Morning Briefing
For June 20, 2013
1. Rubio vs. Rubio
As a candidate for the United States Senate, Marco Rubio campaigned on a tough, “no amnesty” immigration stance, in which he advocated against a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants and in strong support of border security before legalization. Now, as a leader of the “Gang of 8,” he has embraced — and in many instances moved farther left of — the very policies he once criticized.
It is okay for Senator Rubio to change his mind, though he and I may disagree. For too many conservatives, though, Senator Rubio appears to be trying to reconcile irreconcilable positions. In the past several days, tea party activists who once supported him have been booing just the mention of his name. Conservative groups that once touted him as the second coming of Ronald Reagan have moved on to Ted Cruz.
There is much time between now and 2016, and there will be other challenges that see the right and Senator Rubio united. But I suspect the contradictions of these statements will come up in ad campaigns in Iowa, New Hampshire, and elsewhere. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
2. Moral Vacancy at Georgia Right to Life
It is time for Georgia pro-lifers to start a new group willing to advance life issues and not play holier than down pharisaical politics with the lives of children. It’s time for Georgia pro-lifers to start a group that is willing to change hearts and minds and help foster a culture of life where it can be done. As far as I am concerned, Georgia Right to Life has now become the Westboro Baptist Church of the pro-life movement. Instead of saving souls, they’d rather stone those who are trying to save souls. We need a new pro-life group in Georgia. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
3. Problems with the Cornyn Amendment
The so-called Cornyn amendment, though touted by some as a “poison pill” to the Gang of 8’s S. 744, is little more than a fig leaf for the toothless border security measures in the underlying bill. Despite some improvements, the Cornyn amendment adopts the same framework (and, in many cases, the exact language) of the Gang of 8 bill–granting legalization before border enhancements, encouraging more illegal crossings, and removing any incentive to actually secure the border. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
4. It’s our world, the CBO just lives in it
The first thing to keep in mind about the Congressional Budget Office estimate of costs and benefits for the “Gang of Eight” immigration bill – or any other estimate the CBO prepares – is that Congress is very good at gaming CBO estimates. There are lots of little tricks that can be used to hide costs and inflate benefits, once you understand how the CBO is required to analyze legislation. One of the simplest tricks is hiding the big costs of the bill beyond the standard 10-year window. This tactic was used to great effect with ObamaCare, leading to absurd performances by talking-points robots who insisted the President’s health care boondoggle would actually reduce the deficit. ObamaCare looks worse with each passing year, as the 10-year window moves forward, and the more poorly designed components of the legislation self-destruct. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
5. Gov. Kasich: God Wants Ohio to Expand Medicaid
Governor John Kasich, a Republican, repeated his insistence that God wants Ohio to expand Medicaid when reporters brought up the topic on June 18. Kasich suggested anyone who opposes Medicaid expansion will have to answer for their opposition when they die.
Gov. Kasich said he recently told a state legislator, “I respect the fact that you believe in small government. I do too. I also happen to know that you’re a person of faith.”
“Now, when you die and get to the, get to the, uh, to the meeting with St. Peter, he’s probably not gonna ask you much about what you did about keeping government small, but he’s going to ask you what you did for the poor,” Kasich said. “Better have a good answer.” . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
6. Top 7 Negative Economic Effects of Colorado Gun Control
During Colorado’s 2012-2013 General Assembly legislative session, multiple restrictive gun control measures were passed and signed into law. The legislation package, which was backed by the liberal Bloomberg group Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), is set to take effect on July 1 and includes 15 round limits on magazines, expanded background checks, firearm exchange regulation, and other new red tape implementation. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
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