Enough of Obama's contempt for Congressional oversight. Here is the conservative agenda for 2011.

Post Prologue: Read to discover why we say this: "This president has spit in the face of congress over and over again. He rules without consent and seems insulted when someone demands that he get permission to act. Venezuela is where we are headed if we do not solve these problems."

But first, this introductory thought from the AP

By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON – The Republican agenda for the new Congress that convenes Wednesday may have a greater impact on the 2012 elections than on the lives of Americans in the next two years.

Republicans promise to cut spending, roll back President Barack Obama's health care overhaul and prevent unelected bureaucrats from expanding the government's role in society through regulations that tell people what they must or can't do. Getting this agenda through the House may be easier than in the Senate, given the GOP's 241-194 majority in the House. Getting the Senate to act will be a challenge. Democrats still hold an edge there, though smaller than the one Obama had during his first two years in the White House.

Even if the next two years end in gridlock, Republicans will have built a record for the next election that they hope will demonstrate to voters that they can get it right.

House Republicans also pledge to hold tough investigations and hearings on the president's programs and policies, ending the free pass that Democratic committee chairmen gave the Obama administration the past two years. READ THE FULL STORY HERE >>>>

Editor's notes: it is critical to the purposes here at Midknight Review that the healthcare bill be taken down in its entirety. It was not written with a view to solving the healthcare issue, as is evidenced in Speaker Pelosi's comments, "We must pass the bill in order to see what is in the bill . . . ." and, as a result, will be the most costly legislative action in the history of this country. We believe it will add 317 billion dollars to our national debt each and every year if we [only] consider the additional costs (not included in the healthcare bill) for the "doctor fix" and the 34 million folks (illegals and all) not included in the original head count. Over ten years, this total is 3.17 trillion dollars of new debt, not 200 billion in "debt reduction" as the Obama were saying before the March 23 signing. This legislation must be revoked and comprehensive/real solutions must be put in place. No more GOP "let's give them all tax cuts and say that we have solved the healthcare problem." None of that.

With the capture of the House of Representatives by the GOP, Congress can get back to task of supervision, something that has not been the case for two years. In addition to the investigative/supervisory duties of the House [think "subpoena power" ] , there will be a written budget and the passage of the 13 appropriations bills as required by law, to run our government; again, legislative requirements not met by the Democrat Congress during the fiscal year of 2010.

Attention will be given to legislation that will stimulate the creation of private sector jobs, another issue not given attention by the 111th Congress. Let's not forget the Obama statement of two weeks ago in which he said, Obama Press conference, Dec. 22, 2010
"And I think we are past the crisis point in the economy, but we now have to pivot and focus on jobs and growth."**

We need to diminish the power of the presidency. For example, he can have all the staff (czars) he wants but they must not be allowed to make laws or create legislation or appropriate new spending. They are staff, for heavens sake. They must be limited to the advisory roll "staff" was created for. No more "executive orders" without the review and purview of Congress, period. Executive Orders are decisions made by the president having the force of law. That has to stop or the purpose and use of executive orders must be sorely limited. No more land grabs, no more circumventing the Congress.

Finally, the regulatory powers of our federal agencies must be limited to the enforcement of Congressionally approved laws and regulations. No more governance via regulatory fiat.

This president has spit in the face of congress over and over again. He rules without consent and seems insulted when someone demands that he get permission to act. Venezuela is where we are headed if we do not solve these problems. Obama has mounted the greatest assault on Congressional powers in the history of our nation and it time to admit that, get him out of office, and start playing by the rules.

**End Notes:
Obama continues to promise attention to jobs creation. Remember the jobs forum back in 2009? Whatever became of that? And there is more:
November 2009: 11,000 jobs lost

• “President Obama announced Thursday that he would convene a jobs conference at the White House next month…The jobs forum in December will include business leaders, small-business owners, labor union leaders and others. It marks a pivot for Democrats as they head into next year's midterm elections.” (The New York Times, 11/13/09)

• “After months in which his focus has been on a health care overhaul and foreign policy issues, President Obama will pivot later this week to the economy…” (New York Times, 11/30/09)

December 2009: 85,000 jobs lost

• “Obama promises to keep focus on job creation” (Associated Press, 12/4/09)

January 2010: 20,000 jobs lost

• “President Obama pivots to jobs as key theme.” (Politico, 1/8/10)


• President Obama: “What they can expect from this administration, and I know what they can expect from you, is that we are going to have a sustained and relentless focus over the next several months on accelerating the pace of job creation, because that's priority number one.” (Remarks to House Democrats, 1/14/10)

• ABC White House correspondent Jake Tapper: “Every week we’re told that there’s going to be a hard pivot to talk about jobs, and then every week something else happens.” (Fox Business Network, “Imus in the Morning,” 2/17/10)

February 2010: 36,000 jobs lost

• “An embattled President Obama will focus on jobs and small businesses at a New Hampshire town meeting today meant to reconnect with angry middle-class voters… The Nashua event ‘is part of the post-Massachusetts plan to recalibrate Obama’s focus,’ said Larry Sabato, director of the center for politics at the University of Virginia. ‘They’re trying to pivot him away from health care and towards jobs.’” (Boston Herald, 2/2/10)

• CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux: “Well, Kiran, certainly what's at stake, you mentioned this is really the finish line for the president. This is his top domestic priority and he’s been trying to get this -- move the ball forward for a whole year now. He would like to pivot to focusing on jobs.” (CNN, 3/8/10)