Weekly Columns

With the latest jobs report showing an unemployment rate of 9.6 percent, it is indisputable that President Obama's stimulus plan failed in its central goal of keeping unemployment below 8 percent. But the $787 billion stimulus bill has been a waste of taxpayer money in other ways, as well.

Throughout the debate over health care, the Obama administration assured Americans repeatedly that Obamacare would not interfere with their current health insurance. A little over six months after the government health care takeover became law, that false promise is already falling apart. If not for a last-minute intervention, thousands of workers were on the verge of losing their coverage due to expensive new mandates.

The House of Representatives adjourned abruptly last week, leaving essential work unfinished. In the interests of getting home to campaign for the mid-term elections, Speaker Pelosi and her party sent legislators home without even allowing a vote on tax relief.

Last week, House Republicans unveiled a new governing agenda to address America's most pressing problems. Titled "A Pledge to America," this plan contains specific policies to restore fiscal sanity and transparency to the government and encourage the private sector to create jobs.

Facing declining polls and an all but certain electoral disaster in November, President Obama recently indicated a willingness to extend the Bush tax cuts for taxpayers with income under $250,000 -- while letting massive tax increases go into effect for American small businesses. Although extending a portion of the Bush tax cuts is good news -- and, not coincidentally, good politics -- the decision to allow tax hikes on businesses demonstrates that the Obama administration has learned nothing after a year of failed economic policy.

On a recent visit to Afghanistan, I was privileged to meet with a number of Oklahomans whose service and dedication should make us all proud. It was an honor to thank them on behalf of our state for their courage and hard work. Many of them have served repeated tours of duty, sacrificing months of time with their families and the comforts of their daily lives to put themselves in harm's way to make America safer.

A car bomb explosion. Seventy-two civilians shot to death. We typically associate such tragic events with war torn countries halfway around the world. But both of these incidents occurred on the Mexican border in just the past two weeks. While the car bomb that exploded days ago in front of the offices of a television station did not cause casualties, a previous bomb in July killed three people, including a federal police officer.

Distressing new economic headlines just keep coming. Unemployment claims reached a nine-month high in early August. Existing home sales tumbled by 27 percent from June to July, representing the largest one-month drop ever recorded. Sales of new homes reached the lowest levels recorded since 1963. The stock market is down 11 percent, and new GDP numbers are dismal. The Wall Street Journal described these sobering developments as "signs that the economy is losing momentum." The Associated Press agreed, calling the housing numbers "the latest sign that the economic recovery is fading."