RESPONSE FROM U.S. SENATOR RAND PAUL ON SURVEY#8

June 17, 2011

Dear Mr. Wells,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding the need to cut spending in Washington, D.C. I appreciate hearing your thoughts concerning this matter.

The size of the national debt has grown considerably over the past few years, and we have seen currencies and countries fall under their unsustainable debt. Unless we consider making cuts to every major piece of legislation, we will not come close to balancing the budget. Therefore, I voted against the most recent short-term continuing resolution for the same reason I voted against the last one and the one before that - because it does not set us on a path to fixing the spending and debt problems our country is facing. As I have said before, there is not much of a difference between a $1.5 trillion deficit and a $1.6 trillion deficit - both will lead us to a debt crisis from which we may not recover.

I have introduced a number of proposals to address this crisis immediately, as Congress cannot continue to delay action on the very real problems facing our nation. On the first day I could introduce a bill in the 112th Congress, I proposed S. 162, which would cut $500 billion from the federal budget within one year. Next, I introduced Senate Joint Resolution 5, along with Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), which calls for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, with specific spending limitations and protections against tax increases. Then, on Mar. 17, 2011, I unveiled a five-year balanced budget plan that would bring spending near the historical average in its first year, repeal Obamacare, and reduce spending by nearly $4 trillion relative to the President's budget.

Again, thank you for contacting me regarding our nation's fiscal crisis. Rest assured that as I serve in the United State Senate, I will continue to introduce and support legislation that will return our nation to sound financial footing.

Sincerely,

Rand Paul, MD
United States Senator

RESPONSE FROM CONGRESSMAN CHRIS GIBSON ON SURVEY#8

CHRIS GIBSON 20th District, New York __________ HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee on Readiness __________ HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management __________ http://gibson.house.gov WASHINGTON 502 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5614 SARATOGA SPRINGS 513 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 306-5450 GLENS FALLS 136 Glen Street Glens Falls, NY 12801 (518) 743-0964 KINDERHOOK 2 Hudson Street, PO Box 775 Kinderhook, NY 12066 (518) 610-8133 DELHI 111 Main Street Delhi, NY 13753 (607) 746-9537 May 25, 2011 Mr. Richard M. Wells 67 Corinth Mtn Rd Gansevoort, NY 12831-1209 Dear Mr. Wells, Thank you for contacting me regarding taxes, it is good to hear from you. We have a spending problem in this country, not a revenue problem. One of the reasons I retired from the military and came to Washington was to fight the growing mentality that taxpayers' pockets can be treated as bottomless coffers. I believe all Americans have an obligation to contribute funds to cover the federal government's expenses, which is why I voted for a budget proposal that would close tax loopholes and ensure individuals and corporations alike are paying their fair share. However, I reject the excessive federal spending that has become the norm in Washington and the idea that taxpayers should be expected to fund a bloated government. Especially at a time when the economy is lagging, the federal government should not be placing further burdens on Americans by imposing high federal taxes. An example of an increase, or at least perceived increase, in taxes was the recent expiration of The Making Work Pay (MWP). This tax credit was implemented as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and provided a refundable tax credit (through lower income tax withholding) of up to $400 for individuals and up to $800 for married taxpayers filing joint returns in 2009 and 2010. Although the MWP tax credit expired on December 31, 2010, the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, signed by President Obama on December 17, 2010, included an extension of some tax provisions that were scheduled to expire. This legislation also included a one-year "payroll tax holiday" which reduced the employee portion of the Social Security payroll tax from 6.2% to 4.2% of covered wages up to $106,800 in 2011. Some people may find that the reduction in Social Security payroll taxes in 2011 is less than the amount they received under the MWP tax credit in 2010. While I was not a Member of Congress when this legislation was passed in 2010, my belief is that the tax code should be simplified and tax rates should be cut across the board. We cannot tax our way to prosperity. Americans already face some of the highest tax rates in the world, which make our businesses less competitive and sends jobs that could be used here overseas. The best way to spur economic growth is for Congress to allow families and small businesses to keep more of their hard-earned money. Allowing taxpayers to keep more of what they earn encourages spending, saving, and investing, all of which are good for the economy and can begin immediately. It is the role of the private sector to create jobs and the federal government must provide a suitable economic environment conducive to this growth. In the wake of this recession New York families and businesses cannot afford more taxes, and as the Representative of the people of New York's 20th Congressional District I will continue to fight for lower federal taxes. Thank you, again, for contacting me with your thoughts. Please don't hesitate to inform me of your concerns in the future through my websitehttp://gibson.house.gov or over the phone at (202) 225-5614. Sincerely, Chris Gibson Member of Congress

