Mac Thornberry RSS Articles

House votes for third time to repeal Obamacare entirely

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

For the third time since 2011, the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to fully repeal President Obama’s health care law. Area Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon), a co-sponsor of the repeal bill, voted in favor of the measure, which passed 229 to 195. The House has voted more than 30 times to repeal, dismantle, and defund different parts of the new health care law.

“There is no law that will have more influence over our lives than Obamacare, and that is why I voted again today to abolish this disastrous bill, and will do so every time I get the chance,” said Rep. Thornberry.

Concern is growing across the country as the January 2014 date for implementation of the health care law draws near. National polls consistently show that the majority of Americans do not support Obamacare. Even in Congress, key Democrat Senators who helped draft the law have called the implementation a "train wreck" (Senator Max Baucus from MT), while Senator Jay Rockefeller (WV) said, “I believe that the Affordable Care Act is probably the most complex piece of legislation ever passed by the United States Congress.”

In particular, small-business people across the country continue to sound the alarm about the negative impact of Obamacare on their employees and their businesses. In a Gallup survey of more than 600 small businesses released on May 10th, 48% percent of U.S. small-business owners say the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) is going to be bad for their business, compared with 9% who say it is going to be good. In addition, 52% of owners say that Obamacare is going to reduce the quality of health care they and their employees receive, while 55% of small-business owners expect the money they pay for health care to increase.

“I have heard from many folks in our area about how portions of the new law are already adversely affecting their health care and causing insurance premiums to go up. I am concerned that some small businesses will no longer be able to offer health insurance to their workers and that many will lose the insurance they have now,” said Rep. Thornberry. “Additionally, I have serious concerns with the new powers the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will gain as the main enforcement arm of Obamacare in light of recent admissions that the agency has grossly abused its power by targeting certain groups for their political beliefs.”

The Republican-led House of Representatives has been pushing to repeal, dismantle, and defund Obamacare implementation since the law passed without a single Republican vote in 2010. They have successfully repealed and defunded several parts of the law, forcing President Obama to sign bills that chip away at his signature legislative accomplishment.

Thornberry demands answers from Treasury Secretary on IRS targeting scandal

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Saying that this kind of “misuse of power cannot be tolerated,” U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) is demanding answers from the Obama Administration following the revelation that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had unfairly targeted conservative leaning organizations for additional scrutiny over a period of a couple of years. In a strongly-worded letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, Thornberry outlined a number of tough questions about the management of the agency now and in the future.

"It is absolutely unacceptable for the IRS to target organizations for additional audits based on their political affiliations or ideology," Thornberry said. "There should be zero tolerance for such behavior, especially by the IRS, which wields such considerable power and will soon be given more power as it begins to enforce and implement the President's new health care law in January."

On Friday, officials at the IRS admitted some conservative groups that had sought tax exempt status had been targeted for additional scrutiny because their names contained the words "tea party" or "patriot." Some other conservative organizations were also singled out for making statements about reducing the size of government, educating Americans on the Constitution and Bill of Rights, or speaking out against the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as "Obamacare."

"I think there is outrage on both sides of the aisle about these disturbing revelations. The actions taken by the IRS in these circumstances violate some of the most intrinsic values and rights that are in our Constitution," said Thornberry. "Maybe instead of targeting groups that seek to educate Americans about our Founding Documents, the bureaucrats at the IRS should spend more time reading the Bill of Rights and Constitution."

In addition to his letter to Secretary Lew, Thornberry has called for Congressional hearings on the matter. You can view the official letter by clicking here. The text of the letter is provided below.

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Dear Secretary Lew

The recent admission by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that it targeted conservative political groups for additional auditing during the 2012 election cycle is deeply disturbing. Because of the enormous power that the IRS holds over the lives of all Americans, any misuse of that power cannot be tolerated. Abuse of this kind and on this scale threatens the very relationship between the federal government and our citizens.

The IRS states on its website that its mission is to “provide taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and enforce the law with integrity and fairness to all.” I trust you can see how far short the IRS has now fallen of its mission and how the IRS has breached its trust of the American people.

