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Remembering 2011 Milestones — Day Lee Briefing 1/11/2012

Congress: 112

2011-2012

Lee Statement on Protect IP Act

PIPA has yet to make it to the Senate floor. When the bill went through the Judiciary Committee (on which I sit), I made clear that, if it reached the floor it in its current form, I could not support it. PIPA is a moving target at this point because some of the bill’s supporters, recognizing that many Americans are concerned with some of its provisions, are considering making adjustments to alleviate those concerns. My staff and I are working with the bill’s sponsors to encourage them to make the necessary changes. Unless those changes are made, I will vote against PIPA.

Senators and Congressmen Denounce Obama Administration’s decision to Ban Uranium Mining in Northern Arizona

The American people are desperate for jobs, and our domestic energy industry provides some of the best paying jobs in the western states. However, the President and Interior Secretary Salazar are intent on appeasing their friends in the extreme left wing of the environmentalist movement during an election year by locking up as much land as possible, regardless of the negative effects on our economy. For energy production that has long been safe and responsible, the announcement represents a needless overreaction to a fictitious problem.

Senator Lee Appoints Boyd Matheson as State Director

Today, Boyd Matheson became the Utah State Director for Senator Mike Lee. Matheson is bringing more than two decades of experience in the business world to the senator’s state operations. He is an exceptional strategist with specialized knowledge in many fields, includingcommunication, leadership, and internal culture development. Since 2005, Matheson has served as president of Trillium Strategies, helping organizations to transform through effective branding, restructuring, and messaging. He will replace outgoing State Director Dan Hauser, who has decided to move on to new opportunities.

Senators Fight Back on Appointments

Today, Senator Mike Lee joined Senators Charles Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Jon Kyle, Jeff Sessions, Lindsey Graham, John Cornyn, and Tom Coburn in signing a letter addressed to Attorney General Eric Holder regarding the recent appointment of four officials to various positions in the Obama administration. Excerpts of the letter are below.

Senator Lee: Cordray Appointment Shows Disrespect for Constitution

The President’s decision yesterday to bypass the Senate and make four controversial recess appointments shows an alarming disrespect for Congress and our constitutional system of separation of powers. Article II, Section 2, paragraph 2 of the Constitution provides that such appointments must receive the “Advice and Consent” of the Senate. Article II, Section 2 elsewhere provides that the President may “fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate,” but Presidential practice and Senate precedent has long established that this authority does not extend to brief breaks such as the one used by the President yesterday to make his ill-advised appointments.