Latest Answers

Latest Answers http://askyourlawmaker.org/answers/latest/%2A/2/%2A/%2A a view of answers sorted by date en There’s actually been a misconception throughout the country that members of Congress do not get social security.  The fact of the matter is members of Congress do get Social Security and we’ve had a debate in this country as people know over the future direction of that program.  My view is that it has been one of the most successful programs coming out of the post depression era, trying to make sure that the senior citizens in this country have dignity in retirement, have a source of income during their retirement, at least something they can depend on and that’s why it’s so important to maintain that a guaranteed Social Security and why many of us were extremely nervous President Bush’s proposal to privatize at least a component of Social Security.  And I think as you look at what’s happening in the financial markets today and stock prices, if you had a significant of your retirement, including your Social Security invested in the stock market and you were coming to your retirement period right now, you would really find yourself in a bind because the value of your retirement would have plummeted in recent weeks and that is why its so important that we maintain the security in Social Security. http://askyourlawmaker.org/answers/%2526lt%3Bp%2526gt%3Bthere%2526amp%3Brsquo%3Bs-actually-been-misconception-throughout-country-members-congress-d Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:07:48 -0500 Whitney J 1702 at http://askyourlawmaker.org I guess I need to really look at that. That’s an interesting idea. I’m not gonna respond to that until I see whether there is any efficacy to what the person is saying, but that’s an interesting idea. I am convinced that one of the things that is necessary with social security is to make sure we stop raiding the fund first of all. And secondarily we need to allow people some flexibility, because there are only three ways to affect the ultimate pay out. That is either pay more in, or take less out, or do something different with the investment mechanism of what’s put in. And for me that is where we have overlooked the big issue is that third one. You know, social security, as an investment, is paying like less than 1% return; its just not a good return. And we need to try to latch on to the economic strength of the country to help fund retirement. Reporter: You know politics, you know Washington, do you feel like there is enough political will to tackle this issue? Franks: Without sounding arrogant, I will try to vote for what I think is the right thing, including something like this, if I thought it was the right thing, if we can get a fair vote, which is always the challenge.” http://askyourlawmaker.org/answers/i-guess-i-need-really-look-.-%E2%80%99s-interesting-idea.-i%E2%80%99m-not-gonna-respond-until-i-see-whether- Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:19:52 -0500 Matt Laslo 1663 at http://askyourlawmaker.org The Fair Tax to me is interesting because it really encourages savings and investment and only taxes you on what you consume. The issue that is difficult is how you get from here to there. I mean we have people all across our country that deduct home mortgages, that stimulated obviously people buying and affording homes. So there are a number of components that I think need to be looked at in detail. But in general, in our state, the state of Tennessee, has something similar. I mean we have a sales tax in Tennessee, we don not have an income tax, our citizens like that. I personally like that? Matt Laslo: Would you ever vote for it and do you think your colleagues would? Sen. Corker: I would. I am actually very warm towards the idea. There are some pieces of it, again I go back to the home mortgage deduction, and there are things like that that have been real drivers of our economy in other ways… people making investments in their home. I don’t know. Its certainly, Governor Huckabee has made a big deal about that in the campaign. He’s generated a lot of support. But again, looking here at policies that make our country stronger, I think encouraging people to save and invest is a good thing and certainly the Fair Tax does that. http://askyourlawmaker.org/answers/fair-tax-me-interesting-because-it-really-encourages-savings-and-investment-and-only-taxes-y Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:20:37 -0600 1136 at http://askyourlawmaker.org You may see immigration reform come through in pieces. I think we’re going to have to have a legal channel to meet the demands for labor in this country. At the same time security at the border is important. We share this border, we share the problem and we share the responsibility of securing the border on both sides. http://askyourlawmaker.org/answers/you-may-see-immigration-reform-come-through-pieces.-i-think-we%E2%80%99re-going-have-have-legal-chan Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:56:13 -0600 1097 at http://askyourlawmaker.org The first thing is we do have to have border security. The right type of border security; Will that stimulate the economy building the fence?...I’m against the fence. If you’ve going to spend $3 million a mile there are other ways, using technology, getting rid of the Carrizo, the plants that grow so high that border patrol can’t do their jobs. Our economy does depend on people doing certain type of jobs. I would say first, give them to the Americans, but if you have ag products or construction or hotel industry jobs that people don’t want to do those jobs, let someone else do it. http://askyourlawmaker.org/answers/first-thing-we-do-have-have-border-security.-right-type-border-security%3B-will-stimulate-econ Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:49:06 -0600 1093 at http://askyourlawmaker.org We not only have a right we have a responsibility that American immigration is not first good for America and second good for the immigrant. Usually it’s good for both. There is a legitimate argument that I don’t think people talk about. Every community is concerned about how many people are moving in and the impact on roads and everything else. These are the kind of open and frank discussions that we should encourage without being attacked for the dialog and going back and forth. In reality, the strain on infrastructure puts a burden on working class poorer neighborhoods, not the wealthy neighborhoods that are benefiting from this increase in population. http://askyourlawmaker.org/answers/we-not-only-have-right-we-have-responsibility-american-immigration-not-first-good-america-an Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:29:06 -0600 1083 at http://askyourlawmaker.org Well, I think that we do need to reduce the influence of lobbyist on the electoral process and on the hill, in terms of increasing transparency, prohibiting lobbyist from winning and dining members of Congress, reducing travel. Common Cause, Public Interest, other groups, other public watch dog groups, hailed it as a landmark piece of legislation. It dramatically limits the influence of lobbyist in terms of their winning and dining of legislators, no traveling with lobbyist. It sets up some very important firewalls in the process. I do believe that we need to go farther with respect to campaign finance reform. And I believe we should have a system where there is much more of a public funding component to reduce the influence of money generally. http://askyourlawmaker.org/answers/well%2C-i-think-we-do-need-reduce-influence-lobbyist-electoral-process-and-hill%2C-terms-increas Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:57:00 -0600 1077 at http://askyourlawmaker.org We desperately need to get funding to the military such that they don’t lose a step. Because they are succeeding in the goals laid down militarily, not politically, but that’s not their responsibility. – excuse me let me finish. So we don’t want them to lose a step, but clearly the future course of this operation in Iraq we have to revisit where the political structure is or is not. http://askyourlawmaker.org/answers/we-desperately-need-get-funding-military-such-they-don%E2%80%99t-lose-step.-because-they-are-succeed Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:52:07 -0600 988 at http://askyourlawmaker.org