STAND WITH TED CRUZ

[standwithtedcruz]

Ted Cruz, Mitch McConnell battle over Senate freshmen

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) may be Senate Majority Leader, but he’ll have to compete with firebrand Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for influence among the upper chamber’s 12 Republican freshmen.

Cruz wants the GOP’s fresh faces to put pressure on Republican leadership to pursue a “bold agenda”:

“We should follow through on our commitment to provide big, bold positive ideas responding to the very real economic hardship that so many millions of Americans are feeling,” he said.

Cruz said he has targeted that message to the new freshman class, which comprises more than a fifth of the GOP’s 54-member majority.

“What I have encouraged everyone of them to do is to urge all of us to honor our commitments. What I’ve urged everyone of them to do is answer questions in January the same way you would have answered them in October on the campaign trail,” he said.

McConnell, on the other hand, wants them to remember that the GOP’s only chance at making an impact is by getting legislation to Obama’s desk:

“In every meeting, whether it’s with freshmen or others, McConnell’s message has been consistent. The only way we’re going to be relevant is by getting legislation to the president’s desk. That’s the best card we have,” said a GOP senator, who requested anonymity to discuss private meetings.

McConnell met with freshman Republicans shortly after Election Day, when he posed with them for a photo-op in his stately Capitol suite.

Many would argue that both Cruz and McConnell make valid arguments. However, what they all must remember is that it’s important for the GOP to work together and not against one another. Otherwise, it’ll be another “do nothing” Congress all over again.

[standwithtedcruz]

GOP 2016 hopefuls react to Obama's executive order on immigration

They all knew it was coming, but Barack Obama’s Thursday night speech announcing the details of his executive order on immigration has sent a shockwave throughout the Republican Party. Movers and shakers within the GOP all have an opinion on the order — especially those gunning for the White House in 2016 — and they’re all in agreement about one fact: it’s completely unconstitutional.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush declared that Obama’s action “undermines all efforts to forge a permanent solution to this crisis”:

“President Obama has once again put divisive and manipulative politics before the sober leadership and sound laws required of an exceptional nation,” Bush said in a statement. “It is time for Republican leaders in Congress to act. We must demonstrate to Americans we are the party that will tackle serious challenges and build broad-based consensus to achieve meaningful reforms for our citizens and our future.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) refuses to “sit idly by and let the President bypass Congress and our Constitution”:

“President Obama is not above the law and has no right to issue executive amnesty. His actions blatantly ignore the Separations of Powers and the principles our country was founded on. The President has said 22 times previously that he does not have the power to legislate on immigration,” Paul said in a statement.

On his Facebook page, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) wrote:

“His actions are not only unconstitutional and in defiance of the American people who said they did not want amnesty in the 2014 elections, but they are also unfair to every immigrant who has come to our nation legally.”

Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) reaction, on the other hand, was more diplomatic:

“We need immigration reform. But the right way to do it is to first bring illegal immigration under control by securing the borders and enforcing the laws, then modernizing our legal immigration system,” Rubio said in a statement. “After we do these things, we will eventually have to deal with those here illegally in a reasonable but responsible way. The President’s actions now make all of this harder and are unfair to people in our immigration system who are doing things the right way.”

It is possible for Congress to reverse an executive order, but it’s not easy. But given the unpopularity of this executive fiat, both among lawmakers and the public, Congress should do everything it can to prevent this from happening. Immigration reform must be addressed — but it’s Congress’s job to do so, not the president’s pen and phone.

[standwithtedcruz]

Cruz urges Senate to block Obama nominees until he gives up on executive amnesty

With Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration announcement looming, those opposed in Washington have been frantically throwing out their ideas on how to best prevent the order. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on Wednesday evening urged the House to bring a lawsuit against Obama. His fellow senator — and likely presidential opponent — Ted Cruz (R-TX) likewise made the suggestion that the Senate block Obama’s nominees until he rescinds the executive fiat:

Last night on The Kelly File, Republican Ted Cruz called this a “moment of testing,” said we are witnessing a constitutional crisis and suggested the Senate block all of President Obama’s nominations, except for those crucial to national security, until he rescinds his executive order.

