Just as I responded to his Aug. 6 letter in the Asheville Citizen-Times, Mr. Edwards demonstrates in his Aug. 10 letter [“Blaming the Unemployed for Unemployment,” Aug.11, Xpress] that he does not have all the facts about my approach for tackling unemployment. In my response to the Citizen-Times, I suggested the writer is uninformed and corrected the record. I again have an opportunity to let the writer, and your readers, know about my support for extending unemployment benefits.
I have voted numerous times for legislation that would extend unemployment benefits and pay for it by making cuts elsewhere in government. I agree with President Obama, who stated last November that providing for the unemployed is a priority, but we must do it in a way that does not add to the national debt. Those in the majority party in Congress, however, have been unable to identify any government program anywhere in the federal budget that is less important than extending unemployment benefits.
I appreciate Mr. Edwards’ engagement on this issue and, like him, I empathize with North Carolinians in need of jobs. It is indeed unfortunate that one political party has used the unemployed as a political tool — it just isn’t the political party Mr. Edwards thinks it is.
— U.S. Sen. Richard Burr
Raleigh
Senator Burr has supported throwing billions of taxpayer dollars at Iraq and Afghanistan with no accountability. He supports making permanent the Bush tax cut for the wealthiest one percent of Americans. (Economists estimate that the Bush tax cut alone accounts for 30 percent of the national debt) But rather than work on these areas, Senator Burr says we must punish the unemployed for our National Debt. Why is it when Republicans make budget cuts it is always to programs that benefit the most vulnerable in our society?
And why were Republicans unconcerned with the national debt from 2000-2008? We have Bush and the Republicans to thank for our national debt in the first place; and they have the audacity to complain about the national debt which they created?
Let’s invest in ourselves, in this country – senator Burr. Any good business person knows that it takes money to make money. Such timid fearfullness and lack of faith in our country along with handwringing allusions to the debt. I hear that we don’t want our children to inherent our debt. I say that the trajectory this country is on has a far worse scenario for our children. We are still the #1 economy in the world and we are stuck in fear and sense of lack. This nation is losing its boldness and getting hung up on pettiness. Where in the hell are the leaders for this time? We can start with an outdated infrastructure. Do you, Senator Burr, have anything to really offer to your constituents other than the same old empty pocket stance coupled with partisan bickering? Lets spend money and invest wisely- in and for our future. Making sure our fellow citizens don’t fall into poverty is the least we can do. You stop a leak before you fix its cause.
Does Sen. Burr support his leadership’s publicly stated view that the unfunded drain on the Treasury resulting from Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy need not be offset by spending cuts? Does he support a recision in the sunset provision of these tax cuts? These questions have been asked by others, but it would be appropriate for the Senator to give constituents his position and why (and it is not because there are any trickled down jobs from it).
Senator Burr gets my vote. And as a ex NYCer I am a lifelong democrat.
Great job, moderators!
I’d say that both parties have used this issue to the point of distaste, and what a petty thing to add at the end of your letter. Geez Sen. Burr, be a man and assume some responsibility here! Sadly, the media continues to allow politicians to spout whatever crap they think won’t sink, which can be construed as passive acceptance.
BTW, me thinks that if his party was in power and the economy is what it is that he would be singing a different tune, but I guess that we will never know:)
it appears Sen Burr only speaks in talking points. Take it or leave it.
Senator Burr is like the rest of his kind, they spend most of their time shaking down big business for protection money and getting reelected.