Dear Senator Warner,
901 days have passed and the United States is STILL WITHOUT A BUDGET!
I am of the opinion that the "Occupy Wall Street" protests are a direct result of the class warfare rhetoric the president started several months ago. You tell people enough times that the reason they don't have a job is because the millionaires and billionaires aren't paying their fair share, well they start to believe it. Then they get angry. Then at the very least they protest and at the very worst, well, I shudder to think.
These protests are clearly misguided. They should be occupying the Capitol, protesting the very body that gave wall street et al nearly a Trillion taxpayer dollars. If big corporations aren't paying taxes it is because the lawmakers have created an environment in which they don't have to pay taxes. If only the occupiers were serious about fixing our problems instead of destroying the Country. I'm glad so many democrats have come out in favor of this mob. Guess you think they'll help you keep your job....
Sincerely
Palma Hutchinson
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
It's Not My Fault - It's the Tea Party's - Again
This post was inspired by my dear Senator Warner. While driving in my car, listening to the radio I heard a soundbite from Senator Warner yesterday complaining about his colleagues who were being bullied by the Tea Party! So that's why the Senate cannot come to an agreement to keep the government running - those pesky, radical tea partiers and their desire for fiscal responsibility!
Dear Senator Warner, 26 Sep 2011
I heard your comments on the radio yesterday and they were quite upsetting. The refusal by the Senate to take up the CR passed by the Congress is another failure of the Senate to act in a fiscally responsible way. You were offered disaster aid along with accompanying cuts to offset the additional spending. However, the senate chose not to even put it to a vote because of the hold the green industry has on the Democrats. Worse than that is your assertion that somehow this is the Tea Party's fault. So, anyone who displays fiscal restraint is now being bullied by the Tea Party? You all may have the media on your side, but the American people can see exactly what's going on and who is looking out for the interest of Tax Paying American Citizens. Your mentality of throwing in another couple of billion dollars in spending without cutting "non-essential" spending elsewhere is business as usual. The challenging times in which we now find ourselves requires changes to the spending paradigm enjoyed by our representatives over the last several decades. I think you all keep forgetting whose money it is you are spending and how dire our economic outlook is!
The Senate refuses to cut spending dollars supporting an industry that, in the last few weeks, has cost us half a billion dollars (Solyndra)!!
Whose fault was that debacle? The Tea Party's?
Sincerely,
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
I Didn't Just Hear That ....Oh Yes I did!
Not once, not twice, but three times this week the Tea Party has been the target of left wing radicals. Who knew the Tea Party would become such a powerful force and warrant such wrath?
Dear Senator Warner (Webb and Connolly),
I hope you were as disgusted as I was at the language used by the Teamster President to introduce the President of the United States, the leader of the democratic party! In case you haven't read or heard, here are some of the highlights:
"We got to keep an eye on the battle that we face: The war on workers. And you see it everywhere, it is the Tea Party. And you know, there is only one way to beat and win that war. The one thing about working people is we like a good fight. And you know what? They've got a war, they got a war with us and there's only going to be one winner. It's going to be the workers of Michigan, and America. We're going to win that war,"
"President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march. Let's take these son of bitches out and give America back to an America where we belong,"
This sort of language should have no place in an event where the President is going to give a speech.
So now the Tea Party is waging a war on workers? What I know about the Tea Party is that they have 3 guiding principals; fiscal conservatism, adherance to the U.S. Constitution and less federal intrusion in our daily lives. If the unions consider these three principles as a war on unions, what then are the union's principles?
More important, where is the outrage from the President? Or from any democrat? The language used over the last week by Maxine Waters and Congressman Andre Carson went without any condemnation. Is this what political America has become? I wish you would stand up for all of America and ask your colleagues to be civil. One individual or group should not bear the brunt of such hateful political rhetoric. Your silence gives approval to this despicable behavior.
Sincerely
Palma Hutchinson
Dear Senator Warner (Webb and Connolly),
I hope you were as disgusted as I was at the language used by the Teamster President to introduce the President of the United States, the leader of the democratic party! In case you haven't read or heard, here are some of the highlights:
"We got to keep an eye on the battle that we face: The war on workers. And you see it everywhere, it is the Tea Party. And you know, there is only one way to beat and win that war. The one thing about working people is we like a good fight. And you know what? They've got a war, they got a war with us and there's only going to be one winner. It's going to be the workers of Michigan, and America. We're going to win that war,"
"President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march. Let's take these son of bitches out and give America back to an America where we belong,"
This sort of language should have no place in an event where the President is going to give a speech.