“We are are witnessing is a constitutional crisis, what President Obama is doing is he’s defying the law, he’s defying the constitution,” Cruz said. “If the President goes forward with this, if he goes forward with unilaterally defying the Congress elected by the people, defying the American voters, then it is incumbent on Republicans in Congress to use every single constitutional tool we have to defend the rule of law…this is a moment of testing and I am hopeful we will see Republicans in Congress stand up and side with the people against a lawless President.”

“The President is behaving in an unprecedented way. There is not in recent times any parallel for a President repudiated by the voters standing up and essentially telling the voters, ‘go jump in a lake,’ he’s going to force his power,” Cruz continued. “The new Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell should stand up and say, ‘If you disregard the constitution, if you disregard the law, if you issue this executive amnesty, the new Congress for the next two years will not confirm a single nomination, judicial or executive other than vital national security positions until you end this illegal amnesty.’ Now that’s a big and dramatic step, it’s never been done before in Congress but the framers put in place checks and balances and the confirmation power is a tremendously potent authority given to the Senate. The Senate majority leader has the unilateral ability to stand up and say, ‘If you defy Congress, if you defy the American people none one of your nominees will get confirmed.’..We [also] need to use the power of the purse.”

What do you think is the best way to prevent executive amnesty? More importantly, do you think it’s possible to prevent it at all?

[standwithtedcruz]

Ted Cruz names 10 'critical priorities' for a GOP Congress

A Republican Senate — and therefore, a Republican Congress — seems imminent. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is so confident the GOP will recapture control on Election Day that he has outlined “ten critical priorities” for a GOP-lead Congress, with the overarching aim of meeting three big goals: jumpstarting the economy, safeguarding constitutional liberties, and strengthening national security. They are as follows:

“Embrace a big pro-jobs, growth agenda.” Cruz suggests generating more jobs by “embracing America’s energy renaissance.” Congress can do this by green-lighting the Keystone XL pipeline; passing legislation to protect innovative energy technology, such as hydraulic fracturing and the export of liquefied natural gas; and preventing the EPA from destroying coal jobs.

“Pursue all means possible to repeal Obamacare.” Cruz believes repeal can be achieved by passing repeal legislation which forces an Obama veto, and then passing a barrage of bills to diminish the harms of Obamacare. He also believes that a Republican president will repeal the law in its entirety in 2017.

“Secure the border and stop illegal amnesty.” Cruz urges that “We should welcome and celebrate legal immigrants who follow the rules,” while at the same time preventing any more illegal amnesty.

“Hold government accountable and rein in judicial activism.” Cruz suggests subjecting all government scandals — such as the IRS’s illegal targeting of citizen groups and the Benghazi scandal — to Senate hearings. Overall, he says, “We must uphold the Constitution.”

“Stop the culture of corruption.” Cruz states that Washington’s rampant corruption can be curbed by “reining in corporate welfare, imposing a lifetime ban on members of Congress becoming lobbyists, and fighting to pass a constitutional amendment to require term limits for Congress.”

“Pass fundamental tax reform, making taxes flatter, simpler, and fairer.” Cruz advocates for a simple flat tax and abolishing the IRS under a Republican president.

“Audit the Federal Reserve.” With median incomes falling and prices increasing on everything from food to electricity, Cruz says, “Enough is enough, the Federal Reserve needs to open its books — Americans deserve a sound and stable dollar.”

“Pass a strong balanced budget amendment.” Cruz believes a balanced budget amendment is needed to stop out-of-control spending by Congress.

“Repeal Common Core.” Cruz doesn’t believe that local curriculum should be mandated by Washington bureaucrats.

“Deal seriously with the twin threats of [ISIS] and a nuclear Iran.” Cruz advocates for passing legislation that strips American citizens who join ISIS of their U.S. passports, as well as rebuilding our military, protecting our nation, and restoring America’s leadership in the world.

Congress has grown completely out-of-control and ineffective under the Obama regime. Unfortunately, we cannot vote Obama out of office — but we can vote out the liars in the Senate. Click here to help American Liberty PAC FIRE THE LIARS!

