Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
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opinion
1 Million Reasons for PreCheck’s Success
Terrorists are continuously probing for any weakness in our security systems that could be used against us. Protecting the homeland is especially complex regarding aviation security. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) tries to provide effective aviation security that is also efficient. To achieve that goal, it is vital that TSA’s PreCheck and other risk-based security… -
opinion
Bowe Bergdahl Charged: Where Do We Go From Here?
Yesterday, the Army announced its intention to charge Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy and has served him with those two charges. As I explained here last June, the military had at least five options on what to do with Sgt. Bergdahl given the fact that he left his appointed place… -
news
A Marathon Day in Congress: Vote-a-Rama, Explained in 90 Seconds
Budget season is officially in full swing, and as the U.S. Senate prepares to debate the budget resolution, it can only mean one thing: it’s time for vote-a-rama. Today, senators will gather in the U.S. Capitol to take part in a marathon voting session known as vote-a-rama. The vote-a-rama isn’t likely to start until later… -
opinion
A Doctor’s Take: ‘Doc Fix’ Bill Pushes New Regulation on Doctors, Will Lead to Pricier Doctor Visits
This week Congress is considering the Medicare Access and Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2). Although correct in its ultimate goal, the bill fails significantly as a lasting solution to the problem of how physicians are paid under Medicare. It will make seniors, physicians and taxpayers worse off. As a result, Docs 4… -
opinion
The $400 Billion ‘Fix’ Is in and Taxpayers Will Get the Bill
The Boehner-Pelosi “Doc Fix” legislation doesn’t fix the problems with Medicare. It simply tinkers with pseudo-reforms, kicks the can down the road and passes the buck to taxpayers and future generations. -
news
CBO: Boehner-Pelosi Plan for Medicare Doctors’ Payments Adds $141 Billion to Deficit
As the House prepares to consider legislation reforming how Medicare doctors are paid, an analysis on the plan by a nonpartisan agency released today shows that it would add more than $100 billion to the federal deficit. The Congressional Budget Office report analyzes the effects of a $210 billion plan proposed by House Speaker John… -
opinion
Moniz Kicks the Cask Down the Road
After several years of treading water, there has been significant movement on nuclear waste management, though when it comes to the Obama Administration’s plans, the movement isn’t in the right direction. Speaking at the Bipartisan Policy Center, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Ernest Moniz again confirmed the Administration’s commitment to its “Strategy for the Management… -
opinion
Clinton Emails Show Instinct to Protect Herself and Her Department
Those 300 Hillary Clinton emails released by the State Department to the House Select Committee on Benghazi appear to confirm the view that Clinton’s top concern was protecting the State Department and her own reputation as Congress began its investigations in the aftermath of the attack. As reported by The New York Times, based on… -
opinion
CBO Confirms the Doc Fix Deal Will Increase Deficits
The Congressional Budget Office has finally released a score for the Boehner-Pelosi deal to replace the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) payment system in Medicare. Congress’s official number cruncher has confirmed what budget experts from around Washington have said for weeks – this deal would increase spending and the deficit over the next 10 years and… -
opinion
On National Medal of Honor Day, Reflecting on Sacrifice and Selfless Service
Today we celebrate National Medal of Honor Day—a tribute to those “who distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.” As we pause to honor those who have earned this distinction serving the country, let us also reflect on the origins of the award…. -
opinion
The Heritage Foundation Welcomes Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah
Tomorrow The Heritage Foundation will proudly host the Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, for a talk on “The Way Forward in the U.S.–Afghanistan Security Partnership.” Dr. Abdullah and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani are in Washington, DC, for an official visit, their first after forming a power-sharing government of national unity last fall…. -
opinion
The Boehner-Pelosi Deal: Timid Changes Won’t Solve Medicare Woes
The Boehner-Pelosi deal to replace Medicare’s physician payment system has been unveiled. As Congress awaits the Congressional Budget Office’s assessment of the budgetary impact of the package, some are suggesting that this deal is “the most significant structural entitlement reform in two decades.” In fact, from a policy perspective, the Medicare structural reforms are timid… -
news
What to Expect From Today’s Operation Choke Point Hearing
For the first time this year, Congress will get a chance to directly question the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) over its involvement in Operation Choke Point. In a hearing this afternoon led by Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., who calls Operation Choke Point “the greatest government overreach that no one is talking about,” the Financial… -
opinion
What We Can Learn From Patrick Henry’s ‘Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death’ Speech
Two hundred forty years ago today, Patrick Henry made his immortal cry, “Give me liberty or give me death!” The statement came at the end of a speech Henry made to the Virginia House of Burgesses. As Henry spoke, Great Britain was preparing to use force to reduce the American colonies to a state of… -
news
New Documentary Shows How Community Leaders Are Reducing Poverty
A new miniseries seeks to highlight the stories of people who are successfully reducing poverty—without depending on government. “Comeback,” a feature-length documentary broken up into seven episodes, includes stories that community leaders told Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. The 2012 vice presidential nominee asks these leaders how they are decreasing poverty. In the first episode of… -
opinion
Boehner-Pelosi Medicare ‘Reform’ Adds to National Debt
Why are Republicans cutting a deal with Nancy Pelosi to throw an extra $400 billion onto the national debt and calling it entitlement reform? This latest misguided venture should concern all fiscal conservatives—or anyone who likes the idea of keeping our government on a sustainable trajectory. Almost two decades ago, Congress decided to tie reimbursements… -
opinion
Congressman: Government Should Pay for Damage Done by Fracking Ban
New York had more electoral votes than any other state in every presidential election from 1812 to 1948. It has lost electoral votes in every redistricting since 1950. It stands at 29 now and has fallen behind California, Texas and soon Florida. Upstate has borne the brunt of the population loss. Washington can’t figure out… -
news
The Daily Signal Adds Veteran Journalist David Brody as Contributor
Veteran news reporter David Brody is joining The Daily Signal as a contributor to cover the 2016 presidential election. Brody, who will remain chief political correspondent for CBN News, is an Emmy Award-winning journalist known for his high-profile interviews with political leaders such as Barack Obama, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Hillary… -
opinion
The Problems With New Study ‘Showing’ Liberals Are Happier Than Conservatives
After equality, science is the greatest authority we look up to. As such, the release of any study, no matter how mindless its methods or trivial its findings, is greeted by the press like an oracular pronouncement. Last week, for example, the magazine Science published a study which found that “Conservatives report, but liberals display,… -
news
World Down Syndrome Day Observed with Kindness, ‘Lots of Socks’
You might see lots of colorful socks this weekend, wherever you are. This year’s World Down Syndrome Day will be honored through its “Lots of Socks” campaign, an initiative encouraging participants to wear brightly colored and unique socks as a conversation piece, allowing the wearer to raise awareness about Down Syndrome. According to Down Syndrome…