Dear Angela:

As someone who has been interested in our nation’s economic situation and who has previously provided input regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), P.L. 111-5, it is important for me to update you as to what has happened with this legislation.

As you may imagine, this critical time has prompted an unprecedented number of Nebraskans such as yourself to call and write with questions or ideas on how to right our economy. Due to the sheer volume of comments I have received on this issue, thank you for understanding that it was impossible to respond individually to each inquiry, and please accept the thoughts which follow.

While it has become apparent that our nation is in the midst of the worst economic downturn in decades, I am happy to report that Nebraska’s unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent in May. This figure dropped from April’s report, which had indicated a 4.5-percent unemployment rate. Nebraska did not report unemployment increases for the month of June. Nevertheless, I do believe the current economic and employment landscape still warrants further investment in job creation and preservation.

The original stimulus bill received from the House of Representatives had too much spending and included too many programs which would only be marginally stimulative. Upon receiving this bill, I went through each spending provision in an effort to eliminate expenditures which did not belong in a bill aimed at stimulating the economy and growing jobs. These “sacred cows” may certainly be worthy on their own merits, and I continue to look forward to considering them during the appropriations process. Throughout this effort, I reached out to many of my colleagues to carefully and critically review this bill with me and termed our bipartisan group, the “Jobs Squad.” All Senators were invited to participate in our open-door meetings, and input from both sides of the aisle informed our discussions. We pared down the ARRA, eliminating more than $100 billion of inefficient or less stimulative spending; and our amendment was adopted by the Senate.

The bill changed slightly during the conference negotiations with the House, and after several weeks of thorough consideration and bipartisan collaboration, I voted for the final version of ARRA. The Act passed the Senate on February 13, 2009, by a vote of 60-38; and President Obama signed it into law on February 17. I firmly believe this $789-billion investment in our country will continue to help grow our economy, get people back to work, and stave off a deeper recession. Here are some examples of provisions which will do just that, as well as strengthen our transportation, housing, health and educational infrastructure for future generations:

Reinvigorating the Housing Sector

The ARRA provides an $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers for the purchase of a primary residence on or after January 1, 2009, and before December 1, 2009.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is sending more than $13 million to Nebraska for 98 public housing renovations and energy efficiency improvements in communities statewide as part of the Act.

Creating Jobs through Infrastructure Improvement

The ARRA invests $27.5 billion for roads, railways and bridges which will put people to work improving our nation’s transportation infrastructure. Nebraska will receive more than $235 million for these projects.

Nebraska will also receive over $40 million to support clean water infrastructure, flood control and environmental projects, and will see more than $70 million to invest in the renewable energy industry and to create “green jobs.”

Boosting the Economy with Education and Training

This Act provides $77 billion to help our nation preserve educational services, rebuild schools and support other critical services, of which $420 million will come to Nebraska.

In addition, Nebraska will receive approximately $10 million to invest in services for unemployed and dislocated workers, giving those who are seeking jobs the opportunity to obtain assistance finding new employment or to gain a competitive edge with new training.

Giving Tax Relief to Individuals and Families.

Ninety-five percent of taxpayers, or at least 710,000 Nebraskans, will benefit from the “Making Work Pay” personal income tax credit, totaling up to $400 per year for individuals, and up to $800 per year for married couples filing joint tax returns, for this year and next.

This law also protects more than 100,000 Nebraskans from being hit by the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) in 2009, exempting $46,700 from the AMT for single filers and $70,950 for joint filers.

And Tax Incentives for Businesses

The law packs $76 billion in business tax breaks into 2009 and 2010 to promote economic growth and save and create jobs.

A provision I fought hard to maintain will allow businesses with revenues under $15 million to carry operating losses back five years, rather than the usual two years, freeing up $4.7 billion for these businesses this year to help keep their doors open and save jobs.

It is true that investing at this time and scale will increase our national debt in the short run, though I firmly believe that doing nothing would have caused the financial crisis to grow greater and last longer, expanding our debt far beyond its current level. I want you to know that when the effects of the ARRA kick in, and the economy comes back firing on all cylinders, I will work hard to get the debt and deficit under control.

