Westmoreland RSS Articles

Obama policies fail to stop job losses

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Obama administration announced this morning that the nation lost another 190,000 jobs last month, pushing the unemployment rate to 10.2 percent – the highest level since 1983.

“The Obama administration’s economic policies aren’t working, perhaps because the Democratic power structure has kept its focus on job-killing legislation such as cap-and-trade and a government takeover of health care,” U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland said Friday. “Businesses are facing a brutal economic climate, for sure, but they aren’t going to take risks or hire new workers with the possibility of all these new taxes and mandates hanging over their heads.”

Since the administration passed its stimulus package in February, the United States has lost 3 million more jobs. Georgia alone has lost more than 130,000 jobs.

“On Saturday, the Democratic House is scheduled to make the problem even worse,” Westmoreland continued. “According to a methodology set up by the president’s own senior economic advisers, this health care plan will lead to the loss of 5.5 million more American jobs over the next 10 years.

“Health care coverage is of vital interest to the American people, and we have some serious work to do on that topic, but Washington should focus on job creation first in this economic climate. I think that’s what this week’s elections show: Voters are highly concerned about the state of the economy, and members of Congress need to understand that or they are going to face a very angry electorate next year.”

GOP health care plan lowers cost of insurance

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

As thousands gathered today in Washington to express their opposition to the Democrats’ government takeover of health care, the Republicans produced further evidence that they have found a better, more affordable way to bring down the cost of health care for American families.

Last night, the Congressional Budget Office confirmed that the Republican health care alternative would reduce health insurance premiums by up to 10 percent and cut the federal deficit by $68 billion over 10 years, without raising taxes on families and small businesses.

“We all want to protect access to health insurance and bring down the soaring costs, but we must do it in a way that’s affordable, sustainable and let’s people keep their current coverage if they want it,” Westmoreland said. “The Republican plan makes targeted reforms – such as assuring access to coverage for people with pre-existing conditions – without implementing an entire government takeover of the health care system.

“The Democratic bill that the Congress is scheduled to vote on Saturday, in contrast, will cost more than $1.3 trillion over the life of the bill. It’ll expand entitlement spending, it’ll raise taxes on small business payrolls and on medical devices, it’ll cost jobs by mandating coverage that some businesses can’t afford, it’ll put government in between the doctor and the patient, and it’ll cut Medicare funding. By expanding Medicaid eligibility, the legislation also puts new burdens on states that already are struggling to pay their bills. The states share the cost of the Medicaid program, and this could cost Georgia $2 billion to $4 billion over the next 10 years. That’s a huge share of our state budget, and it’s a cost we simply can’t bear.

“But, luckily, there is a better way. Republicans are providing that alternative, although the Democrats continue to insist we’re not offering ideas. We are. They just don’t want Americans to know it.”

Opponents of government takeover will have voices heard

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats unveiled their final 2,000-page health care plan (HR 3962) after weeks of Democrat-only, closed-door negotiations.

“Apparently, because this is health care legislation, the House Democrats thought doctor-patient confidentiality rules should apply to their secret negotiations,” U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland said. “The voices of those opposed to a government takeover of health care have been shut out of this debate. We got a taste of how strongly people feel on this issue during the August town halls, and I think those voices that Pelosi ignored will be heard loudly in the coming days.”

Westmoreland took issue with House Majority Leader’s Steny Hoyer’s assertion that the legislation meets an “urgent” need.

“Republicans and Democrats agree that we have too many uninsured Americans and too many family tragedies related to health care costs,” Westmoreland said. “But let’s be clear: This legislation won’t meet those needs urgently. In fact, benefits don’t take affect for three more years. The only thing that the Democrats think is ‘urgent’ enough to enact immediately are the tax hikes and mandates that will kill off even more jobs in this ailing economy.”

Westmoreland cites several tenets of the bill as problematic:

· $500 billion in cuts to Medicare, which Westmoreland sees as either ‘phantom cuts’ that will never take place or catastrophic for seniors’ health care coverage.

· Bill contains the word “shall” 3,425 times – that’s a lot of government mandates.

