Sen. Corrnyn Gives GOP Weekly Address

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) gives this week's Republican address. He notes that even though the new Republican members of the House and Senate have not been sworn in, their election has changed the terms of the debate in Washington by giving Republicans leverage to keep taxes from going up. Likewise, in preventing a huge spending bill Republicans as Cornyn put it, "got the message."

Here's the video of his address.

And here's the transcript:

On November 2, voters elected 13 new Republican Senators and sent 63 more Republicans to serve in the House of Representatives. This week, even before these new reinforcements have taken their seats, Republicans showed the American people that we got the message. And everyone can see how your choices have already changed the terms of the debate here in Washington.

“First, Republicans prevented a massive, job-killing ‘New Year’s Day tax increase.’ Before Congress acted, every American taxpayer was looking at a much higher tax bill in just a few weeks. Those higher taxes would have been devastating to millions of American families and small businesses and could have increased the risk of a ‘double-dip’ recession.

“But our bipartisan agreement with the White House changed all that. Our agreement keeps marginal income tax rates low, preserves the one-thousand-dollar per child tax credit, extends relief from the marriage penalty, blocks higher taxes on capital gains and dividends, protects at least 21 million additional families from the Alternative Minimum Tax and reduces the sting of the ‘death tax’ on families and small businesses.

“This bipartisan agreement was made possible because voters gave Republicans much more leverage at the negotiating table. Our leverage forced the White House to abandon its ‘class-warfare’ rhetoric; stop pandering to the President’s left-wing base; and do the right thing for American taxpayers and job creators.

“Republicans delivered even more ‘tidings of comfort and joy’ this week by holding the line on reckless federal spending. Despite their willingness to work with Republicans on taxes, Senate Democrats went their own way on spending by proposing a nearly $1.3 trillion omnibus bill on the American people and by insisting we’d have to vote on it before anyone had the time to figure out what was in it.

“This ‘spending snowstorm’ was nearly 2,000 pages long. It combined 12 separate appropriations bills that were never debated or amended on the Senate floor. And it included more than one billion dollars to feed the beast of ObamaCare, part of which was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge just a few short days ago.

“Senate Republicans stood together but we did not stand alone. Millions of Americans made their voices heard on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. You lit up the phone lines across the Capitol and across the Nation. Thank you for doing that. You helped strengthened the resolve of the Republican Caucus and rattled the nerves of the big spenders on the other side of the aisle.

“As we approach the Christmas Season and the New Year, it’s easy to see how much you have changed our Nation’s Capital. Last year, on Christmas Eve, Senate Democrats passed a divisive 2.6 trillion dollar health care bill strictly along party lines. This year, God willing, Washington will give the American people a far better gift: a silent night.

“Have a joyous holiday season, keep our troops in your prayers, and remember that the best days for our country lie ahead.

Sen. Cornyn Gives GOP Weekly Address

Sen. John Cornyn gave the Republicans Weekly Address. He discussed Afghanistan and health care reform.

His remarks in support of President Barack Obama as our Commander-in-Chief -- assuring Obama of Republican support to win the war on terror in Afghanistan -- contrast with the limp support that Obama receives from his own party (not to mention the lack of support Democrats gave the Bush administration).

“The terrorists who attacked us on 9-11 enjoyed safe haven in Afghanistan – and that’s why winning in Afghanistan remains so important.

“The Afghan people, like the American people, are tired of war. But they do not want their country returned to the control of religious extremists. And neither do we.

“President Obama has renewed America’s commitment to Afghanistan. He has the right civilian and military leadership in place. These leaders are developing a campaign plan based on the successful ‘surge’ strategy that worked in Iraq.

“Our troops and their commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve broad bipartisan support. And they will have it.

“Republicans will support the deployment of additional troops – if requested by our commanders – as well as the resources our troops need to be successful as they attempt to deny safe haven to al Qaeda. Republicans will not waver in our support for our forces in the field – or President Obama – as he fulfills his responsibilities as Commander-in-Chief to protect the American people.

“On Afghanistan, President Obama has shown the kind of leadership he promised during the campaign – he’s built consensus and earned bipartisan support.

On the issue of health care, Cornyn expressed disappointment over the administration's unwillingness to listen to Republican ideas or the concerns of the American people:

“At town halls and public events across the nation, the American people are asking the right questions about health care reform. They’re asking:

- How can Washington lower health care costs by spending trillions of dollars more over the next ten years?

- How can Washington cut $500 billion from Medicare without reducing benefits for seniors?

- And how can a new government plan keep insurers honest when our existing entitlement programs are riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse?

“The President told us Wednesday night that ‘there remain some significant details to be ironed out.’ He wasn’t kidding.

“The most significant detail is the cost of his plan – and its impact on our long-term budget deficit. When you start counting in 2013, the first full year of implementation, the cost of the House bill comes to about $2.4 trillion over 10 years, according to the Senate Budget Committee.

“So instead of a top-down plan that will bust the budget, President Obama should work with Republicans on a bottom-up solution that the American people can support.

“Republicans want to save Medicare and Medicaid from bankruptcy by offering more choices to beneficiaries and by making providers compete for their business. Republicans want to expand access and lower the costs of private insurance by expanding competition at the state level. Republicans also want common-sense medical liability reform that eliminates junk lawsuits against doctors and hospitals. We need to put an end to jackpot justice and frivolous lawsuits, as well as the practice of defensive medicine.

"Contankerous Kentuckian" Bunning: Support Me Or I Will Sue You!

Senator Bunning speaks curiouser and curiouser every day. Today's twist, as reported by TheHill.com:

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that he would sue the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) if it recruited a primary challenger against him.
. . . .
Committee officials last week met with Kentucky Senate President David Williams, who is exploring a challenge to Bunning.

Bunning threatened to sue the committee if it supported Williams or any other challenger.
“I would have a suit against the NRSC if they did that,” he said, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

“Support of incumbents is the only reason for [the NRSC’s] existence,” Bunning added. “So if they recruited someone and supported them in a primary against me, I would be able to sue them because they’re not following their bylaws.”

Cornyn said Monday that the NRSC would support Bunning’s reelection bid, but that failed to appease the cantankerous Kentuckian.

“I don’t believe anything John Cornyn says. I’ve had miscommunications with John Cornyn from, I guess, the first week of this current session of the Senate,” Bunning stormed to the Courier-Journal. “He either doesn’t understand English or he doesn’t understand direct: ‘I’m going to run,’ which I said to him in the cloakroom of our chamber.”
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