Rep. Ted Strickland is running for Ohio governor and Rep Sherrod Brown would like to be the next senator from Ohio. I talked with their D.C. legislative aides and made a suggestion followed by a letter. “While we appreciate your support for H. R. 147 many bills have been introduced in previous years to modify or repeal the GPO/WEP only to die at the end of every Congressional session. I am proposing a plan I hope you both will consider before you leave the House. Public retirees would like to see you, Rep. Strickland and Rep. Brown along with the other Ohio cosponsors approach Rep. McCrery and insist that the will of the voters in our DEMOCRACY be heard by allowing Rep. McKeon’s repeal bill H. R. 147 out of the subcommittee.”
On the first page you see a copy of the letter sent by Rep. Brown’s office to Rep. McCrery. It was circulated to all Ohio Representatives inviting them to sign on before it was sent to Rep. McCrery’s office. As of April 8, 2006 there has been no response to the letter. Needless to say I am very disappointment there was not even the courtesy of a reply.
VOTING SURVEY
If the elections were held today would you vote for your
Representative Senator
Yes No Yes No
11 16 7 16
Would you change parties? Yes 14 -- No 7
“I already have” .
“I will not vote for any incumbent.”
“If need be I would vote out anybody that works against us.”
“I do not feel the Republican Party gives a damn about the poor people in this country.”
“I will vote Democrat. I am finished with the Republicans”.
“I’m voting for those that are voting for us.”
Most responses were from Ohio: Not everyone identified their state
Cincinnati California
New Richmond Maine
Hamilton Illinois
Cuyahoga Falls
Kipton
Toledo
Cambridge
Please note that not all questions were given an answer. Since this newsletter will go to all Ohio elected officials, YOU have sent them a very personal message. Hopefully our Offset/Windfall members in other states will forward the newsletter to their members in Congress. I do want to thank everyone who participated in this survey.
OHIO PRIMARIES MAY 2ND
I find it very disappointing that the “Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes” have accused Rep. Jean Schmidt of falsely claiming she received two bachelor’s degrees from the U. of Cincinnati. Her chief of staff, Barry Bennett explained “the congresswoman completed the required hours for a second bachelor’s degree but didn’t collect the second diploma. One was in political science 1974 and one in social studies-secondary education 1986” Surely “COAST” can find more important matters to defend the American taxpayer.
On the other hand “COAST” said nothing when Bob McEwen, Rep. Schmidt opponent, received a public reprimand for making false statements during last year’s campaign. The Ohio Elections Commission decided 6-1 that he violated the false statement law when he used the title “congressman” in front of his name in radio and television ads as well as literature during the 2005 primary elections. He has not been a congressman since January 1993.
I find Rep. Schmidt a sincere person trying to do what is best for her constituents. When we met in January she did not exhibit “that political façade” you see in almost every politician. She did keep her promise to cosponsor H. R. 147.
Bob McEwen has been and still is a lobbyist. A very scary article written by David Kirkpatrick, New York Times, February 19, 2006 states “Many members of Congress are married to lobbyist and Congressional ethics rules do not bar spouses of lawmakers from lobbying . Many Washington couples, like Jeffery and Alexandra Shockey need the advice of a lawyer on how to conduct their pillow talk. Jeffery is a top aide to Rep. Jerry Lewis, chairman of the House Appropriation Committee and Alexandra is a lobbyist for a firm that seeks to influence the congressman.”
The article gave me the impression the rules are pretty loose where lobbying is allowed. How would Mr. McEwen separate his lobbying connections from the needs of his constituents?
THE RUN FOR THE SENATE
William Pierce, a Republican is challenging Senate DeWine. He is an engineer, resides in Deerfield Township and this is his first run for political office.
Sen. DeWine is selective in what he decides to support and unfortunately his record does not reveal that retired public workers are on his priority list. Very early on I believe he cosponsored Sen. Mikulski bill to modify the GPO/WEP. Today he does not cosponsor her bill and has NEVER COSPONSORED SEN. FEINSTEINS BILL TO REPEAL THESE UNJUST LAWS. When he answers your letter he explains the laws and states “I certainly will keep your views in mind…..”
In 1995 and 2000 he voted in favor of drilling in the artic but in 2002 he voted against drilling as he did not feel “drilling for oil was worth the risk to the environment.” Remember the high heating bills last winter and as I write this gas prices are close to $3.00 a gallon.
A few years ago his son, Pat DeWine was on city council and asked his father for money to build a bike trail in downtown Cincinnati. Senator DeWine approved $1.1 million!!
In Nov. 2005 the Senator requested money to help pay for the up keep of historic sites that commemorate former U.S. presidents “These presidential sites are far too important to let them silently decay” he said introducing a bill that would award $5 million a year for the next five years.
At the end of February Pres. Bush visited Cincinnati and raised more than $1 million for the Senator. The extra security required cost money and our no nonsense Sheriff Leis sent Sen. DeWine a bill for $7, 421----not paid yet. Because the fundraiser was a few miles away from my house, nearby streets were closed and when it took me an extra 45 minutes to get home I was not very happy. Since I am a taxpayer and picked up his bill I should have been invited to the party.
FOR SALE U.S. CITIZENSHIP…..AMERICA
RES 50: Rep. Goode 2-17-05 Expresses disapproval by Congress of the totoalization agreement between the United States and Mexico signed by the Commissioner of Social Security and the Director General of the Mexican Social Security Institute June 24, 2004
RES 20: Rep. Haywood 1-4-05 expressing disapproval of the House of Representatives of the Social Security totalization agreement between the United States and Mexico.
