Uppity Wisconsin reports here on Patrick McIlheran. I smell a lot of hypocrisy from a guy who bashed public employees becoming one himself, and costing us taxpayers something around $100K a year. Also, as a former Journal Sentinel columnist, is McIlheran writing Johnson’s letters? I guess that’s really the job of some low level staffer or intern…but it’s kind of amusing to consider nonetheless.
Monthly Archives: December 2011
He really likes this Copenhagen Consensus Center…
On the second letter I received on June 3, 2011, Johnson again goes on about the CCC and about how awful the budget situation is. Much of this is recycled from earlier letters.
Here’s an interesting article from the Guardian about the kind of geo-engineering being promoted by people like the CCC (who has also garnered praise from Newt Gingrich).
Also, this editorial from the Guardian criticizes the way the CCC reduces everything to a number.
Of course, I also really appreciate (not) how every letter brags about his heavy workload responding to all those letters.
Dear ,
Thank you for contacting me in regards to foreign aid and the International Affairs Budget.
The International Affairs budget, which includes funding for the State Department and USAID, amounts to less than 1 percent of the total federal budget. I do believe international aid can promote the goals, objectives, and reputation of the United States around the world… saving money that otherwise might need to be spent on national defense. But it is critically important any funds that are sent overseas are done so in an efficient and effective manner. In order to do this, we must make sure the funding is audited and the money is spent utilizing basic business principles and controls.
Danish humanitarian Bjorn Lomborg organized the Copenhagen Consensus Center (CCC), a project that is dedicated to advancing global welfare. This organization has done an excellent job of analyzing where money can most effectively and efficiently be directed to alleviate human suffering. Its analysis can serve as a model for directing U.S. Foreign Aid efforts during this time of severe fiscal limitations.
Our nation’s fiscal situation is dire. This year alone, Washington will add $1.5 trillion to our nation’s debt, which currently totals $14.3 trillion. This mountain of debt threatens the hopes and dreams of future generations. It is immoral. It has to stop. I am willing to work with anyone in Congress who is serious about addressing the number one problem facing our nation.
Unfortunately, neither the Administration nor Democrats in the Senate have offered any serious budget proposal. President Obama’s budget for FY2012 would increase our already massive federal debt by $13 trillion over the next decade. This budget was defeated in the Senate by a vote of 0-97, which was a stunning repudiation of President Obama’s leadership on this issue.
The Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, has not passed a budget in over 750 days. This is irresponsible and puts our nation in fiscal peril. Until the President and Senate Democrats get serious, it will be very difficult to pass legislation that begins to put us on the path of fiscal responsibility.
The reality is that we must make tough choices regarding the continued funding of all programs and agencies within the Federal Government. It is important we take measures that force Washington to start the long overdue process of prioritizing spending.
I believe one of my most important duties as your Senator is to listen to the views of the citizens of Wisconsin and, in turn, communicate my views. I hope I have accomplished that with you.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your concerns with me on this issue. I apologize for any delay you have experienced in receiving this reply. Since taking office in January, my office has received over 160,000 pieces of correspondence. We are working hard to respond to your concerns in a timely manner. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff in the future to share your concerns, ideas, or opinions.
Sincerely,
Ron Johnson
United States Senator
Johnson supports Balanced Budget Amendment
Here is Ron Johnson’s letter of June 3, 2011, in which he expresses support for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the constitution. This proposal was defeated in November (if I remember correctly). He also wants to cap government spending. While I’m not against controlling government spending, I don’t agree with Johnson that any government spending is bad. I’m concerned that his route to controlling spending will undermine many important programs that reduce poverty, educate our children, and develop and maintain our infrastructure.
Dear ,
Thank you for taking the time to write me in regards to the federal budget and our nation’s fiscal health.
Our nation’s fiscal situation is dire. This year alone, Washington will add $1.5 trillion to our nation’s debt, which currently totals $14.3 trillion. This mountain of debt threatens the hopes and dreams of future generations. It is immoral. It has to stop. I am willing to work with anyone in Congress who is serious about addressing the number one problem facing our nation.
