The Smoking Argus

WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Barack Obama promised to rein the deficit, citing three specific steps to this end. He praised the Senate for restoring the pay-as-you-go law, which in the 1990’s contributed to the $236 billion surplus at the end of the decade. It is no coincidence that after ending PAYGO, that surplus became a $1.3 trillion deficit. He has also proposed a freeze in discretionary spending, which will increase investments in jobs creation and middle class tax cuts while cutting spending for redundant or ineffective programs. And finally, the President called for a bi-partisan Fiscal Commission to hammer out concrete deficit reduction proposals.
(Full Transcript)

Related Material(s)
	President Obama Weekly Address: Reigning in Budget Deficits TRANSCRIPT 01/30/2010 (PDF 18.3Kb)

Source(s): The White House • White House YouTube Channel

The Smoking Argus

Senator Mike Enzi of Wyoming the Ranking Member of the Senate Health Committee takes a moment to give pause over the loss of Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts earlier in the week . Senator Enzi believes there exists legitimate concern in the minds of the American people as it relates to the Democrat health care reform resolutions released just prior to Congress adjourning for their Fall recess.

People in Wyoming and across the nation are anxious about what Washington [D.C.] has in mind concerning their health care. To Senator Enzi he feels these are big, personal, and one of the most important debates of our lifetime. Senator Enzi opines that if Washington D.C. fail on reforming the system appropriately, dire consequencs will spread from coast to coast and effect both the living and future generations.

He continues that by his estimations Democrat plans fail to address the key cornerstone of rising costs when it comes to health care. Senator Enzi points to the non-partisan and independent Congressional budget Office (CBO) indicates that both Democrat plans in the House and Senate will actually drive up costs and significantly increase the national deficit. Thus he chides Democrats for attempting to rush the bill through the process which will result in “making the nation’s finances sicker, without saving you money”.

—END REPORT—

Source(s): House Republican Conference • GOP Weekly Address YouTube Channel

The Smoking Argus

WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL STATEMENT: The President discusses the state of the economy amidst positive signs from the GDP. Making clear that this is little comfort to those struggling, he notes that we appear to have averted an even worse disaster and offers hope for the time ahead. August 1, 2009. (Public Domain)

—End OFFICIAL STATEMENT—

Source(s): The White House • Official White House YouTube Channel

The Smoking Argus

Editor’s Note: No official Statement is available from Senator John McCain’s office.

Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona compares the struggle for American Independence to the ongoing protests in Iran. He attempts to oversimplify opposition by stating that those seeking to link the C.I.A. to the current Green Revolution based on the C.I.A.’s 1953 overthrow of then Iranian Prime Minister Mossadeq are both cynical and on the wrong side of history. Finally, Senator McCain admonishes the Iranian regime for conducting brutal torture and spreading fear of a feigned foreign enemy as a means to justify a loss of liberty domestically.

Source(s): Senator John McCain’s Official YouTube Channel

The Smoking Argus

OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT – The President recounts Americas great history of overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges, and pledges to lead America in continuing that tradition. Focusing on creating a clean energy economy, comprehensive health reform, and revitalizing an education system in need of change, the President pledges not to leave these decades-old problems to yet another generation to solve. July 3, 2009. (Public Domain)

—End Official Statement—

Source(s): The White House

The Smoking Argus

WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT – The President makes clear that as Congress works through health care reform legislation, it must include fundamental changes that lower costs, ensure Americans have choices, and establish access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. But what we cant welcome, the President says, is reform that just invests more money in the status quo reform that throws good money after bad habits. (public domain)

Source(s): White House

The Smoking Argus

WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT: The President discusses the breadth and depth of experience held by his nominee for the Supreme Court. In the course of a life that began in a housing project in the South Bronx and brought her to the pinnacle of her profession, Judge Sonia Sotomayor accumulated more experience on the federal bench than any incoming Supreme Court Justice in the past 100 years, touching nearly every aspect of our legal system. May 30, 2009. (Public Domain)

Source(s): The White House