June 05, 2008
Cap and Trade Bill
Has anyone been following the progress of this legislation? I'd like to hear what others think about it. I've already expressed my displeasure with the bill to Senator's Alexander and Corker, and Congressman Bart Gordon. I'll hold my thoughts until I see there is some iinterest in discussing it.
Posted by Chuck S at 01:05 PM | Comments (1)
Government for the People?
From some of the discussions I’ve participated in, both here, and on other blogs I’ve noticed a common theme from almost everyone. Regardless of political affiliation, or preference, it seems that very few of us are happy with the way our country is being “managed” by our political leadership. From gas prices to healthcare, mortgage crisis to income taxes, we all seem to be unhappy with something. This confirms my feelings that we have lost our voice, and faith, in government. Instead of being a government “for the people,” it seems to me that it has become a government for the special interests. I’d like to know what others think we can, or should, do make our government more accountable.
One of my biggest complaints is the small amount of time our representatives spend in session. We are facing some of the most daunting issues since the Great Depression, yet Congress and the Senate spend about one third of the year in session. As I asked on another blog, what company in this nation would pay its mid-level managers a six-figure salary (for life), and superb benefits, yet require them to work one third of the year.
When they are in session, we see them working on issues such as steroid use in baseball. This morning on C-Span, Senator Dick Durbin stated, “It’s a good thing that we are not getting paid for piece-work, because we have done so little this week.” One of the highlights of the week included a full reading of the climate bill now in the Senate. He (Senator Durbin) stated that there was no purpose for the reading, “…other than to burn off an entire day in the United States Senate…” Senator Harry Reid once spent nine hours on a,”discourse of the benefits of wooden matches and reading chapters from his book.” Honestly, I’m not making this up! These folks spend one third of the year actually working on legislation, and some of that time is spent on this type of nonsense.
I’d like to hear some of your thoughts on what we can do to light a fire under all our representatives to spend whatever time is required to get this country back on track. I think we need to see a nationwide movement to get laws passed requiring our representatives to work at least half the year on the issues that need to be addressed. I understand they need to make fact-finding trips, and they need to spend time in their districts/states to stay in touch with their constituents, but these trips need to be limited and time spent in “real” work needs to be increased. I think we need to try to limit the access and influence that lobbyists have, and I think we need to have laws in place that prevent our representatives from going to work as lobbyists after leaving office. I have a number of other ideas, but would like to hear from others.
One last note. I try to stay in touch with our representatives, and have included contact links below. I recently sent them all e-mails urging them to help defeat the “Cap and Trade” bill that is supposedly going to help alleviate the climate change “crisis.”
Senator Lamar Alexander
http://alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Senator Bob Corker
http://corker.senate.gov/Contact/index.cfm
Congressman Bart Gordon
http://gordon.house.gov/contact/index.shtml
Posted by Chuck S at 07:17 AM | Comments (3)
February 14, 2008
Will Extra Tax Rebate Help?
With all the hoopla surrounding the "stimulus package" that was recently signed off on by the Congress, the Senate and the President, I am curious to know what everyday folks are actually planning to do with the additional money. And if people decide to pay bills or save it for a rainy day, rather than going on a spending spree (which is what the politicians are hoping for), what good is it going to do?
Does anyone really believe this will thwart a recession?
Posted by Michelle Hanners at 05:01 PM | Comments (39)
July 09, 2007
Immigration
The blog has been slow this last week. Must be vacation time for alot of folks.
Not much happening in Portland also so let's open a discussion about the immigration problem we have here in the USA. As you know the bill did not pass and I think that's a good thing.
How about you? How do you think the immigration problem should be handled?
Posted by DebraP at 12:50 PM | Comments (29)