Blog
Jun 28 2012
Alice James (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
To our Democratic colleagues, stand by your tax increase or stand with us to Repeal and Replace Obamacare.
Jun 26 2012
Attorney General Holder Should Immediately Appoint Special Counsel to Investigate Leaks
"The numerous national security leaks reportedly originating out of the Executive Branch in recent months have been stunning."
Alice James (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
Citing an ‘avalanche' of' national security leaks originating out of the Executive Branch 31 senators have written to Attorney General Eric Holder requesting he immediately appoint a special counsel, free from the appearance of a politics or undue influence, to investigate the matter.Jun 22 2012
Tate Zeigler (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), all members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today regarding the impending across-the-board defense sequestration cuts that, unless Congress and the Administration act, will begin on January 2, 2013:
“We commend the National Association of Manufacturers on releasing its new report. Given Secretary Panetta’s repeated warnings and the grave threat sequestration poses to our troops and our national security, we cannot wait until after the election to stop these cuts. NAM’s report is a wakeup call to Congress and the Administration that we must act now, or we risk dangerously undermining our national security and causing the loss of more than one million good American jobs.”
The new National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) report finds that the budget caps and sequestration cuts beginning on January 2, 2013, will result in the following:
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More than 1 million private sector jobs, including 130,000 manufacturing jobs, will be lost in 2014;
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GDP will be almost 1 percent lower by 2014;
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Total job losses will increase unemployment by 0.7 percent.
NAM’s report echoes similar findings in recent studies by the Aerospace Industries Association, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the Center for Security Policy.
On Thursday, at the National Press Club, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said, “One [of] my greatest concerns as secretary is the dysfunction that we see in Washington.” Referring to the impending defense sequestration cuts and the inability of the Administration and Congress thus far to find a solution, Secretary Panetta said, “It threatens our security and it raises questions about the capacity of our democracy to respond to crisis.” Secretary Panetta said, “The Department of Defense is facing a crisis … What I fear -- and I think this is a real fear -- is that both Republicans and Democrats alike will simply kick the can down the road.”
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Jun 15 2012
Tate Zeigler (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) continued his efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, yesterday in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Graham’s amendment prohibited the IRS from using funds to implement the individual mandate, a key provision in Obamacare. The Graham Amendment was defeated by a vote of 14 to 16.
“Obamacare is a financial disaster for our nation. It raises costs, lowers the quality of care, and will result in health care rationing. Whether it’s an outright repeal, a state-based ‘opt-out’, delaying implementation of its major provisions, or this amendment to prohibit funding, I will continue to use every tool in the toolbox to repeal and replace Obamacare.”
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of Obamacare later this month.
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Jun 14 2012
Tate Zeigler (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
The NLRB is the Grim Reaper of job creation and the most out-of-control agency in Washington.Jun 13 2012
Tate Zeigler (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
The NLRB is the Grim Reaper of job creation. They seem hell-bent on interjecting themselves into private sector business decisions for purely political reasons.
Jun 11 2012
Tate Zeigler (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, and Third District Congressman Jeff Duncan today all spoke out in support of legislation which will open the South Carolina coast to oil and gas drilling.Jun 09 2012
May 24 2012
Tate Zeigler or Alice James (202) 224-5972
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today released the following statement regarding a motion filed by defense attorneys for KSM seeking dismissal of charges based on Graham’s objections to using civilian courts for KSM and other 9/11 co-conspirators:
“I have been informed that the defense counsel representing Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other 9/11 co-conspirators filed a motion to dismiss all charges based on unlawful influence by myself, President Bush, President Obama, Vice President Biden, and others.
“I strongly believe in the right to counsel, and fully understand the defense attorneys representing those accused of the 9/11 attacks have to advocate vigorously for the interest of their clients.
“As a United States Senator, I have to advocate for the best policies for the country as a whole. I support an “all of the above” approach regarding the War on Terror, where Article Three civilian courts as well as military tribunals are used to resolve terrorism cases.
“However, I strongly believe the attacks of 9/11 were not a common crime, but an act of war. And in certain situations, military commissions and the law of war should apply. That is why I have consistently and vigorously advocated for the use of military commissions in situations involving top al-Qaeda leadership.
“I have done so consistent with the duties of a United States Senator, no more or no less."
#####May 22 2012
Tate Zeigler (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), John McCain (R-Arizona), and Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) today released the following statement on the news that the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan C. Crocker, will step down this summer:
“The recent announcement by Ambassador Ryan Crocker that he will be departing his post in Kabul is a great loss to the United States and Afghanistan, but we fully understand his decision. We are grateful beyond words to Ryan for his decision to come out of retirement at the President’s request to serve our country one last time in one of the most challenging jobs in the world. When the history of the past decade is written, Ryan Crocker will rightly be recognized as one of the genuine American heroes of this era. We have never met a finer, more capable, or more dedicated diplomat than Ryan Crocker.
“Ambassador Crocker arrived in Afghanistan at a critical moment in the relations between our two countries. Thanks to his efforts, we believe that the Afghan-U.S. relationship is now on a much better path. In the last year, Ambassador Crocker and General Allen, working with our Afghan and NATO partners, successfully negotiated a Strategic Partnership Agreement. If properly implemented, this Agreement could be the ultimate guarantee that Al-Qaeda and the Taliban will never again control Afghanistan. For this, and for so much else in his long and distinguished career, Ryan Crocker deserves the respect, gratitude, and admiration of all Americans. We will miss him greatly, and look forward to welcoming him back home to the United States.”
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