CEI Weekly: CEI Responds to State of the Union

February 15, 2013

Feature: CEI responds to Tuesday's speech.

FEATURE: CEI Responds to State of the Union On Tuesday evening, President Obama delivered his fifth State of the Union. CEI policy experts live blogged the address at CEI headquarters. We've compiled a round-up of CEI experts' reactions to focal issues of the president's speech, including jobs, energy, cybersecurity, and immigration. View the roundup here. SHAPING THE DEBATE 'Blunting' the Decline of Unions Matt Patterson's op-ed in The New York Post New Green Rules in California Take Safe Chemicals Out of Use Angela Logomasini's op-ed in Investor's Business Daily The Anti-Democracy Index Wayne Crews and Ryan Young's op-ed in The American Spectator Frum Is Wrong About Budget Cuts Hans Bader's letter to the editor in The National Post Re: Out of the Woods Iain Murray's post in National Review Online Georgia Joins Lawsuit Challenging Dodd-Frank CEI's citation in The Atlantic Business Chronicle A Lot of Hot Air on Energy in SOTU Brian McNicoll's citation in National Review Left-Wing Groups Shape Dodd-Frank John Berlau's citation in THe Washington Free Beacon

CEI PODCAST February 14, 2013: Dodd-Frank's Constitutionality  CEI General Counsel Sam Kazman discusses a lawsuit in which CEI, the 60 Plus Association, and the State National Bank of Big Spring, Texas arguethat parts of the Dodd-Frank financial regulation bill are unconstitutional. Both the bill’s grant of Orderly Liquidation Authority to the Treasury secretary and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s unaccountability fail to pass constitutional muster. The plaintiffs are joined by11 states. BEST OF THE BLOGS Schools Trample on First Amendment By Hans Bader King of Nowhere By Matt Patterson TSCA Reform: Reasonable Certainty of Harm to Animals By Angela Logomasini State of the Union? Try Over-Regulated By Wayne Crews

ALG's Daily Grind - Obama and his rogue EPA

Feb. 14, 2013

Obama and his rogue EPA

Obama in State of the Union: "I will direct my cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy."

Cartoon: Spending problem

Pelosi: "it is almost a false argument to say we have a spending problem, we have a budget deficit problem."

That's the State of the Union?

How about that bold line by Obama that the laundry list of programs he presented would not add a dime to the deficit?  The last time Obama was heard making this promise was in 2009 when he was urging Congress to jam Obamacare down America's throat. 

Hennessey: Why stop at $9? A $90 minimum wage

"If raising the minimum wage is good economic policy, why stop at $9 per hour? Why not increase it to $90 per hour?"

SEIA reaction to State of the Union address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association today released the following statement in response to President Obama’s State of the Union Address to Congress:

“In tonight’s State of the Union Address, President Obama laid out a vision for the American energy economy that is in line with what SEIA is working to achieve – a robust clean energy industry that powers our homes and businesses while growing our economy and protecting our environment. Energy is a primary input to our nation’s economic system, so it’s appropriate that President Obama is placing emphasis on developing our nation’s robust clean energy resources to help rebuild the nation’s economy. 

“We are especially encouraged by the president’s commitment to securing America’s place as a leader in clean energy innovation throughout the world. President Obama understands that the stakes are high and we must not fall behind other nations as the world shifts to emissions-free clean energy technologies like solar.

“We thank President Obama for his leadership and look forward to continuing to work with Congress and the White House to make solar an increasingly-important component of the nation’s energy portfolio.”

###

Since 2008, the amount of solar powering U.S. homes, businesses, and military bases has grown by more than 500 percent – from 1,100 megawatts to more than 6,400 megawatts today, which is enough to power more than one million average American households. Solar is the fastest-growing and most affordable, accessible and reliable clean energy technology available today.  America’s solar industry now employs more than 119,000 workers at 5,600 companies – most of which are small businesses spread across every state in the union.

Background Resources:
- Solar Energy Industries Association: Issues and Policies
- Transcript of President Obama’s 2013 State of the Union address

About SEIA®:
Established in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA and its 1,000 member companies are building a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works to make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. www.seia.org

YRNF - More taxes, more spending, more regulations, more costs for young people

Lisa Stickan, the Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation made the following statement in response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union:

President Barack Obama laid out a plan of more taxes, more spending, more regulations, and higher costs, especially for the young people that hit with enormous cost increases as part of his health care plan.

This is the wrong path for our country. It will deepen the economic challenges faced by all of us, challenges that he has not addressed so far. Mr. President, when you are in a hole, stop digging. You are digging the hole that our generation will have to do dig out of.

Instead, we need to embrace a proven path of lower taxes, less regulation, and embracing our energy resources rather than taxing them. Instead we need to find ways to lower health care costs, rather than invest in expensive systems made more expensive with more regulations. Instead we need to fix an education system so that it educates our children and family rather than simply provides more money for liberal special interests.

NHDP - Chair Ray Buckley Reacts to President Obama's Plan for a Strong Middle Class and a Strong America

Concord, NH - After last night's State of the Union in which President Obama laid out a clear vision and concrete plan for a thriving middle class, New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley released the following statement:

"During last night's State of the Union, President Obama laid out a plan that builds on the progress we made during his first term and strengthens the middle class. During the past 35 months businesses have added more than 6 million jobs, housing is recovering, and the stock market is up. But we can do more.

"Last night, President Obama spoke directly to New Hampshire citizens about how we can make America a magnet for jobs and manufacturing, equip every American with the skills they need to do those jobs, and ensure hard work earns a decent living by raising the minimum wage and making sure women receive equal pay for equal work. Combined with the President's plan for balanced deficit reduction, none of these proposals will add a dime to our deficit.

"The time has come for Republicans in Congress to stop their partisan grandstanding and start voting on commonsense proposals that will help the middle class thrive and secure a better future for our children."

To learn more about President Obama's plan for a strong middle class and a strong America, you can go here .