From: [t--m--r] at [cpqhou.sys.hou.compaq.com] (G. Thomas Rush)
Newsgroups: misc.invest,alt.politics.economics,sci.econ,misc.headlines,alt.rush-limbaugh,talk.politics.misc,tx.politics
Subject: Re: Push the Balanced Budget Amendment to your Senator!!!!!
Date: 19 Nov 93 16:39:33 GMT
[n--f--y] at [ornews.intel.com] (John Hagler) writes:
>Lets talk about the truth here. The reason spending keeps going up, up, up
>is because the US public all want the OTHER states to get off the FED gravy
>train. We want the other states to kick their congressmen out (that way ours
>doesnt lose seniority). No state has been willing to say "OK! We will be the
>examples! Cut the funding for that <insert Federal boondoggle here> that
>will lose us xxxx number of jobs! Lets oust our Senior congressman and get a
>new guy who wont buy into the status quo on Capital hill!". Lets face it
>if someone ran for office saying he was going to try to get the fed programs
>that benefit his state cut he wouldnt get anywhere. Everyone wants to cut the
>OTHER states bilking of the Federal cash cow while we keep right on sucking
>it dry. My opinion only.
Precisely.
That's why I started Not A Penny More -- a grassroots campaign to
get the Federal government to enact a spending freeze. There are
_at_least_ these benefits:
1) A spending freeze, unlike a balanced budget amendment,
won't put pressure on Congress to raise taxes -- they can't
spend any more money even if taxes do go up.
2) A spending freeze will force Congress to start making the
tough choices about which spending really is necessary -- and
many programs can surely be scaled back, if not dropped
entirely (see list above).
3) A spending freeze cuts _way_ down on the game-playing --
Congress can't shout that they are cutting one program, only
to whisper about the cost of the next program, which may be
five times as expensive.
4) A spending freeze need not be inflexible -- the one
proposed in Not A Penny More is a freeze on total Federal
spending -- Congress and the President still get to choose
how the money is divided among the various boondogg^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H
government programs.
5) According to President Clinton's _own_figures_, a spending
freeze shows a budget surplus in five years --we actually
start paying off this monstrous debt that soon!
I'm appending a copy of the Not A Penny More Q&A. If you're
concerned about the Federal debt and deficit, this is your chance
to do something about it. In 1993, Not A Penny More was very
successful in generating media coverage and a network of contacts,
despite starting very late in the game. Please read the Q&A, let me
know if you have any questions, and distribute this information to
any others you know who care about this country.
Note that I've set followups to talk.politics.misc.
=================================================================
Why "Not A Penny More?"
A collection of questions and answers about the Not A Penny
More Campaign
What is Not A Penny More?
Not A Penny More is a nationwide, grassroots, nonpartisan
effort designed to encourage Congress and the President to
enact a spending freeze. Not just a letter-writing
campaign, Not A Penny More is collecting individuals'
pledges to pay down the Federal debt, if a Federal spending
freeze is enacted and executed. Those pledges give
Washington a real benefit from a spending freeze, help Not A
Penny More gather attention, and serve to emphasize how
serious the pledgers believe the spending and deficit
problems are.
Why is a spending freeze important?
A spending freeze is the only way our country can hope to
get out of our debt and deficit problems. History shows
that government revenues will catch up with spending in
five to seven years if we hold spending constant -- and
that's without any tax increases!
A spending freeze forces our government to make the same
kind of choices that each of us makes when we figure our
budget: is this project important? If I want to do that,
which one of these will I have to give up? It means we will
finally get rid of some of the outdated, unproductive, and
counter-productive programs that the government started
decades ago. It means that government agencies, just like
businesses, will have to learn to find ways to do their work
more efficiently.
What about President Clinton's $250 billion in spending
cuts?
The White House boasts about the spending cuts, but it is
very quiet about new spending.
$250 billion in true spending cuts would be enough to nearly
balance the budget in any one year. President Clinton's
"cuts," however, are spread out over five years, and there
are major misrepresentations hidden in his proposal. $60
billion of the cuts come from the government financing the
debt at lower interest rates. $44 billion of the cuts were
already in the 1990 budget agreement. $15 billion in
"spending cuts" are increased user fees. The only major,
real cut seems to be $74 billion in military spending. Much
of the rest is cuts in the spending increases Washington had
hoped to get -- if only the defense cuts were matched by cuts
in other programs!
The worst problem isn't the deceptive proposed cuts, but
that President Clinton plans to increase spending by $62
billion in 1994 alone!
Won't tax increases on the rich balance the budget?
Even the Federal income tax itself was started as a
temporary measure to balance the budget, by taxing the rich.
Tax increases never have balanced the budget, and we are now
at the point where they can't.
Historically, Washington has spent at least $1.50 for every
dollar in new taxes. Spending cuts are always delayed, if
they happen at all. New programs are created, and old ones
grow.
