rkthoka
06-11 03:45 PM
Hi
My Mother in law appeared at hyderabad US consulate and IO told her that she got visa but asked her to come up with new passport, becoz some letters in her current passort has faded out.
Is this happend with any one? and what we do in this situation after getting new passport?
I mean do we need another appointment or just go with new passport and drop?
Please through some thouts.
Regards,
Krishna.
My Mother in law appeared at hyderabad US consulate and IO told her that she got visa but asked her to come up with new passport, becoz some letters in her current passort has faded out.
Is this happend with any one? and what we do in this situation after getting new passport?
I mean do we need another appointment or just go with new passport and drop?
Please through some thouts.
Regards,
Krishna.
wallpaper Emma Watson Burberry Ad
Macaca
10-06 05:25 PM
Lott Looking to Form New �Gang� (http://rollcall.com/issues/53_38/news/20338-1.html) By Erin P. Billings | Roll Call Staff, October 4, 2007
In what could be a new incarnation of the successful bipartisan �Gang of 14,� Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.) hosted a meeting this week with a handful of the Senate�s most notable compromisers to figure out how to unclog the gridlock that has slowed the chamber�s progress this year.
About half a dozen moderate and independent-minded Republicans and at least one Democrat � Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.) � participated in the Members-only huddle, which was held quietly in Lott�s Capitol office Tuesday morning. Afterward, few Senators offered much detail, but several said there�s a feeling among them that the narrowly divided chamber no longer can operate at an impasse and they want to find ways to avoid the growing number of filibusters sidelining Senate legislation this year.
�We�re seeing if there�s a way to bring some people together to bring some more comity to this place,� Nelson said.
Lott declined to discuss the meeting or its goals, saying only: �I think I ought not say anything. Others are going to say too much, so I am not going to say anything.�
According to other Senators, however, the discussion focused on how the deal-minded group could help avert the growing number of standoffs in trying to clear bills through the Senate this Congress. Most particularly, Senators said they vetted ways to work through upcoming fights on such issues as appropriations bills and stalled judicial nominations such as that of Leslie Southwick, Lott�s home-state pick for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Southwick narrowly cleared the Judiciary Committee last summer but has yet to come up for full Senate consideration. The White House and Republican Senators have been trying to corral 60 votes to advance his confirmation, but are still shy of meeting that mark against powerful Democratic opposition.
�It�s about creating a better environment to get things done for the country,� said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who participated in the meeting. �We need to get back to being a deliberative body.�
�We�re going to see if we can work beyond the logjam,� said Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who also was there and described it as the �beginning of a process.�
Graham, Nelson and Snowe were members of the previous Congress� bipartisan Gang of 14, a group of seven Democrats and seven Republicans who assembled in the face of a bitter partisan Senate standoff over movement of President Bush�s judicial nominees. The group brokered a historic deal to allow for votes on certain stalled Bush picks in exchange for keeping the minority�s option to use the filibuster intact.
That group didn�t formally involve Lott as one of its members, but the then-rank-and-file Mississippi Senator was a primary force behind the scenes leading to its creation. Lott stepped away after the gang officially formed.
Nelson wouldn�t say this week whether Tuesday�s meeting was a step toward
re-creating a similar bipartisan coalition, calling the Gang of 14 �unique.� But the Nebraska Democrat did suggest there are clear parallels in terms of the two groups� goals.
�It�s just a conversation at this point,� Nelson said. �We�re trying to see if there�s an interest in building support for moving legislation and to avoid having as many cloture votes as we�ve had and moving legislation along.�
So far this year, the Democratic majority has called to invoke cloture, a lengthy procedural roadblock that has markedly slowed down Senate action on a whole host of bills, some 56 times. Democrats have argued they are forced to do so against an intransigent 49-seat GOP minority, while Republicans have insisted it shows that Democrats are trying to ram through legislation without their input.
Although not all showed up, sources indicated that about 10 Senators were asked to take part in Tuesday�s meeting. In addition to Lott, Nelson, Graham and Snowe, GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Bob Corker (Tenn.), John Warner (Va.), John McCain (Ariz.), Gordon Smith (Ore.) and Norm Coleman (Minn.) were invitees.
Although not in attendance Tuesday, Coleman said discussions abound among rank-and-file Senators about how to �fix things� and break some of the legislative stalemate. He added that it�s not a surprise that Lott � one of the Senate�s most notorious deal-makers � would lead the charge.
