“Ideas that matter,
since 1965.”

Ripon Forum
Vol. 58, No. 3

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In this edition

At a time when nearly three-quarters of the American people are expressing concern about presidents gaining more political power, the latest edition of The Ripon Forum examines how Congress can address these concerns and reclaim its rightful role as the First Branch of government.

By Caroline Banaszak

To Keep America Great, We Must Reduce Our National Debt

When you add other liabilities and unfunded social insurance obligations, the total federal financial sinkhole is over $125 trillion and growing faster than the economy.

By Caroline Banaszak

Protests, Free Speech, and Antisemitism on College Campuses

If colleges won’t act to protect the safety of their own students, Congress has a responsibility to do so. We cannot sit idly by as campus protesters intimidate and harass their Jewish classmates.

By Caroline Banaszak

The Good and the Bad of Domestic Data Protection

To better secure American data, the U.S. federal government should focus on enhancing and enforcing data protection standards, regardless of the company’s country of origin.

By Caroline Banaszak

Restoring to Congress the Power of the Purse

In today’s partisan environment, Members of Congress who belong to the same party as the President see their role as being adjuncts to the Executive Branch. That has to stop.

By Caroline Banaszak

How Congress can Tame the Administrative State

All told, the Biden Administration has issued nearly 250 significant rules since taking office in 2021, a pace that far exceeds any previous president.

By Caroline Banaszak

The Seeds of Dysfunction and the Roots of Reform

At a time when partisan purity is considered a virtue and legislative resources are being reduced, it’s not surprising that Congress is failing to meet the challenges facing America.

By Caroline Banaszak

Empowering Committees Can Restore Congress – and Our Democracy

Improving the ability of committees to drive policy could get many more Members of Congress off the sidelines to solve problems for the American people.

By Caroline Banaszak

The House Rules Committee Still Matters

After the defeat of seven special rules in the current Congress, some people are wondering whether the panel often referred to as the “Speaker’s Committee” is still relevant.

By Caroline Banaszak

Debate

Should the Social Security Retirement Age Be Raised? Yes.

If Congress does nothing to address Social Security’s shortfalls, benefits will be cut by 21 percent, across the board beginning in just nine years—in 2033. That means that anyone who is of Generation X or younger will not receive a single full benefit. Even Baby Boomers and Silent Generation retirees will be subject to cuts. […]

By Caroline Banaszak

Debate

Should the Social Security Retirement Age Be Raised? No.

Social Security is a key component of the American Dream. After decades of hard work, retirees should be able to rest easier knowing Social Security will cover at least some of their most basic living expenses so they can live out their golden years with some breathing room.

By Caroline Banaszak

Ripon Profile of Laurel Lee

Laurel Lee discusses the one thing she would change about politics today.

By Caroline Banaszak

Ripon Profile of Laurel Lee

Name & occupation:

Laurel M. Lee, Congresswoman for Florida’s 15th District

Previous Positions held:

Florida’s 36th Secretary of State, Circuit Court Judge in Florida’s Thirteenth 13th Judicial Court, Federal prosecutor for the United States U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida

Individual(s) who inspired me as a child:

My parents. My mom was a teacher, and she was dedicated to raising my sister and me. She taught us life lessons and instilled in us love and respect that made me the person that I am today. She led by example which inspired and made me want to lead by the same example for my daughter.

My dad is a retired 2-Star General of the United States Air Force. He raised me to love our country and to respect our flag. He modeled hard work and the value of integrity. His patriotism and willingness to serve our country is what inspired me to run for Congress.

Most significant accomplishment(s) since coming to Congress: 

While the 118th Congress has been historic, to say the least, I have not lost sight of why I was sent to Congress—to serve and represent the people of Florida’s 15th District. In 2023, my team assisted 1,824 constituents with casework and returned over $5.1 million to constituents.

One of the first accomplishments of my freshman term includes being selected to chair the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections. With my prior background as Florida’s Secretary of State and overseeing Florida’s elections, I am proud to continue this work at the federal level.

When it comes to legislation passed, I have had several pieces of legislation pass the House of Representatives, and 2 bills signed into law—the REPORT Act and RISA Act.

The REPORT Act will help fight against the exploitation of children online by strengthening existing reporting procedures and requiring companies to disclose crimes involving child sexual abuse to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) CyberTipline.

The RISA Act will bring meaningful change to surveillance operations that protect us against adversarial threats in addition to safeguarding our civil liberties. This bill also increases transparency in surveillance applications and will hold government employees accountable who violate the authorities in FISA.

Lastly, I was honored to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to serve as an Impeachment Manager for the impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. As a former prosecutor and judge, I believe that we are a nation of laws, and Secretary Mayorkas’ refusal to enforce the law has created a grave threat to our national security.

Top challenge(s) facing Floridians that you are working hard to address:

Across the board, the cost of living and inflation continues to be a concern for Floridians, with the average American spending an extra $1000 a month for everyday necessities. This is not sustainable for families and small businesses. That is why I am working to restore fiscal responsibility by passing sound economic policies that will put money back into American’s pocketbooks.

Another issue facing Floridians is our country’s national security, specifically the southern border crisis. Every state has become a border state due to President Biden’s border policies, with illegal drugs and immigrants crossing into our country. Even worse, cartels are running human trafficking rings, exploiting children and women. That is why I have introduced several pieces of legislation to address the human trafficking and border crisis.

Finish this sentence: “If I could change one thing about American politics, it would be…”:

To return to civil discourse about politics and political disputes. My background is in law. I practiced law and served as a state court judge for many years before I ran for partisan office. In the courtroom, litigants fight over propositions of law and fact, but always while observing standards of ethics and professional decorum. I believe partisan politics needs a far greater level of civility. We can disagree and fight hard for our positions, while still composing ourselves as professionals. Where we can, we should find common ground and work together in a bipartisan fashion to serve the American people.

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