Unit Five: Public Policy

“House Passes GOP Small Business Tax Cut”

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/19/politics/house-tax-vote/index.html

Synopsis: The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a small business tax cut bill. The bill would provide deductions to companies with less than five hundred employees that would be worth up to 20% of their income. Republicans insisted that the bill would help to boost the economy. The Democrats opposed the bill because they thought that it was “a deficit-busting giveaway to the wealthy.” The bill hardly has a chance of making it through the Democrat controlled Senate and even if it does it will most likely be vetoed.

Analysis: This article illustrates not only the workings of Congress, but it also represents the two different party platforms. For example, Republicans are known for their support of tax cuts and their hatred of raising taxes. This bill illustrates this because Republicans are advocating the tax cuts to small business owners. This article also shows how even though a bill passes through the House of Representatives it does not guarantee that it will become a law. This bill has to pass through the Senate where it is put into another committee to be dissected and amended. Then it goes to the floor to be debated on. If it does pass a vote in the Senate then the President has to sign it or veto it. Finally, this article is an example of divided government. Right now the House of Representatives is controlled by Republicans and the White House and Senate are controlled by the Democrats. This bill does not have Democratic support so it will most likely die in the Senate.

Unit Four: Institutions of National Government

“Romney Assures N.R.A. of Support for Gun Rights”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/us/politics/mitt-romney-assures-gun-rights-group-of-his-fealty.html?_r=1&ref=politics

Synopsis: Romney tried to win votes from conservatives in the general election by talking to the, National Rifle Association, an interest group. This demographic has not always been supportive to Romney because he has supported legislation that has threatened their view of the 2^nd Amendment’s “right to bear arms.” Also, the group was skeptical of Romney because he exaggerated his hunting experience in the 2008 election. However, Romney won over the group with his criticism of President Obama and by involving the possibility of the appointment of new U.S. Supreme Court justices within the next four years. However, there is no evidence that any justice plans on retiring soon.

Analysis: Romney is looking for support that will help him to win the general election from conservative voters that help to make up the interest group, the National Rifle Association.  He does not have a very good standing with these voters so he has to try to appeal to them in every way possible. Besides the usual criticism of his opponent, President Obama, Romney introduced the idea of the U.S. Supreme Court. Currently, there is a divided court in which there are four justices that tend to vote liberal, four justices that tend to vote conservative, and one justice that votes either way, called a swing vote. Romney talked about the possibility that some of the older Supreme Court justices could end up retiring within the next four years. If this occurs a new justice would be appointed. If President Obama is re-elected he would nominate a liberal justice and cause the divided court to become a more liberal court. This would be bad news for the members of the NRA because their second amendment right to bear arms could be threatened by a liberal court and that previous landmark cases that supported this right could be reversed.

Unit 4: Institutions of National Government

“White House approves new sanctions on Iran”

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/30/10944314-white-house-approves-new-sanctions-on-iran

Synopsis: The Obama administration approved further sanctions on Iranian crude oil exports after determining that oil supplies were adequate to justify the new penalties. These sanctions were written into law by Congress and are to take effect at the end of June. These sanctions will bar foreign banks from doing business in the U.S. if they buy or sell Iranian crude oil. The President’s Press Secretary Jay Carney, stated that the administration believes that “the oil market became increasingly tight over the first two months of 2012” and “that tightness remains today,” there still “appears to be sufficient supply of non-Iranian oil to permit foreign countries to significantly reduce their import of Iranian oil.” Out of the 23 countries that publicly import Iranian oil, the State Department announced exemptions from these sanctions last week for 11 of those countries. They are Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Japan. These countries have taken steps to significantly reduce their imports of Iranian crude oil.

Analysis: This article brings up to roles that the president has, that is the role of Guardian of the Economy and Chief Diplomat. This article illustrates President Obama’s role of Guardian of the Economy because with these sanctions on Iran he has to make sure that he does not allow gas prices to go up to the point where Americans cannot afford oil or that they run out of it. The article represents President Obama’s role as Chief Diplomat because he is making decisions that deal with foreign policy with Iran.  The President’s staff and Cabinet are also mentioned in the article. His Press Secretary releases a statement and the State Department does research on the countries that should be exempted from the sanctions.

Unit 4: Institutions of National Government

“GOP focuses on health care law repeal in weekly address”

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/24/politics/weekly-addresses/index.html

Synopsis:  Senator Mitch McConnell (also Senate minority leader) hammered President Barack Obama over his health care reform law, which is under review by the Supreme Court, in the Republican weekly address. McConnell says that “the president was certainly right to join a call for health care reform. But the giant bill that he and others rammed through Congress has made things worse.” He, like many other members of the Republican Party, called for a repeal of the law. He argues that the law does not fix issues with Medicare funding, access to care, and rising costs. McConnell is also against the individual mandate provision, which is central to the Supreme Court’s consideration of the law. Obama did not address the health care law in his address but spoke about energy.  He states that an increase in oil drilling will not help to “feed the nation’s energy appetite,” but drilling “has increased in his administration.” The president also states that his plan for a “clean energy future requires a rebuilding of transportation and communications infrastructure.”  However Congress, especially the Republican-led House is slowing down progress including on a transportation bill that passed the Senate with bipartisan support.

