In the News

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

On Sept. 22, 2011, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen warned: "I believe the single, biggest threat to our national security is debt."

He's right — and not the only military or intelligence expert to offer a similar sentiment. The United States of America faces many existential threats from ISIS, rogue nations and illegal immigration. However, our nation encounters no greater menace than our inability to bring our debt under control. This internal, bipartisan recklessness endangers Americans everywhere.

Ashlynne Mike's life ended too soon.

Her favorite color was yellow, and she enjoyed playing music for her friends and family. She was a kind-hearted soul who had enormous potential. She was 11 years old.

I support a structurally balanced federal budget, significant spending cuts, reduction of our soaring national debt, regulatory reform and tax cuts. Together, these actions produce a strong, vibrant economy. I support a well-crafted Balanced Budget Amendment that emphasizes reduced spending!

I do not support the proposed Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA). The timing is too obvious and the amendment lacks the provisions to be effective.

In the disingenuous world of congressional politics, the current balanced budget amendment proposal up for a vote in the House Thursday night may be the most cynical in my short time in Congress.

"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good," people tell me. They have a point. If this amendment was even nudging us in the direction of curbing our spending addiction and toward a truly balanced budget, I'd vote "yes."

In 2014, Americans were disgusted by scandals in the Veterans Administration (VA), involving wait lists and falsified reports and records. The epicenter of these misdeeds was the Phoenix VA system, but many veterans at other VA centers around the country encountered similar nightmares.

Changes were needed, but change has not come quickly enough. There is still too little accountability, too much incompetency and corruption, and not enough results at the VA. That is why I am requesting that VA Secretary David Shulkin resign.

An Arizona lawmaker wants to deny federal funds to sanctuary cities by amending a spending bill keeping the government running through September.

The amendment proposed by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., would withhold two kinds of federal grants to cities and other jurisdictions that don't cooperate with federal authorities in enforcing immigration law, The Hill reported.

Members of the House Freedom Caucus plan to introduce amendments to the omnibus in an attempt to negate some of the provisions they don't agree with in the massive spending package.

The legislative text of the $1.3 trillion bill was released late Wednesday and conservatives have taken issue with a number of provisions slated to make it into the finalized measure.

The House of Representatives passed on party lines Wednesday evening a bill designed to let very sick patients request access to experimental medicines without government oversight.

The passage of the bill, known as right-to-try, is a big victory for the small libertarian think tank that crafted the proposal — and for a White House that has vigorously campaigned for the law. And it comes one week after Republicans failed to pass a similar measure through an expedited process that needed two-thirds support from the chamber.