�It�s a legitimate concern,� Coleman said of the gridlock. �We�re all impacted by the failure of being able to do the things that people sent us here to do.�
In what could be a new incarnation of the successful bipartisan �Gang of 14,� Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.) hosted a meeting this week with a handful of the Senate�s most notable compromisers to figure out how to unclog the gridlock that has slowed the chamber�s progress this year.
About half a dozen moderate and independent-minded Republicans and at least one Democrat � Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.) � participated in the Members-only huddle, which was held quietly in Lott�s Capitol office Tuesday morning. Afterward, few Senators offered much detail, but several said there�s a feeling among them that the narrowly divided chamber no longer can operate at an impasse and they want to find ways to avoid the growing number of filibusters sidelining Senate legislation this year.
�We�re seeing if there�s a way to bring some people together to bring some more comity to this place,� Nelson said.
Lott declined to discuss the meeting or its goals, saying only: �I think I ought not say anything. Others are going to say too much, so I am not going to say anything.�
According to other Senators, however, the discussion focused on how the deal-minded group could help avert the growing number of standoffs in trying to clear bills through the Senate this Congress. Most particularly, Senators said they vetted ways to work through upcoming fights on such issues as appropriations bills and stalled judicial nominations such as that of Leslie Southwick, Lott�s home-state pick for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Southwick narrowly cleared the Judiciary Committee last summer but has yet to come up for full Senate consideration. The White House and Republican Senators have been trying to corral 60 votes to advance his confirmation, but are still shy of meeting that mark against powerful Democratic opposition.
�It�s about creating a better environment to get things done for the country,� said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who participated in the meeting. �We need to get back to being a deliberative body.�
�We�re going to see if we can work beyond the logjam,� said Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who also was there and described it as the �beginning of a process.�
Graham, Nelson and Snowe were members of the previous Congress� bipartisan Gang of 14, a group of seven Democrats and seven Republicans who assembled in the face of a bitter partisan Senate standoff over movement of President Bush�s judicial nominees. The group brokered a historic deal to allow for votes on certain stalled Bush picks in exchange for keeping the minority�s option to use the filibuster intact.
That group didn�t formally involve Lott as one of its members, but the then-rank-and-file Mississippi Senator was a primary force behind the scenes leading to its creation. Lott stepped away after the gang officially formed.
Nelson wouldn�t say this week whether Tuesday�s meeting was a step toward
re-creating a similar bipartisan coalition, calling the Gang of 14 �unique.� But the Nebraska Democrat did suggest there are clear parallels in terms of the two groups� goals.
�It�s just a conversation at this point,� Nelson said. �We�re trying to see if there�s an interest in building support for moving legislation and to avoid having as many cloture votes as we�ve had and moving legislation along.�
So far this year, the Democratic majority has called to invoke cloture, a lengthy procedural roadblock that has markedly slowed down Senate action on a whole host of bills, some 56 times. Democrats have argued they are forced to do so against an intransigent 49-seat GOP minority, while Republicans have insisted it shows that Democrats are trying to ram through legislation without their input.
Although not all showed up, sources indicated that about 10 Senators were asked to take part in Tuesday�s meeting. In addition to Lott, Nelson, Graham and Snowe, GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Bob Corker (Tenn.), John Warner (Va.), John McCain (Ariz.), Gordon Smith (Ore.) and Norm Coleman (Minn.) were invitees.
Although not in attendance Tuesday, Coleman said discussions abound among rank-and-file Senators about how to �fix things� and break some of the legislative stalemate. He added that it�s not a surprise that Lott � one of the Senate�s most notorious deal-makers � would lead the charge.
�It�s a legitimate concern,� Coleman said of the gridlock. �We�re all impacted by the failure of being able to do the things that people sent us here to do.�
sharadov
10-01 05:55 PM
Hello - I need to find out what job positions qualify for EB2 category.
2011 emma watson burberry 2011.
alahiri
02-27 02:53 AM
Washington Post has published a open letter from Mr Bill Gates to the Congress to pass CIR and highlighted the importance of retaining competent workforce in this country by reforming the Green Card program and increasing the number of H1B's. Please submit comments to his open letter in Washington Post showing support for this historical letter:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/23/AR2007022301697.html
Wish everyone best of luck.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/23/AR2007022301697.html
Wish everyone best of luck.
more...
gvenkat
10-17 02:21 PM
Bump.
