- Protecting our borders: Of course the terrorists will try to
attack us again. I believe the war in Iraq has not only helped the
terrorists attract more militants but also has reduced our ability to
afford the necessary protections, like inspecting more than a few
percentage of the containers arriving at our ports, tracking
foreigners entering our country, and developing detectors for liquid explosives.
We have had many months to implement a program for tracking foreigners entering
our country but have failed to do so. We did have a program to
develop detectors for liquid explosives. But, the funding for the program was
reduced.
- Katy Freeway: If "the freeway reconstruction is fully funded
with local dollars", why is a federal Congressman spending his time and
effort trying to influence a local issue? Why is he not concentrating his time on federal
issues, such as implementing a program for tracking foreigners?
- Nonessential federal spending: I have understood that this
Congress has authorized more pork than any previous Congress. Per the
Congressional Budget Office, discretionary spending has increased more
than inflation each year Mr. Culberson has been in office. (See table.)
Re Mr. Culberson?s claim of "voting against massive new programs":
- Medicare Prescription Drug Bill, HR 1 in the 108th Congress per Mr. Culberson's office personnel.
Roll Call No. 332 shows that Mr. Culberson voted for the bill as it was
crafted in the House. He voted against in Roll Call No. 669 when the
House voted on the Senate version. I believe both versions were
estimated at $400b.
- No Child Left Behind, HR 1 in the 107th Congress per
Mr. Culberson's office personnel. Roll Call No. 145 shows that Mr.
Culberson voted for the bill as it was crafted in the House. He voted
against in Roll Call No. 497 when the House voted on the Senate version.
Per the Congressional Budget Office
(CBO)
| Fiscal year |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
| Discretionary Spending |
612 |
652 |
734 |
825 |
888 |
961 |
$billion |
| Dollar growth |
|
40 |
82 |
91 |
63 |
73 |
$billion |
| Percent growth |
|
+6.5 |
+12.6 |
+12.4 |
+7.6 |
+8.2 |
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act,
HR 1 in the 108th congress, roll call 332 out of House, roll call 669 on final bill as approved by Senate.
For viewing the status of the legislation, including roll calls, please click here
No Child Left Behind Act,
HR1 in 107th congress, roll call 145 out of House, roll call 497 on final bill as approved by Senate.
For viewing the status of the legislation, including roll calls, please click here
top of page.
Note re flu shots:
The administration is saying there is no rush to get the shots.
However, I heard a doctor on the News Hour say 90 million people satisfy the selection criteria. He said the sole supplier is able to supply 55 million flu shots.
|
