Congressman Brian Baird

I must admit, I do like Congressman Brian Baird.  I've even voted for him, even though he's a Democrat.  I guess we all can't be perfect, I have my character flaws, he has his. :)

But take a look at this letter I got from him today:

Dear Neighbor:
In a time when Americans are struggling to balance their budgets, feed their families, and pay skyrocketing energy and health care bills, it is imperative that Congress crafts a budget that will fulfill its commitment to the American people while restoring fiscal responsibility.
As a member of the House Budget Committee, I joined Chairman John Spratt last week in securing major priorities in the House Budget that will provide tax relief for millions of American families, increase funding for efficient and renewable energy programs, and include robust defense funding to keep America safe.
The House Budget Resolution that passed yesterday included funding for key programs and priorities in Southwest Washington:

• Extension of Sales Tax Deduction. As a champion of extending the sales tax deduction, I was successful in securing an extension of the sales tax deduction in the House Budget that will provide tax relief for millions of taxpayers, including residents in Southwest Washington.
• Secure Rural Schools Program. I helped secure vital funding for the Secure Rural Schools Program, while allowing for the reauthorization of the program. The Secure Rural Schools program, which passed in 2000 with my support, allows counties to receive federal financial assistance based on the average of the top three annual revenues they received from timber harvest on federal lands from 1985 to 1999.
• Law Enforcement Funding to Fight Meth. I helped secure funding for the Byrne JAG program and the Community Oriented Policing (COPS) program in the House Budget. The President’s FY09 budget proposed to eliminate these two programs. The House Budget restores funding for these programs that help local law enforcement officials fight methamphetamine in Southwest Washington and across America. As co-founder of the Congressional Caucus to Control and Fight Methamphetamine, I will continue to fight for funding that will make sure local law enforcement agencies have the tools they need to fight meth.
• Math and Science Education Initiatives. As Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, I fought to include funding for programs under the America COMPETES Act, bipartisan legislation that passed last year in order to ensure our competitiveness in the global economy.
  Please click here to view video of me urging House members to support these vital educational programs on the House floor.
• Career and Technical Education loans. As co-founder of the Career and Technical Education Caucus, I was instrumental in securing funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Program.
• Forest Service Funding. I pushed for an increase in funding for the U.S. Forest Service that was included in the House Budget. I also added language to the Budget that calls on Congress to recognize the impact fire suppression costs have had on the Forest Service’s budget and to help find solutions that will address how to offset these additional costs.
• National Park Service Funding. I helped secure critical funding for the National Park Service and worked to include a provision allowing for passage of legislation to implement the National Park Centennial Initiative.
• Mental Health Parity legislation. As a former health care professional, I have strongly supported legislation to ensure mental health parity. I strongly advocated for the inclusion of language in the House Budget that sets aside funding for the enactment of a mental health parity bill. Last week, the House of Representatives passed The Paul Wellstone Mental Healthy and Addiction Equity Act of 2007, (H.R. 1424), a bill that I cosponsored and have strongly supported.

I will continue to work with the Budget Committee and in Congress to ensure that the needs of Southwest Washington residents are being met. I strongly believe that the FY 09 Budget Resolution passed by Congress today will provide for the needs of Americans, put us back on the path to fiscal responsibility, and promote economic growth.

Sincerely,

Brian Baird
Member of Congress

The guy talks about "fiscal responsibility" yet, all he talks about is him getting more funding for more things.  No where in this letter is him saying "I cut X worth of fat out of the budget, saving you Y amount of money".

If you want to be "fiscally responsible" you HAVE to cut spending.  It's as plain and simple as that, and unfortunately, even the guy I voted for, doesn't seem to get it, or even at least MENTION it.

 

Travis

travis@rightwinglunatic.com