Another letter from my Congressman

I received the following letter, dated April 10, 2012, from my representative in the United States House and wanted to share it with those who might follow this blog.  Rep. Akin is a good man and running for the Republican nomination to replace Claire McCaskill in the United States Senate.  We certainly need her replaced!

Dear Bruce:

This year's budget battle outlines a stark difference in ideologies that are fighting to win the hearts and minds of the American public.  My colleagues and I on the House Budget Committee have produced a sound budget that will direct our nation toward a sustainable path that effectively sustains our mission as a country and is efficient in maintaining its obligations.

As you may be aware, the President's budget results in the fourth consecutive annual deficit exceeding $1 trillion.  In contrast, the House Republican budget saves $5 trillion relative to the Administration's proposal and charts a sustainable path in an effort to save our children and grandchildren from paying for our generation's reckless spending.  Under the plan, we will reduce our deficits to below 3 percent of GDP and reduce the burgeoning size of the federal government to 20 percent of the economy by 2015.

Our responsible budget makes the hard choices that some politicians have chosen to ignore.  The Republican budget prevents the President's $1.9 trillion in tax increases while reforming the tax code to make it more fair and competitive and eliminates special interest tax loopholes.  Our budget simplifies the current Tax Code by creating two tax rates of 10 and 25 percent, repeals the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), and broadens the tax base.  Furthermore, it reduces the corporate tax rate to 25 percent, allowing our companies to remain competitive in a growing global marketplace.

The House-passed 2013 budget also repeals the President's health care law, advances bipartisan solutions that take power away from government bureaucrats and put patients in control.  Furthermore, it ensures that there are no disruptions under Medicare for those in or near retirement while ensuring a strengthened Medicare program for future generations.

While the Senate has not passed a budget in over 1,000 days, the House has made good on its obligations to the American people, and on Thursday, March 29, 2012, passed our second consecutive budget (H.Con.Res 112), by a vote of 228-191.  I was proud to vote for this legislation and look forward to the months ahead as we begin this new phase in getting our country back on a sound fiscal path.

Please visit www.roadmap.republicans.budget.house.gov to see our budget plan in complete detail.  I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me regarding any matter where I might be of assistance.  You may visit http://www.house.gov/akin to find more information in issues or to subscribe to my e-newsletter.

Sincerely,

W. Todd Akin

"No Doubt We Are Moving in the Right Direction"

Some folks are, evidently, confused about many of my Facebook posts in recent days.  They think I am simply reposting the same information over and over again.  I am not.

For the past few weeks, I have frequently posted updates to Facebook which begin with the statement recently made by Vice President Biden concerning our economy:  "No doubt we are moving in the right direction".  I have included, with each post, a link to an article providing testimony which clearly refutes what the Vice President has said.  Over and over again, various articles have appeared which present clear evidence that our economy is on the wrong track and continuing on that wrong track.  The President and the Vice President either are out of touch with reality, deceiving themselves, or intentionally misleading the public with their "positive" economic outlook.

The administration believes the correct approach is to take additional federal monies and throw it at various projects to stir the job market.  They did this 18 months ago with the stimulus bill and the economy has gotten worse.  More money is not the answer, Mr. President.  Besides, that money being thrown around is our money.  More precisely, it is my grandchildren's money for the government is driving us deeper and deeper into debt.  NO ONE AND NO ORGANIZATION CAN SPEND MORE THAN IT TAKES IN AND SURVIVE.  At some point we will collapse.  To cover the cost of all your programs (enacted and on the table) will require additional income which means more taxes.  More taxes further stifle the job market and the purchasing power of the consumer.  Your solution will be to throw out more money.  That means more taxes.  It is a vicious cycle.  Can't our leaders see this?  Are we truly moving in the right direction?

I am not an economic wiz but I do believe there are some things the President and his administration COULD do to address the problem.  Here they are in no particular order.  This is certainly not an exhaustive list.

1.  CUT ALL TAXES - Yes, even on the "wealthiest" Americans.  You see, its those wealthiest Americans who invest and produce the jobs which fuel this economy.  They won't do so if you continue to take more and more of their money.  No investments, no new jobs.  Cutting taxes also frees up money for consumer purchases which drives merchandising, etc.  When I say cut all taxes, I do not simply mean extend the Bush tax custs for everyone (which the administration MUST do).  No, I mean CUT ALL TAXES.

