A message from Congressman Joe Walsh:
As your Congressman, my top priority is to ensure your opinions are heard in our nation's capital. Your ideas, thoughts and suggestions are invaluable as I work to address the issues confronting us in Congress.
Please join me at this Town Hall Meeting for a chance to share your thoughts on jobs, the economy, health care, and spending - nothing is off limits. My staff and I are here to serve you; please let us know how we can.
The town hall will be this Thursday, February 24th from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at
Harper College - Wojcik Conference Center
1200 W. Algonquin Road
Palatine, IL. 60067
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Dear John
“May you live in interesting times” is an old Chinese curse that many would say is happening now. If you think the world and national news does not affect you personally, that might be a mistake. I just came across a postcard from a tourist in Germany it reads:
“Dear John, Have had a nice trip so far. Good weather and good conditions otherwise. It does not look like war here.
Regards, Bill”
The postcard is dated 8/20/1939 and about 3 weeks later war broke out in Europe. World War II inflamed the world, killed millions, and touched everyone living in some way.
Today we have riots in Greece, strikes and protests in England, Government overthrow in Egypt, riots & bloodshed in other Middle East countries, back at home the Federal government is in more debt than it has ever had. Our own State government is deep in debt and only thinks of taxing and spending its way out.
Too many of us watch TV shows, ballgames, play video games, or just busy earning a living and taking care of the family to pay attention to world and national news. Most of our fellow citizens think there is nothing they can do that would change these problems that will not really touch their lives anyway.
Years from now will someone find another note from Bill to John today mentioning that everything looks good and there is no sign of trouble.
We can and must get involved, contact your representative in Congress and your representative in Springfield and tell them what you and your community needs.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
More Taxes
The State Legislature has been working on increasing the state income tax and the sales tax on cigarettes. I did not see it mentioned about cutting spending. They claim that most of the income tax increase will be temporally, but twice before the Legislature has raised taxes only temporarily and the taxes are still with us. They raise taxes and increase spending, then expect us to pick up the tab.
The economy of our State is at a disadvantage, the State Capital raises taxes while our neighboring states welcomes businesses and consumers from Illinois trying to escape higher Illinois taxes. Our State is broke and all the Democratic controlled Legislature can come up with is to raise taxes.
When will the day come when this State starts to have a government that watches over the assets of the people and stops treating tax dollars as something that must be disposed of in the best manner they see fit?
The economy of our State is at a disadvantage, the State Capital raises taxes while our neighboring states welcomes businesses and consumers from Illinois trying to escape higher Illinois taxes. Our State is broke and all the Democratic controlled Legislature can come up with is to raise taxes.
When will the day come when this State starts to have a government that watches over the assets of the people and stops treating tax dollars as something that must be disposed of in the best manner they see fit?
Sunday, January 2, 2011
A New Year and New Opportunities
2011 promises to be an interesting year.
In the 8th Congressional District in 2010, we voted for "change" and to move in a new direction. I hope it is "change" we can count on, not the status quo.
Expectations are too high and accountability will be at the forefront of the voters.
First on the agenda - stop the spending. There is no reason spending has to be increased over the prior year just because the prior year's budget was used up. In a lot of cases, the budgets are used up so they don't lose the money going forward. If they have to find ways to use the money at the end of the year, guess what....they don't need all of the money they already have in their budget, let alone an increase.
Not only should spending increases be stopped, spending should be cut. Across the board cuts. It's not an easy decision, and I don't envy our new Congressman for having to make them. The bottom line is that we don't have choices in our homes when revenue slows down, we must cut our own spending.
We EXPECT Congress to act responsibly and do the same. We do not expect anything less than what we must do in our own homes. In fact, we expect them to do it in the "People's House".
Next up on the agenda - Obamacare. Defund, repeal, and replace are all musts. Taking a step back and looking at the make up of Washington D.C., we see a Republican House, a Democratic Senate and a Democratic Executive Branch.
Reality would say that the President will veto any repeal of his signature legislation, Obamacare. Unfortunately this is probably accurate, so we must continue to pressure ALL Congressmen and Senators to defund this slap in the face to the American people.
Only by defunding it can we hit the pause button. We will not be able to rewind this tragic bill unless we make changes in 2012. But those changes MUST start now. The Republicans in Congress must understand that they were the lesser of two evils in November's elections, not the choice many would make if given a more viable option.
Next on the agenda must be tax cuts. Holding the tax rates stable from 2001 and 2003 tax changes is not sufficient. A 2 year temporary hold on the tax rates only provides stability for Congress and Washington, D.C.
2 years is not a long-term solution to the joblessness, the economic rebound, or growth and entrepreneurship in the coming years. Anytime someone starts a business, there is budgeting and forecasting for the short-term, 1-5 years, and the long-term, 5-10 years or longer.
How can anyone budget and forecast anything when rates are unstable? Not only individual tax rates, but corporate tax rates. People are taxed at the corporate level, then taxed at the individual level, then taxed again on their discretionary income through sales tax, use tax, etc.
Finally, people are taxed again when they die. They are taxed again on all of the things they have already been taxed on TWICE while they were living.
Is taxing more stimulative? It only serves to fill the pockets of the out 0f touch politicians in Washington D.C. and in Springfield.
We, as the citizens of the 8th District, MUST pay attention to what the politicians are doing. We MUST hold them accountable, and we MUST be VOCAL. This is the only way they will know we are watching them. It is the only way to remind them that they work for us, not that we work to pay their salaries.
