Hoekstra RSS Articles

Parents' Rights Amendment Reaches 125 Co-Sponsors

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

A Constitutional Amendment to protect the parent-child relationship introduced by U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, has reached more than 125 co-sponsors in the House.

"The ongoing support to protect the parent-child relationship continues to grow, and more and more members of Congress continue to recognize the threat from government and foreign interference," Hoekstra said. "The enthusiasm behind the Parents Rights Amendment is helping to build the movement, and I hope to see it continue until we reach the pivotal 2/3 of the House of Representatives to move it forward."

The Parents’ Rights Amendment would state explicitly in the U.S. Constitution that parents have the right to raise their children as they see fit while protecting against abuse and neglect. Such threats to the parent-child relationship include potential U.S. ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and recent court rulings.

"Ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child would not only substitute the judgment of American parents," Hoekstra said. "But it would constitute yet another shift of power from individuals and states to the federal government and foreign governments."

Please visit ParentsRights.us for more information.

Article of Interest: Jobs reports 'riddled with inaccuracies'

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

By Matt Kelley, USA TODAY

The reports on jobs created or saved by the $787 billion stimulus package are "riddled with inaccuracies and contradictions," the federal watchdog overseeing the spending acknowledged Thursday.

Earl Devaney, chairman of the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, told a House oversight committee that the board is taking steps to correct the errors and prevent mistakes in future reports, which are filed by the recipients of stimulus money and posted on the board's website.

The board is working on creating software with "internal logic checks" to automatically reject reports that are clearly wrong, Devaney said.

In late October, the administration reported that the first recipients of stimulus grants, contracts or loans created or saved more than 640,000 jobs. Recipients of tax breaks and aid such as unemployment insurance are not required to report, so the job numbers cover only about $47 billion of the $173 billion spent by Sept. 30.

USA TODAY was among those that found examples of errors in that data, such as a Texas housing authority mistakenly reporting 450 jobs created by a $26,000 roofing project that actually employed six people.

The acting head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Gene Dodaro, told the committee his investigators found 3,978 reports where recipients reported creating a total of 58,386 jobs without spending any money. Another 9,247 reports covering $965 million in spending listed no jobs created or saved, Dodaro said.

Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., head of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said such errors should be fixed. "We must be able to rely on the reported data," he said.

Republicans said the glitches showed that the White House was wrong to tout the job figures. The panel's top Republican, Darrell Issa of California, called the jobs number "propaganda ... designed to serve a political agenda." Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., said, "I feel like I'm listening to a baloney factory."

Devaney said he also was concerned about the "considerable number" of stimulus recipients who didn't file the required reports, suggesting that Congress consider penalizing them. He said the board was collecting the names of the non-filers and would post them on its website. The White House Office of Management and Budget estimates that the 130,000 reports represented more than 90% of the recipients required to file.

One of the biggest problems was confusion among recipients on how to calculate the number of jobs saved or created, said Dodaro, whose office is the investigative arm of Congress. Recipients are supposed to translate the number of hours worked into the equivalent of full-time jobs, but many were confused about how to do that, Dodaro said.

The administration plans to offer "streamlined guidance" to recipients before the next reporting deadline in January to clarify how they should calculate and report their jobs numbers, Danny Werfel of the White House budget office wrote to Dodaro in response to the GAO findings.

Devaney said the errors will help officials avoid such mistakes in the future. "The principal downside of transparency is embarrassment, and there's plenty of that to go around," he said.

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North Muskegon, Muskegon Heights Post Offices to Remain Open

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The United States Postal Service has announced that the North Muskegon and Muskegon Heights post offices will remain open.

"After months of letters and calls inquiring about the status of the two post offices, they have been finally removed from the official list of offices facing possible consolidation," said U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland. "It is a win for local residents who will not need to drive further distances to conduct mail service."

The U.S. Postal Service today announced an updated list of retail stations and branches that remain under review for possible consolidation, and the North Muskegon and Muskegon Heights offices are no longer on the list.