Analysis: This article is an example of the president’s role as a Chief Legislator. The article talks about “Obamacare” which was a piece of legislation that President Obama had on his agenda that he had hoped to pass. Now this health care reform law is being reviewed by the Supreme Court because Republicans want to repeal it, mainly because of the individual mandate provision. This mandate is being questioned for its constitutionality. The article shows the president’s Chief Legislative powers by recommending measures on transportation, for example, the transportation bill that is being held up in Congress.  Also, since this bill is being held up, mainly by the Republican-led House, this is an example of divided government. The Democrats are in control of the White House and the Republicans are in control of the House of Representatives. Rising gas prices and unemployment rates are key issues right now in the country. The president is acting on his role as Guardian of the Economy by trying to push through bills that will create jobs for construction workers and hopefully lower gas prices.

Unit Four: Institutions of National Government

“Obama on GOP challengers: ‘They’re not commander in chief’”

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/06/10593398-obama-on-gop-challengers-theyre-not-commander-in-chief

Synopsis: Obama chose Super Tuesday to respond to GOP presidential candidates’ criticisms on how he handled the situation in Iran and Syria. President Obama said “Now, what’s said on the campaign trial—you know, those folks don’t have a lot of responsibilities. They’re not commander in chief.” He continued to say “And when I see the casualness with which some of these folks talk about war, I’m reminded of the costs involved in war; I’m reminded of the decision that I have to make…This is not a game. And there’s nothing casual about it.” Obama also spoke of immigration reform and that the reason that he did not keep his 2008 promise of immigration reform was because “what used to be a bipartisan agreement that we should fix this ended up becoming a partisan issue.”

Analysis: This speech made by President Obama on Super Tuesday was basically a campaign speech. He criticized his GOP opponents as well as blaming the whole Republican Party and Congress for not accomplishing his immigration reform agenda. The President’s response to the GOP candidates’ criticisms of his handling of the situations in Iran and Syria not only defended him put questioned whether his opponents could handle the role as commander-in-chief. He made them appear to think that war is no big deal and that they would not think about all the consequences of a decision. This could cause voters to second guess the Republican candidates and their foreign policy and feel uneasy about voting for them. Obama also geared up for his campaign by giving an explanation as to why he could not keep his promise of immigration reform. I feel that he is blaming divided government for the reason his goals were not accomplished, but instead of pointing a finger I think it would be better to take action and try to make a change now. However, we are in the middle of an election and I think that we will be hearing more excuses as to why certain promises were not kept.

Unit 4: Institutions of National Government

“House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Help Small Businesses”

http://constitutioncenter.org/NewsWire.aspx?title=House+Passes+Bipartisan+Bill+to+Help+Small+Buisnesses

Synopsis: The House of Representatives passed the JOBS Act, which is a package of bills that make it easier for small businesses to raise the capital that they need to grow and hire new workers. The bills make it easier for small businesses to go public by providing temporary reprieve from Securities and Exchange Commission regulations. It removes restrictions that prevents small businesses from using advertisements to solicit investor and removes restrictions on “crowdfunding” so entrepreneurs can raise equity capital from a large pool of small investors. Also, the bills raise the ceiling for shares a private company can sell as part of a public offering from $5 million to $50 million before having to register with the SEC and the SEC registration threshold from 500 to 1,000 shareholders and they increase the number of shareholders permitted to invest in a community bank from 500 to 2,000. Republicans praised the legislation and President Obama supports it.

Analysis: This article shows exactly what we are doing in class by the House of Representatives voting and debating on a bill. Also, the article shows that Congress can pass bills even though we have a divided government. Currently, the Democrats are in control of the White House and the Republicans are in control of the House of Representatives. As I learned in class, once a party has a majority in the House it is easy for them to get their way. The Republicans could have easily passed this bill without the approval of the Democrats, but what illustrates the idea of a united government is that President Obama supported this bill. Obviously, economic and job growth is a concern for both parties.

Unit 3: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media

“Romney wins Washington state caucuses”

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/03/politics/washington-caucuses/index.html  

Synopsis: Mitt Romney has won the Republican caucuses in Washington. Washington is the last state to hold their caucuses before Super Tuesday, when ten states hold their primaries, and holds 40 delegates. Washington holds open caucuses meaning that Democrats and Independents also came out to vote. Romney won Washington with 38% of the vote. Rick Santorum and Ron Paul were very close to each other with their percent of the vote. Santorum had 24% and Paul had 25%. Newt Gingrich had 10% of the vote.

Analysis: Washington was the last state to vote before Super Tuesday where many delegates are at stake. Super Tuesday could change the whole GOP race with so many states holding their primaries and so many delegates at stake.  I think that the reason that all the presidential candidates campaigned so much in Washington was that with its forty delegates whoever won the majority of them had some kind of security going into Super Tuesday. Also, with their win so close to Super Tuesday it could cause more people to look into the candidate and see what their opinions are on certain issues, and maybe decided to vote for them, because so many people voted for them in Washington.