A DISAPPOINTING VOTE FROM SENATOR JOHN THUNE

By Ed Randazzo

On Thursday morning, I tuned in to a live interview featuring Senator John Thune on New Hampshire radio station WKXL1450 in Concord, NH. What I heard troubles me deeply. 

As you likely know, Senator Thune has stated that he is considering a run for the presidency of the US in 2012 and New Hampshire historically conducts the first primaries in the nation. I did not tune in expecting a announcement of his decision but to hear his reasoning in voting to support the tax cut agreement with the Obama administration. I was greatly disappointed to hear that Senator Thune had voted to support the tax cut agreement, not because I oppose the extension of the “Bush tax cuts” but because of the horrific effects on the deficit of other parts of the agreement.

The extension of the tax cuts adds nothing to the deficit as those rates are currently in effect but set to expire on 12/31/2010. So the extension of the tax cuts (hopefully permanently, instead of for just 2 years) would avert the job-killing effects of a huge tax increase in these troubled economic waters.

However, the cost of the extension of unemployment benefits and the reduction in payroll taxes for Social Security which is part of the agreement would add billions of dollars to the deficit. This is totally unacceptable.

Did we not just have an election where the American people spoke loudly and clearly that we must get spending under control? Have I not heard Senator Thune say that we don’t have a revenue problem but a spending problem?

Instead what I heard from Senator Thune in this interview was that he was disappointed in those that criticized the deal made on the extension of the Bush tax cuts because they were not “in the trenches.”  He added that it was the “best possible agreement” to avoid the tax increases that would have taken effect on 1/1/2011. He added that “at the end of the day, you have to govern.” 

Apparently, no thought was given to opposing a bad agreement and allowing the newly elected Congress to work out a more comprehensive tax agreement with the strength of the mandate given them on 11/2. At the end of the day, our elected representatives must lead by serving the people and not compromising the principles and values for which they were elected.
  
His radio closing was especially disappointing to me as he wished the people of New Hampshire would “have a great holiday season.” 

 It’s Christmas, Senator. Let’s not forget that it is the birth of Christ Jesus we celebrate, the Redeemer, God. Christian up, Senator and wish the people a Blessed Christmas.