I wrote my congressional rep's and voiced some opinions

[Pseudomind]

Note: I voiced my opinions, your can write your Congressional rep's and voice YOUR opinions.

I have listed my opinions first and then Congressman Ander Crenshaw's reply back to me, note his comments in the seventh paragraph down (In bold) about an energy bill and and marginal tax rate increases. (I am not sure what is meant here, the taxable rate for the highest income earners?):huh:

One question I have in his reply is just what exactly does "each American household" mean? Those who live in apartments, what about those in subsidized housing?

1. The term inflation what a misnomer, I hear there will be no Cost of Living (COLA) increase, because using semantics, there technically is no ‘Inflation” But lets see Congress is receiving a raise for doing what exactly?

No Inflation? Let’s see I had to take a pay 4% pay cut, no bonuses no merit raises, no profit sharing. But, lets see JEA utility increase, vehicle registration cost increase, property taxes increasing (Will there be an appraisal to reappraise over-inflated values) gas price increases, etc

Nope no inflation! Just how many above 4% COLA’s have there ever been?

2. I keep hearing a persistent rumor about amnesty for illegal aliens, which the media now refers to as immigrants, since when? NO amnesty send them back, immigration legally is one thing, but no amnesty. No to granting social security benefits to any illegal aliens who some how might manage to obtain amnesty.

The highest unemployment rate to nearly 50 years and yet someone can even consider item two above.

3. Lets nix this idea about socialized medicine, and taxing healthcare benefits. No national health care plan.

4. There is way too much gov-mint now, this country is more communist/socialistic then the communist were.

5. Lets get back to English as the official language for the USA

6. Let’s do a campaign to eliminate the terms hyphenated-American, either you are American or you are not.

7. I do not know where this idea came from but for God’s sake do no allow Unionization of Department of Homeland Security employees. Hey I am retired military so why not just unionize the military.

8. Do not eliminate the right for private ballots for what union members there are currently or in the future.

9. Lets kill this Ethanol use. It cost more to produce, takes more energy to do the same amount of work, and drives up food costs.

10. Working towards some eco-friendly improvements is good as long as it is a long term approach, but let’s stop all of this “green” madness.

11. Here is another one I have heard and my answer is not no, but hell no, “Are you in favor of the expanded welfare benefits and unlimited eligibility (No time, education or work requirements)” excerpted from a GOP survey I received.

12. No to Sotomayer and any of her ilks, law not emotions, no immediate or unquestioned approved court nominees.

My take of our current legislatures is this; one could probably count on one-hand the total number in office who’s actually concerned with the country.

If it was up t me there would be two-term limits, no retirement from congress, mandatory use of Social Security, no outside health benefits. Congress would be just like the rest of the peons.

I will give you all a passing grade on these two items, you have about ruined a once great nation, we are for all intent and purposes a nation divided, and you have just about killed off the middle class.

Oh and one last thing President Obama has got to go in 2012, a leader he is not, nor does he understand economics.

Thanks

Congressman Anders reply to back to me;

Dear Mr. XXXXX:

Thank you for contacting me regarding many important issues facing our nation today. While I will keep in mind your thoughts on all issues within your letter, I would like to update you on my work on some of the most pressing issues being debated in Congress.

"Cap and trade" is shorthand for a government tax placed on producers of industrial emissions. The "trade" refers to the transaction of government permits between companies that reduced their emissions and can sell their permits to companies that need more permits to cover their emissions.

There is no question that we must do a better job caring for our nation and our world. However, promoting the environment by imposing a $646 billion tax on companies is not the correct public policy. Under this proposal, companies will ultimately be forced to pass these enormous costs to consumers. That means that every American who flips a light switch, drives a car, turns on their air conditioner, or any other product that uses energy, will bear the brunt of this proposed tax burden.

While I am opposed to the unfair and costly "cap and trade" system, I am a strong supporter of transforming our energy system. The arguments are clear: we cannot keep relying on oil from the dictators around the world and we can be better stewards of our environment in the process. Instead of new taxes and fees imposed on American families, I support an "all of the above" plan that capitalizes on American resources and encourages exploration and development of alternative fuels right here in the United States. In order for the United States to truly become energy independent, we must adopt a comprehensive energy strategy that focuses on increasing exploration and production as well as investing in new reliable and clean forms of energy for the future.

As the Democratic Congress is considering the costly "cap & trade" legislation, it has also been on a path of radical and reckless spending and the American people are being left to hold the bag. American families have to live within their means, and so should the federal government.

Congress recently approved the Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 which sets the framework for an unprecedented increase in spending and tax increases that will ultimately add trillions of dollars to our national debt. Placing additional tax burdens on American families and small businesses during this economic downturn is the wrong policy choice. On April 29, 2009, I voted against the $3.555 trillion FY2010 Budget Resolution because it spends too much, borrows too much and taxes too much.

The budget resolution includes several major tax increases. For instance, the bill includes a $646 billion energy tax that will raise energy costs for each American household by $3,000. Additionally, the resolution increases the marginal tax rates from 33% to 36% and from 35% to 39%. Even with these tax hikes, the country's debt is expected to double in 5 years and almost triple in 10 years. The simple truth is that with a projected federal budget deficit this year of $1.2 trillion and a national debt of $11.2 trillion, we cannot afford to keep dramatically expanding government spending.

This budget also targets small businesses - the engines of job creation in our country - for unwarranted tax increases by raising marginal income tax rates up to 39.6%. Small businesses employ about half of all private-sector workers and have created 70% of the new jobs in the U.S. in recent years. Imposing higher taxes on these businesses is hardly the way to encourage job creation during these challenging economic times.

Controlling government spending and creating a realistic budget are on the top of my priority list as your elected representative. I will continue to fight for fiscal discipline within the halls of Congress so that our children and grandchildren will not be burdened by this generation's fiscal irresponsibility

Again, I want to thank you for taking the time to contact me. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any further assistance on this matter or if you would like additional information on this topic or other issues facing Congress, please visit my Website at http://crenshaw.house.gov.


Sincerely,
Ander Crenshaw
Member of Congress

 

[ghuskin]

Good for you!

I'll be voicing my opinion on the healthcare debacle on 7/15 in D.C. Should at least be educational?