So now the Tea Party is waging a war on workers? What I know about the Tea Party is that they have 3 guiding principals; fiscal conservatism, adherance to the U.S. Constitution and less federal intrusion in our daily lives. If the unions consider these three principles as a war on unions, what then are the union's principles?
More important, where is the outrage from the President? Or from any democrat? The language used over the last week by Maxine Waters and Congressman Andre Carson went without any condemnation. Is this what political America has become? I wish you would stand up for all of America and ask your colleagues to be civil. One individual or group should not bear the brunt of such hateful political rhetoric. Your silence gives approval to this despicable behavior.
Sincerely
Palma Hutchinson
Saturday, August 20, 2011
I Hereby Decree
(Sent to Connolly, Warner, Webb and Boehner)
I am so disgusted with the President and our Congress right now. The latest decree from the White House being “We shall not enforce our immigration laws”. As part of the legislative branch (the ones that make the laws) I would think this would bother you as much as it bothers me and all other Americans. When we have a President who decides which laws will be enforced and which ones won’t, and our law makers have nothing to say about it, we are in trouble. He has already decided not to enforce the DOMA, we have a justice department and other federal agencies providing weapons to drug cartels across the border, voter intimidation that goes unprosecuted. What is next? This is the same government that has shut down Marijuana clinics in at least 2 states where medical marijuana is legal (California and Montana). If the legislative body of our nation will not keep in check the executive branch, then we are in trouble. So far since 2008 we have not had a budget, have not had a comprehensive immigration policy, unemployment is still climbing, our economic growth is miniscule and the rhetoric out of Washington is all about blame and class warfare. Will you be happy when the unemployed take to the streets and start rioting? Did you happen to see the interviews on TV regarding the flash mobs in Montgomery County? Some folks responded by saying, “they’re just hungry and stealing food”. This is the America you have created. If we don’t like a law do we just ignore it? By the way, this is a country with nearly 50 million people collecting food stamps and people are stealing because they’re hungry? Maybe they're not hungry, they just don't like laws against stealing. I guess the government is not handing out enough. What’s it going to take for our representatives to wake up? 2012 can’t get here soon enough.
Sincerely,
Palma Hutchinson
So far, Congressman Connolly is the only one who has responded in an Aug 24th letter:
Dear Mrs. Hutchinson,
Thank you for contacting me about the current state of immigration in our nation. (I was really commenting on the current administration picking and choosing which laws to enforce) I appreciate your interest in this issue, and your views are important to me.
I believe you will agree that the federal government has failed to secure our borders and has done nothing to address our broken immigration system. Northern Virginia bears much of the burden created by illegal immigration. The current economic crisis highlights the need for real solutions. That is why I believe we need to pass a comprehensive immigration package that is tough and practical.
As Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, I was forced to deal with the effects of our broken immigration system. That's why I formed a Strike Team to crack down on over-crowded boarding houses and launched an anti-gang initiative. I'm proud to say that those initiatives have been successful.
In Congress, I have worked to maintain support for local public safety agencies through the 287(g) program. By partnering with the Department of Homeland Security, communities enrolled in 287(g) have had success in removing criminal aliens from our midst and targeting gangs, drugs and human smuggling. One deficiency in the 287(g) program is that it does not provide adequate funding to jurisdictions to pay the costs of incarcerating those arrested for crimes. I successfully fought a proposal from the Obama administration to eliminate such funding, known as the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), which reimburses local jails more than $1.5 million a year for housing illegal aliens.
In addition, I am urging (urging. hmmm. is that like urging to balance a budget) my colleagues to tighten border security, crack down on employers who exploit undocumented workers, and reform the system as a whole. Congress recently approved a border security bill (H.R. 6080) to hire more than 1,000 new Border Patrol agents and prosecutors who will permanently patrol our southern border and 250 new Customs and Border Protection agents for our ports of entry. During the past year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also has quadrupled its audits of employer records, and it is on pace to deport 400,000 illegal aliens, a nearly 10 percent increase from 2008 and a 25 percent increase from 2007. (based on the President's decision not to deport illegals I imagine this will go down significantly).
