Monday, February 24, 2014

A new direction.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the administration’s own actions have in recent weeks confirmed what most of us in the rest of the country already knew: President Obama’s agenda creates disincentives for Americans to work, incentivizes employers to hire fewer people, and exacerbates the inequality the White House denounces.
According to the CBO, Obamacare will cause millions of Americans to work less or leave the workforce altogether. The president’s favored policy of a minimum-wage hike will cost half a million jobs, leaving more Americans earning zero dollars an hour. And the White House’s own actions, in yet another delay of dubious legality, to push the implementation of the employer mandate past the 2014 elections are a sign that employers are responding to Obamacare’s mandates exactly as critics have contended: by cutting back on workers and hours.

Here are ten policy steps President Obama can take today, all by himself, that will help jump-start the American economy:
1. Approve the Keystone Pipeline, creating thousands of jobs, affordable energy options, and reduced dependence on hostile foreign regimes.
2. Open up federal lands for assessment and exploration for energy, and implement a balanced approach to energy exportation by expediting export-license applications and export-terminal construction permitting.
3. Direct the IRS to eliminate any program that targets individuals, small businesses, or nonprofits based on their political beliefs.
4. Rein in the EPA: Scrap proposed new rules regarding greenhouse gases, which effectively bar the construction of new coal-fired power plants, and eliminate the new “cost of carbon” rule.
5. Institute common-sense regulatory budgets for each agency, which require agencies to roll back costly regulations before instituting new ones, along the lines of the One In, Two Out Act introduced in the U.S. House.
6. Reverse the executive order urging the use of project labor agreements on major federal construction projects. These project labor agreements discriminate against non-union contractors and increase costs of construction.
7. Order the Department of Education to open up the accreditation process for our higher-education system, allowing expanded accreditation from states and encouraging innovative institutions and models along the lines of reforms proposed by Sen. Mike Lee.
8. Shelve the “gainful employment” rule for schools, providing access to higher-ed opportunities for non-traditional students, such as those who decide to pursue professional training instead of a four-year degree.
9. Encourage upward mobility in the next generation: Allow Race to the Top funds to be used for school-choice voucher programs, opening up additional opportunities for low-income and minority children currently trapped in failing schools, and stop suing states over encouraging educational freedom.
10. Delay all of Obamacare’s mandates for a year, unconditionally — and grant states the flexibility they need to reform their health-care systems, through programs such as the Healthy Indiana Plan and other consumer-oriented options, without tying them to the law’s costly Medicaid expansion.

 Bobby Jindal

5 comments:

  1. A rebuttal.
    1. Keystone, while it will create some temporary jobs this project will only create a few hundred permanent jobs and will do nothing to reduce energy costs. Why? Because without writing more government regulation controlling the end use of the oil and gas flowing through the pipeline it will be put into the world energy market which by the way is where it is at now. Guarantee every ounce sent to Houston for refining is put into the domestic market to reduce our dependence on foreign energy markets, and reduce American energy costs and I am all in. But that is a guarantee that cannot be legally made. Companies can and will sell their refined products wherever the markets exist at the highest possible price point. It is called free markets Lou. It is what has made the U.S. a net exporter of refined oil products, while we pay record prices for propane and heating oil.

    2. Federal lands are not really closed to exploration except for the fact that age old leases are not being used. The Obama Administration has attempted to call in these leases not to prevent exploration of public lands but to re issue the leases into the hands of companies that might actually use them. What's the best way for oil companies to keep prices artificially high? Sit on locked up known reserves.
    3. I agree although I think the problem has been blown way out of proportion by the talking heads on the right. I don't dis agree that some of this happens but it is not widespread.
    4. EPA thank god for them. Have you followed what is happening in China these days where there is little or no regulation on polluters? I don't want to spend my life wearing a mask to filter the air that I breathe. Again I will concede that some regulations are unnecessary and over the top. Coal however is the dirtiest form of energy there is. And Lou this coming from a grandson of coal miners. My great Grand father O'Connor was actually the president of District 11 of the UMW back in the 30's. Coal is how a great part of my family made their living, that was then this is now though. There are better and more efficient sources of energy these days and I don't speak only of renewables. Natural gas and propane are two examples but then see No.1. We gotta keep them here not export them.

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    1. rebuttal continued
      7., 8. . 9. Did you know that the government is partnering with private industry to create the 6 year high school. There are several of these springing up nationwide and it is a major push of Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. These schools train teens from 9th grade on to do specific technology jobs that the partnering company needs. They are heavy in the science math, critical thinking and technology skills needed for a 21st century economy. The kids graduate with a high school diploma and an associate degree and are guaranteed a job in the 35000-40000 dollar range. Not a bad start at 20 years old. Guess who else is a huge proponent of the program? Your good friend Rahm Emmanuel. Enrollment is not based on need or scholastic achievement. It is only based on "you want to participate". I'm sure that waiting lists for these types of educational experiences will rapidly grow before we can accommodate all the eventual students who are "In' on this educational structure. This is the direction in which we need to put our money not vouchers.

      10. Medicaid expansion is paid for by the federal Government. here in NC as in many states obstructionist policies concerning Medicaid expansion and creation and sale of policies on an exchange have hampered the institution of the ACA to the detriment of the citizens of the state. No choices on the exchange equals higher prices. Why are there no choices because companies decided not to fool with state that were relying on the federal exchange to get the job done. The 13 states including Rand Paul's Kentucky that co-operated are having no trouble signing up their citizens and at fairly reasonable prices. It is the law let's get it implemented then we can tweak it for the good of everyone. There are four countries, Australia, New Zealand, England, and Canada who have some level of Universal health coverage and the share of the national debt owed per citizen is less then the United States and the level of debt compared to GDP is lower.
      So you see Lou there are two sides to everything. There are some compelling reasons for what Governor Jindal says, but there are also compelling reasons to the contrary.