TexDBoy
07-21 09:57 PM
I was also doing my part-time when I went for Visa ... For 33, I did say "yes" and gave the University name.
Not sure if IO looked at it ... did not ask me any questions regarding that ...
Not sure if IO looked at it ... did not ask me any questions regarding that ...
more...
beautifulMind
02-05 06:43 PM
i485 rfe for my wife. Please help
My wife received an rfe for the things listed below. I think she got it because her finger prints are not machine readable and FBI have not been able to verify it....
1) Submit true certfied copies of any and all arresting officers reports....blah blah blah
2) Other: Local police clearance Letter from every place you have lived in united states
My wife has been in US close to five years and lived in 2 cities
MY question is
for 1) she has never violated any law so does not have court disposition or anything of that sort so does she need
anything for this?
for 2) She has resided in 2 cities but also stayed in India for 4 months.
The rfe clearly says "for every place lived in united states"
so I would think she does not need a police clearance certificate
from India
Please help we have till march 5th to reply this RFE
My wife received an rfe for the things listed below. I think she got it because her finger prints are not machine readable and FBI have not been able to verify it....
1) Submit true certfied copies of any and all arresting officers reports....blah blah blah
2) Other: Local police clearance Letter from every place you have lived in united states
My wife has been in US close to five years and lived in 2 cities
MY question is
for 1) she has never violated any law so does not have court disposition or anything of that sort so does she need
anything for this?
for 2) She has resided in 2 cities but also stayed in India for 4 months.
The rfe clearly says "for every place lived in united states"
so I would think she does not need a police clearance certificate
from India
Please help we have till march 5th to reply this RFE
2010 2010 Burberry emma watson
Macaca
08-15 09:25 PM
Bush, Congress Struggle in Public Eye (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/15/AR2007081501271.html) By DAVID ESPO | The Associated Press, August 15, 2007
WASHINGTON -- The Democratic-controlled Congress and President Bush seem locked in a perverse competition for public unfavorability, according to a new Associated Press-Ipsos poll.
The survey shows Bush's approval ratings at 35 percent, and Congress' even lower, 25 percent. Only 27 percent of those polled said the country is headed in the right direction, and 39 percent said they support the Iraq war, with 58 percent opposed.
While Bush's favorability ratings have remained relatively unchanged for months, Congress' support declined markedly between May and July, a dip confirmed in a poll of 1,003 people taken last week.
Asked whether they approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job after seven months of divided government, those surveyed were then prompted to volunteer a reason.
Of the 74 percent of those expressing congressional disapproval, 22 percent said lawmakers generally aren't doing their jobs. Another 20 percent cited a specific issue for their unhappiness. Twelve percent said they disapprove of Congress because lawmakers care only about themselves and their party, while 10 percent cited backstabbing and infighting.
Among those who cited an issue, the war in Iraq was mentioned most often. It was cited by 7 percent of those disapproving of Congress' performance, followed by health care, 5 percent; immigration, 2 percent and employment and wage issues, 2 percent.
The survey was taken as Congress was beginning its August recess, providing a respite from months of unsuccessfully trying to force Bush to change course in Iraq.
Democratic leaders have vowed to renew their challenge to Bush when they return to the Capitol after Labor Day. An autumn clash also looms over federal spending, and Bush has posted veto threats against bills dealing with farm programs, expansion of children's health care and energy.
"I don't think this war is going the way it should be. We're over there for nothing," said Richard Reda, 64, of Nashua, N.H., a Vietenam War veteran and self-described political independent.
In an interview, he said, "I think Congress should go over Bush's head and get these troops back here. There's got to be a way where they can override Bush to get the troops back here."
Maria Guyan, a 28-year-old school secretary from Struthers, Ohio, agreed. Guyan described her politics as "lean Democrat" and said, "I just don't think they're doing enough to keep President Bush from basically going forward on whatever he wants."
She said Congress should focus most on withdrawing from Iraq and improving the nation's education system.
"We definitely need to get out of the war, and we need to basically just realize we cannot run another country in addition to our own," she said.
But Peggy Grandinetti, 69, a Republican from Florence, Ala., criticized Congress for not standing by Bush on the war.
"I just completely disagree of pulling out of Iraq. I think we ought to stay there and finish the job," said the retired medical assistant.
Richard Henson, 58, of Atlanta, Ga., was among the Democrats who said Congress has failed to address a problem with illegal immigration.
