The Road Ahead: Why America Needs The Cut and Grow Agenda

Unacceptable Long Term Unemployment: Over 4.2 Million Americas Have Been Unemployed Over A Year. The number of Americans suffering through long-term unemployment remains stubbornly high, according to a study released Thursday. More than 30% of the 14 million Americans who were on unemployment rolls in December have been there longer than a year, the Pew Charitable Trusts said, an increase of 25% over last year. The totals are eye-popping, and translate into more than 4.2 million people, or roughly the total population of Kentucky. CNN Money

How To Tackle Unemployment: Reduce Government Spending, Create An Environment Conducive To Private Investment. Some want to delay reducing government spending because of high unemployment and the fragile recovery. But there is no convincing evidence that a gradual and credible reduction in government purchases will increase unemployment. The history of the past two decades shows that lower government purchases as a share of GDP are associated with lower unemployment rates. A much better way to reduce unemployment is to encourage private investment. Over the past two decades, unemployment fell when investment increased as a share of GDP. The Wall Street Journal

Leader Cantor: It’s Time To Have A Serious Discussion About Getting Our Nation’s Fiscal House In Order. “We're going to do everything possible to cut federal spending and to put us on a path of a sustainable fiscal picture so the economy can get back on track. The entitlement programs, which include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and there's many others, are woefully underfunded and given the demographic trends in this country, will run out of money. So what both sides, Republican and Democrat, have said in the House, as well as the President, is that we need to get to work and try to fix those." WWBT - Richmond

YouCut Update: Coburn, Warner Introduce Rep. Lee’s Bill Over In The Senate. The Stop the Overprinting Act was passed in the House by a unanimous vote on Jan. 18. U.S. Senators Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Mark Warner, D-Va., introduced “Stop” companion legislation in the Senate. If it’s passed, a reconciled bill — which combines the House and Senate versions — will go to President Obama for signing. … “When it comes to government spending, it is essential that we look at all options, no matter how large or small,” he (Rep. Lee) said Tuesday. “This bill is a small but important step toward shifting Congress’ focus from borrowing to saving.” The Tonawanda News

Repeal Effort: Leader Reid Continues To Ignore The Rising Costs Of ObamaCare

Senate Majority Leader Harry “Roadblock” Reid Acknowledges Republicans Can Circumvent His Efforts To Prevent A Vote On Health Care Repeal. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will fight efforts to move a House-passed repeal of the health care overhaul law to the Senate floor, but he acknowledged Thursday that Republicans have the ability to try to do so. … “I know the procedures of the Senate,” Reid said, in what appeared to be an acknowledgement that Republicans could try to force a vote on the floor. “But I’m not going to be a part of it.” Roll Call

FALLOUT: Date Night Is Going To Cost More Thanks To ObamaCare. The looming changes in health-care law are one of the bigger cost clouds on the horizon for restaurant chains. … Chili's acknowledges that many of the changes it is making are being done in preparation for expanded health-care coverage. Chili's says it already provides various health-care packages to part- and full-time employees, and it says it isn't exactly sure what the new law will mean—but it is sure its costs will rise. The Wall Street Journal

Cookin’ The Books – Did The Obama Administration Stretch Health Care Stats? The Associated Press

Off The Beaten Path

Headline Of The Day: How Did Five Inches Of Snow Turn Into A Disaster?

Michigan Moment: Ford Reports Largest Profit in 11 Years

REMAIN CALM – Cookie Cutters: Girl Scouts Trim Their Lineup for Lean Times (I'll give you my thin mints when you pry them from my cold dead fingers)