[standwithtedcruz]

Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn back constitutional challenge to Obamacare

Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas aren’t done fighting Obamacare. On Tuesday, the pair filed a court brief backing up an argument that Obama’s signature health care law violates the Origination Clause because its tax provisions originated in the Senate rather than the House. The argument was first made by a self-employed Iowa man named Matt Sissel, but his lawsuit was dismissed by a federal appeals court in July. Cruz and Cornyn believe it deserves a rehearing:

The D.C. Circuit Court ruled that the law is not subject to the Origination Clause, and therefore, the court “has no occasion to determine whether it originated in the House or the Senate.”

But Cornyn and Cruz argue that the Senate bill should be considered a bill to create revenue.

In their 18-page brief, the senators acknowledge that “it may seem odd that sitting Senators would speak out in support of enforcing restrictions on the authority of their own chamber.” They said they are trying to hold their colleagues responsible and preserve the Constitution.

There is a mixed legal history on the Origination Clause. The Supreme Court has long argued that not all bills that include taxes are considered “bills for raising revenue.”

Cruz and Cornyn’s challenge unfortunately seems like a long shot, but it stands to reason that Obamacare just isn’t constitutionally sound.

[standwithtedcruz]

How Ted Cruz and Rand Paul could reinvigorate the Republican Party

It seems inevitable that Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) will square off for the right to run as the Republican presidential candidate in the 2016 election, and, as The Washington Times’ Ralph Z. Hallow writes, the outcome of their competition could influence the direction of the entire Republican Party:

Win or lose, both men have an opportunity to influence a new generation of conservatives in tactics, policy and coalition-building while readjusting the movement’s planks of fiscal restraint, free markets, strong security and social values.

Fashioning himself as an uncompromising truth-teller, Mr. Cruz wants a strict adherence to the federal spending restraints promised, but not practiced, by Republicans over most of the past 25 years. His admirers say they would trust him to advance the Bible as the one true word, the foundation of American politics and policy at home and abroad.

Mr. Paul advocates a more inclusive approach. He appeals to voters regardless of religion, political inclination or lifestyle and substantively pushes a foreign policy tipped away from unending intervention. He has positioned himself as a uniter capable of expanding the Republican Party beyond its core.

Most non-Republicans believe that the GOP is “out of touch,” and even many Republicans believe that the party is in serious need of reform. If there’s any two politicians who can accomplish that reform, it’s Ted Cruz and Rand Paul — and it will be very interesting to see who comes out ahead in the end.

Read Hallow’s entire op-ed at The Washington Times.

[standwithtedcruz]

Adviser says it's 90/10 Ted Cruz will run for president

Well, it looks like Rand Paul will have a fight on his hands to earn the Republican presidential nomination. An adviser to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) told National Journal, “At this point it’s 90/10 he’s in. And honestly, 90 is lowballing it.”

Cruz’s camp expects an end-of-the-year announcement from the senator. Reportedly, his strategy is to focus his campaign on foreign policy, something for which Paul has come up against a lot of criticism:

Cruz’s foreign policy approach starts with soft power—pushing tougher sanctions on Iran and Russia, for instance, and using fierce rhetoric to undermine the legitimacy of unfriendly governments. Cruz, whose office features an enormous painting of Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate, says rhetoric should be paramount in American foreign policy. “It’s a critical responsibility of the president of the United States to speak out as a clarion voice for freedom,” Cruz said.

As for the conditions for use of force, Cruz appears ready to deploy the U.S. military, but not in a nation-building or occupation capacity, a position his team likely calculates as a poll winner, considering Americans’ dissatisfaction with unsuccessful efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“If and when military action is called for, it should be A) with a clearly defined military objective, B) executed with overwhelming force, and C) when we’re done we should get the heck out,” he said. “I don’t think it’s the job of our military to engage in nation-building. It is the job of our military to protect America and to hunt down and kill those who would threaten to murder Americans. It is not the job of our military to occupy countries across the globe and try to turn them into democratic utopias.”

While Cruz and Paul may differ on their opinions of the use of sanctions, they both agree that the U.S. should not become forcefully involved in foreign affairs unless absolutely necessary, and not without first defining a clear plan. No matter who gets the GOP nod in 2016, they will be sure to distance themselves from Obama’s often careless and haphazard foreign policy.