Key components to implementing these recovery measures are accountability and transparency. The ARRA established several oversight provisions, including strict reporting and certification requirements, and support for agency Inspectors General to conduct oversight. Federal, state and local agencies must report on an ongoing basis to the ARRA Accountability and Transparency Board regarding their use of recovery funds; and the executive branch’s Council of Economic Advisors must regularly report to Congress on the status of the recovery efforts. In addition to certifying that recovery funds are being used for their intended purpose, federal, state and local entities are also required to link such information to the public website, www.recovery.gov, which was set up by the Administration. At this website, taxpayers such as you can view how funds devoted to recovery efforts are being used, and it will be updated as recovery projects move forward. I encourage you to explore this site and hope you find this information useful.

Thank you again for expressing your views on these critical matters. I always appreciate hearing from civic-minded Nebraskans such as yourself, and hope you will not hesitate to contact me again on any issue of importance to you. Rest assured, I will continue to work with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to help change the economic and fiscal policies which created the current economic crisis and will cast my vote, as I always do, for what is best for Nebraska and our nation as a whole.

Sincerely,

Ben Nelson
U.S. Senator

The Millions and Billions on spending has go to STOP. Our NATION is in DEBT beyond BELIEF and our GOVERNMENT keeps on SPENDING RECKLESSLY. I personally do NOT care how well intentioned our politicians try to make this out to be. We owe CHINA buckoo BUCKS and we’ve got spending and DEBT to the point of NO RETURN. The government should step back and STOP trying to control every single aspect of our lives. This is NOT the country I was born into.

The Democrat-controlled federal government has spoken; they want a government take over of our health care system on their terms and if necessary without any bipartisan support from Republicans. Details of the emerging plan from Congress indicate that this will likely cost more than $1.5 trillion. In fact, during recent testimony, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Doug Elmendorf, said “In the legislation that has been reported we don’t see the sort of fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the trajectory of federal spending by a significant amount. And on the contrary, the legislation significantly expands the federal responsibility for health-care costs.”

“Nancy Pelosi has unleashed spending like never before and there’s no end in sight. Nebraskans are relying on our Nebraska Congressmen, especially Congressman Lee Terry, like never before to act as a check and balance to unbridled Democrat power,” said Nebraska Republican Party Chairman Mark Fahleson. Fahleson also asked, “Do you think we could expect that from Democrats like Tom White?”

The Wall Street Journal today referred to the Democrat majority in their article as “A Reckless Congress: Democrats want to ram through one of the greatest raids on private income and business in American history.”

Republicans have repeatedly said they want to see reform, but it must accomplish what it sets out to do. The Democrats’ health care reform plan carries the risk of leaving 36 million Americans without health insurance even after the hefty price tag. Republicans are attempting to stand between Democrats and their euphoric dreams of a welfare state while offering a plan that won’t obliterate the health care industries.

Chairman Fahleson added, “Rationing health care. Government takeovers. That’s the Democrat agenda. Nebraskans know better. In 2010, voters will have their first opportunity to send a powerful signal to Democrats that will not go unnoticed. Candidates like Tom White who are going to rubber stamp unchecked spending do not stand a chance.”

- The Nebraska Republican Party

Hat Tip: GetLiberty.org – All politicians should be the first to be enrolled into the new government healthcare plan against their will. They should not get to keep their current plan. They should be expected to set the example and show the country that it’s not just about doing what they say we should do.

Here are some of the posts I’ve had on Healthcare this week:

Sotomayor and Healthcare
How’s that hope n’ change you voted for working out?
About government healthcare in Canada
Tell congress to vote no on government-run healthcare
Hands off my healthcare
This is what Obamacare will be

Out there in Blog-Land, this is what I found:

The Hidden Cost of Obamacare
ALG in the News: Iowa Politics
Massive, Growth-Killing Tax Hikes in House Dem Health Care Bill
Tax Increases in House Dem Health Bill
Read the House Dems’ Health Bill

Read the Healthcare Bill for yourself here because you know Congress will not have time to. That’s just how it is… ya know?

