Thursday's Internet Edition, September 09, 2010.
Tax, Borrow & Spend: Is not the answer to America's problems
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| Officials in Austin this week.... City, County and Hospital officials were in Austin this week to celebrate Culberson County Days at the State Legislature. The local leaders met with our State Senator Carlos Uresti and State Representative Pete Gallego while in Austin. The meetings centered on how the leaders could entice state officials to bring “stimulus” money to our county. Those pictured are (L to R) Tax Assessor/Collector Molly Hernandez, Mayor Ben Flanagan, Councilman Matt Molinar, representing the Hospital was John Clark, County Clerk Linda McDonald, County Commissioner Adrian Norman, Sheriff Oscar Carrillo, Senator Uresti, County Auditor Mark Cabezuela, County Judge Manuel Molinar, AgriExtension Agent Elaine Koch, and County Treasurer Susie Hinojos. (State photo) |
This is a time when middle-class Americans are looking to leaders in Washington for principled leadership, sound advice, and reassurance that there will be brighter days ahead. Unfortunately, Democrat leaders in Washington are leaving much to be desired.
Shortly after rushing a $1.1 trillion economic ‘stimulus’ plan through Congress, President Obama and Democrats hurried another massive spending bill—the $410 billion omnibus—past the American people. Both of these enormous spending bills were loaded down in wasteful spending and pet projects that will have no immediate, direct impact on the economy. In both cases, there was little to no bipartisan input and the bills were rushed through Congress, failing to give its members and the American people the time needed to carefully read through the hundreds of pages of taxpayer-funded measures.
The buck did not stop there. The President then announced his $3.6 trillion budget proposal, which would put more debt on the books than the previous 43 Presidents did— combined. It would double the public’s debt in five years and triple it in 10. Furthermore, in the last year of the President’s plan, taxpayers would be spending more on interest than on national defense. Ultimately, our children and our grandchildren will be asked to pay the bill – one they will inevitably not be able to afford. Simply stated, this budget spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows too much.
This week, Congressional leaders had the opportunity to produce a much leaner, more responsible budget. They could have used red ink the right way – to slash through reckless spending proposals and ensure taxpayer dollars were not being wasted. As a member of the Senate Budget Committee, I attempted to improve the budget through amendments to protect our children and grandchildren from inheriting massive amounts of debt, but unfortunately Democrats on the committee refused these common-sense measures.
Democrat leaders should have produced a budget that speaks to the economic challenges of today as well as the security of future generations. One that models the budgeting practices of families in Texas across the country who are cutting back on expenses and prioritizing their needs. One that supports—not burdens—small businesses, which are the top job creator in the country. And one that considers future generations and doesn’t carelessly pass onto them billions in IOUs.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment in this budget are the tax increases. This includes a proposal that moves us closer to a new national energy tax for every American who puts gas in a car, heats or cools a home, uses electricity to cook a meal, turns on the lights, or powers a computer. This broad tax could exceed trillions of dollars and could cost every Texas family up to $3,100 a year.
It includes raising taxes on small businesses. Small businesses generate two-thirds of our nation’s new jobs. Raising taxes on the most successful small businesses will result in more layoffs, and deter new investments across Texas. This is the wrong solution to jumpstarting our economy and growing jobs here at home.
The budget will also raise taxes on America’s energy producers. Here in Texas, we know that 90 percent of our nation’s wells are manned by small and independent businesses. These wells are critical to reducing our dependence on oil from unstable foreign nations. Doing away with tax incentives for independent energy producers will severely hinder domestic energy production and job creation. No one wants to see gas prices return to last summer’s highs, but if we tie the hands of our domestic producers, it will only be a matter of time before energy prices rise again.
The President and Democrat leaders cannot continue to tax, borrow and spend in hopes of reviving the economy. It’s time for these leaders to take a cue from families and business in Texas and across the country who are making the tough but responsible decisions to weather this economic storm and land on their feet.
