Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Kevin Helps Greenberg Become Mayor of Louisville. Pipeline Importance. Stop Spending. Kemp Get Active For Herschel

Our grandson, Kevin, with the next mayor of Louisville. Kevin was Mayor Greenberg's communication director.
                               
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https://townhall.com/tipsheet/spencerbrown/2022/11/09/who-will-republicans-hold-accountable-for-tuesday-night-n2615702
More than half the nation could care less about results of investigations. They might have a prurient interest but they have other more pressing issues. In time, they will resent investigations if this is all Republicans can accomplish as worthy as they may be.

This is what I  meant when I say the election could turn out to be a pyrrhic victory because Republicans could paint themselves into a corner.
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Explanation of the value of pipelines and their expansion. Would send to Biden but doubt he would understand.  He might turn green with envy.
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Pipelines play a critical role in delivering energy across the United States. Keeping up with the needs of a growing nation requires near constant expansion. At Kinder Morgan, we’re well-known for being at the forefront of building and developing new pipeline infrastructure where it’s needed.

I am very pleased to let you know that we are soon to be featured on an episode of the television series How America Works with Mike Rowe.  Mike’s film crew recently spent time documenting an expansion project on our Southern Natural Gas pipeline system in western Alabama.  This was an exciting experience, and the episode will showcase the hard work and careful attention that you and your co-workers bring to the job daily.  Additionally, the show will highlight our industry and remind the nation of the critical role we play in bringing energy to homes, businesses and industries to advance modern civilization.

The SNG South System Expansion project will serve growing demand for clean burning natural gas in Alabama and Georgia, and that’s something to be proud of. Our history and reputation brought us to the attention of these film producers, and I am pleased we were selected to represent our industry in this important new TV segment.  It’s hard work and dedication  that brings these projects to fruition. 

Now scheduled to air on Monday, November 14 at 7 p.m. CT (originally planned for Monday, November 7), be sure to tune in to the Fox Business Network to see how you and your colleagues contribute to how America works, as showcased in Mike Rowe’s exciting television show.
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A GOP Game Plan: Get Federal Spending Under Control
New Republican majorities should reclaim Congress’s power of the purse by legislating appropriations.
By Dave Hoppe

If Republicans take control of the House and Senate, what will be their plan for changing the direction of the country? There’s no shortage of things that need fixing, from a hollowed-out military to a porous southern border and rampant crime. But those who lived through the Jimmy Carter presidency know what the first responsibility must be: extinguishing the fire that is burning our economy to the ground.

To start, Republicans should reach out to President Biden. It may sound like odd advice, but it is a necessary first step. Mr. Biden has an important choice to make: Will he follow in the steps of Bill Clinton or Barack Obama? His choice will make a great deal of difference—not as to what must be done, but how to do it. Mr. Biden can be a partner, or he can fight the policy changes needed to rescue America.

The work begins this week. Voters will head to the polls, and Congress will reconvene to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government. Republicans shouldn’t play any games. Vote on whether to add funds for things such as hurricane relief and aid to Ukraine, and then extend government spending until March 3. Then head home.

When the new Congress convenes, the Republicans’ focus should be on appropriations. On Jan. 3 they must begin work on passing a second budget and reconciliation bill for fiscal 2023, in addition to 12 individual appropriations bills, one for each subcommittee. The May 2022 Congressional Budget Office report notes that “as a result of the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, nonemergency discretionary funding for this year is $56 billion more than it was in CBO’s July 2021 projections.” The CBO also “raised its projections of outlays for the entire 2022–2031 period by $627 billion—$208 billion for defense and $419 billion for nondefense activities.” Congress must examine this spending in detail and make significant cuts.

Also on the to-do list should be ending the emergency declaration for Covid. That shouldn’t be too difficult. Mr. Biden said in a September interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes” that “the pandemic is over.” In the second fiscal 2023 reconciliation bill, Congress must remove all pandemic emergency spending in the out years from the budget baseline. It should also rescind all unspent non-Covid funds from the American Recovery Act. Passing 12 separate appropriation bills with these reduced baselines will save hundreds of billions in higher out-year spending, which will protect America from further inflation. Congress must aim to get legislation implementing these cuts on the president’s desk by March 30.

In April, when Congress returns from its spring recess, work must begin on the fiscal 2024 budget and reconciliation package. The focus should be to continue to reduce the growth of federal spending and begin to restore economic growth through tax cuts. This ought to include extending the provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act whose expiration would raise tax rates for all taxpayers, lower the standard deduction and reduce the child tax credit.

The fiscal 2024 budget should pass by the end of April, followed by the reconciliation bill before Memorial Day. That will leave Congress ready to begin voting on fiscal 2024 appropriations bills the week of June 5. From that day until the beginning of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, every waking moment should be spent passing the 12 appropriations bills. Start with the Defense Department appropriations, which must be beefed up to meet the challenges posed by China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. Neither the House nor the Senate should plan for an August recess unless each appropriation is signed. Anything less is an abdication of constitutional responsibility.

Sen. Robert C. Byrd often scolded his colleagues that their job is to write appropriations bills and then negotiate with the White House after Congress finishes its work. The president has the power to veto the bills if he wishes. If he would like to shut down the government by vetoing the bills, that is his prerogative. Congress can then pass new bills until an agreement is reached on the 12 separate appropriations. That should be the priority of both Congress and the administration for as long as it takes.

Some Republicans will doubtless object to this plan. A certain self-righteous attitude has taken hold in quarters of the GOP. Some Republicans have become comfortable voting against any and all appropriations bills. Their decision is understandable but ultimately unjustified. While the federal government is spending far too much money, voting against all appropriations bills obviously hasn’t solved the problem. The most powerful check Congress has over the executive branch is the power of the purse. Yet with each year it fails to pass appropriations, it cedes that vital tool to the president.

Stopping more inflationary spending will require Congress to restore the balance of power with the executive branch. Recovering the power of the purse by legislating appropriations bills—even if it takes all year—is what might be necessary and therefore what Congress must do.

Mr. Hoppe served as chief of staff to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott.
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If Gov. Kemp gets behind Herschel he can win.  It will take money. Warnock will drown in money.
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