In addition, our government has gotten so big that, in 1992
we could have taken every last penny of every person's
income over $200,000, and only run the country for 125 days.
There's just not enough money to do everything that the
wasteful Washington spenders want to do.
What about a National Lottery?
With Congress already working right now to approve $500 in
new spending per taxpayer, there is no way that a lottery
can be expected to raise enough money to make a dent in the
debt. Just to cover the new spending in 1994, every
taxpayer would have to buy over $1000 in lottery tickets!
Also, a lottery without a spending freeze will allow
Washington to spend the same $1.50 for each dollar of
lottery money as they do for each dollar of tax money!
What about President Bush's plan for a 1040 deficit
checkoff?
President Bush had proposed that taxpayers be given the
option of earmarking a portion of their taxes to debt
reduction. President Clinton has proposed the government
itself do something similar, through a debt-reduction
impound account.
Neither of these ideas mean anything without a spending
freeze. Every dollar that goes from one "bucket" into a
special "bucket" marked "debt reduction" just makes that
year's deficit one dollar larger, and leaves next year's
debt unchanged. Not A Penny More is the only plan that
addresses the outrageous spending increases (through a
spending freeze), the debt (through direct payments
earmarked for the debt), and the deficit, too (which will
end in five to seven years with a spending freeze alone).
All it takes is holding our elected officials to a spending
freeze. Not A Penny More is betting that, once we make them
do it the first time, we can make them do it again!
What do the pledges say and mean?
With Washington preparing to spend $500 more of your money
than they spent last year, it is critical that we clearly
say, "We're willing to beat the budget problems, but we know
we'll lose the fight unless there is a spending freeze."
The heart of the pledge says just that: "I pledge
$_________, to be applied to the Federal debt, payable if
you sign and execute a budget that spends Not A Penny
More...." The pledge goes on to set the base at fiscal
1993's originally authorized spending, to prevent Washington
from running an even bigger deficit just to increase the
base.
The pledges deliver a strong message to our elected
officials that we're not just whining, or expecting the debt
to be paid off by someone else. Pledgers feel so strongly
about our spending crisis that they are putting their money
on the line, and this is one of the biggest appeals of Not A
Penny More: time after time throughout history, we have seen
that people can not be stopped if they have an idea that is
right, and if they stand up with courage for their
convictions.
How do I know that the pledge money won't be misused?
All that Not A Penny More is asking for is a signed pledge
letter -- and a stamped, addressed envelope for any
correspondence. We do not want to be responsible for any
cash! You keep control of your money until you are
satisfied that the government has kept its part of the
bargain.
When you send your money to Washington, send it directly to
the US Treasury, with a note saying it is to be used to pay
off the National Debt. This will ensure that it will not be
used for any other purpose.
Why not Not A Penny More?
Everyone concerned about government spending, the debt, and
the deficit needs to sign a Not A Penny More pledge.
Some people worry that they might have to actually pay the
pledge -- but remember that Congress and the President are
going to sign a budget spending $500 - $650 more of your
money next year if you don't sign the pledge. And then
they'll do it again the next year, and the year after that.
We've all got to tell them Not A Penny More, and make it
stick.
What happens to the pledges if there is no spending freeze?
If there is no spending freeze, your pledge has committed
you to nothing. We'll come back and do it again next year,
with even more pledges and pledgers. We will likely ask
that you renew your pledge, but you will not be pressured to.
How will we know if there is a spending freeze?
In the case that a spending freeze has at least a chance of
passing Congress, it will be impossible to miss the news,
whether on TV, radio, or in the newspaper. At the end of
each fiscal year (September 30), the government begins to
balance its books, determining exactly how much it spent and
took in. When that process is complete (probably sometime
in 1995), we will notify you and ask that you make a check
out for the amount of your pledge, and to send it directly
to the US Treasury, earmarked for Federal debt reduction.
How can I make a pledge to Not A Penny More?
A sample pledge letter is attached to this fact sheet. Make
copies for your friends and families, and one for yourself.
Fill out your copy and send it (do not include money) to
your state contact or to:
Not A Penny More,
C/O Thomas Rush
PO Box 11110
Klien, TX 77391
If you'd like a response, please include a stamped,
addressed envelope.
Not A Penny More can work to shame Congress and our
President into enacting a spending freeze if you help.
Remember, their 1994 plan is going to authorize at least
$500 more spending for each taxpayer than planned in 1993.
You can let them spend that, or you can tell them, Not A
Penny More.
What else can I do to ensure Not A Penny More works?
This is a grassroots effort. Almost anything you do to
spread the word is helpful. Specific things you can do
include:
* Include a stamped, addressed envelope with your pledge,
and ask for the current press release. Once you get the
press release, send it and this Q&A sheet to local
newspaper and radio and television stations.
* Write letters to your newspaper. Call your news stations
and talk shows. Tell them you support Not A Penny More,
and why.