"The immigrants are running bills up," said the post office manager, citing health care and school taxes as examples. "We have to pay extra taxes to support illegal immigrants. I don't think they should benefit from our services that we're paying taxes on."
Wes Kangas, 65, a Republican and retired banker in Vancouver, Wash., expressed weariness. "They don't seem to get anything done. All they do is bicker back and forth. After a while it gets kind of old," he said.
Republicans were more likely to say Congress wasn't doing its job, 26 percent, while Democrats tended to cite a specific issue, 24 percent. Among independents, 22 percent said generally that lawmakers weren't doing their job, and 20 percent pointed to a specific issue, a list topped by the war in Iraq.
When it came to judging Bush, 70 percent of Republicans approved of his performance, with 27 percent disapproving. Democrats split 89-9 in disapproval, and 68 percent of independents disapproved.
Congress, by contrast, was held in disregard without regard to party.
Among independents, 73 percent said they disapproved of the way Congress was handling its job, with 23 percent expressing approval. Among Democrats, a striking 70 percent disapproved and 26 percent approved, while Republicans split, 74-23, in disapproval.
The poll's margin of error was plus or minus three percentage points.
WASHINGTON -- The Democratic-controlled Congress and President Bush seem locked in a perverse competition for public unfavorability, according to a new Associated Press-Ipsos poll.
The survey shows Bush's approval ratings at 35 percent, and Congress' even lower, 25 percent. Only 27 percent of those polled said the country is headed in the right direction, and 39 percent said they support the Iraq war, with 58 percent opposed.
While Bush's favorability ratings have remained relatively unchanged for months, Congress' support declined markedly between May and July, a dip confirmed in a poll of 1,003 people taken last week.
Asked whether they approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job after seven months of divided government, those surveyed were then prompted to volunteer a reason.
Of the 74 percent of those expressing congressional disapproval, 22 percent said lawmakers generally aren't doing their jobs. Another 20 percent cited a specific issue for their unhappiness. Twelve percent said they disapprove of Congress because lawmakers care only about themselves and their party, while 10 percent cited backstabbing and infighting.
Among those who cited an issue, the war in Iraq was mentioned most often. It was cited by 7 percent of those disapproving of Congress' performance, followed by health care, 5 percent; immigration, 2 percent and employment and wage issues, 2 percent.
The survey was taken as Congress was beginning its August recess, providing a respite from months of unsuccessfully trying to force Bush to change course in Iraq.
Democratic leaders have vowed to renew their challenge to Bush when they return to the Capitol after Labor Day. An autumn clash also looms over federal spending, and Bush has posted veto threats against bills dealing with farm programs, expansion of children's health care and energy.
"I don't think this war is going the way it should be. We're over there for nothing," said Richard Reda, 64, of Nashua, N.H., a Vietenam War veteran and self-described political independent.
In an interview, he said, "I think Congress should go over Bush's head and get these troops back here. There's got to be a way where they can override Bush to get the troops back here."
Maria Guyan, a 28-year-old school secretary from Struthers, Ohio, agreed. Guyan described her politics as "lean Democrat" and said, "I just don't think they're doing enough to keep President Bush from basically going forward on whatever he wants."
She said Congress should focus most on withdrawing from Iraq and improving the nation's education system.
"We definitely need to get out of the war, and we need to basically just realize we cannot run another country in addition to our own," she said.
But Peggy Grandinetti, 69, a Republican from Florence, Ala., criticized Congress for not standing by Bush on the war.
"I just completely disagree of pulling out of Iraq. I think we ought to stay there and finish the job," said the retired medical assistant.
Richard Henson, 58, of Atlanta, Ga., was among the Democrats who said Congress has failed to address a problem with illegal immigration.
"The immigrants are running bills up," said the post office manager, citing health care and school taxes as examples. "We have to pay extra taxes to support illegal immigrants. I don't think they should benefit from our services that we're paying taxes on."
Wes Kangas, 65, a Republican and retired banker in Vancouver, Wash., expressed weariness. "They don't seem to get anything done. All they do is bicker back and forth. After a while it gets kind of old," he said.
Republicans were more likely to say Congress wasn't doing its job, 26 percent, while Democrats tended to cite a specific issue, 24 percent. Among independents, 22 percent said generally that lawmakers weren't doing their job, and 20 percent pointed to a specific issue, a list topped by the war in Iraq.