As the scope of the IRS is, unfortunately, growing, the ability of the IRS to handle an increasing workload is further called in to question as management oversight is clearly not sufficient. As you know, the IRS is set to take up new enforcement responsibilities for the new health care law starting in 2014. These types of actions raise many questions as to whether or not certain individuals will be unfairly targeted over others for their health insurance coverage simply because of their party affiliation.

There are a number of questions that my constituents expect to have answered, including:

Why were these groups targeted?
Did any official or organization outside of the IRS suggest that they be targeted?
What corrective actions are being taken?
What steps are being taken to ensure the American people and Members of Congress that this will not happen again?
Will you hold senior management officials accountable for the actions of those under their purview?
What senior manager approved or was responsible for these audits?
What steps will you take to restore trust in the IRS and recreate the culture of integrity that the IRS states is a cornerstone of its mission?

Given the nature of your work as Secretary of Treasury and the business in which the IRS is involved, I am certain you can understand that mismanagement such as this would not be tolerated in the private sector and that the top management would be out of the job for directly and indirectly failing to manage his or her subordinates. I trust that you will not be so dismissive of this issue that you settle for letting low to mid-level IRS staffers take the fall for the inadequacies of those who manage them.

My constituents and I look forward to your thorough and timely response.

Thornberry introduces bill requiring oversight of Administration’s counterterrorism efforts, including drone strikes

Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Mac Thornberry, the Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced a bill today that would, for the first time, require prompt notification to the Congressional defense committees of any overseas lethal or capture operation outside of Afghanistan– including those conducted with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, commonly referred to as “drones.”

“As we work to keep Americans safe from evolving threats, we must ensure that every action is consistent with our civil liberties and freedoms. This balance can only be achieved by proper oversight and accountability, and it is Congress’s job to provide both,” said Rep. Thornberry. “This bill can help us meet that responsibility.”

The “Oversight of Sensitive Military Operations Act” would require the Congressional defense committees be notified of targeted lethal operations by the U.S. military overseas. It would also require a report outlining all legal and policy considerations relating to the use of force by the U.S. military against terrorists overseas, and the process used to approve potential targets. Finally, it would codify in-depth quarterly updates to the defense committees on counterterrorism operations by the U.S. military.

As more and more has been written about and reported on the use and oversight of armed drones in counterterrorism operations, demands for information within Congress and among the public have grown. There has been bipartisan support in the House and Senate for more Congressional oversight of such operations to ensure they are carried out in ways that are consistent with the United States Constitution and American values.

“Congress is directly accountable to the American people. We cannot outsource our responsibility to the courts or anyone else,” said Thornberry. “The American people need to know that their elected officials will hold President Obama and his Administration, or any administration, accountable for their actions. This bill is an important step in formalizing that accountability process.”

Thornberry introduced his bipartisan bill along with 28 other co-sponsors, including Reps. McKeon (R-CA), Forbes (R-VA), Miller (R-FL), Wilson (R-SC), LoBiondo (R-NJ), Bishop (R-UT), Turner (R-OH), Kline (R-MN), Rogers (R-AL), Franks (R-AZ), Shuster (R-PA), Conaway (R-TX), Lamborn (R-CO), Wittman (R-VA), Hunter (R-CA), Coffman (R-CO), Rigell (R-VA), Gibson (R-NY), Hartzler (R-MO), Heck (R-NV), Scott (R-GA), Nugent (R-FL), Noem (R-SD), Bridenstine (R-OK), Wenstrup (R-OH) , Smith (D-WA), Langevin (D-RI), Hanabusa (D-HI).

Local Student Wins National Art Contest

Thu, 02 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

A local Amarillo High School student has been selected to represent the 13^th Congressional District of Texas in the nationwide 2013 Congressional Art Contest. A photograph submitted by Alexandria Karber, daughter of Wes and Michelle Karber of Amarillo, will be displayed in the hallways of the United States Capitol for an entire year.

Alexandria’s photograph, entitled “Sandy Chaos,” was selected as the winning entry from the 13^thDistrict of Texas. "The wind was blowing so hard that day and nobody could see a thing, the only thing that seemed calm about that moment was a single tree, peaceful and still,” Alexandria said of her winning photograph.