For years I have warned about the Mexican invasion while Congress ignored the problem. In our January 2003 newsletter, I copied The Washington Times article “Siphoning off Social Security” telling how officials at the State Department and the SSA were planning to align Mexico’s SS system with ours allowing illegals to become eligible for our SS. We need 40 credits to qualify for Social Security BUT they can combine their SS from Mexico with their SS from here to receive our benefits.
In the same newsletter I copied the article “The Great Social Security Giveaway” by Rep. Ron Paul. He wrote “The proposed agreement is nothing more than a financial reward to those who have knowingly violated our own immigration laws. How many more would break the law to come to this country if promised U.S. government paychecks for life? Estimates of what this deal with Mexico would cost tops one billion per year. According to press reports the State Department and the SSA are negotiating to build a new building in Mexico City to handle the expected rush of this program”
I frequently tested the patience of my former representative, Rob Portman with my letters. I had asked him to support Rep. Paul’s bill H.R. 489 the Social Security for Americans Only Act of 2003. The following is part of his March 25, 22003 letter. He explained “the worker pays Social Security taxes to the country where they are working (unless their stay is temporary, i.e., less than 5 years. At retirement the worker could combine or “totalize” work credits under both systems in order to become eligible for benefits if he or she would not otherwise have enough credits under one or both countries’ system to qualify. However, before any new agreement goes into effect, Congress must know how much it will cost U.S. taxpayers and whether it will affect Social Security’s ability to pay benefits in the future. I want to make sure that any totalization agreement with Mexico does not drain needed funds from Social Security Trust Funds at the same time we are fighting to keep the funds solvent to ensure the well-deserved retirement of today’s American workers.
The House Ways and Means Committee and the House Judiciary Committee have directed the General Accounting Office (GAO) to provide Congress information on the possible effects of the totalization agreement. We are telling GAO to provide us with an accurate price tag. In addition we want to make sure that any such agreement does not benefit aliens working illegally in the U.S. and will not be used to pay fraudulent disability claims.
I have brought your comments concerning H.R. 489 to the attention of the Committee leadership. They, like me, have found this helpful as we look into this entire issue involving totalization and develop ways to ensure the financial security of American families and retirees.”
Is there a member of Congress who can follow up on Mr. Portman’s referral? Why hasn’t anyone in Congress mentioned the negative impact on Social Security for ALL AMERICANS if 12 million illegals are allowed to remain in our country? The plan they are trying to institute will deplete Social Security and our hard earned money will go to foreigners.
The tax paying American citizen is looking for a Congress with the back bone not to succumb to demonstrations but to protect the voters that pay their salaries, health care and pensions. THE PUBLIC WORKER HAS BEGGED FOR YEARS TO REPEAL THE GPO/WEP BUT OUR VOICES HAVE BEEN IGNORED. IS IT TIME FOR US TO DEMOSTRATE???
The subject of immigration has been part of my life since birth. My parents arrived at Ellis Island were screened for disease, criminal record before they entered our country. They went to work in the mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and attended night school to learn English. I remember how proud they would tell me George Washington was the first president and now it is President Roosevelt. Immigrants were proud of their heritage BUT it was very clear they were now Americans.
I spoke NO English entering first grade and without bilingual teachers I really struggled. My former teachers would be surprised to know I earned an AB degree, attended Boston University Graduate School of Social Work and later the University of Cincinnati Graduate School of Education. I returned to Lawrence last summer: the mayor is Hispanic, the chief of police is Hispanic and my High School is 90% Hispanic. Business stores have Spanish writings with no English translation. Jobs Americans will not do is no longer true!!
Many of today’s immigrants do not assimilate into the American culture or language as did the immigrant of the 1800’s and early 1900’s. When politicians remind us we are nation of immigrants, they need to study their history and recognize the difference between my parents and the Mexican flag waving illegals of to day. Their comments is an insult to yesterdays immigrant who came here as part of an established orderly quota system. Why is Congress rushing to solve a problem in a week that has been growing for years? The law they passed twenty years ago has apparently failed having no follow up plan and we are paying the price today.
The problem is in Mexico and not our problem. Congress is responsible to the citizens of this country and not to the citizens of Mexico.
DEPORTATION IS POSSIBLE
Allow local authorities to arrest illegals and turned them over to U.S. immigration.
No hearing is necessary they are not U.S. citizens.
Illegals can be found on street corners waiting for work, in the fields, at construction sites etc.
Children born to illegals should not be American citizens. Constitutional amendment may be needed
The government wants to deport 39,000 illegal Chinese-- why not other illegal aliens?
Why are we paying for the thousands in our jails?
Why are we importing criminals like the violent MS-13 gangs?
No voting until a reading English test is passed.
No drivers license until a reading, writing test is passed.
AS SOON AS THE WORD GETS OUT THAT DEPORTATION IS IN---ILLEGALS WILL DECIDE THE TRIP IS NOT WORTH IT.
! Secure the border
2. If a fence is to be built make sure it can not be climbed
3. Establish a quota system
4. Establish definite rules for the businesses that need help
5. Employers are responsible to maintain records on the employees and must see they return home when the work is completed
6. Families are not allowed to come…schools and health care can no longer handle the influx.
7 Since workers are temporary they pay Social Security to Mexico and would NOT be eligible for our Social Security. Please see Mr. Portman’s previous explanation on this subject
We know our government can not keep track of the thousands here now on visas. Therefore is the Senate’s plan feasible and WHO would be keeping track of the more than 12 million if it is adopted?
The Rep. Sensenbrenner’s plan has some teeth and a good beginning!!!
JUST CALL US THE SILENT MAJORITY WITH THE RIGHT TO VOTE