Monday, December 10, 2012
"Today's federal debt is more than $16 trillion—larger than all parts of the U.S. economy combined. By 2016, it will be $22 trillion."
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, December 10, 2012
By Robert R. Woodall (R) U.S. Representative for Georgia's 7th Congressional District "The President wants to see taxes go up and he doesn't want to see spending go down, and the House wants spending to come down and doesn't want to see tax rates go up." If you've turned on a television or opened a newspaper in the last few weeks, you've no doubt seen the so-called "fiscal cliff" conversation unfolding in Washington. The "fiscal cliff" is Washington-speak for the expiration of Bush-era tax rates coupled with across-the-board spending cuts on many domestic spending accounts. While the fiscal cliff coverage continues to escalate as the January deadline draws near, I can tell you these discussions are absolutely nothing new. They are …
Thursday, December 6, 2012
The president is taking him message straight to the citizens via social media. Is he playing fair?
- OPINION
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
We've been inundated with news and commentary about President Barack Obama and Congress' struggle to find a point of compromise on the looming "fiscal cliff" issue. In a recent speech the president urges everyone to send a tweet to their congressmen to let them know they favor his middle class income tax cut program. And he took to Twitter on Monday to answer tweets from citizens with questions on his plan. Obama is the first president to use the social media to reach the masses. His latest message is posted on a website, Barack Obama, What Does $2,000 Mean to You. It's a simple question - he invites you to write back with a short message on the impact of an extra two grand would mean in your pocket rather than the government's coffers. …
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Join the national conversation in this week's Hot Topics column.
This column is designed to offer a platform to discuss national stories on a local level. Share your opinion in the comment section! ---------- Members of the United Nations took a vote on Thursday, Nov. 29, that upgraded the Palestinian Authority's status to "non-member observer state." The Vatican, for example, holds the same status. Out of 193 nations, 138 voted in favor. The U.S. and Israel were among those who voted against. Only nine total voted against the measure, with 41 abstaining. The vote is largely symbolic, and would "do nothing to advance the peace and the two-state solution we all want to see," according to Secretary of State Clinton. The new status for Palestine grants them access to the International Criminal Court, …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Lawmakers have Dec. 31 deadline to prevent start of automatic tax hikes and budget cuts.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012
After kicking the can down the road to avoid making hard choices in the face of an election, lawmakers now have just a few weeks to face financial reality for the American people. Experts may debate whether it’s a “fiscal cliff” or a gentle slope, but everyone seems to agree that dealing with the deficit and expiration of Bush-era tax cuts is a must. (See Wall Street Journal video explainer.) Congress set their own deadline to do so of Dec. 31, 2012, conveniently after the election. But with another election at least two years away, it's now time to do something about it. Until now, each Party has blamed the other for the footdragging, but all indications are that the American people are tired of the deadlock in Washington. They're ready …
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
According to a Gallup pole only 18 percent of American approve of the job Congress is doing right now. How about you?
According to a recent Gallup poll, Republicans, Democrats, and independents are about equally negative toward Congress. Rank-and-file Republicans and Democrats have given similarly low ratings to Congress since party control of Congress became divided at the start of 2011. By contrast, in 2009 and 2010, when Democrats held the majority in both houses of Congress, approval was significantly higher among Democrats than among Republicans and independents. Gallup.com says that partisan bickering and failure to cooperate on key legislative issues -- matters related to the pending fiscal cliff -- may also be a factor. However, the larger reason Americans are locked into a negative view of the Congress is likely the economy. What's your opinion …
Ray
7:14 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
well, the same old song from Rob Woodall… I'm not surprised whatsoever. Rob, where were you --- and “the patch” for that matter --- when the Bush administration was running up the country’s debt? Starting two unfunded wars and taking the first shovelfuls of dirt out of the hole toward recession. Instead of trying to reduce the medicare and retirement benefits that your parents probably enjoy … more ›