Speeches
Floor Remarks on the CRomnibus
Dec 12 2014
I rise in opposition to the spending bill before us today. I rise in opposition to the cynical substance of the legislation. I rise in opposition to the un-republican and undemocratic process by which a small collection of political and economic insiders crafted it, to benefit each other at everyone else’s expense.
Tags:
If we as an institution can accept a legislative process driven by backroom deals, rather than fair and inclusive debate, when we’re dealing with the most important issues, then when are we ever going to do things the right way?
We can do better. The American people – and especially those serving in uniform – deserve better. And as we saw in the recent elections, the American people demand that we do better.
We can do better. The American people – and especially those serving in uniform – deserve better. And as we saw in the recent elections, the American people demand that we do better.
Tags:
A Conservative Vision for the Next Generation
Oct 21 2014
"As I saw it, this professor was actually asking two separate questions. First, why should young people care about politics, period?
And second, even if young people do care about politics, why should they care about what I – a conservative member of the Republican Party – have to say about it?"
And second, even if young people do care about politics, why should they care about what I – a conservative member of the Republican Party – have to say about it?"
Tags:
Despite trillions of taxpayer dollars spent to eradicate poverty since the late 1960s, the poverty rate across the country has hardly budged. And nearly every strategy we have employed in this “war” – dealing with everything from health care to criminal justice – has failed to achieve genuine change in our most vulnerable communities.
Tags:
A Gross Dereliction of Duty
Sep 18 2014
It is a gross dereliction of that duty – and an insult to those men and women – to tack on a military authorization to this must-pass spending bill, just so members of Congress can hurry back home.
Tags:
The CR Prevents Congress from Doing Its Job
Sep 17 2014
At some point today or tomorrow the Senate will hastily consider – and likely pass – a massive, hodgepodge spending bill to fund every last department and program within the federal government... even those we know don’t work. The alternative – if you can call it that – is to deny funding for every last department and program within the federal government... even those we know are essential.
Tags:
Protecting Freedom of Speech
Sep 11 2014
“Attention all citizens! To assure the fairness of elections by preventing the disproportionate expression of the views of any single powerful group. The government has decided that the following associations of persons shall be prohibited from speaking or writing in support of any candidate.” This is a statement that I have taken directly from a dissenting opinion issued by associate justice Antonin Scalia in a case called Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce. A 1989 ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Tags:
Improving America's Regulatory Climate
Aug 21 2014
It is my distinct privilege to welcome all of you to the inaugural – and hopefully first annual – Utah “Solutions Summit.”
In future years, the theme of the conference will change, but the purpose will stay the same. We want to bring together Utah’s leaders – in business and civil society and all levels of government - to discuss what we can do together to meet the greatest challenges facing our state and our country.
In future years, the theme of the conference will change, but the purpose will stay the same. We want to bring together Utah’s leaders – in business and civil society and all levels of government - to discuss what we can do together to meet the greatest challenges facing our state and our country.
Tags:
My first real exposure to the Reagan Administration occurred when I was about ten years old. My father, the late Rex E. Lee, served as the Solicitor General of the United States during President Reagan’s first term in office. It is the job of the Solicitor General to serve as the federal government’s advocate before the U.S. Supreme Court. Like every lawyer, the Solicitor General has a client—it’s the federal government, and specifically the presidential administration in power. As a practical matter, that meant that my dad was President Ronald Reagan’s voice in the Supreme Court.
Tags:
The situation at the border is heartbreaking. Tens of thousands of single adults, families and children have made an incredibly dangerous journey north from countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
They are leaving theses countries because they offer too little opportunity and are mired in poverty and violence. No one begrudges them for wanting to find a better place to live.
Americans are compassionate and generous. The American people always have extended and always will extend a helping hand to every corner of the world. And even as the number of illegal border crossings has exploded over the past year, we have treated these individuals with dignity and respect.
They are leaving theses countries because they offer too little opportunity and are mired in poverty and violence. No one begrudges them for wanting to find a better place to live.
Americans are compassionate and generous. The American people always have extended and always will extend a helping hand to every corner of the world. And even as the number of illegal border crossings has exploded over the past year, we have treated these individuals with dignity and respect.
Tags:
