[nfb-talk] nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 99

Robert Ortiz bobby7391 at optimum.net
Sun Dec 23 15:13:19 UTC 2012


Dear Mike Friedman,

Thank you for understanding, and as I have promised, I will continue to be
more careful in the future.

And to Everyone,
Let me also wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy NewYear.  In
Spanish, we say, Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo.  I also hope that
everyone who celebrated Hannakah this year had a very happy holiday, and I
hope everyone celebrating Quanza also has a very happy holiday.  I don't
know what other specific holidays are celebrated around this time of year,
but if I left any unmentioned, please have a general Happy Holiday season.

Sincerely, Robert Ortiz


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2012 9:53 AM
To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 99

Send nfb-talk mailing list submissions to
	nfb-talk at nfbnet.org

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Today's Topics:

   1. Merry Christmas! (Chris Nusbaum)
   2. Re: I understand.RE: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 94
      (Mike Freeman)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 09:07:48 -0500
From: Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com>
To: NFB Blind Talk list <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>,	NFB NABS list
	<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>, NFB Talk List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>,
MDABS List
	<mdabs at nfbnet.org>, NFBMD list <nfbmd at nfbnet.org>,	NFB Greater
	Baltimore Chapter list <greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>,	Conversation
	Station Chatters list <talkshopchatters at yahoogroups.com>,
	accessible-ios at googlegroups.com, napub at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfb-talk] Merry Christmas!
Message-ID: <50d7103b.ca41340a.72f3.ffff925f at mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed

Good morning everyone,

I'd like to join with everybody who has posted their Christmas wishes so far
in writing to wish everyone on these lists who celebrates the holiday a very
merry Christmas!!! I hope all of you, like me, will be able to enjoy
Christmas with your family and loved ones.  If you are travelling for
Christmas, stay safe.  
And above all, have fun!!!

As for myself and my family, we're leaving in a couple of minutes for BWI
Airport to catch a plane out to Kansas City to spend Christmas with family
there! Very much looking forward to seeing them!!!

Again, a very Merry Christmas to you all!!! If you're celebrating another
holiday, I wish you the best!

Chris Nusbaum



------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 06:52:05 -0800
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] I understand.RE: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55,
	Issue 94
Message-ID: <005801cde11d$13f3d320$3bdb7960$@panix.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

No problem.

The one thing we can never be accused of is pacivity! (grin)

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert
Ortiz
Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2012 10:28 PM
To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfb-talk] I understand.RE: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 94

Dear Mike Friedman,

I understand and agree completely that our role as NFB members is to put the
interests of the blind above all else.  As I said, I'm still new here, and I
won't make that political discussion mistake again.  Please be patient with
me while I learn the ropes.  Thankyou,

Sincerely, Robert Ortiz.


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2012 12:33 AM
To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 94

Send nfb-talk mailing list submissions to
	nfb-talk at nfbnet.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
	http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
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	nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org

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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than
"Re: Contents of nfb-talk digest..."


Today's Topics:

   1. Re: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 76 (Mike Freeman)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 21:32:32 -0800
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 76
Message-ID: <001401cde0ce$e8902ce0$b9b086a0$@panix.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Robert:

It's pretty simple: the one thing all of us in NFB have in common is
blindness or an interest in the welfare of the blind. We range from
Communists to John Burchers but we can all agree that the interests of the
blind are paramount.

Additionally, we must influence those in power, be they Democrats,
Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, Socialist Laborites or whatever. So
it behooves us to keep politics out of the mix.

Mike Freeman, Member
Board of Directors
National Federation of the Blind


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert
Ortiz
Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2012 8:59 PM
To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 76

Dear David Andrews,

I'm sorry if I crossed someline, and I will of course discontinue posting
any more politics related posts.  Please email me any links for the exact
rules for the Blind_Talk discussion group.  I would appreciate it for future
reference.  Thankyou very much in advance.

Sincerely, Robert Ortiz. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org
Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2012 9:37 PM
To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 76

Send nfb-talk mailing list submissions to
	nfb-talk at nfbnet.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
	http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
	nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org

You can reach the person managing the list at
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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than
"Re: Contents of nfb-talk digest..."


Today's Topics:

   1. Re: I'll tell you why we shouldn't talk to	Republicans.RE:
      nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 43 (David Andrews)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 20:35:27 -0600
From: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
To: NFB Talk Mailing List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] I'll tell you why we shouldn't talk to
	Republicans.RE: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 43
Message-ID: <auto-000091317006 at mailfront3.g2host.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

You are correct -- I must ask that the political discussion cease and
desist!

