Republicans target left's pet causes

House Republicans unveiled a report on AARP’s alleged abuse of its tax status. | John Shinkle/POLITICO

“The committee will of course conduct rigorous oversight, but it does not ‘target’ any group and does not target anyone based on their political views. AARP came under the microscope because they inexplicably (at the time) endorsed over one-half trillion dollars in cuts to seniors’ Medicare benefits,” Ways and Means deputy staff director Sage Eastman said in an email. “We now have a better idea of why they may have done so; as the report suggests, they stand to reap over $1 billion in profits from cuts to the very seniors they claim to represent.”
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) has devoted much attention to internal abuses by federal agencies. But spokesman Frederick Hill said the panel will also be eyeing another favorite conservative target: public and private unions.

Hill noted internal reviews of allegedly excessive compensation packages for federal employees and favoritism to the pensions of union members of the bankrupt Delphi Corp.

When the House approved Boehner’s school-voucher bill Wednesday, debate fell on the broader context of the influence of teachers unions. Despite earlier GOP expectations for bipartisan support, Illinois Rep. Daniel Lipinski was the only Democrat who voted for the bill, which his party viewed as “anti-union.”
Other examples of longtime liberal allies that have recently come under scrutiny by the House GOP have been pursued for years by individual members. When Indiana Rep. Mike Pence in February won nearly party-line approval of his amendment to end last year’s $317 million in federal support for Planned Parenthood, he said it was the fourth time he had attempted such a cutoff. The controversy over his amendment looms as one of the “policy” issues that could thwart a final deal between the House and Senate to meet the April 8 deadline to extend federal spending.
Likewise, when the House rescinded funds for NPR in the spending bill, internal meltdowns by top officers at the public radio network facilitated the opposition of longtime conservative foes.
Meanwhile, two Republicans — Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana and Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah — have proposed a bill to curtail environmental groups’ access to federal funds to reimburse legal fees for nonprofits that successfully sue the federal government. Such a move would cut off groups like Defenders of Wildlife and Friends of the Earth.
Waxman said Republican attacks on these programs have been politically motivated as part of the GOP’s efforts to silence opponents.
“They want to stay in power. They don’t want criticism, so they make ad hominem attacks. As with all bullies, they only want silence,” he said. “They are doing it for their base.” In the final deal cutting on the budget bill, he worried that “Republicans are trying to blackmail the Senate and the president” on the so-called policy riders.
Republicans dismiss such attacks or suggestions that they have an overarching game plan to punish groups on the left.
“The Democratic majority in the House again and again protected liberal special interests,” Steel said. “We are addressing the oversights of their oversight.”

The GOP's True Intentions
April 1, 2011, Matthew Cochrane

Uh oh. They’re on to us. The mainstream media has finally figured out what the newly energized GOP is all about. Politico has the scoop: If Republicans break through the spending gridlock that has seized Capitol Hill, the rest of their agenda is starting to come into focus: defunding, investigating and otherwise beating up on liberal causes.At every turn, the GOP is attacking sacred cows of the left. The party has already voted to kill all federal funding for Planned Parenthood, a longtime conservative nemesis. NPR may lose its federal support. Republicans have targeted the Environmental Protection Agency for investigation and are moving to kill a federal program that benefits environmental activist groups like Defenders of Wildlife. Even AARP — once untouchable because of its political and demographic power — is being targeted.This week, House Ways and Means Committee Republicans unveiled a 34-page report on AARP’s alleged abuse of its tax status in health care reform. The GOP has also gone after teachers unions, which were a target in the House-passed bill to encourage school vouchers in the District of Columbia. Republican attacks on some of these well-known names in the liberal brand are only beginning, aides and lawmakers say. And nevermind that few of these initiatives stand a chance at becoming law, conservatives are getting in their whacks and sending a message.“Each of these initiatives is designed to save taxpayers’ money or create jobs or help needy children. The goal is better public policy for the American people,” said Michael Steel, spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner. “When conservative policy goals are opposed by liberal special interests, our goal is to break their rice bowls.” Those dastardly Republicans! When they’re not busy cutting billions of dollars from the federal budget, they’re busy fighting public broadcasting, Planned Parenthood, and out-of-control unions! What will they think of next!