[standwithtedcruz]

Adviser says it's 90/10 Ted Cruz will run for president

Well, it looks like Rand Paul will have a fight on his hands to earn the Republican presidential nomination. An adviser to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) told National Journal, “At this point it’s 90/10 he’s in. And honestly, 90 is lowballing it.”

Cruz’s camp expects an end-of-the-year announcement from the senator. Reportedly, his strategy is to focus his campaign on foreign policy, something for which Paul has come up against a lot of criticism:

Cruz’s foreign policy approach starts with soft power—pushing tougher sanctions on Iran and Russia, for instance, and using fierce rhetoric to undermine the legitimacy of unfriendly governments. Cruz, whose office features an enormous painting of Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate, says rhetoric should be paramount in American foreign policy. “It’s a critical responsibility of the president of the United States to speak out as a clarion voice for freedom,” Cruz said.

As for the conditions for use of force, Cruz appears ready to deploy the U.S. military, but not in a nation-building or occupation capacity, a position his team likely calculates as a poll winner, considering Americans’ dissatisfaction with unsuccessful efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“If and when military action is called for, it should be A) with a clearly defined military objective, B) executed with overwhelming force, and C) when we’re done we should get the heck out,” he said. “I don’t think it’s the job of our military to engage in nation-building. It is the job of our military to protect America and to hunt down and kill those who would threaten to murder Americans. It is not the job of our military to occupy countries across the globe and try to turn them into democratic utopias.”

While Cruz and Paul may differ on their opinions of the use of sanctions, they both agree that the U.S. should not become forcefully involved in foreign affairs unless absolutely necessary, and not without first defining a clear plan. No matter who gets the GOP nod in 2016, they will be sure to distance themselves from Obama’s often careless and haphazard foreign policy.

[standwithtedcruz]

GOP doesn't want Obama to use lame-duck Congress to replace Holder

With Eric Holder stepping down from his post as U.S. attorney general, the White House is looking to fill the position ASAP. However, Republican lawmakers, who have had a tumultuous relationship with Holder, have already urged Barack Obama not to use the lame-duck Congress to push through his nominee:

“Rather than rush a nominee through the Senate in a lame-duck session, I hope the president will now take his time to nominate a qualified individual who can start fresh relationships with Congress so that we can solve the problems facing our country,” said Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Grassley, who voted to confirm Holder in 2009, lamented that his tenure “was strained by his lack of respect for Congress, the American taxpayer and the laws on the books.”

Republicans have long been against using lame-duck sessions to push through non-emergency legislation, as lawmakers who have lost their seats would have no accountability:

That holds true for selecting Holder’s replacement, said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Judiciary Committee, which will consider the eventual nomination.

“Allowing Democratic senators, many of whom will likely have just been defeated at the polls, to confirm Holder’s successor would be an abuse of power that should not be countenanced,” Cruz said.

Unfortunately, it’s practically 100% guaranteed that Democrats will use the lame-duck Congress to ram through their preferred nominee, rather than take the time to consider who will be most willing to work with (a likely Republican majority) Congress.

[standwithtedcruz]

Never forget that good will triumph

Thursday marks the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Today and every day, let us remember and honor all those who lost their lives, and never forget that no matter what evil is capable of, good will always triumph.

[standwithtedcruz]

Ted Cruz pushes to use 'any and all means necessary' to stop executive amnesty

Barack Obama has officially delayed any plans for passing executive amnesty. Indeed, as part of a concerted effort to save face for the Democratic Party going into the midterms, he intends to make September all about ISIS — but Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) refuses to let the illegal immigration debate drop so easily.

Tuesday, Cruz called on his fellow lawmakers to use “any and all means necessary” to block Obama from ever taking executive action on immigration:

“I think we should use any and all means necessary to prevent the president from illegally granting amnesty,” Cruz said when asked Tuesday whether he wants to include such provisions in a continuing resolution to fund the federal government. “That certainly, I think, would be appropriate to include in the CR, but I think we should use every – every – tool at our disposal.”

The comments from the junior Texas senator came at a news conference when several conservative lawmakers from both chambers gathered to criticize Obama’s executive actions on immigration – both past and potential future orders.

“President Obama has decided this election will be a referendum on amnesty,” Cruz said, referring to the White House’s move to punt the immigration executive action until after the midterm elections, following concerns from several vulnerable Senate Democrats.

