Sen. Joni Ernst Highlights Nine Examples Of Washington Waste In ‘Caturday’ Campaign

Ernst highlighted nine examples in her social media campaign that illustrate how the federal government blows through taxpayer money.

The real reason conservatives are voting against a Social Security bill



Congress is voting on a pair of Social Security bills that will address the benefit structure of the program, but only one is favored among hardline conservatives.

Congress has the choice between H.R. 82, known as the Social Security Fairness Act, and H.R. 5342, known as the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act. Both would address the windfall elimination provision and government pension offset, which adjust Social Security benefits for employees based on whether their jobs paid into the system.

There is also concern about the potential backlash for moving a bill this consequential through a discharge petition, which deprives congressmen of the opportunity to amend or debate a bill before voting on it.

H.R. 82 would get rid of the WEP and GPO altogether while H.R. 5342 would amend them. As a result, some conservatives like Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas have objected to H.R. 82 and favored H.R. 5342, citing fiscal concerns.

By eliminating both provisions, H.R. 82 would add nearly $200 billion to the federal deficit over the next decade, according to a cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.

"This bill irresponsibly eliminates Social Security’s WEP and Government Pension Offset, which means some retirees already covered by government pensions could receive an unfair windfall from Social Security at the expense of other retirees," Roy told Blaze News in an exclusive statement. "The Congressional Budget Office estimates H.R. 82 would cost taxpayers a whopping $200 billion and will accelerate Social Security’s insolvency – threatening benefits for every American currently paying into the system and those currently receiving benefits."

On the other hand, H.R. 5342 will make a smaller contribution to the national debt, which is now approaching $36 trillion.

"H.R. 5342 will cost somewhere from [$25-30 billion] over 10 years and will not hasten Social Security's insolvency," a spokesman from Roy's office told Blaze News in an exclusive statement.

"Many of America’s police, firefighters, teachers, and other public servants have unfairly seen their Social Security benefits reduced because of the poorly crafted WEP, despite many of these individuals paying into Social Security while working other jobs," Roy told Blaze News in an exclusive statement.

"H.R. 5342, which I have co-sponsored since coming to Congress in 2019, would have responsibly addressed the problems stemming from WEP without accelerating Social Security’s insolvency," Roy continued. "It was designed to replace the unfair, slipshod WEP with a new and carefully considered benefit formula to ensure these Americans get the benefits they deserve. At the same time, it would have provided monthly rebates to current beneficiaries to offset the impacts of the WEP."

There is also concern about the potential backlash for moving a bill this consequential through a discharge petition, which deprives congressmen of the opportunity to amend or debate a bill before voting on it.

"Just imagine if we did this to jam through something like, say, congressional stock trading next Congress," Roy's spokesman told Blaze News.

"If we want this program to be there – if we want our country to be there – for future generations, we need to make choices that do right by people with what they have earned, and to do that with a clear-eyed view of our fiscal challenges," Roy told Blaze News in an exclusive statement. "That is why Congress has a duty to responsibly and fairly protect Social Security benefits for all Americans both today and tomorrow. That is what I voted for today."

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Conservatives demand real action on key issues, no more talk



Republicans have no choice but to face their mandate head-on. The moment has arrived, and this time it must count.

They must keep their promises. Conservatives can’t afford to become complacent once the election fervor fades. This time, we must verify rather than just trust. This time must be different.

Addressing illegal immigration doesn’t require new legislation — it's already illegal.

Democrats threw everything at Trump — over 90 indictments, censorship efforts, and unprecedented campaign spending against him. Yet Trump won every competitive state, gained ground in blue states, secured at least 53 Senate seats, and held the House. Despite Trump’s unpopularity with swing voters, the public voted for a shift in policy, not personality. That’s why those policies must change. No more excuses.

While conservatives must develop a vision across a host of issues, certain immediate red lines must be drawn to prevent the cycle of electoral success followed by policy failure that has plagued the party for decades.

