Spoa
05-18-2013, 02:05 PM
Student Loans, Veterans Bills, and Farm Bill. Read main bills below and click the link to read about more big government bills that LLPH is concerned about.
Bill #1: H.R. 1412 – Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013 (Sponsored by Rep. Mike Coffman / Veterans’ Affairs Committee).
LLPH is concerned about the portion of this bill that “Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a public relations campaign, advertising in national media outlets”. LLPH questions how much this will cost. We support this effort, but our question is whether this is offset.
In addition, the bill “requires training establishments applying for state approval of on-the-job training programs to certify that the wages to be paid an eligible veteran or person upon entrance into training will be increased in regular periodic increments until, by the last full month of the training period, they will be at least 75% (currently 85%) of the wages paid for the job for which such eligible veteran or person is being trained.” If a training establishment can gain approval from the state, why should the federal government be involved in this. Our understanding of “state” suggests that this should be a states’ right not a federal government power.
A similar bill came up last session: http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2012/h/650 (3 voted no). We will be watching this bill and may consider scoring this bill negatively.
Student Loans Bill Vote:
ON FRIDAY: H.R. 1911 – Smarter Solutions for Students Act, Rules Committee (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. John Kline / Education and the Workforce Committee)
This bill is the the GOP’s bill that would resolve the problem of federal student loan rates. Without legislation, those rates will double from 3.4 to 6.8 percent this summer. Republicans have a new bill that includes language supported by Obama that would get Congress out of the business of setting the rate, and keying rates to the 10-year Treasury note. Democrats are already claiming that this would allow rates to rise too much. But the bill includes a cap on rates, and support for a similar plan from Obama could prompt some Democrats to support it.
Farm Bill:
The Senate will begin work on the $955 BILLION Farm Bill (S. 954). http://www.cbo.gov/publication/44248
It is filled of wasteful spending, food stamps (which make up about 66% of the bill), and subsidies to lawmaker’s favorite farms like corn, rice, meat, etc. LLPH STRONGLY OPPOSES THIS BILL and will score any portion that increases spending negatively, cuts spending positively, and we plan to oppose final passage. This bill is unconstitutional because nowhere in the Constitution is the federal government permitted to be sending subsidies to big farms. Also, why don’t they call this bill a food stamp bill? We urge Senators to work to change this bill radically or we will oppose it and score it negatively.
Read more here: http://llphsecondrevolution.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/llph-looking-ahead-week-of-5-20-13-student-loans-farming-and-more/
Bill #1: H.R. 1412 – Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013 (Sponsored by Rep. Mike Coffman / Veterans’ Affairs Committee).
LLPH is concerned about the portion of this bill that “Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a public relations campaign, advertising in national media outlets”. LLPH questions how much this will cost. We support this effort, but our question is whether this is offset.
In addition, the bill “requires training establishments applying for state approval of on-the-job training programs to certify that the wages to be paid an eligible veteran or person upon entrance into training will be increased in regular periodic increments until, by the last full month of the training period, they will be at least 75% (currently 85%) of the wages paid for the job for which such eligible veteran or person is being trained.” If a training establishment can gain approval from the state, why should the federal government be involved in this. Our understanding of “state” suggests that this should be a states’ right not a federal government power.
A similar bill came up last session: http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2012/h/650 (3 voted no). We will be watching this bill and may consider scoring this bill negatively.
Student Loans Bill Vote:
ON FRIDAY: H.R. 1911 – Smarter Solutions for Students Act, Rules Committee (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. John Kline / Education and the Workforce Committee)
This bill is the the GOP’s bill that would resolve the problem of federal student loan rates. Without legislation, those rates will double from 3.4 to 6.8 percent this summer. Republicans have a new bill that includes language supported by Obama that would get Congress out of the business of setting the rate, and keying rates to the 10-year Treasury note. Democrats are already claiming that this would allow rates to rise too much. But the bill includes a cap on rates, and support for a similar plan from Obama could prompt some Democrats to support it.
Farm Bill:
The Senate will begin work on the $955 BILLION Farm Bill (S. 954). http://www.cbo.gov/publication/44248
It is filled of wasteful spending, food stamps (which make up about 66% of the bill), and subsidies to lawmaker’s favorite farms like corn, rice, meat, etc. LLPH STRONGLY OPPOSES THIS BILL and will score any portion that increases spending negatively, cuts spending positively, and we plan to oppose final passage. This bill is unconstitutional because nowhere in the Constitution is the federal government permitted to be sending subsidies to big farms. Also, why don’t they call this bill a food stamp bill? We urge Senators to work to change this bill radically or we will oppose it and score it negatively.
Read more here: http://llphsecondrevolution.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/llph-looking-ahead-week-of-5-20-13-student-loans-farming-and-more/