By: Don Bates Jr.

The President created a stir among the environmental left this week when he announced the opening of certain coastal areas to off-shore oil exploration.  Proponents of stringent regulations banning, or severely limiting, the development of off-shore and other forms of domestic oil and natural gas production are expressing deep frustration that the President who expressed support for their position on the campaign trail has seemingly turned on them. Meanwhile, some who have been promoting the idea of national energy independence, in part by way of domestic oil exploration, are wondering if the President has moved us one step forward in the right direction.

While I would like for the President to abandon the politics of environmental alarmism and embrace the common-sense solution of allowing environmentally responsible domestic energy resource development, I am not happy with this latest policy move by the Administration. Strong and vibrant on its surface, this plan will not do enough for our needs, and it may end up do nothing at all.

Nearly two summers ago Americans saw an already struggling economy get socked with high energy prices, particularly gasoline prices. This energy price increase compounded a growing problem, and American industry, agriculture, and families suffered. When the economy slowed down still further, and as workers lost their jobs, energy prices began to come down. However, our nation is still in need of an energy independence policy that embraces domestic energy development as a means of assisting the economy, creating jobs, and strengthening our national security.

President Obama’s plan gives the green light to exploration in limited coastal areas, but it does not give a green light to actually producing oil and natural gas from wells in those areas. Unannounced to the American public, the Administration has recently closed areas in Alaska that would have been ready for full production of oil and natural gas within two years. These areas were much closer to coming on line and helping to meet the energy needs of our country than the areas that were just opened for exploration. It takes years, sometimes decades, for exploration to turn into production. Opening up areas for exploration while shutting down areas that are close to being ready for production, is not serious energy policy, it is serious Washington politics.

While the ultimate fate of the health care bill will rest with the next Congress and the next Administration, the immediate working limiting the bill’s negative impact on the American economy begins now. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, a capable and veteran legal expert, has joined 13 other state Attorneys General in challenging elements of the health care reform bill in the federal court system. The primary thrust of Zoeller’s and other AG’s challenge is that Congress cannot lawfully use its Commerce Clause power, found in Article I of the Constitution, to force the American people to buy a commercial product or face tax penalties.  Further, they argue that Congress overstepped its bounds in ordering the states to set up insurance exchanges that will function along the lines of federal regulations and federal law.

Both of these legal approaches to the un-Constitutionality of the health care bill are sound, and the several AGs should be commended for vigorously pushing forward this challenge. Don specifically commented on Attorney General Zoeller’s joining of the fray by saying:

“The Attorney General’s decision to challenge the health care bill’s legality marks a step    in the right direction for the people of Indiana.  Although the motives behind the health       care bill’s passage were laudable, the specifics in the bill stand in stark contrast to our founder’s vision for our country. We cannot afford the $2.5 trillion price tag of this legislation; and we cannot afford to surrender our freedom, the quality of our care, and the innovation of our medical professionals to the aims of government bureaucrats.”

Ultimately, what the AGs do will only limit the severe and far-reaching consequences of the government takeover. It is very unlikely that they will be able to achieve a full repeal of every bad policy contained in the bill, and rightfully they shouldn’t achieve a full victory in a courtroom.  Some elements of the bill are blatantly counter to Constitutional principles, and as such they should be ruled illegal. Other elements are bad policy that will result, or are resulting, in unacceptable outcomes. Those policies must be rolled back and repealed in the halls of Congress and that is why this election is so important!

By: Don Bates Jr.

If the Democrats were hoping for a groundswell of support after they passed their health care reform bill, I’m afraid they are being sadly disappointed. As we find out more and more what was in the actual bill that passed, some special interest groups are upset, and Americans continue to voice their objections to both the overall principles behind the bill and the specific policies it contains. One point that I have made repeatedly is that as Congress spends more money that we do not have, it threatens the very ability of our country to continue to borrow money at affordable rates. That concern is now being voiced by conservative writers and business analysts alike.

