Economy

The Iran Nuclear Deal – Many Tough Questions I, like many, am very concerned and skeptical about the announced agreement between the United States, five other nations, and Iran.  I am studying the terms of the deal, but continue to have reservations. Interestingly, it is not just Republicans expressing concerns about this agreement.  Among other examples: … Read more »

Supreme Court Slaps EPA – Did They Learn Anything? As you may recall, last week the Supreme Court found that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must consider costs of regulations of the Clean Air Act before deciding to adopt Mercury and Air Toxics (MATS) rules requiring power plants to cut emissions of mercury, etc. I am of the belief this ruling stands for principles under the… Read more »

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today issued the following statement on the Supreme Court ruling in the King v Burwell case related to Obamacare health care law subsidies: “I am disappointed by this ruling, and do not understand how the Supreme Court could have ruled this way based on the plain meaning of the English language used in the text of the Obamacare health care law. … Read more »

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today issued the following statement after voting in favor of the Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R. 2042), which passed the House of Representatives in a vote of 247-180: “I believe that this Administration’s so-called ‘Clean Power Plan’ is not only expensive, burdensome, and unreasonable, but that based on the law and prior court opinions, the… Read more »

It’s About the Constitution The Constitution – Still Relevant The Senate debate on collecting all our phone data has been interesting.  Hopefully the American people have a better understanding of their rights and of the importance of the Congressional power to check the Executive branch. Government Control of Water – An Update On May 27, the Obama Administration announced it had… Read more »

John Wilkes, Rand Paul, and Mike Lee I noted with interest last week that Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) took to the Senate floor to talk against the Patriot Act provisions that allow the National Security Agency (NSA) to gather data on all Americans.   As you know, I feel this is a violation of the United States Constitutional provisions against unlawful search.  I have spoken… Read more »

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) released the following statement today after learning that affiliates of coal producer Alpha Natural Resources will be reducing their workforce in Tazewell and Wise Counties: “I am saddened by news of workforce reductions at mines in Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District.  My heart goes out to the hardworking coal miners who will be losing their… Read more »

Protecting Coal Miners The Labor Department’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) has published a proposed Black Lung Benefits Act rule which, according to a press release, would give “…coal miners greater access to their health records and [require] coal miner owners to pay all benefits due in a claim before the award can be challenged through modification.”  This… Read more »

Jobs Jobs continue to be the number one concern in our region, with many parts of our area having experienced higher than average unemployment rates for years.  We often hear about businesses that are struggling or failing; however, there are real life success stories in our region of businesses that are still managing to hire and expand operations. I had the opportunity to speak… Read more »

Death, Taxes, and Bureaucratic Overreach Using a phrase attributed to Benjamin Franklin, “…In this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.”  I would submit that in modern times, nothing is certain except death, taxes, and bureaucratic overreach. On Thursday, April 16, oral arguments were heard in a U.S. Court of Appeals in cases challenging the Environmental… Read more »