Senator Mikulski finally responded to my letter on the stimlus. Here it is.
Dear Mr. Wolfe:
Thank you for getting in touch with me about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5). It's good to hear from you.
I appreciate hearing your views about this issue. We have inherited a terrible mess, our economy is teetering, and we need to work together to get out of it.
President Obama and Congress have taken a major step forward by enacting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Only a few weeks into a new Congress and a new Administration, we stood up for America and enacted the most significant economic stimulus legislation in our nation's history. By standing with President Obama, we stand up for America to create jobs for people who have lost them and to help those who have jobs keep them. This really is about jobs, jobs, jobs.
The ARRA creates jobs by investing in our infrastructure. It fixes aging physical infrastructure like roads, bridges, public transit and water systems. It invests in the technological infrastructure like broadband to expand small businesses. And it makes major improvements to our social infrastructure by investing in education so that families and local school districts can help special needs children, extending unemployment insurance for struggling families, and increasing federal assistance for the Medicaid program so states won't cut care for seniors and the poor. It also has targeted tax breaks to help families and small businesses.
I'm heartened that my automobile amendment was included in this legislation. It makes state sales or excise car tax deductible for all new cars purchased before the end of this year. It helps consumers and it helps save jobs in the automobile industry. From the salesman who sells the car, to the manufacturers who make it, to the mechanic who fixes it, and office managers who process the paperwork.
Last month 598,000 people lost their jobs, so this bill is a victory for America. It stimulates the economy today and lays the groundwork for a stronger economy tomorrow.
For more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, you may be interested in the White House website http://www.recovery.gov, where you can read the full text of the legislation and see how the money is being spent.
Thanks again for getting in touch with me about these issues. Knowing of your views was helpful to me. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you in the future.
Sincerely, Barbara A. MikulskiUnited States Senator
P.S. If I can be of further assistance in the future,please visit my website at http://mikulski.senate.govor call my Washington D.C. office at 202-224-4654
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
USA Auto Industry
General Motors is posting losses in the billions for the fourth quarter of 2008 and doubt if they will be able to continue without more loans from the USA and Canada. Chrysler and Ford are having their own problems and the question is what is going to happen to American car companies.
Thousands of jobs are at stake, and the lives of those dependent on those workers in one form or another are also at stake. Yet, how much tax payer money should be given to an industry that refuses to adapt, is poorly managed and clearly has no vision of the future?
Is the best thing to stop the loans, force the companies to declare bankruptcy and begin again? Maybe under a new structure, with new contracts between the industry and unions things could actually work out for the best?
Free enterprise means that you have to compete and if you are going to be the winner, you have to have the best ideas, be the most creative and offer the best product. The American car industry has failed in this regard.
Bankruptcy just might be the way to inspire them to approach the business from a new point of view.
I say no more loans. If they cannot adapt and survive on their own, then things will just have to continue in a new direction.
Survival of the fittest.
Its Common Sense!
Thousands of jobs are at stake, and the lives of those dependent on those workers in one form or another are also at stake. Yet, how much tax payer money should be given to an industry that refuses to adapt, is poorly managed and clearly has no vision of the future?
Is the best thing to stop the loans, force the companies to declare bankruptcy and begin again? Maybe under a new structure, with new contracts between the industry and unions things could actually work out for the best?
Free enterprise means that you have to compete and if you are going to be the winner, you have to have the best ideas, be the most creative and offer the best product. The American car industry has failed in this regard.
Bankruptcy just might be the way to inspire them to approach the business from a new point of view.
I say no more loans. If they cannot adapt and survive on their own, then things will just have to continue in a new direction.
Survival of the fittest.
Its Common Sense!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Ash Wednesday
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of forty days of penance and fasting for the majority of Christians throughout the world. Instead of giving anything up this year, I decided I was going to try and adopt a more positive attitude about life and those around me. In general, I think I will be successful.
There is only one area that will cause me difficulty, Congress. Today they approved the spending of another $410 billion. This time there appears to be a lot of ear marks and we will have to see if President Obama sticks to his guns and vetoes the pork.
Now that the Democrats control both the executive and legislative branches of government, it will be interesting to see if they pursue and pass the line item veto. Some Republicans, like John McCain, would certainly go along with them. Sounds like something I need to write my senators about.
As we start Lent, let us all take time to look at the good, help those around us, and be a positive example for all. If we can do it, maybe we can get the politicians to do it. After all, miracles still happen.
Its Common Sense!
There is only one area that will cause me difficulty, Congress. Today they approved the spending of another $410 billion. This time there appears to be a lot of ear marks and we will have to see if President Obama sticks to his guns and vetoes the pork.
Now that the Democrats control both the executive and legislative branches of government, it will be interesting to see if they pursue and pass the line item veto. Some Republicans, like John McCain, would certainly go along with them. Sounds like something I need to write my senators about.
