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Articles by Capitol Confidential

Death Panels Begin: Reaction to FDA's Decision to Begin Rationing

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) announced yesterday that it would ration the late-stage cancer drug Avastin for breast cancer patients. (Ironically, the same day, the EU announced it would not ration access to Avastin.) The reaction to the FDA’s

New EPA Rules Will Cost American Jobs

A newly released economic impact study finds that the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Tailoring Rule” – a back-door Cap-and-Trade style regulation scheme that limits the greenhouse gases industries can emit – jeopardizes over 130 renewable energy projects, between 11,000 and 26,000

Exclusive: Sources Confirm FDA Moving Ahead with Rationing

Sources on Capitol Hill have informed Capitol Confidential that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will indeed begin rationing late-stage cancer drugs. The FDA will make an 11am (EDT) announcement that it will begin denying Avastin to breast cancer patients

Opening Salvo in Health Care Wars

The battle over health care took a turn for the better Monday as Federal Judge Henry Hudson struck down certain provisions of the bill as unconstitutional. Unfortunately, things could take a turn for the worse for breast cancer patients by

53 Congressmen Push Back on Car-grading Scheme

Back in September, we noted that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) were pushing a new scheme under which new cars sold in the U.S. would be given a letter grade assessing their “greenness,” prominently displayed

Earmark Lobbyist to Be GOP Staff Director on Appropriations Committee?

There is an old saying around Congress – there are Republicans, Democrats and Appropriators. With Republicans promising to reign in the federal government, the first order of business is to change the culture of the Appropriations Committee which has been

FDA Moves Closer to Rationing Cancer Drugs

As House Republicans prepare to take the reigns, it’s clear that incoming House Government Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa is taking his responsibilities seriously. National Journal reports that Issa is doubling his investigation staff and is planning a hearing a day

EPA Turns 40

This week the EPA celebrates its 40th birthday. In honor of the occasion, they’ve launched a dedicated website called EPA@40, and it’s head, Lisa Jackson, will take off on a week-long party circuit designed to “highlight the impact of [the

Dems in Disarray: Harold Ford Hits Out at Obama

In a new Fortune piece, former Rep. Harold Ford, Jr., Chairman of the moderate Democratic Leadership Council, hits out at President Obama saying he needs to make some “halftime adjustments” including “order[ing] his department heads and agency chiefs to declare

Golden Rule: Browner Should Have Treated Gulf Jobs As Her Own

The President of the United States was swept into office two years ago promising to bring change to Washington, starting with a more transparent and ethical government. In fact, Obama declared, “transparency and the rule of law would be the

Dear TSA, No Means No

It has been a bad PR week for the TSA, which is having its proverbial privates examined by the Internet. The TSA’s new genital examinations and X-ray scanners, known by the charming colloquial “dick measurers” by TSA personnel, have prompted

Obama's 'Rationer in Chief' Finally Sits in Judgement Before US Senate

Obama Medicare Head Bringing UK Rationing Board to US? Medicare Head Donald Berwick will in love with wealth redistribution and Britains National Health Service. Sens. Pat Roberts (Kan.), Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and John Barrasso (Wyo.) joined forces on the Senate

Will Berwick Flip-flop During his Senate Hearing?

Dr. Donald Berwick, a leading proponent of rationing of medical care in the United States and a supporter of the British health care system, is prepared to testify before Congress for the first time since he recess appointment to head

Exclusive: Rep. Upton Vows to Fight for Tea Party Principles

The powerful Energy and Commerce Committee chairmanship is up for grabs. Former Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) is seeking a waiver to regain the post. As supporters of term-limits, we believe new blood and new leadership is essential for democracy. Upton

Senate Republicans to Tea Party Movement: Go Screw Yourselves

Senate Republicans think you are stupid. Leaders in the Senate Republican Caucus are opposing a measure by Tea Party Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina to ban earmarks for two years. The elites are angry. Senate Republican Leaders have led

Mr. Issa, Take Note of Google and Obama Coziness

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand the Obama Administration’s view of business — it publically treats corporations with distain while privately promoting crony capitalism helping their favorite corporations with bailouts and subsidies. GM, Chrysler, Citibank, Goldman Sachs and

Will the GOP Break Its Word on Term Limits for Committee Chairmen?