Working for over a decade and a half in the financial industry, I know what works and what doesn’t work. But you don’t have to be in the financial industry to know that the concept of forever borrowing and never repaying is a bad idea. Every single Hoosier, every single Hoosier family, farmer, and employer knows that unless you learn to live within your means, and not borrow unreasonable levels of money that you can’t repay, you will face financial ruin. In the days ahead I will continue to promote common sense policies for some of the greatest fiscal and economic issues facing our nation. It’s time for Washington to wake up, and start living within its means like millions of Hoosiers do every day.

Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared on HoosierAccess.com.

By: Don Bates Jr.

For months the American people and the people of Indiana have made their opinion of the Democrat’s health care reform bill very clear. In townhall meetings at home and in protests in the nation’s Capitol, a reoccurring theme has emerged: do not forcefully takeover the American health care system, limit our freedom, spend trillions of dollars that we don’t have, and create a new entitlement system that will place a further burden on our economic future. Yesterday, Democrats on Capitol Hill led by Speaker Pelosi and President Obama arrogantly refused to follow the will of the people on this very critical issue.

There can be no misunderstanding as to what the passage of this legislation means. It takes nearly 1/6th of our entire economy and places it under unprecedented government control. Billions of dollars in new taxes and wide-ranging regulations sink the impact of this bill deep into the lives of average Americans. This Congress and this Administration have effectively begun the Europeanization of our health care system. Regardless of the good intentions of those who voted for this bill, there is no doubt that if implemented as advertised, it will lead to long waiting lines and lower quality care for millions of Americans.

Perhaps one of the most egregious aspects of this legislation is the new tax it imposes on employers. Businesses that hire certain lower income Americans face annual per employee taxes ranging from $2,000 per year per employee to $3,000 per year per employee. Many currently unemployed Americans fall into this category of lower income workers, and employers are now going to face steep tax penalties for trying to put these people back to work. At a time when our nation’s unemployment rate is at historic levels, only Washington politicians like Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D) could pass such a short-sighted, job-killing legislation and call it good reform.

Although I am disappointed at the outcome of yesterday’s vote, I am not disheartened in the fight for a stronger America. I pledge to every primary voter and every citizen of Indiana that, if elected, I will fight for a repeal of this government takeover of health care. The battle is not over. The American people rejected the health care bill, Democrats rammed it through Congress anyway, and now I pledge to fight for the repeal of this un-American, anti-free market legislation.

Here’s a note from Don:

Congress is on the verge of passing a $2.5 trillion health care reform bill that will take health care decisions out of the hands of Hoosiers and place them in the hands of bureaucrats in Washington.  The choices that should be left to you, your family and your doctor will be governed by government “experts” intent on doing what is good for government, not what is good for you. As I have traveled the state I have repeatedly said that there are two directions our country could take right now; we could continue to slide towards European-style socialism or we could return to Ronald Reagan’s vision of a shining city on a hill.

Some are wringing their hands in dismay as this Administration and this Congress try to ram their proposals through the process without much consideration for the Constitution.  In my opinion, the backroom deals, the attempts to skirt a recorded vote in the House, and the vote-buying kickbacks and gimmicks all indicate that this so-called reform is just another power grab.

Indiana’s next senator must be someone who is strong enough to stand up to Washington.  It needs to be someone with experience in business and finance and with a moral compass oriented on freedom, personal responsibility, limited government and family values.  As a father, community leader, and experienced financial advisor and analyst, I am ready to go to Washington and get to work on your behalf.

Freedom is on the line with this next election and I believe that freedom can, and will, win!  In order for our campaign to win in November, I am going to need your help right now!  Join me in the fight for freedom by contributing $10, $25, $50, $100 or $500 to our campaign.  Your contribution will move us forward and give us the needed resources to stand up to the agenda of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, and carry our message throughout Indiana.  The momentum is building and your help will keep it moving forward!