U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison News
Fearing for the future of American medicine
Last Friday, I delivered the commencement address at UT Southwestern Medical School to a class that truly represents America - the ideals, commitment and perseverance that make this country great.
Capitol Comment: Debt ceiling agreement step in the right direction
The debt ceiling agreement recently passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, while not perfect, is a step in the right direction. Sensible spending cuts, not tax increases, are the right path to a balanced budget. Here's the quick outline of the plan:
Capitol Comment: Texas graduations mark great achievements
Every year, as the wildflowers are blooming and the air begins to feel more and more like summer, it's graduation season in Texas. Students across the state will receive their diplomas and degrees, signifying the culmination of many years of hard work and the investment of time and energy to achieve long-sought goals.
Capitol Comment: Texas' 175-year legacy of freedom and patriotism
One-hundred-and-seventy-five years ago, 59 brave men risked their lives to boldly put forward their belief that Texas must and ought to be a free nation. The signers, our state's forefathers, knew that by putting their name on this new declaration of independence, they were also putting their families and livelihoods in peril. But they were willing to risk it all for liberty.
Capitol Comment - Goal for New Congress: Cut Spending, Cut Taxes
It is often said that: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Congress would be mindful to remember these wise words as we move forward to address the country's most critical problems in the new session of Congress.
Capitol Comment: Health Care Law Reporting Regulations Crushing to Small Businesses
One tiny and unrelated provision that was tucked into the new health care law will cause a major paperwork burden for nearly 40 million American businesses beginning in 2012.
Capitol Comment: Addressing Border Violence Must Be a National Security Priority
The growing violence in Mexico has become one of the most pressing national security issues in America today.
Capitol Comment: Health Insurance Mandates Defy Constitutional Authority
Late last year, when the Senate was debating the health care reform bill, my colleagues and I protested countless objectionable provisions that would undermine the quality and raise the costs of health care in America.
Capitol Comment: Preserving Flexibility, Choice, and Cost Savings in Health Care
It has always been my view that Americans are better qualified to make decisions about their own lives than the federal government.
Capitol Comment: Bureaucratic Barriers Must Not Obstruct Oil Spill Cleanup
More than two months have passed since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, tragically killing 11 workers and causing a leak that is gushing up to 60,000 barrels of oil into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico each day.
Capitol Comment: Americans deserve greater transparency in health care bill negotiations
On Christmas Eve, just as Americans were getting ready to celebrate the holiday with family and friends, Senate Democrats passed a partisan health care bill without a single Republican vote. It was crafted in secret and packed with sweetheart deals. A majority of Americans were rightly opposed to the bill, but it was rushed through without regard to the rising concerns raised by citizens throughout
Capitol Comment: Government-Run Health Care Hurts Jobs and Economy
Since President Obama took office on January 20, more than 3.5 million Americans � including 300,000 Texans - have lost their jobs, the federal budget has tripled to $1.4 trillion, and the federal debt as a portion of the U.S. economy has risen to its highest level since World War II. In light of this unprecedented economic uncertainty, many Texans are growing increasingly wary about the President's
Capitol Comment: The Right Reforms to Our Health Care System Will Do No Harm
During medical school, aspiring physicians are often taught the principle of primum non nocere, more commonly known as "first, do no harm."
Capitol Comment: Cap and Trade is a $3.6 trillion gas tax on all Americans
There's something the Democratic lawmakers who are pushing cap and trade legislation don't want the public to know. The controversial climate change legislation winding its way through Congress will impose a massive new national gas tax, raising the cost of gasoline and diesel and jet fuels.
Capitol Comment: U.S. & NATO Must Act Swiftly, Decisively for Afghanistan Success
Just a few short months ago, President Obama summed up our responsibilities in Afghanistan when he said, "This will not be quick, nor easy. But we must never forget: This is not a war of choice. This is a war of necessity.... This is fundamental to the defense of our people."
Capitol Comment: Czars -- Pulling the Curtain Back on Washington's New Power Class
The framers of the Constitution knew the founding document of our democracy must be both the anchor of liberty and the blueprint for its preservation.
Capitol Comment: Cap and Trade - A Job Killer for Texas
As the summer winds down and the fall picks up, the Senate will return to a legislative agenda marked with more massive and misguided proposals being pushed by the Administration and Democratic Leadership.
Capitol Comment: Honoring the Memory and Sacrifice of Our Fallen Heroes
The fabric of Texas' rich history is woven with legendary stories of sacrifice and remarkable acts of valor.
Capitol Comment: Secure Borders Necessary for Safe and Prosperous Texas Communities
Over 1,200 miles of international border snakes along the Rio Grande through Texas, giving our state the distinction of holding more international boundary than all other states on the Mexican border combined.
Capitol Comment: History Shows Big Spending Can Prolong Recession
In one of history's more candid reflections, Henry Morgenthau Jr., Treasury Secretary under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, confessed, "We have tried spending money. We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work."