Personnel is policy: The first policy focus must be personnel, as everything flows from the top aides and agency heads. In the coming days, we’ll hear names suggested for various positions — some promising, others concerning. Trump has welcomed many wealthy, non-traditional conservatives into his circle. Building a coalition is valuable, but some of these individuals don’t share core conservative values on key issues.

For example, many of them hold socially liberal views and support immigration expansion. Conservatives must speak out early and often if Trump decides to appoint some of these people to roles that conflict with his promises to his base. Some of them might be better suited to other roles. For instance, a person who supports U.S. involvement in Ukraine should be kept away from foreign affairs posts but might be solid on immigration.

By ensuring that personnel align with conservative principles, Trump and the party can maintain integrity and follow through on campaign promises.

Trump also must immediately announce his intention to request the resignation of every career bureaucrat on day one. He’ll have the most political capital at the start of his term, so he should act swiftly to remove those who may hinder his agenda. Delay will only make the job more difficult down the line.

No lame-duck session: Historically, Republicans have deflated post-election momentum with unproductive lame-duck sessions in December. Trump should urge Congress to pass a clean continuing budget resolution through spring, allowing him to cut spending and defund bad programs immediately rather than waiting for the next fiscal year. No other transformational bills should be considered during this time.

Rescind and impound unspent funding: Republicans now own inflation, and the only way to shift its trajectory is by cutting spending. The most straightforward solution is to target the hundreds of billions in unspent funds from the Infrastructure and Inflation Reduction Act. Trump can impound this funding without congressional approval. He must clearly communicate to Americans that reducing spending is the only path out of stagflation, starting with unused Biden-era program funds.

Repeal the Green New Deal: As GOP lobbyists prepare to repeat the betrayal seen during the Obamacare repeal, pushing to retain subsidies for ineffective energy programs, Trump must commit to a full repeal of the Green New Deal and related legislation in the spring budget reconciliation bill. He must use all his political capital, influence, and the bully pulpit to rally Republicans around the most aggressive budget reconciliation package, which is the one annual opportunity to bypass the filibuster.

Leverage must-pass bills: Trump will likely lack the votes to enact sweeping changes through stand-alone legislation, so he must use his veto power on “must-pass” bills — such as budget and program reauthorization bills — as leverage for reforms. Farm bills, welfare reauthorization, agency reauthorization (including the FBI), and defense reauthorization bills should not pass GOP-controlled chambers without significant reforms. Where possible, welfare, agriculture, and education programs should be devolved to the states, even if done in a budget-neutral way.

Reform health care (the right way this time): Many reforms championed by RFK Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement can be done through executive action. Trump can direct Health and Human Services agencies to shift away from a mass vaccination agenda, publish accurate data on food, vaccines, and toxins, and address regulatory capture within these agencies. However, to truly tackle budgetary and chronic illness issues, the payment model for health care needs a total overhaul.

A practical goal would be to use every waiver under Obamacare to allow states to offer insurance plans independent of the costly regulatory structure that inflates catastrophic insurance premiums. This would enable individuals to access direct primary care with emergency coverage, fostering a parallel health care system rooted in independent-minded doctors and eliminating the costly middlemen that have driven up expenses and making our people sicker compared to other developed nations.

On a related note, wouldn’t Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo make a great HHS secretary?

Fulfill the immigration mandate: Polls consistently show that the public is frustrated with the influx of illegal immigration. Trump even won Hispanic male voters outright for Republicans, a first in modern history. The good news is that addressing illegal immigration doesn’t require new legislation — it’s already illegal. Trump can immediately shut down the incentives for illegal immigration by using his authority under section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to suspend immigration in the national interest. He should also empower states to enforce immigration law.

