Ask Boehner Column: What's Different Now that the Terrorist Surveillance Law Has Expired?

Regarding the terrorist surveillance laws that Congress is fighting over: Can you explain what is different today compared to before the law expired?

The law giving our intelligence officials the ability to quickly begin monitoring communications among suspected terrorists and terror groups expired at midnight, Saturday, February 16. While we can continue surveillance begun before that date, any new surveillance will be delayed by lengthy legal proceedings that put us and our troops overseas at an increased risk of attack. Let me give you an example.

The New York Post recently reported a heartbreaking story about U.S. forces in Iraq having to wait 10 hours last May before they could begin searching for three American soldiers taken hostage by al Qaeda because lawyers here in the United States were hammering out the proper documents to get emergency permission for wiretaps. One of our soldiers was found dead, two others remain missing. In August, Congress updated the law to ensure that a situation like this does not repeat itself, and that short-term fix expired – as I noted – on February 16. And now Congress has the responsibility to act on long-term modernization of our surveillance laws.

When the original Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was enacted in 1978, a world of wireless communications was unthinkable. Today, technology has changed so much that FISA must be updated to give us the best chance to intercept terrorist chatter. That update includes providing liability protections for third parties that voluntarily help the federal government monitor wireless communications. National Director of Intelligence Mike McConnell, appearing on a national news program recently, said that it’s very difficult to compel a private company to cooperate unless the company is assured it will not face legal action stemming from its help. Already, some trial attorneys are seeking millions of dollars in the form of frivolous lawsuits from third parties who have voluntarily cooperated to help protect us.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, had this to say about the consequences of letting this law expire: "What people have to understand around here is that the quality of the intelligence we are going to be receiving is going to be degraded. It is going to be degraded. It is already going to be degraded as telecommunications companies lose interest."

I remain hopeful that when the House returns from a 12-day recess, it will immediately pass the same legislation approved by bipartisan Senate that will restore our ability to quickly intercept terrorist communications and protect the private companies that help keep us safe.

Do you know of any programs to use electronic patient records to improve medical care?

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is actually implementing a five-year demonstration project for small- to medium-size primary care physicians to use electronic health records to improve patient care. The program’s goal is to revolutionize the way healthcare information is managed, reduce medical errors and improve the quality of care for an estimated 3.6 million Americans.

An electronic health record contains information such as prescription records, test results, treatment histories, progress reports and even X-rays. The benefits range from fewer adverse reactions to prescriptions and fewer redundant tests and procedures to faster diagnosis and treatment with comprehensive health information readily available.

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt and other senior HHS officials are meeting with community leaders across the country to encourage communities to apply to this program. Eligible communities will include those that:

Demonstrate active community collaboration with a broad group of stakeholders – healthcare providers, medical professional groups, patients and employers;

Show private sector support that includes the possibility of similar programs among employers or health plans in the region;

Are geographically large enough to recruit enough small- and medium-size medical practices – 100 will be eligible for incentives while another 100 will be control sites; and

Are not already participating in a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) demonstration similar to the electronic records program.

Once the 12 communities are selected in June, CMS will begin working within these communities to recruit eligible physician practices. The practices may receive financial incentives throughout the program that will vary in amount and will, in part, depend on reporting and performance for quality measures.

For more information on this program, e-mail ehr_demo@cms.hhs.gov.

If you are an 8th District resident and have questions about either of these issues – or other issues with the federal government – please contact my office toll-free, 1-800-583-1001.

Boehner Column: "Third Parties Helping Secure America Should Be Protected, Not Opened Up to Lawsuits"

Earlier this year, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle came together to pass an economic growth package to help get our economy moving again. I hoped this same spirit bipartisanship would extend to other critical matters, such as reducing wasteful government spending and keeping America safe. Sadly, this was not to be.

At the end of last week, the House left Washington for a 12-day break after failing to pass critical legislation designed to ensure that our intelligence officials are able to monitor foreign communications of suspected terrorists overseas, such as Osama Bin Laden and other key al-Qaeda leaders while adding critical liability protections for third parties who helped us defend our country. This measure received strong bipartisan support in the Senate, and was on the verge of receiving the similar bipartisan support in the House until it was blocked from coming to the floor.

For some lawmakers, there is no urgency to address this crisis. But the New York Post recently reported a heartbreaking story about U.S. forces in Iraq having to wait 10 hours last May before they could begin searching for three American soldiers taken hostage by al Qaeda because lawyers here in the United States were hammering out the proper documents to get emergency permission for wiretaps. One of our soldiers was found dead; two others remain missing.