David Andrews, Moderator

At 07:32 PM 12/22/2012, you wrote:
>Just wondering if this discussion is appropriate here.  Our personal 
>political affiliations are one thing.  But, promoting one party over 
>another on an NFB list seems out of place to me.
>
>Cindy
>
>-----Original Message----- From: Larry D. Keeler
>Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2012 6:26 PM
>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] I'll tell ou why we shouldn't talk to
>Republicans.RE: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 43
>
>Yah, irt seems like the3 republicans have been a lot more active when 
>it concerns cut backs to our populations.  Not to be to hard about it 
>but I can't see why folks vote republican with our economy the way it 
>is!  Look at Michigans Governor!  Je3ez!  Well, not to start an 
>argument but the republican regeme tends to make it hard for those of 
>us who are just trying to get by!
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Ortiz" 
><bobby7391 at optimum.net>
>To: <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2012 1:53 PM
>Subject: [nfb-talk] I'll tell ou why we shouldn't talk to Republicans.RE:
>nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 43
>
>
>>Chris,
>>
>>Don't you remember when President G.W. Bush (Or Baby Blue, as I like 
>>to call
>>him) traveled around America in early 2005 while advocating that 
>>Social Security should be Privatized, either partially or completely?
>>The Republican party has been for years dreaming of stealing the two 
>>trillion dollars in the SS trust fund and handing it to Wall Street 
>>who will invest it in the riskiest craziest derivatives they can 
>>invent.  Doesn't anyone remember the banking collapse of 2008?
>>
>>So what do you think will happen to Social Security in the long term 
>>if
that
>>happens?   Or isn't it obvious?  Also, whenever any republican politician
>>has been asked over the last decade if the republicans would consider 
>>giving governmental garantees to the beneficiaries of privatized 
>>personalized Social Security accounts, they have ALL WITHOUT EXEMPTION 
>>said ABSOLUTELY NO.  So what does that mean?  Well it is very clear.
>>They, the Republicans, want to use our Social Security FICA insurance 
>>which we paid for, invest it in toilet paper investments, milk those 
>>investments for all they can, and then throw us under the bus when 
>>those
"investments" inevitably go bust.
>>And if those aren't convincing enough reasons why we shouldn't  talk 
>>to republicans on this issue, then I don't know what reasons would be.
>>
>>Also,  I also wanted to clarify something.  I didn't say that the 
>>failure to negotiate a deal on the fiscal cliff by January 1st would 
>>automatically effect anyone's social security check now.  I think 
>>maybe my previous posting was a little misunderstood.
>>
>>I was trying to explain that for the last three days, President and 
>>House Minority leader Nancy Palosi have both said that they are 
>>willing to cut the COLA Cost of Living Adjustment on Social Security 
>>beneficiaries by 0.3 percent.  I know this doesn't sound like much, 
>>but it is a terribly frightening prospect for several reasons.
>>
>>1( It would be the first time since the creation of Social Security 
>>that direct monthly benefits would have been cut AT ALL.
>>
>>2)  this minimum sounding cut is also accumulative.  In about 10 years 
>>or less, every SSDI recipient will be receiving about an average of
>>$1000.00 less annually.  Can any of us afford that?  I know I can't.  
>>So this is a real cut, and not some kind of Consumer Pricing Index 
>>readjustment as many are now claiming.
>>
>>And 3)  This first historic cut to Social Security benefits will open 
>>the DOOR WIDE OPEN to restricting and maybe privatizing Social 
>>Security which would eventually doom the entire trust fund.  And if 
>>you need proof of that, then study what has happened to retirement 
>>benefit programs in Latin American countries  whenever those countries 
>>have privatized or been forced to privatize their retirement benefit 
>>programs.  This craziness has all been tried before to desasterous
effects.
>>
>>Of course, no one's checks will disappear immediately, but the long 
>>term damage to Social Security may or probably will become 
>>UNREPAIRABLE!  So that is why we should worry about how these fiscal 
>>cliff negotiations are going and exactly what the final shape of any 
>>deal looks like.  It isn't just our long term future that's at stake, 
>>but what about when our kids retire or God forbid become disabled like us?
>>
>>Finally, I myself am not trying to scare anyone.  Besides, I think the 
>>above facts are scary enough.
>>
>>Sincerely, Robert Ortiz
>>
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>>nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org
>>Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 5:59 PM
>>To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>Subject: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 43
>>
>>Send nfb-talk mailing list submissions to nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>
>>To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit 
>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to 
>>nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org
>>
>>You can reach the person managing the list at 
>>nfb-talk-owner at nfbnet.org
>>
>>When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific 
>>than
>>"Re: Contents of nfb-talk digest..."
>>
>>
>>Today's Topics:
>>
>>   1. Re: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 40 (Steven Johnson)
>>   2. Re: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 40 (Steven Johnson)
>>
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>Message: 1
>>Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:55:11 -0600
>>From: "Steven Johnson" <blinddog3 at charter.net>
>>To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 40
>>Message-ID: <004401cddfce$3bb16170$b3142450$@charter.net>
>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>>Chris, don't you mean House Majority Leader, John Boehner, pronounced
Baner?
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>>christopher nusbaum
>>Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 1:45 PM
>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 40
>>
>>Robert,
>>
>>This may be more of a political issue than anything, but I'm just 
>>wondering why you wouldn't recommend that we contact Republican 
>>leaders in Congress, especially House majority leader John Weiner?
>>After all, they are involved in the negotiations just as much as the 
>>Democrats are, and they need to know how we feel as well. Now, if this 
>>is an inappropriate topics for list, or if it is a political issue for 
>>you and you don't want to talk to the Republicans, I understand that.
>>Just curious.
>>
>>Chris Nusbaum
>>
>>Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>On Dec 21, 2012, at 1:58 PM, Robert Ortiz <bobby7391 at optimum.net> wrote:
>>
>>>I saw a message asking what the fiscal cliff has to do with the NFB 
>>>and I wanted to answer that question.  A WHOLE DAMN LOT ESPECIALLY TO 
>>>ANYONE RECEIVING SSI OR SSDI!  If an agreement isn't reached by 
>>>January 1st for this bologna "Fiscal Cliff" which I'm praying for, 
>>>then Social Security WILL NOT BE TOUCHED!  But if President Obama and 
>>>Nancy Palosi continue to offer the damn republicans a cut in the 
>>>Annual Cost of Living Adjustment COLA for all Social Security 
>>>recipients, as they have done over the last few days; then all of us 
>>>blind SSDI recipients will experience our first real cut in our 
>>>Social
>>Security benefits.  And remember SSDI stands for Social Security
>>>Disability Insurance.   And we all paid our FICA taxes over our work
lives
>>>to receive our DISABILITY INSURANCE!  That's right IT'S INSURANCE WE 
>>>PAID FOR, NOT A HANDOUT!
>>>
>>>So I seriously suggest to everyone who reads this to do as I have done.
>>>Call or email your home state's two senators, your house of 
>>>representatives congressman for your county, Senate Majority leader 
>>>Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Palosi, and President Obama 
>>>to please not backstab America's blind and disabled!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>>>nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org
>>>Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 1:00 PM
>>>To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>Subject: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 40
>>>
>>>Send nfb-talk mailing list submissions to
>>>    nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>
>>>To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>>>    http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>>>    nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org
>>>
>>>You can reach the person managing the list at
>>>    nfb-talk-owner at nfbnet.org
>>>
>>>When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific 
>>>than
>>>"Re: Contents of nfb-talk digest..."
>>>
>>>
>>>Today's Topics:
>>>
>>>   1. {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and    Sequestration
>>>      (Kenneth Chrane)
>>>   2. Re: {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff    and
>>>      Sequestration (Humberto Avila)
>>>   3. Re: {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff    and
>>>      Sequestration (Mike Freeman)
>>>
>>>
>>>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>-
>>>
>>>Message: 1
>>>Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 22:11:50 -0500
>>>From: "Kenneth Chrane" <kenneth.chrane at verizon.net>
>>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>,    "NFB of Maryland
>>>    e-mail list" <nfbmd at nfbnet.org>
>>>Cc: Blind_Democrats at yahoogroups.com
>>>Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and
>>>    Sequestration
>>>Message-ID: <CC61E7FF5F26432E9606B39208B1704E at Kens>
>>>Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="iso-8859-1"
>>>
>>>Email
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: senator at mikulski.senate.gov
>>>To: kenneth.chrane at verizon.net
>>>Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 8:40 AM
>>>Subject: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and Sequestration
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Dear Mr. Chrane:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Thank you for contacting me about the fiscal cliff and the federal
>>deficit.
>>>It's good to hear from you.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Americans need to have a government on their side that is capable of 
>>>solving tough problems.  That's why Congress must act now to avoid 
>>>the devastating impact of the fiscal cliff and across-the-board cuts 
>>>known as
>>sequester.
>>>Without swift action to avoid the fiscal cliff, millions of Americans 
>>>would see their taxes go up and face spending cuts that could bring 
>>>our nation back into recession.  The longer we delay the more damage 
>>>we do to ourselves and the economy.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>My principles for avoiding the fiscal cliff are simple.  We must have 
>>>a combination of spending cuts and new revenue to reduce our debt and 
>>>still grow the economy.  We must also protect the social contract 
>>>between the American people and their government.  Medicare and 
>>>Medicaid need to be reformed and refreshed not gutted or block-granted.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>I believe there are ways to achieve the savings required to avoid the 
>>>fiscal cliff in a balanced and thoughtful way.  We can start by 
>>>letting the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts expire for households making more 
>>>than
>>$250,000 per year.
>>>This could save an estimated $700 billion over 10 years.  We can also 
>>>make thoughtful and balanced cuts to spending - both military and 
>>>domestic - that will begin to reduce our deficit.  That's why I 
>>>supported the Budget Control Act passed by Congress in 2011 that 
>>>would require $900 billion in cuts over
>>>10 years.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>What we can't do, however, is use across-the-board spending cuts to 
>>>get us to a balanced budget.  It would unfairly harm middle-class 
>>>families and do nothing to raise the additional revenue needed to 
>>>reduce the deficit.  In Maryland alone, this could result in the loss 
>>>of tens of thousands of jobs and $3.1 billion to our state economy.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to prevent the 
>>>fiscal cliff and make thoughtful and balanced changes to our spending 
>>>policy to reduce our national debt.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Thanks again for getting in touch with me.  Knowing of your views is 
>>>very important to me.  Please let me know if I can be of any 
>>>assistance to you in the future.
>>>
>>>
>>>Sincerely,
>>>Barbara A. Mikulski
>>>United States Senator
>>>
>>>
>>>Please do not respond directly to this e-mail. The originating e-mail 
>>>account is not monitored.
>>>If you would like to get in touch with me again, please visit the 
>>>comments page of my website here.
>>>If you would like to get regular updates, please sign up for my 
>>>E-Newsletter here.
>>>Please follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
>>>
>>>
>>>------------------------------
>>>
>>>Message: 2
>>>Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:17:19 -0800
>>>From: "Humberto Avila" <avila.bert.humberto2 at gmail.com>
>>>To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff    and
>>>    Sequestration
>>>Message-ID: <007901cddf29$b0678580$11369080$@gmail.com>
>>>Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"
>>>
>>>And what does this have to do with the NFB? How are we impacted?
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>>>Kenneth Chrane
>>>Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 7:12 PM
>>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List; NFB of Maryland e-mail list
>>>Cc: Blind_Democrats at yahoogroups.com
>>>Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and 
>>>Sequestration
>>>
>>>Email
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: senator at mikulski.senate.gov
>>>To: kenneth.chrane at verizon.net
>>>Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 8:40 AM
>>>Subject: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and Sequestration
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Dear Mr. Chrane:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Thank you for contacting me about the fiscal cliff and the federal
>>deficit.
>>>It's good to hear from you.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Americans need to have a government on their side that is capable of 
>>>solving tough problems.  That's why Congress must act now to avoid 
>>>the devastating impact of the fiscal cliff and across-the-board cuts 
>>>known as
>>sequester.
>>>Without swift action to avoid the fiscal cliff, millions of Americans 
>>>would see their taxes go up and face spending cuts that could bring 
>>>our nation back into recession.  The longer we delay the more damage 
>>>we do to ourselves and the economy.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>My principles for avoiding the fiscal cliff are simple.  We must have 
>>>a combination of spending cuts and new revenue to reduce our debt and 
>>>still grow the economy.  We must also protect the social contract 
>>>between the American people and their government.  Medicare and 
>>>Medicaid need to be reformed and refreshed not gutted or block-granted.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>I believe there are ways to achieve the savings required to avoid the 
>>>fiscal cliff in a balanced and thoughtful way.  We can start by 
>>>letting the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts expire for households making more 
>>>than
>>$250,000 per year.
>>>This could save an estimated $700 billion over 10 years.  We can also 
>>>make thoughtful and balanced cuts to spending - both military and 
>>>domestic - that will begin to reduce our deficit.  That's why I 
>>>supported the Budget Control Act passed by Congress in 2011 that 
>>>would require $900 billion in cuts over
>>>10 years.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>What we can't do, however, is use across-the-board spending cuts to 
>>>get us to a balanced budget.  It would unfairly harm middle-class 
>>>families and do nothing to raise the additional revenue needed to 
>>>reduce the deficit.  In Maryland alone, this could result in the loss 
>>>of tens of thousands of jobs and $3.1 billion to our state economy.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to prevent the 
>>>fiscal cliff and make thoughtful and balanced changes to our spending 
>>>policy to reduce our national debt.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Thanks again for getting in touch with me.  Knowing of your views is 
>>>very important to me.  Please let me know if I can be of any 
>>>assistance to you in the future.
>>>
>>>
>>>Sincerely,
>>>Barbara A. Mikulski
>>>United States Senator
>>>
>>>
>>>Please do not respond directly to this e-mail. The originating e-mail 
>>>account is not monitored.
>>>If you would like to get in touch with me again, please visit the 
>>>comments page of my website here.
>>>If you would like to get regular updates, please sign up for my 
>>>E-Newsletter here.
>>>Please follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>nfb-talk:
>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/avila.bert.humb
>>>e
>>>rto2%4
