Ask Jerry

Thank you to everyone who submitted questions in the "Ask Jerry" feature of my newsletter - Kansas Common Sense

Below you will find my responses to just a few of the many great questions I received. In the coming weeks you can visit this section of the website to find more questions and responses.

For the opportunity to contribute your questions, please sign up for my newsletter and you will periodically see requests for questions.

Thanks,

Jerry

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March 14, 2011

Why can't those we elected to represent us have the "common sense" and courage to "bite the bullet" on cutting spending?

Connie of McPherson County asks "As an older citizen of the USA I know that we are going to have to 'bite the bullet' with cutting spending. It has to be done. Why can't those we elected to represent us have the 'common sense' and COURAGE to do it?"

Connie, I share your frustration that those in Washington often lack the courage to stand up for common sense solutions. The fact is our nation is broke, yet each year we add trillions more to the national debt that our children and grandchildren will have to repay.

One simple, commonsense solution is a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. This would require Congress to pass a balanced budget each year and would require a two-thirds majority to raise taxes. Kansans understand they must operate within a budget and they expect their government to do the same. I supported a balanced budget amendment as a member of the House of Representatives and will continue to fight for a balanced budget in the Senate.

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Do you believe that it is possible to spend your way out of bankruptcy?

Kevin of Wyandotte County asks "Do you believe that it is possible to spend your way out of bankruptcy?"

Kevin, the answer to your question is no, our nation cannot spend its way out of bankruptcy. Our nation's debt is the responsibility of several congresses and presidents who have allowed us to live beyond our means for too long.  The best way to get our spending under control is to set a budget and stick to it.

I appreciate your question, Kevin, because it points out how often those in Washington defy all common sense and believe that the way to recover is to borrow and spend more taxpayer dollars.

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February 21, 2011

Did you vote with the Senate to pass the new changes on the Social Security Bill that gives the right to illegal aliens to have access to Social Security?

Carolyn of Johnson County asks "Did you vote with the Senate to pass the new changes on the Social Security Bill that gives the right to illegal aliens to have access to Social Security? What are you going to do to stop this bill? On the one hand, politicians are saying there's not enough money in social security to continue funding for our elderly. And now the politicians want to allow more people who are NOT, I repeat, who are NOT citizens of the United States. What are you doing to stop the madness?"

Dear Carolyn - Social Security benefits must be reserved for only those who have legally earned them. During the two months I have been a member of the U.S. Senate there has not yet been a vote that would change who is able to access Social Security.

I agree that Social Security benefits should be reserved only for those who pay into the system. Seniors who have spent their lives working and contributing to the fund should not be left wondering if their payments will be distributed to people who did not contribute. While current law prohibits the payment of Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants, I support legislation that would put in place additional protections to make sure these benefits are not distributed to someone who has not earned that right.

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Will there be relief from the overwhelming regulations on community banks?

Douglas from Sumner County asks: “I am president of a community bank in Belle Plaine. We are being overwhelmed by regulations being spewed out of congress and the regulatory agencies. We have 33 employees and we are to the point of being inundated with new, complex, contradictory, costly, incomprehensible, nonsensical, and counterproductive regulations. One of the most onerous areas is real estate. Wave after wave of changes are being imposed. We spend hours just trying to figure out which regulations apply to which loans. 40% to 50% percent of our time is spent on compliance when it would be more productively spent on making loans. Can we get some relief?”

The problem you describe is unfortunately one I have heard from bankers across Kansas. I had the opportunity last week during an oversight hearing in the Senate Banking Committee to question FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair about this issue.  You can watch the video below or click here.  I will be following up with Chairwoman Bair and other regulators whose agencies are responsible for the burden on our small town banks.

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Obama appointed the 36 czars without consent of the senate didn't he? Isn't this an issue that the Senate can and should address?

Holly of Riley County asks "Hi Senator Jerry: On Thursdays through March, my husband and I are conducting a Constitution Fellowship Class, facilitating and learning about the story of our constitution and the document itself. I used some of your senate updates in class when we talked about the powers granted congress. This week we are studying the Executive Branch. One question that has come up is about the czars Obama has appointed. According to Article 2, section 2 #2, the President is to" appoint ambassadors and other public ministers with the consent of the senate". Obama appointed the 36 czars without consent of the senate didn't he? Isn't this an issue that the Senate can and should address? Some of these people's backgrounds are very scary to read about and don't seem to be qualified to uphold our constitution.

Thank you for considering my question.

Holly, I am glad to hear about Kansans studying our Constitution and discussing these important issues. I share your concern that President Obama’s appointment of “czars” sidesteps the appointment process defined by the Constitution. I oppose the czar appointment process and am working towards banning its use as I did during my time in the House. The Senate must be allowed to exercise its “advice and consent” power in the case of presidential appointments.

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Are you for raising the federal debt limit?

Lowell of Johnson County asks "Are you for raising the federal debt limit? I am opposed to this raising of the debt limit without $100 billion in tax cuts for the rest of the 2011 fiscal year plus a reduction in the 2012 spending to the total spent for the fiscal year 2008. Enough is enough. If you and the rest of Congress do not have the spine to do this, our country is doomed to failure."

Lowell, I'm glad we agree on this issue. I'm opposed to increasing the debt limit without significant reform to the way Washington does business. Congress must be held accountable, especially when it comes to deficit spending, which has a great impact on our economy and the future of our country. Every member of Congress has a moral obligation to address our growing deficits that our children and grandchildren will have to repay. If Congress votes to raise the debt limit, it must come with a long-term plan that makes the hard choices to reduce the growing deficits. 

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