2011 Policy Briefs
RSC Policy Brief: Challenging Obamacare in the 112th Congress (12/23/2011)
Although the Supreme Court will consider the legal challenge to Obamacare in its current term, House Republicans in the 112th Congress have not left the exclusive determination of the law’s constitutionality in the hands of the judicial branch. What follows below is a chronicle of the legislative and committee activity related to repeal of the massive government takeover of our health care industry.
RSC One-Pager: The President's Student Loan Plan (10/26/2011)
On Wednesday, October 27, 2011, President Obama announced new changes to federal student loan programs through regulatory action as part of his “We Can’t Wait” initiative. The above one-pager summarizes the changes and demonstrates that they are not a solution, or the beginning of one, to the nation's higher education financing crisis.
RSC Policy Brief: Status of House Passed Bills in the Senate (9/30/2011)
There have been 127 pieces of legislation that have passed the House in the 112th Congress. RSC Staff have put together a list of each piece of legislation and its status in the Senate. The document is broken down into Subcommittee Status, Committee Status, and Floor Status. This Policy Brief has been compiled to show the inaction of the Democrat controlled Senate.
RSC One-Pager: Constitutional Authority Statements (9/22/2011)
On January 5, 2011, the House adopted a new rule requiring each bill or joint resolution introduced be accompanied by a Constitutional Authority Statement. RSC Staff have compiled the Statements for every bill and joint resolution introduced this Congress (3042 bills as of September 16, 2011).
RSC Policy Brief: Highway Opt-Out Bills (9/19/2011)
Many conservatives argue that the states should be given more flexibility in spending transportation dollars and that most (if not all) of the highways program should be devolved to the states. The RSC has prepared the above Policy Brief which summarizes two opt-out bills(H.R. 1737 and H.R. 1585) that empower the states to decide how they want to disperse their highway dollars.
RSC Policy Brief: The Palestinian Authority’s Unilateral Attempt at Statehood through the United Nations (9/19/2011)
On September 23, 2011, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is expected to pursue a resolution at the United Nations (U.N.) that would recognize an independent Palestinian state, forever changing the course of Middle East peace negotiations. The RSC has prepared the above Policy Brief which summarizes the situation, potential courses of action, and possible outcomes.
RSC One-Pager: Key Dates in the Budget Control Act (8/3/2011)
Yesterday, the President signed into law the Budget Control Act of 2011, which provides for a total debt ceiling increase of between $2.1 trillion-$2.4 trillion, sets ten-year caps on discretionary spending, creates a Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, and requires both houses of Congress to vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment. The Act specifies several key dates and deadlines, which are compiled in the above one-pager.
RSC One-Pagers: Budget Control Act of 2011 (7/26/2011)
The above one-pager seeks to address the most common questions about the Budget Control Act of 2011.
RSC One-Pagers: Debt Ceiling Debate (7/19/2011)
In order to prepare for the the fast approaching August 2nd debt ceiling deadline, the RSC has compiled two documents for your use. The first document, If Catastrophic” Then, What Today?, demonstrates that the fiscal situation facing America today is significantly more dire than it was on January 26, 1995 when the House passed a balanced budget amendment for the first time and Rep. Hoyer declared the consequences of failure “catastrophic.” The second document, $2.4 Trillion Demands a Real Solution attempts to highlight the enormity of the President’s $2.4 trillion debt limit increase request by putting it in easily understood terms. If House Republicans are to support such a sizeable increase, real, long-term reforms like Cut, Cap, and Balance are imperative.
RSC Policy Brief: Balanced Budget Amendments to the Constitution (6/24/2011)
As Majority Leader Eric Cantor has announced that the House is expected to consider a balanced budget amendment (BBA) to the U.S. Constitution the week of July 25, 2011, the RSC has compiled this Policy Brief to discuss the differences between two Balanced Budget Amendments, H.J.Res. 1 and H.J.Res. 56, that have received recent attention.
RSC Policy Brief: Items of Note on H.R. 1249, Patent Reform (6/16/2011)
Recent legislative attempts at revising the U.S. patent system in the last four Congresses have picked up momentum this Congress with the Senate overwhelmingly passing with 95 votes its version of patent reform legislation (S. 23) that—with few exceptions—closely resembles H.R. 1249. This policy brief describes the items of note on H.R. 1249, Patent Reform legislation that is scheduled to be considered on the floor next week.