· Expanding eligibility for Medicaid, which will hike costs for budget-strapped state governments.

· Tax hikes on small business owners, whom we’re relying on to create new jobs in this economy.

· Mandates on business to provide coverage to all employees or face penalties, creating a “tax on jobs” that will lead to fewer jobs.

· A government-run ‘public option’ that will eventually crowd out private plans, causing many Americans to lose their current coverage.

· The legislation’s financing will cost much more than advertised, placing yet another burden on our national debt. The legislation comes in below $1 trillion over 10 years only because 1) Democrats moved the cost of paying Medicare fees to doctors (more than $200 billion) into another bill and 2) they count 10 years of revenues but only seven years of expenses.

Westmoreland points out that, contrary to Democratic claims that the Republicans are simply the “Party of No,” the GOP has offered an alternative called the Empowering Patients First Act. This legislation, HR 3400, would 1) make access to coverage affordable for all Americans; 2) make coverage truly owned and controlled by the patient; 3) improve the healthcare delivery structure; and 4) rein in out-of-control costs, including through robust liability reform.

Health bills deadly for Georgia small businesses

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

As federal reports out today show Georgia and the rest of the nation continuing to add to the unemployment rolls, congressional Democrats are forging ahead with health care proposals that will put small businesses on life support and hemorrhage more jobs.

“I hear each week from small business owners in Georgia’s 3^rd District who are cutting back, trying to make ends meet, struggling to make payroll,” Westmoreland said. “They tell me in no uncertain terms: Adding on new health care taxes and mandates will leave us with no choice but to slash the number of employees we have. That scenario should scare congressmen even if our economy is at full employment, but it should serve as a huge flashing red light at a time when unemployment is at a 26-year high.”

The bills under consideration would impose a $208 billion tax on small businesses that cannot afford to provide health plans for their workers. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office asserts this mandate “could reduce the hiring of low-wage workers.”

Westmoreland calls the mandate “a tax on jobs.”

In addition, the primary House bill, HR 3200, would impose more than $500 billion in other taxes, including a surtax that will fall disproportionately on small business owners.

“There are many Georgians who are rightly leery of a government takeover of our health care system – 17 percent of the biggest economy in the world – and I’m one of those Georgians who has a problem with the idea,” Westmoreland said. “Regardless, I acknowledge that Americans can have legitimate differences of opinion on whether the so-called ‘public option’ is the right way for us to go. But we should all agree that our national focus right now should be on reviving our economy and creating jobs. As we’ve experienced in this painful recession, good-paying jobs are no longer a given. We have to create the right climate for small businesses to expand – or at this place and time just get back on their feet. Taxing small businesses for providing jobs takes us in the wrong direction.”

Westmoreland points out that Georgia has lost 131,900 jobs since the stimulus bill passed in February and its unemployment rate now tops 10 percent.

Group hails Lynn as 'Taxpayer Hero'

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste named U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland as a "Taxpayer Hero" for his high score -- 88 percent -- in the group's 2008 congressional ratings.

The average for the entire House was 35 percent, and the average for the Senate was 38 percent; that makes Westmoreland's score that much more impressive. Since 1989, CCAGW has tracked roll call votes to separate the taxpayer advocates in Congress from those who favor wasteful programs and pork-barrel spending.

The 2008 Congressional Ratings cover the voting year 2008, the second session of the 110th Congress. CCAGW rated 48 key votes in the House and 42 in the Senate.

CCAGW president Tom Schatz said Taxpayer Heroes "consistently put the interests of taxpayers ahead of politics during a particularly profligate spending season in Congress. They voted to cut wasteful spending, reduce the tax burden, and make government more accountable to taxpayers. The 2008 Congressional Ratings show that many elected officials continue to demonstrate little regard for the harmful effect a large and cumbersome federal government has on taxpayers' wallets. Out-of-control spending reigned over Capitol Hill, leading to a record $1.6 trillion deficit in fiscal year 2009, and an $11.8 trillion national debt. Taxpayers from their respective districts should be very proud; these lawmakers' votes give all taxpayers hope for the future. We heartily commend them."