As for legal immigration, the last thing we need is an increase. The trouble is that some billionaires close to Trump are pushing for increased legal immigration, but conservatives must insist on a pause. The United States cannot continue to flood every industry’s labor market with foreign workers. After Biden’s 10-million-man invasion, the country needs a cooling-off period. While some adjustments may require legislation, Trump should avoid pushing any increase in legal immigration as a trade-off for border enforcement. He already has the authority he needs to enforce these changes.

Demand better Senate leadership: Senators John Thune (R-N.D.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) do not align with our values, mindset, or strategic vision for leading the Senate. Trump must lean in heavily for a clean break from the past to ensure the majority leader isn’t just a younger version of Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

We must stay firm on these basic expectations to avoid repeating the cycle of failure. However, our goals and strategies must also be realistic. Even with significant political capital, the Republican Party remains fractured, and narrow majorities will often limit our ability to enact the changes we want. In a divided country, Republicans frequently yield to special interests and cower out of concern over losing their power.

This is why, even as we develop a federal agenda, we must maximize efforts in red states where Democrats have little chance of taking control. Many reforms need to happen at the state level, so much of our federal agenda should focus on empowering states with greater flexibility.

God does not grant us these opportunities too often, and we can’t afford to waste them. This time must be different.

5 moves Trump can make to juice the economy in his first 100 days



The re-election of Trump is the first step in a longer effort to strengthen the economy and solidify America’s fiscal foundation. The Trump team, now armed with experience they lacked in 2016, appears prepared to make swift progress.

With so many challenges to address, what should take priority? Here are my top five economic recommendations for Trump’s first 100 days.

Secure the border and begin mass deportations

The influx of illegal entrants to the U.S. is not just a security or social policy issue; it’s an economic one. These individuals impose significant costs on American taxpayers. In 2023 alone, the Federation for American Immigration Reform estimated this impact to be $150 billion.

Mass illegal immigration has strained communities nationwide, taken jobs from American citizens, and suppressed wages and opportunities. In 2022, an estimated 8.3 million people participated in the U.S. workforce illegally, adding further strain to taxpayer-funded services, including health care.

Strategic spending cuts that don’t hinder growth are challenging but essential.

The federal government must declare a state of emergency to take immediate, decisive action to secure the border and prevent asylum rule abuse. Processing systems should prioritize identifying people who have committed additional crimes, aside from entering the country illegally, and those who arrived within the past five years. This response needs to be swift and on a large scale.

This approach will stabilize economic signals, prevent taxpayer money from supporting undocumented immigrants long-term, and create more job opportunities for U.S. citizens. Additionally, encouraging more disenfranchised working-age individuals to enter the job market would strengthen the economy.

In the long term, limiting immigration to attract and reward skilled workers who share American values and want to contribute to the economy will benefit all Americans.

Return to a low-regulation environment

The Biden administration has burdened productive businesses with excessive regulations, costing small businesses alone an estimated $1.7 trillion. With over 33 million small businesses in the U.S., freeing them to grow and thrive, rather than struggle, would strengthen the economy.

One key area to address is flexible work. Reversing the Department of Labor's ruling, which overturned Trump’s support for independent contractor and gig work, would benefit millions of contractors and gig workers who lost jobs due to the Biden-Harris policies. This change would also support small businesses that rely on contractors.

Additionally, eliminating the FinCEN requirement for small businesses to register (the CTA BOI rule) would relieve a major concern, as many small businesses are closing or avoiding start-up due to this government overreach.

Reducing housing regulations, including collaborating with states to lower construction costs and encourage more building, would help stabilize the housing market and unleash broad economic growth.

Get tax policy settled quickly

Businesses are relieved to avoid the tax increases proposed by Harris, but they still need clarity on future policy.

Collaborating with Congress to outline which parts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 will be extended, what new cuts may be introduced, and other tax proposals (such as exempting tips from taxes) will boost business confidence. Clear incentives drive growth, and a well-defined, low-tax path will encourage businesses to invest and pursue growth.