Unfortunately, neither the Administration nor Democrats in the Senate have offered any serious budget proposal. President Obama’s budget for FY2012 would increase our already massive federal debt by $13 trillion over the next decade. This budget was defeated in the Senate by a vote of 0-97, which was a stunning repudiation of President Obama’s leadership on this issue.
The Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, has not passed a budget in over 750 days. This is irresponsible and puts our nation in fiscal peril. Until the President and Senate Democrats get serious, it will be very difficult to pass legislation that begins to put us on the path of fiscal responsibility.
On April 15th, I voted against the Continuing Resolution that supposedly cut $38 billion dollars in spending, a small fraction of this year’s shortfall of $1,500 billion. It was simply was not adequate in addressing the problem. Today, the federal government consumes almost 25% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). To tackle our debt and deficit, we must limit the size, scope and cost of government.
Unlike most states, the Federal government is not required to balance its budget. I believe a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution would help bring fiscal discipline to Washington. We must also control the size of government by limiting federal spending to a percentage of our economy. I recently co-sponsored the CAP Act of 2011 that would establish spending caps to limit spending to a percentage of GDP.
These measures will require us to make tough choices and force us to prioritize spending for the first time in decades. It will not be easy, but it is necessary.
I believe one of my most important duties as your Senator is to listen to the views of the citizens of Wisconsin and, in turn, communicate my views. I hope I have accomplished that with you.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your concerns with me on this issue. I apologize for any delay you have experienced in receiving this reply. Since taking office in January, my office has received over 160,000 pieces of correspondence. We are working hard to respond to your concerns in a timely manner. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff in the future to share your concerns, ideas, or opinions.
Sincerely,
Ron Johnson
United States Senator
Johnson’s Office Hours
So you can tell Senator Johnson’s staff what you think of him!
U.S. Sen. Johnson: Announces mobile office hours
12/6/2011
Mary Vought: (202) 228-6956 or Brian Faughnan: (202) 228-1733
For Immediate Release
December 6, 2011
Oshkosh, Wisconsin – Senator Ron Johnson (WI) announced today that his staff would be available for mobile office hours at the dates and locations listed below. These office hours allow constituents to meet with the Senator’s staff to request assistance with a federal agency, or regarding other federal matters.
BP Oil Spill – May 16, 2011
This letter mainly annoys me because Senator Johnson never says what role, if any, he played in the efforts “to improve drilling safety and prevent future disasters.” Also, he clearly supports further drilling for oil and never mentions development of renewable energy sources, which I suspect I asked about when I wrote him (although I can’t be sure because I didn’t save the letter since at the time I had never imagined blogging. I’m documenting my current letters to Johnson much more faithfully).
Dear ,
Thank you for your letter regarding last year’s BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. One of the outcomes of the oil spill is a renewed effort to improve drilling safety and prevent future disasters.
For example, a new private safety institute, the Center for Offshore Safety, was launched in March and is modeled on those used by the nuclear and chemical industries. Industry groups have also developed systems to cap out-of-control wells in the event of another incident.
The regulatory system has also been reformed. A new agency, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) replaced the Minerals Management Service (MMS). Today, the revenue-collection functions are now separate from the safety regulators.
Despite these positive steps, the Administration has not fully re-opened the Gulf to energy exploration and drilling. With $4 per gallon gasoline, we must continue to develop our national energy resources and do it safely. I believe that safe and effective drilling is essential to our economic security.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your concerns with me on this issue. Should these matters come before the Senate for a vote, I will take your views into consideration.
I believe one of my most important duties as your Senator is to listen to the views of the citizens of Wisconsin and, in turn, communicate my views. I hope I have accomplished that with you.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your concerns with me on this issue. I apologize for any delay you have experienced in receiving this reply. Since taking office in January, my office has received over 120,000 pieces of correspondence. We are working hard to respond to your concerns in a timely manner. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff in the future to share your concerns, ideas, or opinions.
Sincerely,
Ron Johnson
United States Senator
Letters from Ron 