Weekly Columns

Almost two years into the financial crisis, we remain without reforms to protect consumers from another Wall Street meltdown. Policies proposed by the Obama administration will do little to change that and will actually hinder economic recovery by punishing community banks that had nothing to do with the crisis -- while promising special treatment to those that did.

In a series of recent actions, the Obama administration has set about swiftly but steadily dismantling decades of established nuclear policy in favor of new mandates that undermine our allies and ultimately weaken our national security.

It might come as a shock to Oklahomans still smarting from paying income taxes this week, but the Obama administration doesn't think you're being taxed enough. White House economic adviser Paul Volcker said last week that the U.S. should consider raising taxes, including imposing a new, European-style "value added tax" (VAT) -- a national sales tax on virtually any goods and services Americans consume. Nancy Pelosi agrees, stating last October that a VAT should be "on the table."

At town hall meetings throughout the 4th District this week, I’ve been hearing a lot from my fellow Oklahomans about how troubled they are with the direction of the country. There is a growing sense that the government is greatly overstepping its traditional role and encroaching more and more into citizens’ daily lives. The new health care law is just the latest and most obvious example of the federal government interfering with the personal decisions and rights Americans used to be able to take for granted.

Many Oklahomans are understandably concerned about the health care takeover President Obama signed into law last week and what it will mean for them. Some of the more jaw-dropping aspects of the law -- like the $569 billion in tax hikes and $523 billion in Medicare cuts -- have been extensively covered in the news. But other provisions that have not received as much attention are just as damaging to our health care system and economy.

After over one year and an extraordinary abuse of the legislative process, President Obama has managed to force his health plan through the House. While he and his liberal allies may consider this a victory, it's a defeat for the American people, the economy, and our health care system.

With headlines dominated by the Democratic party’s single-minded determination to pass their unpopular health care plan, vital economic issues are getting short shrift. That’s fine for members of the Obama administration, who would probably just as soon the American people not learn the full extent of the damage their policies are inflicting on our national economy.

The process Democrats are pursuing to pass government-run health care has become as flawed as the legislation itself. And that's really saying something. From the beginning, the attempt to force through a government takeover of health care has been marked by disregard for the views of the American people. Now, Democratic leaders are disregarding standard legislative procedures and well-established precedents, as well.