Restore commonsense energy policy

Affordable, abundant energy ensures a secure future and supports the technological advancements we pursue. AI, in particular, will demand significant energy, making a stable, reliable supply essential. We must make a point of enabling companies to invest in traditional energy, nuclear power, and viable green initiatives. These investments take time to yield results, and the current pipeline of projects is dwindling.

Bring on the DOGE!

Redirecting funds to the more efficient private sector, rather than wasting them at high cost in the government sector, is key. Establishing a government efficiency commission — or, as Elon Musk half-jokingly suggests, a “Department of Government Efficiency” — with strategic thinkers like Musk and Ron Paul would be a critical step.

Strategic spending cuts that don’t hinder growth are challenging but essential. Achieving this balance will reduce wasteful interest expenses, stabilize our debt-to-GDP ratio, and foster private sector growth that benefits all Americans.

The American dream needs to be restored, and it won’t be easy, so the Trump team needs to roll up their sleeves and get at it right away.

Trump’s Economic Policies Are Far Superior To Harris’ But Could Still Be Better

There's no question Trump's economic policies are better than Harris', but if he wins the election, these are areas he should reconsider.

How your wallet is paying for the government’s spending binge



The Treasury Department has released the receipts for federal spending in fiscal year 2024, revealing staggering numbers. While the $1.8 trillion deficit may seem less alarming than a $2.3 trillion shortfall, the Treasury accounted for an extra $500 billion in deficits in the opening days of fiscal year 2025 to achieve that figure. Regardless, neither the Federal Reserve nor the Treasury Department can escape the impact of these numbers. We have now reached a point where permanent stagflation seems unavoidable.

The Treasury Department’s final tab for fiscal 2024 shows a $1.83 trillion deficit, setting a near record aside from the unusual pandemic years of 2020-2021. This means the government borrowed $5 billion per day — the equivalent of the FBI’s entire annual budget a generation ago. In the third quarter of this calendar year (the final quarter of fiscal 2024), the deficit equaled 6.3% of GDP, a level only surpassed during World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Republicans have failed to convey to the public that the government spending they rely on comes at a painful cost.

Despite relatively low unemployment and the absence of a world war, the government took in a record $4.918 trillion in revenue but still amassed a mammoth deficit. This gap is poised to grow in the new fiscal year, meaning that when a recession officially hits, the deficit could become colossal. Although the government collected $479 billion more in revenue than last year, it increased the deficit by spending an additional $617 billion. Imagine what the deficit might look like if revenue starts to decline.

In the past, we shrugged off such news, dismissing it as mere red ink on a spreadsheet. But that was when annual interest on the debt cost only $200 billion. Now, we’re on track to spend a record $1.133 trillion — or nearly a quarter of our tax revenue — just on interest. Debt interest is now more costly than every government expense except Social Security, contributing to the crippling inflation consumers face. We’re no longer mortgaging our grandchildren’s future; we’re destroying our own.

To cover this interest, the government must sell a record number of treasury bonds each month. With countries reducing their holdings of U.S. Treasuries and buying gold instead, treasury yields are rising unnaturally. Despite a drop in the federal funds rate, rising spending and the resulting debt service push yields higher. This shift has caused gold and treasury yields to surge simultaneously — a rare occurrence, as they typically move inversely. It’s also why the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has climbed nearly a full percent since the Federal Reserve cut rates by 50 basis points. T. Rowe Price forecasts that the 10-year Treasury yield could hit 5% over the next six months, approaching levels seen in late 2007 on the eve of the Great Recession.

When yields go up, debt servicing costs increase further, and the Fed has to print even more money to cover both the rollover debt and rapidly accumulating new debt — rising faster this year than last. Under this baseline scenario, inflation is bound to worsen. The global money supply now stands at $89.7 trillion, up by $22 trillion since COVID. After shrinking in 2022-2023, M2 is now expanding rapidly and is currently 38% higher than pre-COVID levels. Consumers are already struggling with high prices, and every market indicator signals a new round of even higher costs.

