[nfb-talk] Rules???

Ray Foret Jr rforetjr at att.net
Mon Dec 24 03:07:00 UTC 2012


Mike, I totally agree with your point here.  Indeed, I couldn't have said it better myself.  Now y'all, I really feel very  strongly that this should end it.


Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray
Still a very proud and happy Mac and Iphone user!

On Dec 23, 2012, at 8:52 PM, "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:

> The operative question is what "talking politics" really means. If we can't
> even agree upon the facts that bare upon an issue, how can bit be rationally
> discussed? For some reason, on these lists, such discussions degenerate into
> "I'm right and you're wrong" -- said by at least one party on each side of
> an issue -- which then degenerates into "You're a schmuck!" "Naw; it's *you*
> that's the schmuck!" and it goes downhill from there.
> 
> For good or ill, we in NFB care very deeply about the issues of the day --
> or many of us do -- and are convinced that absolutely everything -- from the
> love life of Lindsay Lohan to home fire safey -- is blindness-related and
> it's our God-given right to determine the relevance to blindness of a given
> issue, no matter what David Andrews, the Moderator, says.
> 
> Aside from human frailty, though, I'll give you a practical reason to hold
> down the political discussions to a dull roar: being the loyal NFB member
> that you are, I presume you wish NFB to succeed in its mission at minimal
> financial cost. However, if NFB condones explicit political statements on
> its list, it's quite possible that some will construe these statements as
> being NFB policy and, being political, cast doubt upon our entitlement to
> our nonprofit 501(c) status. Remember that IRS taxes organizations that
> lobby. That's why we are *very* careful to say that we educate -- we don't
> lobby.
> 
> Cheers!
> 
> Mike Freeman
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Larry D.
> Keeler
> Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2012 6:40 PM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Rules???
> 
> Just an observation.  Deffinetely not trying to cause trouble but, on a list
> where we can push our Federation buisness, we can't talk a little politics
> without offending others!  Again, just an observation, nothing more!
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2012 6:26 PM
> Subject: [nfb-talk] Rules???
> 
> 
>> There are not "formal" rules.  I have resisted writing them, because 
>> people regard them as a line in the sand, and then proceed to step 
>> over them.  We have general guidelines -- no personal attacks, and 
>> posts should be blindness-oriented/related.  That is about it.  It has 
>> mostly worked for over 20 years now.
>> 
>> Dave
>> 
>> At 10:59 PM 12/22/2012, you wrote:
>>> 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
>>>        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: 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.h
>>>>>> umb
>>>>>> 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.h
>>>>>> umb
>>>>>> 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.nusba
>>>>>> um%
>>>>>> 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%40c
>>>>> har
>>>>> 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
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/lkeeler%40comcas
>> t.net
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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.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/rforetjr%40att.net




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