When it came to judging Bush, 70 percent of Republicans approved of his performance, with 27 percent disapproving. Democrats split 89-9 in disapproval, and 68 percent of independents disapproved.
Congress, by contrast, was held in disregard without regard to party.
Among independents, 73 percent said they disapproved of the way Congress was handling its job, with 23 percent expressing approval. Among Democrats, a striking 70 percent disapproved and 26 percent approved, while Republicans split, 74-23, in disapproval.
The poll's margin of error was plus or minus three percentage points.
more...
friend99
10-06 09:39 PM
Hi,
My Spouse Application was rejected due to incorrect fee though the USCIS were accepting application with old fee till august 17th! It was filed on August3rd! and it was with old fee! Will it be accepted if we send a letter that the fee was right the first time!
Has anybody's both primary and spouse applications got the receipts with old FEES and had applied in AUGUST, Pls reply asap as my spouse application rejected and we had applied on august 3rd!
My Spouse Application was rejected due to incorrect fee though the USCIS were accepting application with old fee till august 17th! It was filed on August3rd! and it was with old fee! Will it be accepted if we send a letter that the fee was right the first time!
Has anybody's both primary and spouse applications got the receipts with old FEES and had applied in AUGUST, Pls reply asap as my spouse application rejected and we had applied on august 3rd!
hair Model: Emma Watson
immm
07-18 03:35 PM
This is purely my opinion and may not be the best legal advice. If I were in the same situation, I would go by the EB type (EB2 first) and then by the priority dates. Whichever one is higher, I would apply both in that classification. If both I-140's are EB3 and same priority dates, I would go with the one with better job security (stable employer and job) and keep the other I-140 as backup. In this day and age of corporate acquisitions, mergers and bankruptcies and USCIS backlogs, you want to use the option with the least risk.
more...
sneha.shah
04-26 12:03 PM
Hi,
I am currently on L1B visa since Mar09, another employer is offering for my h1b visa. I have below queries for l1 to h1 conversion process :
1) How much time I can stay on H1 if I apply H1b now ? My total stay in US on L1 is 1 year 7 months, not a continuous one !!!
2) What are the good options/approach to file for H1 considering the fact that I want work with current employer on L1B for current project ?
3) Can I apply for H1 now and later do COS any time after October ?If yes, what is the max time before I need to do COS after H1 approval ?
4) How about if my current project completes before oct 1st and I have already applied for h1 ?
Kindly help me for above questions, would appreciate your help.
Thanks in advance.
I am currently on L1B visa since Mar09, another employer is offering for my h1b visa. I have below queries for l1 to h1 conversion process :
1) How much time I can stay on H1 if I apply H1b now ? My total stay in US on L1 is 1 year 7 months, not a continuous one !!!
2) What are the good options/approach to file for H1 considering the fact that I want work with current employer on L1B for current project ?
3) Can I apply for H1 now and later do COS any time after October ?If yes, what is the max time before I need to do COS after H1 approval ?
4) How about if my current project completes before oct 1st and I have already applied for h1 ?
Kindly help me for above questions, would appreciate your help.
Thanks in advance.
hot Emma Watson is once again the
4046
04-11 02:30 PM
I have both, but Cinema is seems easier. But 3d max as the ability to have better materials. Well who knows, I guess I should really start learning 3D, it's just that it's soooo hard.
more...
house But here#39;s a recent Burberry
Circus123
06-28 06:51 PM
Can someone advise on this please ?
It is kinda urgent :)
It is kinda urgent :)
tattoo Emma Watson for Burberry 2010
shaji_p_j
08-05 01:26 AM
I am on H1B and my wife is in H4 here. She is a nurse and can apply for the AOS before Aug 17 .But she does not have all certificate that makes her AOS approved at this time. We hope that we can obtain the certificate (Visa Screen certificate) by the time the RFE comes. But it is a 50-50 chance only. So what could be the best option for us and consequences of each.
My case (h1B)
1. I also apply for AOS with her so that I can get aGC along with her but do not use the EAD .
2. I apply for the AOS later but before her AOS approved.
My wife case (h4)
1. Apply for the AOS but do not use EAD
2. Apply AOS and use EAD.
Also do you know around when the USCIS issues RFE once the application is recieved?
I really appreciate your advice in this.
Shaji.