As you can see, immigration enforcement is being addressed on multiple levels, though the system is far from fixed. Thank you for expressing your concern on this very important issue. I enjoyed hearing from you.
Sincerely,
![]()
Gerald E. Connolly
Member of Congress
Well, I had to reply to his response and here it is. I probably could have said a lot more, but I don't think it really matters since he really wasn't responding to my real query.
Dear Congressman Connolly, September 3, 2011
Thank you for your Aug 24th letter in response to my email regarding the President’s decision to ignore our immigration laws. Although I appreciate your response, you totally missed the point of my original email which was how this administration and this Justice Department have been and are making a mockery of our laws and how Congress has failed the American people by not performing it’s responsibility of keeping the executive branch in check. How many laws has this administration decided it's not going to enforce? From voter intimidation to DOMA and many in between.
Your letter was right about one thing and I quote it here:
“I believe you will agree that the federal government has failed to secure our borders and has done nothing to address our broken immigration system. Northern Virginia bears much of the burden created by illegal immigration. The current economic crisis highlights the need for real solutions. That is why I believe we need to pass a comprehensive immigration package that is tough and practical”
You sir, are part of the federal government. Believing we need to pass a comprehensive immigration package and passing one are two very different things, obviously. But you miss my point entirely. What good is having laws if the President can decide he doesn't want those laws enforced?
I believe that from the Stimulus to Obamacare, you have been a loyal vote for President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid’s extreme agenda, which has gotten us into the worst economy in my lifetime. I hope you are not planning more of the same to try to fix it. You know what they say about doing the same thing and expecting different results?
Sincerely,
I am so disgusted with the President and our Congress right now. The latest decree from the White House being “We shall not enforce our immigration laws”. As part of the legislative branch (the ones that make the laws) I would think this would bother you as much as it bothers me and all other Americans. When we have a President who decides which laws will be enforced and which ones won’t, and our law makers have nothing to say about it, we are in trouble. He has already decided not to enforce the DOMA, we have a justice department and other federal agencies providing weapons to drug cartels across the border, voter intimidation that goes unprosecuted. What is next? This is the same government that has shut down Marijuana clinics in at least 2 states where medical marijuana is legal (California and Montana). If the legislative body of our nation will not keep in check the executive branch, then we are in trouble. So far since 2008 we have not had a budget, have not had a comprehensive immigration policy, unemployment is still climbing, our economic growth is miniscule and the rhetoric out of Washington is all about blame and class warfare. Will you be happy when the unemployed take to the streets and start rioting? Did you happen to see the interviews on TV regarding the flash mobs in Montgomery County? Some folks responded by saying, “they’re just hungry and stealing food”. This is the America you have created. If we don’t like a law do we just ignore it? By the way, this is a country with nearly 50 million people collecting food stamps and people are stealing because they’re hungry? Maybe they're not hungry, they just don't like laws against stealing. I guess the government is not handing out enough. What’s it going to take for our representatives to wake up? 2012 can’t get here soon enough.
Sincerely,
Palma Hutchinson
So far, Congressman Connolly is the only one who has responded in an Aug 24th letter:
Dear Mrs. Hutchinson,
Thank you for contacting me about the current state of immigration in our nation. (I was really commenting on the current administration picking and choosing which laws to enforce) I appreciate your interest in this issue, and your views are important to me.
I believe you will agree that the federal government has failed to secure our borders and has done nothing to address our broken immigration system. Northern Virginia bears much of the burden created by illegal immigration. The current economic crisis highlights the need for real solutions. That is why I believe we need to pass a comprehensive immigration package that is tough and practical.
As Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, I was forced to deal with the effects of our broken immigration system. That's why I formed a Strike Team to crack down on over-crowded boarding houses and launched an anti-gang initiative. I'm proud to say that those initiatives have been successful.
In Congress, I have worked to maintain support for local public safety agencies through the 287(g) program. By partnering with the Department of Homeland Security, communities enrolled in 287(g) have had success in removing criminal aliens from our midst and targeting gangs, drugs and human smuggling. One deficiency in the 287(g) program is that it does not provide adequate funding to jurisdictions to pay the costs of incarcerating those arrested for crimes. I successfully fought a proposal from the Obama administration to eliminate such funding, known as the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), which reimburses local jails more than $1.5 million a year for housing illegal aliens.