2.  CUT ALL TAXES - I'm repeating myself only to make certain the administration includes cutting capital gains taxes as well. 

3.  PULL BACK STIMULUS MONEY - Last I heard, over $300 billion of the 2009 stimulus funds had not been spent.  DON'T SPEND IT!

4.  REPEAL HEALTHCARE - Mr. President, the nation cannot afford it.  The American people do not want it.  The entire program passed last year must go.  There are plenty of ways to fix what ails the health care industry without spending ourselves into oblivion.

5.  NO CAP AND TRADE - The global warming nonsense has finally wound down a bit.  Putting additional taxes onto energy will only translate into higher costs to consumers.  It is totally unnecessary.

6.  STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - For years we have been told "illegals do the jobs Americans won't do".  Maybe that's true sometimes.  But what is also true is that "Illegals are doing jobs Americans could do and probably would do in this economic situation if those jobs were available".  Illegal immigrants are just that:  illegal.  They should not be here and should not be permitted to remain.  The problem must be addressed because it impacts our economic status.  For starters, (1) Secure the border (seriously)  (2) Heavily fine businesses who employ illegal immigrants  (3) deport any illegal immigrant who is found (this does not require "looking" for them, rather, simply deporting those who are found).

7.  GET OUT OF OUR LIVES - No more bailouts.  If a company fails, it fails.  We should strive to help those who truly need help but we can not do this for everyone over extended periods of time.  Significantly reduce the length of time unemployment benefits are extended.  Let the free market work.  Eliminate government bureaucracy which will reduce the amount of money needed to run the government.  Americans do not want a LARGE Federal government constantly intruding into our lives.  Instead, reread the Constitution and limit yourselves to the powers enumerated therein.  All the other powers belong to the states (check the 10th Amendment please).

Those are my thoughts. 

Oh, and Mr. Vice President, we are NOT moving in the right direction!

The President

As my family (or anyone who reads previous blog entries) knows, I did not support the President for his office when he was running last year. I disagree with his policies and the various changes he has already made in that office. He is leading our country away from the republic it has been to a far left government, destroying our freedoms and our country in the process. Nevertheless, he is the President and leader of our nation, therefore, he deserves our respect. He is my President even though we are at opposite ends of the political spectrum.



Well, after reading about my President's visit to Japan this weekend, I am about ready to cast aside all respect for "our leader". First he BOWS to the leader of Japan. Mr. President, you don't bow to anyone! My LEADER does NOT bow to anyone. Even I would not bow to the Japanese leader.



Then, when asked about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II and whether the United States should have done that, our President did a soft shoe dance around the issue and, essentially, apologized once again for our nation. How dare you, sir! Why did you not remind the Japanese that we were ending a war THEY STARTED.



Mr. President, I want to respect you even if I disagree with you politically. But I do not respect those who walk around and consistently embarrass our nation and apologize for our actions of years gone by. Mr. President, check the cemeteries in Europe and see how many Americans are buried there, dead from fighting to preserve that continent. Mr. President, visit the memorials in Pearl Harbor (your very home state) and across the Pacific and see the testimonies of brave Americans who gave their lives for our freedom by fighting back the very Japanese nation to whom you cowered this weekend. My relatives fought on both of those fronts, sir, and I am proud of their service.



Mr. President, with all due respect, your actions and words put our nation to shame. How dare you, sir! Our nation deserves and demands a better leader and spokesman than what we are receiving.

Mr. President, Part 2

Dear Mr. President,

"As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam – at places like Al-Azhar University – that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality." President Obama, June 4, 2009

Mr. President, yesterday I wrote to you concerning your statements in the Cairo speech relative to "government redistribution" (all governments are equal) and requested clarification. Today, I finally had the opportunity to read your entire speech. Not only am I still unclear on the portion of your speech I referenced yesterday, I now read the above paragraph and am appalled that you would make such ridiculous statements.

Islam paved the way for European Enlightenment? How? By threatening all of Europe with invasion?

Muslim communities developed Algebra? Mr. President, Algebra existed long before Mohammed even lived. Most likely it originated with the Babylonians but certainly it was fully developed by the Greeks centuries before Islam existed.

