Posted on 02/19/2009 12:02:28 PM PST by Roos_Girl
Dear Mr. and Mrs. :
Thank you for contacting me about the economic stimulus package. I appreciate hearing your views.
The American people are hurting. They are losing their homes, their jobs, their businesses and their life savings. Economists across the political spectrum agree that the government needs to take bold and immediate action to stimulate the economy and curb the risk of a protracted economic recession.
I believe that the government has to do something to get us out of this economic tailspin – and doing nothing isn’t an option. I voted for the economic stimulus package because I believe it is narrowly targeted to spend and invest in ways that will get the economy moving again. It invests in our infrastructure, creating badly needed jobs, and provides critical tax relief to businesses and middle-class Americans. It also shores up unemployment benefits and food stamps, provides aid to seniors and disabled veterans, and invests in our children through 21st Century education. The bill improves access to health care, and promotes energy independence.
I've read the entire stimulus bill and I believe it will preserve and create millions of good-paying jobs, help States like Florida manage budget shortfalls, and advance our infrastructure to meet modern demands. Congress passed the bill on February 13, and President Obama has now signed it into law.
Unfortunately, there has been a lot of misinformation and inaccurate reporting on this legislation. The stimulus bill does nothing to "socialize" medicine. In fact, it does three things that really help people. First, it lowers the cost of insurance for people who lose their jobs. Second, it gives more money to States to cover medical care for low-income Americans and the uninsured through the Medicaid program. And third, it provides federal funding for the development and use of electronic health records to help doctors and hospitals be more efficient.
Based on what I hear from folks across Florida, it’s clear that we need to fix the problems caused by this economic crisis. But we must take care with taxpayer money. Last year I voted against spending $700 billion to bail out Wall Street because the bill lacked meaningful relief for homeowners facing foreclosure and didn't include adequate protections for American taxpayers. I remain committed to reducing wasteful spending and improving transparency in Federal funding. And once we have returned to prosperity, I remain equally committed to tackling our burgeoning Federal deficit.
I appreciate your comments as they help me serve you better in the Senate, and I look forward to hearing from you should you have any future concerns.
He must think I'm as stupid as the democrats that keep voting for him.
.....pay down THEIR DEBT. Period!
Well, that's what happens when write it IN COMPLETE SECRECY.
With morons like this “representing” the public it’s no wonder Rome’s burning.
Dear Mrs. XXX:
Thank you for your correspondence concerning the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, H.R. 1. I appreciate hearing your thoughts and opinions regarding this legislation.
I've heard from many of my constituents regarding this bill. Many supported the bill while many others did not. Many expressed the desire to see our government work in a bipartisan fashion to address how the government can assist in trying to help our ailing economy. During my time in the House of Representatives, I am proud that my record reflects my willingness to work with my colleagues from across the aisle on many issues. For me, this stimulus bill was not about party politics, but rather it was about trying to stimulate the economy and help Americans who are being hit with dire financial hardships. Unfortunately, I believe this bill did not appropriately address either issue and instead straddled the American people with a $789 billion tax bill. While the bill does include some worthwhile projects that should receive federal funding, I do not believe the funds should be allocated in a bill that is intended to stimulate the economy. Funding for these programs should be going through the standard appropriations process.
As you may be aware, I did not support President Bush's Wall Street bailout bill either. I have never been one to believe that throwing huge sums of taxpayer dollars at a problem fixes it. I have heard from so many people who thought the first bailout bill was rushed through Congress, terribly mismanaged, and did not effectively use tax payer dollars. I could not in good conscience support a second bill, in which I was given ninety minutes to read over 1,100 pages, that does not correct the same issues. With millions of Americans losing their jobs and homes, this $789 billion bill does little to create jobs and ease hardships. I doubt providing $8 to $14 more a week to individuals in their paychecks is going to make a mortgage payment, pay a utility bill, or replenish 401k accounts.
As a new member of the House Appropriation committee, I was hoping to be more involved in crafting this bill, however, I was not afforded the opportunity to even sit at the table and neither were most members of Congress. Bipartisanship brings many views to the table in an effort to find the best possible solutions. While President Obama has made sincere efforts to promote bipartisanship, the democratic leadership in the House did not feel it necessary to have any republicans involved in the process. It seems to defy logic that if someone is looking for support from two groups that you leave one group out of the discussion. Nevertheless, I believe that this bill is not good for Middle America or small businesses.
Now that the bill has passed and has been signed into law, I can only hope that it will positively impact our economy, the people in my district, and out country. Once again, thank you for sharing your concerns and positions with me. Please know that I am aware of the severity of what we have faced and what we will continue to face and I am making every effort to represent my constituency in the best possible manner.
Very truly yours,
Steven C. LaTourette
Member of Congress
I did some quick calculations:
Assuming total cost amounts to 1 Trillion and 300 million people in USA, that amounts to $3333.33 per person.
Colorado is receiving about $2 billion in this package. Assuming 5 million residents in Colorado, we get back $400 per person.
But, since the top 5% of taxpayers pay almost all taxes and about half of the population are children and not tax payers, the top 5% are getting stuck with a $133,320 tax bill, on average.
Thanks Bam Bam and stoopid Bill Nelson.
Even if he did (which I doubt) there's a big difference between 'reading' and 'comprehension'.
“He must think I’m as stupid as the democrats that keep voting for him.”
Oh, he’s not the only one.........
You wrote an email telling me all the reasons for your decision to vote for the stimulus package.
In just a few months, Americans have been strapped with TARP, the mortgage assistance program, the auto bailout (when will that end?), and the upcoming bank takeover, etc. I am sure there are plenty of additional bailout programs on the horizon.
NOT ONCE in your email did you express your appreciation to us for being good citizens who PAY TAXES. Not once did you thank us for being self reliant - for saving for a rainy day and making plans for our retirement. NOT ONCE has anyone said a word to those of us who have been good tenets of what made America great! NOT ONCE has anyone said they appreciate the ones who are still going to work and earning a living so they can pay the taxes to take care of everyone else. NOR have they said thank you to those who saved for years, retired on their investments and now pay taxes on that income. It seems the only people who get any attention are the ones who don't really do much to support the huge government you are creating.
No one gladly turns over their taxes. But it would make it a lot easier if, just once in a while, someone said something about the ones of us that are doing our part.
Nelson is such a stupid libtard, slack jawed, smiling idiot goober, hillbilly moron - he makes me sick. Even horrible Mel “Scarface-say hello to my little friend” Martinez - the stinking RINo is better than Nelson.
“Expressing desire” makes it sound like a porn movie in the making but in I guess its true cause in the end, we all got screwed
Hey DUMMY who's F&*ken money are you given. Damn stupid politician.
ROFL!!!!! PERFECT depiction!
Ditto that! Can I still say that? ;-)
Gee Sen. Nelson have you actually read the Porkulus Bill?
I’ve read the entire stimulus bill
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Bill Nelson’s nose is growing.
.
Might be his brain shrinking in my experience with him....
Billions for voter fraud/shakedown artists like ACORN is "narrowly targeted" but I don't see how that is going to "get the economy moving again."
And they took out e-verify, so whoever voted for it in the senate doesn't care if illegals get the jobs.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.