An Open Letter To John Boehner
Dear Minority Leader Boehner:
During Sunday’s Meet the Press, your Republican colleague, Senator John Ensign, said the following:
SEN. ENSIGN: But the other thing, to get back to what Congressman Frank said, is that, you know, we're going to be laying off teachers and firefighters. You know, that's just fearmongering. We're not going to be doing that in any of the states. The states have grown, in their budgets, faster than population growth, faster than inflation for the last several year--actually, probably about the last 15 years. Their budgets are bloated, the federal government's budget is bloated. What we should be doing is cutting back. Instead of just spending money, we should eliminate wasteful Washington spending and also require the states to have some fiscal discipline.
I understand you both share a strong opposition to the stimulus, but I wonder if you also share the same view as Sen. Ensign? Before answering that, let me ask if you have seen the local news, which, in a twisted sense of irony, was published the same day Sen. Ensign made these comments:
Because of budget cuts, the Butler County Sheriff's Office has made a number of changes, including restructuring and job cuts.
These moves — coupled with job reduction in the minimum security jail contracted through Resolutions Community Solutions and the elimination of $500,000 from the budget of the new radio system to come online this year — will save the county about $1.4 million, Sheriff Richard K. Jones said.
Three jobs have been eliminated and pink slips handed out to the crime prevention officer (a part-time position) and two officers assigned to the child support enforcement division. Meanwhile, the number of employees in the information technology division has been decreased from three to two, according to Jones.
(emphasis added)
Now I understand the Sen. Ensign said “teachers and firefighters”, but I think it’s a safe assumption that his thinking would couple police with firefighters under a larger blanket of public safety.
So Mr. Boehner, after reading that the very people charged with protecting your home and family is suffering from severe budget cuts, attributed to our down turning economy, can I ask if you agree with your colleague? Do you also believe that saying localities will have to make these kind of cuts is “fear mongering”.
I will be patiently awaiting your answer.
Signed – your constituent, Jamie Holly.
rep. Franks was clear with conviction......state public services and budget(s) are getting crushed in this crisis. ensign should know his own state of nevada is getting hit bad. very high number of vacant public houses maybe 15,000 plus........so guess what they aren't collecting property taxes. employment is in the %8(percentile) and growing. layoffs/less disposable income for gaming. so the governor(gibbons) he is a gibbon.....is looking for services to cut sinces budget deficit is growing and public services are getting pushed to the edge. ensign's response was so weak about states being "bloated". commercial property is next. the discussion in nevada is implementing a state tax the gaming industry is fighting like hell.
Jamie should be honored by your community and all Americans for speaking the truth. Every town in this USA is suffering and some Law Makers act like they don't see it or their working hard to destroy the Obama Administration rather then help the taxpayers.
I am a teacher. We just instituted a hiring freeze in our district. The superintendent wants to reopen contract negotiations. This usually means agreeing to a shortened school year, with accompanying salary cuts for staff. Many school districts in Oregon will do this. I believe it was the subject of a Doonsbury comic a few years ago. This is reality.
I wonder what planet these republicans live on. Lay offs are everywhere.
They are talking about closing schools in Douglas County, Nevada and the county has a hiring freeze.
They are talking about laying off prison guards at the Washington State Penitentiary.
I work for a business that has 100 employees and during the first two months of the year 10% of them were laid off!
Go Jamie!!! And you will let us know, if you receive a letter via snail mail from Boehner, whether or not it is tear stained, won’t you??
When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.
Benjamin Franklin
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson
Instead of using Ben and Thomas why don't you put it in your own words?
I just watched a segment on our local evening news. they're going to have to fire a bunch of cops, firemen, and teachers... and the survivors need to take a paycut.
Sen. Ensign doesn't know wtf he's talking about
What you need to do, is go to the hardware store that the previous administration told you to go to, to get plastic and ducttape. This time, purchase yourself a TARP. No, not the red TARP, but the blue one. This TARP is massive, and will cover up your home, so nobody will see it. Then it's safe from bankers.
Next, just wait a few weeks, and the big skids of cash will arrive via USAF jets, similar to how they were sent to Iraq courtesy this time of the Stimulating Debt Bill. Each skid has a recipient written on it's bill of lading. If the administration determined your state to get X amount of dollars, it will all be there. So each town, city, and state, will get a lump sum, to use to wipe out those nasty budget deficits.
Don't forget to keep your "shovel ready" to assist in getting rid of the footprints that leave a trail to any that might be tempted to filter some of the cash.
The relief you feel, will be similar to replacing your broken down car, with a brand new paint job. Sure it's still broken down, but it sure looks awesome!!!
An Open Letter to Patrick Leahy.
From the Netroots
Or as Rachel Maddow says..
The Concerned Inconvenient Citizen.
WAKE UP.
How about fear instead? I hear the former Iceland leader even got his car pelted with eggs so badly, he had to change his underwear.
He fails to mention WHY those state budgets have become bloated over the past 15 years (that his party has been running the country). BUSH WAS THE BIGGEST SPENDER SINCE LBJ!!!
Have a look at how much the pork earmarks went up even as Clinton was being impeached, thanks to the Republican House and Senate:
http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=...
The problem is, those earmarks weren't going to essential public services, like shoring up levees or repairing bridges or hiring cops and firemen, but to Rainforests in Iowa and Bridges to Nowhere.
They need to sit down and shut the hell up. We should run their lying asses out of town with pitchforks.
please let us know when, if ever, the Obstructionist Senator gets back to you.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
Will boner be able to open the envelope
Or have to hire a minimum wage worker to do it for him?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
It will depend upon the timing of his mail delivery vs his tanning schedule. Does anyone know his tanning schedule?
