FREEDOMWORKS 12/16/2014

1. Record Number of Americans Want ObamaCare Repealed - by Logan Albright A new poll just out from Fox News reports that 58 percent of Americans - the highest number ever recorded - would rather see ObamaCare repealed than let it stay in place. The results are encouraging, but not altogether surprising. In the wake of the numerous media statements by Jonathan Gruber, who played a key role in the law’s development, Americans feel insulted, duped, and lied to about the Affordable Care Act. Gruber’s comments reveal the sense of contempt, both for democracy and transparency, that led a Democratic Congress to demand the law be passed without even knowing what was in it. The poll shows that 49 percent of people think the administration intentionally lied about the law, a number which rises sharply if you restrict the poll to independents or Republicans. Read more here... 2. Debunked: Net Neutrality Net neutrality may yield unintended consequences that generate benefits for some while imposing substantial costs on others. Most importantly, price controls would push all costs to end users in the name of net neutrality. Unfortunately, these price controls would have the effect that price controls always have on the workings of the market—less output, less innovation, and less investment in the infrastructure critical for the deployment of broadband. Much has changed in how the internet is used, yet new mandates threaten to lock in an architecture that may limit the deployment of new technology. Watch here... 3. Regulations Rob the Internet of Its Dynamic Evolution - by Wayne Brough via Real Clear Markets President Obama recently weighed in on the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) net neutrality proceedings, basically endorsing a government takeover of the internet. Given the president's predilections for executive orders, the decision is not surprising. Imposing sweeping new regulations on the internet would continue the expansion of the administrative state that the president favors. But new regulations come at the price of reduced innovation and lower levels of capital investment, which is unfortunate, because neither the administration nor the FCC have yet to make the case that current internet policies have been problematic. Read more here... 4. Cynically Manipulating Race - by Deneen Borelli via Pittsburg Tribune-Review Deneen Borelli is outreach director with FreedomWorks, president of Conservative Review, a Fox News contributor and author of the 2012 book “Blacklash.” She spoke to the Trib regarding recent racial tensions in America. Q: Given the recent events in Ferguson, Mo., and New York City, do you believe race relations are at a flashpoint in this country? Read more here... 5. Oversight Committee Hits Jonathan Gruber With a Subpoena for ObamaCare Documents - by Jason Pye The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee isn't done with the Jonathan Gruber. Just days after the MIT economist appeared at a marathon hearing before the committee, Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) issued a subpoena for Gruber, demanding that he turn over all documents and communications with federal, state, and local officials related to the work he's done on ObamaCare. Read more here... 6. The (CR)Omnibus Process Has Been Another Congressional Disgrace - by Josh Withrow Congress, apparently in a race to more thoroughly deserve its abysmal approval ratings, has conducted a tremendous exercise in bad government this past week. The omnibus funding bill that is set to keep the government paid for through September 2015 has been crafted largely in secret, and once again left lawmakers with only a couple of days to sort through what had been changed in over a thousand pages of text. This is not a rational way to run a government. Read more here... 7. Why These Teachers Quit Their Jobs. Hint: Common Core - by Julie Borowski There’s a national discussion going on about Common Core educational standards. Polls continue to show that most Americans oppose Common Core. Support is also dropping among teachers. Some educators have actually resigned because of the problems associated with Common Core. Here are a few examples: Read more here... In Liberty, Jackie Bodnar Director of Communications, FreedomWorks