Published: July 16, 2008 05:10 pm         

Cheaper Gas

Editor:

This letter is a Democratic response to Republican Congressman Joe Barton’s article entitled, “Cheaper Gas is Within our Grasp.”

When George W. Bush took office, the price of gas was $1.46. The price of gas started rising after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and the price of gas continues to skyrocket because of unrest in this region of the world which has been affected by our occupation of Iraq. It also has a lot to do with the Bush administration’s government subsidies to big oil companies.

The following are results of Senate Republican roll call votes in the 110th Congress from January 2007 to June 2008. It would seem that Republicans SAY one thing and DO the opposite.

ENERGY: Redirecting $13 billion in tax subsidies from big oil to clean energy entrepreneurs - REJECTED.

WAR IN IRAQ: Withdrawing troops from Iraq and a clear timeline for ending the war - REJECTED

HEALTH CARE: Expanding the children’s health care program to cover 4 million uninsured children - REJECTED.

HOUSING: The Foreclosure Prevention Act, which would assist millions of Americans at risk of losing their homes - REJECTED.

JOBS: Making it harder for employers to cover up pay discrimination so American workers can earn what they deserve - REJECTED.

GLOBAL WARMING: A national Renewable Energy Standard to fight global warming by requiring at least 15 percent of electricity to be generated from clean, renewable sources - REJECTED.

The one “big ticket item” which PASSED the Senate Republican roll call vote was George Bush’s irresponsible fiscal policies, which have driven our NATIONAL DEBT up $3.7 trillion since 2000.

I have had enough Republican economics; they have almost bankrupted our country. It’s time for our government to spend our tax dollars in America to help Americans. I am asking you to “believe in the power of change” and vote for Democrats in November so we can TURN TEXAS BLUE!

Barbara Price

Buffalo

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Dear Editor,

The federal debt is more than 9 trillion dollars and still going up. That equates to a debt of about 30 thousand dollars for everyone in the nation. During the past seven year period, our federal government has been spending more than it collected. At the same time our nation became involved in two expensive wars, while giving income tax reductions including very large reductions for the wealthy.

Pay day for this fiscal irresponsibility created by our government is now beginning. The people suffer from many painful economic problems. The dollar now buys less than at any time in the 85 years that I have lived.

Sincerely,

Dale Brown

Mexia, Texas