Winners of the competition are invited to Washington, D.C., for a special reception to honor the winners. Alexandria and her mom, Michelle, plan to attend the event this year and visit with Rep. Thornberry while they are in town.

“We had many impressive pieces of art submitted by students from across our part of Texas for this year’s Congressional Art Competition,” 13th District Representative Mac Thornberry said. “Alexandria’s photograph makes you feel like you are at the scene watching that dramatic sand storm cross the rugged Texas landscape. I am proud to have it represent our district in the Capitol Building for the next year.”

The Congressional Art Contest is a national competition that selects one piece of artwork from all 435 U.S. congressional districts and territories for a year-long exhibit in Washington, D.C. The annual contest for high school students has taken place since 1982.

Alexandria’s graphic design teacher, Micah Muehlhausen, said, “Alex has an outstanding eye for photography and art. She knows how to capture the moment and evoke feeling in a single photo.” He continued, “Beyond her artwork, she is an extraordinary young lady. Being her teacher is both an honor and a blessing.” Alexandria is a junior at Amarillo High School.

Sandy Chaos by Alexandria Karber

Alexandria Karber of Amarillo

Statement: The President's Budget Does Not Seem Serious

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) made the following statement about the budget proposal submitted by President Obama:

"The budget that the President submitted today does not seem serious. It is full of accounting gimmicks that expand the federal government’s role in the lives of hardworking Americans; it increases taxes; and it rapidly grows the size of our debt and deficit.

Instead of reforming the mandatory spending programs that make up nearly two-thirds of the federal budget, the Commander in Chief has proposed another $120 billion in arbitrary cuts to our national defense during troubling times. This year, I have voted for two Republican budget proposals in the House that, unlike the President’s plan, would each balance the budget and support our national security."

Thornberry, others introduce Endangered Species Act lawsuit reform

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Congressmen Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon), Bill Flores, John Carter, Mike Conaway and Steve Pearce introduced legislation, H.R. 1314, in the House last week to prevent costly lawsuit abuse related to the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The bill would help protect American taxpayers from the expensive regulatory impact of closed-door litigation settlements between environmental organizations and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The ESA would be amended to give local governments and citizens a say in ESA settlements that affect them.

“ESA lawsuits have become big business for environmental extremists, and taxpayers are stuck footing the bill. This legislation applies commonsense reforms to the ESA settlement process to drive down costs to taxpayers, private individuals, and businesses alike," said Congressman Thornberry.

The bill limits the use of federal funding for ESA lawsuits suits and preserves the FWS’s legal regulatory authority. It is the House companion bill to Senate legislation, S.19, introduced by Senator John Cornyn of Texas.

"It will also give a voice to those who are most affected by ESA lawsuits and regulations—those who earn their living on the land, such as farmers, ranchers, and energy producers,” Thornberry said.

Background

In recent years, the FWS has been subject to numerous lawsuits from environmental interest groups. These groups have a pattern of flooding the FWS with requests to classify numerous species as endangered. Because of the overreaching methods that these groups use to overwhelm the FWS, it is virtually impossible for the agency to meet certain statutory deadlines to respond to the requests. The groups then follow-up with lawsuits against the agency when it fails to meet its review deadlines.

These abusive lawsuits disrupt the functions of the FWS and cause the wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars. For example, in 2011 a settlement with two environmental groups – made behind closed doors — resulted in a “work plan” for the U.S. Department of the Interior to add hundreds of species to the endangered species list. This action was taken without any outside input from experts or impacted groups; instead, the settlement relied only on the plaintiff’s demands. This abusive case and the resulting settlement also required the FWS to pay the plaintiff’s legal fees.

New funding bill again prevents closures of Border Patrol stations in Texas

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The Obama Administration’s plan to close six interior Border Patrol stations in Texas has hit another roadblock. The government funding bill passed by both the House and the Senate specifically prohibits the closures at least through September 30, 2013.

“We have continued to work on this issue, and we are very pleased that our concerns about the immigration enforcement gaps these closures could create are being taken seriously,” said local Congressman Mac Thornberry. “We are working through serious spending and budget issues, and no federal agency should be immune. But, it makes no sense whatsoever to be pennywise and pound-foolish when it comes to controlling who and what comes across our borders,” he continued.

