NEWS EXTRA

This segment provides the viewer / reader with news they might have missed and focuses on key issues related to current and past events. These articles are provided courtesy of our many contributing sources. We ask that you enjoy these stories and continue your support of beenetworknews.com, our contributing sources and publishers.

SOURCE:  Office of Senator Mitch McConnell

Op-Ed By Senator Mitch McConnell

Fighting Back Against Administration’s Costly Power Plan
November 6, 2015

Here we go again. The Obama Administration has fired its latest salvo in the War on Coal by publishing the final version of its so-called “Clean Power Plan”—regulations that would effectively shut down most coal-fired power plants and prevent new ones from being built.

These regulations would shrink our state’s economy by almost $2 billion. And they would hurt Kentucky workers and their families by raising electricity rates by double digits while cutting coal jobs across the state. What the administration is pushing for is not a Clean Power Plan, but a “Costly Power Plan” that will have no lasting impact on the environment.

That’s why I am using my position as Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate to fight back against President Obama and his bureaucrats at the EPA who have issued these regulations aimed at the heart of coal country. This summer, I was able to secure language in an Interior Appropriations bill that, if enacted, would halt this regulation.

More recently, I filed a bipartisan measure in the Senate under a procedure established by the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The CRA empowers Congress to overturn regulations issued by the executive branch with a simple majority vote. The CRA measure I filed would stop the Obama Administration from imposing on Kentuckians its anti-coal regulation for new coal-fired power plants.

I am also a proud cosponsor of another bipartisan Senate measure filed under the CRA that would block the so-called Clean Power Plan’s regulation pertaining to existing coal-fired plants. Together, these measures represent a comprehensive effort to fight back against the Obama Administration’s outrageous effort to cut jobs and hike electricity prices in Kentucky.

I’ve been fighting against this president’s hurtful policies, and this so-called Clean Power Plan in particular, since he first proposed it. Several months ago, I wrote a letter to every governor in the country suggesting that they take a responsible wait-and-see approach before subjecting the citizens of their states to unnecessary pain caused by complying with the government’s request for state implementation plans for these outrageous regulations.

I wrote this letter because there is a legitimate question as to whether the administration even has the authority under federal law to issue these regulations. Also encouraging is the fact that the administration, in recognition of the difficulty many states will have complying with this plan, is allowing states to seek a two-year delay to abide by it. President Obama will be out of office by then, and the next administration may not even continue forward on this disastrous route.

This tacit admission from the Obama Administration that its plan is unworkable proves that the pushback from states is making a difference. More than half the states have launched lawsuits to fight back against this ill-advised plan. I’m encouraged that Kentucky’s next governor, Matt Bevin, has already pledged he will not comply with these regulations.

I’m determined to continue the fight against the Obama Administration’s attack on Kentucky jobs. The administration’s lack of compassion for those being trampled by these massively regressive regulations is shocking. The path to pursuing the administration’s left-wing ideological agenda runs right over Kentucky coal miners and their families, who have done nothing to deserve it.

And remember: for all the damage this Costly Power Plan would inflict on the middle class, it’s not even expected to reduce global emissions in any meaningful way.

Tons of pain for almost no gain. That’s the Obama White House plan.

So the fight against the War on Coal continues. This fight will not be short or easy. But it’s essential to our livelihoods and our very way of life, and hard-working Kentuckians should know that I’m going to keep standing and fighting for them, no matter what the Obama Administration or their EPA throw at us.

SOURCE:  Office of Senator Mitch McConnell

Rising Costs, Broken Promises of Obamacare

‘It’s easy to glaze over the numbers, but this is real money coming out of the pockets of real families. This is money that could help send a child to college or put Thanksgiving Dinner on the table. But it will go instead to insurance bills made unnecessarily expensive in part because of Obamacare’s costly rules and regulations.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the failures of Obamacare:

“I remember a recent time when President Obama tried to spin Americans on Obamacare. The best he could muster then was a condescending, cringe-inducing message that likely turned off more people than it converted.

“He even said that Americans who already had health insurance, quote, ‘may not know that they’ve got a better deal now [under Obamacare] than they did, but they do.’

“Like I said, it was condescending and cringe-inducing. It was just so out of touch with the priorities of the Middle Class.

“Well, it looks like the President’s going to try again today with a series of regional TV news interviews. He’ll be doing so with headlines like these as a backdrop.

“CBS: Affordable Care Act not so affordable

“AP: More than half of health law’s insurance co-ops are closing

“Here’s a headline about the President’s home state: Some Obamacare marketplace prices see double-digit jump in Illinois

“And here’s one about mine: Health coop closes, 51,000 need new insurance

“This is on top of the massive premium increases so many Kentuckians have faced. But this isn’t just a Kentucky story or an Illinois story. In every corner of the country, we see story after story about sharply rising premiums. 

“The largest insurers in Tennessee have rates going up 36 percent. 

“A large insurer in Oklahoma is raising premiums by 35 percent.

“In Hawaii, families are looking at increases of 26 and 34 percent.

“It’s easy to glaze over the numbers, but this is real money coming out of the pockets of real families. This is money that could help send a child to college or put Thanksgiving Dinner on the table. But it will go instead to insurance bills made unnecessarily expensive in part because of Obamacare’s costly rules and regulations. 

“Perhaps the President will settle today for just trying to convince Americans that Obamacare’s website, at least, is working better than in years past. But that just means it’ll be a little easier for middle-class families to pay more for unaffordable health insurance and higher out-of-pocket costs. 

“That’s hardly the makings of better headlines or better outcomes for the American people.”

SOURCE:  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

SOURCE:  Office of Senator Mitch McConnell

Richmond Police Officer Daniel Ellis

LOUISVILLE, KY – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement honoring the life of Richmond, Kentucky police officer Daniel Ellis:

“Tragic news today as Kentucky lost one of its brave law-enforcement officers. Officer Daniel Ellis died in the line of duty and we honor his life and service.  Please join me in praying for his family, his fellow officers and the Richmond community.”

Aircraft maintainers assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa conduct a post-flight inspection on a C-130 Super Hercules at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Oct. 30, 2015. Through unified action with U.S. and international partners in East Africa, CJTF-HOA conducts security force assistance, executes military engagement, provides force protection and military support to regional counter-violent extremist organization operations in order to support aligned regional efforts, and ensures regional access and freedom of movement, as well as protecting U.S. interests. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Barry Loo)

U.S. Marines look for the enemy during night exercises during Trident Juncture 2015 in Almería, Spain, Oct. 31, 2015. The exercise allows both sides to learn about each other’s tactics, techniques and operating procedures. The Marines are assigned to the 4th Marine Division’s 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. U.S. Marines Photo by Sgt. Sara Graham.