Obamacare will reduce your choices
Health Rations and You!
Small business owners react to Obamacare
America’s healthcare is better than Europe’s
National health is national suicide
Healthcare plan is not about health or caring
Obama begs senate: we must pass my disastrous healthcare bill ASAP
Putting a face on the casualties of obamacare
Inside the monstrous Obamacare bureaucracy
Video: Health Rations and You
Socialized Healthcare and the Death of Choice
Congress should be required to enroll in Obamacare

Hat Tip: RedState

Senate Health Overhaul Bill Lays the Trillion-Dollar Groundwork for a Government Takeover of Health Care
IBD: House Dems Bill will make Individual Health Insurance Illegal
Bad Economy to Get Worse With Obamacare
Um, Free Healthcare?
We MUST Stop the Socialized Healthcare Bill
By The Way, Abortion Isn’t Healthcare
Punishing Success to Pay for Obamacare
What do you think of this?

Summer of My Discontent – I don’t blame her! I totally understand where she is coming from.

Late Breaking … people are seriously ticked off and PROTESTING.

Today: Nationwide protest against socialized medicine & cap-and-tax

Have you been watching the Sotomayor hearings? I have. I’ve been trying to catch bits and pieces of it while I am folding laundry. It seems I’m always doing laundry, folding it, and trying to catch up on the news when I do.

Today while I was folding laundry I got to hear two firefighters speak at the Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings. I have to tell you that it was quite compelling testimony and especially the Hispanic man that spoke out. I tried to find both of the testimonies that I watched on YouTube and just haven’t been able to find it. I’m sure it’s coming and will be posted at some point. I know somebody out there had to be taping today.

Plain and simple I think discrimination is wrong. I also think reverse discrimination is twice as bad. How horrible is it to know that somebody is getting advanced or a promotion not because of their scores or their hard work… but because of the color of their skin. It’s so wrong on so many levels.

I do not agree with what happened to those firefighters and I’m glad that the supreme court overturned Sotomayor’s decision along with the other judges that were involved. I thought it was disgusting that the firefighters didn’t even get an explanation as to why these judges ruled how they did.

I’ll see if I can find their testimonies later on and post them here on the blog. I think you will agree with me after you hear what these men had to say about Sotomayor’s decision in that particular case. I do think Sotomayor is going to be confirmed. I will have a problem with her if she does not make decisions based on the law. She says that “feelings” have no part in how she decides her cases but we’ll have to wait and see. Am I completely happy with Sotomayor? No, not really but when I think about it… Obama could have picked worse and he did not. So we’ll have to just wait and see how it all plays out.

As for healthcare… oh don’t get me started. I’m very upset at what’s happening. I hear we have a 1,018 page document the size of the Gutenberg Bible and our politicians will be reading it (hopefully) and then voting on it. I also hear that companies will not be able to add new employees to their private healthcare plan as a result. In other words, those that are part of a company’s private healthcare plan get to stay on it and the new hires are stuck with the government plan.

I’m telling you people we are so screwed. I lived on Government Healthcare. I tell you guys this all the time but I don’t think many of you believe me when I say that government healthcare SUCKS. Not only that but taxes are about to sky rocket because our government is looking to pay for this potential fiasco. Not only are taxes on businesses going to sky rocket but so are the taxes of the people that employ the workers of this nation.

I know some people think it’s ok to tax the rich but who do you think it is that feeds the mouths of the poor? The middle class is about to be wiped out and those living in poverty… well you can forget about those people because charitable contributions will decline because nobody will be able to afford to live in the United States of America. And those businesses that won’t be allowed to offer private insurance to their new employees? Well, what’s to say that they don’t get rid of the private plan all together? After all… they are about to be taxed to death. Why should they pay for the private healthcare that their employees would like to have and force them to go on the government plan?