My case (h1B)
1. I also apply for AOS with her so that I can get aGC along with her but do not use the EAD .
2. I apply for the AOS later but before her AOS approved.
My wife case (h4)
1. Apply for the AOS but do not use EAD
2. Apply AOS and use EAD.
Also do you know around when the USCIS issues RFE once the application is recieved?
I really appreciate your advice in this.
Shaji.
more...
pictures Emma Watson for Burberry 2010
thomasstuart
11-27 02:09 AM
Hey all
Can anyone suggest that which are good university to do master in computer science?????
Can anyone suggest that which are good university to do master in computer science?????
dresses Emma Watson: Burberry
ash27
07-17 07:47 PM
When I was on F1, I was able to get my EAD by going to USCIS office. Not sure if we can do the same thing after filing I-485
more...
makeup Fab Ad: Emma Watson for
grimreaper
01-17 10:35 AM
Just came across GAO's( General Accountability Office) recommendations to make changes in H-1B program. Eventhough they talk mainly about Staffing Companies and increased employer accountability, there seems to be a mention regarding the H1B extensions beyond 6 years with simultaneous application to green card. Eventhough not stating in exact words, it seems to hint to the congress to seriously relook at H-1B extensions beyond 6years and also regarding cap exempt Visas and supposedly how easy it is to get them. Looks like with the economy being how it is, Congress might use this report to jump in and bring some unfavourable changes. Any thoughts on this...?
Here is the link to the report:
http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1126high.pdf
Here is the link to the report:
http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1126high.pdf
girlfriend Emma Watson makes
gcdreamer05
01-24 08:04 AM
It is advisable to file change of status to h4 while in USA, no need to go back to india. After you get your h4 approved then you can go for stamping...
hairstyles Style Icon: Emma Watson
acecupid
06-16 10:46 AM
Great news... thanks for posting!
Blog Feeds
01-18 05:10 AM
Ohio Lawyer Sentenced In Green Card Scheme - Cincinnati News Story - WLWT Cincinnati (http://www.wlwt.com/news/22237499/detail.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2893395975825897727-2222158148770373490?l=martinvisalaw.blogspot.com
More... (http://martinvisalaw.blogspot.com/2010/01/ohio-lawyer-sentenced-in-green-card.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2893395975825897727-2222158148770373490?l=martinvisalaw.blogspot.com
More... (http://martinvisalaw.blogspot.com/2010/01/ohio-lawyer-sentenced-in-green-card.html)
Macaca
11-01 05:29 PM
Conservatives Launch Caucus (http://www.rollcall.com/issues/53_52/news/20766-1.html) By John Stanton | ROLL CALL STAFF, October 31, 2007
Frustrated by what they see as a party gone astray, a group of House and Senate conservatives led by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) today will announce a new bicameral caucus aimed at returning fiscal restraint, ethics and national defense to the fore of the GOP's philosophical and policy platforms.
The group - which in addition to DeMint and Hensarling is made up of Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) and Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) - will officially announce the creation of their new caucus - dubbed Reagan21. They also will unveil their "statement of policy commitment," which includes 10 key positions on issues ranging from Congressional earmarks to health care reform.
While participants are billing the new caucus as a complement to the leadership teams in place in the House and Senate, Republicans familiar with the project acknowledge that to a certain degree it is a challenge to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), because implicitly the call for a new direction is a rejection of the course they have steered along with President Bush.
"When you're saying, 'Here's the vision of what the party should be,' you're saying the vision isn't there right now," said a House Republican not directly involved with the effort.
A second Republican agreed, arguing that a more broad change in how the party runs is needed.
"Whenever there's a vacuum in elected or political leadership, there's a need to fill it. When you have leadership positions not resulting in leadership, people will go elsewhere," the second Republican said, adding the problems of the party go far beyond simple messaging conflicts.
"It's a fight for [the GOP's] soul, not just a superficial divide. There are people who believe it's the job of Republican Members to come here and send money home to their states and to expand government. And that's just not what rank-and-file party members want."
Today's announcement of the group's principles for reform of the Republican Party are the first in a series of steps that the caucus will take over the next several months. Members are in the process of setting up independent outside institutions - similar to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation - to support their activities, and they will have a Web site up and running in the next few weeks.
Although details of those plans were unclear at press time Tuesday, one member of the group said the caucus will use the foundation as a semi-independent apparatus to communicate with Republicans outside Washington, D.C., as well as the general public.
