Today’s Agenda
Today, Senator Lee will attend hearings held by the Steering and Energy & Natural Resources Committees, and will hold a Utah tele-press conference at 5:30 PM EST (3:30 MST).
From the Senator’s Desk
An excerpt from Senator Lee’s latest op-ed, published today in The Hill:
Congress can pass and the states can ratify language that amends the Constitution to require the federal government to balance its budget. But if the amendment, like a Trojan horse, is filled with loopholes and avenues to circumvent the balanced-budget requirement, it will do little to rein in out-of-control spending.
At a minimum, a meaningful balanced-budget amendment must include four essential provisions. First, it must apply to all spending. Some have already suggested taking Social Security and other entitlement spending “off budget,” but doing so would allow Congress to ignore the greatest drivers of our nation’s deficit.
Second, the amendment must cap spending at the average historical level of federal revenue as a percentage of gross domestic product. Over the last 40 years, revenue has averaged just above 18 percent of GDP, while spending now approaches 25 percent — a trend that, if not reversed, will bankrupt the country with mathematical certainty.
Third, it must require a supermajority vote in both houses of Congress to raise taxes. Maintaining an easy path to extract new revenue from the productive sector of the economy diminishes Congress’s incentive to prioritize spending and use taxpayer dollars wisely.
Finally, the amendment must require a supermajority vote in Congress to raise the debt limit. Over the past two decades, both parties have eagerly borrowed trillions of dollars from foreign countries rather than reforming government spending habits. A strong, enforceable spending restraint will make borrowing a measure of last resort.
From the Whip
The Senate will convene at 10:00am and will be in morning business until 11:00am.
At 11:00am, the Senate will begin up to 1 hour of debate on:
-Executive Calendar #354, Sharon L. Gleason, of Alaska, to be United States District Judge for the District of Alaska.
-Executive Calendar #355, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California.
Around 12:00pm, the Senate will proceed to 2 Roll Call Votes on confirmation of the nominations.
Following the votes, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm for the weekly policy lunches.
At 2:15pm, the Senate will resume consideration of HR 2354, the Energy and Water Appropriations bill and the vehicle for the second Minibus which will also include Financial Services and Foreign Ops appropriation bills if a consent agreement is reached.
On Twitter
SenMikeLee
The Supreme Court has decided that it will hear legal challenges to #obamacare: http://ow.ly/7sOK7
SenLeeComs
VIDEO: Lee on lowering the repatriation tax rate permanently http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/your-world-cavuto/2011/11/11/sen-lee-we-need-reduce-repatriation
SenLeePressSec
Lee Statement on New Wilderness Recommendations: http://bit.ly/uf2APk #utah #utpol
SenLeeResearch
2 horrifying unemployment charts: http://bit.ly/rYMThv #tcot #tlot #jobs #unemployment #economy #recession
Around the Water Cooler
US Supreme Court will hear health care case
The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear arguments next March over President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul — a case that could shake the political landscape as voters are deciding if Obama deserves another term.
GOP’s White House hopefuls assail bipartisan debt deal
Republican presidential hopefuls are assaulting a proposal by GOP lawmakers on a bipartisan deficit-reduction panel that calls for increased tax revenues even as the special supercommittee appears increasingly headed for deadlock.
Looking Ahead
Tomorrow, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of HerFate and the US Olympic Committee, and will appear on Fox Business Network’s Freedom Watch at 8 PM EST (6 PM MST). He will also hold a “video conference” with members of the Utah Association of Counties over the Internet at 6:30 PM EST (4:30 PM MST).