Enzi: ICBM Cuts 'Naive and Short-Sighted'

Cutting the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile capability would be "naïve and short-sighted," said Wyoming Republican Sen. Mike Enzi.

"America’s ICBM force is a visible reminder that America is prepared to protect itself and its allies from any nation that wishes to harm us," said Enzi,  who co-founded and chairs the Senate's bipartisan ICBM Coalition. "This administration’s tendency to arbitrarily and unilaterally reduce our nuclear force only increases threats to our national security."

Enzi has introduced two amendments to protect ICBMs. The first, supported by all members of the coalition, would prohibit the Defense Department from removing ballistic missile silos containing a deployed missile, and requires missiles to be kept at least in a "warm" status. 

The second, co-sponsored by fellow Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso and North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven, both Republicans, calls for any further reductions in the nation's nuclear force to be made through the formal treaty-making process outlined in the Constitution.

The moves come as protests stack up against plans by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to  conduct an environmental-impact study on the possible elimination of ICBM silos. 

A timeline prepared by Hagel's office would eliminate one unidentified ICBM squadron and destroy its silos by Dec. 5, 2017, reports The Washington Free Beacon,  in order to "meet the New START Treaty compliance date." 

According to the timeline, the military would start removing the missiles in October, after the proposed environmental assessment is finished. After that, the silo elimination would start in May 2016, taking 19 months to finish, The Beacon reports.

Via: Newsmax

Continue Reading.....

ENZI, VITTER BILL PUTS CONGRESS INTO OBAMACARE EXCHANGES

On Tuesday, Sens. Mike Enzi (R-WY) and David Vitter (R-LA) introduced legislation to reinstate the requirement that members of Congress, and their staffs, receive health coverage through ObamaCare exchanges, as well as pay the costs of their premiums. Earlier this month, the federal government issued a regulation issuing an exemption for Congress from the requirement included in the ObamaCare law. 

During the debate on ObamaCare, Sen. Chuck Grassley (IA) won approval for an amendment requiring Congress and its staff to enroll for coverage in the health exchanges set up by ObamaCare. This requirement also threatened the ability of the federal government to continue to pick up 75% of the costs of health insurance premiums for Congress, as it currently does. 

After close consultation with the White House and Capitol Hill, the Office of Personnel and Management ruled that the federal government could continue to provide Congress with its existing health insurance coverage, forgoing the exchanges or any dramatic increase in out-of-pocket premium payments. 

Politico reported that the exemption was driven by fears of a "brain drain" on Capitol Hill, causing aides to leave for other jobs rather than pay more for insurance under ObamaCare. 

It is a bit rich to argue that a law forced on all Americans has such potentially negative consequences that members and aides might quit unless they are made exempt. Where do I go to get an exemption?

The Enzi-Vitter bill would reverse the OPM exemption. 

Via: Breitbart

Continue Reading....