I received a piece of mail today from Congressman Shea-Porter today, that just blew my mind (I do apologize for the poor quality of the scan).
- the document is in full color
- it is larger than the mailings that I have received from the presidential candidates
- it is 4 pages (it opens up); this is more information than the presidential candidates have sent out
- and the best part is found on page 4...it states: "This mailing was prepared, published, and mailed at taxpayer expense."
Did you see that last one?
"This mailing was prepared, published, and mailed at taxpayer expense." It also states that I can join her email newsletter "so you can hear it first and save a tree." Interesting, I didn't ask to be on this mailing list, and secondly from what I can tell this wasn't printed on recycled paper. Amazing.
Then, let's open up and get down to some of the issues.
Now, I am not going to read each one of these bills to verify that the summaries provided on the mailing are accurate. However, if you wish to do so, I have put a link to each bill for your review.
HR2669: The College Cost Reduction Cost. (signed into law according to mailing)
- Summary from mailing: "Reduces interest rates on student loans and provides loan forgiveness for those who agree to become teachers."
- My thoughts: First off, the federal government should have no involvement in providing student loans. Not only is this unconstitutional, which should be enough to not only not vote for this, but to create a bill to stop the Stafford Loans, etc, but it perpetuates the involvement of the fed and the free market. The second comment is about giving those whom become teachers a free pass on our tax dollar. I don't remember giving that handout? Now these teachers are going to be "forced" to teach what big brother wants them to each and this just creates a government school, even more controlled by the government rather than the state or community. Hell, I'm against public schools all together so this really chaps my ass.
HR2: Minimum Wage Increase (signed into law according to mailing)
- Summary from mailing: "First increase in the minimum wage in ten years from $5.15 to $7.25."
- My thoughts: Ah ha! Here comes the invisible foot (sorry Adam Smith), the federal government getting involved in the market place again. This will only raise the cost of goods and companies will pass that cost onto the consumer. The right thing to do would have been vote against this and to create a bill to abolish the minimum wage laws all together.
HR1: Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (signed into law according to mailing)
- Summary from mailing: "Provides for implementation of recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission)."
- My thoughts: Who wants to vote against legislation that will save and protect America? I do! Just more freedoms and civil liberties being taken away. I'm sure that if I read the entire bill that I could find at least one unconstitutional item.
HR2776: Renewable Energy and Conservation Tax Act (signed into law according to mailing)
- Summary from mailing: "Lowers energy costs, increases vehicle fuel efficiency."
- My thoughts: The invisible foot strikes again! The federal government gets involved with fuel efficiency in vehicles? I can guarantee you that this is not a power that the constitution grants.
HR976: Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act (vetoed twice by President Bush according to mailing)
- Summary from mailing: "Would have provided health care coverage for additional four million low-income children."
- My thoughts: Bush finally does something correct! He used that veto pen. It is not the responsibility of the federal government to provide health care coverage for anybody.
HR4: Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (President Bush has threatened to veto according to mailing)
- Summary from mailing: "Would require the federal government to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for seniors in Medicare."
- My thoughts: I hope he does veto the bill! Again, the federal government getting involved in free market.
HR3996: Temporary Tax Relief Act (passed by Congress according to mailing)
- Summary from mailing: "Protects 23 million middle class families from the Alternative Minimum Tax"
- My thoughts: Assuming, that his reduces taxes and nothing else then it's a good bill.
So, I have not read the bills here as I stated earlier. The bills are quite lengthy and my original intent of this post was to show that our tax dollars were being used for