Cruz has introduced legislation that would strip taxpayer funds from being used to expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which prevents undocumented children with longstanding ties to the U.S. from being deported. He declined to elaborate on whether he would oppose a CR that failed to include an immigration measure, but some lawmakers — particularly Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid — are worried that Cruz could influence another government shutdown over the issue.

[standwithtedcruz]

How Obamacare can still win the Senate for Republicans

This time last year everyone was talking about Obamacare. These days, however, Barack Obama’s legacy legislation has found itself drowned out by the tidal wave of other scandals, crises, and embarrassments plaguing the federal government, from Iraq, to illegal immigration and amnesty, to the chaos in Ferguson, Missouri, to Obama single-handedly dragging his entire party down with him. But with election season — and open enrollment — right around the corner, Republican politicians would do well to shine the spotlight on Obamacare once again:

Now, the GOP should circle back. There are nine Senate seats described as “toss-ups” by Real Clear Politics, and Obamacare could move the needle in some of those races. The ACA is still a political stink bomb, with Kaiser Family Foundation polling showing only 37 percent of the country views the law favorably – one of its lowest ratings since it passed in 2010.  Some 53 percent of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of the ACA – up a shocking 8 points since June.

Democrats everywhere are running scared from Obamacare, and for good reason. As laid out by The Fiscal Times’ Liz Peek, here are six reasons why renewed focus on this unpopular mandate can win back the Senate for the GOP:

1. Premium hikes are coming in 2015. The Health Research Institute (HRI) at PricewaterhouseCoopers recently estimated that Obamacare insurance premiums in 27 states and the District of Columbia are set to increase by an average 7.5% next year — but the average hardly paints a full picture. HRI found that some consumers in Nevada could see prices go up a staggering 36%. Even more damning for Democrats are the rate increases expected to hit key election states: insurance companies in North Carolina, Iowa, Louisiana, and Arkansas have requested 10.8%, 11.5%, near 20%, and near 12% increases, respectively.

2. The Obama admin is probably fudging enrollment numbers. If you ask the White House, 8 million Americans are enrolled in Obamacare. If you ask insurers, that’s not exactly the case. Aetna reported that only about 600,000 of its 720,000 enrollees have paid their premiums, and they expect the number to drop another 500,000 by year-end.

3. People are livid about the narrow doctor networks. Ironically and completely counterintuitive to its entire purpose, Obamacare has made it more difficult for customers to obtain care thanks to narrow doctor and hospital networks. For example, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the only participating insurer in New Hampshire, and it promptly eliminated 10 of the state’s 26 hospitals from its network. Since the start of 2013, more than 70 bills have been introduced in 22 states to clarify the network rules, and multiple lawsuits have been filed in California.

4. The legislation is inherently flawed. See Halbig v. Burwell, the court case that could be Obamacare’s undoing.

5. Obamacare reeks of Obama’s imperial tendencies. 

Mr. Obama has single-handedly changed the ACA some 24 times, delaying important provisions such as the employer and individual mandates. The president has rigged the rollout of the ACA to political advantage, putting off the most painful aspects of the bill and front-loading the goodies. Republicans should remind voters we have yet to encounter, for instance, the 40 percent Cadillac tax, which has been pushed back until 2018, but which is expected to raise as much as $214 billion by 2023.

6. Obamacare discourages job creation. Yes, it does. Companies have already limited hiring new employees and cut back current employee hours in order to avoid the dreaded employer mandate. Additionally, the ACA has made it possible so that Americans no longer need to work to have health insurance, which is completely disincentivizing.

[standwithtedcruz]

Washington Post article declares Democrats 'are in the process of destroying themselves'

Washington Post columnist Ed Rogers gave Republicans something delightful to read on Tuesday. According to him, with just 11 weeks until the midterm elections, “nothing suggests that the Democrats have reached the bottom of the political trough they are in,” and it doesn’t look like they’ll be digging themselves out of their hole anytime soon:

The calamities, distractions and scandals we’ve seen during the Obama administration all come in such rapid succession that the half-life of any one is relatively short. But still, Obama and the Democrats cannot seem to get in front of any current events. They are in a permanent state of crisis, being tossed around on the waves of the daily news cycle. Any day with no new bad news is considered a good day for the White House and the Democrats generally.