>>>0gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>------------------------------
>>>
>>>Message: 3
>>>Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 08:26:49 -0800
>>>From: Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com>
>>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff    and
>>>    Sequestration
>>>Message-ID: <FA5FCD01-4B82-498E-9B35-DFB84CD831E3 at panix.com>
>>>Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=us-ascii
>>>
>>>Rehab funding.
>>>
>>>Mike Freeman
>>>sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>On Dec 20, 2012, at 19:17, "Humberto Avila"
>>><avila.bert.humberto2 at gmail.com>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>And what does this have to do with the NFB? How are we impacted?
>>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>>>>Kenneth Chrane
>>>>Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 7:12 PM
>>>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List; NFB of Maryland e-mail list
>>>>Cc: Blind_Democrats at yahoogroups.com
>>>>Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and 
>>>>Sequestration
>>>>
>>>>Email
>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: senator at mikulski.senate.gov
>>>>To: kenneth.chrane at verizon.net
>>>>Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 8:40 AM
>>>>Subject: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and Sequestration
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Dear Mr. Chrane:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Thank you for contacting me about the fiscal cliff and the federal
>>>deficit.
>>>>It's good to hear from you.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Americans need to have a government on their side that is capable of
>>>solving
>>>>tough problems.  That's why Congress must act now to avoid the 
>>>>devastating impact of the fiscal cliff and across-the-board cuts 
>>>>known as
>>sequester.
>>>>Without swift action to avoid the fiscal cliff, millions of 
>>>>Americans
>>>would
>>>>see their taxes go up and face spending cuts that could bring our 
>>>>nation back into recession.  The longer we delay the more damage we 
>>>>do to
>>>ourselves
>>>>and the economy.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>My principles for avoiding the fiscal cliff are simple.  We must 
>>>>have a combination of spending cuts and new revenue to reduce our 
>>>>debt and still grow the economy.  We must also protect the social 
>>>>contract between the American people and their government.  Medicare 
>>>>and Medicaid need to be reformed and refreshed not gutted or
block-granted.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I believe there are ways to achieve the savings required to avoid 
>>>>the
>>>fiscal
>>>>cliff in a balanced and thoughtful way.  We can start by letting the
>>>>2001 and 2003 tax cuts expire for households making more than
>>>>$250,000 per
>>>year.
>>>>This could save an estimated $700 billion over 10 years.  We can 
>>>>also make thoughtful and balanced cuts to spending - both military 
>>>>and domestic -
>>>that
>>>>will begin to reduce our deficit.  That's why I supported the Budget
>>>Control
>>>>Act passed by Congress in 2011 that would require $900 billion in 
>>>>cuts
>>>over
>>>>10 years.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>What we can't do, however, is use across-the-board spending cuts to 
>>>>get us to a balanced budget.  It would unfairly harm middle-class 
>>>>families and do nothing to raise the additional revenue needed to 
>>>>reduce the deficit.  In Maryland alone, this could result in the 
>>>>loss of tens of thousands of jobs and $3.1 billion to our state economy.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to prevent 
>>>>the
>>>fiscal
>>>>cliff and make thoughtful and balanced changes to our spending 
>>>>policy to reduce our national debt.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Thanks again for getting in touch with me.  Knowing of your views is 
>>>>very important to me.  Please let me know if I can be of any 
>>>>assistance to you
>>>in
>>>>the future.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Sincerely,
>>>>Barbara A. Mikulski
>>>>United States Senator
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Please do not respond directly to this e-mail. The originating 
>>>>e-mail account is not monitored.
>>>>If you would like to get in touch with me again, please visit the 
>>>>comments page of my website here.
>>>>If you would like to get regular updates, please sign up for my
>>>E-Newsletter
>>>>here.
>>>>Please follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
>>>>
>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>>>for
>>>>nfb-talk:
>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/avila.bert.humb
>>>e
>>>rto2%4
>>>>0gmail.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>>>for
>>>nfb-talk:
>>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.
>>>>c
>>>>om
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>------------------------------
>>>
>>>Subject: Digest Footer
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>
>>>
>>>------------------------------
>>>
>>>End of nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 40
>>>****************************************
>>>
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>nfb-talk:
>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/dotkid.nusbaum%
>>>4
>>>0gmail.com
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>nfb-talk:
>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/blinddog3%40char
>>ter.ne
>>t
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>------------------------------
>>
>>Message: 2
>>Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:58:49 -0600
>>From: "Steven Johnson" <blinddog3 at charter.net>
>>To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 40
>>Message-ID: <004501cddfce$bd59d310$380d7930$@charter.net>
