A very important amendment was added to the war supplemental bill that passed the Senate last week. The appropriations amendment, in essence, would allow those who are unemployed to continue receiving unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks. For states where unemployment is through the roof, the benefits were extended an additional 13 weeks – even better for Michigan, and specifically Michigan’s 12th district which suffers from a very high 10.4% unemployment rate.
As a candidate for congress, I would have voted for this legislation as well, because the people in our district are hurting – and the added benefits would help them get back on their feet, and sustain them while people look for new work and develop new skills over the course of a year. However, I do have a few problems with the legislation and the manner by which the democrats in the House and Senate moved this through.
First and foremost, why couldn’t this measure have passed by itself? Was it necessary to attach it to the war supplemental appropriations bill? I have a real problem with politicians who are always trying to piggy-back pork and pet projects onto other bills that are necessary and important, lowering the risk that they may be debated and even rejected in debate. To me, this process is dirty, and it needs to be cleaned up.
Why can’t politicians be honest, and simply have up and down votes? In fact, it is for reasons such as this that I support the line-item veto, because pork and pet-projects should not prevent national security, national defense, or other serious legislative issues from being moved through the political process. This would force our politicians to be more open and honest with the projects they are supporting, and make their voting and spending habits more transparent.
Even though the bill and amendment were good for America and Michigan, and quite necessary for the continued war in Iraq, there are two major issues that aren’t being addressed here. First, how is this being paid for? Did we discover gold under Capital Hill? We’re already in a huge deficit, and last time I checked, the budget was still unbalanced. We need to stop spending money we don’t have. The surge in Iraq has worked, and the top brass from Iraq have started talking about the very real possibility of being able to begin redeployment of troops after the current pause. We are beginning to see how the Iraqi government and military are able to stand their ground, and in the case of Sadr City, even recover and stabilize territories which were previously threatened. Once we begin to pull back in Iraq, we should see a tremendous reduction in the total monthly bill from the Iraq war, and perhaps we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. But until this happens, the federal government needs to show fiscal prudence and make cuts instead of expanding programs that we can’t afford to fund. Just as Americans cut back on travel due to high gas prices, the federal government needs to cut back because they have exceeded their credit limit. Someone needs to take away the national credit card and put Uncle Sam on an envelope budget system. When the money is gone, you stop indulging.
Perhaps the biggest concern I have with the amendment that provides the unemployed with extended benefits is that it isn’t fixing the problem. Thirteen weeks from now my neighbor who lost his job last week probably won’t be able to secure a new one. In fact, it may be pretty hard to be retrained or reeducated in a new trade and then secure a new job, probably at a lower starting salary, 52 weeks from now. In reality, this amendment is like putting a giant bandage on a patch of skin cancer, covering up the disease but not treating it. Because when the bandage wears out, the cancer will still be there, and will probably be worse.
Here’s what we need to do here in Michigan’s 12th. The person elected to Congress in our district needs to roll up their sleeves and get to work. I’m not talking about business as usual. We need something common in the business world, but severely lacking in Washington. Recruiting. Networking. Introductions. Generating referrals. It’s Marketing 101, folks. A representative in Congress has the unique opportunity to meet and influence people across the country, and around the world. Besides creating legislation, adding pork, and yelling across the isle at each other, why can’t a Representative serve as an extension of their district’s Chambers of Commerce? Why can’t a Representative do some networking, bringing business owners to the table, showcasing the thousands of trade workers who are trained and ready to work, and the hundreds of businesses who are geared up and ready to produce and manufacture products in near turn-key fashion?
Sander Levin was quoted as saying:
“I think it’s time for the minority and the president to get out of the offices they reside in and get into the shoes of typical American families… Opposition to extension of unemployment compensation is unconscionable.”
Perhaps it’s time for Sander Levin to get out of Washington for a while and work on bringing some real jobs back to this district.
The unemployment and poor business culture in our district is a cancer, and we can’t cover it up by throwing more money at it. We need to kill the cancer, and the only way we’re going to make that happen is by electing someone to office who has the ability and desire to go above and beyond the call of duty. They need to be ready to bring jobs to our district.
I’m ready to do just that. I’m an ambassador for a local Chamber of Commerce. I do marketing for a successful and growing business. My job is to generate and reciprocate referrals – creating a culture of growth and positive change through networking and building professional relationships. We don’t need any more run of the mill politicians who are going to simply show up and vote. We need to elect people of character who will work for the working class. I’m rolling up my sleeves. Let’s get to work.
My name is Bert Copple, and I’m ready to be your next Congressman.
HOPE. FAITH. CHANGE.
I need your help. Please visit our website and contribute to our campaign. Any amount you can give will help, and will be greatly appreciated.
