OC Politics Blog | Tag Archives: Federal Government

U.S. food price inflation is freaking out the Feds

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Editor Posted in Chriss Street, Federal Government, Inflation Leave a comment

looting the supermarket

By: Chriss W. Street

Stock markets around the world fell today, led by the 246 point dive, or 1.5%, for the U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average and the 1.9% drop for German stock market index. Analysts generally pointed to worries about a shrinking Chinese lending and the potential trade war between Russia and the West, but I am more concerned that since the beginning of 2014 food prices have skyrocketed. The Federal Reserve must be concerned that their international support for “cheap money policies” to stimulate economic growth may be funding commodity speculation that is driving prices higher and creating wide spread misery. If the Fed decides to raise interest rates to dampen speculation, I believe stock and commodity prices are in for a hard fall. Continue reading→

Issa introduces Equal Healthcare Access Act

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Editor Posted in Darrell Issa, Federal Government, Healthcare, Orange County 3 Comments

Darrell Issa

Issa Introduces Equal Healthcare Access Act

October 24, 2013

WASHINGTON- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., today announced legislation, H.R. 3319, the Equal Healthcare Access Act, that would allow all Americans to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program (FEHBP). Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-SC, and Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, D-Mo., are original cosponsors.

“The Equal Healthcare Access Act offers Americans access to the same health insurance plans long enjoyed by Members of Congress and their families,” said Chairman Issa. “This is a free market approach to healthcare with government playing the very limited role of helping small businesses and individuals come together to get a better price for healthcare – much like larger businesses can already negotiate on their own.” Continue reading→

How will the Federal Shutdown impact State and Local Governments?

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Editor Posted in California, Chriss Street, Federal Government Leave a comment

Federal Shutdown Impact on State and Local Governments

Written by Chriss W. Street

State and local governments are very familiar with the impact of a federal government shutdown, since there have been 17 since 1976. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan each dealt with six shutdowns that lasted from one to eighteen days during their terms in office. The United States Treasury estimates that if an agreement on the $16.7 trillion debt ceiling is not reached by Oct. 17, it will have only $30 billion per day to fund commitments. Net daily expenditures reach as high as $60 billion, but actual default on missed payments would not happen until November 1^st. If the U.S. debt ceiling is not raised, then all spending — including non-discretionary spending protected in a government shutdown — would be eligible for cuts.

“A couple of days is a pain in the neck … but doable; nobody likes it, but it happens,” says Scott Pattison, executive director of the National Association of State Budget Officers. “The longer a shutdown goes, the longer the impact it starts to have.” Continue reading→

Group demands members of Congress not get paid during government shutdown

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Editor Posted in Federal Government 1 Comment

Courage Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, 01 October 2013

CONTACT: Brett Abrams : 516-841-1105 : brett@fitzgibbonmedia.com

Group Demands Members of Congress Not Get Paid During Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC — As the federal government shutdown begins to impact the United States, a new petition by the California-based CourageCampaign.org is demanding that members of Congress not be paid during the crisis.

View the petition by clicking here. Continue reading→

Liberals to take tea bags to Rep. Campbell today to protest the Federal shutdown

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Editor Posted in Federal Government, Irvine, Liberals, Tea Party 1 Comment

From the Irvine News Blog

Moveon.org, a liberal grassroots organization, is responding to the shutdown of the Federal Government by targeting U.S. Representative John Campbell (R-Irvine). They have organized a protest that is set for today, October 1, 2013, at 12 noon at Campbell’s Office, which is located at 20 Pacifica, in Irvine.

This seems rather clueless as Campbell has already announced his retirement in 2014!

Here is an excerpt of Moveon.org’s announcement, sent via email today: Continue reading→

Libertarians call for government spending slowdown, defunding Obamacare

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Editor Posted in Federal Government, Libertarian Party, Obamacare Leave a comment

Libertarian Party Logo

Libertarian Party

News Release: September 28, 2013

Libertarian Party calls for permanent government spending slowdown, defunding Obamacare

There is no impending government shutdown — only a government slowdown. The threat of a “shutdown” is designed to scare voters while avoiding scrutiny of reckless government overspending.

If federal lawmakers do not pass a budget or a “continuing resolution” (CR) by Oct. 1, a government spending slowdown will take effect. This could halt almost $1 trillion in annualized spending that the CR would authorize, which is the size of the current federal deficit. If made permanent, this would cut annual federal spending by approximately 27 percent to $2.7 trillion — the current level of revenues coming in. Continue reading→