U.S House Speaker Speaks....

The U.S House Speaker John Boehner, told our country that our nation's mounting debt is a moral threat to us which  is $14.1trillion debt. John Boehner remarks where apart of his speech he gave in Nashville at the National Religious Broadcasters annual convention. He is pushing towards a short-term plan that would cut $4 billion from the debt.The proposal would extend for two weeks the continuing resolution authorizing government funding, which expires at midnight Friday. Without a deal, the government will have to shut down Saturday for the first time in more than 15 years. Boehner said that the Republicans and the Democrats need to work together and figure out cut spending and rein in government instead of shutting it down. The Republican-led house already passed a spending messure that cuts $61billion from current levels for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends on September 30. However, Senate Democrats consider those cuts draconian and won't pass them.They want to negotiate a more targeted plan that allows for some new spending in key growth areas such as clean energy. Alot of the Republican say they will pass the two week extension to allow continuing negotiations without a shutdown. While other Democratics believe that the plan is "acceptable" but not preferred. Also the $4 billion in spending cuts would come from program terminations that President Barack Obama included in his proposed budget for fiscal year 2012, which begins October 1. It is to be said from a source that the $1.3 billion in cuts would come from eliminating six federal programs and $2.7 billion in savings would come from getting rid of earmarks in the continuing resolution that's currently keeping the government operating.

I believe this has to do with the Office of Management and Budget which prepares national budget and is the largest office for it. This also has to also do with the Congress and the President dealing with check and balances. My opinion upon this news with the governement is that if the Congress cannot set a budget for the U.S then we will be in serious trouble and instead of trying to cut down our debt it will continue to grow and grow. I also believe that since John Boehner is the U.S House Speaker he should stand up and set a certain budget that is good enough for us to continue maken us a better and stronger country. What is your opinion upon the U.S House Speaker speaking upon the budget?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/27/us.spending.cuts/index.html

President Obama + Health Care

President Barack Obama tried to seize the political middle in the continuing fight over health care reform Monday, telling a group of governors that he's willing to give states earlier flexibility in how they implement the overhaul signed into law last year. President Obama set up a proposal that would allow states to apply for " innovation waivers" which will be starting in 2014 which is 3 years ahead of schedule with pushing the health care reform bill. A state could seek an exemption waiver beginning in 2014 if it comes up with an alternative for the provision requiring everyone to obtain health coverage unless they can't afford it. To get the waiver the state must meet four criteria:
-- Provide coverage plans at least as comprehensive as would have been available under health insurance exchanges in the bill;

-- Provide coverage at least as affordable as would have been available under the bill;

-- Provide coverage for as many people as would have been covered under the bill; and,

-- Budget neutrality, meaning they cannot increase the federal deficit.



This topic relates to our class because it has to do with federalism. Which we learned in class, federalism has to do with the government because it connects the government to our federal spending and other federal things. My opinion upon this topic is that, President Obama did the right thing by creating this because it helps people that don't have coverage in the health care area and also it helps the people who can't afford help care. Also it's helping the states with building up their health care coverage. what is your opinion upon this topic???

 

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/28/obama.health.care/index.html