PUT ME IN CHARGE- FROM MEMBER LISA CAMPBELL

Put me in charge of food stamps. I'd get rid of Lone Star cards; no cash for Ding Dongs or Ho Ho's, just money for 50-pound bags of rice and beans, blocks of cheese and all the powdered milk you can haul away.  If you want steak and frozen pizza, then get a  job. Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing I'd do is to get women Norplant birth control implants or tubal ligations.  Then, we'll test recipients for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine and document all tattoos and piercings.  If you want to reproduce or use drugs, alcohol, smoke or get tats and piercings, then get a job. Put me in charge of government housing.  Ever live in a military barracks?  You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair.  Your "home" will be subject to inspections anytime and possessions will be inventoried.  If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360, then get a job and your own place. In addition, you will either present a check stub from a job each week or you will report to a "government" job.  It may be cleaning the roadways of trash, painting and repairing public housing, whatever we find for you.  We will sell your 22 inch rims and low profile tires and your blasting stereo and speakers and put that money toward the “common good.” Before you write that I've violated someone's rights, realize that all of the above is voluntary.  If you want our money, accept our rules.  Before you say that this would be "demeaning" and ruin their "self esteem," consider that it wasn't that long ago that taking someone else's money for doing absolutely nothing was demeaning and lowered self esteem. If we are expected to pay for other people's mistakes we should at least attempt to make them learn from their bad choices.  The current system rewards them for continuing to make bad choices. AND While you are on Gov’t subsistence, you no longer can VOTE!  Yes that is correct.  For you to vote would be a conflict of interest.  You will voluntarily remove yourself from voting while you are receiving a Gov’t welfare check.  If you want to vote, then get a job.

TEST

 1) VOTERS NEED TO TAKE BACK POWER  A/K/A- IT'S TIME

    Glens Falls Post Star 4/13/2010 www.poststar.com go towww.ricwellscommonman.blogspot.com


2) STATE'S PROBLEMS NOT BEING SOLVED A/K/A-NEW YORK STATE FOR SALE
    Glens Falls Post Star 5/23/2010 www.poststar.com go towww.ricwellscommonman.blogspot.com


3) READER HAS BIG HOPES FOR CUOMO A/K/A-OPEN LETTER TO ANDREW CUOMO
    Glens Falls Post Star 6/19/2010 www.poststar.com go towww.ricwellscommon.blogspot.com


4) YOU NEED TO BE OF, BY AND FOR PEOPLE
    The Record-Troy N.Y. 7/16/2010www.troyrecord.com/youneedtobeof,byandforthepeople


5) WORKING TOGETHER, WORLD CAN CHANGE A/K/A STAND UP
    Glens Falls Post Star 7/25/2010 www.poststar.com go towww.ricwellscommonman.blogspot.com


6) BILL WOULD CRIPPLE SMALL BUSINESSES
    Saratogian-Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 8/17/2010www.saratogian.com/billwouldripplesmallbusiness


7) DON'T RESTRICT SMALL BUSINESSES FROM USING SUBCONTRACTORS
    The Record-Troy N.Y. 8/22/2010www.troyrecord.com/don'trestrictsmallbusinessesfromusingsubcontractors


8) A BLOW TO SMALL BUSINESS.
    Daily Freeman-Kingston N.Y. 8/24/2010 www.dailyfreeman.com/ablowtosmallbusiness


9) KILLING AMERICA'S ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
    Post Standard-Syracuse N.Y. 8/26/2010www.poststandard.com/killingamerica'sentrepreneurialspirit


10) VOTERS WILL ENACT CHANGE THIS YEAR
    Glens Falls Post Star 9/7/2010 www.poststar.com


11) WE WILL BE HEARD, WE WILL BE COUNTED
      The Daily Mail-Catskill N.Y. 9/22/2010www.thedailymail.net/wewillbeheard,wewillbecounted