These unconscionable delays had real consequences. It should take exactly zero lawyers to rescue our troops. The liability protections included in the bipartisan Senate bill are intended to ensure that patriotic third parties are not subject to frivolous lawsuits when they cooperate with our intelligence officials to help track terrorists and protect our country. But already some trial lawyers are seeking millions of dollars in the form of frivolous lawsuits from third parties who have voluntarily cooperated with our government. This is wrong and we must fix it.

Our first priority should be protecting our national security and not paying off trial lawyer campaign contributors. The question now is how much longer are some lawmakers prepared to protect their trial lawyer allies at the expense of our national security?

Much has been said about the U.S. Senate being the world’s most deliberative body, but in this case our colleagues proved that they can work quickly to pass good legislation that will keep America safe.

The consequences of inaction in the House and the failure to send a bill to the President are real. U.S. intelligence officials will not be able to begin new terrorist surveillance without needless and dangerous delays. If a previously unknown group were to attack or kidnap American soldiers tomorrow, U.S. forces would have to wait – again – for the lawyers to get permission before a search could begin. The families of the three soldiers abducted in May by al Qaeda can attest to how devastating waiting can be.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was written and passed during the Cold War era, and in August Congress updated it to reflect the sophisticated and adaptive nature of the terrorist threat. Just a few months ago, we were able to work in a bipartisan manner to close a gaping loophole that allows our intelligence officials to monitor foreign communications of terrorists overseas. There only ones preventing us from working together in a bipartisan way again are those in the House beholden to trial lawyers.

What was true then remains the same today: instead of shielding terrorists, we should be working to prevent future attacks. Refusing to give our intelligence officials all the tools they need to keep America safe is unacceptable. Refusing to extend protection from frivolous lawsuits to third parties that cooperate with the government to protect American lives and then leaving town for 12 days is also unacceptable. And it begs the question: how much longer are some in Congress willing to protect their trial lawyer allies at the expense of our national security?

Boehner Announces 17th Annual 8th District Farm Forum

WASHINGTON, DC – Former Congressman Cal Dooley of California will be the keynote speaker at the 17th annual 8th District Farm Forum, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) announced.

Dooley, now president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association, served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 2004 and sat on the Agriculture Committee with Boehner. Dooley is a fourth-generation farmer and partner in Dooley Farms, growing cotton, alfalfa and walnuts in California ’s San Joaquin Valley .

“Agriculture is a pillar of the 8th District’s economy, and I host Farm Forum each year so that people whose livelihoods depend on the continued success of our agriculture community as well as those with an interest in agriculture can come together to discuss the issues of the day,” Boehner said. “Farm Forum is always a highlight of my year, and I’m pleased to bring together some of the best agriculture policy minds in the 8th District, throughout Ohio and from Washington , D.C. to talk with farmers in our community.”

This year’s distinguished panel of experts includes Tom Menke, President of Menke Consulting; Bob Peterson, President of the Ohio Farm Bureau; Carl Zulauf, the Francis B. McCormick Professor of Agriculture and Marketing Policy at The Ohio State University; and Jim Chakeres, executive director of the Ohio Poultry Association. The panel moderator will be Sen. Keith Faber (R-Celina), who sits on the Ohio Senate Agriculture Committee and has been named a Friend of Agriculture by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

Farm Forum is a free event for anyone with an interest in agriculture. To RSVP, call Boehner’s office toll-free at 800-582-1001 or register online at www.johnboehner.house.gov.

WHERE: Edison Community College , 1973 Edison Drive , Piqua

WHEN: Saturday, March 1. Registration opens at 9:30 am; the program begins at 10 am.

Boehner Column/Ask Boehner: Illegal Immigrants Not Eligible for Tax Rebate Checks, Switching from Analog to Digital TV

I occasionally use this column to answer questions from 8th District constituents. You may submit questions to askboehner@mail.house.gov. My office is available to help constituents and you will find contact information at the end of this column.

I liked the economic stimulus bill the House passed but now I hear that illegal immigrants will be getting rebate checks just like everyone else. Is this true?

As you noted, the U.S. House of Representatives recently approved an economic growth package intended to infuse resources into our economy and provide small businesses with incentives to expand and create new jobs. This simple plan would provide rebate checks to working families based on their 2007 tax returns and give tax relief to business owners.

Unfortunately, an alarming number of reports have sprung up claiming that the package would enable illegal immigrants to receive a tax rebate. The bill contains no such language enabling illegal immigrants to receive a tax rebate. In fact, illegal immigrants who steal or fabricate a Social Security number are not eligible to receive checks under the House bill. An illegal immigrant who files taxes based on stolen or fraudulent information in an attempt to receive a check under the House bill is committing tax fraud.

I continue to be a strong proponent of enforcing our immigration laws and securing our borders. In a joint-statement I issued with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, we said that will take legislative action to clarify and underscore the language in the growth package that prevents illegal immigrants from receiving any benefits. In fact, the stimulus bill that passed in the House with overwhelming bipartisan support includes language similar to the provisions included in the 2001 and 2003 tax relief bills regarding the prohibition of benefits to those here illegally.