Consumers have exhausted their resources ahead of an impending financial collapse, spending $2.3 trillion in excess savings over the past three years to cope with the cost of living. Currently, cumulative excess savings are negative $216 billion, with U.S. credit card debt and interest rates at record highs.

Even without the threat of hyperinflation, these economic indicators always precede a crash. The unprecedented rallies in gold and silver are clear warnings, signaling grave danger. They indicate that the Federal Reserve, in its attempts to curb recession and inflation while printing money recklessly, has lost control, leaving us to face the consequences of both.

Republicans have failed to convey to the public that the government spending they rely on comes at a painful cost. It’s not just the $103,700 in debt that each American is responsible for in some distant future. It’s the additional tens of thousands they will pay each year to maintain their parents’ standard of living for the rest of their lives — and that’s assuming things don’t get worse.

Reports: Democrats’ Idea Of Progress Is Shoveling Billions Of Dollars To Illegals And Insurance Companies

The CBO reports show how the Inflation Reduction Act has proved anything but and how Biden and Harris' border crisis has increased spending.

Massachusetts staying mum about $1 billion in 'secret' spending for illegal aliens, state GOP alleges



Massachusetts officials have spent nearly $1 billion on illegal aliens but have refused to give legal residents details about those expenditures, the state Republican Party claims.

The Massachusetts Republican Party has submitted Freedom of Information requests to more than a half-dozen state agencies, including the office of Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, to uncover more information about payments made in connection with illegal immigrants, according to a party press release issued earlier this week.

'Governor Maura Healey and Massachusetts legislative leaders have made Massachusetts into an international destination for illegal and inadmissible migrants, funded with very generous welfare benefits.'

In a statement, Massachusetts Republican Party chair Amy Carnevale alleged that the state's spending on illegal aliens has been "shrouded ... in secrecy" and designed to keep "residents in the dark."

Some Republican state senators introduced legislation that would have forced vendors — currently "profiting" off of this "crisis" — to bid on immigrant-related contracts, Carnevale continued. Such legislation would have made for a more transparent process and likely reduced the costs shouldered by taxpayers. Unfortunately, those efforts have been thwarted by "the Democratic supermajority," Carnevale said.

Additionally, at least 600 emergencies involving fire, police, and/or EMTs occurred at state-funded emergency housing, the state GOP press release claimed. Yet, once again, Gov. Healey and other the commonwealth leaders have "withheld critical information" regarding these incidents, Carnevale insisted.

According to Fox News, at least 355,000 illegal aliens reside in Massachusetts, and more than 50,000 have arrived in just the last three years. The outlet added that at least 10,000 of those illegal aliens are minors, 8,500 of whom are unaccompanied.

Carnevale alleged that amid this "crisis," Healey and other Massachusetts Democrats are hiding behind a "veil of secrecy," routinely "blocking journalists," and obstructing "the flow of information to the public."

"We stand with the Massachusetts press corps in declaring: enough is enough. The public deserves transparency. Release the details on the vendors profiting from this crisis and the public safety issues affecting our communities. On behalf of Massachusetts residents, we are demanding accountability," Carnevale stated.

Paul Craney, spokesman for MassFiscal, told Blaze News:

Governor Maura Healey and Massachusetts legislative leaders have made Massachusetts into an international destination for illegal and inadmissible migrants, funded with very generous welfare benefits. They have virtually no self control and refuse to implement policies that deter the flow. This latest estimate will only get much worse, unless our State House leaders take action to reverse their policies.

Healey did not respond to MassLive's request for comment.

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In Yet Another Middle Finger To Taxpayers, McConnell Nets Kentucky $500 Million In Earmarks

Only someone like McConnell could use his impending departure from the leadership ranks to act even more swampy.

If Republicans Want To Extend Trump’s Tax Cuts, They Should Cut Spending To Do It

The supply-side approach can yield economic growth — but it gives politicians an excuse not to reduce disastrous government spending.