In addition, I am urging (urging. hmmm. is that like urging to balance a budget) my colleagues to tighten border security, crack down on employers who exploit undocumented workers, and reform the system as a whole. Congress recently approved a border security bill (H.R. 6080) to hire more than 1,000 new Border Patrol agents and prosecutors who will permanently patrol our southern border and 250 new Customs and Border Protection agents for our ports of entry. During the past year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also has quadrupled its audits of employer records, and it is on pace to deport 400,000 illegal aliens, a nearly 10 percent increase from 2008 and a 25 percent increase from 2007. (based on the President's decision not to deport illegals I imagine this will go down significantly).
As you can see, immigration enforcement is being addressed on multiple levels, though the system is far from fixed. Thank you for expressing your concern on this very important issue. I enjoyed hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Gerald E. Connolly
Member of Congress
Well, I had to reply to his response and here it is. I probably could have said a lot more, but I don't think it really matters since he really wasn't responding to my real query.
Dear Congressman Connolly, September 3, 2011
Thank you for your Aug 24th letter in response to my email regarding the President’s decision to ignore our immigration laws. Although I appreciate your response, you totally missed the point of my original email which was how this administration and this Justice Department have been and are making a mockery of our laws and how Congress has failed the American people by not performing it’s responsibility of keeping the executive branch in check. How many laws has this administration decided it's not going to enforce? From voter intimidation to DOMA and many in between.
Your letter was right about one thing and I quote it here:
“I believe you will agree that the federal government has failed to secure our borders and has done nothing to address our broken immigration system. Northern Virginia bears much of the burden created by illegal immigration. The current economic crisis highlights the need for real solutions. That is why I believe we need to pass a comprehensive immigration package that is tough and practical”
You sir, are part of the federal government. Believing we need to pass a comprehensive immigration package and passing one are two very different things, obviously. But you miss my point entirely. What good is having laws if the President can decide he doesn't want those laws enforced?
I believe that from the Stimulus to Obamacare, you have been a loyal vote for President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid’s extreme agenda, which has gotten us into the worst economy in my lifetime. I hope you are not planning more of the same to try to fix it. You know what they say about doing the same thing and expecting different results?
Sincerely,
Thursday, August 11, 2011
This Committe is "Special"
Dear Senator Warner, 10 Aug 2011
Given all the work you and the Gang of Six did to identify areas to cut spending I'm very disappointed Senator Reid did not assign you to the special committee. This just shows that he is not serious about tackling our nation's debt problems. Part of me thinks that the President and many in the Congress want our country to fall deeper into financial and social chaos. I hate to be a conspiracy theorist, but why else do we continue with the failed policies of the last 2 1/2 years? Unemployment among Black teenagers is higher than 40%. The President has already identified the rich as the enemy of the people and the reason we’re having this debt crisis. How long before we see rioting in our cities similar to what we've seen in France, Greece and England? We need job creation and what I see in the appointments of both parties is the same old same old. Though I have disagreed more often that not with the votes you have cast, you would have been a much better choice than the three Reid has appointed. I hope you will continue to work behind the scenes.
Sincerely,
Palma Hutchinson
Given all the work you and the Gang of Six did to identify areas to cut spending I'm very disappointed Senator Reid did not assign you to the special committee. This just shows that he is not serious about tackling our nation's debt problems. Part of me thinks that the President and many in the Congress want our country to fall deeper into financial and social chaos. I hate to be a conspiracy theorist, but why else do we continue with the failed policies of the last 2 1/2 years? Unemployment among Black teenagers is higher than 40%. The President has already identified the rich as the enemy of the people and the reason we’re having this debt crisis. How long before we see rioting in our cities similar to what we've seen in France, Greece and England? We need job creation and what I see in the appointments of both parties is the same old same old. Though I have disagreed more often that not with the votes you have cast, you would have been a much better choice than the three Reid has appointed. I hope you will continue to work behind the scenes.