Muslims created the compass? Its origin is not certain though many credit the Chinese. But, once again, the compass was around long before Islam.

Must I continue, Mr. President? Almost everything you say in this paragraph is historically false. And then you conclude this section of your speech with "Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality " I challenge you to make that claim to a Muslim woman or to the thousands if not millions of people throughout history who have been killed because of Islamic religious INtolerance.

Mr. President, I do not understand why you seem bent on belittling our great nation while elevating a RELIGION. Would you be kind enough to explain this to me and to the American people?

Sincerely,
Bruce D. Walker
St. Charles, MO.

Sent to President Barack Obama at The White House on June 5, 2009.

Mr. President ...

“Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared.” President Barack Obama

Mr. President,

The above remarks were made by you on this date, June 4, 2009, in Cairo, Egypt. Please, Mr. President, would you clarify what you meant by this part of your speech?

Do you mean the United States of America is no better than North Korea? Do you mean the USA is on the same playing field as Iran? Do you mean the people of the United States should not consider their nation far superior to the nation of Saudi Arabia or China or Afghanistan?

Mr. President, I hope this is not what you mean. You know very good and well United States citizens would never consider surrendering their US citizenship to become citizens of other nations such as North Korea. Why? Because the United States IS a superior nation to North Korea.

Mr. President, it is the United States which has come to the aid of many, many nations throughout its 200 year history BECAUSE it is a great nation. It is the United States which has fought for freedom throughout the world during its short history. How many battles have we engaged in order to protect other nations? How much foreign aid have we sent in order to provide for other nations? And now you tell us we should not consider ourselves a superior nation, especially when compared with the likes of Iran? Mr. President, is this what you meant by your words?

Sir, I know you are in favor of redistributing our wealth but now it sounds as though you are in favor of redistributing our nation's greatness. Is this truly what you meant?

Mr. President, if this was what you intended to communicate to the world, then you have proven yourself unworthy to lead our great nation. With all due respect, how DARE you betray the very country you lead.

Sincerely,
Bruce D. Walker
St. Charles, MO

The above was sent to President Obama at The White House on June 4, 2009.

A Letter to the President

I received an e-mail today containing a letter to our President supposedly written by a 4th grade teacher in Hillsboro, MO. Some quick research reveals the letter most likely came from a gentleman in Columbia, not a 4th grade teacher. Nevertheless, the letter is listed as legitimate.

Personally, I found the letter very interesting because this gentleman expresses my sentiments quite well though I would have been a bit more respectful, I hope, if I had written it.

Instead of copying the entire letter, here is a link to the letter in case you want to read it.

"Rocket Man"

I know most of my family remembers the movie "Rocket Man". The story of the nerd who becomes an astronaut on the first mission to Mars is often quoted at family gatherings. Well, when I heard about the meeting between our President and Daniel Ortega this past weekend, my first thought was of the Rocket Man's most frequent tag line: "It wasn't me."

Check out Ben Shapiro's commentary HERE and see if you agree with my conclusion that President Obama was "Rocket Man".

Our President and the Sermon on the Mount

... or "How to take a Biblical text completly out of context."

Check it out here.

Economic Passion

If you thought I was passionate about our economy and this administration's socialistic attempts to "fix it", check this out.

I have been "stimulated" by our Congress

Yes, the passage of the "stimulus" bill last Friday by both Houses of Congress has greatly stimulated me; stimulated my anger, that is.

First, our President told us we had to move QUICKLY on this bill, our economy was on the verge of catastrophe. Yet, he can spend the weekend out of time and wait until Tuesday to sign the legislation. Hmmm, it must not have been that urgent after all.

Second, how did your Congressman and Senators vote on this bill especially in light of the fact NONE OF THEM HAD TIME TO READ IT? To vote FOR legislation you have not read is:

- arrogant (obviously you must be omniscient)
- partisan (oh, the President wants it, the Speaker wants it, the Dems want it)
- irresponsible

Yes, any legislator who voted for this bill last Friday is irresponsible and does NOT represent their constiuency who, at least, expects them to READ legislation BEFORE passing it. I wonder if our President will have read it before he signs it tomorrow?