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
Toni Torres cooked some of the best Mexican food around. Toni’s Place was a popular eating place for locals (especially the buffets) as well as people who visited our town from time to time and had heard of the little ‘out-of-the-way’ café known for its great Mexican food.
Toni is retiring after 35 years and moving to Odessa. On Tuesday of this week she served her last buffet to a crowd of people. It was a bittersweet occasion. Of course we are glad that Toni is going to get a much-deserved rest, but that delicious homemade food will be missed!
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While looking back to see what was happening in Van Horn 10 and 20 years ago, I found that there was lots of news the first three months of 1999 and 1989. Not all were good stories, but created lots of news.
Do you remember 10 years ago and the months preceding 1999 when Sheriff Glenn Humphries and the area drug task force made huge drug busts. As a result of those, some 46 of the 120 cases were being brought to pre-trail in February and March of 1999. Yes, that created quite a big story in the Advocate. Many had hoped that it would make a big difference in the drug business in our town. I’m not so sure it did, unfortunately.
Twenty years ago in 1989, and the preceding year, our town was going through one of the most divisive and ugliest times that I can ever remember in my 60 plus years here. If you were here at that time you know what I am talking about - the hospital controversy. It still brings back very bad memories because it saw our town so divided. Everyone was pretty much forced on one side or the other. Families were divided, churches members were divided, friendships were divided. Many resignations of hospital staff were happening and it was in danger of closing. It culminated (although the strife continued for months) with a hospital board election that May.
I guess it seemed such a big mess to me because of the newspaper’s responsibility in trying to cover something like this. I just hope that our town never goes through anything else like it. I’m continually grateful for the fact that our hospital did, in fact, survive, and is now seeing happier times, to say the least!
I did run across one bit of good news that happened 20 years ago in March. Five of our VHHS band members advanced to state competition in Solo & Ensemble. They were Richard Koehn, Becky McCutchen, Raquel Ramirez, Richard Torres and Ardra Morse
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“I wonder.......” How many times a day do you say that? Well, I say it a lot, so I’ve decided to include some of those ‘I wonders’ in my column from time to time. Maybe I’ll get some answers.
I wonder why ......grass grows so well in the cracks of our newly paved parking lot, yet requires so much water and fertilizer to grow in my yard.
I wonder........ how Angie and Marcial Gonzales were handling the pressure when their son was up to bat at last evening’s baseball game and we were in the bottom of the 9th inning and tied at 9 & 9 and desperately needing one run in to win the game. And I wonder how proud they must have felt when Marcial Jr. hit a long fly ball into right center field which allowed Alex Baca to run in from 3rd base.
I wonder.........why we haven’t heard much about county equipment and employees being used to help landscape the yard of a new home in town.
I wonder.........how long the Obama administration will be able to blame all their problems on the previous administration.
I wonder.........why plastic bags couldn’t be made of camouflage colors instead of white or yellow so that they wouldn’t show up so plainly caught up on hundreds of bushes and trees around town. Or maybe just why people don’t try a little harder to get them inside a dumpster and make sure the lid is closed.
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Motto To Live By....... Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, latte in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO, what a ride!”
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
April 2nd - The Van Horn High School One-Act Play cast will perform “Her Senior Year” this evening at 7 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are scheduled to meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse.
April 3rd - Nothing scheduled at press time.
April 4th - The Van Horn Eagle baseball team is scheduled to play Fabens here today beginning at 1 p.m.
April 5th - Attend the church of your choice.
April 6th - Nothing scheduled at press time.
April 7th - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are slated to meet today at noon at Chuy’s Restaurant. The Van Horn Eagle softball team is slated to play Marfa in Marfa today beginning at 4 p.m. The Van Horn Eagle baseball team will play the Marfa Shorthorns today in Marfa beginning at 5 p.m. Members of the Van Horn City Council are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
April 8th - Nothing scheduled at press time.