At least, I hope it comes across that way. :)
The contents of the letter that I just submitted to Congressman Harry Mitchell via his House website's contact form -
Dear Congressman Mitchell,
In the coming weeks and months, there will be much discussion (and some passage) by Congress of efforts to stabilize and stimulate America's economy.
Many of these efforts will include money for various infrastructure projects across the country.I am writing today to ask you to work to minimize the portion of those funds that will be subject to whims of state legislators.
In our home state of Arizona, leaders in the legislature have already started to stated their intent to cut to the bone public services like education while pledging to set aside funds for activities they favor such as widespread roundups of immigrants. (http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/133701)
In a year when municipal, county, and agency revenue has plummeted and budgets have busted, funds that are targeted for projects such as public transit, rural broadband connectivity, alternative energy, schools, etc., shouldn't be subject to siphoning by irresponsible state legislators who are less interested in serving the public than in advancing their personal ideologies.
Please urge your colleagues, including all of the other members of Arizona's Congressional delegation, to pass stimulus packages that either send funds directly to the targeted end recipients or send the funds to the states but with serious strings attached to ensure that the funds are used properly.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
[cpmaz]
While the Rep members of AZ's delegation (Flake, Franks, Shadegg) are sure to oppose any stimulus packages, it wouldn't be a stretch for them to oppose the packages (which are all but certain to pass) while working to ensure that any funds disbursed have the safeguards mentioned in my letter. As such, I recommend that everyone - Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and more - to contact their Congressional representatives and urge them to work to ensure that any funds disbursed end up where they are supposed to.
Our Congressfolks and their contact pages -
Jeff Flake (R-AZ6) - contact (no direct contact page)
Trent Franks (R-AZ2) - contact (no direct contact page)
Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ8) - contact page
Raul Grijalva (D-AZ7) - contact (no direct contact page)
Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ1) - contact page
Ed Pastor (D-AZ4) - contact (no direct contact page)
John Shadegg (R-AZ3) - contact form
Note: the four without a direct contact page utilize a zip code verification process to ensure that the online contact system is utilized by their constituents only. Follow the directions on their websites to contact them.
Note2: In a development that signifies how important I believe this issue is, I have linked to the Republicans' actual House websites, not their crAZyspace pages. You should be impressed. :)
Later!
2 comments:
I am sorry that I can't get amped up by your write your letter to your congressman post. I also doubt I could ever feel the slightest temptation to vote for Harry Mitchell but I do manage to feel just slightly less likely to smack-talk Mitchell after he joined up with Ron Paul in attempting to keep Congressional salaries from getting far too high.
I truly think that this sort of issue is something most politically-aware people can find basic agreement on - while not all will agree to the 'rightness' of a stimulus package, most can, I think, agree on the need for safeguards in any package that does pass.
Contacting our Congresscritters is one of the available options, and it's a good one.
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