NEWS AND OPINION:
A coalition of conservative and free-market organizations have released a letter opposing the Fiscal Commission Act. According to the bill’s text, the legislation would “establish a commission on fiscal responsibility and reform” and require both the House and the Senate to address the $34 trillion national debt.
“The ‘bipartisan fiscal commission’ is a tax trap designed to get Republican fingerprints on a tax increase in exchange for ‘spending cuts’ that never materialize,” stated the letter, which was released Thursday.
“There is no need for a bipartisan commission to explain what is driving the national debt. We already know spending is the problem. Tax increases are not part of any serious effort to restrain government spending or reduce the debt. The fiscal commission will only serve to provide cover for Democrats to impose tax increases,” the letter said.
“A bipartisan fiscal commission isn’t a new idea. In fact, we’ve tested this idea several times before. Overwhelmingly, the result is failure to reduce spending and success – for the Left – in putting tax hikes on the table,” the letter continued.
“We urge you to reject the Fiscal Commission Act of 2023 which will only serve as a tax trap for conservative lawmakers and further efforts to increase taxes on Americans,” the letter concluded.
And the signers?
They are Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform; Phil Kerpen, president of American Commitment; Ryan Ellis, president of the Center for a Free Economy; David M. McIntosh, president of the Club for Growth; Ryan Young, senior economist at the Competitive Enterprise Institute; Heather Higgins, Independent Women’s Voice CEO and Alfredo Ortiz, president and CEO of the Job Creators Network.
ON THE RADAR
Fox News prime-time host Jesse Watters has a new book arriving next month with an intriguing title: “Get It Together: Troubling Tales from the Liberal Fringe.”
The tales the author discovered took some surprising turns.
“What if most radical activists are trying to change their lives by changing the whole country? When Jesse Watters set out to interview a few dozen radical activists to find out where their wild ideas came from, he discovered two things that shocked him,” publisher Broadside Books advises in advance notes.
“First, he liked these people. Second, their political positions were not primarily from books, teachers, or other activists. They originated in personal drama. Most of these people didn’t need legislation. They needed a therapist,” the publisher said.
“Funny, fresh, and fascinating, the book is sure to spark important conversations, and to inspire us to see one another not as political opponents, but as real and broken human beings,” it added.
Mr. Watters is a co-host of “The Five” and host of “Jesse Watters Primetime” This is his second book, and it has already reached No. 1 in the Amazon category of “Radical Political Thought.”
More on this book when it arrives March 19.
YES, BUILD THE WALL
“The hot topic of immigration has come to a boil in recent weeks with a clash between President Joe Biden and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over the building of a border fence to keep illegal entrants from crossing into the U.S. Americans lean strongly toward Abbott in the feud, expressing strong support for a border wall,” writes Terry Jones, editor of Issues & Insights.
The news organization conducts timely, handy “TIPP Polls” — and here’s findings from one released Thursday, which gauged the sentiments of 1,405 registered voters.
“To begin with, voters were asked: “Do you support or oppose building a wall along the southern border to combat illegal immigration?” Mr. Jones wrote.
“The score wasn’t close: Among all respondents, 59% supported constructing a wall along our southern border, either ‘strongly’ (41%) or ‘somewhat’ (18%). Just 32% oppose the idea, either ‘strongly’ (17%) or ‘somewhat’ (15%),” he said.
“As with many other things in America these days, political differences can be huge. Democrats are split close to evenly, with 43% supporting a wall and 47% opposing it. Republicans overwhelmingly like the idea, with 85% support and just 11% opposition. A slight majority of independents (51%) back a wall, while 37% reject it,” Mr. Jones wrote.
Find the research at TippInsights.com.
GET A COIN
The U.S. Mint is offering a “Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin” that will showcase and honor the National World War II Memorial through gold, silver and half-dollar coins, each with its own storied design.
The coins reflect “the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people to the common defense of the nation,” according to the outreach.
Find the details and more at the U.S. Mint catalog.
WEEKEND REAL ESTATE
For sale: “Stunning” Greek Revival farmhouse built in 1826 on 14 acres near Cooperstown, New York. Four bedrooms, three baths, custom kitchen, original wide-plank flooring and natural-wood beams, formal dining and living room, office, pantry, fireplace, “luxury country lifestyle.” Five-car garage, hand-laid stone patio, deck; includes two-story historic red dairy barn, corn crib, workshop and four other outbuildings. Priced $899,000 through CatskillCountryLiving.com; enter R1510539 in the search function.
POLL DU JOUR
• 28% of U.S. adults say they will “definitely watch” the Super Bowl on Sunday; 29% of Republicans, 21% of independents and 34% of Democrats agree.
• 23% overall say they will “probably watch” the game; 23% of Republicans, 22% of independents and 24% of Democrats agree.
• 12% say they will “probably not watch” the game; 14% of Republicans, 12% of independents and 11% of Democrats agree.
• 28% overall say they “definitely not watch” the Super Bowl; 28% of Republicans, 32% of independents and 22% of Democrats agree.
• 9% are “not sure” what they will do; 6% of Republicans, 13% of independents and 9% of Democrats agree.
SOURCE: An Economist/YouGov poll of 1,591 U.S. adults conducted Feb. 4-6.
• Contact Jennifer Harper at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.