He must spend 6 hours a day using a tanning bed and slippery
suntan oil may prevent him from opening the envelope. EVER!
The more job cuts that happen at the government level the better. People that work for the government aren't contributing to the tax base, they are contributing to the tax burden.
I don't understand why people get excited about pay cuts and jobs losses but are gung ho about the government spending money it doesn't have (the "stimulus" cheerleaders). When government spends money it doesn't have it is inflationary. Inflation screws over people on fixed incomes and people that are just getting by.
We got into this mess because we spent way beyond our means. We aren't going to get out of this mess by doing the same thing.
You are offering a version of Of Jourdains Paradox: People that work for the government aren't contributing to the tax base, they are contributing to the tax burden.
"The first part of this sentence is false and the second part is true".
OR
"The first part of this sentence is true and the second part is false".
Either part of this sentence cancels out the other.
'Talk to the hand'
so which part of the sentence do you think is false? Or are you just throwing creative responses out there to avoid having the discussion that government employee salaries are paid for by someone other than the government employees themselves.
Announced they cancelled the 2010 police recruit class due to budget cuts. Looks like 2010 will be my year to take up a life of crime!
Don't worry, I'm sure the job cuts problem will become very real to congressional repubs over the next few election cycles. While I don't think Obama's plan (what I actually know of it (tyvm lame ass MSM helping to keep me ignorant!)) is going to help, the repubs by their obstructionism have nicely prepared themselves to take the blame if the plan does fail.
School Districts across the country are using teachers as temporary employees by not renewing their contracts when they reach tenure eligibility.
Tenure of 3-5 years is very convenient for School Districts but bad for new teachers, and veteran teachers that move to new districts. However it creates a revolving door of teachers coming and going, and guarantees mediocrity over skill and experience......and that is bad for the students.
'Talk to the hand'
Based on the latest figures available (2007) Ensign has a net worth from $1,901,203 to $7,450,195 and ranked 29th among all members
of the Senate.
http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/CIDsummary.ph...
Boehner wasn't doing bad himself with a net worth in 2007 from $2,154,029 to $7,911,000 and ranked 63rd among all members
of the House.
http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/CIDsummary.ph...
Better tell that to Rhode Island. They are getting ready to lay off a couple hundred teachers there. And in New York too I believe.
keep his boehne head so tanned?
People like teh boner or ensign arent worried a dammed bit about the local adverage folks hell to them its let them eat cake....its not untill THEIR safty is concerned till they see the light of day....let their houses burn down because there arent enough firefighters or they get robbed or worse because there arent enough cops on tha street ..then they might just might change their tune till then dont bet on it
has always been "I've Got Mine - Screw You" and that is the same damn attitude displayed time and time and time again by these lying thieves in the Republican Party. They can't understand how a family of 4 making $80,000 can't get by when 2 of the kids are college-aged and there might be elderly family members to care for. They have their millions and they can send their kids to private schools/college, pay people to clean their homes, pay people to mow their grass, pay private teachers to educate their children, pay people to wash their clothes, pay people to cook their meals, pay people to nanny their children, pay people to care for their elderly parents...on and on.
They just can't get it into their heads that not all of us are worth $7 million dollars and don't have unlimited access to hired help. They are completely out of touch with the middle class and they RESENT any effort on the part of middle Americans to educate them. They are the new elite - the new lords and dukes. They've anointed themselves as the New American Standard and all the rest of us are just serfs. It's ridiculous that anyone with a net worth of less than $250K would vote for these modern-day robber barons. When will the flag-waving, jesus-fearing middle class people wake up and realize that these republicans don't represent them and don't care about them or their problems?
Thank you.
As long as ensign and boner have their jobs, they don't really give a rat's ass about any body else.
For virtually all republicans, and unfortunately for a few democrats, it's all about themselves - their constituents don't matter, except when useful as pawns in the political wars.
The frustrated Boner just can't get it up.
http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/article/br...
Lay off 100 teachers and close 5 schools.
Donaldd
The two largest school districts in the state of Minnesota, Anoka/Hennepin and St. Paul are also talking about layoffs of full time teachers. Like class sizes weren't already big enough.
A small sampling for Mr. Boehner, courtesy of the Internets and 30 minutes
Ohio: Lancaster budget calls for firefighter layoffs - 01/17/2009 -
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/...
Georgia: Firefighter layoffs may cost East Point $1M - 07/03/2008 - http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlant...
Illinois: St. Charles firefighters fear layoffs - 02/04/2009 - http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2009/02/0...
California: SB police, firefighters may not be shielded from budget axe - 02/07/2009 - http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_11652304
Nevada: Reno firefighters offer budget concessions - 02/05/2009 - http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9794175
Massachusetts: Layoff angst grows ahead of union votes in New Bedford - 02/06/2009 - http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...
Ohio: Toledo fire, police layoffs possible - 01/31/2009 - http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?...
Massachusetts: Budget crunch forces Winthrop to lay off police chief
Panel suggests Brookline cut 20 firefighters - 02/05/2009 - http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusett...
California: State budget woes force Riverside County firefighter layoffs - 12/15/2008 - http://www.mydesert.com/article/20081215/NEWS...
Colorado: Firefighters in Colorado Springs Have More Than Just Fires To Worry About - 01/26/2009 - http://www.employmentspectator.com/2009/01/fi...
New York: New York plans mass layoffs, proposes 1-billion-dollar budget cut - 01/30/2009 - http://www.topnews.in/new-york-plans-mass-lay...
California: Planned city layoffs could include police, firefighters - 01/14/2009 - http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/1540482...
Indiana: Indiana property tax cap panel to visit Gary
City fears loss of revenue from statewide rate lid would force police, firefighter layoffs - 01/19/2009 - http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-...
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