>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>>Chris,
>>
>>The problem in this country is not the revenue coming in, but the
spending.
>>Based on this, our Government needs to be responsible enough to look 
>>at cuts across the board and this includes SSA benefits.  My hope that 
>>if a compromise canot be reached, all programs will be looked at 
>>equally as far as cuts.  I have read that implementing a 1% cut across 
>>the board in all Federal programs could get us out of this mess, but 
>>no one will pull that proverbial trigger.  Needless to say, chances 
>>are that the COLA for SSA benefits would be ended just for starters.
>>
>>Steve
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>>christopher nusbaum
>>Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 1:36 PM
>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 40
>>
>>Ray,
>>
>>Although this is merely speculation at this point, I agree with you.
>>If an agreement is not reached by January 1, and even if an agreement 
>>is reached on this fiscal cliff issue, some  government programs will 
>>most likely be either cut or eliminated. However, it seems that most 
>>politicians think Social Security is an important program, and most of 
>>the people I've heard say they don't want to touch that program. So, I 
>>think those of you on SSI or SSDI will not be affected. Still, it 
>>might be good to keep an eye on this issue.
>>
>>Chris Nusbaum
>>
>>Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>On Dec 21, 2012, at 2:07 PM, Ray Foret Jr <rforetjr at att.net> wrote:
>>
>>>I suspect that those of us on SSI and social security will receive 
>>>our
>>checks.  Pay no attention to scare tactis which may try to make you 
>>think otherwise.  Now, perhaps however, this may have a negative 
>>effect on long term funding of educational programs; which, of course,
would not be good.
>>>
>>>
>>>Sincerely,
>>>The Constantly Barefooted Ray
>>>Still a very proud and happy Mac and Iphone user!
>>>
>>>On Dec 21, 2012, at 12:56 PM, Robert Ortiz <bobby7391 at optimum.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>>I saw a message asking what the fiscal cliff has to do with the NFB 
>>>>and I wanted to answer that question.  A WHOLE DAMN LOT ESPECIALLY 
>>>>TO ANYONE RECEIVING SSI OR SSDI!  If an agreement isn't reached by 
>>>>January 1st for this bologna "Fiscal Cliff" which I'm praying for, 
>>>>then Social Security WILL NOT BE TOUCHED!  But if President Obama 
>>>>and Nancy Palosi continue to offer the damn republicans a cut in the 
>>>>Annual Cost of Living Adjustment COLA for all Social Security 
>>>>recipients, as they have done over the last few days; then all of us 
>>>>blind SSDI recipients will experience our first real cut in our 
>>>>Social
>>Security benefits.  And remember SSDI stands for Social Security
>>>>Disability Insurance.   And we all paid our FICA taxes over our work
>>lives
>>>>to receive our DISABILITY INSURANCE!  That's right IT'S INSURANCE WE 
>>>>PAID FOR, NOT A HANDOUT!
>>>>
>>>>So I seriously suggest to everyone who reads this to do as I have done.
>>>>Call or email your home state's two senators, your house of 
>>>>representatives congressman for your county, Senate Majority leader 
>>>>Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Palosi, and President Obama 
>>>>to please not backstab America's blind and disabled!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>>>>nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org
>>>>Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 1:00 PM
>>>>To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>Subject: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 55, Issue 40
>>>>
>>>>Send nfb-talk mailing list submissions to
>>>>    nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>
>>>>To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>>>>    http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>>>>    nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org
>>>>
>>>>You can reach the person managing the list at
>>>>    nfb-talk-owner at nfbnet.org
>>>>
>>>>When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific 
>>>>than
>>>>"Re: Contents of nfb-talk digest..."
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Today's Topics:
>>>>
>>>>  1. {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and    Sequestration
>>>>     (Kenneth Chrane)
>>>>  2. Re: {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff    and
>>>>     Sequestration (Humberto Avila)
>>>>  3. Re: {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff    and
>>>>     Sequestration (Mike Freeman)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>-
>>>>-
>>>>
>>>>Message: 1
>>>>Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 22:11:50 -0500
>>>>From: "Kenneth Chrane" <kenneth.chrane at verizon.net>
>>>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>,    "NFB of Maryland
>>>>    e-mail list" <nfbmd at nfbnet.org>
>>>>Cc: Blind_Democrats at yahoogroups.com
>>>>Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and
>>>>    Sequestration
>>>>Message-ID: <CC61E7FF5F26432E9606B39208B1704E at Kens>
>>>>Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="iso-8859-1"
>>>>
>>>>Email
>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: senator at mikulski.senate.gov
>>>>To: kenneth.chrane at verizon.net
>>>>Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 8:40 AM
>>>>Subject: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and Sequestration
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Dear Mr. Chrane:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Thank you for contacting me about the fiscal cliff and the federal
>>deficit.
>>>>It's good to hear from you.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Americans need to have a government on their side that is capable of 
>>>>solving tough problems.  That's why Congress must act now to avoid 