Citing “cost-saving measures,” the U.S. Customs and Border Protection filed a plan to deactivate nine interior Border Patrol stations in four states in 2012. Since then, Rep. Thornberry has been working with other members of the Texas congressional delegation, as well as leaders on relevant committees, to slow the closures until the agency develops a viable plan to deal with immigration enforcement if the stations are closed.

The most recent success to halt the closures came in the form of language included in the FY 2013 government funding bill that specifically states, “CBP is prohibited from closing Border Patrol stations in Texas, as proposed in the budget request. CBP and ICE have not produced a transition plan to ensure the immigration enforcement needs of local sheriffs will be supported without a Border Patrol presence.”

“I am thrilled with this news because there really is no plan to fill in the enforcement gaps these closures would create. There are a lot of unknowns just to save a few dollars,” said Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas, who has been vocal in his opposition to the station closures. “Closing these stations would leave us high and dry. I am ecstatic that this federal resource will still be available to us in the near term,” he said.

Thornberry releases statement on House Republican's budget plan

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) made the following statement about the budget plan released today by House Republicans:

"Today, House Republicans unveiled a plan to balance the budget in 10 years. It reduces federal spending by $4.6 trillion over the next decade, repeals Obamacare, protects our national security, begins to reform our broken tax code, and cuts wasteful government spending. The plan also makes some commonsense reforms to entitlement programs like Medicaid and Food Stamps. It shores up Medicare’s finances, with no changes at all for those who are 55-years or older. The budget does all of these things without imposing new taxes.

If we are to pass along to our kids and grandkids a nation with at least as much opportunity as was passed to us, we must get our fiscal house in order. This budget plan helps offer the country the chance do just that."

Read more about the House Republican's budget plan by clicking here.

U.S. Congressional Art Competition now accepting entries

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Are you, your child, or someone you know a budding artist who would like to see their work displayed in the United States Capitol?

The office of U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (TX-13) is now taking submissions from area high school students for the 2013 Congressional Art Competition. The competition features one winner from each congressional district and territory in the United States. Each winner’s artwork will be displayed for one year in the United States House of Representatives.

The contest is open to any public, private, or home-schooled high school student living in the 13^thCongressional District of Texas. Submissions will be selected by an independent jury of educators and art professionals from the 13^th district. The winning student will be invited to attend the opening celebration of the Congressional Art Competition in Washington, D.C.

Interested high school students should call Congressman Thornberry’s office (202-225-3706) or visit his webpage (http://thornberry.house.gov/art) for more on competition guidelines and a description of how to submit your entry. The deadline for entries is Friday, April 19, 2013.

House passes spending bill to protect national defense and veterans

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

In an effort to help provide the Pentagon budget flexibility as it faces across-the-board cuts under sequestration, the House today passed a spending bill to continue government operations until the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2013 (H.R. 933) by a vote of 267-151. Area Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) supported its passage.

The legislation includes a full-year Defense Appropriations bill, as well as a full-year Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. These two individual bills passed the House last year on a broad bipartisan basis and have been negotiated by both the House and Senate. In addition, the measure denies over $1 billion in funding requested by the Administration for implementation of Obamacare. The bill does not include any new funding for the health care law, the vast majority of which falls under mandatory spending with other entitlements like Medicare, Medicaid, and food stamps.

"The country is facing some serious budget choices, and no government agency should be immune. But, we can find ways to save significant money while protecting essential things like our national security. This bill does just that by giving the Pentagon some flexibility in implementing the steep, automatic sequestration cuts they are facing while keeping overall spending at the lower levels," said Rep. Thornberry, who serves as the Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

Except for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the spending will extend funding for other government agencies at last year’s levels. However, the funding within the bill is subject to sequestration cuts. This means that the funding rate within the legislation is approximately $982 billion – the level required by the President’s sequestration order.

“While the President and others in his Administration continue their sky-is-falling campaign to scare Americans about the immediate impact of sequestration, in the House we are focused on using careful, targeted, and responsible cuts to get our fiscal house in order," said Thornberry.