Republican Congress screws Americans

Republicans say cut the debt, yet increase budget costs again.
This time President Obama had requested a 1-year extension of middle-class citizen payroll tax cuts before the house holiday vacation. The house republicans wasted time in Congress. They went day-after-day discussing names for post offices and other buildings around the country. Some days they did not meet at all - just did an opening ceremony, then immediately recessed. The republicans spent days talking about religion in government and days talking about a wide array of other non-urgent issues. They purposefully left the payroll cut extension for the last days before the Christmas holiday, then they padded the payroll cut with other controversial issues, the Canada pipeline, hoping President Obama would reject it and the republicans could blame him for the financial hit across America. Wise to the republican tricks, President Obama said he would sign the bill. The Senate was not happy with the bill and passed a two month tax-cut extension. Now the incompetent house went to work to sock it to Americans by rejecting the Senate bill. The house claimed it would only pass a year-long payroll-cut extension (they could have done this in November), so republicans rejected the Senate bill and created a new one. Meanwhile, the senators went home for Christmas. So, no tax-cut extension and the republicans have caused everyone to have an automatic lower income beginning January 1st 2012.
Fear not, the republicans yell, we will do this in January, after we take our luxury holiday vacations. What the republicans fail to realize is not only will Americans have a lower income, but the government must spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps millions, in changing all of the accounting and payroll systems and notices for every employee. This is FINANCIAL WASTE caused by republicans playing stupid political games and failing to represent Americans - and American debt grows bigger.
We need a focused and competent Congress, not a bunch of Obama haters who will ruin every American for their selfish personal job goals. Yes, the republicans have jobs and could care less about the homeless and/or unemployed regular citizens. The republicans chant, if Obama supports it, we will fight it - regardless of what it is and the injury it will cause Americans, along with government excess, waste and fraud.
We voters must get these republican congressmen OUT in 2012, so we can save America and ensure our kids will be able to enjoy the American dream. Do you know that the US gives billions of dollars of financial aid to CHINA!! And from where does that money come from that we give regularly to China come????  CHINA!!!
Yes, America borrows the money from China, then gives billions back to China as aid - and American debt grows and Americans pay the loan and interest on the deficit. Maybe the republicans could schedule this topic on one of those many days that they get paid, but don't show up for work!!!
WE NEED A MUCH BETTER CONGRESS!!!!
STOP the repetitive TV sound bites, CUT HE DEFICIT and help AMERICANS!!!

Die zeit ist um _ time time time

The High Speed Rail(HSR) debate goes on. Some people, like Republican congressman Jeff Denham said "just widen highway 99 - high speed rail is not needed and too expensive."


Now, today, other Republican obstructionists are coming out to propose - "just expand our already existing Amtrak lines. Much cheaper and could get the train to go up to 110 MPH." 


Amtrak currently runs from Oakland to Bakersfield area, then you switch to a bus to go over the mountains. I took this trip a couple of years ago and I seem to remember using 2 buses and 2 trains, then a taxi, to get to my destination. Quite a trek. I did not save much time, but it was more relaxing than driving. I love Amtrak and would love if we could crank it up to do the job.


The truth is the central valley has been is dire need of a transportation overhaul for over thirty years. Unfortunately, none of the city councils, county supervisors, state senators, state assemblymen, or transportation heads have ever addressed the issue. so, the valley has crumbled and existed as a "difficult to reach" area with sluggish economies. 


Now, we finally have a president who is interested in growing the valley and willing to commit federal cash to get the job done. Obstructionists fail to see that the project will be expensive because they have ignored the valley for decades. State senator Jeff Denham did nothing to improve valley jobs, improve valley transportation, or improve the valley housing market. Now, as a valley congressman, Denham continues to want to impede valley economic growth, safety, and transportation. It is stupid and totally irresponsible to say the transportation solution is to just widen highway 99. I want even more from this transportation overhaul, but the High Speed Rail Authority has repeatedly told me they do not want to address the huge volume of trucking traffic along highway 99 with this current HSR package. Too bad - it is a huge, huge problem and it makes a lot of sense to address the trucks at the same time.


The HSR system is elevated, so there should be fewer collisions between trains and people, cars, and various pieces of junk placed on the tracks. This is a big advantage over the current Amtrak tracks. Also the HSR will be quieter, so residents living near the tracks will be less stressed from train noises.


Obstructionists complain HSR will cost $13 billion for the Merced to Bakersfield route. Well, let's face it, every year you wait to get the job done, it will cost more. The costs will not go down. In the meantime, the valley suffers. Maybe we can improve the valley economy and get some locals significant employment and careers. Certainly cities with HSR stations will grow greatly. The complainers of HSR are probably the same people who blocked UC from building a valley campus for so many years. Now, UC Merced is a continuing success story with many benefiting from the investments.


The main thing about HSR is that it must be completed in time to handle the aging "baby boomers" who will be losing their driving capabilities over the next decade. They will use HSR in large numbers. After the baby boomers, there is a population drop, so ridership will depend more on costs, convenience, etc. So, time is of the essence. 

Chowchilla Broke....NO MONEY

Now people are volunteering to do regular public functions such as taking care of parks and playgrounds. Recently Chowchilla spent millions to upgrade it's government building - and a very beautiful and well-designed building it is. It seems that serial bad choices are at the root of this bankruptcy. Now we must really get down to work and get this city together. Too many years of neglect and abandonment by our state legislators.