>>>>the devastating impact of the fiscal cliff and across-the-board cuts
>>known as sequester.
>>>>Without swift action to avoid the fiscal cliff, millions of 
>>>>Americans would see their taxes go up and face spending cuts that 
>>>>could bring our nation back into recession.  The longer we delay the 
>>>>more damage we do to ourselves and the economy.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>My principles for avoiding the fiscal cliff are simple.  We must 
>>>>have a combination of spending cuts and new revenue to reduce our 
>>>>debt and still grow the economy.  We must also protect the social 
>>>>contract between the American people and their government.  Medicare 
>>>>and Medicaid need to be reformed and refreshed not gutted or
block-granted.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I believe there are ways to achieve the savings required to avoid 
>>>>the fiscal cliff in a balanced and thoughtful way.  We can start by 
>>>>letting the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts expire for households making more 
>>>>than
>>$250,000 per year.
>>>>This could save an estimated $700 billion over 10 years.  We can 
>>>>also make thoughtful and balanced cuts to spending - both military 
>>>>and domestic - that will begin to reduce our deficit.  That's why I 
>>>>supported the Budget Control Act passed by Congress in 2011 that 
>>>>would require $900 billion in cuts over
>>>>10 years.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>What we can't do, however, is use across-the-board spending cuts to 
>>>>get us to a balanced budget.  It would unfairly harm middle-class 
>>>>families and do nothing to raise the additional revenue needed to 
>>>>reduce the deficit.  In Maryland alone, this could result in the 
>>>>loss of tens of thousands of jobs and $3.1 billion to our state economy.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to prevent 
>>>>the fiscal cliff and make thoughtful and balanced changes to our 
>>>>spending policy to reduce our national debt.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Thanks again for getting in touch with me.  Knowing of your views is 
>>>>very important to me.  Please let me know if I can be of any 
>>>>assistance to you in the future.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Sincerely,
>>>>Barbara A. Mikulski
>>>>United States Senator
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Please do not respond directly to this e-mail. The originating 
>>>>e-mail account is not monitored.
>>>>If you would like to get in touch with me again, please visit the 
>>>>comments page of my website here.
>>>>If you would like to get regular updates, please sign up for my 
>>>>E-Newsletter here.
>>>>Please follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>------------------------------
>>>>
>>>>Message: 2
>>>>Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:17:19 -0800
>>>>From: "Humberto Avila" <avila.bert.humberto2 at gmail.com>
>>>>To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff    and
>>>>    Sequestration
>>>>Message-ID: <007901cddf29$b0678580$11369080$@gmail.com>
>>>>Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"
>>>>
>>>>And what does this have to do with the NFB? How are we impacted?
>>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>>>>Kenneth Chrane
>>>>Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 7:12 PM
>>>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List; NFB of Maryland e-mail list
>>>>Cc: Blind_Democrats at yahoogroups.com
>>>>Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and 
>>>>Sequestration
>>>>
>>>>Email
>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: senator at mikulski.senate.gov
>>>>To: kenneth.chrane at verizon.net
>>>>Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 8:40 AM
>>>>Subject: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and Sequestration
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Dear Mr. Chrane:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Thank you for contacting me about the fiscal cliff and the federal
>>deficit.
>>>>It's good to hear from you.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Americans need to have a government on their side that is capable of 
>>>>solving tough problems.  That's why Congress must act now to avoid 
>>>>the devastating impact of the fiscal cliff and across-the-board cuts
>>known as sequester.
>>>>Without swift action to avoid the fiscal cliff, millions of 
>>>>Americans would see their taxes go up and face spending cuts that 
>>>>could bring our nation back into recession.  The longer we delay the 
>>>>more damage we do to ourselves and the economy.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>My principles for avoiding the fiscal cliff are simple.  We must 
>>>>have a combination of spending cuts and new revenue to reduce our 
>>>>debt and still grow the economy.  We must also protect the social 
>>>>contract between the American people and their government.  Medicare 
>>>>and Medicaid need to be reformed and refreshed not gutted or
block-granted.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I believe there are ways to achieve the savings required to avoid 
>>>>the fiscal cliff in a balanced and thoughtful way.  We can start by 
>>>>letting the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts expire for households making more 
>>>>than
>>$250,000 per year.
>>>>This could save an estimated $700 billion over 10 years.  We can 
>>>>also make thoughtful and balanced cuts to spending - both military 
>>>>and domestic - that will begin to reduce our deficit.  That's why I 
>>>>supported the Budget Control Act passed by Congress in 2011 that 
>>>>would require $900 billion in cuts over
>>>>10 years.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>What we can't do, however, is use across-the-board spending cuts to 
>>>>get us to a balanced budget.  It would unfairly harm middle-class 
