Dear Editor, I was fascinated by Lisa Pampuch’s article in the
Times, referring to the ‘Smoke and Mirror’ budget that Sacramento
is fooling around with. Her initial analysis is accurate, but I
disagree with several of her conclusions.
Taxpayers dare not give away the controls we do have
Dear Editor,
I was fascinated by Lisa Pampuch’s article in the Times, referring to the ‘Smoke and Mirror’ budget that Sacramento is fooling around with. Her initial analysis is accurate, but I disagree with several of her conclusions.
First, we should never in California let the politicians have a simple majority to change our budgets and spending. The liberal spenders in our coastal cities will drive the taxpayers and the state into bankruptcy. Their philosophy seems to be to spend, spend, spend and tax someone else. However, the taxation issue always comes back to the middle class because that is where the revenue is, and the talk of taxing the wealthy never quite seems to happen. Incidentally, this is one of the reasons so many high-income residents and corporations are fleeing California and going to other states. Our taxes are already ridiculous and we all need to ensure that taxes are stopped where they are, and spending reduced until the budgets balance. My wife and I were in Wyoming two months ago, where gas is fifty cents a gallon cheaper than in California. Guess why?
Here in our county we have San Jose, Morgan Hill and Gilroy all paying the price for excessive generosity to employees and retirees, resulting in budgets that are drastically out of balance. I agree with Lisa on this issue: private industries are dumping pensions right and left, whereas the unions that seem to control our city councils are all getting incredible wages and pensions, far beyond what private industry can afford, and far beyond what the taxpayers will support.
Perhaps many of our younger families do not know why Proposition 13 was passed by the taxpayers back in the days of Jarvis and Gann. Our counties were on a spending binge and were arbitrarily raising our property taxes annually, the taxpayers be damned. Prop. 13 has protected the homeowners ever since and under no circumstances should it be permitted to be tampered with.
Another issue that has rankled me for years is the word “entitled.” “I am entitled to welfare,” “I am entitled to food stamps,” “I am entitled to be supported by the taxpayers.” As far as the founders of our Constitution and our form of government were concerned, no one was “entitled” to be supported by the taxpayers, everyone worked, including the legislators who all had farms or businesses. How have we gotten into the practice of supporting those who either can’t or won’t support themselves?
I compliment Lisa for addressing this complex issue, but the differences between the liberals and conservatives in Sacramento is so great, that the taxpayers dare not give away the few controls we have over their spending habits. Readers, put your foot down: No new taxes and no more tax increases, demand that our representatives cut the spending to match the existing incomes, at the city, county and state levels.
W. R. Blakley, Morgan Hill
Where is Congressman Jerry McNerney during summer recess?
Dear Editor,
In following the national debate on health care, I like many of my fellow citizens, am very concerned about the direction our country is going, especially in terms of the proposed government take over of health care. In checking Congressman Jerry McNerny’s Web site, he has exactly zero town hall meetings planned over the August recess to explain his position on the planned government take over of health care and to hear from his constituents on what we think. I am outraged that at this critical moment in our country’s history, Congressman McNerny is hiding from his constituents. This is absolutely unacceptable access from our supposed representative. If he isn’t willing to explain himself to us and hear directly what we think, who exactly is he representing? Seems to me he is more interested in backing Pelosi and Reed than what his constituents. I suggest everyone in the 11th District contact his office and demand he meet with us and discuss this important issue. If he does not, he no longer deserves to represent this district and should be voted out at the first opportunity.
Stephen Beard, Morgan Hill
Time for Congressman Jerry McNerney to meet his constituents
Dear Editor,
The House of Representatives have been in recess for almost a week, but our Congressman, Jerry McNerney, has yet to schedule any public events with his constituents.
I called his office today and the receptionist said they were still putting together his schedule and to watch his Web site for events.
This is unacceptable! Our Congressman needs to be in front of those who elected him. There is much to discuss and the summer recess is short.
Call McNerney’s office today. McNerney represents California’s 11th District, inclkuding Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Pleasanton, Dublin, Tracy, Manteca and Lodi.
David Miller, Pleasanton
