“This is the least bipartisan administration in modern times,” and “it’s bad for the country,” says former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. “They are unwilling to have a conversation, they are unwilling to openly look at amending their [health care] bill,” he adds. (0:46)
“We believe the number one priority of America ought to be job creation, not because we’re trying to hide from a health debate, in fact, we’re eager to have a health debate, and it’s a pity that the President is unwilling to have a bipartisan discussion about how to get to a better approach,” former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says. (0:26)
“America does not work if Americans are not working, and getting Americans working should be the number one priority,” says former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, advocating American Solutions’ Jobs Here, Jobs Now, Jobs First campaign. “Jobs Here, Jobs Now, Jobs First ought to replace all the other priorities that the politicians are currently running around chasing,” he says. (0:20)
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) says the national security budget of the United States must reflect a committment to keeping Americans safe (0:09).
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) says that the current generation of Americans is the richest, freest, and safest generation in the history of the world. However, Gingrich says this will only remain true if the safety of the American public remains the highest priority in this country. (0:28)
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) says the nation’s national security budget must meet the capabilities of America’s opponents rather than their intentions. America is risking millions of lives in order to save a few billion dollars, he says (0:30).
The United States needs a dramatic increase in defense spending as well as a massive overhaul of its national security decision-making process in order to avoid a catastrophe, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said Monday.
“[We need] a national security budget and a homeland security budget driven by meeting the capabilities of our opponents, not by meeting their intentions. We are today running very big risks in the name of saving a few billion dollars that may end up killing several million Americans. The time to fix that is before the disaster happens,” said Gingrich.
He described several threats to national security such as nuclear, biological, and cyber attacks, as well as electromagnetic pulse attacks that could wipe out most of the country’s electrical structure. Gingrich stated that the U.S., like Japan, should start militarizing outer space in order to protect the massive amounts of communication technology orbiting the Earth.
Gingrich also criticized the federal government’s inability to act decisively and quickly, explaining that bureaucracy hinders the country’s ability to move at the speed of the modern world or sustain its defense system.
“We have been the most fortunate generation in history…We are still today the richest, freest, and safest people in the history of the world. That will only remain true if we have the courage, the discipline, and the foresight to insist on the kind of changes we need in order to maintain safety as the highest single value of the American people, a base on which you can then build prosperity and freedom,” said Gingrich.
By Courtney Costello- Talk Radio News Service
Volunteers of America hosted a discussion today on the baby boomer generation’s affect on the future of health care and Social Security.
America is at a turning point, where the oldest baby boomers will be 65 in the next two years. By 2030 there will be an estimated 71 million seniors in comparison to the current 37 million seniors, said Donna Brazile, Democratic political strategist and moderator at the discussion.
Baby Boomers were born between the years 1946 to 1964 and it is estimated that there were 77 million babies born within these years.
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Said Brazile, “We have to re-think the way that we deliver care for our nation’s older Americans in the future.”
Tom Daschle, former Senate Majority Leader, said, “Clearly cost is an issue that we have to address…we also need to bring everyone under the system resulting in coverage for all… many Americans are underinsured [and] 48% of the people who have insurance don’t have the care they need today.”
Today, one of the biggest health concerns for seniors in this country is Alzheimer’s, and with more research, more positive outcomes can be expected.
“If you could imagine a world without Alzheimer’s by 2030, you have changed for probably half the baby boomers the trajectory of their life, and you have changed for their children a great deal of the trajectory of their lives,” said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
On the issue of the future of Social Security, author and anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson said, “trust in the system is urgent to reassure people that social security will be there.”
“The earlier we find a way to migrate towards some kind of compound [social security] interest model, where you know what you have invested, and you get back the compound interest effect for 50-55 years of work…remember people will work longer in the next generation, not shorter.” said Gingrich.
85 % of Americans expect long term care to be a part of health care reform… It requires Presidential leadership, said the panel.
White House Correspondent Victoria Jones will be attending a White House briefing with Robert Gibbs.
Legal Affairs Correspondent Jay Goodman Tamboli is covering the release of opinions at the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Washington Bureau will be covering the following events:
-A panel with former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga), former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Mary Catherine Bateson and Chuck Gould of Volunteers of America; and political strategist Donna Brazile on “Boomer Bust: From Greatest Generation to Crisis Generation”.
- A discussion on “Political Developments Since the Surge” with Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister Rafi Al-Issawi.
-A conservative leadership seminar with Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), former U.S. Treasurer Bay Buchanan, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Liz Cheney.
-A briefing to introduce a report on the “Ocean and the U.S. Economy” with Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) in recognition of Capitol Hill Ocean Week.
Former Vice President Al Gore testified before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment in support of “The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.” Describing the bill as “One of the most important pieces of legislation ever introduced to Congress,” Gore called its passage a “moral imperative.”
Gore cited recent research showing dangerous changes in climate due to man-made global warming including melting arctic ice, increased carbon in water, and extreme weather events.
The proposed bill, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, will create a cap-and-trade limit on carbon emissions, meaning that companies will have to buy and sell the right to produce carbon, making it more economical to reduce carbon. The E.P.A.’s findings state that this bill will “transforms the structure of energy production and consumption, moving the U.S. to a clean energy economy.”
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich also testified before the subcommittee, calling the bill a huge mistake. He explained that the bill imposes an energy tax, stating, “If you use electricity it punishes you, if you use heating oil it punishes you, if you use gasoline it punishes you. This bill will increase your cost of living.” Gingrich worries that the U.S. will not be able to compete in a global economy if no other countries tax carbon.
However, Gore stated that he believes if the U.S. acts, the world will follow. Describing the moral significance as equal to that of civil rights legislation of the 1960’s, he explained, “Passage of this legislation will restore America’s leadership of the world and begin, at long last, to solve the climate crisis.”