Although members of the group declined to comment on the caucus on the record, one Member involved said the lawmakers believe the GOP's elected leaders have strayed from the party's traditional fiscal conservative roots.
"A few of us here are trying to change the culture" of the GOP, the lawmaker said, adding that "the core values of the Republican Party are not being adhered to by the party inside Congress. But there's a yearning for it outside the Beltway."
According to Republicans familiar with the effort, it arose from meetings between DeMint, who chairs the Republican Steering Committee in the Senate, and Hensarling, who chairs the Republican Study Committee in the House. Both organizations are the hub for conservative efforts in the chambers, and following the disastrous 2006 election, DeMint and Hensarling began holding meetings in an effort to better coordinate their efforts.
Eventually, the two began to bring other lawmakers into these Member-only meetings. Following months of discussion, the group decided to start the caucus, choosing a name that would invoke the core fiscal principles of former President Ronald Reagan for the 21st century.
The principles - which new members will be required to make a pledge to follow and which will be the centerpiece of the group's legislative and public outreach efforts - cover a wide variety of issues. For instance, members of the caucus will be required to foreswear asking for any new earmarks in legislation. The principles also call for reforms to the tax code and entitlement programs, including the implementation of personal "ownership" of retirement security and health care decisions, according to a copy of a document obtained by Roll Call. Members of the caucus also will support expansion of intelligence and other national defense programs, as well as an aggressive border security approach to immigration.
While all of the members of the group would likely fall under the broad rubric of "social conservatives," the principles steer clear of issues like abortion or gay marriage. According to those involved in the effort, members of Reagan21, according to one, have decided that while those issues are important to them, they have decided to "focus on the fiscal policy issues that I think really killed us last year."
Republicans privately also applauded the decision to stay with traditional fiscal issues rather than expand the group's focus into social topics. One source noted that while most base Republican voters are fierce social conservatives, many independent voters and disaffected Democrats - who agree with the GOP on fiscal issues and ethics - are turned off by the party's heavy tilt toward its social wing.
According to GOP aides, the group has operated under strict confidentiality rules as it has hashed out how it will operate and what its mission should be - so much so that staff continue to have only a sketchy idea of what their bosses are envisioning. Additionally, the members of the group have agreed to not tip their hand to either Boehner or McConnell before today's news conference, although they have begun reaching out to like-minded Members in the House and Senate to join the group.
The formation of the caucus is the latest in a series of breaks between conservatives, particularly in the Senate, and the party's traditional power centers this year. DeMint and Coburn have openly and repeatedly attacked "Old Bulls" in the party like Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) for their use of earmarks. Additionally, conservatives openly broke with their leaders this spring over the immigration bill.
The Reagan21 member cautioned that the caucus's critique of current GOP positions should not be seen as members "tak[ing] a swipe at anybody" in leadership positions. "They've got a tough job and it's hard to get your arms around the whole party" in a way that could facilitate reform, the lawmaker explained, adding that Reagan21 participants see themselves as "the conscience of the Republican Party here" in Washington.
But reform will be key if Republicans are to avoid further electoral loses next year, this member said.
"Unless the Republicans get together and define themselves we're going to get caught in fog. ... I don't want to be Democrat-lite," the lawmaker said, adding that the group hopes to attract Members who have long been fiscal conservatives as well as new recruits. Reagan21 hopes "that a lot of these Republicans who like to think they can have it both ways - go home and talk like conservatives but come here and vote for whatever they want - will be forced to come to our side. We can't continue to allow a few people in our party continue to pervert what we are about."
Frustrated by what they see as a party gone astray, a group of House and Senate conservatives led by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) today will announce a new bicameral caucus aimed at returning fiscal restraint, ethics and national defense to the fore of the GOP's philosophical and policy platforms.
The group - which in addition to DeMint and Hensarling is made up of Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) and Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) - will officially announce the creation of their new caucus - dubbed Reagan21. They also will unveil their "statement of policy commitment," which includes 10 key positions on issues ranging from Congressional earmarks to health care reform.
While participants are billing the new caucus as a complement to the leadership teams in place in the House and Senate, Republicans familiar with the project acknowledge that to a certain degree it is a challenge to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), because implicitly the call for a new direction is a rejection of the course they have steered along with President Bush.
"When you're saying, 'Here's the vision of what the party should be,' you're saying the vision isn't there right now," said a House Republican not directly involved with the effort.
A second Republican agreed, arguing that a more broad change in how the party runs is needed.
