Brain Trust - Gregg Harper

Congressman Gregg Harper (R, MS) came on The Matt Friedeman Show today to discuss the issues currently facing Congress. Here are the "CliffsNotes" of his segment.

There's a strained relationship between the House and the Senate.

It is a huge divide that is between the House and the Senate, and of course the White House.

We've had probably 25 bills that we've passed out of the House this year that are not even going to be looked at by the Senate.

The Senate is just lethargic or nonexistent, and intentionally putting the brakes on things that would make things go better.

If I didn't know better, I would say that the President and the Democrats sort of want things to shut down so they can shift the blame to the Republicans.

The President said recently that "Reaganism didn't work." Comments?

It is just such a divisive technique that the President has taken. He has been in full campaign mode since the so-called "Jobs Speech" back in September.

It's remarkable to watch him. We just need to get some things done and they obviously do not want to do that.

Is the tax burden going to increase soon?

If the payroll tax deduction doesn't pass, the average family will probably see an increase in taxes of about $1000 a year. That's real money in real pockets.

Is there no law about having to pass a budget?

It's just understood, both the House and the Senate are supposed to pass a budget every year.

Obviously they don't have to, because the year Nancy Pelosi was Speaker, they didn't pass one. I think the numbers were so bad that they were just too embarrassed.