• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Valley Citizen

Nature, Environment, History & Politics

The Valley Citizen

  • Arts
  • Education
  • Environment
  • History
  • Nature
  • Politics
  • Wit
  • About
  • RSS Icon

Open Letter to Jeff Denham

April 16, 2017 By admin 3 Comments

Dear Congressman Denham:

I received your questionnaire. Thank you for the opportunity to share my views on issues critical to our quality of life here in the San Joaquin Valley.

As you know, we are one of the most multicultural regions in the United States and immigration is a key local issue. I’m glad you’ve inquired about it.

I favor a pathway to citizenship for working immigrants. Like many others, I believe illegal labor has a depressing effect on wages, which is one reason I favor immediate institution of a $15 an hour federal minimum wage and strict enforcement of the law. I’m especially disappointed that so many of our farmworkers do the hardest work in the Valley for the smallest compensation; they should be justly rewarded for their labor.

In an age of drones and satellite surveillance, building a wall along our border is an absurd proposition. We need to favor efficiency over symbolism and combine political will with today’s technology to reduce illegal immigration. As soon as we institute laws that punish severely those who hire illegals instead of the illegals themselves, you’ll see immediate reductions in illegal immigration.

When you ask about water infrastructure projects, I’m immediately reminded of your opposition to Wild and Scenic status for the Merced River. I favor Wild and Scenic status and further believe we should repair and upgrade existing water infrastructure before building more.

I strongly oppose exploitation of our rivers by a few favored interests and would like to see restoration of our wetlands heritage and renewed efforts to insure the ecological integrity of the San Joaquin Delta. I oppose sending our region’s water south in efforts to prolong unsustainable farming and urban sprawl.

I whole-heartedly agree that we need to repair, rebuild, and improve the nation’s infrastructure, including roads, highways, and bridges. We should begin immediately. Funding could be underwritten with prudent cuts in military expenditures.

While balancing the federal budget isn’t urgent, I do agree that eliminating the tax dodges and loopholes that have enabled the wealthiest among us, including corporations, to avoid paying their fair share of taxes should be an immediate priority. The budget is in large part out of balance because of our failure to institute and enforce pragmatic tax policies.

We can begin to reduce the national debt with a more progressive income tax. It should be clear by now that trickle-down economics has failed. We need a return to sound economic policy that includes fair tax rates for all.

I agree we should repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it immediately with a single-payer program of the kind available in virtually every advanced nation but ours. In fact, one of your constituents has an excellent article about health care in today’s Modesto Bee. Read Dr. C.V. Allen’s detailed analysis here.

I also agree we should reform the tax code. See above.

You didn’t mention some other issues of interest, but offered the opportunity to comment and I thank you.

Housing is a critical need for many in our region, and I disagree strongly with our new Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Instead of cutting funding for HUD, I support increases in funding. Lack of affordable housing in your district is punishing good people and we need to work as a community of shared government to help those people. There’s an excellent article about escalating housing costs in our region here.

Again, those who worry about costs need to consider what we spend on agricultural subsidies in our region. From 1995 to 2014, Merced and Stanislaus Counties received almost $150 million in dairy subsidies alone. If government can help business people, it can also help poor people, especially those who’ve been priced out of housing by the wicked combination of rising costs and stagnant wages.

Congressman Denham, we face many critical issues. Maybe we can agree that the poverty rate in our region is among the most urgent. Wealth inequality is not just a matter of character and hard work; some of the hardest workers in our region are among the poorest people in our region.

Social mobility in the United States now lags behind that of other advanced nations. Let’s make sure that hard-working people once again receive living wages, and people who are out of work once again have opportunities to work.

We need to restore a government that is once again “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Thank you again for the opportunity to comment.

Filed Under: Featured, Politics Tagged With: Congressman Jeff Denham

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tracy Sunde says

    April 16, 2017 at 8:02 pm

    Right On!!!

    Reply
  2. Joy Lopez says

    April 17, 2017 at 4:52 pm

    May I join your fan club? Awesome letter, thanks!!

    Reply
  3. S.Hansen says

    April 20, 2017 at 7:46 pm

    Nice article…

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Note: Some comments may be held for moderation.

Primary Sidebar

Off The Wire

A Farmer’s Quest to Beat California’s Waves of Drought and Deluge
A Farmer’s Quest to Beat California’s Waves of Drought and Deluge
Don Cameron went all in on a trickle-down survival tactic. It could help save America’s agricultural heartland—even if he doesn’t survive the new water war.
www.wired.com
Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes On An Epic Scale
Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes On An Epic Scale
This article first appeared at ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative…
talkingpointsmemo.com
A South Texan?s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
A South Texan’s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
When she began her year-long bird-spotting adventure, Tiffany Kersten was lost and lonely. She ended up achieving a major milestone and finding her way.
www.texasmonthly.com
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
A top aide said the Wisconsin Republican senator wanted to give Pence the list of pro-Trump electors as he prepared to certify the 2020 election.
www.politico.com
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
“I think it would have helped our party heal, given [people] more facts.”
www.axios.com
'Not safe anymore': Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
‘Not safe anymore’: Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
Homeless encampments now spill well beyond Portland’s downtown core, dividing a city that has invested liberally in support services.
www.latimes.com
Republicans Will Do It Again
Republicans Will Do It Again
They have not been chastened by the revelations of the January 6 committee.
nymag.com
Birdman
Birdman
Bird Brother: A Falconer’s Journey and the Healing Power of Wildlife
www.earthisland.org
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Martins were bit players in politics, until they put Doug Mastriano one step away from becoming Pennsylvania’s next governor.
nymag.com
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Prominent Christian leaders accuse Trump allies of spreading misinformation about election and Covid, while distorting Christian teachings at ReAwaken America events
www.theguardian.com
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears 'moment of reckoning'
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears ‘moment of reckoning’
As the Colorado River water shortage worsens, major cutbacks are needed to reduce most perilous risks, a federal official tells senators.
www.latimes.com
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Supporters who thought they were donating to “election integrity” instead saw some of their money funneled to Trump hotels
www.rollingstone.com
Police Arrested 31 White Supremacists Crammed Into a U-Haul With a Detailed Riot Plan
Police Arrested 31 White Supremacists Crammed Into a U-Haul With a Detailed Riot Plan
Members of the Patriot Front were allegedly planning to disrupt a pride parade in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
www.vice.com

Find us on Facebook

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Footer

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Subscribe for Free

* indicates required

Search

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 The Valley Citizen

Dedicated to the memory of John Michael Flint. Contact us at thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Editor and publisher: Eric Caine

Website customization and maintenance by Susan Henley Design