somd_bluecrab
New Member
It's funny how democrats complain when the Republicans "fail" to reduce taxes and don't blame their own for increasing them in the first place.
Q: If the democrats are raising taxes and slashing budgets, where does the money go? At least with Operation Enduring Freedom, we know where it's being spent.
The follwing can be found on the Jewitt for Congress website: http://jewitt2004.com/lat_news.asp?id=204
Q: If the democrats are raising taxes and slashing budgets, where does the money go? At least with Operation Enduring Freedom, we know where it's being spent.
The follwing can be found on the Jewitt for Congress website: http://jewitt2004.com/lat_news.asp?id=204
As the Republican congressional candidate for Maryland’s Fifth District, I am very pleased to provide a response to Rep. Hoyer’s recent column entitled, “New Partnership for America’s Future Outlines Democrat’s Vision for Families.”
On Sept. 22, Democrats in the House of Representatives announced their so-called “New Partnership for America’s Future,” comprised of six core values. If the past is an indicator of the future envisioned by these far-left Democrats, then America’s families can expect higher taxes, more costly big government intruding into their everyday lives, a weaker national defense, and the furtherance of the creation of a welfare state. For example, in 1993 – the last time Democrats controlled Congress – taxes were raised on social security benefits, intelligence funding was slashed after the first attack on the World Trade Center, and Maryland’s working families received one of the largest tax increases in history. Let’s examine each of the six core values of the “New Partnership,” as outlined by Hoyer.
1. PROSPERITY. The “New Partnership” promises to provide “all Americans with the opportunity to succeed and to live a secure and comfortable life, including good jobs here at home, affordable health care, a growing economy with stable prices, investment in new technologies, and fiscal responsibility in government.” However, what Americans actually received during the Clinton Administration included (a) the greatest tax increase in history enacted in 1993 that undermined prosperity and security for the middle class, (b) health care costs made worse by trial lawyers, (c) an economic recession that began in the last years of the Clinton Administration, (d) fiscal irresponsibility marked by exorbitant government spending, and (e) an increased loss of American jobs to overseas locations. Hoyer spoke of “promoting middle class tax relief;” yet he has an unbroken record of voting against tax relief measures. Just last month he voted against middle class tax cuts and eliminating the marriage penalty.
2. NATIONAL SECURITY: Although “military strength second to none” is what is touted in the “New Partnership,” national Democrats during the Clinton years provided for: (a) reckless cuts in defense spending and the downsizing of military forces that have now left us critically and overly dependent upon the Reserves and National Guard, (b) the subordination of U.S. national sovereignty to the United Nations, which has been quite ineffective in protecting America’s national interests, (c) the weakening of U.S. intelligence agencies through budget and manpower cuts, and limitations on the scope of intelligence operations, and (d) the treatment of terrorist attacks as criminal acts rather than acts of war. Did you know that my opponent voted against the formation of the Department of Homeland Security?
3. FAIRNESS: Another aspect of the “New Partnership” involves a commitment – on paper – to “equal opportunity for all, including affordable health care for everyone, spending Social Security funds only on Social Security, and eliminating tax loopholes so that all Americans pay their fair share.” But, when left-wing Democrats had their chance to lead during the 1990’s, they continued to place the issue of affordable health care on the backburner, as well as abused the public trust with regard to economic fairness. Hoyer has voted to raid the Social Security surplus 27 times and voted 11 times against protecting the surplus. My opponent has also voted to increase the taxable portion of Social Security benefits from 50 to 85 percent. Will he close the tax loopholes that permitted Sen. John Kerry and his billionaire wife to pay a tax rate of only 12% last year, far less than most Americans?
4. OPPORTUNITY: The “New Partnership” promises “a vibrant public education system accountable to the highest standards … including an affordable and accessible college education.” The main reason our public schools are in a state of failure is directly attributable to the policies of the National Education Association (NEA), which has given Hoyer a 100 percent approval rating. We need to support school choice measures to promote a more competitive education for our children, something that my opponent has refused to support time and again. We also need to broaden education savings accounts and establish tax breaks for teachers to defray out-of-pocket expenses.
5. COMMUNITY: National Democrats claim their new commitment is to “safe communities free of crimes and drugs, supporting local businesses and groups to keep our families safe and neighborhoods strong, and enforcing our anti-pollution laws to keep our air and water clean and healthy.” However, the record shows that Hoyer has (a) voted against making military personnel available to border patrols in order to fight drug trafficking and illegal immigration, (b) voted to transfer funds away from "truth-in-sentencing" programs that require criminals to serve most of their sentences with no chance for an early release, (c) voted to deny $1.5 billion for states to improve juvenile justice systems, (d) voted against prosecuting juveniles who commit federal violent crimes in conjunction with federal drug-trafficking offenses as adults, and (e) voted against $2 billion in FY1999 and $2.2 billion in FY2000 for U.S. Customs Service drug interdiction activities. Much of the current congressman’s vote pattern clearly does not contribute to the safety of our families and community.
6. ACCOUNTABILITY: The “New Partnership” promises to hold “those in power accountable for their actions, acting responsibly … by restoring fiscal discipline and eliminating deficit spending … and requiring real consequences for CEOs and corporations who break the law.” Well, where was the accountability during the Clinton Administration when the series of corporate scandals discovered during the Bush Administration had their beginnings? Why did Hoyer oppose holding President Clinton accountable for committing perjury? Is Hoyer practicing fiscal discipline when he continues to accept annual pay increases during a time of war and huge budget deficits?
Considering Hoyer’s lack of focus as a national Democrat, and the striking contradictions between Hoyer’s promises and his voting record, isn’t it time that the citizens of the Fifth District form a new partnership with a new congressman that truly represents their principles, values and interests? Southern Maryland deserves a majority party congressman who is focused full-time on the district and who will team up with the Governor and President to protect our military bases, ensure small business and job growth, provide tax relief, and give our systems of education and transportation the attention they deserve.
I ask for your vote on November 2 so that we can move Southern Maryland forward.
Brad Jewitt
www.jewitt2004.com