"It comes as great news to all those who use the local post office," said North Muskegon City Manager Dennis Stepke. "Service will continue uninterrupted, and the long-standing cloud of uncertainty about the possible closure has been lifted."
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Hoekstra Votes Against $210 Billion in More Deficit Spending

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, today voted against a bill that would increase Washington deficit spending by $210 billion to reimburse doctors for Medicare treatments without budget offsets.

"The federal debt and deficit continue to grow at astronomical rates, yet the House leadership continues to rapidly borrow and spend," Hoekstra said. "Washington cannot continue its current unsustainable spending rates and pass legislation without the money to pay for it."

The so-called "Doc Fix" (H.R. 3961) was originally included in the $1.3 trillion health care overhaul, but was stripped as costs grew. The Congressional Budget Office also predicts that through the Democrat bill seniors’ Medicare Part B premiums would increase by $50 billion.

Hoekstra supported an amendment that would allow for two years of payment increases to occur at the same rate as in the underlying bill as long as spending stays within a $22.3 billion limit, which is the same amount that currently exists under the Secretary of Health and Human Services "Medicare Improvement Fund."

"Doctors should be adequately reimbursed for their work, but Congress can accomplish it through fiscally responsible measures," Hoekstra said. "Problems can be solved without continuing to force current and future taxpayers to bear the brunt of it."
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Hoekstra Introduces Discharge Petition on Guantanamo Bay Bill to Force Administration Transparency

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, today introduced a discharge petition to compel House leadership to allow a vote on H. R. 2294, the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act. Hoekstra, along with House Republican Leader John Boehner and other top committee Republicans introduced the measure, which has garnered the support of 169 members of Congress.

"We are rapidly approaching President Obama’s self-imposed deadline for closing Guantanamo Bay, yet the administration still has not submitted a plan for closure to Congress and has offered little in the way of transparency with lawmakers or the American people," Hoekstra said. "This petition is meant to force greater administration transparency with the public and to give federal and state lawmakers a voice in what many of us believe was a rushed and unnecessary decision to close Guantanamo Bay by the president."

The Keep Terrorists Out of America Act affirms Congress’ opposition to transferring or releasing terrorists held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility into the United States; prohibits the administration from transferring or releasing any terrorist detainees at Guantanamo Bay to any state without express approval from the state’s governor and legislature; and prohibits the president from transferring or releasing a terrorist detainee into the United States unless he provides notification and certification to Congress.

In Congress, a discharge petition is used to empower individual members to overcome legislative roadblocks and opposition to a bill by congressional leadership and committee chairs. A majority of members, 218, must sign the petition in order for it to be approved, at which point a bill can bypass committee and be brought directly to the floor for a vote.

"A number of Democrats agree that closing Guantanamo Bay and housing terrorist detainees on American soil is not a good idea and this petition gives them the opportunity to publicly register their opposition," Hoekstra said. "The American people need transparency on Guantanamo Bay and the threats posed by terrorists housed there, not the scattershot and disjointed decision-making behind closed doors by the administration and a few lawmakers who wish to avoid oversight and accountability.

"I absolutely believe that state leaders in places such as Michigan, Illinois and anywhere else the Obama administration may try to move terrorists detainees would benefit from full and transparent access to the threat and security information that is already known by the federal government. This is not just an economic decision as the administration portrays, this is a serious national security decision that should not be forced on states without providing them full situational awareness. If supporters of closing Guantanamo Bay really believe terrorist detainees pose no threat, then they should not fear our call for more transparency either."

Hoekstra also signed on to a letter from Republican leaders once again calling on President Obama to respond to questions on Guantanamo Bay that the administration so far has refused to answer.
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Hoekstra Statement on Michigan's October Unemployment Rate

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, today issued the following statement on the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth announcing the Michigan’s unemployment rate remains above 15 percent.