Sincerely,
Palma Hutchinson
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Unlocked Lock Box
Written on July 13, 2011
Dear Congressman Connolly (and Senators Webb and Warner),
I was shocked to hear the President say in a TV interview last night that he could not guarantee Social Security benefits would be paid if the debt ceiling was not raised. This begs 2 questions. First, how can the Social Security Trust Fund be dependent upon raising the debt ceiling and borrowing money to pay these benefits when the trust fund is supposed to be in a "lock box" and contributions are not intended to be put into a general spending pot? The second question is, if in fact the Social Security Trust Fund is bankrupt why are democrats opposed to reforming the SS program and acting like the republicans want to throw granny off a cliff when the talk about reform? The Citizens of Virginia and the United States deserve to hear the truth and not some mumbo jumbo scare tactics. This President has become the most divisive President in recent history pitting rich against poor, old against young and black against white. I would appreciate a direct response to these 2 questions. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Palma Hutchinson
Here is Senator Warner's response:
Dear Mrs. Hutchinson,
Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator
My reaction: So, the President was lying about not knowing if Social Security payments could be made (according to Senator Warner the system is solvent through 2036) come August 3. AND the system does need to be reformed despite Pelosi and other radical democrats (including the President) accusing Republicans of wanting to send Granny off a cliff by discussing social security/entitlement reform. I wonder what else they're lying about.
Dear Congressman Connolly (and Senators Webb and Warner),
I was shocked to hear the President say in a TV interview last night that he could not guarantee Social Security benefits would be paid if the debt ceiling was not raised. This begs 2 questions. First, how can the Social Security Trust Fund be dependent upon raising the debt ceiling and borrowing money to pay these benefits when the trust fund is supposed to be in a "lock box" and contributions are not intended to be put into a general spending pot? The second question is, if in fact the Social Security Trust Fund is bankrupt why are democrats opposed to reforming the SS program and acting like the republicans want to throw granny off a cliff when the talk about reform? The Citizens of Virginia and the United States deserve to hear the truth and not some mumbo jumbo scare tactics. This President has become the most divisive President in recent history pitting rich against poor, old against young and black against white. I would appreciate a direct response to these 2 questions. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Palma Hutchinson
Here is Senator Warner's response:
Dear Mrs. Hutchinson,
Thank you for contacting me about Social Security, the primary source of retirement income for many Americans. I appreciate hearing from you on this important topic.
Since 1935, Social Security has provided income to and reduced poverty among seniors, dependent survivors, and disabled Americans. Over 50 million Americans currently receive monthly benefit checks. I believe that Social Security should continue to provide retirement security to all those who have paid into the system. Honoring that commitment, however, will involve developing solutions to steer the Social Security program from its current unsustainable course back toward long-term solvency.
As of May 13th, the Social Security Board of Trustees report projected that without changes, the Trust Funds for seniors, dependent survivors and disabled Americans will be depleted by 2036. This means if nothing is done, all beneficiaries will be subject to a 22 percent cut across the board. Factors including the recent economic crisis, the oncoming retirement of the Baby Boomer generation, and Americans' growing life spans have intensified the strain on the system.
I have worked for the last six months with a bipartisan group of Senators to craft a solution to our debt and deficit problem. On July 19, 2011, we put forward our plan in hopes that it would provide a solid basis for a bipartisan, comprehensive, and balanced solution. The plan we put forward would slash our deficits by $3.7 trillion over ten years and stabilize our publicly-held debt by 2014.
Apart from deficit reduction, our plan would ensure Social Security's solvency for the next 75 years. Any savings created by changes to Social Security would go back into the Social Security system, not to deficit reduction. It is important that Social Security reform remain separate from other budget efforts, but we should strive to restore long-term solvency to Social Security while providing seniors with the benefits they need.Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator
My reaction: So, the President was lying about not knowing if Social Security payments could be made (according to Senator Warner the system is solvent through 2036) come August 3. AND the system does need to be reformed despite Pelosi and other radical democrats (including the President) accusing Republicans of wanting to send Granny off a cliff by discussing social security/entitlement reform. I wonder what else they're lying about.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The Big Labor Letter
These letters are not being posted in any sort of order. I wrote this one on 17 Jun 2011, but it is still an ongoing issue:
Dear Senator Warner (also sent to Senator Webb), 17 Jun 2011
I’m writing today to voice my support for the Boeing Company in their effort to build a manufacturing plant in South Carolina. I am once again disappointed and dismayed in the Obama Administration. Their seeking to thwart Boeing appears to be based on political reasons. As you know, South Carolina, like Virginia, is a Right-to-Work State. As such, I would hope you would support the State of South Carolina in trying to create jobs while at the same time supporting Boeing’s right to build a plant wherever it wants to. For goodness sake! These are jobs are being created in the U.S. – if only this administration would oppose creating overseas jobs so violently! Boeing added 2,000 jobs to its plant in Washington State as it was making plans to expand to SC. Please do what you can to stop the NLRB from preventing Boeing from expanding its operations to SC, and support SC in its quest to create jobs for its citizens. Not doing so, signals to me that you and President Obama are putting politics before common sense solutions to our economic problems and the lack of promised job creation continues. If the President is serious about creating jobs, this is a no-brainer.
