CONSERVATIVE ACTION ALERTS 03/28/2011

'ObamaRail' the new ObamaCare: Expensive and Unwanted “ObamaRail” is fast becoming the new “ObamaCare” for many Republicans. Conservative activists are deriding the high-speed rail proposals set out by President Obama in his State of the Union address and 2012 budget as wasteful spending that imposes new mandates on cash-strapped state governments. “Look, you look at the studies of these things, when they get built, [they] cost way more than they think,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott said shortly after he rejected $2.4 billion for a railway connecting Tampa and Orlando. Read More

Little progress as shutdown deadline looms Congress gave itself a three-week reprieve on a government shutdown, then spent the first 10 days on vacation. Now, lawmakers return with the shutdown deadline once again looming, and a deal seemingly as far away as ever. The House has spent more than 70 hours debating spending this year, and has produced a bill. The Senate has spent less than five hours officially debating spending, and has rejected the House bill, but has yet to produce an alternative of its own. Read More

Wisconsin Department Moving to Implement New Collective Bargaining Rules Despite Court Order Until it's told otherwise, Wisconsin's Department of Administration says it will move forward as though an unsettled law that takes away certain collective bargaining rights has become official. Department Secretary Mike Huebsch said Saturday that his legal counsel has advised him to begin implementing the law as required after a bill is lawfully published. Read More