"The $787 billion economic stimulus bill that Congress rushed to President Obama seven months ago has done little to stimulate jobs or the economy. It has been a major disappointment that the administration cannot manage the stimulus spending or the tracking of its impact effectively, such as the recent revelation that the White House was claiming it created jobs in Michigan congressional districts that don’t even exist. Congress needs to create an environment of economic growth rather than continuing to recklessly spend taxpayer dollars and finding new opportunities to tax job creators."
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Hoekstra, Intelligence Committee Republicans Release Letter to Speaker Pelosi Requesting Congressional Investigation into Fort Hood Attack

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, released the attached letter signed by all Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee. The letter calls on Speaker Pelosi to direct Congress to open an investigation into the tragic shootings at Fort Hood.

A copy of the letter from Intelligence Committee Republicans can found HERE.
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Article of Interest: Stimulus Momentum Builds

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

By Steven T. Dennis
Roll Call Staff

With unemployment above 10 percent and Democratic poll ratings dipping, anxious leaders on both sides of the Capitol are gathering ideas and building momentum for what could be a significant new jobs package early next year.

President Barack Obama has called for an economic summit at the White House on Dec. 3, which could lay the groundwork for a deal on another stimulus plan. At the same time, resistance among Members to a significant new economic package appears to be fading.

For most of the year, Democratic leaders put off the idea of another stimulus after passing the first $787 billion spending plan in February. They cautioned publicly that the package needed time to work but privately noted that Members had a severe case of stimulus and bailout fatigue.

However, the continued uptick of the unemployment rate — now at 10.2 percent — has renewed the once-taboo idea of another stimulus.

“While Members are definitely concerned about spending, there also is a recognition that unemployment is over 10 percent, and Members want to be able to say they are doing something on unemployment and jobs,” one House leadership aide said.

House Democratic leaders were planning to huddle with Members on Monday night to discuss what to put in such a package.

Meanwhile, on the Senate side, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has told his caucus that a jobs package would be a top priority early next year.

“Although we believe passing health care will help our economy over the long haul, we feel we need to do something that will provide a more immediate boost,” a Senate Democratic leadership aide said. “Sen. Reid will be working with his caucus and the administration to put together such a package in the coming weeks so we can turn to it as soon as possible after completing health care.”

Members have been quietly lining up behind various ideas for months. One proposal has already been signed into law — an expansion of a first-time homebuyer tax credit, along with an unemployment benefit extension to the hardest hit states.

But far bolder and perhaps more expensive plans could be in the offing. One idea that continues to get talked about is a $500 billion transportation reauthorization bill, which is up for renewal anyway and would produce tangible projects and jobs that are easy for voters to see and lawmakers to tout.

The bill authored by House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) has been pushed hard by Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson (Conn.), among others.

“It’s not like there aren’t good jobs bills available,” a senior Democratic aide said.

The question for Congressional leaders has been whether the spending in such a plan could enter the economy quickly enough and how to pay for it. Some Democrats, led by Rep. Peter DeFazio (Ore.), are pushing for a new transaction tax on Wall Street to help rebuild Main Street, believing it would put Republicans opposing any tax increases in the position of backing Wall Street traders over middle-class Americans.

But there also have been concerns that such a bill could be lampooned as pork-laden, given that it will be packed with earmarks. The last transportation bill, crafted when the GOP was still in charge, included the “Bridge to Nowhere” in Alaska that became a symbol of wasteful spending.

Leaders kept traditional earmarks out of the stimulus package earlier this year exactly because of that fear — although that didn’t stop Republicans, who voted en masse against the plan, from blasting it as an unnecessary spending spree.

The next stimulus plan could go far beyond new roads and bridges, however. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has already held her own meeting with economists who universally recommended additional spending, has noted that Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) has presented an array of potential items behind the scenes. Publicly, Pelosi — who has eschewed the word stimulus — has mentioned such items as more aid to cash-strapped states and a tax credit for hiring new workers.

Obey, for his part, strongly endorsed another stimulus package Nov. 6, saying the economy needed “a bigger kick.”

“While the Recovery Act is working, as I said when we passed it, it is not big enough by itself to do everything we need it to do to get workers back to work,” he said. Obey also minimized the importance of the massive short-term deficit.