12) DON'T BE SILENT
      Register-Star-Hudson N.Y. 9/23/2010 www.registerstar.com/don'tbesilent


13) SHOW POLITICIANS WHO'S IN CHARGE
      Albany Times Union-Albany N.Y. 9/24/2010www.timesunion.com/showpoliticianswho'sincharge


14) YOUR VOTE YIELDS MORE POWER THAN YOU THINK
      Saratogian-Saratoga Springs N.Y. 9/25/2010www.saratogian.com/yourvoteyieldsmorepowerthanyouthink
  
15) THINGS IN AMERICA COULD REALLY CHANGE IF EVERYONE VOTED A/K/A NOVEMBER IS COMING
      The Daily Gazette-Schenectady 9/26/2010 www.dailygazette.com go towww.ricwellscommonman.blogspot.com


16) VOTING MOST PRECIOUS RIGHT
      Times Herald Record-Middletown N.Y. 9/27/2010www.timesheraldrecord.com/votingmostpreciousright


17) GET OUT AND VOTE
      The Record-Troy N.Y. 9/30/2010 www.troyrecord.com/getoutandvote


18) ELECTION DAY SHOULD BE A NATIONAL HOLIDAY A/K/A NOVEMBER IS COMING
      Glens Falls Post Star 10/13/2010 www.poststar.com go towww.ricwellscommonman.blogspot.com


19) VOTING-IT'S A PRECIOUS RIGHT
      Times Herald Record-Middletown N.Y. 10/22/2010 www.timesheraldrecord.com/voting-it'sapreciousright


20) VOTING A MOST PRECIOUS RIGHT
      Washington Times 10/26/2010 www.washingtontimes.com/votingamostpreciousright


21) TUESDAY CRITICAL; GET OUT AND VOTE
      Albany Times Union-Albany N.Y. 10/28/2010www.timesunion.com/tuesdaycritical;getoutandvote


22) REALIZE THE POWER OF THIS PRECIOUS RIGHT
      Saratogian-Saratoga Springs N.Y. 10/28/2010www.saratogian.com/realizethepowerofthispreciousright


23) THE PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER
      The Daily Freeman-Kingston N.Y. 11/9/2010www.dailyfreeman.com/thepeopledeservebetter


24) MISLEADING INNUENDOS
      Press Republican-Plattsburg, N.Y. 11/16/2010www.pressrepublican.com/misleadinginnuendos


25) HAVE THE PEOPLE REALLY SPOKEN IN THE ELECTION?
      Saratogian-Saratoga Springs N.Y. 11/21/2010www.saratogian.com/havethepeoplereallyspokenintheelection?


26) LET THE FREE MARKET HEAL ITSELF
      Washington Times 11/30/2010 www.washingtontimes.com/letthefreemarkethealitself


27) THE NEW REVOLUTION
      The Record-Troy N.Y. 12/3/2010 www.troyrecord.com/thenewrevolution


28) CONCENTRATE ON STABILIZING PRICES
      Albany Times Union-Albany N.Y. 12/12/2010www.timesunion.com/concentrateonstabilizingprices


29) THE NEW REVOLUTION
       Press Republican-Plattsburg N.Y. 12/14/2010www.pressrepublican.com/thenewrevolution


30) A NEW PROMISE FOR AMERICA'S CITIZENS A/K/A THE NEW REVOLUTION
      Glens Falls Post Star 12/19/2010 www.poststar.com go towww.ricwellscommonman.blogspot.com


31) IF YOU PROMISE TO
      The Record-Troy N.Y. 12/29/2010 www.troyrecord.com/ifyoupromiseto


32) DEPARTMENTS MUST BE CONSOLIDATED
      Glens Falls Post Star 1/15/2011 www.poststar.com


33) IGNORE THE ADS
      The Record-Troy N.Y. 1/18/2011 www.troyrecord.com/ignoretheads


34) STOP NOW
      Daily Freeman-Kingston N.Y. 1/18/2011 www.dailyfreeman.com/stopnow


35) PUBLIC SECTOR BENEFITS MUST FACE ADJUSTMENT
      Post Standard-Suracuse N.Y. 1/19/2011www.poststandard.com/publicsectorbenefitsmustfaceadjustment


