Feb
13
Rep. Noem and other House Republicans are doing everything they can to keep the Keystone XL project alive. While the President and his party are busy campaigning, the Republicans are trying to do whats right for our country. Keystone XL would bring so many benefits to America, so why is this even an issue?
Jan
13
PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that South Dakota will not pursue legislation to establish a health insurance exchange during the 2012 legislative session.
“There is too much uncertainty for me to recommend legislation to create an exchange at this time,” the Governor said. “The President’s health law could be struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court this summer, and if the Republicans win the presidency and the U.S. Senate, many parts of the law could be repealed in 2013.”
“The federal government hasn’t released some very important regulations either, such as the definition of minimum essential health benefits, so we don’t know all the requirements we will have to meet to run an exchange,” Gov. Daugaard said. “At a minimum, we must know whether this law is constitutional before we pass legislation at the state level. It doesn’t make sense to pass laws that we know could be unconstitutional.”
After months of hard work by a planning group composed of providers and experts from the public and private sector, South Dakota has decided to apply for federal establishment grant funding to continue planning for an exchange, in case one is legally required. If the federal law is upheld and the state chooses not to create an exchange, the federal government will set up and run an insurance exchange in South Dakota.
“I’ve been against President Obama’s massive health reform legislation since the beginning, but if we are forced to implement this law we should try to retain as much control over our insurance industry and Medicaid system as possible, “ Gov. Daugaard said.
The Governor said he is not willing to risk the harm to the South Dakota insurance industry or state citizens that could come from a federally run exchange without further research and planning.
“I hope the law is ruled unconstitutional in its entirety, but right now we don’t know whether that will happen, “ Gov. Daugaard said. “Reality dictates that we have to continue planning for the possibility of a health insurance exchange, and we will continue to do so using federal grant dollars.”
Jan
08
Apparently President Obama has drawn a line in the tar sands and staked his future to the Keystone XL Pipeline. His decision to delay the pipeline is obviously political, but he may have chosen the wrong side. Most Americans want this pipeline built. This issue goes beyond party politics, yet the President has sided with a small minority group who are very vocal and have more influence than they deserve. The clock is ticking, Obama has until the end of February to make a decision. Will he do whats right for America and side with the American people, or will he attempt to give out political favors as part of a re-election strategy.
From Reuters
Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute, said TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline would definitely play a role in this year’s national elections.
“This issue is very simple and straightforward, it’s about jobs and national security,” Gerard told reporters after giving a speech on the state of U.S. energy.
“Anything less than approval or acquiescence in allowing the pipeline to go forward would be inconsistent with the vast majority of Americans,” Gerard said.
Jan
07
In a speech at the Pentagon, the President laid out his new military strategy. Early reports suggest that it is almost exactly opposite of Reagan’s Peace Through Strength doctrine. Once again showing the importance of the upcoming election and what is at stake.
From Ilan Berman via Forbes
Notably, most of these changes have been put forth under the banner of fiscal austerity, of effectively doing as much—or more—with less. But can we? More than a few officials have waxed skeptical. Indeed, House Armed Services Committee chairman Howard “Buck” McKeon already has lambasted the new strategy as laying the predicate for an American “retreat from the world.”
Jan
05
Peace through strength requires a true understanding of our enemy. We need more people in Washington who wont keep apologizing and making excuses for those who would do us harm. Col. West gets it, is Obama listening?
Jan
05
Rushmore PAC understands the need for conservative voices in the Senate to help get the economy moving by reducing tax burden and needless regulation on businesses. That’s why we support Rick Berg and other US Senate candidates like Adam Hasner in Florida.
From The Minot Daily News
Well, Rick, being a businessman, knows what will help get this country moving again and it’s not more taxes and more spending. Because he is part of the majority party and with his business background he has worked on a number of bills that would regulate government, promote job growth and limit spending.
Jan
03
Col. Steele, inspiration for the book and movie Black Hawk Down, discusses the reality of defense cuts, especially when they are implemented automatically and with out careful consideration.
Jan
03
At a recent campaign stop, Newt Gingrich reminded everyone whats at stake in 2012. We need a President who will promote an energy policy that is broad in scope and focuses on what is good for America not a policy based on a failed ideology.
From the Des Moines Register
Gingrich hammered the administration for failing to get behind a major western U.S. pipeline project, which he fears could shift to Canada with Chinese backing if it’s blocked here. Gingrich said the pipeline would create 20,000 jobs and help the United States build toward energy independence.
“Let me tell you how misguided Obama’s energy policy is,” Gingrich said. “It’s one thing if they can’t play chess, and another if they can’t play checkers. But it really worries you if they can’t play tick-tack-toe. They just don’t get it.”
Jan
01
Recent developments in Iran are a good reminder that Energy Independence is also a foreign policy issue. It should be obvious that increased domestic energy production makes us less vulnerable to the kinds of threats coming from Iran. Energy Independence is a win, win, win situation for the U.S. as it would create jobs, revenue, and security. The Keystone XL pipeline should be a major component of our energy policy, instead it has become a campaign tool for a confused President.
From Fuel Fix
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who has long supported the project, indicated Iran’s threats strengthened his support.
“With Iran threatening to block the Straits of Hormuz, doesn’t the Keystone XL pipeline make even more sense?” he tweeted on Wednesday.
Asked by Fox News whether the Iranian pressure would lead Obama to approve the pipeline, Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, said: “It should, but he doesn’t always do what’s best for America and American energy.”
Dec
31
In spite of Washington over regulating, and over taxing, America’s energy producers have made huge steps towards real Energy Independence.
From Travis Hoium via The Motley Fool
It’s been a transformative year for the energy industry. After decades of reliance on foreign oil, the narrative has turned to drilling in the U.S. , [and]natural gas took some major steps toward becoming a major transportation fuel and a major U.S. export .
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