Open letter to my Senator

Senator Johnson,

Yesterday, NFL players and owners agreed to a ten year contract. Over and over during the broadcasts of the agreement one word was constantly repeated. That word was compromise. More and more it is apparent to me that your party, the GOP, has been unwilling to do that in regard to numerous bills and proposals from Democrats. Never has that been more apparent than in the recent budget discussions and the debt limit.

As a voter and taxpayer, I implore you as my Senator to bear in mind that you work for the American people, and the vast majority in every poll agree that the way to balance our budget is through a combination of cuts in spending and an increase in revenue. Through Speaker Boehner's own public release earlier this year, an overwhelming number of economists agree that the most feasible ratio to do this would be an 85 percent decrease in spending and a 15 percent increase in revenues.

During the Biden budget talks, the Democrats suggested an 83/17 percent ratio. It seems to me that it should be easy to split the difference between what your party released as an appropriate ratio and what the Democrats offered. So exactly what is the problem?

In short, Senator Johnson, compromise.

Some things that can and should be done:

--Close corporate tax loop holes.

--Eliminate the 106,000 cap on FICA contributions. This would fund the programs and sustain them almost indefinitely.

--Let the Bush tax cuts expire. According to the CBO, those tax cuts are a main cause of the current deficit problems.

One constantly heard mantra is that government has to live within its means just as the average American family does. When the American family is in trouble, they do indeed decide on what is essential and what isn't. They also, if necessary, take a second or third job. In short, they find a combination of cuts and revenue increases to make ends me. You and your fellow Senators and Congressmen need to do the same. Compromise is what made our country work to begin with. It still can.

Sincerely,

Tim Mocarski
Racine, WI