Republicans target left's pet causes By: Richard E. Cohen April 1, 2011 04:39 AM EDT If Republicans break through the spending gridlock that has seized Capitol Hill, the rest of their agenda is starting to come into focus: defunding, investigating and otherwise beating up on liberal causes. At every turn, the GOP is attacking sacred cows of the left. The party has already voted to kill all federal funding for Planned Parenthood, a longtime conservative nemesis. NPR may lose its federal support. Republicans have targeted the Environmental Protection Agency for investigation and are moving to kill a federal program that benefits environmental activist groups like Defenders of Wildlife. Even AARP — once untouchable because of its political and demographic power — is being targeted. This week, House Ways and Means Committee Republicans unveiled a 34-page report on AARP’s alleged abuse of its tax status in health care reform. The GOP has also gone after teachers unions, which were a target in the House-passed bill to encourage school vouchers in the District of Columbia. Republican attacks on some of these well-known names in the liberal brand are only beginning, aides and lawmakers say. And nevermind that few of these initiatives stand a chance at becoming law, conservatives are getting in their whacks and sending a message. “Each of these initiatives is designed to save taxpayers’ money or create jobs or help needy children. The goal is better public policy for the American people,” said Michael Steel, spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner. “When conservative policy goals are opposed by liberal special interests, our goal is to break their rice bowls.” But House Democrats, who have been mostly powerless in stopping the GOP attacks, contend that Republican attacks on liberal targets undermine their stated goal of job creation as a top priority. “There is a tendency for the Republican majority to demonize their opposition, as they did with Red-baiting in the 1950s or questioning people’s patriotism,” said California Rep. Henry Waxman, who himself has been a vigorous lawmaker and investigator in the past. “These groups are being punished for their views. I don’t see the constructive side of the Republican criticism. It’s been punitive.” And even though Republican leaders insist they aren’t waging a coordinated assault on issues liberals hold dear, GOP attacks continue to crop up individually among various members and House committees. Republican leaders and committee communicators also discuss these types of issues in weekly reviews of their agendas. This week, when the Ways and Means Committee released its report, “Behind the Veil: The AARP America Doesn’t Know,” Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Charles Boustany (R-La.) suggested that the senior citizen lobby’s commercial activities interfere with its tax-exempt status, and he called for an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service to determine whether the group’s “privileged status ought to be revoked.” Republicans reject criticisms that their AARP review or other investigations have a partisan motive. The 18-month AARP review was spawned by the Democrats’ handling of the health care bill. “The committee will of course conduct rigorous oversight, but it does not ‘target’ any group and does not target anyone based on their political views. AARP came under the microscope because they inexplicably (at the time) endorsed over one-half trillion dollars in cuts to seniors’ Medicare benefits,” Ways and Means deputy staff director Sage Eastman said in an email. “We now have a better idea of why they may have done so; as the report suggests, they stand to reap over $1 billion in profits from cuts to the very seniors they claim to represent.” House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) has devoted much attention to internal abuses by federal agencies. But spokesman Frederick Hill said the panel will also be eyeing another favorite conservative target: public and private unions. Hill noted internal reviews of allegedly excessive compensation packages for federal employees and favoritism to the pensions of union members of the bankrupt Delphi Corp. When the House approved Boehner’s school-voucher bill Wednesday, debate fell on the broader context of the influence of teachers unions. Despite earlier GOP expectations for bipartisan support, Illinois Rep. Daniel Lipinski was the only Democrat who voted for the bill, which his party viewed as “anti-union.” Other examples of longtime liberal allies that have recently come under scrutiny by the House GOP have been pursued for years by individual members. When Indiana Rep. Mike Pence in February won nearly party-line approval of his amendment to end last year’s $317 million in federal support for Planned Parenthood, he said it was the fourth time he had attempted such a cutoff. The controversy over his amendment looms as one of the “policy” issues that could thwart a final deal between the House and Senate to meet the April 8 deadline to extend federal spending. Likewise, when the House rescinded funds for NPR in the spending bill, internal meltdowns by top officers at the public radio network facilitated the opposition of longtime conservative foes. Meanwhile, two Republicans — Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana and Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah — have proposed a bill to curtail environmental groups’ access to federal funds to reimburse legal fees for nonprofits that successfully sue the federal government. Such a move would cut off groups like Defenders of Wildlife and Friends of the Earth. Waxman said Republican attacks on these programs have been politically motivated as part of the GOP’s efforts to silence opponents. “They want to stay in power. They don’t want criticism, so they make ad hominem attacks. As with all bullies, they only want silence,” he said. “They are doing it for their base.” In the final deal cutting on the budget bill, he worried that “Republicans are trying to blackmail the Senate and the president” on the so-called policy riders. Republicans dismiss such attacks or suggestions that they have an overarching game plan to punish groups on the left. “The Democratic majority in the House again and again protected liberal special interests,” Steel said. “We are addressing the oversights of their oversight.”