As we start Lent, let us all take time to look at the good, help those around us, and be a positive example for all. If we can do it, maybe we can get the politicians to do it. After all, miracles still happen.
Its Common Sense!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Let's take a minute to breath
I think that now is the time we all need to sit back and calmly reflect on what is going on. The stimulus package, like it or not, is passed and the money is going to be disbursed, sooner better than later. Some governors have problems with some of the money and that's fine. They should ask their constituents' opinion on the spending of any "questionable" money from the Federal government. This money is for the people, not for politicians to play with.
This week President Obama will unveil his budget and his plan to cut his inherited deficit in half during his term. Details will be important. Following the details will be even more important.
Pulling back from Iraq may save some money, but the truth of the matter is if we are to save Afghanistan from the Taliban and Al Quada, then we are going to have to spend heavily on education and modernization. In the past no country has defeated the Afghans because they only tried to destroy and break. To be successful we will have to work with the Afghans to help them grow and expand. All of which will take money.
So, we will sit and wait. There was a big conference today about the economy and the future of the country. All the experts were there. What we have to wait and see is if the "experts" can make their thoughts and dreams practical so that something beneficial will happen for the country.
Its Common Sense!
This week President Obama will unveil his budget and his plan to cut his inherited deficit in half during his term. Details will be important. Following the details will be even more important.
Pulling back from Iraq may save some money, but the truth of the matter is if we are to save Afghanistan from the Taliban and Al Quada, then we are going to have to spend heavily on education and modernization. In the past no country has defeated the Afghans because they only tried to destroy and break. To be successful we will have to work with the Afghans to help them grow and expand. All of which will take money.
So, we will sit and wait. There was a big conference today about the economy and the future of the country. All the experts were there. What we have to wait and see is if the "experts" can make their thoughts and dreams practical so that something beneficial will happen for the country.
Its Common Sense!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Obama's Budget
Word has leaked out about some of the items that will be included in President Obama's budget that will help cut the deficit in half by the time his term ends. Now, there is no doubt that the Bush Administration and Congress left a huge deficit/debt, but I think Obama is suffering from wishful thinking if he thinks he can actually reduce the deficit in half in four years.
One thing is to reduce the spending in Iraq and Afghanistan. Is that really going to happen? Hopefully the majority of our troops will be out of Iraq by 2011, but how much financial support will the USA continue to provide to the Iraq government?
Afghanistan will be receiving new troops shortly. New troops means more equipment, infrastructure and more cooperation with the Afghanistan government and military. In addition, if there is going to any real success against Al Quada and the Taliban, the USA and NATO are going to need to invest heavily in Afghanistan's education system, economic situation, and the creation of jobs that are non-poppy related and can offer competitive salaries.
These things will cost money. If the USA skimps, we will pay the price in more blood and bodies over the long haul.
Obama plans to let the tax cuts for the rich - those earning over $250,000.00 a year - run its course and expire in 2010. I can see the Republicans staying quiet and not asking for a renewal of the tax break.
With all the money that has been borrowed for the stimulus, the government's concentration should be on getting American business in the + column again, and then begin the work of taxing the public and industry fairly to bring in the revenue to pay off the debt.
As for controlling the deficit, Congress and the President have to start working off a balanced budget. No more out of control spending, taking loans from anyone willing to give us a handout. Our status in the world is going down because our leaders are perceived as money hungry bureaucrats.
A balance budget means that all of us need to start making sacrifices and live within in our means. At the same time we have to stay safe and strong. Hard to do but possible.
Its Common Sense!
One thing is to reduce the spending in Iraq and Afghanistan. Is that really going to happen? Hopefully the majority of our troops will be out of Iraq by 2011, but how much financial support will the USA continue to provide to the Iraq government?
Afghanistan will be receiving new troops shortly. New troops means more equipment, infrastructure and more cooperation with the Afghanistan government and military. In addition, if there is going to any real success against Al Quada and the Taliban, the USA and NATO are going to need to invest heavily in Afghanistan's education system, economic situation, and the creation of jobs that are non-poppy related and can offer competitive salaries.
These things will cost money. If the USA skimps, we will pay the price in more blood and bodies over the long haul.
Obama plans to let the tax cuts for the rich - those earning over $250,000.00 a year - run its course and expire in 2010. I can see the Republicans staying quiet and not asking for a renewal of the tax break.
With all the money that has been borrowed for the stimulus, the government's concentration should be on getting American business in the + column again, and then begin the work of taxing the public and industry fairly to bring in the revenue to pay off the debt.
As for controlling the deficit, Congress and the President have to start working off a balanced budget. No more out of control spending, taking loans from anyone willing to give us a handout. Our status in the world is going down because our leaders are perceived as money hungry bureaucrats.
A balance budget means that all of us need to start making sacrifices and live within in our means. At the same time we have to stay safe and strong. Hard to do but possible.
Its Common Sense!
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