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On the program this weekend, David Chavern, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, responds to President Barack Obama’s recent criticism of the group.  White House Spokeswoman Jen Psaki stated that the 100 year old Chamber continues “to throw millions of dollars against productive efforts under way to reform the regulatory structure, provide access to affordable health insurance for more Americans and reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emissions-all plans essential to the continued growth and recovery of our economy.”  David argues that the agenda currently “under way”-specifically “Cap and Trade” and the liberal “ObamaCare” healthcare reform-will severely damage the economy and discourage future growth.  ObamaCare will add billions to the already sky high costs of health care.  The most recent report issued this week by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services concludes that House Bill 3200 would increase health care spending by a staggering $750 billion.  A recent MIT study of “Cap and Trade” concluded that this bill will cost families $3,100 a year in increased energy costs.  Another study found that it would eliminate as many as 4 million additional jobs.  In order to assume that such destructive policies are “essential to the growth and recovery of our economy,” liberal Democrats must ignore the facts.

For example, this week Senate Democrats tried to hide the true cost of their healthcare bill by increasing Medicare spending by $250 billion with no notion of how they were going to pay for it.  Thankfully, this separate bill was defeated by a vote of 53 to 47 (12 Democrats and 1 Independent crossed party lines and voted with Republicans).

Like most Americans, the Chamber of Commerce does support healthcare reforms that reduce the cost of medical care, including tort reform, a national insurance market that allows insurance companies to compete across state lines, and tax breaks for individuals purchasing their own insurance that are similar to those that currently exist for employers.  Mandating cost disclosure while encouraging individual Health Savings Accounts would also empower individuals to decide how much and what types of medical care they wish to receive.

The Chamber also supports a clean environment and recognizes the power of a strong economy to create the revenue necessary to conserve our natural resources.  However, regulating CO2 emissions with huge new energy taxes, a regulation that President Obama’s EPA administrator Lisa Jackson admits will have no effect on the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, will reduce our standard of living, negatively impacting our parents, our children, and all in between.  Economic pain for no gain makes no sense.

David concludes that it is a miscalculation for the Obama administration to “pick a fight” with the Chamber of Commerce.  The Chamber has been around for more than one hundred years and will continue to stand for centuries to come.  Regardless of who is President of the United States and what their policies are, the Chamber will continue to promote free-market policies that lead to a strong and robust economy.

Continuing our discussion on “Cap and Trade,” Phelim McAleer (co-creator of the film Not Evil Just Wrong) also joins me on the program.  This film is designed to counter the left-wing Man Made Global Warming movement and respond to Al Gore’s movie, An Inconvenient Truth. Unlike Gore’s film, Not Evil Just Wrong documents the destruction and hardship that a “Cap and Trade” bill would bring not only to Americans, but to poor people around the world.  The film also pinpoints the flaws in the pseudo science that surrounds the global warming hysteria, and draws attention to the many thousands of scientists who disagree with this “sacrosanct” theory.

I also comment on President Obama’s inability to make a decision regarding additional U.S. troops in Afghanistan.  During his campaign, Obama referred to Afghanistan as the “central front in the war on terror” and “the necessary war.”  In July 2008, Obama said “I will send at least two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan and use this commitment to seek greater contributions-with fewer restrictions-from NATO allies.  I will focus on training Afghan security forces and supporting an Afghan judiciary.  I will once and for all dismantle al-Qaeda and the Taliban.”  But now that he is President, Obama is unable to follow through on this commitment.  The bottom line is that Obama’s poor leadership skills are on full display again.  Obama’s hand-picked general, Stanley McChrystal, completed a detailed assessment of the situation in Afghanistan and determined that 40,000 additional U.S. troops were immediately necessary to confront and defeat the Taliban.  But instead of granting his own appointee’s request, Obama convened a series of National Security Council meetings for a “re-evaluation of our Afghanistan policy” and to “devise an effective strategy.”  General McChrystal has been publicly rebuked and barred from testifying before the House and the Senate Armed Services Committees.  These reactions from our Democratic party led Congress and President are shameful and illustrate why our military is increasingly frustrated with our Commander in Chief.

If you support our troops, please consider attending the Veterans Leadership Program’s annual awards event titled, “2009 Partners in Leadership Awards.” This event is a very special, non-partisan celebration of our military and our veterans.  I guarantee that you will enjoy and be moved by the show.  I will be hosting this event at the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Thursday, October 29^th.  Children, students and uniformed military personnel all attend for free.  Adult admission is $50.  The event starts with cocktails and a buffet dinner starting at 5pm with the awards celebration following at 7 pm.  Coffee and desert are from 8:15 to 9 pm.  This is a great opportunity to meet, talk with and thank current service people and military veterans.  Proceeds benefit the VLP of Western Pennsylvania, which provides essential housing, employment, and other vital supportive services to eligible veterans, service members, and their families to improve self-sufficiency, sustainability, and quality of life.  Click here for more information.

I will also be speaking on the current state of our economy at an event sponsored by the Republican Party of Moon Township Pennsylvania this coming Wednesday (October 28).  The event begins at 7 pm at the Montour Heights Country Club in Moon Township.  Tickets are $10 per person (students are $8).  You may purchase tickets in advance by sending an email to moongop@gmail.com.  Down load a flyer rcmt-glen-meakem-flyer-pdf.