36) STATE MUST WORK TO SHORE UP PUBLIC SECTOR
      Saratogian-Saratoga Springs N.Y. 1/23/2011www.saratogian.com/ststemustworktoshoreuppublicsector


37) WORK TO SECURE THE PUBLIC SECTOR
      Albany Times Union-Albany N.Y. 1/31/2011 www.timesunion.com


38) EXEMPTIONS FOR CONGRESS
      Washington Times 2/1/2011 www.washingtontimes.com/exemptionsforcongress


39) STATE SCHOOL CUTS SHOULD START WITH ADMINISTRATORS
      The Daily Gazette-Schenectady N.Y. 2/6/2011 www.dailygazette.com


40) WALK THE TALK
      The Record-Troy N.Y. 2/11/2011 www.troyrecord.com/pulseofthepeoplewalkthetalk


41) TAKING BACK AMERICA
      Washington Times 2/14/2011 www.washingtontimes.com/takingbackamerica


42) WHO WILL STAND UP FOR THE CITIZENS
      Glens Falls Post Star 2/20/2011 www.poststar.com


43) THIS UNION WILL NOT BE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF
      Saratogian-Saratogaprings N.Y. 2/26/2011www.saratogian.com/thisunionwillnotbedividedagainstitself


44) EVERYMAN'S GROUP CAN TAKE BACK THE COUNTRY
      The Daily Gazette-Schenectady N.Y. 2/28/2011 www.dailygazette.com


45) THE COMMON MAN
      The Record-Troy N.Y. 3/10/2011www.troyrecord.com/pulseofthepeoplethecommonman


46) THE COMMON MAN RESIDES IN ALL OF US
      Saratogian-Saratoga Springs N.Y. 3/14/2011www.saratogian.com/thecommonmanresidesinallofus


47) GET BACK TO BASICS TO RESTORE AMERICA   A/K/A- The Common Man
      Glens Falls Post Star 3/20/2011 www.poststar.com


48) A GREAT START
      The Record-Troy N.Y. 4/2/2011 www.troyrecord.com/pulseofthepeople:agreatstart


49) BUDGET PROCESS SHOWS GREAT START
      The Albany Times Union-Albany, N.Y. 4/8/2011www.timesunion.com/budgetprocessshowsgreatstart


50) BALANCED, ON-TIME BUDGET A GREAT START   A/K/A- A GREAT START
      The Daily Gazette-Schenectady, N.Y. 4/8/2011 www.dailygazette.com go towww.ricwellscommonman.blogspot.com


51) LETTER: PASSING STATE BUDGET SHOWS GREAT PROGRESS
      The Saratogian-Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 4/10/2011www.saratogian.com/letter:passingstatebudgetshowsgreatprogress


52) A GREAT START
      The Poughkeepsie Journal-Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 4/9/2011www.poughkeepsiejournal.com go to www.ricwellscommonman.blogspot.com


53) BUDGET SUCCESS FIRST STEP IN REFORM PROCESS
      Post Standard-Syracuse, N.Y. 4/13 2011www.poststandard.com/budgetsuccessfirststepinreformprocess


54) WE SPEND TOO MUCH
      The Record-Troy, N.Y. 4/25/2011www.troyrecord.com/pulseofthepeople:wespendtoomuch


55) FLIRTING WITH DISASTER
      Post Star-Glens Falls,N.Y. 4/20/2011  go to www.ricwellscommonman.blogspot.com


56) TAKE BACK AMERICA
       Yahoo Message Board-2/16/2011


57) LETTER: PUTTING OUR DEBT INTO PERSPECTIVE
      Saratogian-Saratoga, New York-5/14/2011www.saratogian.com/letter:puttingourdebtintoperspective


58) PUTTING OUR DEBT INTO PERSPECTIVE
      Financeation 5/16/2011


59) TAKING BACK AMERICA
       Wilton Newswire 5/19/2011


60) A BASIC RIGHT
      The Record-Troy, N.Y.-www.troyrecord.com/pulseofthepeople:abasicright.


61) FREEDOM A RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE
      Saratogian-Saratoga Springs, New York 6/4/2011www.saratogian.com/letter:freedomarightofallpeople


62) IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING
      Glens Falls Post Star-Glens Falls, New York 6/5/2011 www.poststar.com