OUCH!

Representative Fitzpatrick should be hearing us scream.  Most of the half million voters in the 8th district are going to feel real pain on January 1.  His most recent newsletter has a lot of vague language about proposals that will “bring us together” as Americans, not “separate” us.  Apparently he means that the needs of the wealthy should not be separated from the needs of working stiffs.  If anybody on my street or yours is making more than $400,000 a year, the Republicans will save that group from tax grief.

Welcome to the Fitzpatrick Club. That would be the club that admits membership to those that “have” in the 8th District, especially the 100 business people that are supposedly in regular communication with Rep. Fitzpatrick, and the big contributors to congressional campaigns.  Wage earners, small business owners, women, single parents, retirees, you know who you are.  Actually, you are all my neighbors!  But there is no deal for us.

We sit here and helplessly watch as our so-called Representative and his “governing cronies” let the pay roll tax cut end, (which boosts pay by about $1000. a year for a household making $50,000 a year) and bids the end of federal unemployment benefits (more than 2 million people) by March of 2013.  There is more.  Do you have youngsters in college?  Some 25 million Americans will lose about 1000 a year in reduced educational benefits.  The child tax credit would be cut from $1,725. to $165. for single mothers working full time, just at the minimum wage.  Millions of people would be thrust into the Alternative Tax program, which is unfair at best, and scheduled cuts to the military (the dreaded “sequester”) will depress significant industrial and manufacturing suppliers everywhere, maybe even in the 8th.  According to all polls, nobody really thinks this is President Obama’s fault.  What do you think?  Mr. Obama has met the Republicans halfway and emerged with zero.  What on earth do the Republicans really want?  Do they really think that triggering a massive recession is the way to reduce government expenditures and “grow the economy”?  Maybe education is the answer.

Here is a list of Governing Lectures 101 that Mr. Fitzpatrick needs to attend.

1. How to call 15 other Republican Representatives to set up a working coalition and demand a compromise.
2. How to find all the people in his district that are affected by dramatic tax increases.  No credit for exaggerations or omissions.
3. How to select members of the 47%, provide no help to them, and reward millionaires who pay special attention to Republican Representatives.
4. What to do in a fiscal emergency.
5. Who to blame when the new recession hits.

Ann Melby Shenkle, Doylestown, PA.