Phil Kerpen

Here are the links to my three-part series on Pajamas Media:

Part I: Moderate Republicans Key to Stopping Lame-Duck Threat

Part II: Special Election Candidates Promise to Stop Lame-Duck Agenda

Part III: Dems Up for Election in 2012 Can Stop the Lame-Duck Agenda

For even more on the lame duck, check out this summary on the Americans for Prosperity site.

While some lame-duck Republicans might support Harry Reid's schemes, many vulnerable Democrats standing for election in 2012 must be made to feel the heat from back home.

September 4, 2010 - by Phil Kerpen

In my two previous Pajamas Media columns on stopping the lame-duck threat, I dealt with the importance of moderate Republicans and the key special election situations in Delaware, Illinois, and West Virginia. Both of these strategies are bearing fruit, and it’s worth noting that Maine’s Senator Susan Collins was recently asked about the lame-duck session at a public event and said she is “not going to play that game.” That it would be “just wrong” and “blatantly against the will of the people.” It’s also worth noting that the Republican candidates in all of the special election states have taken strong stands against the lame-duck agenda. But it may not be enough.

Read the rest at Pajamas Media.

Phil Kerpen
Updated August 31, 2010

Joe Miller has held onto his narrow lead and Sen. Lisa Murkowski has graciously conceded in a surprising Alaska Senate primary. While many people are focusing on other story lines, Alaska is one of our biggest energy states and Murkowski’s support for energy taxes may be one of the major reasons Joe Miller was able to pull off this remarkable upset.

Races to fill the unexpired terms of Biden and Obama might make the difference in thwarting Harry Reid's plans to ram through a big government agenda during the lame-duck session after the elections.

(Note, this piece features a never-before-published quote from Mike Castle on the lame duck.)

Read the piece at Pajamas Media.

Updated: 8/25/10 02:32 pm
Phil Kerpen

I was troubled to read the Aug. 17 Bangor Daily News editorial, "Oil Industry Fair Target," that highlighted the federal energy taxes being debated in Congress and Americans for Prosperity's opposition to new energy taxes.

The editorial was a response to a press conference that Americans for Prosperity's Maine chapter held to highlight the negative impact of high energy taxes on Maine families. Sen. Olympia Snowe responded to our press conference by telling WCSH TV: "I share their concern about raising taxes at this point, that it could translate to increased cost for consumers both in terms of gasoline and home heating oil."

Joe Miller has a narrow lead over Sen. Lisa Murkowski in a surprising Alaska Senate primary. If the absentee ballots break hard for Murkowski she may narrowly escape, but at the moment it looks at least as likely that Miller will pull the upset. If he does, Murkowski’s support for energy taxes may be one of the major reasons.

Read the rest at FOX Forum.