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    2. 1. All construction jobs are temporary jobs. Like the interstate system. The maintenance jobs are as needed. The only permanent jobs are government jobs. Aren't construction jobs and the residual maintenance jobs better than minimum wage jobs at Mc Donald's? Think about it Rick, is oil from Canada better than oil from Saudi Arabia? Would you prefer the Canadians sell it to China ? Do you think the oil will just sit there if they don't build the pipeline? Will we continue to purchase North Sea Brent Light Crude? Yes as that's what eastern refineries use. Will we continue to sell North Slope oil to Japan, yes as it's cheaper than shipping it to a refinery. If they build the pipeline will we have first shot at buying the products? Please say no as I need a laugh this AM. Is Canada a better place to buy crude than Argentina? Is oil, gas a global commodity and sold on the world market? Yes it is.

      So short term in your thinking.

      2. That is a great excuse. Many of the so called leases are for exploration. Some are for test wells. Few are for production. The oil companies have found surprisingly that it's easier to do business in N. Dakota and S. Dakota than with the Federal Government. FYI, companies that have leases from the Federal Government have 10 years to explore, test drill and if mother gives a may I, start production.

      3. Of course you think it's blown out of proportion. The lap dog media makes sure it down plays, ignores the issue completely. Hopefully your party is never the target of IRS oversight. You should be outraged as it may happen.

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    3. 4. At one time the EPA served a great purpose. Today as they run amok at the administrations direction, be prepared for higher prices. There is a price for over regulation and we all pay it and still get to breath the pollution created in China. Imagine that we don't live in a bubble.
      Yes Rick some regulations are necessary however we all pay the price for over regulation as well as the cost in lost jobs.
      The Federal Register is the document that compiles all the federal rules and regulations that businesses are required to comply with. As of 2010 the Federal Register was 81,405 pages long. Federal regulations serve as a hidden tax on the economy. Costs imposed by regulation do not end up on any Federal budget, nor do they add to the national deficit. However, 81,405 pages of regulations strain the economy by creating huge costs that business are obligated to meet.


      It is not just large corporations but the entire economy that ends up bearing the cost of regulation. Complying with regulations is not cheap. The cost of complying with federal regulation increases businesses’ expenses by billions of dollars every year. Some of the compliance cost associated with federal regulation comes out of businesses’ profits, but much of the costs are passed down to consumers in form of higher prices. Compliance costs associated with regulations cut into businesses’ profits, while higher prices increase the day to day expenses of all consumers. Because regulations create artificial costs that must be paid by both producers and consumers, they cost the economy money and act as a drag on economic growth.


      Just how much money are federal regulations costing our economy? The answer appears to be quite a lot. Every year economist Clyde Wade Crews of the Competitive Enterprise Institute releases a report, entitled “The Ten Thousand Commandments” analyzing federal regulations and their costs. Crews’ analysis found that in 2010 the federal government spent around $55.4 billion dollars funding federal agencies, and enforcing existing regulation. But these costs barely compare to the compliance costs that regulation imposes on the economy. Crews’ report cites the work of economists Nicole V. Crain and W. Mark Crain, whose study of the net cost of regulations determined that in 2009 federal regulation cost businesses and consumers $1.75 trillion, or nearly 12% of America’s 2009 GDP. As a comparison, in the same year, corporate pre-tax profits for all businesses totaled about $ 1.46 trillion.

      The government cost 7 jobs I know of when I closed my business. Perhaps if we get a business friendly government in 2016, I'll reopen and will rehire 7 people to continue on. Imagine the lost taxes. 1.4 million in revenue for the most part paid out in salaries, taxes and benefits. But who cares anyway.

      Time for the meds, I'll respond to the rest later.

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  2. Medicaid expansion is paid for by the federal Government.

    Now that is the most uninformed comment I have read. The Federal government has no money, only money taken from people to give to another person. We the tax payer pay for medicaid, medicare, SS, food stamps, everything. WE THE PEOPLE pay for your medicaid expansion.

    The two side of everything appear to be people who pay and people who don't pay. I understand there are people that cannot afford. They need to be supported and helped in every way. Then there are people who chose not to participate, they need to be left to fend for themselves.

    One size ACA insurance doesn't fit all. It may be the law of the land today but like DOMA it may not be the law of the land tomorrow. Perhaps an Executive Order as Obama has proven, will be used to circumvent your law of the land ( nice restate from Obama) law and bypass congress. Perhaps the next president will use the power to kill the law for their term.

    When you Rick buy your insurance through the exchange, you then have a right to cheer lead for it as you would be paying for it. I chose to buy my insurance outside the ACA so I do not support the program, hopefully others will join me and buy directly from insurance companies, prices are similar and that will force the prices higher, the people will kill this poorly conceived monstrosity.

    p.s. My policy was cancelled as I chose to raise my deductible to 2500 from 1000 in 2011. triggering a cancellation of my policy. The new policy including all the things I don't want or need costs me 200 more a month. A special thanks to you and obama for the additional cost.

    Am I pissed? Yes this idiot with all his promises have cost me 2400 more a year in insurance costs. No I did not get to keep my insurance. No 2500 in savings. Cost me my primary care physician, he said bite me, I will not play anymore, to much government interference. No I cannot keep my physician.

    Guess I should look for another audit by the IRS and keep an eye out for the inevitable drone.

    Interesting as the 20% supported Nixon no matter what he did.
    20% supported Clinton no matter how immoral he was.
    20% supported Bush no matter what he did.
    20% will always support obama no matter how much damage he does to this country.

    All of them wrong, all supported by their faithful drones.

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