"Whenever there's a vacuum in elected or political leadership, there's a need to fill it. When you have leadership positions not resulting in leadership, people will go elsewhere," the second Republican said, adding the problems of the party go far beyond simple messaging conflicts.
"It's a fight for [the GOP's] soul, not just a superficial divide. There are people who believe it's the job of Republican Members to come here and send money home to their states and to expand government. And that's just not what rank-and-file party members want."
Today's announcement of the group's principles for reform of the Republican Party are the first in a series of steps that the caucus will take over the next several months. Members are in the process of setting up independent outside institutions - similar to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation - to support their activities, and they will have a Web site up and running in the next few weeks.
Although details of those plans were unclear at press time Tuesday, one member of the group said the caucus will use the foundation as a semi-independent apparatus to communicate with Republicans outside Washington, D.C., as well as the general public.
Although members of the group declined to comment on the caucus on the record, one Member involved said the lawmakers believe the GOP's elected leaders have strayed from the party's traditional fiscal conservative roots.
"A few of us here are trying to change the culture" of the GOP, the lawmaker said, adding that "the core values of the Republican Party are not being adhered to by the party inside Congress. But there's a yearning for it outside the Beltway."
According to Republicans familiar with the effort, it arose from meetings between DeMint, who chairs the Republican Steering Committee in the Senate, and Hensarling, who chairs the Republican Study Committee in the House. Both organizations are the hub for conservative efforts in the chambers, and following the disastrous 2006 election, DeMint and Hensarling began holding meetings in an effort to better coordinate their efforts.
Eventually, the two began to bring other lawmakers into these Member-only meetings. Following months of discussion, the group decided to start the caucus, choosing a name that would invoke the core fiscal principles of former President Ronald Reagan for the 21st century.
The principles - which new members will be required to make a pledge to follow and which will be the centerpiece of the group's legislative and public outreach efforts - cover a wide variety of issues. For instance, members of the caucus will be required to foreswear asking for any new earmarks in legislation. The principles also call for reforms to the tax code and entitlement programs, including the implementation of personal "ownership" of retirement security and health care decisions, according to a copy of a document obtained by Roll Call. Members of the caucus also will support expansion of intelligence and other national defense programs, as well as an aggressive border security approach to immigration.
While all of the members of the group would likely fall under the broad rubric of "social conservatives," the principles steer clear of issues like abortion or gay marriage. According to those involved in the effort, members of Reagan21, according to one, have decided that while those issues are important to them, they have decided to "focus on the fiscal policy issues that I think really killed us last year."
Republicans privately also applauded the decision to stay with traditional fiscal issues rather than expand the group's focus into social topics. One source noted that while most base Republican voters are fierce social conservatives, many independent voters and disaffected Democrats - who agree with the GOP on fiscal issues and ethics - are turned off by the party's heavy tilt toward its social wing.
According to GOP aides, the group has operated under strict confidentiality rules as it has hashed out how it will operate and what its mission should be - so much so that staff continue to have only a sketchy idea of what their bosses are envisioning. Additionally, the members of the group have agreed to not tip their hand to either Boehner or McConnell before today's news conference, although they have begun reaching out to like-minded Members in the House and Senate to join the group.
The formation of the caucus is the latest in a series of breaks between conservatives, particularly in the Senate, and the party's traditional power centers this year. DeMint and Coburn have openly and repeatedly attacked "Old Bulls" in the party like Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) for their use of earmarks. Additionally, conservatives openly broke with their leaders this spring over the immigration bill.
The Reagan21 member cautioned that the caucus's critique of current GOP positions should not be seen as members "tak[ing] a swipe at anybody" in leadership positions. "They've got a tough job and it's hard to get your arms around the whole party" in a way that could facilitate reform, the lawmaker explained, adding that Reagan21 participants see themselves as "the conscience of the Republican Party here" in Washington.
But reform will be key if Republicans are to avoid further electoral loses next year, this member said.
"Unless the Republicans get together and define themselves we're going to get caught in fog. ... I don't want to be Democrat-lite," the lawmaker said, adding that the group hopes to attract Members who have long been fiscal conservatives as well as new recruits. Reagan21 hopes "that a lot of these Republicans who like to think they can have it both ways - go home and talk like conservatives but come here and vote for whatever they want - will be forced to come to our side. We can't continue to allow a few people in our party continue to pervert what we are about."
No comments:
Post a Comment