Mitt Romney: If he were president it would be ObamaCare waivers for all 50 states

National Review: If I were president, on Day One I would issue an executive order paving the way for Obamacare waivers to all 50 states. The executive order would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services and all relevant federal officials to return the maximum possible authority to the states toinnovate and design health-care solutions that work best for them.

As I have stated time and again, a one-size-fits-all national plan that raises taxes is simply not the answer. Under our federalist system, the states are “laboratories of democracy.” They should be free to experiment. By the way, what works in one state may not be the answer for another. Of course, the ultimate goal is to repeal Obamacare and replace it with free-market reforms that promote competition and lower health-care costs. But since an outright repeal would take time, an executive order is the first step in returning power to the states.

Hum, I see two problems with this approach.

First, blue states will no doubt institute mini ObamaCares with their waivers. That's OK, because isn't that is what the Tenth Amendment is all about? But what if you are a conservative or Republican in a blue state? You will be stuck with ObamaCare whether Obama wins or Romney wins. If that is the case, why bother to enthusiastically support Romney?

Second, I can easily see this executive order scheme taking the heat off Republicans to immediately repeal ObamaCare. Red States will no doubt go for free market and pro-individual solutions. As those states remove the specter of ObamaCare, pressure on the Republicans from the right might diminish. Sheepish Republicans who prefer to shy from a fight might just be happy to let things be. In that case, the only thing standing between us and an awful return of ObamaCare will be an executive order.

This idea from Romney seems like an attempt to make himself look less flip floppy and more consistent this time around. First, there is his refusal to admit that RomneyCare was a mistake. Then he offers up the States' Rights excuse to explain away his bad decision. Now he is taking the States' Rights idea one step further with this executive order idea. This maybe a good thing for Mitt Romney's presidential aspirations, but is it really the best way to go for America?

Via: Memeorandum
Via: National Review

Obama’s August Surprise – Mortgage Bailouts!

Rumors are swirling around Washington and Wall Street that Obama may try to help Democrats’ dim midterm election prospects by having Fannie and Freddie forgive principle on underwater mortgages.  Obama would basically accomplish this by executive order and thus relieve Congress from their role as holder of the purse strings. 

James Pethokoukis, Reuters: Main Street may be about to get its own gigantic bailout. Rumors are running wild from Washington to Wall Street that the Obama administration is about to order government-controlled lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to forgive a portion of the mortgage debt of millions of Americans who owe more than what their homes are worth. An estimated 15 million U.S. mortgages – one in five – are underwater with negative equity of some $800 billion. Recall that on Christmas Eve 2009, the Treasury Department waived a $400 billion limit on financial assistance to Fannie and Freddie, pledging unlimited help. The actual vehicle for the bailout could be the Bush-era Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP, a sister program to Obama’s loan modification effort. HARP was just extended through June 30, 2011.

The move, if it happens, would be a stunning political and economic bombshell less than 100 days before a midterm election in which Democrats are currently expected to suffer massive, if not historic losses. The key date to watch is August 17 when the Treasury Department holds a much-hyped meeting on the future of Fannie and Freddie… [MORE]

Irresponsibility doesn’t even begin to describe this maneuver. Fannie and Freddie are already financially teetering; such massive write-downs will have to be passed off to the already burdened taxpayer. Needless to say, it is again spending more money we do not have. Should this surprise take place, Congress should share the blame by passing laws that basically gave away their Constitutional authority to the treasury and executive branch.

This may buy the Democrats some votes in the short run, but can you image just how pissed off everyone who struggled to responsibly pay their mortgage is going to feel about footing the bill for someone else?  The anger that is going to generate against Democrats might be the kind of anger the party may never recover from.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Reuters

An Executive Order for Amnesty?

It looks like the Obama administration is looking to do another end run around Congress, this time to give illegal aliens amnesty. I sure the executive order will contain some little loophole that allows the illegals to vote too.

Eight senators led by Chuck Greassly (R-Iowa) have written a letter to Obama asking for clarification on the rumored plan to use executive orders to effect amnesty.

Here is a copy of the letter: 

Dear President Obama:

We understand that there’s a push for your Administration to develop a plan to unilaterally extend either deferred action or parole to millions of illegal aliens in the United States. We understand that the Administration may include aliens who have willfully overstayed their visas or filed for benefits knowing that they will not be eligible for a status for years to come. We understand that deferred action and parole are discretionary actions reserved for individual cases that present unusual, emergent or humanitarian circumstances. Deferred action and parole were not intended to be used to confer a status or offer protection to large groups of illegal aliens, even if the agency claims that they look at each case on a “case-by-case” basis.

While we agree our immigration laws need to be fixed, we are deeply concerned about the potential expansion of deferred action or parole for a large illegal alien population. While deferred action and parole are Executive Branch authorities, they should not be used to circumvent Congress’ constitutional authority to legislate immigration policy, particularly as it relates to the illegal population in the United States.

The Administration would be wise to abandon any plans for deferred action or parole for the illegal population. Such a move would further erode the American public’s confidence in the federal government and its commitment to securing the borders and enforcing the laws already on the books.

We would appreciate receiving a commitment that the Administration has no plans to use either authority to change the current position of a large group of illegal aliens already in the United States, and ask that you respond to us about this matter as soon as possible.

The letter is signed by Sens. Grassley, Hatch (R-Utah), Vitter (R-La.), Bunning (R-Ky.), Chambliss (R-Ga.), Isakson (R-Ga.), Inhofe (R-Okla.), and Cochran (R-Miss.).

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Numbers USA

Obama plays Stupak for a fool, doesn’t sign Executive Order on abortion today

From Major Garrett at Fox News:

President Obama signed the Senate health care bill into law Tuesday. He did not sign the executive order on abortion negotiated with Michigan Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak in an 11th-hour arrangement that may well have saved the entire health care reform effort.

A White House official told Fox, Obama will not sign the Executive Order Tuesday and has set no specific date to do so. Stupak predicted Obama would sign the order later this week. The White House said only that Obama would sign the order "soon."

In two celebratory speeches Tuesday - one at the bill's signing, the other at the Interior Department with health care advocates - Obama said nothing about the abortion issue or the executive order. [MORE] 

There is a sucker born every minute and right now Bart Stupak is probably the biggest sucker in America. His vote and the remaining votes from his so-called “Pro-Life” group was worth the world to Obama and the Democrat leadership. Knowing he was going to cave anyway, Stupak could have asked for anything from the ridiculous to the sublime and probably would have gotten it with sugar on top. 

So after living in hell right up to the final hours of debate, Stupak finally caves for an unsigned executive order that not only can be rescinded in the blink of an eye, but also may not even have effect on the law it was meant to modify. Of course there is possible evidence that Stupak also got some federal money for his district, but in comparison to what others received, he got gypped on that deal too.

Stupak is now trying to save face by defending the executive order. He actually says executive order is akin to the Emancipation Proclamation! 

"Throughout history, Executive Orders have been an important means of implementing public policy," Stupak said in a statement. "The most famous Executive Order was the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Lincoln in 1863."

What a fool and a half, the unsigned executive order Stupak got is like toilet paper and used toilet paper at that.

With each day that passes that Obama doesn’t sign the executive order, Supak’s reputation gets torn into smaller and smaller pieces – and you know what? He deserves it.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Fox News

Via: Gateway Pundit

Via: NRCC.Org