Trump Keeps Working

 
While the media continue pushing a narrative of chaos and turmoil, the president continues to make progress pushing his agenda.  President Trump signed an executive order this week setting the stage for significant welfare reform.
 
Why is welfare reform necessary?  Because there is growing dependency on big government.  For example, one analysis found that the number of able-bodied adults on Medicaid has quadrupled since 2000.   Over the same period of time, Medicaid spending tripled to more than $600 billion.
 
The president's order sets out nine principles of "economic mobility:"
 

• Improve employment outcomes and economic independence.
• Promote marriage and family as a way of escaping poverty.
• Address the challenges of hard-to-employ populations.
• Provide more flexibility to States, while ensuring accountability for achieving outcomes.
• Streamline services to more effectively use taxpayer resources.
• Reserve benefits for those truly in need.
• Consolidate duplicative programs.
• Facilitate greater sharing of information between States and localities.
• Empower the private sector to find solutions to poverty.

 
I am particularly pleased to see the Trump/Pence Administration promoting the value of marriage and family in welfare reform.  Many of our libertarian friends (not to mention our "progressive" opponents) often scoff at the idea of promoting values issues in public policy. 
 
The results speak for themselves.  Strong families have been the foundation of strong societies throughout history.  That is indisputable. 
 
The breakdown of the family has led to devastating social consequences.  No government program can make up for fatherless homes.  Marriage and the family is best anti-poverty program that ever existed.
 
 
 
Ryan Round II
 
Washington is still processing the news of Speaker Paul Ryan's retirement.  Of course, the left says this is more evidence of a progressive "wave" this November.
 
Over the last few years, many conservatives were critical of Speaker Ryan.  I disagreed with him periodically.
 
Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, said he was not surprised by yesterday's announcement because Ryan "really didn't like politics.  He was a policy guy." 
 
And I would say that is a big part of the problem. 
 
The left-wing juggernaut is politicizing everything.  If you're a policy guy, join a think tank.  If you don't like politics, then don't run for office.  In politics you have to fight as hard as your opponents fight.
 
Having said that, I think Ryan is being unfairly criticized for not getting enough done on the conservative agenda.  The fact is Paul Ryan and House conservatives have passed dozens of conservative bills. 
 
For example, the House passed legislation defunding Planned Parenthood, repealing Obamacare, banning late-term abortions and cracking down on sanctuary cities.
 
But for conservatives, the old joke is right -- the Senate is where good legislation goes to die.  Virtually everything House conservatives passed died in the Senate because of the 60-vote rule. 
 
It is not accurate to say that "Conservatives in control of Congress did very little."  In the body where conservatives have a working majority they did a lot.  Where conservatives lacked an effective majority, the left was able to block everything.
 
 
 
Speaking Of GOP Speakers. . .
 
Did you see the news about former House Speaker John Boehner?  He joined the board of a company that sells marijuana. 
 
When he was leading House Republicans, Boehner declared that he was "unalterably opposed to the legalization of marijuana."  But his thinking has since "evolved."  Is he still evolving politically or is it his bank account that needs evolving?
 
Boehner is a perfect example of why so many Americans are so cynical about politics. 
 
 
 
Protesting Planned Parenthood
 
The left loves student walkouts from school when they are protesting our Second Amendment right to self-defense.  Let's see how it reacts to protests planned for April 23rd.
 
Parents disgusted with the graphic content of sex ed material being pushed in the public schools, often by Planned Parenthood, are planning protests in at least six states.  Unfortunately, it often goes well beyond sex ed.
 
In Illinois, frustrated parents are trying to stop legislation that forces all public schools, even elementary schools, to promote "the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State."
 
Once again, the extremism of the left is on full display.  Now we have to teach transgender history to elementary students.
 
It is astonishing how the homosexual rights movement has evolved.  It began by preaching tolerance for what two adults do in the privacy of their own bedroom.  Conservatives were mocked for suggesting there was a "radical agenda" aimed at children. 
 
I think it is clear which side was more honest in the culture wars.  The left lied.  It has gone from privacy in the bedroom to promotion in the public schools and zero tolerance for anyone who disagrees. 
 
 
 
Speaking Of History. . .
 
All Israelis -- no matter where they were or what they were doing -- stopped everything this morning at 10:00 AM.  Sirens sounded throughout the Jewish state reminding the nation of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.
 
In his proclamation recognizing Holocaust Remembrance Day, President Trump declared:
 
"We have a responsibility to convey the lessons of the Holocaust to future generations, and together as Americans, we have a moral obligation to combat antisemitism, confront hate, and prevent genocide.  We must ensure that the history of the Holocaust remains forever relevant and that no people suffer these tragedies ever again."
 
Unfortunately, it seems our schools are failing in that responsibility too.  According to a new survey, 45% of Americans can't name a single concentration camp.  That number skyrockets to 66% among Millennials.  The names Auschwitz, Dachau, Buchenwald, Bergen-Belsen, Treblinka have no meaning to them.
 
Incredibly, 22% of Millennials had no idea what the Holocaust even was. 
 
Given that only nine states require education about the Holocaust, it seems we have a long way to go to fulfill the responsibility and moral obligation President Trump wrote about in his Holocaust Remembrance Day proclamation.
 
  

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