RSC Republican Study Committee

Religious Persecution in China (7/1/08)
In light of the upcoming 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, there has been increased scrutiny into religious persecution taking place in China—particularly the persecution of Christians. The RSC has published this Policy Brief to summarize recent reports.

The Consequences of Repealing the Social Security Wage Cap (6/30/08)
The Social Security program is funded by a 12.4% payroll tax, 6.2% on the employee and 6.2% on the employer. In 2008, the Social Security payroll tax applies to the first $102,000 of an employee’s income. This $102,000 threshold, beyond which wages are not subject to the Social Security payroll tax, is the Social Security wage cap. Some Democrats, as a means to address Social Security’s financial troubles, advocate raising or completely eliminating the Social Security wage cap. The RSC has prepared the attached policy brief analyzing the impact of these proposals on the Social Security system and on the tax burden.

Medical Loss Ratios (6/30/08)
In light of proposals by House Democrats and several state Governors to regulate insurers’ expenditures on administrative expenditures and profits, the RSC has prepared this Policy Brief analyzing the issue.

Medicare and Physician Reimbursement (6/24/08)
The RSC prepared this one-pager, “Medicare: How Big is It?” to put into perspective the costs of Medicare.

The RSC also prepared this Policy Brief exploring current policies regarding Medicare physician reimbursement

DC School Choice (6/20/08)
In light of Democrat attempts to reduce funding for the wildly popular school choice program in the nation’s capital, the RSC prepared this Policy Brief on the bipartisan program

Competitive Bidding for Durable Medical Equipment (6/16/08)
The RSC prepared this Policy Brief providing background information on the competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment.

Conservatives Demand Lower Taxes (6/16/08)
This RSC Policy Brief is a menu of bills introduced by RSC Members in the 110th Congress that would lessen the tax burden for individuals and businesses, thereby reducing the reach of the federal government and increasing freedom for all Americans. 

Nominal Drug Pricing (6/12/08)
Next week, the House may consider the Senate amendments to H.R. 2642, the Iraq/Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations bill. The Senate has included a provision in H.R. 2642 which would undo a provision in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) that removed university clinics and private birth control clinics—including many Planned Parenthood clinics—from the list of entities entitled to receive “nominal” drug pricing under the Public Health Service Act of 1944.

Update: The Supplemental passed by the House on June 20, 2008 did not include this provision.

Medicare Advantage and Comparative Effectiveness Institute (6/2/08)
In light of potential floor action during the upcoming Congressional work period on legislation covering the sustainable growth rate (SGR) reimbursement mechanism for physicians and other related Medicare topics, the RSC has prepared these Policy Briefs providing background on both Medicare Advantage insurance plans and the creation of a comparative effectiveness institute.

Democrat Assault on American Energy (5/20/08)
In light of rising crude oil prices, the resulting spike in gas prices, and the continued reliance on energy supplies from unfriendly or unstable regions of the world, the RSC has prepared this policy brief detailing the Democrat pattern of blocking attempts to increase the supply of American energy and actively promoting policies that would make American energy less available, more expensive, and thus less affordable for poor and middle class Americans.

SCHIP Crowd-out Regulations (5/19/08)
In light of potential attempts by Congressional Democrats to repeal Administration guidance to states about their State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) guidelines, the RSC has released a Policy Brief examining the issue.

Certificate of Need Programs (5/13/08)
The RSC has prepared this Policy Brief analyzing state Certificate of Need programs and their impact on health care policy.

Cover the Uninsured Week (4/28/08)
As part of the annual Cover the Uninsured Week, the RSC has prepared a Policy Brief analyzing the various segments of the uninsured population.

In addition, the RSC has prepared two other Policy Briefs related to the uninsured: the first analyzing the consequences of “guaranteed issue” regulations that force insurance carriers to accept all applicants, regardless of health status, and the second analyzing the implications of various health care reform proposals requiring individuals to purchase and maintain health insurance coverage.

Understanding the Current Housing Market (April 2008)
In light of the increasing concerns over the state of housing in America, the RSC has prepared the following policy brief analyzing the current housing market and legislative responses.

Medicaid Regulations Q&A (4/23/08)
In anticipation of a floor vote on legislation (H.R. 5613) designed to block the Administration from finalizing several Medicaid anti-fraud regulations, the RSC released a Policy Brief providing background on the issue and legislation.

