[nfb-talk] {Disarmed} Fw: Website Contact Form Submission FromKenneth Chrane

Thu Feb 9 02:15:40 UTC 2012

groan, form letter.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Kenneth Chrane
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 5:00 PM
To: NFB of Maryland e-mail list
Cc: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} Fw: Website Contact Form Submission 
FromKenneth Chrane

?letterdate ?Letter From Elijah Cummings:
Ken Chrane

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Congressman Elijah Cummings
To: kenneth.chrane at verizon.net
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 11:44 AM
Subject: Re: Website Contact Form Submission From Kenneth Chrane

      February 8, 2012

      Mr. Kenneth Chrane

      6839 Parsons Avenue

      Gwynn Oak, Maryland 21207

      Dear Mr. Chrane:

      Thank you very much for your correspondence regarding Medicare, 
Medicaid, and Social Security.  I appreciate hearing from my constituents on 
issues pending before the Congress.

      According to the Congressional Research Service, the annual budget 
deficit in each of 2009 and 2010 was more than $1 trillion (9 percent of 
Gross Domestic Product), and the budget deficit is projected to be at least 
that large in 2011.  Such deficits - and the debt to which they are 
contributing - are unsustainable.   For that reason, I believe that we must 
make significant cuts to our budget - but these cuts must be made with the 
precision of a heart surgeon, and they must not threaten our ability to 
remain competitive as a nation.  As such, I believe that we must prioritize 
expenditures made to support the education of our children, to maintain and 
expand our infrastructure, and to conduct the research and development that 
have enabled us to be the world's leading innovator.

      Further, as we continue to consider how we will reduce the national 
debt, I believe that almost all aspects of the budget must be considered for 
cuts.  That said, I also believe we have made obligations in the form of 
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid that are inviolable. Social Security 
benefits are modest, averaging less than $13,000 a year, but for millions of 
Americans, Social Security is not just a cushion, it is the single lifeline 
keeping them out of poverty.  Similarly, Medicare and Medicaid are the only 
forms of insurance many of our nation's seniors and children have or can 
obtain and it is critical that these systems be preserved for future 
generations.  I will continue to oppose efforts to reduce Social Security, 
Medicare, or Medicaid benefits.

      Unfortunately, the debt deal that was finally put before the House of 
Representatives for a vote on August 1 - known as the Budget Control Act - 
was not a balanced deal.  This bill provides for incremental increases in 
the debt ceiling through 2012, while locking in nearly a trillion dollars in 
cuts to discretionary security and non-security spending over the next ten 
years and requiring that an additional $1.5 trillion in cuts be identified 
by a so-called "Super Committee."  Should the Super Committee fail to 
identify the requisite amount of cuts - or should Congress fail to enact 
these cuts - then the Budget Control Act will automatically require an 
additional $1.2 trillion in cuts in discretionary spending; Medicare 
payments to health care providers could also be reduced - but not by more 
than 2 percent per year.

      I believe it is critical that we avoid defaulting on our debt 
obligations and thus that we prevent the terrible consequences that default 
would bring.  However, the full faith and credit of the United States is a 
national commitment and upholding this commitment should entail a shared 
sacrifice made by every American - particularly as the national debt we now 
face has been created both by increased spending and by forgone revenues 
resulting from tax cuts provided to the wealthiest Americans and to 
multi-national corporations.  The legislation put before Congress mandates 
cuts that will fall hardest on those who have already borne the most 
devastating consequences of a recession caused primarily by the reckless and 
even illegal actions of those on Wall Street.  At the same time, it requires 
nothing from the wealthiest Americans or from corporations that at times pay 
taxes at rates lower than those upon whom the cuts made by this legislation 
will fall hardest.

       It is certainly not hard to envision a deal that would have prevented 
default while requiring a balanced approach to debt reduction - and that is 
the deal that I believe would have been in the best interests of the nation 
and of all its citizens.  It is for this reason that I voted against the 
Budget Control Act.  As the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction moves 
forward to identify proposed spending cuts under the requirements of the 
Budget Control Act, I will continue to urge that we focus on addressing our 
fundamental economic challenges and that we direct our limited resources 
toward supporting the commitments we have made to our seniors and to the 
most vulnerable among us while investing in those areas that are most 
essential to ensuring that our nation will continue to be the world's 
strongest and most innovative economy when we emerge from this crisis.

      Thank you again for your correspondence on this critical issue - and 
please do not hesitate to contact me whenever I may be of assistance.

      Sincerely,

      Elijah E. Cummings
      Member of Congress

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