Free Republic

Here is video of White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs today castigating GOP Sen. Mike Enzi for clearly turning "over his cards on bipartisanship" in the Health Care negotiations. Enzi is one of the GOP leaders in the negotiations, and Gibbs says his recent comments indicate the Republicans are stepping away from bipartisanship . . . . . (Watch Video)

Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) of Wyoming delivered the weekly Republican address Saturday on the loss of Senator Kennedy and the importance of getting health care reform done right. Senator Enzi discussed how the Democrats are rushing a health reform bill through congress that will ultimately "raid Medicare", raise costs and increase the deficit. And, he urged lawmakers to listen to what the American people are saying and scrap the Democrats’ current plan in order to "enact common sense reform that will actually cut costs." Here's the video: Senator Enzi: ObamaCare to Cut Billions from Elderly

Senator Mike Enzi of Wyoming delivers the weekly Republican address on the loss of Senator Kennedy and the importance of getting health care reform done right. Sen. Enzi discusses how the Democrats are rushing a health reform bill through congress that will ultimately "raid Medicare", raise costs and increase the deficit. Sen. Enzi urges lawmakers to listen to what the American people are saying and scrap the Democrats' current plan in order to "enact common sense reform that will actually cut costs."

Mike Enzi (R-WY) has taken plenty of heat from his conservative constituents for attempting to hammer out a bipartisan health-care reform bill in the Senate.  However, Enzi appears frustrated not with Wyoming voters but with the Democrats on the other side of the table.  With just a few days left before Congress resumes work, Enzi blasted the Democrats for spending too much money and limiting patient choice, when what America needs is the exact opposite: A leading GOP negotiator on health care struck a further blow to fading chances of a bipartisan compromise by saying Democratic proposals would restrict medical...

Signaling a fading chance for compromise, a leading Republican negotiator on health care legislation on Saturday criticized Democratic legislative proposals as budget-busters that would reroute Medicare spending and restrict medical choices. The criticism from Sen. Michael Enzi, R-Wyo., echoed that of many opponents of the Democratic plans under consideration in Congress. But Enzi's judgment was especially noteworthy because he is one of only three Republicans who have been willing to consider a bipartisan bill in the Senate.

<p>A leading GOP negotiator on health care struck a further blow to fading chances of a bipartisan compromise by saying Democratic proposals would restrict medical choices and make the country's "finances sicker without saving you money."</p> <p>The criticism from Sen. Michael Enzi, R-Wyo., echoed that of many opponents of the Democratic plans under consideration in Congress. But Enzi's judgment was especially noteworthy because he is one of only three Republicans who have been willing to consider a bipartisan bill in the Senate.</p>

Sen. Mike Enzi wants the Obama administration to withdraw its nominee for Solicitor of the Department of Labor. Enzi sent a letter to President Obama accusing nominee Patricia Smith of giving "inconsistent statement and testimony" to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Enzi, of Wyoming, is the top Republican on the panel. Smith currently serves as commissioner for the New York Department of Labor and started a program in the city called "Wage Watch," which utilizes community groups to "participate in a range of activities aimed at improving labor law compliance, including holding know-your-rights training, providing employers with information...

Partisan anger flared Wednesday as senators began the public drafting of legislation to remake the health care system. By day’s end, lawmakers had settled in for a long, hard slog that may not fit with President Obama’s goal of signing a bill within four months. ... Another Senate committee, dogged by questions about the cost and complexity of the legislation, postponed its session, scheduled for next Tuesday, until after July 4. Democrats said they needed the delay by the Finance Committee to work on reducing the cost of the bill, intended to provide insurance to millions of people with no...

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the Senate’s only accountant, today criticized wasteful spending in a health care reform bill released by HELP Committee Democrats this week. “The Kennedy-Dodd bill will pave sidewalks, build jungle gyms, and open grocery stores, but it won’t bring down health care costs or make quality coverage more affordable,” Enzi said. “In a time of record debt and deficits, how can Democrats justify the wasteful spending in this bill? “We need to root out the waste, fraud and abuse that is...

Seven Republican senators signed a letter sent to President Bush on Tuesday, urging him not to use Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds in a bailout of U.S. automakers. The senators wrote that absent restructuring, they "do not believe any amount of money will succeed in saving these companies." The letter was sent by Senators Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), John Ensign (R-Nevada), Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia).