House Democrats scored an average of 6 percent; House Republicans scored an average of 70 percent. In the Senate, the average for Democrats was 4 percent, and Republicans averaged 72 percent.

CCAGW's website, www.ccagw.org, features the complete 2008 Congressional Ratings, including vote descriptions, scorecards for the House and Senate, and averages by chamber, party, and state delegation.

Baucus plan score relies on budget gimmicks

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

For Americans wondering how the Congressional Budget Office could determine that Sen. Max Baucus's health care reform plan would insure 29 million more people while costing less than $900 billion, U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland has an answer for you: Budget gimmickry.

"The only reason this plan comes in on budget is because it assumes cuts to Medicare and tax hikes for three years before any benefits start," Westmoreland said. "There are many bankrupt companies whose books would look just fine if you counted 10 years of revenues but only seven years of costs."

As The Associated Press reports: "Lawmakers use a 10-year accounting window to assess new programs. Starting the Medicare cuts and some of the taxes in the early years - and pushing the bulk of new spending into the latter years - helps keep the cost of the health care overhaul within Obama's $900 billion limit."

"Washington health care plans always cost a ton more than advertised because politicians and bureaucrats bend the numbers to fit their political needs," Westmoreland said. "On health care legislation we have to be leery of the 'perfect cure' because they may just be selling snake oil."

Westmoreland points out that in addition to the dubious accounting techniques, much of the revenue and savings assumed by the CBO are unlikely to pass Congress.

"These savings and revenues assume massive tax hikes that will find opposition in both parties and deep cuts to Medicare," Westmoreland said. "By law, Congress was supposed to cut Medicare spending each year for most of the past decade and it's never done it once. To assume that will change now is delusional. But, hey, that's Washington accounting."

Defense bill no place for hate crimes legislation

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Six of the Georgia Republican members of Congress issued statements today after House Democrats attached a completely unrelated “Hate Crimes” bill to the annual defense authorization legislation. The annual defense bill was already voted on in the House and all the Georgia Republicans supported the bill before the hate crimes legislation was attached. Traditionally, the annual defense authorization is a bipartisan bill that passes the House by large margins, but this year, the Democratic majority intentionally chose to politicize the bill with the addition of the social policy legislation.

Statements from the Georgia Representatives are as follows:

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03): “We should not use our soldiers and veterans as pawns to pass a far-left political agenda.”

Rep. Phil Gingrey (GA-11):

“I have supported the National Defense Authorization Act every year I have been in Congress. It may never be a perfect bill, but the focus of the legislation was always to provide our troops and their families with the best resources and support we possibly could. Unfortunately, this year, the Democratic Majority chose to use this bill as a vehicle to push liberal social policies that limit the very freedom of speech our troops fight to protect. Additionally, I am deeply disappointed that the bill upholds the Administration’s request to end the F-22 program and significantly cuts missile defense funding, two decisions that I think will have a severely detrimental impact on our national security. Our troops deserve our fullest support and should not be the victim of divisive partisan politics.”

Rep. Tom Price (GA-06): “Today, Democrats have taken their partisan disgracefulness to a new level,” said Chairman Price. “Our military deserves the resources provided in this legislation. Our troops deserve the benefits that are included in this bill. And our troops absolutely deserve a pay increase. But our troops also deserve better than to be treated as pack mules to carry the load for a despicable and unconstitutional bill that penalizes thought and places a premium on some classes of individuals over others. The path Democrats have chosen to jam this shameful bill into law can only be described as immoral. This travesty demonstrates that Democrat leaders view our military more as a political tool than as a group of brave and noble warriors who sacrifice dearly to keep us safe.

“No American should be more protected from violent crime than another. All violent crimes demonstrate hate and all should be fully prosecuted. Justice should be blind, but Democrats have rejected the credo of our Founders that all people are created equal. This legislation will eventually invite the prosecution of Americans for their thoughts and religious beliefs, basic provinces protected by the First Amendment. Today, all Americans should recognize the shameful manner in which Democrats handle the matters of our military and how little they care about the Constitution and equal justice. This is a sad day in our nation’s proud history.”

