Day Lee Briefing -- 6/15/2011
Jun 15, 2011
Today’s Agenda
Senator Lee meets with Dan Ashe, the nominee for Administrator of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, to discuss a number of issues including the inclusion of the prairie dog on the endangered species list. He is also meeting with Utah Jr. High History Fair winners and hosts his weekly “Jell-O” constituent open house.
From the Senator’s Desk
U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tom Udall (D-NM) and 24 other senators sent a letter to President Obama today calling for a shift in strategy in Afghanistan ahead of next month's announced deadline to begin an accelerated transition to Afghan security forces. In the letter, the senators urge the President to use the deadline as an opportunity to begin a “sizable and sustained” drawdown of troops that puts the U.S. on a path toward removing all regular combat troops from the country.
From the letter:
“Mr. President, according to our own intelligence officials, al Qaeda no longer has a large presence in Afghanistan, and, as the strike against bin Laden demonstrated, we have the capacity to confront our terrorist enemies with a dramatically smaller footprint. The costs of prolonging the war far outweigh the benefits. It is time for the United States to shift course in Afghanistan.
We urge you to follow through on the pledge you made to the American people to begin the redeployment of U.S. forces from Afghanistan this summer, and to do so in a manner that is sizable and sustained, and includes combat troops as well as logistical and support forces.”
Recent Votes
Senator Lee voted FOR a motion to proceed to an amendment that would repeal the ethanol tax credit.
Around the Water Cooler
Jobs: “[Obama] joked about the wildly mistaken predictions he and others at the White House made a couple of years back about the job-creating potential of the stimulus.”
Accountability: “The White House is more or less conceding that it doesn't have a chance of winning a second term unless his major policies go on hiatus.”
Pakistan: “Their families don’t have any idea where they have been taken. Nobody knows what they have done.”
A Look Ahead
Senator Lee sits down with the Associated Builders and Contractors of Utah tomorrow and attends Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committee Meetings. He also meets with the nominee for Solicitor General, Donald B. Verrilli.
Senators Call on President to Shift Strategy in Afghanistan
Jun 15, 2011
U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tom Udall (D-NM) and 24 other senators sent a letter to President Obama today calling for a shift in strategy in Afghanistan ahead of next month's announced deadline to begin an accelerated transition to Afghan security forces. In the letter, the senators urge the President to use the deadline as an opportunity to begin a “sizable and sustained” drawdown of troops that puts the U.S. on a path toward removing all regular combat troops from the country.
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.
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.”
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 -- 6/09/2011
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.
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.