I recommend you check on your elected officials and see how they voted last Friday. If they voted yes then I encourage you (perhaps EXHORT is a better word) to write them and complain about their irresponsibility. We need responsible representation in Congress, not the arrogant display we witnessed last Friday.

To my children: PLEASE, don't do this!

I am proud of my children but I beg them never to embarrass our family with a display such as this.

Actually, the President should have applauded the young man for faithfully working while obtaining a college education so that he could better HIMSELF! That, you see, has always been the American spirit. We are a free people. We are an independent people. We DON'T need the government to take care of us. When we are down, we get back up. When we lose a job, we find another. IF WE NEED HELP, we turn to our family, our friends, and our church, but NOT our government. Note how the preamble to our Constitution says nothing about the government providing our jobs, our benefits, our homes, etc.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Promoting is not providing.

Children, when you need help, ask your family first. Ask your friends. Ask your church. But, PLEASE, do not stand up before the President of the United States and expect him to promise you he will force McDonald's to raise your salary or to improve your benefits. Unlike this lady, don't expect much from our government!

A Letter from my Congressman on FOCA

I wrote a letter to my Congressman and Senators last week asking them to reject any attempt by this administration to pass the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). Today I received the following response from my Congressman, Rep. Todd Akin.

Dear Reverend Walker:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA.) It was good to hear from you and I appreciate the opportunity to respond.

As you may know, FOCA would establish, as the official policy of the United States that every woman has the "fundamental right to choose" to: (1) bear a child; (2) terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability; or (3) terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect her life or her health. It also prohibits any federal, state, or local governmental entity from: (a) denying or interfering with a woman's right to exercise such choices; or (b) discriminating against the exercise of those rights in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information - and it makes that prohibition retroactive. It further explicitly authorizes civil suits under the Act, including against federal, state or local governments.

Sadly, this is one of the most divisive pieces of legislation I have seen in all my years of public service. The effects of this legislation would be sweeping and devastating for women who face unplanned pregnancies. It would, in short, codify Roe v. Wade and subsequent related Supreme Court decisions as public law - enshrining abortion on demand: any time, any reason, as U.S. policy. Worse, it would overturn all state laws (including laws currently allowed under Roe v. Wade) designed to protect the health of the mother, prohibit certain late term abortion procedures or recognize medical professionals' rights of conscience. In addition, it could have a far reaching "chilling effect" on the provision of life-affirming services in the non-profit sector.

One of the beliefs on which I will never waiver is that life begins at conception and that we should do all we can to protect the lives of innocent children while they are still in the womb. Because of this conviction, I am committed to ensuring that no woman is forced or coerced into an unwanted or unnecessary abortion. FOCA would eliminate state laws that guarantee women full and accurate information about abortion and further erode the social support system that helps many women make life-affirming choices.

Since Roe v. Wade, thousands of lives have been prematurely ended by various forms of abortion. The numbers of abortions in the United States have been declining for more than a decade due to increased access to (a) practical, life-affirming support, (b) protections for minors, and (c) information about the serious physical, psychological and spiritual after effects of abortion. FOCA would roll back many of these protections and increase the number of abortions nationwide. It would send the message to women that abortion is easy, safe and completely acceptable - while having a child, especially in some circumstances is difficult and irresponsible. In fact, states that already have FOCA-like laws see much higher rates of abortions than those states that do not have similar statutes.

I am an active member the Pro-Life Caucus which leads the way in working for life-affirming legislation. In my time in Congress, I have supported a number of pieces of pro-life legislation. Last Congress, I was an original cosponsor of the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (H.R. 1063) and I supported an increase in abstinence education funding for fiscal year 2009. I also co-sponsored the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act (H.R. 3442).

I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts with me. I believe the Freedom of Choice Act is bad public policy and I will actively oppose it in the 111th Congress. I have also signed a letter to President Obama, calling on him to join me in opposing radical legislation - like FOCA - which would increase abortions across the nation.

It is a privilege to represent you and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me regarding any matter where I might be of assistance. If you would like more information on issues or would like to share further thoughts with me via e-mail, you may visit my website.

Sincerely,
W. Todd Akin
Member of Congress

If you want to see the letter signed by Rep. Akin (and many others) and sent to the President, let me know and I'll e-mail you a copy.