The economic growth package isn’t perfect, but it will quickly get money into the hands of working families while helping small businesses grow and create jobs. Those are two of the most important components for the long-term economic health and security of our nation.

Can you tell me why the government is making a change in how we receive television signals?

On Feb. 18, 2009, over-the-air television broadcasts will become exclusively digital, which could render your old TV and rabbit-ears or rooftop antennae obsolete. As mandated by federal law, local TV stations are moving from the old analog system to digital broadcasting. This will free up much-needed parts of the broadcast spectrum for public safety communications – police and fire departments, and rescue squads.

This switch to digital broadcasting is the most significant development in television technology since shows switched from black-and-white to color. But as with any major change, people will have questions. Foremost on peoples’ minds is whether or not they will have to buy a new TV once this change goes into effect.

If your TV is connected to cable, satellite or a telephone service provider or if your analog TV have a built-in digital tuner, this transition will not affect you. To determine whether your TV has this tuner built in, check your owner’s manual, consult the manufacturer’s website or check your TV set for an input connection labeled “digital input” or “ATSC.” If you bought your TV set before 1998, it most likely will not have a digital tuner. Sets made after 2004 generally come equipped with a digital tuner and by law, all reception devices (TVs, VCRs, DVRs, etc.) sold in the U.S. must have this tuner. However, stores may continue to sell analog-only sets as long they come with a Consumer Alert that the device will need a converter box.

Households with analog television have three options: (1) buy a digital-to-analog converter box to hook up to your analog television set; (2) purchase a digital television or an analog television equipped with a digital tuner; or (3) subscribe to cable, satellite, or telephone company television services, which will likely provide for the conversion of digital signals to their analog customers.

The analog-to-digital converter box program, administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, will provide up to two $40 coupons to requesting households to help pay for the converter boxes, which are expected to cost between $50 and $75 each. The coupons will be issued between January 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, and must be used within three months after issuance toward the purchase of a stand-alone device used solely for analog-to-digital conversion. Coupons mailed to consumers will list converter box models along with local and online retailers certified to participate in the converter box coupon program.

For more information and to apply for a converter-box coupon, visit the Federal Communications Commission’s digital TV website, www.dtv.gov, or call 888-225-5322 (TTY: 888-835-5322)

If you are an 8th District resident and have questions about either of these issues – or other issues with the federal government – please contact my office toll-free, 1-800-582-1001.

Boehner Column: "Bipartisan Agreement on Economic Growth Package is a Win for American Families, Small Businesses"

Bipartisan Agreement on Economic Growth Package is a Win for American Families, Small Businesses

Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House recently put aside partisan differences to compromise on an economic growth package that will put money in the hands of middle-income families and give small businesses incentives to create new jobs. This is a short-term fix, and it by no means should be viewed as a solution to ensure our long-term economic health.

I am pleased that lawmakers in the House moved quickly to draft an economic growth agreement that is a win for the American people. Equally as important as infusing money into our economy, this agreement contains no unrelated spending or tax increases – a Republican condition of support from the beginning of our negotiations.

We cannot lose sight of the fact that this agreement is only a short-term measure to deal with the unsettled economic situation. It is just as important to put policies in place to strengthen our economic competiveness and create more American jobs in the long-term. First and foremost, we should block the largest tax increase in American history looming in 2010. We also must lower our corporate tax rate, which is among the highest in the developed world, and finally end the arcane alternative minimum tax. And Washington finally needs to control spending and reform entitlements so we don’t leave a legacy of debt for generations to come.

The agreement will provide tax relief for working families in the form of rebate checks. Anyone who earned income of at least $3,000 in 2007 will be eligible for this benefit. Rebate checks will include a base amount determined by the greater of two options: (a) Income tax paid in 2007, with a maximum of $600 for a single taxpayer and $1,200 for married couples; or (b) $300 for an individual and $600 for a married couple, provided the individual or couple earned income of at least $3,000 in 2007. There is an overall phase-out for those with adjusted gross incomes above $75,000 for a single taxpayer and $150,000 for married couples.

A children’s bonus will also be included in this rebate calculation. Anyone qualifying for the base amount also receives an additional $300 per child, with no cap on the number of children.

The package provides tax relief for employer in three areas: bonus depreciation, Section 179 expensing and an increase in Government Sponsored Enterprises conforming loan limit.

Bonus Depreciation: The economic growth package will provide for a 50 percent bonus deduction on new equipment in the year it is placed in service, with certain exceptions for equipment with a “long life.” This temporary tax cut offers significant savings on new property with a depreciation period of 20 years or less. This will give employers – particularly small businesses – greater incentive to invest and create jobs for more Americans searching for work. The temporary bonus depreciation, coupled with expensing measures enacted in May 2003, resulted in a four percent increase in business spending in the first six months alone.