Sincerely,
Palma Hutchinson
In response to my email, Senator Warner wrote:
Dear Mrs. Hutchinson,
Thank you for contacting me regarding the National Labor Relations Board. As we work in the Senate to meet the enormous challenges facing this country, including efforts to strengthen our economy, create new private sector jobs, reduce the federal deficit and establish energy independence, your views and those of your fellow Virginians are very important to me.
I am honored to serve Virginia as your United States Senator. My top priority in the Senate is to provide efficient and effective constituent service to all Virginians. Please be sure that my office will review your comments carefully as I consider and vote on relevant legislation.
Again, thank you for contacting me. For further information or to sign up for my newsletter please visit my website at http://warner.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator
My reaction: In other words, Senator Warner, if you don't have to vote on it, you are not getting involved and don't really have an opinion.
Senator Webb's response:
Dear Ms. Hutchinson:
Thank you for contacting my office regarding a National Labor Relations Board complaint issued against the Boeing Company. I appreciate your taking the time to share your views with me.
Based on reports to date, I have concerns regarding this case. As the National Labor Relations Board proceeds, my staff and I will continue to monitor this situation closely. In addition, I support Virginia's right-to-work laws and believe they should be protected.
As the Senate continues to address labor issues, please be assured that your views will be helpful to me and my staff. I hope that you will continue to share your thoughts with us in the years ahead.
I would also invite you to visit my website at www.webb.senate.gov for regular updates about my activities and positions on matters that are important to Virginia and our nation.
Thank you once again for contacting my office.
Sincerely,
Jim Webb
United States Senator
My reaction: Well, that's more like it! At least Senator Webb took a stand and voiced an opinion and he is concerned.
Dear Senator Warner (also sent to Senator Webb), 17 Jun 2011
I’m writing today to voice my support for the Boeing Company in their effort to build a manufacturing plant in South Carolina. I am once again disappointed and dismayed in the Obama Administration. Their seeking to thwart Boeing appears to be based on political reasons. As you know, South Carolina, like Virginia, is a Right-to-Work State. As such, I would hope you would support the State of South Carolina in trying to create jobs while at the same time supporting Boeing’s right to build a plant wherever it wants to. For goodness sake! These are jobs are being created in the U.S. – if only this administration would oppose creating overseas jobs so violently! Boeing added 2,000 jobs to its plant in Washington State as it was making plans to expand to SC. Please do what you can to stop the NLRB from preventing Boeing from expanding its operations to SC, and support SC in its quest to create jobs for its citizens. Not doing so, signals to me that you and President Obama are putting politics before common sense solutions to our economic problems and the lack of promised job creation continues. If the President is serious about creating jobs, this is a no-brainer.
Sincerely,
Palma Hutchinson
In response to my email, Senator Warner wrote:
Dear Mrs. Hutchinson,
Thank you for contacting me regarding the National Labor Relations Board. As we work in the Senate to meet the enormous challenges facing this country, including efforts to strengthen our economy, create new private sector jobs, reduce the federal deficit and establish energy independence, your views and those of your fellow Virginians are very important to me.
I am honored to serve Virginia as your United States Senator. My top priority in the Senate is to provide efficient and effective constituent service to all Virginians. Please be sure that my office will review your comments carefully as I consider and vote on relevant legislation.
Again, thank you for contacting me. For further information or to sign up for my newsletter please visit my website at http://warner.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator
My reaction: In other words, Senator Warner, if you don't have to vote on it, you are not getting involved and don't really have an opinion.