“The longer it takes the unemployed to get a job, the longer it will take us to get our deficit down,” he said.

House Republicans, meanwhile, have used the latest chatter as another reason to argue that the Democrats’ first stimulus was a failure. The question “Where are the jobs?” has become a rallying cry for GOP lawmakers denouncing the first spending plan.

Republicans have continued to push a package of several hundred billion in tax cuts that they first proposed early this year, with Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) repeatedly urging Democrats to take up their plan.

But GOP Members generally want any tax relief to be paid for by cutting spending from the existing stimulus package, a non-starter with Democrats.

Hoekstra to Discuss the Fort Hood Shooting Investigation on 'Face the Nation'

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., will be a guest on CBS’s "Face the Nation" with host Bob Schieffer on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 10:30 a.m. to discuss the investigation of the shooting at Fort Hood.

Hoekstra served as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee from 2004 to 2006. He currently serves as the committee’s top Republican, and in that role he is responsible for helping to lead congressional oversight of U.S. intelligence during its modernization to confront the threats of the 21st Century.

As a former Vice President at Herman Miller, Hoekstra is one of the few former Fortune 500 business executives in Congress, bringing a unique blend of experience and perspective to Washington since he was first elected in 1992.
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Article of Interest: Federal deficit sets October record of $176.4B

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER and DANIEL WAGNER (AP)

WASHINGTON — The federal deficit hit a record for October as the new budget year began where the old one ended: with the government awash in red ink.

Economists worry that if such deficits continue it could push up interest rates, further dragging on the fragile economic recovery.

The Treasury Department said Thursday that the deficit for October totaled $176.4 billion, even higher than the $150 billion imbalance that economists expected.

The deficit for the 2009 budget year, which ended on Sept. 30, set an all-time record in dollar terms of $1.42 trillion. That was $958 billion above the 2008 deficit, the previous record holder.

October was the 13th straight month to show a monthly deficit — another record. It was the fifth-largest monthly deficit ever.

The imbalance came mostly from lower receipts of individual and corporate taxes. Receipts were $135.3 billion, a 17.9 percent drop from last October.

Spending dipped 2.7 percent to $311.7 billion. Last October's outlays were inflated by the $33 billion spent on the first round of financial bailouts at the peak of the financial crisis.

The Obama administration expects this year's deficit to reach $1.5 trillion. That would make it the third straight record annual deficit.

In relation to the overall economy, the 2009 deficit was 9.9 percent of the gross domestic product. That was the highest level since the World War II-era deficit hit 21.5 percent of GDP in 1945.

The devastating effects of the country's worst recession since the 1930s and the government's efforts to stabilize the financial system with a $700 billion bank bailout fund and a $787 billion economic stimulus program drove the 2009 deficit.

The administration projects the deficit will remain above $1 trillion in 2011. In fact, according to the estimates it made in August, the deficit will never drop below $739 billion over the next decade.

So far, the government has been able to borrow to finance the soaring deficits at low rates because the recession pushed interest rates down and the Federal Reserve has worked to keep them low in an effort to stimulate a rebound.

But the concern is that government borrowing at such levels will start to push interest rates higher as the economy begins to recover, making it more expensive for businesses and consumers to borrow the money they need. Another worry is that foreigners could become spooked by the size of all the deficits and cut back on their purchases of Treasury debt.

China, the largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasury securities, has expressed concerns about the size of the U.S. deficits, prompting administration officials to issue repeated pledges that it will start to tackle the deficits as soon as the recovery is on more sustained footing.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, on a visit to Tokyo on Wednesday, told reporters that "as growth recovers and strengthens, we're going to bring our fiscal positions back to a sustainable balance."

Republicans have attacked the administration for failing to put forward what they consider a credible plan to deal with the soaring deficits. That debate is expected to intensify in coming weeks as Congress is faced with the need to raise the government's debt limit, currently at $12.1 trillion. The administration said last week it expects to hit the current limit in December.

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