Shuler has a way to go

Congress voted on a few issues immediately before going on their recess for the entire month of August. I just wanted readers to know how their elected leaders voted on a few of the most important issues.  This will boggle the mind. The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act bill passed 83 to 14, but our Sen. [Richard] Burr was one of the 14 voting against this bill. I think people should ask why.

The Children’s Healthcare Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2007 passed 68 to 31, but both Sens. Burr and [Elizabeth] Dole voted against this bill. I think people should call and ask why.

The Protect America Act, (read, illegal wiretapping) passed 60 to 28, with both of our senators voting to give this out-of-control president and his lying attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, more power to spy illegally on Americans. I think people should call and ask why.

Over on the House side, the votes of Rep. Heath Shuler were not much better. Congressman Shuler did at least vote in favor of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, but fell right in lockstep with the Republicans on the other issues. I think people should call Shuler’s office and ask why. I know I did.

It only takes a minute to call these elected officials’ offices to express your views. They work for you, and they need to hear from you. The staffers who take the calls are usually polite, as long as you are. This is so important. We are just beginning to see the tip of the iceberg of negative consequences of this administration. The news gets more grim daily, from the housing market to our infrastructure to the never-ending quagmire in Iraq. Please remind your leaders that you want to see a new direction. With almost 70 percent of the people against this illegal war [that was] based on lies and manipulated intelligence, that means that a great many against the war are Republicans, too.

You can reach Sen. Dole at 202-224-6342. She is up for reelection in 2008. Sen. Burr’s number is 202-224-3154. We are stuck with him until the next election cycle. And Rep. Shuler can be reached 828-252-1651 or 202-225-6401. I think he has a lot to prove before he earns a ticket back to Washington.

— Jeff Walker
Black Mountain

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One thought on “Shuler has a way to go

  1. Dionysis

    Perhaps phone calls may yield a response; letters do not seem to get any attention. I wrote Shuler twice and asked why he voted with Bush/Cheney in expanding illegal wiretaps at the expense of our Constitutional freedoms. He has ignored these inquires.
    While I am an independent (registered as unaffiliated), I voted a Democratic ticket last November for one primary reason: to have real checks-and-balances over this power-hungry executive branch. With Democrats like Shuler, who needs Republicons?

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