When the government forces people to do regular things that don’t make sense it just ticks me off. Whatever happened to the fair tax idea? Why should people that are doing well be penalized for their hard work? If the government wants to offer healthcare to people that don’t have a private plan and can’t afford it — then fine. But don’t squash the businesses that employ the people of this nation. I can’t stand it when the government tries to step in and force our hands.

I can’t even begin to tell you how upset I will be if we are not able to keep our private health plan. If we are not able to fill our prescriptions and have our regular checkups it’s going to be an appointment with death. I already know where I’m going if I die but come on…. I’d like at least to have my family to continue with preventative care and routine procedures that are life saving. I shudder to think what will happen and how far out we can make appointments, and the restrictions should the government get involved in ALL of it. It’s a pretty scary situation and I would really like it if our politicians would not rush to vote this healthcare crapola through so fast.

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin

I insist that you watch this entire video before you grace my blog with your comments.

Steven Crowder actually went to Canada and sums up in fair terms exactly what is going on over there. I can totally understand why regular Canadians flock to the United States of America for their healthcare.

To put it bluntly… Canadian Government-ran healthcare, also known as socialized healthcare SUCKS.

After you watch this video… tell me something… do you still think Obama is moving us in the right direction?

Fairfax, VA, July 9th, 2009—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today praised 17 U.S. Senators for “standing up for the people of Honduras against an Obama Administration that seems more intent upon defending a Marxist despot than supporting the rule of law.”

“While the whole world is pretending that Manuel Zelaya was overthrown in a ‘coup,’ the people of Honduras and their representatives are pleading for somebody to listen to their side of the story,” said Wilson. “Instead, they have been callously castigated by Barack Obama and his Secretary of State simply for defending their own democracy.”

“These 17 Senators deserve the praise of all who believe in the rule of law, and the people of Honduras deserve the support of all Americans who value freedom and democratic, constitutional rule,” Wilson added.

Yesterday, an urgent letter was sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging her to meet with the current government of Honduras, stating, “While you have already met with Mr. Zelaya, we find it discouraging that you are unwilling to meet with Honduran officials that have simply followed their constitution.”

The letter was sent by Senators Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), David Vitter (R-Louisiana), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), John Ensign (R-Nevada), Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky), Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Mike Johanns (R-Nebraska), Kit Bond (R-Missouri), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), James Risch (R-Idaho), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), John Thune (R-South Dakota), and Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama).

Attached to the letter are the charges that were filed against former Honduran president Manuel Zelaya by the Attorney General of Honduras, Luis Alberto Rubi, to the Supreme Court of Honduras. Also attached is the order by the court to arrest Zelaya for “acting against the established form of government, treason against the country, abuse of authority, and usurpation of power in detriment of the public administration and of the State of Honduras.”

“The official documents of the Honduran Attorney General and Supreme Court, along with the vote of their Congress to impeach and remove Manuel Zelaya from office, prove irrefutably that Zelaya was properly removed from power in accordance with the Honduran Constitution,” said Wilson.

“That means that Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama has any business legitimizing the former president of Honduras who was impeached for attempting to extend the term of his office, a serious constitutional violation in Honduras. Under the Honduran Constitution, it is simply unconstitutional for any public servant to even propose extending that term,” Wilson noted. “And that was the Constitution Mr. Zelaya swore to uphold.”

According to Article 239 of the Honduran Constitution: “No citizen who has already served as head of the Executive Branch can be President or Vice-President. Whoever violates this law or proposes its reform, as well as those that support such violation directly or indirectly, will immediately cease in their functions and will be unable to hold any public office for a period of 10 years.”

According to a legal background detailing the timeline of events that led to Zelaya’s removal, Zelaya was attempting to convene an unlawful constitutional convention that would have enabled him to rewrite portions of the Constitution that defined term limits for the office of President.