Senator Webb's response:
Dear Ms. Hutchinson:
Thank you for contacting my office regarding a National Labor Relations Board complaint issued against the Boeing Company. I appreciate your taking the time to share your views with me.
Based on reports to date, I have concerns regarding this case. As the National Labor Relations Board proceeds, my staff and I will continue to monitor this situation closely. In addition, I support Virginia's right-to-work laws and believe they should be protected.
As the Senate continues to address labor issues, please be assured that your views will be helpful to me and my staff. I hope that you will continue to share your thoughts with us in the years ahead.
I would also invite you to visit my website at www.webb.senate.gov for regular updates about my activities and positions on matters that are important to Virginia and our nation.
Thank you once again for contacting my office.
Sincerely,
Jim Webb
United States Senator
My reaction: Well, that's more like it! At least Senator Webb took a stand and voiced an opinion and he is concerned.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Today is the Day
I've been thinking about starting this blog for a couple of months now and decided to take the plunge. I write to my Congressman and Senators fairly regularly and have started saving the letters to them as well as their responses. I'll start with the last email I wrote to my Congressman Gerry Connolly and his response. I don't normally write in such a rant, but I was really so agitated that I couldn't help myself:
On July 6th I wrote:
Dear Congressman Connolly,
I listened, with dismay, to your colleague Jim Longevin (RI) in an interview last night. Two statements in particular were quite upsetting. First, like many in his (your) party, is the assertion that failure to raise taxes will somehow kill old folks, close schools and starve children. If any of these things happen it's because the "Party of Boo" (did I scare you democrats) have failed to get our economy moving and their obscene spending have failed to generate growth. The second offensive thing he said was he hoped the "grownups" would be in the room during budget talks. I guess that leaves him and all his fellow democrats out since they weren't capable of passing a budget over the last 2 years. We need REAL entitlement reform, REAL spending reductions and REAL tax reform. We don't need the government playing favorites and deciding who gets to take advantage of loopholes and subsidies and who doesn't. The American people are not buying into the scare tactics being used by our democratic representatives. Let's have a dialogue without the "Boo Factor".
Sincerely,
Palma
Palma Hutchinson
P.S. Please don't answer this email with another one of your party line responses.
Damn it Congressman, I asked you not to respond!! His response a couple of days later:
"Dear Mrs. Hutchinson,
Thank you for contacting me with respect to tax reform. I appreciate your interest in this issue, and your views are important to me.
The federal tax system, both for individuals and corporations, needs to be modernized. For example, while individual tax rates are at their lowest levels in decades, the Alternative Minimum Tax continues to threaten millions of middle class families every year. Similarly, the nation's top corporate tax rate is among the highest in the world; however, the tax code provides a number of credits that allow many corporations to effectively lower their tax rate, in some cases quite significantly. There is an effort underway in Congress to simplify the tax code. As the Co-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition's Innovation, Competitiveness and Tax Reform Task Force, I remain committed to exploring how best to reform the nation's tax code in a manner that will encourage economic growth and promote fiscal responsibility. As Congress continues to deliberate tax reform, I will keep your views in mind.
Once again, thank you for expressing your concern on this very important issue. I enjoyed hearing from you. For more information on my views on other issues, please feel free to visit my website at http://connolly.house.gov. I also encourage you to visit the website to sign up for my e-newsletter.
Sincerely,
Gerald E. Connolly"
This really sounds so good, doesn't it? I'm certainly glad he is so committed to exploring tax reform. I looked up this New Democratic Committee and the Task force is titled the Innovation and Competitiveness Task Force. He must have thrown in the "Tax Reform" part to make me feel better. Co-chairing a "New" democratic committee in a republican controlled house, while commendable, will probably not have much of an impact. Surely there must be a bi-partisan committee? But please, keep exploring and let me know how that works out. I'd really like it if you explored how the government can create an environment for growth rather than working on a committee to create more bureaucracy and spend more money. The website is www.ndc.crowley.house.gov
The primary tenets of this committee:
1. Funding the Innovation Agenda (aka doubling "our" research investment
2. Creating an equitable tax code to spur innovation (aka let the government decide who gets tax loopholes)
3. Achieving Universal Broadband Access (aka the government wants to spend taxpayer dollars so everyone has internet access)
4. Strengthen Small Innovative Businesses- (aka the government investing in small business. Again, they decide in which small businesses to invest)
5. Educating and Expanding STEM Workforce- The Science, Tech, Engineering, and Mathematics. (This is no aka. This is copied from their website: "Our immigration laws should be updated to allow highly skilled foreign students with degrees in STEM fields to stay here when they graduate to supplement the domestic workforce;" I guess this is AFTER the government using taxpayer dollars to educate.