RSC Policy Brief: The National Debt and the Debt Limit (5/12/2011)
The rapidly expanding national debt continues to put a strain on America’s families, businesses, and future. The current debate on raising the debt limit has placed the fiscal situation in stark relief and provides an opportunity for conservatives to advance serious spending reforms. This policy brief is intended to provide background on the nature of the national debt and the history, mechanics, and impact of the debt limit.
RSC Policy Brief: Gas Facts (5/3/2011)
In conjunction with the release of the RSC's Consumer Relief for Pain at the Pump Act, the RSC has produced a policy brief providing the facts about gasoline production and the Obama Administration's job killing energy policies.
RSC Policy Briefs: Tax Day 2011 (4/11/2011)
In honor of the fast approaching Tax Day on April 18th, the RSC has compiled two documents for your use. The first document, Tax Facts, provides a wide breath of information about the tax code itself, compliance costs, and the tax burden for American families and businesses. The second document, Impending Tax Increases, is a list of the numerous tax increases that will occur if Congress fails to act.
RSC Policy Brief: Government Shutdowns (4/4/2011)
Although negotiations continue, it appears possible that a gap in federal government funding will occur in the days ahead. This RSC Policy Brief is designed to answer the many questions that have arisen on the causes, effects, and history of government shutdowns. The RSC has provided further information on what federal government activities continue during a shutdown here, and information on the fiscal situation in 1995 as compared to today here.
RSC Policy Brief: Obamacare Florida Lawsuit Update (3/10/2011)
Late Tuesday afternoon, the federal government, through the Department of Justice, filed their official appeal and a request for an expedited appeal with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in the Florida Obamacare lawsuit. This RSC Policy Brief highlights some key findings within Judge Roger Vinson’s order granting the federal government a stay of his declaratory judgment ruling Obamacare unconstitutional pending appeal.
RSC Outlook: The EPA - A Bureaucratic Bully Pulpit (3/9/2011)
This RSC Policy Brief highlights a few of the policies enacted by the Environmental Protection Agency to artificially drive up the price of energy. The Obama Administration will stop at nothing to utilize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to impose carbon taxes on every sector of the economy.
RSC Outlook: The Impending Pain at the Pump (2/25/2011)
In light of the recent activities in the Middle East and North Africa - combined with the ongoing activities regarding the Obama Administration’s energy policy - the RSC is distributing the attached Policy Brief discussing the recent spike in gas prices.
RSC Policy Brief: Review of the Unrest in the Middle East and North Africa (2/25/2011)
With the continuing unrest in the Middle East and in North Africa, the RSC has prepared a policy brief summarizing the situation country by country. This brief is not meant to cover every detail of these ongoing events, but is meant to provide an overview.
RSC Policy Brief: RSC Member Health Care Initiatives (2/25/2011)
Building upon the efforts of last Congress, Republican Study Committee Members have been actively promoting market-based health care related legislation as alternatives to the federal government takeover of our health care system by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (a.k.a., “Obamacare”). This policy brief describes Members’ legislation, as well as the health care amendments offered to the Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R.1), that passed the House last Saturday morning, February 19, 2011.
RSC Info Alert: Amendments Approved to H.R. 1 (2/23/2011)
The House approved 66 amendments to H.R. 1, the FY 2011 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act. A summary of each approved amendment is available at the link above, with supplementary material included when available.
RSC Policy Brief: President's FY 2012 Budget (2/15/2011)
Yesterday, February 14, 2011, the President submitted his budget request for FY 2011-2021 which proposes: $8.9 trillion of new deficit spending, a tripling of the public debt, and $1.6 trillion worth of tax increases over the period covering the budget submission. The following is intended to put the deficit, debt, spending, and tax figures in perspective.
RSC Policy Brief: Hitting the Floor Running (2/3/2011)
The Republican Study Committee has become known as a fountain of robust, forward-thinking
ideas and as RSC Members lead the new majority, they are working to craft positive
solutions to our nation's problems. This document provides a list of the major initiatives introduced in the first three weeks of the 112th Congress.
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