Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
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news
Why Jeff Sessions, ‘an Advocate for the Constitution,’ Has Conservatives So Excited
As attorney general, Jeff Sessions could go a long way toward reversing the politicization of the Justice Department that occurred under the Obama administration, Republican senators and conservative activists said Friday, after President-elect Donald Trump announced he is nominating the Alabama Republican senator for the nation’s top law enforcement job. “Sen. Sessions’ solid understanding of… -
opinion
Trump’s Refusal to Take Presidential Salary Rare, but Not Unprecedented
Republican President-elect Donald Trump announced on “60 Minutes” Sunday that he would refuse his $400,000 annual presidential salary, and would take just $1 instead. The wealthy businessman turned president’s statement caused some consternation from a few pundits who claim that it’s dangerous for a president to refuse compensation. The Atlantic published an op-ed claiming that… -
opinion
How to Make the Case for Holding Congress Accountable Until Inauguration Day
The election happened, and now the establishment would like you to forget about it. Focus on 2017, they say. Focus on the inauguration, they say. Why? Because it’s lame-duck season in Washington and they’d like to pass major legislation without voters noticing. By “lame duck,” we mean the time between Election Day and the new… -
opinion
The Pathway Out of Paris
As climate negotiators work out the details of the Paris Agreement on global warming in Marrakech, Morocco, the question on everyone’s minds is: What will the Trump administration do? The president-elect has expressed skepticism about the Paris Agreement, and for good reason. American households and businesses will incur higher energy costs and a weaker economy… -
opinion
The Facts About the Dakota Access Pipeline That Protesters Don’t Want You to Know
For more than three months, thousands of protesters, most of them from out of state, have illegally camped on federal land in Morton County, North Dakota, to oppose the construction of a legally permitted oil pipeline project that is 85 percent complete. The celebrities, political activists, and anti-oil extremists who are blocking the pipeline’s progress… -
opinion
Union Lets Workers’ Pensions Erode, Keeps Money for Its Own Employees
The United Mine Workers of America—a roughly 100,000-member coal mining union—is lobbying hard for a taxpayer bailout of its underfunded pension plan before the end of the year. And it’s already well on its way. The Senate Finance Committee passed S.1714, the Miners Protection Act, out of committee on Sept. 22. The UMWA’s pension plan for coal… -
opinion
California Regulations Threaten Single Mom Over Homemade Food
Should a single mom be facing jail time for selling homemade food? California investigators recently completed an undercover sting operation into a community group using Facebook as a platform to exchange and sell homemade food items. This is yet another example of overcriminalization under the watch of California Gov. Jerry Brown, which also limits the… -
news
Meet the Next Chairman of the Republican Study Committee
Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., was voted Thursday to be the next chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of 178 Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives. Walker said one of the main goals he hopes to achieve while serving as RSC chairman is to repeal and replace Obamacare. “We want to make sure that… -
news
House Republicans Delay Earmark Debate Until 2017 After Almost Voting to Revive Them
House Republicans were on the verge of bringing back earmarks Wednesday before Speaker Paul Ryan intervened to delay a decision until early next year. A group of pro-earmark Republicans offered two amendments to House rules during a closed-door GOP meeting. Sources said the proposals were about to pass before Ryan asked Republicans to conduct the… -
news
House Republicans Promise to Be ‘Watchdog’ of Trump White House
House conservatives can picture a place for themselves in President-elect Donald Trump’s world, but it’s not so black and white. In one sense, conservatives say, they can be natural allies to Trump who will be a “bridge” to Republican leadership, and the White House, in order to pass contested legislation. But conservatives also promise to… -
opinion
DC Metro Wants a Pension Bailout. Here’s Why Congress Must Not Cave.
Like many union-run pension plans, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Administration—otherwise known as D.C. metro—has promised far more in pension benefits than it has set aside to pay. According to recent reports, the pension shortfall is $2.8 billion. This kind of overpromising of pension benefits is commonplace for union-run (also known as multiemployer plans) and… -
opinion
The Head of DOJ’s Civil Rights Division Is Violating Federal Law and Her Actions May Be Void
Vanita Gupta, the acting head of the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, apparently has been working in violation of federal law for more than a year and a half. That may render all of the official actions she has taken during that period—lawsuits, demand letters, hires, you name it—“void” and of no effect. To… -
opinion
5 Surprising Takeaways From the 2016 Exit Polls
An upset victory by Donald Trump last week has pollsters, politicians, and Americans in general wondering where Trump’s supporters, who swept him to victory in 29 states with 290 electoral votes, ever came from. The results in some cases have differed widely from what the polls were predicting. At the moment, we only have exit… -
news
3 Legislative Priorities for State Governments Next Session
As 2016 comes to a close, state lawmakers around the nation will look to set legislative priorities for the next couple of years. Reforms to health care, education, and welfare will be top priorities for states around the country, Kathleen O’Hearn, director of policy advancement at the State Policy Network, tells The Daily Signal. “I… -
opinion
Return of Earmarks Would Boost the Ruling Class
Banning congressional earmarks was one of the signature accomplishments of House Republicans over the last several years. It ended years of backroom promises, handshake money exchanges, and hundreds of millions of wasted taxpayer dollars. Unfortunately, a quiet effort is now underway by some House Republicans to erode that ban. Without strong opposition from constituents and… -
news
Republicans Unanimously Nominate Paul Ryan for House Speaker
House Republicans unanimously backed Rep. Paul Ryan for another term as House speaker in a closed-door meeting Tuesday, with GOP lawmakers signaling they’re putting aside their differences in favor of a “unified Republican government.” Despite there being skepticism as to whether Ryan would keep his post, the Wisconsin Republican ran unopposed. Reps. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C.,… -
opinion
Interest Matters: How 1 Simple Reform Can Save the Taxpayers Billions
In the wake of last week’s presidential election, Congress is now abuzz with new possibilities. Some of them will require more work than others, but one in particular stands out as an easy win for fiscal conservatives and a reform that could unify both sides of the aisle. A simple way to reduce deficit spending… -
news
House GOP Weighs Proposal to Bring Back Earmarks
One week after Donald Trump won the presidency on a promise to “drain the swamp” in Washington, House Republicans will vote on a proposal to bring back earmarks. The vote will take place Wednesday when House Republicans meet to adopt their rules for the next Congress. The House earmark ban dates to 2010 when the… -
news
Liberals Claim Victory Over North Carolina Bathroom Law, but Not Everyone’s Buying It
Liberals had few victories to celebrate Tuesday night, but in North Carolina, they’re claiming one: The state’s incumbent governor, Republican Pat McCrory, lost his bid for re-election to state Attorney General Roy Cooper, a Democrat. The final numbers aren’t in, but the outcome looks clear. By all accounts, McCrory should have had the election in…