US Rep Bass Statement on Passage of Final Appropriations Bill

Legislation will fund federal government for remainder of Fiscal Year 2012

WASHINGTON – Congressman Charles F. Bass (NH-02) issued the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed an omnibus appropriations bill to fund the federal government for the rest of Fiscal Year 2012.

Bass said:

“I’m pleased we’ve come to a bipartisan agreement on the last remaining appropriations bills to fund the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2012 and prevent a government shutdown.  The bill upholds the overall base discretionary level of spending as agreed to in the Budget Control Act from this summer, and in all, total discretionary spending amounts to $7 billion less than last year’s levels.  It’s a start in making the tough but necessary choices to rein in spending while meeting our nation’s needs.

“There are several items of particular importance to New Hampshire, including an increase of $909 million over the President’s request in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).  The legislation prioritizes LIHEAP funding for cold-weather states like New Hampshire and will help many needy families pay for home heating bills this winter.  Having communicated with the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee about ensuring there is sufficient funding for LIHEAP, I’m pleased the conference committee was able to increase funding over the level requested by the President and begin to help meet the demand for this vital program.”

The legislation also includes an increase of $21 million over last year’s funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which supports important land conservation programs across the country and in the Granite State.  Bass offered a fully-offset amendment to the Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill in July that would restore $20 million in funding for LWCF.  Land conservation programs help to protect natural resources, increase access to outdoor recreation, and support job creation and economic growth.

Bass spoke on the House floor this week about the importance of ensuring adequate funding for LIHEAP.  View the video here.

U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta votes against costly appropriations bill

SAYS IT DOESN’T DO ENOUGH TO REDUCE FEDERAL SPENDING 

(Washington – December 16, 2011)   U.S. Representative Frank Guinta voted against the Appropriations Conference Report on Friday.  It funds the federal government through the remainder of the 2012 fiscal year.  The bill was approved by the House of Representatives in a 296 to 121 vote.

Representative Guinta released the following statement:

“Americans simply can’t afford the high price-tag that accompanies this bill. While there are several provisions in it that I strongly support  -and have voted for the in the past-  the overall spending level was just too high.  Granite Staters want a return to fiscal responsibility, and this bill failed to do that.  In addition, it was especially frustrating we had to vote on yet another temporary measure to keep the government funded because Harry Reid and the Senate’s Democratic leaders refused to join with the House and pass a budget.  They insist on clinging to their decades-old addiction to large-scale spending.  Granite Staters have had enough of that, which is why I voted against this bill.”         

CHQ - Mitch McConnell Needs to Appoint Spending Cutters to Senate Appropriations Committee

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Mitch McConnell Needs to Appoint Spending Cutters to Senate Appropriations Committee
Daily Caller - Senator McConnell should fill Appropriations Committee vacancies with proven spending-cutters like Sen. Jim DeMint, writes Joanne Butler. Strong hands are needed to combat pork-loving Republicans such as Senators Thad Cochran, Lisa Murkowski, and Richard Shelby.  McConnell should show them that things have changed in Washington. 

2010 Republican Vote Counts Misrepresented by the Liberal Media
American Thinker - Contrary to reports in the media, under-performing GOP candidates did not lose because of their tough illegal-immigration stances.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski Emerging as the New Anti-Conservative GOP Senator -- Politico

New GOP Rules Will Make it Tougher for House to Raise Ceiling on National Debt -- The Hill

The GOP is the Party of "No Will to Win" -- RedState

What the Beltway Elite Could Learn From a Drunk's Rehabilitation -- World Net Daily

Ann Coulter: Conservatives Give to Charities Much More Than Liberals -- Human Events

If He Runs Again, Lugar Will Almost Certainly Face a Tea Party Primary Challenge -- Wall Street Journal

Sen. Tom Coburn: 'There Will be no More Big Spending Bills' -- Washington Examiner

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CEI Daily - Wikileaks, Jeff Flake, and Light Beer

Wikileaks

Amazon and other companies cut off services to Wikileaks after Sen. Joe Lieberman called for organizations to cut all ties to the controversial website.

Associate Director of Technology Studies Ryan Radia asks if Wikileaks has a First Amendment case against Joe Lieberman.

"While Lieberman’s tirade against Wikileaks was certainly related to matter of public policy, was he actually expressing an opinion on policy? Or was he simply threatening private firms for facilitating the dissemination of speech he didn’t like? Legislators rightly enjoy broad leeway to speak their mind about legislative matters and criticize their political opponents, but should a legislator’s own First Amendment rights enable him to trample the First Amendment rights of private citizens engaged in political discourse?"

Jeff Flake Incoming Speaker of the House John Boehner says he backs Congressman Jeff Flake's bid for a seat on the Appropriations Committee. Adjunct Scholar Fran Smith wishes Flake luck. "Flake's principled positions were duly noted by free market policy groups. He was rated the most fiscally conservative House member by the National Taxpayers Union, a Taxpayer 'Super Hero' by Citizens Against Government Waste, and the top free trader by Cato Institute. Undeterred by his slapdown, in 2008 Flake asked for an Appropriations seat but was turned down."

Light Beer

If Colorado bars and restaurants adhere to the letter of the law, they won't be able to sell beers that are under four percent alcohol.

Policy Analyst Michelle Minton explains that when legislators address this problem, they may also finally make it possible for grocery stores to sell full-strength beer--which some craft breweries are fighting against.

"Small brewers fear that the 'big beer' companies will strike deals with grocery and big-box stores, keeping craft bottles off the shelves. At the same time they worry that customers who purchase beer at grocery stores will no longer visit liquor stores, which in turn might drive the stores out of business for lack of customers, leaving small craft brewers with no place to sell their product. [...] Yet allowing more places to sell beer will not result in disappearing shelf space; it will only increase the likelihood and opportunity for small breweries to get their products in front of new customers. Even if grocery stores do decide to exclusively stock mass-produced beers, liquor stores will become a haven for the ever growing craft beer market. If liquor stores decided to specialize their beer selection to local and craft beers, this would actually result in increased shelf-space for microbrews in the same establishments where they previously had to compete with the 'big beers'."


Shea-Porter Request for $1 Million for Gaslight District Included in Appropriations Bill

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter today announced that her request for $1,000,000 to help revitalize the Gaslight District is included in the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill. The funding will be used for construction and streetscape improvements. The bill is expected to be on the House floor next week.

“This funding is important for new business development and will help create new jobs in Manchester,” said Congresswoman Shea-Porter. “I am proud of New Hampshire’s largest city and I look forward to seeing the continued revitalization of the Gaslight District.”