-made deals that—Clinton’sright—are patently unfair to everyone else not in on the fix. Sen.Nelson, recognizing the obvious injustice, now says he wants to scratchthe Nebraska provision but then replace it with a much more expensiveprovision that would exempt every state from the costs of expandedMedicaid coverage.
Problem is, Obama’s contention that health care reform would savemoney would then, finally and irrevocably, be exempted from reality,since Nelson’s “solution” to other states’ legitimate grumbling wouldexplode costs, making former Comptroller of the Treasury David Walker’squip at the budget commission’s opening hearing last month that “Harryand Louise” have morphed into “Thelma and Louise” a fitting summationof the year-long health care “debate.”
And, to think, the mess Democrats find themselves in was all so unnecessary.
If they had taken a cue from the Republicans, who contrary torepeated false assertions by Democrats that they were onlyobstructionists, did, in fact, offer an excellent alternative: It’scalled the Patients’ Choice Act (PCA)—co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Coburn(R-Okla.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Reps. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) andDevin Nunes (R-Calif.)—that in contrast to the Democrats’ PatientProtection and Affordable Care Act, would achieve universal coverageand create a true insurance market, thus removing anti-competitiveinequities currently plaguing the system.
And, most brilliantly, it transforms Medicaid from its currentthird-rate status to a first-class, stigma-free health care system forlow-income, making it the natural corollary to Republican-craftedwelfare reform Bill Clinton smartly co-opted in one of the crowningachievements of his presidency. Plus, it saves money and tackles health care’s structural deficiencies by realigning “how nearly $1 trillion, currently assumed under law, isspent by involving individual beneficiaries in a way that deceleratesthe healthcare spending growth rate, through a carefully calibratedtemplate and formula that emphasizes health outcomes…”
States would save $1 trillion and the federal government $300million, thus responding to voters’ most pressing concern—to containexploding health care costs.
Not only that, Democrats could have counted on Sen. Nelson’s votewithout resorting to such unseemly tactics. And, today’s effort,sailing in the perfect storm to save Ted Kennedy’s seat, wouldn’t seemlike Mission Impossible.
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) must be smarting now that Democrats aretalking about pulling the plug on the “deal” they crafted just for himand his State of Nebraska as the price of his support for Obamacare,now polling at W’s lows and threatening the loss of TedKennedy’s seat—a provision that would exempt Nebraska from paying forthe Medicaid expansion designed to cover currently uninsured low-incomefolks.
“Get as much gunk out of the Senate bill as possible.That Nebraska thing is really hurting us,” Bill Clinton told HouseDemocrats in a closed-door speech during their annual “retreat” thisyear at Capital Visitor Center, far from the spa resort in colonialWilliamsburg they usually decamp to. (Washington Post, 1/16/10)Before they cut that deal, the White House brazenly threatened to hurt Nelson, a coalition of physicians allege in a lawsuit, by putting Offutt Air Force Base on the BaseRealignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) list, slating it for closure,unless Sen. Nelson voted the right way. Offutt AFB, Strategic AirCommand headquarters, employs approximately 10,000 military and federalemployees in Southeastern Nebraska. (So, Americans might not havejobs—either by an Act of God, an Act of Obama, or an Act of FinancialRecklessness, if you don’t believe Lloyd Blankfein’s version ofevents—but they’ll have health care to deal with the resulting ulcers.)
Nelson’s was just one of many tailor-made deals that—Clinton’sright—are patently unfair to everyone else not in on the fix. Sen.Nelson, recognizing the obvious injustice, now says he wants to scratchthe Nebraska provision but then replace it with a much more expensiveprovision that would exempt every state from the costs of expandedMedicaid coverage.
Problem is, Obama’s contention that health care reform would savemoney would then, finally and irrevocably, be exempted from reality,since Nelson’s “solution” to other states’ legitimate grumbling wouldexplode costs, making former Comptroller of the Treasury David Walker’squip at the budget commission’s opening hearing last month that “Harryand Louise” have morphed into “Thelma and Louise” a fitting summationof the year-long health care “debate.”
And, to think, the mess Democrats find themselves in was all so unnecessary.
If they had taken a cue from the Republicans, who contrary torepeated false assertions by Democrats that they were onlyobstructionists, did, in fact, offer an excellent alternative: It’scalled the Patients’ Choice Act (PCA)—co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Coburn(R-Okla.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Reps. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) andDevin Nunes (R-Calif.)—that in contrast to the Democrats’ PatientProtection and Affordable Care Act, would achieve universal coverageand create a true insurance market, thus removing anti-competitiveinequities currently plaguing the system.
And, most brilliantly, it transforms Medicaid from its currentthird-rate status to a first-class, stigma-free health care system forlow-income, making it the natural corollary to Republican-craftedwelfare reform Bill Clinton smartly co-opted in one of the crowningachievements of his presidency. Plus, it saves money and tackles health care’s structural deficiencies by realigning “how nearly $1 trillion, currently assumed under law, isspent by involving individual beneficiaries in a way that deceleratesthe healthcare spending growth rate, through a carefully calibratedtemplate and formula that emphasizes health outcomes…”
States would save $1 trillion and the federal government $300million, thus responding to voters’ most pressing concern—to containexploding health care costs.
Not only that, Democrats could have counted on Sen. Nelson’s votewithout resorting to such unseemly tactics. And, today’s effort,sailing in the perfect storm to save Ted Kennedy’s seat, wouldn’t seemlike Mission Impossible.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Two Gates: Actions speak louder than words...
The Obama Administration has delayed the Two Gates project, as reported here in the Fresno Bee.
As I said on numerous occasions, the Two Gates project is not a viable solution to the government imposed drought. It was used as political cover and to buy time for politicians who haven’t had the courage to stand up to radical environmentalists.
Hopefully this latest development will remind our region’s farming organizations who their allies are and convince the Fresno Bee that actions speak louder than words.
As I said on numerous occasions, the Two Gates project is not a viable solution to the government imposed drought. It was used as political cover and to buy time for politicians who haven’t had the courage to stand up to radical environmentalists.
Hopefully this latest development will remind our region’s farming organizations who their allies are and convince the Fresno Bee that actions speak louder than words.
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