Day Lee Briefing -- 6/14/2011
Jun 14, 2011
Today’s Agenda
Senator Lee meets with the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake & Sandy, the Utah Technology Council, and the nominees for ambassadorships from Jordan and Turkey.
From the Senator’s Desk
Last week Senator Lee received dozens of calls from constituents on a number of issues. The top issue was the vote on the Debit Interchange Fee Act, which Senator Lee supported. Other calls included the debt ceiling, entitlement reform, requests to reduce US presence in the Middle East, and support and opposition for certain judicial nominees.
Around the Water Cooler
Social Security: “Rather than ducking a tough problem, the three Senators recognize that delaying Social Security reforms will cause deeper cuts in benefits or greater tax increases down the road.”
Land Grab: “Utah has been ‘honored’ enough.”
A Look Ahead
The Senate debates ethanol subsidies today. On Thursday, the Foreign Relations Committee will discuss the continued US presence in Libya.
Yesterday's Appearance on Freedom Watch:
Bishop, Chaffetz, Hatch, Lee Introduce Bill to Protect Utah from Presidential Monument Designations
Jun 14, 2011
Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), Chairman of the House Natural Resources National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee, today introduced the Utah Lands Sovereignty Act, which would protect Utah from future national monument designations made by Presidential executive order. Congressman Jason Chaffetz (UT-03) co-sponsored the bill and Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. In 1950, Congress passed a law that prohibited the future establishment of national monuments in Wyoming except as authorized by Congress. This legislation would provide Utah with the same level of protection.
Day Lee Briefing -- 6/13/2011
Jun 13, 2011
Today’s Agenda
Today, Senator Lee, ranking member on the Water and Power Subcommittee, will discuss legislative issues with Utah’s leaders in the water industry. He will also appear on Fox Business Channel’s Freedom Watch and discuss the budget and the country’s mounting debt.
From the Senator’s Desk
Last week, Senator Lee signed a letter to the Administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding his decision to not approve the State of Indiana’s Medicaid State Plan Amendment which limits funding to Medicaid recipients to perform abortions:
“We disagree with your narrow interpretation of Title XIX of the Social Security Act and believe this represents a significant departure from Medicaid’s longstanding practice of having the states — not the federal government — set reasonable standards for qualified providers. Unfortunately, your decision is simply the latest example of this Administration’s alarming pattern of usurping states’ authority to manage their Medicaid programs in ways that best meet the needs of their citizens.”
Around the Water Cooler
Libya: “[N]early 90 days after President Obama committed U.S. forces to aerial operations in Libya, the president has not sought congressional approval. That is unacceptable.”
ObamaCare: “This is a travesty of constitutional lawmaking”
Border Security: “But given the indiscriminate trampling by those who cross from the Mexican side, allowing patrols in these areas would seem to be better for the environment than the current set of rules.”
A Look Ahead
On Tuesday, Senator Lee meets with the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake & Sandy, and the Utah Technology Council. The Senate is expected to vote on an amendment to end some ethanol subsidies, and the Foreign Relations Committee is expected to vote on 3 high profile nominees, Deputy Secretary of State, and the ambassadorships to China and Afghanistan.
This Week in Washington -- June10, 2011
Jun 10, 2011
Significant events of the last week include the revocation of the Obama Administration's Wild Lands Policy, continued deterioration of the American economy, a call for hearings on the Hatch-Lee Balanced Budget Amendment, and movement towards a resolution requiring President Obama to justify military action in Libya.
Day Lee Briefing -- 6/10/2011
Jun 10, 2011
Senator Lee recently cosponsored the following Concurrent Resolution in support of one of America’s closest allies, Israel:
“Declaring that it is the policy of the United States to support and facilitate Israel in maintaining defensible borders and that it is contrary to United States policy and na- tional security to have the borders of Israel return to the armistice lines that existed on June 4, 1967.”
Day Lee Briefing -- 6/09/2011
Jun 9, 2011
Senators Jim Webb (D-VA), Bob Corker (R-TN), and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a joint resolution requiring the Administration to provide a detailed justification of U.S. operations in Libya and prohibiting the deployment of U.S. troops on the ground there. It further calls on the President to request authorization for the continuation of U.S. involvement in NATO activities and states that Congress should fully debate such a request expediently. Nearly 90 days after the initiation of force in Libya, such debate has not occurred.
Day Lee Briefing -- 6/08/2011
Jun 8, 2011
Senator Lee and Senator Hatch introduced the Federal Land Asset Inventory Reform (FLAIR) Act. The legislation requires the federal government to inventory its land holdings, as well as a report that considers ways to consolidate or terminate ownership of some lands.
Letter to Senator Durbin to Request Immediate Hearings on the Hatch-Lee Balanced Budget Amendment
Jun 7, 2011
Today, all 8 Republican members of the Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Senator Dick Durbin, Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution calling for immediate hearings on the Hatch-Lee Balanced Budget Amendment. As our astounding national debt mounts, Congress must take swift action to correct the fundamental and structural problems with the way Washington spends money. The current system encourages Congress to overspend, and only a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution will make subsequent spending reforms enforceable.
Day Lee Briefing -- 6/07/2011
Jun 7, 2011
The House Republican Study Committee sent a letter yesterday to the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader calling for major spending reductions and reforms to resolve the debt limit issue. The third prong of the plan includes passage of the Hatch-Lee Balanced Budget Amendment.
Day Lee Briefing -- 6/06/2011
Jun 6, 2011
Of the 40 Democrats in the Senate who served prior to President Obama taking office, 38 have voted AGAINST raising the debt limit. This fact calls into question the rhetoric coming out from their party raising the debt ceiling is necessary to avoid an economic catastrophe.
