U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, John Barrasso and U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis keep us informed on the issues effecting Wyoming and the Country. Their speeches on the Senate and House floor, their voting on the issues in Washington and their communications with various U.S Agencies help Wyoming remain a great State to live, work and play. The Committees they are assigned to are: Senator Enzi; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Budget, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Social Security, trade, health care programs, taxes, energy and transportation. Senator Barrasso; Foreign Relations, Energy and Natural Resources, Environment and Public Works (EPW), Indian Affairs, and Senate Republican Whip Team Member. Representative Lummis;
Natural Resources Committee, Budget Committee,Energy and Mineral Resources, National Parks, Forests and Public Lands and Agriculture Committee...
The 2010 Natrona County Republican Precinct Caucuses will take place on Tuesday, March 16th, 2010, 6:00 - 10:00 pm, Oil & Gas Commission Building, 2211 King Blvd, Casper. - read more
Natrona County Republican Party Announces Precinct Caucuses and Convention 03/07/2010
The Natrona County Republican Party will hold its precinct caucuses on Tuesday, March 16th at 6:00 p.m. The caucuses will be held at the Oil and Gas Commission Building.
All registered Republicans as of March 6th can participate in the caucus. The caucus is the first step to developing the platforms, resolutions and updating the bylaws for the county party in 2010. The caucuses will also elect delegates to the county convention on March 29th also to be held at the Oil and Gas Commission building.
“The caucuses are one of the purist forms grassroots involvement of the Republican Party,” said Shea Ward, Chairman of the Natrona County Republican Party. “Any registered Republican can sit with their friends and neighbors in their precinct and help develop our party’s platforms and resolutions for this important election year.”
……For more information, click here or call Shea Ward, Chairman Natrona County Repubican Party - 262-8858
03/04/10 — Barrasso: Stop, Start Over and Focus on Ideas We Know Will Work
/ WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, US Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) spoke on the Senate floor in opposition to the President’s plan to use re/conciliation to push the health care bill through Congress....
02/25/10 — Enzi statement following White House health care summit Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement following the conclusion of today’s White House summit on health care reform:...
02/24/10 — Barrasso Bill Blocks SEC Climate Change Regulations WASHINGTON, DC – Today, US Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced the Maintaining Agency Direction on Financial Fraud Act to block the Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) new requirement that companies disclose the impacts of climate change on their businesses. Senator Barrasso released the following statement about the legislation:...
02/24/10 — Lummis: Wyoming Will Have Its Say at Health Care Summit “I am pleased that both of Wyoming’s senators, Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, are going to participate in tomorrow’s health care summit. People in Wyoming should be very proud of their tireless work on reforming the nation’s health care system.. ...
Washington is dumping a colos–sal amount of debt into the laps of our children and grandchildren. Between 2008 and 2013, the budget will add $5.7 trillion ($48,000 per U.S. household) in new government debt. The annual interest on this debt would nearly equal the entire U.S. defense budget by 2019. Moreover, given the unsustainable costs of paying Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits to 77 million retiring baby boomers, the federal debt will continue expanding after 2019. Without real reforms, the result may be devastating tax increases for decades to come.
Max Maxfield, incumbent WY Secretary of State, is planning to announce his re-election campaign in Casper.
…Wednesday, March 10th
…12:00 pm
…Holiday Inn (721 Granite Peak Dr, way out on East 2nd Street)
Barrasso: Stop, Start Over and Focus on Ideas We Know Will Work 03/04/10 “We do need health care reform but we don't need this 2,700-page bill with all of the unintended consequences.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, US Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) spoke on the Senate floor in opposition to the President’s plan to use reconciliation to push the health care bill through Congress.
Excerpts from Senator Barrasso’s speech:
Democrat bill:
“We do need health care reform but we don't need this 2,700-page bill with all of the unintended consequences that may come with it: all of the new government boards and commissions, a program that cuts $500 billion from our seniors who depend upon Medicare for their health care, and raises taxes by another $500 billion. The American people are saying stop and start over.
“The President made his speech yesterday which seemed to be a new sales pitch, but it's for the same bill. It’s why so many folks have said ‘Stop, start over, focus on ideas that we know will work, give individuals- as patients- as citizens rights to make more choices that affect their own life.’…
Barrasso: DOI Should Have Listened to Americans Before Introducing Job-killing Oil and Gas Regulations “Better to listen first and then implement -- rather than implement and then see what the impacts are going to be of the Administration’s positions.” 03/03/10
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, US Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) questioned Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar about the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) upcoming meetings about new DOI oil and gas leasing regulations. Barrasso suggested that DOI should have listened to Americans before introducing regulations that will kill red, white and blue jobs across our country.
BARRASSO EXCERPT:
“People in the West are concerned because the regulations are already in place. These regulations are impacting the red, white and blue jobs that have powered our country and are such good jobs in our state. So it just seems that maybe we could have had this discussion before the regulations went in place. I would encourage you and invite you to Pinedale, Rock Springs, Casper, Wyoming to see the specifics of the impacts- and I’d be happy to go with you to those locations. It just struck me that it might have been better to listen first and then implement rather than implement and then see what the impacts are going to be of the Administration’s positions.”
Background:
In response to a question posed by Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) Secretary Salazar said, “I don’t pretend to know that we are the holders of total wisdom relative to how we ought to be regulating our public lands and oil and gas. So if there are better ways in which we ought to be doing what we’re doing, we are listening and that’s why Assistant Secretary Wilma Lewis and Director Bob Abbey as well as myself and Deputy Secretary David Hayes will be having additional meetings to understand what the real impact is of our new rules on the ground.”