Zelaya was repeatedly warned by Honduran constitutional experts, the Public Prosecutor General, the Attorney General, the presiding judge of the Administrative Law Court, the Office of the State Attorney, the Administrative Law Tribunal, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, the National Congress, and the National Commissioner for Human Rights that his proposed referendum was unconstitutional. But the former president proceeded against those opinions, orders, and rulings.

After Zelaya’s own Attorney General filed with the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court ordered the military of Honduras to arrest Zelaya on June 26th. The order was carried out on June 28th, and then Congress voted by a 125-3 margin to impeach and remove him from office on the same day.

According to the legal background, “Because the Vice-president had resigned in 2007, the Constitution of the Republic states that it is the President of Congress that must assume the office of President of the Republic. Consequently Roberto Micheletti Baín, then the President of Congress, was sworn in as President of the Republic. Thereafter, and because of the vacancy of the office of President of the National Congress, José Alfredo Saavedra was also sworn in as President of Congress at the same session.”

“Based on all of the available evidence, there was no military ‘coup’ at all. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are attempting to prop up a traitor to Honduras as its legitimate leader in spite of the objections of the people of Honduras, their Congress, and their Supreme Court,” Wilson concluded.

Attachments: Letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from 17 Senators with attached Charges against Zelaya, and Supreme Court Order to Arrest Zelaya, July 8th, 2009.

Legal Background, “Legal situation of the transition government in Honduras,” June 29th, 2009.

Americans for Limited Government is a non- partisan, nationwide network committed to advancing free market reforms,private property rights and core American liberties. For more information on ALG please call us at 703-383-0880 or visit our website at www.GetLiberty.org.

Washington now runs your BANKS, your INSURANCE, and CAR COMPANIES.

But do you trust Washington with your LIFE?

Congress is rushing to take over healthcare too. Paid for by over $600 BILLION in new TAXES and cutting $400 BILLION from MEDICARE and MEDICAID.

PLUS tens of MILLIONS will LOSE THEIR CURRENT INSURANCE and wind up on the Government Health Plan.

What will happen to your family’s healthcare if Washington runs it?

Tell Congress to VOTE NO on Government-Run Healthcare.

President Obama and big-government politicians in Congress have said they want Americans to have health care as good as they have. So why aren’t they jumping to join the new public health insurance plan they’re trying to create?

I know you’re shocked to hear this … but members of Congress are planning to keep their gold-plated, taxpayer-funded benefits packages while putting the rest of us into a government health care plan. If this new plan is supposed to be so great, why aren’t they going to join it?

What hypocrisy.

There’s even more hypocrisy and outrageous political payoffs in this health care takeover. Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus wants to tax our health insurance to help pay for the government takeover – but their scheme exempts the unions from the tax increases! I’m not making this up.

Along with members of Congress and federal employees, union members have the biggest, richest benefits packages in the nation, but they would be exempted from this new tax.

Let Congress know how you feel about a government takeover of health care by signing Americans for Prosperity’s “Hands Off My Health Care” petition today.

Today, MoveOn.org is organizing protests at senators’ district offices to demand a government-run health insurance plan with the provisions I just described to you.

Well, MoveOn.org isn’t the only voice in this debate. Americans for Prosperity is joining with many of our Tea Party Patriot friends at our senators’ district offices July 17 to protest a government health care grab. The Tea Parties have been a tremendous success because they are coming from you – hard-working men and women who care about what happens to your families and to our country.

Everyone will be hitting the senators’ district offices at the same time on July 17. Visit your nearest district office at Noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT/10 a.m. MDT/9 a.m. PDT and demand that he or she protect the freedoms we enjoy – to choose our doctors and to keep the government out of our health decisions. Make sure to bring a copy of our Patients First petition, signed by you and your family!

We’ve made it easy for you – just click here to find your senators’ district offices!

If you haven’t yet signed the petition online, telling Congress to keep their Hands Off My Healthcare, sign now! You can start taking action before you even leave your computer.

We will win this battle to protect our health care – if we fight.

Sincerely,

Tim Phillips
President, Americans for Prosperity

P.S. If you haven’t already seen it, check out our new ad on government-run health care.