2011 promises to be an interesting year. We must not yield, we must not let up, and we must keep going.
If we don't, who will be to blame?
We, The People will be.
In the 8th Congressional District in 2010, we voted for "change" and to move in a new direction. I hope it is "change" we can count on, not the status quo.
Expectations are too high and accountability will be at the forefront of the voters.
First on the agenda - stop the spending. There is no reason spending has to be increased over the prior year just because the prior year's budget was used up. In a lot of cases, the budgets are used up so they don't lose the money going forward. If they have to find ways to use the money at the end of the year, guess what....they don't need all of the money they already have in their budget, let alone an increase.
Not only should spending increases be stopped, spending should be cut. Across the board cuts. It's not an easy decision, and I don't envy our new Congressman for having to make them. The bottom line is that we don't have choices in our homes when revenue slows down, we must cut our own spending.
We EXPECT Congress to act responsibly and do the same. We do not expect anything less than what we must do in our own homes. In fact, we expect them to do it in the "People's House".
Next up on the agenda - Obamacare. Defund, repeal, and replace are all musts. Taking a step back and looking at the make up of Washington D.C., we see a Republican House, a Democratic Senate and a Democratic Executive Branch.
Reality would say that the President will veto any repeal of his signature legislation, Obamacare. Unfortunately this is probably accurate, so we must continue to pressure ALL Congressmen and Senators to defund this slap in the face to the American people.
Only by defunding it can we hit the pause button. We will not be able to rewind this tragic bill unless we make changes in 2012. But those changes MUST start now. The Republicans in Congress must understand that they were the lesser of two evils in November's elections, not the choice many would make if given a more viable option.
Next on the agenda must be tax cuts. Holding the tax rates stable from 2001 and 2003 tax changes is not sufficient. A 2 year temporary hold on the tax rates only provides stability for Congress and Washington, D.C.
2 years is not a long-term solution to the joblessness, the economic rebound, or growth and entrepreneurship in the coming years. Anytime someone starts a business, there is budgeting and forecasting for the short-term, 1-5 years, and the long-term, 5-10 years or longer.
How can anyone budget and forecast anything when rates are unstable? Not only individual tax rates, but corporate tax rates. People are taxed at the corporate level, then taxed at the individual level, then taxed again on their discretionary income through sales tax, use tax, etc.
Finally, people are taxed again when they die. They are taxed again on all of the things they have already been taxed on TWICE while they were living.
Is taxing more stimulative? It only serves to fill the pockets of the out 0f touch politicians in Washington D.C. and in Springfield.
We, as the citizens of the 8th District, MUST pay attention to what the politicians are doing. We MUST hold them accountable, and we MUST be VOCAL. This is the only way they will know we are watching them. It is the only way to remind them that they work for us, not that we work to pay their salaries.
2011 promises to be an interesting year. We must not yield, we must not let up, and we must keep going.
If we don't, who will be to blame?
We, The People will be.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Congressman Joe Walsh will be holding town hall meetings
Dates, times, and locations for the remaining town halls are below.
Lake Zurich
Sunday, December 12 12:00-1:30 PM
Lake Zurich Police Department
200 Mohawk Traill
Lake Zurich, IL
Sunday, December 12 12:00-1:30 PM
Lake Zurich Police Department
200 Mohawk Traill
Lake Zurich, IL
McHenry
Monday, December 13 7:00-8:30 PM
McHenry West High School
4724 West Crystal Lake Road
McHenry, IL
Monday, December 13 7:00-8:30 PM
McHenry West High School
4724 West Crystal Lake Road
McHenry, IL
Schaumburg
Tuesday, December 14th 7:00-8:30 PM
Schaumburg Township Center
1 Illinois Boulevard
Hoffman Estates, IL
Tuesday, December 14th 7:00-8:30 PM
Schaumburg Township Center
1 Illinois Boulevard
Hoffman Estates, IL
Gurnee
Thursday, December 16 7:00-8:30 PM
Gurnee Villlage Hall
325 North Oplaine Road
Gurnee, IL
Thursday, December 16 7:00-8:30 PM
Gurnee Villlage Hall
325 North Oplaine Road
Gurnee, IL
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Don't Worry Raise Taxes
The Illinois Senate today voted to ban caffeinated alcoholic beverages, a move aimed at halting sales of a drink combination that critics contend can spur people to drink to dangerous levels. The measure would prohibit the production, manufacture and distribution of such products.
Meanwhile, a plan in the House to allow for smoking on casino gambling floors has stalled and also wouldn’t be eligible for more debate until next year.
The House adjourned its scheduled session Wednesday and isn’t expected to return until early January.
I have not heard about any plan to reduce the State debt or start paying off the very long back log of overdue bills. But our lawmakers seem to have more important things to worry about then whether the State of Illinois will go bankrupt or not. Maybe they know all they have to do is raise our taxes high enough and they will have more money to spend.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Is it Budget time yet?
Same-sex couples are one step closer to having the option of civil unions, the bill has passed in the House and will now go on to the Senate for almost sure approval.
A House committee approved a bill that would abolish the death penalty in Illinois.
The state has not used the death penalty since former Gov. George Ryan called for a moratorium in 2000.
No news yet on the State Budget. The current State Legislature has a lot on its plate, maybe too much for it to deal with an unbalanced state budget. Doctors, hospitals, health care centers, and other private companies have past due bills that are several months old, that Illinois cannot pay. All these people must wait for their money until more important business is taken care of first.
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