Interest payments on the debt allow China to afford to buy a Joint Strike Fighter every day, conservative lawmaker states.

The political left is trying to create and profit from disorder, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) said in an interview published on National Review Online (NRO) on Wednesday.

"As Wisconsin demonstrated, the left believes the end justifies the means," McCotter said. "Consequently, viewing crises as opportunities, the left is bent upon creating disorder from which it can politically profit."

Actor Chuck Norris said he supports tougher enforcement of the U.S.-Mexico border and said the government downplays border violence.

New signs emerged mid-week that Republicans and Democrats are ramping up their efforts to focus on U.S. job creation, although, as expected, they continue to press completely different ideas on how to make it happen.

The House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday announced a hearing March 30 to explore "impediments to job creation," and Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) said it is already clear to the GOP that government intervention is a major impediment.

"Contrary to what some in Washington believe, we cannot spend our way to prosperity," Camp said. "Washington needs to create an environment that allows the private sector to do what it does best — invest and create jobs. This hearing will help us identify areas where Congress needs to act to ensure that the government is not impeding job creation."

Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the Democrats' landmark healthcare reform law. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was among those not joining in the celebration.

One Democratic congressman believes the Supreme Court may well declare the healthcare reform law’s individual mandate unconstitutional.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), who's expected to run for governor next year, said Tuesday he's "seriously" considering it.

The House next week is expected to take up at least three bills when it returns next week, including H.R. 658, which would reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs through 2014.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee marked up the bill on March 10, and Republicans will accept amendments to the bill that are introduced by March 29. The committee has also approved a bill to authorize FAA spending through May 31, but as of Wednesday that bill was not scheduled for consideration in the last week of March.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said conservatives know the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy is gone for good. 

Frank pointed to last month's House debate over a continuing resolution funding the government, noting that no Tea Party-backed Republicans offered an amendment to reinstate the policy that banned openly gay service members.