Section 179 Expensing: This provision allows employers, including small businesses, to fully expense $250,000 in both new and used tangible property in the year it is purchased up to an overall investment limit of $750,000. This will provide a particularly strong incentive for small companies to invest in their businesses so they can continue to provide good-paying jobs for the American people.

Increase in Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE)/Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Conforming Loan Limit: The conforming loan limits for both FHA and GSE (such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) loans would be increased from $362,000 to $725,000 and from $417,000 to $625,000 respectively.

The third component of the agreement is that it contains no extraneous spending on unemployment insurance, transportation infrastructure, food stamps, and Medicaid. In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, my colleague Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), who serves as the Republican Whip, and I asked that extraneous spending be taken off the table, and the Democrats agreed to that.

This economic growth package is not perfect. But the beauty of it is that it is simple, neat and it quickly puts money into hands of working families while also helping small business owners grow and create jobs. These are two of the most critical components for the long-term economic security of our country. Many Americans correctly believe that Washington is broken. This agreement is one small step toward fixing it.

Boehner represents Ohio ’s 8th District, which includes all of Darke, Miami and Preble counties, most of Butler and Mercer counties, and the northeastern corner of Montgomery County . He was first elected to Congress in 1990.

Meet the Political Lindy's

The Hamilton Journal-Herald has a fun story about a Butler County family that is heavily involved in politics. Check it out here.

Boehner Column: "Congress’ No-Energy Bill Could Cost Jobs, Will Raise Energy Prices"

Congress’ No-Energy Bill Could Cost Jobs, Will Raise Energy Prices

It should come as no surprise that Congress has, once again, made your life more difficult. The U.S. House recently passed an energy bill that does nothing to lower energy costs – you don’t get a break on your fuel costs; there’s no relief for your high home-heating bills.

The American people want their elected leaders in Washington to address the rising costs of living and the skyrocketing energy costs. But this bill instead will create an energy shortage and kill American jobs, creating a recipe for economic disaster. According to an independent study by CRA International, a business consulting group, the No-Energy Bill would “restrict the supply of energy available to the U.S. economy” and increase costs for a wide array of consumer goods and services. And energy policy analysts have noted that schemes in the bill will actually increase gas prices.

The big question that must be asked is: Who is looking out for consumers? Unfortunately, the answer from Congress is: Not us.

I voted against this bill, and I will continue to vote against bad legislation that will hurt working families. This bill contains zero reforms to help families deal with rising home-heating costs. It doesn’t take a single step toward more production of domestic energy sources. And, as the CRA study noted, it could result in the net loss of 4.9 million American jobs by 2030, a $1,700 decrease in the average American household’s annual purchasing power and a net loss of $1 trillion in U.S. economic output.

By now, you’re wondering what is contained within the more than 1,000 pages of the bill that was written secretly by just a few powerful Congressional representatives and bypassed U.S. House process by not being vetted through the Energy and Commerce Committee.

There is $2 billion in the bill to develop a rail line from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York to lower Manhattan. The bill creates “forestry conservation tax credit bonds” that apparently will benefit just one company in the entire country due to the new program’s requirements that land must include at least 40,000 acres and have a “native fish habitat conservation plan approved by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.” The only such “forest” with fish is owned by a timber company in Montana.

As if that’s not bad enough, a “green pork” $3 billion slush fund in the bill could also put your tax dollars toward:

Hybrid snowmobiles in Aspen, Colorado;
A fake rainforest in Iowa;
Replacing police cars in Beverly Hills with Lexus Hybrids;
And copies of Al Gore’s global warming move to give to school children.

If we are serious about solving the energy crisis in America , we must deal with conservation, with alternative fuel sources and with increased domestic production of energy. We must be committed to developing long-term alternatives to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. And we must provide incentives for consumers and companies to embrace alternative sources of energy.

Two years ago, the Republican-led Congress passed the Energy Policy Act – the first comprehensive national energy strategy in more than a decade – that called for oil exploration on a very small parcel of the 19 million acres in the Alaska Wildlife Refuge. The benefits of expanding our energy portfolio are not just in reducing prices but increasing opportunities here at home for new family-wage jobs and growing American industries. Ohio is among the largest coal-producing states in the country and we have devoted an enormous amount of resources for research and development. While retaining our position as a national leader on coal, we should seek to become a leader in other energy sectors as well.

Let’s get serious about energy independence. Let’s get serious about what we need to do as a nation to solve this problem for our children and grandchildren. Unfortunately, legislation that kills American jobs and threatens our economy is not the right direction for us to take. I look forward to developing a real energy strategy for our nation and for our working families.