The Democrats are on their back foot on every front — from the violence in Ferguson, Mo., to developments in Iraq and Afghanistan to uneven economic data to the now-ancient IRS scandal. Politically, the Democratic Party seems to be in more turmoil than President George W. Bush and the Republicans were before the debacle of the 2006 midterm elections.

Ouch. But that’s not even the worst of what Rodgers says. In his sign-off, he declares that Republicans won’t even have to try to destroy the Democrats — they’re doing it for them:

As with football, we are still in preseason, but we are fast approaching Labor Day and the official kickoff of the 2014 campaign season, and Republicans wouldn’t dare trade places with the Democrats. The bottom line is, Democrats are reacting to events rather than becoming the master of them. As this campaign season gets underway, the old adage definitely applies: Never interfere with your opponents when they are in the process of destroying themselves.

It looks like it will be a happy election season for the GOP.

[standwithtedcruz]

In Iowa, Ted Cruz calls for abolition of the IRS

Several Republican 2016 hopefuls took to the stage in Ames, Iowa at the Family Leadership Summit on Saturday. Though the state’s caucuses are over a year away, the potential candidates looked to impress Christian conservative voters, who influence the caucuses due to their tendency to be organized and motivated to participate.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) appealed to Christian values and also called for the eradication of something everyone despises — the IRS:

“We need to stand unambiguously for the commonsense conservative principles shared by the vast majority of Americans,” Cruz said as he criticized the national health care law, national education standards and other initiatives disliked by many conservatives.

“We need to stand for life,” he said. “We need to stand for marriage. We need to abolish the IRS. We need to repeal Obamacare. We need to repeal Common Core.”

[...]

Cruz also used the occasion to question Obama’s foreign policy decisions. He told reporters that if Obama continues military engagement in Iraq, the president should seek congressional approval.

Former governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee focused on foreign policy:

Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas and the last to speak, focused on foreign policy, accusing the administration of not supporting Israel and arguing that the U.S. should provide arms to Iraq’s Kurds.

“If we had good sense we would arm the Kurds as we said we would. We gave them nothing, not so much as a BB gun,” Huckabee said.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, of course, spoke on the border crisis:

The crowd responded warmly to Perry when he repeated his criticism of Obama’s response to the recent flood of unaccompanied child immigrants that has overwhelmed authorities in Texas. He drew a standing ovation for repeating his credo: “If you will not secure the border of our country, then the state of Texas will.”

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal received a positive reaction for his call for change in Washington:

Drawing the most laughter was Jindal’s speech, which featured anecdotes about his immigrant parents and the birth of his kids, feeling at times like an introduction to voters. Still, he got a rousing response to comments about changing leadership in Washington.

“The people have had enough and we’re ready to take our country back. We don’t need incremental change. We need big change. They better get out of the way,” Jindal said.

The caucuses are a ways away, but it’s important for potential candidates to pay attention to Christian voters. As Jamie Johnson, a pastor from Stratford who served as an adviser to Santorum in 2012, put it, “To ignore Christian conservatives in Iowa is to say, ‘I’m not interested in winning.’”

[standwithtedcruz]

Cruz, Sessions, vow to fight Obama's plan to expand amnesty

Barack Obama reportedly plans to use his executive authority to extend amnesty to six million more illegal immigrants by the end of the summer, but on Thursday Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) vowed to fight him every step of the way:

The two senators have been among the most vocal Republican opponents of Obama’s deferred deportation policy, which they say has prompted a flood of unaccompanied minors to try crossing into the United States.

Cruz said he was back at the Texas border last weekend, when he asked border officials why the roughly 60,000 children have tried to cross.

“Every single one of the border patrol agents gave the exact same answer,” Cruz said. “They said they’re coming because they believe they will get amnesty.”

Cruz also called it “fitting” that Obama was hosted by the television producer of the TV show Scandal during his recent visit to California, as “it is scandalous that the president has more time to be fundraiser in chief than he does to do his basic job in being commander in chief in securing our borders.”

