Economic Stimulus Package

Dear Mr. Shaw:

Thank you for contacting me about the economic stimulus package. I appreciate hearing your views.

The American people are hurting. They are losing their homes, their jobs, their businesses and their life savings. Economists across the political spectrum agree that the government needs to take bold and immediate action to stimulate the economy and curb the risk of a protracted economic recession.

I believe that the government has to do something to get us out of this economic tailspin, and doing nothing isn’t an option. I voted for the economic stimulus package because I believe it is narrowly targeted to spend and invest in ways that will get the economy moving again. It invests in our infrastructure, creating badly needed jobs, and provides critical tax relief to businesses and middle-class Americans. It also shores up unemployment benefits and food stamps, provides aid to seniors and disabled veterans, and invests in our children through 21st Century education. The bill improves access to health care, and promotes energy independence.

I’ve read the entire stimulus bill and I believe it will preserve and create millions of good-paying jobs, help States like Florida manage budget shortfalls, and advance our infrastructure to meet modern demands. Congress passed the bill on February 13, and President Obama has now signed it into law.

Unfortunately, there has been a lot of misinformation and inaccurate reporting on this legislation. The stimulus bill does nothing to “socialize” medicine. In fact, it does three things that really help people. First, it lowers the cost of insurance for people who lose their jobs. Second, it gives more money to States to cover medical care for low-income Americans and the uninsured through the Medicaid program. And third, it provides federal funding for the development and use of electronic health records to help doctors and hospitals be more efficient.

Based on what I hear from folks across Florida, it’s clear that we need to fix the problems caused by this economic crisis. But we must take care with taxpayer money. Last year I voted against spending $700 billion to bail out Wall Street because the bill lacked meaningful relief for homeowners facing foreclosure and didn’t include adequate protections for American taxpayers. I remain committed to reducing wasteful spending and improving transparency in Federal funding. And once we have returned to prosperity, I remain equally committed to tackling our burgeoning Federal deficit.

I appreciate your comments as they help me serve you better in the Senate, and I look forward to hearing from you should you have any future concerns.

Homeless Assistance Grant programs.

Dear Mr. Shaw:

Thank you for contacting me regarding homelessness. I share your concern for the estimated 3.5 million Americans who are homeless each year, and I believe we can make great strides toward fixing this urgent problem.

I voted for HR.1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2009, which provided funding increases for many critical housing support programs, including the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grant program, which is the primary Federal funding source for local efforts to reduce chronic homelessness. I also voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which provided additional funding for homelessness prevention and other housing programs. Please know that I will continue to champion housing programs during the fiscal year 2010 appropriations and budget process.

The fight against homelessness will require many components to succeed, from housing assistance to job training. Rest assured I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to find workable solutions to this tragic, chronic problem.

Sincerely,
Senator Bill Nelson

Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights

Having Credit Card issues?

Here is a response that I received from Bill Nelson in regards to the trouble with credit card debt in America as of now.

Dear Mr. Shaw:

Thank you for contacting me about credit card reform and your support for the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights.

As Congress works to get our economy back on track, I believe that we must also reform credit card marketing and billing practices. I am urging my colleagues in the Senate to consider reforms for all aspects of the financial system, including regulation of the credit card industry.

I am aware of the high fees that some credit card companies charge consumers, in addition to the unscrupulous, abusive and predatory practices by some bad actors within the industry. Indeed, we’ve seen a rapid growth in the number of lenders who target consumers with less-than-perfect credit histories and low-income and minority households with high interest loans. These practices in the area of mortgage lending have had devastating effects on consumers and the country.

Rest assured, I will continue to work toward fair credit practices that protect Florida’s families. Please feel free to contact me in the future.

Eating your way to a healthier budget.

I recently asked the question of how much do you and your familiy spend a week on snacks via http://bit.ly/Twjwa. During this current time in which this recession has people searching high and low for ways to keep money in thier pockets. Could eating habits be a factor to reason with?

As a single man that received Food Stamps for a spell, $137 a month seemed like a lot to live by due to the fact that I’m a gut that loves to eat and will cook my own meals, however, on the other hand i don’t need much to get me by so to speak. Maybe a hambuger here or a couple hotdogs there to get me by the day.

As a family member of a large family growing up however snacks seemed to be the alternative method to pressuading mom to advance in cooking or the simple after school munchies. Snack foods were a necessity that my family needed to stretch the stomach rumble in anticipation of moms Tuesday night fried chicken and johnny-cake dinner.

So What are snack foods?

Cookies, Lil Debbie Cakes, Apples, Oranges, Microwave Pop-Corn, Hot-Potckets, Pop-Tarts, Pizza-bites, and so on. Moms are fitted with the notorious job or having the ability to suit the taste buds of their child with assorted goodies and snacks not only designed to soothe a childs imaginary hunger pains but also as another method to rip of pockets. I could remember Mom spending anywhere from $50-100 a month alone just in these sorts of items and coming home stating that certain of these items were off limits and not to be disturbed. Yeah right mom. I’d say that the snacks at my house even to this day get no mercy. These are the first items opened and tasted for the savory satisfaction of being pleased with the wasted hard earned dollars spent.

These days snacks are everywhere. Fast food chains are becoming to notice that snacking is a trend to reckon with as they now offer items that are inexpensive to them as the dollar seeks revitalizing by fast food franchises. McDonalds fries $1, yogat parfiat $1, mandrin oranges $1, apples pies 2 for $1, ice cream cones $1 . Wendys frosty $1. Sonic $1 ice cream cones, sundaes $1. The list is becoming endless as the method of snacking is sought out to be easy and lacking a monetary value as instant appetitte appeasing is noted as being convient and inexpensive.

Is it.

To be honest I’m still a favorite of the ole’ sit down meal in which in this day and age is losing its appeal as time and morals are over-looked due to the impact of staying employed. Altough these meals are rather cost efficient and money saving due to the fact that what is not eaten just then can be served as left-overs. Mmmmm, leftovers. Theres nothing like left-overs straight out the microwave,espically when its your favorite dish.

Not saying that i don’t enjoy a nice handful of doritos and a fresh tuna fish sandwich with a nice and iceed root beer to accompany. Just not from the Deli shop from down the street that is trying to charge me $4.75 plus tax and tip every time I open the door and say hello. And bag luches tend to give the appeal of having the routine down pack to option to trade with others due to the change of craving in a sudden, we all have had them.

At some point in time, it does seem more price conserving to resort to the left-overs of last nights country fried steak and cream corn dinner over the the $5 footlong rush when the pocket pinching theory is in effect. An increas in wieght or the pleasure of saving money, you decide.