Rep. Jack Kingston (GA-01): “Speaker Pelosi has brought San Francisco politics to Iraq and Afghanistan tucked in the rucksacks of our soldiers.”

Rep. Paul Broun (GA-10): “As a Marine and member of the Homeland Security Committee, the Defense Authorization bill is extremely important to me. In order to maintain a high level of military preparedness, Congress must give our troops the resources they need to succeed. By adding divisive, unrelated language to this critical bill, Congressional leaders are participating in the worst kind of political gamesmanship.”

Rep. Nathan Deal (GA-09): “As a former military officer, I fully support our men and women overseas and at home. However, this is a deceitful political ploy to use our troops in order to force members of the House to support a Hate Crimes bill which they don’t support.”

Democrats cover for ethically challenged Rangel

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland voted for a resolution to remove House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel from his powerful post until the ethics committee completes its drawn-out investigation of his personal finances. House Democrats banded together to protect Rangel, voting 246-153 to sweep the resolution under the rug.

“The list of alleged improprieties against Chairman Rangel – each of them serious in their own right – continues to grow. Meanwhile, the House leadership that vowed to lead the most open, most honest and most ethical Congress continues to look the other way,” Westmoreland said. “The ethics committee has let this investigation drag into its second year. Maybe it’s taking so long because there are simply so many legitimate charges against him and there seems to be a new one each week, but I think this has more to do with the Democrats playing politics. The speaker once railed against the ‘culture of corruption’ and vowed to ‘drain the swamp.’ Now, she’s taken up residence in the swamp.”

The charges against Rangel include not paying taxes on rental property for more than 10 years, using official congressional letterhead to solicit contributions to a school bearing his name, dodging state and local taxes by claiming three primary residences, breaking New York City law by maintaining four rent-controlled apartments and failing to report more than $1 million in assets on federal disclosure reports.

“We’ve discovered this year that many prominent Democrats eager to raise our taxes aren’t paying taxes on what they owe,” Westmoreland said. “Then, unlike any constituent of mine in Georgia, they don’t pay penalties and interest when they get caught. It beats all I’ve ever seen. Americans have a right to be cynical when the leader of the tax-writing committee can’t seem to file his own taxes correctly. The taxpayers deserve more than just having the chairman suspended – and they’re not even getting that.”

Note: Many of the nation’s leading newspapers have called for the chairman to step down pending the conclusion of the ethics committee investigation. Those include The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Buffalo News and Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

House should implement 72-hour waiting period to read bills

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland has signed on to a congressional petition that would require the House to vote on implementing a 72-hour waiting period before nonemergency legislation is brought to the floor.

“We’ve seen legislation of immense consequence for the nation completed in the wee hours of the morning and then put up for a vote on the floor a few hours later,” Westmoreland complained. “That’s no way to run a popsicle stand, much less the greatest nation on earth. We need to put this reform into effect before the United States charts an irreversible course on health care in the coming months. Health care represents more than 15 percent of our economy. Members of the House, outside health care experts and the American public at-large need some time to digest any final bill that will come to the floor for a vote.”

Because the Democratic House leadership has blocked consideration of H. Res. 554, the sponsors of the bipartisan resolution, Reps. Brian Baird (D-Wash.) and Greg Walden (R-Ore.), started a discharge petition. If the petition attains 218 signatures, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is required to bring to the floor for a vote.

“Both Republicans and Democrats are guilty of slamming through big pieces of legislation with little review,” Westmoreland said. “But with trillion dollar deficits and a hobbled economy, we don’t need to rush things through out of political expediency. I can’t help but go back again and again to the health care issue: This is far too important to risk getting it wrong. Health care affects each of us personally. Most Americans aren’t going to read the bill, but three days should be enough to educate citizens on the pros and cons of the major parts of the legislation.”

Earlier this year, the public, the media and members of Congress were given 12 hours to review the 1,073-page long stimulus bill that cost $787 billion. The cap-and-trade bill, which would cost $846 billion and weighs in at 1,428 pages, was available for 16.5 hours before the vote. And under Republican rule in 2003, for example, the 852-page Medicare Part D bill was available for 29 hours before a vote was called on the $395 billion legislation.

