Constitutional Tort Reform

Feb 1, 2019

Conservatives often face a difficult problem that progressives do not when attempting to reform public policy problems at the federal level. For progressives, everything is a national issue that should be solved by the federal government. For conservatives, however, the United States Constitution gave only some enumerated powers to the federal government and intended the rest of governmental authority to be left to the states.

Make CBO Show Their Work

Feb 1, 2019

In 2009, when Congress was debating the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act the Congressional Budget Office estimated that, if the stimulus became law, 8.4 million new jobs would be created by 2012 and unemployment would fall from 9 percent to 6.0 percent. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act did become law, and the federal government did spend almost $900 billion on solar panels, home weatherization, and bullet trains to nowhere, but none of the CBO’s economic predictions became true. Instead of falling by 3 points to 6 percent, unemployment fell by less than half that (1.2 points) to 7.8 percent. And instead of creating 8 million new jobs by 2012, the stimulus managed far less than that at just 2.6 million new jobs.

February 1, 2019 – Mobile Office Visit to Salt Lake County

Feb 1, 2019

What: Mobile Office Visit to Taylorsville When: Friday, February 1, 2019 @ 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm Where: Taylorsville City Hall, 2600 W Taylorsville Blvd, Taylorsville, UT 84129

Sen. Lee Introduces the Federal Courts Access Act

Jan 31, 2019

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement after introducing the Federal Courts Access Act of 2019, Thursday. “For too long, trial lawyers have been able to manipulate the diversity jurisdiction rules to deny litigants their day in federal court,” Sen. Lee said. “By creating a minimal diversity requirement consistent with the vision of the very first Congress, this bill increases out-of-state litigants access to the federal courts for major controversies. By returning to first principles, we can increase both fairness and efficiency in the civil litigation system.”

Sen. Lee Reintroduces “CBO Show Your Work” Bill

Jan 31, 2019

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) reintroduced the “CBO Show Your Work” Act Wednesday, legislation designed to improve the legislative process by making the Congressional Budget Office more transparent and accountable. “Congress does need a scorekeeper to provide budgetary estimates for the policy changes it considers,” Sen. Lee said. “But at a bare minimum, that scorekeeper should be forced to show how its models work. Currently the CBO doesn’t have to do that.”

January 31, 2019 – Mobile Office Visit to Weber County

Jan 31, 2019

What: Mobile Office Visit to Farr West When: Thursday, January 31, 2019 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Where: Farr West City Hall, 1896 North 1800 West, Farr West, UT 84404

Sen. Lee Honored to Meet First Step Act Beneficiary Matthew Charles

Jan 28, 2019

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement after meeting Matthew Charles, the first prisoner released due to passage of the First Step Act: “It was truly an honor to meet Matthew Charles today,” Sen. Lee said. “Here is a man who served his debt to society, turned his life around, and is already contributing to his family and community. There is still more we can do to make sure our criminal justice system is as fair and humane as possible, and success stories like Mr. Charles will make further reform possible.”

Sen. Lee Statement on End of Government Shutdown

Jan 25, 2019

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement after President Trump announced the end of the government shutdown: “It is of course a relief that the shutdown is over. But the shutdown was not created by the crisis on the border. It was created by the failure of Congress to do its job. The way we are doing things now is convenient for politicians, but not for the American people. Government funding and immigration policy shouldn’t be a secret negotiation, but an open debate on the floors of the House and Senate. That’s the only way the American people can be included in this process.”

Sen. Lee Reintroduces Silencers Helping Us Save Hearing Act

Jan 24, 2019

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), along with Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-KY), James Risch (R-ID), and Mike Crapo (R-ID) reintroduced the Silencers Helping Us Save Hearing Act of 2019, a bill that would ensure the elimination of all federal regulations of suppressors.

Sens. Lee, Grassley Reintroduce Balanced Budget Amendment

Jan 24, 2019

WASHINGTON – Today, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) reintroduced an amendment to the United States Constitution that would require the federal government to balance its budget each year. This amendment would put a stop to the current “status quo” of Congress spending far more money than the federal government takes in and would place strict limitations on the federal government’s ability to increase taxes, raise the debt limit, and carry out other actions that threaten our long-term fiscal sustainability.