Letters to the Editor Sept. 27, 2023 Edition
To the Editor:
Another 9/11 anniversary has passed us by.
Many of our young people need to know what the date represents. I learned its significance is often omitted from classroom study. Could that be true?
Did you know that post 9/11 veteran suicide rates have increased tenfold? I’m not surprised.
Not only did these brave servicemen and women sacrifice as part of an underpaid and underappreciated job, but the services and benefits promised are rarely met in full. These veterans come home, sometimes from years away from American life, to unaffordable health care, housing, and unmet promises of financial security for joining the military.
They often return to a nation that no longer welcomes them, which must be an isolating experience.
From what I can tell so far through staying informed on the current data, Congressman Derrick Van Orden has stayed true to his word. With a few different bills, he has worked to improve veterans’ transition back into the civilian lifestyle through the Employ Vets Act, and he’s promoted a culture that is more aware of their mental health needs through The National Warrior Call Day.
Our leaders often don’t care about our soldiers in today’s volatile political arena, shadowed by partisan agendas and division. However, I am proud to be represented in the Third District by one who does.
Thanks for taking the time to read this today.
I’m voting Republican again next year because, though Republicans may not be the answer to all of my day’s problems, it’s my opinion, Democrats are causing them.
Dana B. Auer,
Galesville
To the Editor:
The United States 2023 fiscal year completes this week, so of course the country is in a national crisis regarding spending for 2024 and facing a government shutdown. In June Congress voted to raise the debt ceiling allowing the USofA to move from 32 trillion to a high of 36 trillion in debt; the current national debt is 33.3 trillion. Republicans, including Representative Derrick Van Orden, voted to raise the debt limit with the caveat to complete Congressional Committee fiscal appropriations (budgeting) for 2024 prior to the end of the fiscal year.
Needless to say the appropriations work didn’t get finished, creating another governmental crisis. If appropriations for federal agencies are not signed into law for the upcoming year the government “shuts down.” The shutdown is not in total true; tax monies continue to flow to federal coffers and mandatory payments are made – at risk are discretionary payments. Influencing appropriations is where lobbying groups in Washington D.C. earn pay and politicians earn political campaign contributions – much from lobbyist groups. As the police officer asked the bank robber, “why do you rob banks?” The reply, “because that is where the money is.” Thus lobbyists working for a cut of the six trillion in annual federal spending.
It is not unusual for Congress to fail their Constitutional mandated task of appropriations funding for the upcoming year. In fact it is the norm for Congress. What happens next is Congress passes a “continuing resolution” where everything from the previous year is funded along with an increase kicker for inflation.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, is responsible for Congressional Committees getting appropriations work finished on time. In mid August McCarthy was on a cable news program and stated there simply was not enough time remaining in the fiscal year to get the appropriations work completed. McCarthy said this while the House was in recess all of August through the first week of September. The news pundit interviewing McCarthy never asked why McCarthy didn’t reconvene Congress to get appropriations work done. With the fiscal “crisis” coming to a head this week, not one pundit asked about the five week recess.
Honestly, American voters need to take a hard look at those sent to Washington to represent them.
Unlike his predecessor Rep. Ron Kind, Rep. Derrick Van Orden is not on the House Ways and Means Committee (mission is to raise revenue to fund the government) but he will be voting for or against the continuing resolution by the end of this week. I encourage citizens to phone Van Orden’s office (202) 225-5506; (608) 782-2558; or (715) 831-9214 to get answers on the effects of a government shutdown on mandatory payments such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. The media drum will beat all week to frighten baby boomer senior citizens into getting their representative to vote for the shoddy work of the congress.
John Cantlon,
Ettrick
