The McCaul Minute - Congressman Michael McCaul
Failing DHS Leadership Results in Low Morale
Texas Insider Report: Washington D.C. Last week I chaired an oversight hearing examining why the Department of Homeland Security has among the lowest levels of morale in the federal government. U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen (Ret.) most recently known for overseeing cleanup of the Gulf oil spill testified that the lack of quality leadership at DHS is the primary contributor to employee dissatisfaction.
Two federal surveys found that DHS ranks 31 out of 33 federal organizations for best places to work. They further found that only 37 of DHSs 200000 employees believe senior leaders motivate them and that only 37 are satisfied with their senior leaders policies and practices.
Among DHS agencies the Coast Guard scored the highest level of job satisfaction. The Office of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology TSA FEMA and ICE had the lowest scores. While DHS is moving forward writing plans to improve employee morale it must turn plans into actions and assess and monitor the results.
Repealing Healthcare Rationing Board
Last week I voted for and the House passed HR 5 the Protecting Access to Healthcare (PATH) Act. This would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) created by Obamacare and would enact medical liability reform. IPAB is the board of 15 unelected bureaucrats who decide how to ration care for seniors. They work behind closed doors with no accountability and the boards decisions cannot be challenged in court.
ObamaCare: Two Years Later
This week the Supreme Court will hear arguments over the unconstitutional mandate for Americans to purchase health insurance. The mandate is the centerpiece of the government takeover of healthcare that President Obama signed into law two years ago last week. Instead of reducing premiums by $2500 and giving Americans the ability to keep their existing coverage both promises of the administration premiums have increased to new highs and employers have dropped coverage due to onerous regulations.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said that the new law will now cost $1.8 trillion twice as much as the President said it would. I have long opposed this takeover of our healthcare system and have supported healthcare reforms that lower premiums decrease healthcare costs reign in federal spending and allow for more options choice and innovation.