House honors Georgia flood victims

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Along with all his colleagues in the Georgia delegation, U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland today brought a resolution to the floor honoring the victims of the recent Georgia floods and praising the emergency rescue workers on the front lines of the recovery effort.

“This past week, the floods have ruined homes, damaged schools and roads and, most tragically, taken innocent lives,” Westmoreland said. “We have those families in our thoughts and prayers. We also owe a great debt to all the emergency workers who manned the battle stations during this crisis and saved lives and property. We can’t thank them enough for the great work that they’ve done.

“Today’s resolution won’t ease the pain of the deaths, injuries and losses that we’ve experienced. It’s simply an acknowledgement of Georgia’s struggle and a show of solidarity from all across the nation.”

The resolution passed the House unanimously.

The resolution is the following:

RESOLUTION

Expressing condolences to the families of the individuals

killed during unusual storms and floods in the State

of Georgia between September 18 and 21, 2009, and

expressing gratitude to all of the emergency personnel

who continue to work with unyielding determination to

meet the needs of Georgia’s residents.

Whereas the State of Georgia has been hit by days of unusually

strong storms that have resulted in downpours and

flooding, beginning on September 18, 2009;

Whereas numerous Georgia rivers and creeks, including the

Chattooga and Chattahoochee Rivers and Chickamauga

, swollen by days of rain, have overtopped their

banks, creating a dangerous and deadly situation for

nearby residents;

Whereas the storms and floods have taken human lives;

Whereas the floodwater has destroyed homes, flooded roadways,

including major highways, compromised drinking

water, severely damaged plumbing systems, and caused

significant damage to homes and businesses;

Whereas on September 21, 2009, Georgia Governor Sonny

Perdue declared a state of emergency in 17 counties, including

Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton,

Cobb, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton,

Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens, and

Walker Counties;

Whereas the National Weather Service estimated that between

15 and 22 inches of rain have fallen in the metropolitan

Atlanta counties of Gwinnett, Douglas, and

Paulding between September 18 and 21, 2009;

Whereas the rains have broken a 130-year-old record at

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport;

Whereas hundreds of Georgians have been evacuated from

their homes and over 300 people are seeking refuge in

shelters;

Whereas the Governor estimates that over 1,000 residences

are seriously flooded;

Whereas the weather has closed schools in several counties;

Whereas as many as tens of thousands of people are without

power in metropolitan Atlanta;

Whereas search and rescue operations are continuing in several

counties where the water continues to rise;

Whereas the Georgia Emergency Management Agency has coordinated

with local emergency personnel and has worked

tirelessly to protect human lives and rescue those threatened

by the floods;

Whereas the Georgia Emergency Management Agency continues

to facilitate requests for assistance from citizens

and first responders all across the State of Georgia;

Whereas the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and

other first responders have acted valiantly in life safety

response operations, including delivering sandbags and

rescuing people trapped in their cars and homes from the

floodwater;

Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency has activated

its national and regional response coordination

centers and is working closely with the State of Georgia

to monitor the response efforts and identify and respond

to any immediate emergency needs for the citizens and

communities of the State that are impacted by these devastating

floods; and

Whereas volunteers are giving their time to help ensure that

evacuees are sheltered, clothed, fed, and comforted

through this traumatic event: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) offers its deepest sympathy and condolences

to the families of those who lost their lives in the

flooding in the State of Georgia;

(2) expresses its condolences to the families

who lost their homes and other property in the

floods;

(3) expresses gratitude and appreciation to the

people of the State of Georgia and the surrounding

States, who continue to work to protect people from

the still rising floodwaters;

(4) expresses its support as the Federal Emer6

gency Management Agency continues its efforts to

respond to any needs of the citizens and commu8

nities affected by the flooding; and

(5) honors the emergency responders, within

and beyond metropolitan Atlanta and the State of

Georgia, for their bravery and sacrifice during this

tragedy.