Sessions stated that Americans need to know that Obama’s deferred action program also hopes to grant work authorization permits to illegal immigrant adults:

“We need to know what this is saying, and we need to know what it means, and we need as members of Congress in this Senate to resist it,” Sessions said, citing a National Journal report outlining Obama’s plan. “And we cannot allow it to happen. We will not allow it to happen.”

“They are not entitled to certain government benefits if they come illegally,” Sessions added.” Of course they are not. Of course they are not able to work and take jobs and get benefits if they came into the country illegally.”

Cruz has proposed legislation that would prevent a program similar to Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy for millions of other illegal immigrants, and also plans to propose another bill this week that would fix a 2008 law so the U.S. can more quickly deport children from Central America. As for the latter bill, Speaker John Boehner is expected to propose the same change in his forthcoming House border legislation.

[standwithtedcruz]

Cruz, Sessions, vow to fight Obama's plan to expand amnesty

Barack Obama reportedly plans to use his executive authority to extend amnesty to six million more illegal immigrants by the end of the summer, but on Thursday Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) vowed to fight him every step of the way:

The two senators have been among the most vocal Republican opponents of Obama’s deferred deportation policy, which they say has prompted a flood of unaccompanied minors to try crossing into the United States.

Cruz said he was back at the Texas border last weekend, when he asked border officials why the roughly 60,000 children have tried to cross.

“Every single one of the border patrol agents gave the exact same answer,” Cruz said. “They said they’re coming because they believe they will get amnesty.”

Cruz also called it “fitting” that Obama was hosted by the television producer of the TV show Scandal during his recent visit to California, as “it is scandalous that the president has more time to be fundraiser in chief than he does to do his basic job in being commander in chief in securing our borders.”

Sessions stated that Americans need to know that Obama’s deferred action program also hopes to grant work authorization permits to illegal immigrant adults:

“We need to know what this is saying, and we need to know what it means, and we need as members of Congress in this Senate to resist it,” Sessions said, citing a National Journal report outlining Obama’s plan. “And we cannot allow it to happen. We will not allow it to happen.”

“They are not entitled to certain government benefits if they come illegally,” Sessions added.” Of course they are not. Of course they are not able to work and take jobs and get benefits if they came into the country illegally.”

Cruz has proposed legislation that would prevent a program similar to Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy for millions of other illegal immigrants, and also plans to propose another bill this week that would fix a 2008 law so the U.S. can more quickly deport children from Central America. As for the latter bill, Speaker John Boehner is expected to propose the same change in his forthcoming House border legislation.

[standwithtedcruz]

GOP praises Obamacare ruling

Numerous Congressional Republicans on Tuesday praised the federal appeals court ruling severely limiting Obamacare subsidies. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) called it a “repudiation of Obamacare”:

“The D.C. Circuit’s decision today in Halbig v. Burwell is a repudiation of Obamacare and all the lawlessness that has come with it,” the Texas Republican said in a statement.

“This decision restores power to Congress and to the people and if properly enforced, should shield citizens from Obamacare’s insidious penalties, mandates, and subsidies,” he continued. “This is a significant victory for the American people and the rule of law, but we must not rest.”

Cruz also accused the administration of executive overreach by trying to administer subsidies in the states.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) also spoke approvingly of the decision, saying that it proves once again that Obamacare is “completely unworkable”:

“Today’s ruling is also further proof that President Obama’s health care law is completely unworkable. It cannot be fixed,” the speaker said. ”The American people recognize that Obamacare is hurting our economy and making it harder for small businesses to hire, and that’s why Republicans remain committed to repealing the law and replacing it with solutions that will lower health care costs and protect American jobs.”

Senate Finance Committee ranking member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) also issued a statement in favor of the ruling:

“Today’s decision rightly holds the Obama administration accountable to the law,” the Utah Republican wrote in a statement. “The plain text of Obamacare authorizes subsidies only through state exchanges, not the federal exchange. As it has on so many occasions, the Obama administration simply ignored the law and implemented its own policy instead.”

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Obamacare subsidies are only legally available through state exchanges, and not the federal exchange. If the ruling holds, 4.7 million people will lose their subsidies and premium prices will skyrocket. Of course, none of this would be happening if Obama had simply implemented the law as it is actually written.