I was just checking my email before going to bed when I read a mass email from my Senator, Bill Nelson (D-FL).
Dear Friends,
I spent most of August on a statewide tour of Florida so I could hear directly from residents and local officials about the issues that concern them most....
What infuriated me, and my response below the fold.
Dear Friends,
I spent most of August on a statewide tour of Florida so I could hear directly from residents and local officials about the issues that concern them most.
At these town hall meetings, many people expressed their frustration about the slow progress in making homeowners insurance both affordable and readily available. I've put forward a bill in the Senate to study the best way to tackle this and other issues related to relieving the burden on Florida homeowners. But while the federal government can play a role in this crisis, insurance companies are regulated by the state. I urge you to contact your state legislators and tell them we need quick action on this pressing issue.
In South Florida, I joined officials there to get a first-hand look at eroding portions of the Herbert Hoover Dike on Lake Okeechobee. Officials from the South Florida Water Management District told me they fear the dike may fail if the area is hit by a major storm. In Congress I'm pushing for the approval for more than $55 million to repair the dike. Meantime, I have been assured by the Army Corps of Engineers that it is working to stabilize it.
In Jacksonville, I met with Rob and Amy Bullock who bravely came forward to share their tragic loss and bring increased attention to the need for protections against hazardous toys from China. Last year, the Bullocks' two children were killed from carbon monoxide exposure that investigators linked to a toy plug-in disco light made in China--a country that produces an estimated 86 percent of all toys imported into the U.S. As the Bullocks' tragedy reveals, the safety net for children is full of holes, and our government isn't doing enough to close them. A bill I introduced in July would ban imported children's products if they aren't first tested and certified by an independent group. I'm hopeful cases like the Bullocks will spur the Senate Commerce Committee to quickly pass my bill so that it can come to a vote of the full Senate.
As we go back into session right after Labor Day, I'd like you to take a minute to fill out this comment form and tell me what you're most concerned about.
I'll read through your comments and post a sampling on my website in the next few weeks.
Home owner's insurance? Dikes? Imports from China? Those are the most important things facing America today?? He's a US Senator! He's a national representative and all he can talk about is local issues?? Does he realize which senate he's in?
Here's my response:
Dear Senator Nelson,
I'm glad to hear that you're concerned about local Florida problems, however it's quite disconcerting and infuriating that you make no mention of any of the biggest national issues on the table today.
Iraq - what do you plan to do to ensure that our brave men and women in uniform are safe? How can you let them sit as targets, in the middle of what has degraded into a civil war with both sides killing our troops? Do you support investigations into war profiteering by Halliburton, Bektell, and others? And now President Bush has just asked for another 50 billion dollars to waste in Iraq!
Provoking Iran - President Bush only yesterday gave a speech at 89th Annual National Convention of the American Legion, in which he beat the drum for war with Iran, and made statements that can only be construed as provoking Iran into action against us. Meanwhile, Bush has patently dismissed every overture by Iran at diplomacy, and earlier this week Iran agreed to allow IAEA inspectors access to their nuclear program. Is Iran the next Iraq? With tens of thousands of our service members just across the border in Iraq we're going to provoke military action by a country who DOES have weapons very capable of striking them?
National health care, or at least SCHIP - I think national health care would go a long way to making the US a more attractive to business, and take a huge burden off of small business, and struggling families. At the very least, how can anyone not support the expansion of SCHIP, guaranteeing health care to children.
New Orleans Reconstruction - While it's great to have procured money for local preventative measures. We are now, two years later, looking at a failure to rebuild, and again more corruption and profiteering by Halliburton, Bektell, etc. This massive failure does not exactly inspire confidence that should Florida suffer a devastating hurricane, we would receive aid. Are you telling us that all we can do is batten down the hatches and pray for the best?
Impeachment of Bush and Cheney - It's become apparent that the people of the US and it's representatives were lied into war in Iraq. A war that was then so badly mis-handled that thousands or our serving men and women have been killed, and billions of dollars have been wasted. This illegal war has also become a false reason for the administration to illegally spy on American citizens without warrants, detain citizens without habeas corpus, and to defy subpoenas from the Senate, and worst of all the torture of prisoners.
How do you feel about being lied to Mr. Nelson? How do you feel about the administration undermining your constitutional authority? How do you feel about allowing this administration to drag our great nation's name through the mud on your watch?
Again, I thank you for being aware of local Florida issues, however I think you're being disingenuous to your constituents by hiding behind them. Please don't insult us by dodging tough issues with local fluff.
Riles
(real name)
(real address)
Orlando, FL
Man, now I'm all worked up and I've got to try and get some sleep.
By the way; I've had Enough! haven't you?