Monday, September 6, 2010

Contacting congress about psoriasis funding...

After I looked at my psoriasis when I got home from camping..

      Well camping was pretty fun. I got completely shit-tanked for 3 days strait and ate a bunch of really shitty (health-wise, not taste-wise) food, as well as smoked some cigarettes, a couple bowls, and then topped it of with getting a few cuts while hauling huge logs out of the middle of the forest. Aside from a good workout, I don't think I could have done any MORE damage to my psoriasis than I did this weekend. Why do we love the things that hate us?? Do you ever get it where like a taste bud on your tongue goes rogue and like, torments you for like 4 days? I always get them when I do really stupid shit like smoking cigs and eating lays potato chips. Anywho, my birthday is coming up this Friday, aaaaand I don't think theres any escaping alcohol then, but other than that I'm back to working on healing my skin and not being such a healthless dipshit.

       In other news, I just got a lovely letter from Sarah Kofman, the Advocacy outreach manager at the National Psoriasis Foundation thanking me for joining. I sent a letter to Washington State congress member Rep. Dave Reichert asking him to maintain funding for the psoriasis patient registry. They make it a pretty brainless effort, giving you all the numbers/email addresses and an automated type form you just fill out and send along. If your interested in sending a letter to the elected officials in your state you can just go to this link and it will tell you easily how.

This is the (automated) response I got from Dave Reichert:


"Dear Mr. Hoover,
Thank you for contacting me to share your views on the Fiscal Year 2011 budget.  I appreciate knowing your thoughts on this issue and welcome the opportunity to respond.

As you may know, the President submits an annual proposal to Congress requesting funding allocations for programs administered by the federal government.  This proposal represents the President's recommendations for funding based on initiatives he hopes to undertake in the year ahead and on expenses necessary to keep the government running.  Upon receipt of the President's proposal, the House Budget Committee drafts a single resolution that incorporates the President's recommendations with those put forward by Members of Congress.  This resolution is brought before the full House for consideration, and its passage establishes the baseline figure that Congress uses to appropriate funds for individual programs and for how it intends to raise or lower taxes.

The President's budget is required by law to be submitted to Congress early in the legislative session. While the budget is only a request to Congress, the power to formulate and submit the budget is a vital tool in the President's direction of the executive branch and of national policy.  On February 1, 2010, the President submitted to Congress a $3.8 trillion budget for Fiscal Year 2011.  I am disappointed the President's budget drives spending to record levels, increases the nation's deficit to $1.6 trillion, and proposes to raise taxes by more than $2 trillion over the next ten years.

Specifically, the proposed budget would allow key tax cuts to expire.  According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), raising these taxes will negatively impact economic growth.  In the Administration's budget, income taxes are raised on individuals, families, and small businesses.  Even in spite of these proposed tax increases, the national debt, which CBO has noted can detract from economic growth, will continue to grow.  The CBO's analysis makes clear the disastrous consequences of economy-choking tax hikes.

Unfortunately, the House of Representatives has yet to consider a budget reconciliation for Fiscal Year 2011.  If the House fails to act, it will be the first time since 1974 that no guidance will be given on how taxpayer dollars are allocated.  Without this resolution, it is hard for Congress to have a serious discussion on reining in the deficit and turning around the economy.

I do believe there are many vital programs that must receive federal support.  Among them are important health programs, education projects, and community safety priorities.  But in these difficult economic times, the federal budget must be measured by its impact on job creation and economic recovery.  Federal spending and tax policies must be crafted in ways that get more Americans back to work.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to get in touch with me. Your interest and input are valued and I hope to hear from you in the future regarding other matters of importance.  I encourage you to visit my website and sign-up for my monthly e-newsletter at http://reichert.house.gov to learn more about other issues impacting the 8th Congressional District and our nation.  You can also follow my work online and receive frequent updates on legislation being considered in Congress by visiting me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/davereichert) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/repdavereichert). 

Sincerely,

David G. Reichert
Member of Congress"

I also got a "Psoriasis Action Network" sticker to put on the back on my explorer, yay.

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