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...I belong to a support group for a bunch of folks with a debilitating pulmonary condition. One of our members wrote her congressman regarding the new Medicare coverage and the help she needs just to be able to breath.
The response she received from him was riling. She sent the response to the rest of us and asked what we thought.
Here is the congressman's letter:
Dear Ms. XXXXX:
Thank you for your recent letter. I always enjoy receiving mail from my fellow North Floridians on all matters of interest and concern.
The basic function of the federal budget process is supposed to be about identifying national priorities and ensuring those priorities are funded in a fiscally responsible manner. In my view, our nation should work to ensure that federal budgets strengthen our nation and promote economic growth.
Unfortunately, this year's budget reconciliation package does not put our nation on the right track. I strongly believe that in a time of war we need to make shared sacrifices in order to meet our nation's priorities. While this budget reduces federal spending by $42 billion it also reduces revenue by at least $56 billion. Adding at least $14 billion to the nation's massive $312 billion deficit is clearly a step in the wrong direction. That is why I could not support this legislation when it was presented to the House of Representatives.
Currently, Congress is at a stalemate on this issue. I will be carefully monitoring its progress and the programs that are affected by the decisions in both the House and the Senate. Thank you again for writing. Please continue to keep me informed regarding any other issue on which I can be of assistance. Additionally, I encourage you to visit my website www.house.gov/boyd for further topical issues and information.
Sincerely,
Allen Boyd Member of Congress ------------
My advice to her was:
What hits a politician where it hurts -- i.e., gets some kind of response -- is to threaten their re-election. They don't care about you, they care about keeping their seat at the feed trough.
Perhaps you should civilly inform this congressman that you will be making the particulars of your case and his callous response available to the media, any opponent that he has in the upcoming primaries and general election, the AARP and any other coalition for older Americans (because they not only care greatly about issues such as this, but also vote in higher-than-average numbers).
Make it sound as if your mind is made up in that regard and the wheels are already rolling. If he thinks you're not sure thus far, he will merely try to talk you out of it while actually doing as little as he can. Make him believe he has a lot to lose.
Don't turn into a raving lunatic, but be resolute that you are unhappy and are going to do whatever it takes to let his electorate know how he treated someone in dire need.
I wish you the best of luck as I love to see the powerful and arrogant humbled.
Any further advice from anyone here? I will certainly forward it along to her.
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