The House of Representatives in Washington recently passed legislation reducing members office budgets by $35 million dollars or 5 percent.
This symbolic effort has little impact on our $14 trillion long-term debt, though it does set an example for others to follow. If the proposed new budget for Federal Fiscal Year 2011 was returned to 2008 spending levels and combined with a 5 percent across the board department by department cut, – we would save hundreds of billions.
The vote cut across party lines with 410 in favor and only 13 opposed.
How disappointing to learn that our Congress member Gary Ackerman was one of the greedy 13 voting no. Ackerman refused to go along with the rest of Long Island and virtually all of the New York City congressional delegation in supporting this legislation. Ackerman continues to believe that he deserves both his pay and that of his staff for all the great work they do representing constituents. Regardless of a public official’s party affiliation, voters are entitled to constituent services. Taxpayers are paying for district offices and staff to provide this basic function. Can anyone identify any other local elected official who does any less than Ackerman?
Perhaps Ackerman forgot that both he and his staff were not drafted for their jobs. If he or any of his staff don’t like their respective work-place conditions, they are free to resign and move on. He should allow his constituents to show him the door on the way out. Ackerman voted for several trillion dollars worth of stimulus, various bail out proposals and other increases in spending under President Obama.
Combined, they have contributed to increasing our long term deficit by $3 trillion dollars from $11 to $14 trillion today. These expenditures violated commitments by President Obama, former Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressmember Ackerman to approve only “Pay As You Go” spending.
Today, despite all of these expenditures, almost 10 percent of Ackerman’s constituents, including my wife, are still looking for work.
Ackerman’s constituents don’t share many of the perks that members of Congress and their staff take for granted. Federal civil servants have accepted wage freezes. They can’t accept meals, gifts or trips from lobbyists and vendors. They aren’t allowed to accumulate frequent flyer mileage traveling first class or on military jets for so called “fact-finding” missions around the world, commonly known as “junkets”. Government employee jobs are legally classified as full time unlike public officials who are classified as “part time.”
This affords members of Congress far more opportunities to double dip and hold down second jobs. On average, members of Congress earn twice the salary of constituents they represent. Everyone knows about the hours, salaries and perks that members of Congress enjoy. This also includes staff to chauffeur them around Washington and in their home districts. Many members of Congress retire and relocate to the infamous K Street becoming lobbyists. Most retiring members of Congress have “golden” parachutes” and go on to enjoy the good life. I’m not aware of any former Congress members having problems meeting household bills or collecting food stamps.
Why doesn’t Ackerman support adopting 2008 spending levels in 2011 funding bills for all Federal agencies. Any exempted proposed increases in spending or reduction in taxes should be covered by “Pay as You Go” financing. Ackerman should insist that the IRS accelerate the collection of billions in uncollected back taxes owed by deadbeat individuals and corporations along with suspending billions in future tax refunds to those who continue failing to pay long overdue taxes or student loans. Everyone needs to do their fair share in bringing the budget deficit under control.
Ackerman has grown far too comfortable enjoying the perks of public office. He has not had to break a sweat triumphing over GOP challengers during the past decades.
Former Republican state Senators Frank Padavan (Queens), the late Michael Tully and Michael Balboni (Nassau) along with previous Town of North Hempstead supervisors or local state Assembly members whose districts overlapped never stepped up to the plate to challenge Ackerman.
Any one of them would have started off with significant name recognition and perhaps the ability to raise a million dollars. You need $1 million to fund weekly media buys, phone banks and numerous direct mail to compete against incumbents. Those already holding public office have perks such as pork barrel member item spending and numerous taxpayer funded district mailings.
Lucky for Ackerman, Republicans have consistently run unknown second- or third-tier candidates with no name recognition or funding to be competitive. As a result, Ackerman has been free to continue taking arrogant stands as opposed to mainstream middle of the road positions during his term in office. Ackerman appears to have a limited understanding of how many constituents are out of work or working two jobs. They have to survive on far less than he does.
The last Republican Congressmember from Queens was Seymour Halperin who after the 1972 reapportionment declined to run against Democrat Lester Wolff of Great Neck, when both were merged into one Queens/Nassau district. In 1982, GOP Congressmember John LeBoutellier briefly recaptured this seat for one term. The 5th Congressional District has been gerrymandered with the help of Democratic Assembly speakers.
This includes Sheldon Silver who will surely draw up favorable district lines under the 2010 reapportionment. This will continue insuring Ackerman has a job for life. An honest district would primarily contain all of Town of North Hempstead, staying within Nassau County, as opposed to wandering into significant parts of neighboring Queens.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
