Roskam's website

It’s been a slow week as far as legislation on the House floor (I’m sure that will pick up next week as the House picks up on the issue the Senate cannot – the “surge” in Iraq). So, I gave Rep. Roskam’s website a look (www.roskam.house.gov). In perusing it, I was struck that on the “Issues” page, Roskam’s office has nothing on Energy or the Environment. He does have repetitive links (Homeland Security/War on Terror – aren’t they really the same thing? Healthcare/Medicare – again, roughly the same?). None of these issues link to anything other than “under construction”, so there’s nothing there. Just interesting that perhaps the two most pressing issues have no mention. Perhaps someone should take some time to educate Peter that our dependence on foreign oil is a significant player in the War on Terror/Homeland Security, and that a healthy environment is crucial to a healthy body, which would then impact on healthcare.

But, let’s turn now to some of Peter’s own words. Here’s what he had to say about Bush’s budget proposal:
“It is imperative that the federal government reach a balanced budget without raising taxes on hard-working American families. Some argue that tax breaks are the reason for the budget deficit. I fully reject that notion. The current tax breaks have increased federal receipts. Out of control federal spending is the cause, and until we stop recklessly spending the taxpayers’ dollars and end our spendthrift ways, that debt will continue to grow. We do not have a revenue problem in Washington, we have a spending problem.”
Two things, Mr. Roskam: To “fully reject the notion” that tax breaks are the reason for the budget deficit is to deny reality; they may not be the only reason, but certainly are a part of the reason, especially when you see who has benefited the most from tax breaks (the very rich) and who hasn’t – the rest of us. Plus, for the first time in our nation's history, tax cuts have been pushed through during war time when expenses always go up. So, we can discuss the issue, but to “fully reject” suggests an inability to communicate.

Second, I think almost everyone would agree about the spending problem, so if you, Mr. Roskam, are serious about this, I would like to see you sign up with Rep. Henry Waxman and investigate the non-compete government contracts, the outsourcing, and the cronyism that has pervaded D.C. I’m sure if you were to do this, you’d quickly see that your two big campaigners – Messrs. Bush and Cheney – have been instrumental in rewarding many friends with wasteful spending. Even the current budget proposal is laden with military expenditures that have nothing to do with equipping the current soldiers, but appear to be wasteful and perhaps “perks for friends”. As cited in this morning’s NYTimes (Feb. 6, 2007) “Steven M. Kosiak, a military budget expert at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, said the military appeared to taking advantage of the political support for paying for whatever the troops need to provide in the budget for other items.”

So, Mr. Roskam, if you are serious, be serious with the powers that be before you start turning to social programs that have already received cuts the past few years.