When it comes to defining the meaning of the Republican victory last Tuesday, Marco Rubio got it exactly right: “This is our second chance.” Just four years ago, Republicans were turned out of the majority because they had forgotten the

'Net Neutrality Protectors' Swept Away by Midterm Wave

Ninety-five Democratic Congressional hopefuls signed last week a pledge to support the Federal Communications Commissions proposed Net neutrality rules. On Tuesday, all ninety-five “net neutrality protectors” lost to their Republican opponents. Among the measure’s endorsers–or victims, as some campaign insiders

Doctors vs. Bureaucrats: Are They Listening?

When patients, doctors and cancer treatment centers plead with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to continue to allow late-stage breast cancer patients to use life-extending drug Avastin as part of their treatment, it’s time to stand up and take

Fiorina Stands Up from Freedom; Slams 'Net Neutrality'

California Republican Senate hopeful Carly Fiorina Tuesday reaffirmed her opposition to the Federal Communications Commission’s bid to exert regulatory influence over the broadband industry, attesting in a web video to the onerous and “antiquated” regulations imposed on the tech industry.

Big Government Bloomberg Wants to Nanny New Yorkers

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, one of the country’s foremost nanny-staters, recently opened up a new front in the food wars, advocating a ban on the use of food stamps to purchase soft drinks. However, it is one of

Illinois Soldiers Wait for Ballots. Prisoners Get Hand Delivery.

Over 35 counties in Illinois missed the deadline to mail military ballots to our soldiers defending America. But in Chicago, county election officials have taken special steps to ensure that no inmates at the Cook County Jail are unable to

The Godfather will See You Now: The War on Private Equity

Had Mario Puzo ever collaborated with George Orwell, one might easily imagine a sinister or otherwise shadowy character brandishing the honorific, “The Intellectual Godfather of Private Equity Tax Hikes.” Sadly, the genius of these two novelists is unnecessary in a

Obama's De Facto Moratorium

On Tuesday, the Obama administration finally lifted its moratorium on drilling in the Gulf. However, concerns are already being voiced that the administration is keen to maintain a de facto moratorium that could keep future energy exploration from occurring in

Dems Gone Wild: Next Round on Donors to Dem State Auditor

When we say that Democrats spend money like drunken sailors, we meant it figuratively. It turns out, though, that at least some Dems take it literally. The video below shows Missouri State Auditor Susan Montee socializing at the recent Democrat

The Inside Story on Net Neutrality and the FCC

The FCC is trying to walk a careful line on net neutrality, according to Democratic and Republican sources in Congress and the FCC. Earlier this year, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski proposed regulations giving his agency wide authority over broadband services,

Federal Copy Editors Push $27 Million Spending Initiative

The federal government has identified a new opportunity in its quest to endlessly push dubious spending initiatives supposedly tied to advancing “the greater good.” According to the New York Post, federal copy-editors are forcing New York state to spend $27.6

Ohio's Leaders Need to Think Long-Term

In the last gubernatorial debate, Governor Strickland informed the viewers that “I’m happy to let the people of Ohio know tonight that according to the Federal Reserve out of Philadelphia, that Ohio now has the sixth fastest growing economy over

Obamacare Chart Redux: Proposed EPA Car Labels Deemed 'Confusing'

At the height of debate surrounding Democrats’ proposed overhaul of the American health care system, a chart purporting to explain the complex web of regulations created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act infamously made its way around the

Is the EPA Killing Green Jobs?

A recent report from the Senate Environment and Public Works committee and coal, among others – with unrealistic standards and impossibly complex regulations, threatening thousands upon thousands of jobs, not just in the industries themselves, but in the surrounding communities

Rogue Dems Buck Party, Save Seniors

House Democrats adjourned this week without a vote on extending the Bush tax cuts set to expire in January. While they seem content to blame Republican leadership for the failure, it turns out that a group of Democratic House members