* Write the President and your Congressmen. Include a copy
of your pledge letter. Ask what they've done to enact a
spending freeze.
* Give copies of this information to your friends and
families. Collect their pledges, and send them to your
closest state contact.
Thank you. With your help, we will see a Not A Penny More
budget.
=======================================================================
Not A Penny More Campaign Pledge Letter
Please forward to your closest state coordinator via email or US Mail, or
mail to Not A Penny More, PO Box 11110, Klein, TX 77391
(by email: [t--m--r] at [cpqhou.compaq.com]).
Dear President Clinton:
I believe that the Federal debt is the most serious problem
facing this country today, and that the only way to control the
growth of the debt is to stop the growth of government spending in
actual dollars. We have all seen that cuts in projected spending
increases do not reduce the deficit.
How serious are you about deficit reduction and cutting spending,
Mr. President? I'm so serious that I hereby pledge $________________
to be applied to the Federal debt, payable in the event that you sign
a budget that spends Not A Penny More than the initial 1993 authorized
Federal expenditures.
Sincerely,
_________________________________________________ _________________
Signature Date
_________________________________________________
Name
_________________________________________________
Address
_________________________________________________
City, State, Zip
_________________________________________________
Telephone or electronic mail address
The National Coordinator of the Not A Penny More Campaign is
Thomas Rush (713) 259-0569
email: [t--m--r] at [cpqhou.compaq.com]
State Coordinators in the Not A Penny More Campaign are:
AL: Heath Goebel [c--n--z] at [dudemar.b24a.ingr.com]
312 Randolph Avenue
Huntsville, AL 35801 (205) 536-5698
CA Patrick May [m--y] at [apple.com]
(N): 307 Hershner Drive
Los Gatos, CA 95032 (408) 377-7458
or Bob Bickford email: [r--b] at [well.sf.ca.us]
43 Mohawk Avenue
Corte Madera CA 94925 (415) 927-4814
CA J.M. Ivler email: [i--l--r] at [ug.eds.com]
(S): 9051 Cerritos Ave
Anaheim, CA 92804 (714) 828-8489
CO: David Aitken [David Aitken] at [f418.n104.z1.fidonet.org]
1240 Ogden #4
Denver, CO 80218 (303) 831-4334.
DE: Richard B. Schwartzman email: [r--h] at [genie.slhs.udel.edu]
112 West Main Street
Newark, DE 19711 (302) 456-1437
FL: Jennifer O. Hassler email: [REDACTED] at [arms.uucp]
P. O. Box 12231
Gainesville, FL 32604 (904) 372-6043
IA: Allan Kirkhart email: [a--la--k] at [microware.com]
3000 University Avenue #52
West Des Moines, IA 50325 (515) 225-8663 x252
IL: Frank Pittel [f w p] at [fwpbbs.mcs.com]
108 N. Roy
Northlake Il. 60164 (708) 531-9340
MO: Jim Burnes email: [j--r--s] at [compusci.com]
530 Villa Garden
Kirkwood, MO 63122 (314) 821-0694
ND: Dwight Galster email: [g--s--r] at [plains.nodak.edu]
213 E Court, University Village
Fargo, North Dakota 58102 (701) 280-1630 (home)
(701) 237-8094 (office)
NM: David Christy email: [d c hristy] at [nmsu.edu]
511 Alumni Ave.
Las Cruces, NM 88003 (505) 645-3778
NY: William Kone email: [k--e] at [courier1.sha.cornell.edu]
128 Grandview Court
Ithaca NY 14850 (607) 272-0557
OH: Shefali Sanghani email: [s--a--g] at [teleng.eng.telxon.com]
1299 Linden Ave.
Akron, OH 44310 (216) 920-9611
PA: Monica Cellio email: [m j c] at [transarc.com]
7634 Westmoreland Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15218 (412) 271-5279
TX: Thomas Rush email: [t--m--r] at [cpqhou.compaq.com]
PO Box 11110
Klein, TX 77391 (713) 259-0569
VA, Frank Ney email: [c--a--r] at [highlite.gotham.com]
MD, Compuserve: 71005,2421
DC: PO Box 6354
Arlington VA 22206-0354 (703) 709-5324
WA: Tom Isenberg email: [t--m--s] at [microsoft.com]
2526 - 175th Ave NE
Redmond, WA 98052 (206) 936-7359
WI: Robert Hess email: [R--E--S] at [wisc.macc.edu]
1101 Chandler St #7
Madison, WI 53715 (608) 251-9520
WY: Rod Heil email: [a--z--h] at [uwyo.edu]
P.O. Box 335
Laramie, WY 82070 (307) 742-2921
[END]
--
thomas rush compaq computer corporation
[t--m--r] at [cpqhou.compaq.com] their employee, not their opinions.
It's time to tell President Clinton to cut spending _first_. Write him
at [P--i--t] at [WhiteHouse.Gov.] Please do it today (and tomorrow and...).