The pro-life record of Wyoming's two Republican U.S. senators is being questioned following their strong support for the Susan G. Komen Foundation's "Race for the Cure" in their home state.  Sens. Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi routinely vote on the side of pro-life causes, but their alliance with the Komen Foundation's Wyoming affiliate exists despite the fact that Komen hands part of the money it raises over to local chapters of the pro-abortion Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Planned Parenthood clinics provide breast cancer screening and education, but the organization is the nation's top abortion provider. Both senators' conservative...

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo, Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today introduced legislation to wipe out tobacco use in America through an innovative cap-and-trade program that will shrink the size of the tobacco market over the next 20 years. “Tobacco kills. We need new ideas to get people to stop smoking, or better yet, never to start,” Enzi said. “That’s what my legislation does. My bill contains a novel cap-and-trade program that will guarantee that fewer people suffer the deadly consequences of smoking, while providing flexibility in how those reductions...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Dr. John Barrasso began his rounds on Capitol Hill on Monday, learning how to be a senator. At a photo session with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Wyoming's other senator, Republican Mike Enzi, Barrasso declined to answer any questions, walking out of the room with his new colleagues as a reporter asked how he would vote on an immigration measure. Barrasso has so far declined to say how he will vote on the issue, but he is not expected to stray far from his party's policies. Barrasso will serve until the beginning of 2009. A...

This morning the U.S. Senate further considers S.1955, a bill to amend title I of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to expand health care access and reduce costs through the creation of small business health plans and through modernization of the health insurance marketplace. This bill would significantly impact health insurance in ways many may not understand. Everyone using health insurance really needs to be aware of what's in this bill. And small business owners, too. Is it the right solution to lower health care costs? Is it what it appears to...

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Insurance commissioners and other officials from several states are criticizing legislation sponsored by Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., that they say would strip states of their ability to set minimum coverage requirements for health insurance plans. While Enzi says he intends his Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act to allow people who are currently uninsured to afford coverage, officials from half a dozen states warn that the bill could in fact raise costs for many customers while reducing minimum coverage. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee last month approved the bill. Enzi, who chairs the...

Senate Bill Would Override State Health Coverage Rules GOP backers see the legislation as a way for insurers to offer more affordable plans. Critics say it would undermine treatment protections. By Ronald Brownstein, Times Staff Writer March 16, 2006 WASHINGTON — The battle over healthcare moved to a new front Wednesday as Senate Republicans advanced a bill that would change the way health insurance was sold nationwide. On a party-line vote, a Senate committee approved a bill that would preempt state laws that require insurance policies to cover specific services, such as maternity care and supplies for diabetics.

This may be the last holiday season to enjoy tax-free Internet shopping, thanks to new legislation in the U.S. Congress. Two bills introduced Wednesday propose sweeping changes to how Americans are taxed for online and mail order purchases. Businesses initially would be required to collect sales taxes on purchases shipped to roughly half of the country, and that percentage is expected to rapidly increase. "Main Street retailers collect sales taxes, while many online and catalog retailers are exempt from collecting the same taxes," said a statement published by Sen. Mike Enzi, a Wyoming Republican. "This is costing states and localities...

Alliance for Marriage Recognizes 13 Senators With “Defender of Marriage” Award Rudy Takala The American Eagle News And Economic Report May 27,2005 Pine City, MN Last May 19th, the Alliance for Marriage (AFM) recognized thirteen senators with their first annual “Defender of Marriage” Award. The award was given to both Republican and Democratic senators who voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004, including Senators Allard (R-CO), Bunning (R-KY), Burns (R-MT), Byrd (D-WV), Brownback (R-KS), Cornyn (R-TX), Frist (R-TN), Inhofe (R-OK), Lott (R-MS), Santorum (R-PA), Sen. Enzi (D-WY), Hatch (R-UT), and Smith (R-OR). Ultimately, the amendment failed by a vote...

Much of the Washington press corps was preoccupied last week with the White House economic proposals, which are about allowing people to keep more of their money. Meanwhile, the National Governors Association was across town hosting a separate gathering that focused on just the opposite. The NGA -- along with its buddies at the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National League of Counties, the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors -- desperately wants to tax Internet use. And they're hoping that Internet phone calls... will pave the way. You're forgiven if you thought this was...

Meeting addresses 'No Child' act By Becky Orr rep6@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle CHEYENNE - A federal law that brings major changes in public education to Wyoming and across the country will be the focus of a town hall meeting Monday. People who have questions about what the No Child Left Behind Act means can ask the experts during the meeting at Laramie County Community College. U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., will join State Superintendent of Public Instruction Trent Blankenship and assistant secretary of legislation Karen Johnson from the U.S. Department of Education. They'll explain what the No Child...