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Enzi statement on President’s letter to Congressional leaders following health care summit
03/03/10
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement in response to the President’s Letter to Congressional Leaders on Health Insurance Reform:
“The President’s bill is polarizing because it was put together by the Democrats and handed to us as the final and only answer. We are still seeing some window dressing to convince America that the majority is right. America didn’t buy it. They read the big print (and the little print) whenever the bills were finally printed.
“I’m disappointed that the President wants to keep the enormous challenge of reforming health care trapped in a bill that won’t work and isn’t winning the approval of the American people. Thursday’s health care summit confirmed that we can find common ground on important aspects like small business health care plans, health savings accounts, medical justice and Medicare waste and fraud. I would also like to talk more and in greater depth about concentrating on a bill that solves the Medicare problem so money from Medicare only goes to help pay for Medicare.. .…
Barrasso Bill Blocks SEC Climate Change Regulations Recent SEC Action is another example of the Administration taking its eye off the economy 02/24/10
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, US Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced the Maintaining Agency Direction on Financial Fraud Act to block the Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) new requirement that companies disclose the impacts of climate change on their businesses. Senator Barrasso released the following statement about the legislation:
“For years, the SEC missed all of the clues about Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. In the aftermath of this historic failure, it’s clear that the SEC should focus on its core mission of protecting American investors and maintaining fair markets..
“Instead, the SEC now wants to devote time and resources to climate change. This is absurd.
“The Maintaining Agency Direction on Financial Fraud Act blocks the SEC’s efforts to force American employers to conduct burdensome and expensive climate analysis. .…
Administration Continues Unprecedented Taxpayer Funding for EPA “With this funding, EPA will be able to expand its regulations and red tape on small and large businesses, rural and urban towns, hospitals, nursing homes and schools all across America.” 02/23/10
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, US Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) criticized the Obama Administration for its 2010 budget proposal for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He delivered the following statement at the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) hearing:
“Under the President’s proposed Environmental Protection Agency budget, the EPA will continue its unprecedented high funding levels.
“According to the White House, the EPA will receive $10 billion of U.S. taxpayer dollars -- ‘a substantially higher annual amount than requested under any previous Administration.’ The Administration states – ‘this amount will strengthen the EPA’s program implementation, research, regulation and comprehensive enforcement activities.’
“In a time where funding is scarce, and other federal agencies are taking a hit, it is clear that the EPA will continue its unprecedented growth. I believe this is a clear signal where this Administration’s priorities are as stated on their website –the funding goes to the ramp up of EPA’s regulatory and enforcement efforts.…
Enzi statement on White House health care summit 02/22/10
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today issued the following statement on Thursday’s White House summit on health care reform:
“Like most Americans, I agree that our health care system needs reform. I am looking forward to meeting with President Obama and my Congressional colleagues this week. There are serious problems in our health care system. Costs are too high and insurance is unaffordable for too many Americans. But none of these problems will be solved without a responsible, bipartisan bill, and that’s why I’m sitting down with the President on Thursday.
“It disappoints me to hear that initial reports are that the White House and Congressional leaders still do not seem to be listening to the American people who want us to start over and fix health care step by step, starting with reining in rising costs. Let’s focus on a couple of these ideas, get them done, then move on to the next step. We can’t swallow the apple whole, which is what the majority’s recent bills have attempted to do. We have to chew on it bite by bite. Since most changes in health care reform don't start for four years - even though new taxes will start right away - we can beat the time by doing significant piece after significant piece.
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Waxman-Markey Electricity Consumer Allocation Map Consumers in red colored states will pay more for electricity to make up for the shortfall in allowances (dollars in millions). 06/22/09 Based on the allowance allocation formula in H.R. 2454 for electricity consumers, the red states will not have enough allowances to cover their emissions from electricity generation. The shortfall in allowances to the red states will lead to higher electricity costs for consumers, the total of which will roughly correlate with the dollar losses noted on the map. For example, Texas electricity consumers will see electricity costs go up by roughly $1 billion. To make up the shortfall, red states will have to seek high-cost, non-CO2 emitting electricity sources, reduce electricity production and consumption, or purchase allowances from the green states, or purchase domestic and international offsets, likely a combination of the three. GOP.gov
Tracking Earmarks and Taking Names
One of the most bi-partisanly problematic and controversial issues in Washington is that of earmarks and pork-barrel spending. Several organizations exist to track this -- often irresponsible and secret -- spending of taxpayer dollars. Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) keeps painstaking tabs on each bill and appropriation so you don't have to. Today, they released their 2009 Congressional Pig Book, especially relevant due to the recent omnibus spending bill and huge stimulus package passed in the House and Senate.… GOP.gov
“No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms.” —Thomas Jefferson
“It is not hyperbole to describe [the Supreme Court’s] decision in [District of Columbia v.] Heller as the most significant opinion of this century, and likely, of the last two generations. Two particular thoughts immediately come to mind. First, the extent to which [the] decision effectively opens the door for future litigation regarding the Second Amendment to further clarify the extent of the now confirmed, but long understood, individual right to keep and bear arms. Second, this is an election year. This decision, closely divided as it is, will likely provide a rallying cry for the millions of the Americans who recognize that their Second Amendment rights came down to a single vote. In reading Justice Scalia’s opinion, there is an overwhelming theme that to interpret the Second Amendment as not protecting an individual right would gut the amendment of meaning and defy logic. It is, after all, the Second Amendment, not the two hundredth. This is not an obscure line buried among thousands of pages of text. It is inconceivable that the framers would have given it the priority they did, placing it ahead of so many other critical rights, if they only meant it to apply to militias as the dissenting justices suggest.” — David Schenck
Natrona County Republican Party Announces Precinct Caucuses and Convention
Max Maxfield, incumbent WY Secretary of State, is planning to announce his re-election campaign in Casper.