6. Reform the Patent System- (I'm not sure what the aka is for this one: more bureaucracy or less?) Letting the patent office keep the application fees seems to be the main point of the legislation associated with this.
On July 6th I wrote:
Dear Congressman Connolly,
I listened, with dismay, to your colleague Jim Longevin (RI) in an interview last night. Two statements in particular were quite upsetting. First, like many in his (your) party, is the assertion that failure to raise taxes will somehow kill old folks, close schools and starve children. If any of these things happen it's because the "Party of Boo" (did I scare you democrats) have failed to get our economy moving and their obscene spending have failed to generate growth. The second offensive thing he said was he hoped the "grownups" would be in the room during budget talks. I guess that leaves him and all his fellow democrats out since they weren't capable of passing a budget over the last 2 years. We need REAL entitlement reform, REAL spending reductions and REAL tax reform. We don't need the government playing favorites and deciding who gets to take advantage of loopholes and subsidies and who doesn't. The American people are not buying into the scare tactics being used by our democratic representatives. Let's have a dialogue without the "Boo Factor".
Sincerely,
Palma
Palma Hutchinson
P.S. Please don't answer this email with another one of your party line responses.
Damn it Congressman, I asked you not to respond!! His response a couple of days later:
"Dear Mrs. Hutchinson,
Thank you for contacting me with respect to tax reform. I appreciate your interest in this issue, and your views are important to me.
The federal tax system, both for individuals and corporations, needs to be modernized. For example, while individual tax rates are at their lowest levels in decades, the Alternative Minimum Tax continues to threaten millions of middle class families every year. Similarly, the nation's top corporate tax rate is among the highest in the world; however, the tax code provides a number of credits that allow many corporations to effectively lower their tax rate, in some cases quite significantly. There is an effort underway in Congress to simplify the tax code. As the Co-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition's Innovation, Competitiveness and Tax Reform Task Force, I remain committed to exploring how best to reform the nation's tax code in a manner that will encourage economic growth and promote fiscal responsibility. As Congress continues to deliberate tax reform, I will keep your views in mind.
Once again, thank you for expressing your concern on this very important issue. I enjoyed hearing from you. For more information on my views on other issues, please feel free to visit my website at http://connolly.house.gov. I also encourage you to visit the website to sign up for my e-newsletter.
Sincerely,
Gerald E. Connolly"
This really sounds so good, doesn't it? I'm certainly glad he is so committed to exploring tax reform. I looked up this New Democratic Committee and the Task force is titled the Innovation and Competitiveness Task Force. He must have thrown in the "Tax Reform" part to make me feel better. Co-chairing a "New" democratic committee in a republican controlled house, while commendable, will probably not have much of an impact. Surely there must be a bi-partisan committee? But please, keep exploring and let me know how that works out. I'd really like it if you explored how the government can create an environment for growth rather than working on a committee to create more bureaucracy and spend more money. The website is www.ndc.crowley.house.gov
The primary tenets of this committee:
1. Funding the Innovation Agenda (aka doubling "our" research investment
2. Creating an equitable tax code to spur innovation (aka let the government decide who gets tax loopholes)
3. Achieving Universal Broadband Access (aka the government wants to spend taxpayer dollars so everyone has internet access)
4. Strengthen Small Innovative Businesses- (aka the government investing in small business. Again, they decide in which small businesses to invest)
5. Educating and Expanding STEM Workforce- The Science, Tech, Engineering, and Mathematics. (This is no aka. This is copied from their website: "Our immigration laws should be updated to allow highly skilled foreign students with degrees in STEM fields to stay here when they graduate to supplement the domestic workforce;" I guess this is AFTER the government using taxpayer dollars to educate.
6. Reform the Patent System- (I'm not sure what the aka is for this one: more bureaucracy or less?) Letting the patent office keep the application fees seems to be the main point of the legislation associated with this.
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