This week, the House is considering passage of the Full Faith and Credit Act, a bill that would force the Treasury Department to prioritize interest payments on the national debt and Social Security payments over all other payments. According to Ways & Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp’s (R-MI) spokesperson Michelle Dimarob, the rest of the…

This week, the House is considering H.R. 807, the Full Faith & Credit Act of 2013 (FFCA), a GOP-supported bill that would instruct the Treasury Department to prioritize federal spending on Social Security payments and interest payments should the debt ceiling be breached. Treasury says it cannot prioritize payments: The Full Faith and Credit Act…

‘Deadbeats’ and Junkies Can’t Stop Spending Other People’s Money Today, Tea Party Patriots, the nation’s largest tea party organization, responded to President Obama’s press conference on the debt ceiling. “The President wails against shirking our debts as a country, but disingenuously refuses to take any meaningful steps to reduce that debt—such as spending less,” said Jenny Beth…

By Zayida Baker Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., walked October 22 in Perry’s annual Forest Day Parade. Dressed in jeans, he ran from one side of the crowd to the other, chatting and shaking hands. That afternoon Southerland spoke with Zayida Baker of Tea Party Patriots. Find more of the interview here and here. ZAYIDA BAKER:…

By Zayida Baker The top-down dynamic of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce mirrors that of the federal government that it lobbies. This has affected its relationship with local chambers and with freshman Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla. Southerland is former chairman of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. In his discussion of the national chamber, featured…

By Zayida Baker The U.S. Chamber of Commerce does not necessarily represent local chambers and often acts against their wishes. Its relationship with freshman Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., has reflected this pattern from the beginning of his political career. In the fall of 2010, shortly after Southerland won the Republican primary to challenge Democrat incumbent…

By Zayida Baker Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., voted on Tuesday, August 2, for the debt compromise put forward by President Obama and congressional leaders. It was enacted Tuesday afternoon. The Budget Control Act raises the debt ceiling in two stages by up to $2.4 trillion total, which should fund government through the 2012 elections. It…

By Zayida Baker Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., bolstered his tea-party credentials Monday, August 1, standing against the debt deal struck by President Obama and congressional leaders. It became law Tuesday afternoon. The Budget Control Act raises the debt ceiling in two stages by up to $2.4 trillion total, which should fund government through the 2012…

With votes cast to raise the debt ceiling, voters in Washington’s 4th district are left to wonder why Congressman Hastings ignored their calls to keep the debt ceiling where it was. “We had multiple calls into his office urging him to hold the debt limit where it was.” “He didn’t answer our calls; we want…

By Zayida Baker Freshman Steve Southerland, R-Fla., has resisted Republican leadership once again. He voted July 29 against the Budget Control Act, Speaker John Boehner’s, R-Ohio, second attempt at a debt-ceiling increase. As the Obama Administration’s August 2 deadline approaches, House Republicans have offered two bills to raise the debt ceiling. Their first choice, the…