Health Savings Account Substantiation (4/14/08)
In light of proposals by Congressional Democrats to attach new substantiation requirements to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), the RSC released this Policy Brief explaining the issue.

Student Loan Legislation (4/14/08)
In light of the markup of H.R. 5715 in the Education and Labor Committee, this Policy Brief outlines initial concerns regarding Chairman Miller’s proposal to ensure the continued availability of student financial assistance (H.R. 5715), and the effects that previous legislation has had on the loan market. 

Impending Tax Increases (4/4/08)
The RSC updated its annual document showing the tax increases that will automatically occur unless Congress takes action.  To read the list of impending tax increases, click here.

Medicaid and the States (4/2/08)
The RSC released this Policy Brief analyzing the relationship between Medicaid and the states, particularly in regards to several anti-fraud regulations proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Medicare Trustees Report (3/25/08)
The RSC released this Policy Brief summarizing the report issued today by the trustees of the Medicare program regarding its future funding levels.

In addition, the RSC also released this Policy Brief analyzing the growth of health care costs and its fiscal and economic impact.

PEPFAR Reauthorization (3/4/08)
After the House Foreign Affairs Committee met last week to mark-up the reauthorization of the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), the RSC released this policy update outlining the major changes made to the bill and issues that were not addressed during mark-up.

Specialty Hospitals (3/4/08)
In light of the Democrat financial attack on physician-owned specialty hospitals in mental health parity legislation, the RSC prepared this Policy Brief analyzing the issue.

RSC Fiscal Reform Bills (3/3/08)
In light of the looming entitlement crisis and discretionary spending growth, the RSC prepared this Policy Brief highlighting the fiscal reform bills introduced by individual RSC Members.

Top Ten Reasons NOT to Support the Mental Health Parity Act (3/3/08)
In light of pending floor consideration of H.R. 1424 the RSC released this one-pager outlining the top ten reasons NOT to support the Mental Health Parity Act.

PEPFAR Reauthorization (2/26/08)
As the House prepares to consider legislation reauthorizing the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), the RSC released this Q & A document addressing serious concerns the bill has raised from both fiscal and a pro-life perspectives.

PEPFAR (2/25/08)
The House Foreign Affairs Committee was scheduled to mark up a bill reauthorizing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The bill raises some serious fiscal and values concerns for conservatives, which are detailed in this RSC Policy Brief.

Children’s Health Insurance in Bush Budget (2/25/08)
The RSC has prepared this Policy Brief analyzing proposals regarding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in President Bush’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget.

Federal Spending Stats (2/19/08)
As Congress begins the FY 2009 budget process, the RSC prepared this one-pager with information on how much the federal government spends, what the public thinks about it, and what happens if federal spending continues on its present course.

Medicare Trigger (2/15/08)
The RSC has prepared this Policy Brief summarizing President Bush’s proposals to address the Medicare funding warning issued by the Medicare trustees, as required by the Medicare Modernization Act. RSC Chairman Hensarling (R-TX) also wrote this op-ed in The Washington Times on the looming financial crisis in Medicare.

The President's FY 2009 Budget Request (2/04/08)
The RSC prepared the attached Policy Brief which contains highlights of the President’s FY 2009 Budget Request.

Health Care Budget Proposals (2/4/08)
The RSC released this Policy Brief outlining the health care and entitlement reform proposals included in President Bush's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget.

SCHIP Veto (1/22/08)
In anticipation of the House vote dispensing with the President’s veto of SCHIP legislation (H.R. 3963), the RSC has prepared a revised legislative bulletin and background policy brief reflecting developments since the House last considered the legislation. To read the RSC's Legislative Bulletin on H.R. 3963, click here.

To read the RSC's Q & A document reflecting developments since the House last considered the legislation, click here.

RSC Policy Briefs: Medicare funding (1/22/08)
In light of discussions about additional Medicaid funding as part of an economic “stimulus” package, and the President’s impending release of Medicare cost-containment legislation as part of provisions in the Medicare Modernization Act, the RSC has prepared two policy briefs regarding these issues.

To read the RSC's Policy Brief on the Medicare funding warning incorporated into the Medicare Modernization Act, click here.

To read the RSC's Policy Brief on current Medicaid Funding Issues, click here.