>>>>families and do nothing to raise the additional revenue needed to 
>>>>reduce the deficit.  In Maryland alone, this could result in the 
>>>>loss of tens of thousands of jobs and $3.1 billion to our state economy.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to prevent 
>>>>the fiscal cliff and make thoughtful and balanced changes to our 
>>>>spending policy to reduce our national debt.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Thanks again for getting in touch with me.  Knowing of your views is 
>>>>very important to me.  Please let me know if I can be of any 
>>>>assistance to you in the future.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Sincerely,
>>>>Barbara A. Mikulski
>>>>United States Senator
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Please do not respond directly to this e-mail. The originating 
>>>>e-mail account is not monitored.
>>>>If you would like to get in touch with me again, please visit the 
>>>>comments page of my website here.
>>>>If you would like to get regular updates, please sign up for my 
>>>>E-Newsletter here.
>>>>Please follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
>>>>
>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>>>for
>>>>nfb-talk:
>>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/avila.bert.hum
>>>>b
>>>>erto2%4
>>>>0gmail.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>------------------------------
>>>>
>>>>Message: 3
>>>>Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 08:26:49 -0800
>>>>From: Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com>
>>>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff    and
>>>>    Sequestration
>>>>Message-ID: <FA5FCD01-4B82-498E-9B35-DFB84CD831E3 at panix.com>
>>>>Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=us-ascii
>>>>
>>>>Rehab funding.
>>>>
>>>>Mike Freeman
>>>>sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>>On Dec 20, 2012, at 19:17, "Humberto Avila"
>>>><avila.bert.humberto2 at gmail.com>
>>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>And what does this have to do with the NFB? How are we impacted?
>>>>>
>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>>>>>Kenneth Chrane
>>>>>Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 7:12 PM
>>>>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List; NFB of Maryland e-mail list
>>>>>Cc: Blind_Democrats at yahoogroups.com
>>>>>Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} Fw: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and 
>>>>>Sequestration
>>>>>
>>>>>Email
>>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>>From: senator at mikulski.senate.gov
>>>>>To: kenneth.chrane at verizon.net
>>>>>Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 8:40 AM
>>>>>Subject: Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff and Sequestration
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Dear Mr. Chrane:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Thank you for contacting me about the fiscal cliff and the federal
>>>>deficit.
>>>>>It's good to hear from you.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Americans need to have a government on their side that is capable 
>>>>>of
>>>>solving
>>>>>tough problems.  That's why Congress must act now to avoid the 
>>>>>devastating impact of the fiscal cliff and across-the-board cuts 
>>>>>known
>>as sequester.
>>>>>Without swift action to avoid the fiscal cliff, millions of 
>>>>>Americans
>>>>would
>>>>>see their taxes go up and face spending cuts that could bring our 
>>>>>nation back into recession.  The longer we delay the more damage we 
>>>>>do to
>>>>ourselves
>>>>>and the economy.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>My principles for avoiding the fiscal cliff are simple.  We must 
>>>>>have a combination of spending cuts and new revenue to reduce our 
>>>>>debt and still grow the economy.  We must also protect the social 
>>>>>contract between the American people and their government.
>>>>>Medicare and Medicaid need to be reformed and refreshed not gutted 
>>>>>or
>>block-granted.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I believe there are ways to achieve the savings required to avoid 
>>>>>the
>>>>fiscal
>>>>>cliff in a balanced and thoughtful way.  We can start by letting 
>>>>>the
>>>>>2001 and 2003 tax cuts expire for households making more than
>>>>>$250,000 per
>>>>year.
>>>>>This could save an estimated $700 billion over 10 years.  We can 
>>>>>also make thoughtful and balanced cuts to spending - both military 
>>>>>and domestic -
>>>>that
>>>>>will begin to reduce our deficit.  That's why I supported the 
>>>>>Budget
>>>>Control
>>>>>Act passed by Congress in 2011 that would require $900 billion in 
>>>>>cuts
>>>>over
>>>>>10 years.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>What we can't do, however, is use across-the-board spending cuts to 
>>>>>get us to a balanced budget.  It would unfairly harm middle-class 
>>>>>families and do nothing to raise the additional revenue needed to 
>>>>>reduce the deficit.  In Maryland alone, this could result in the 
>>>>>loss of tens of thousands of jobs and $3.1 billion to our state
economy.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to prevent 
>>>>>the
>>>>fiscal
>>>>>cliff and make thoughtful and balanced changes to our spending 
>>>>>policy to reduce our national debt.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks again for getting in touch with me.  Knowing of your views 
>>>>>is very important to me.  Please let me know if I can be of any 
>>>>>assistance to you
>>>>in
>>>>>the future.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Sincerely,
>>>>>Barbara A. Mikulski
>>>>>United States Senator




------------------------------

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------------------------------

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