Tea Party Straw Poll Results

The Arkansas Tea Party conducted a straw poll April 15th for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House races. I am proud to announce that voters overwhelmingly supported the agenda that I presented by giving me 81 percent of the total vote (complete results are listed below).

There is indeed a growing sentiment that we can no longer ignore our nation’s mounting fiscal crisis, which is $56.5 trillion and growing by roughly $3 trillion each year. With interest on the national debt soon to be the largest single line item in the entire federal budget, we CANNOT afford to put this off any longer.

I appreciate everyone who gave me his or her vote of confidence. I am excited about the gathering momentum that will enable me to join the band of reformers who will be sent to change Washington in November.

Tea Party Straw Poll Results (1st District)

Name                                   Number of Votes                 Percentage

Rick Crawford (R)                       149                                        81%

Princella Smith (R)                      31                                          17%

Tim Woolridge (D)                        3                                             2%

Steve Bryles (D)                             1                                               -

Is Nancy Pelosi’s agenda good for farmers, businesses, or families?

National Journal reports today that several reporters who closely follow national elections believe momentum is growing for Nancy Pelosi to lose control of the House of Representatives.  You can read the brief article at this link:

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/04/where_the_house.php

What does this mean for you, your family, our state and our country?  For starters it will enable us to begin the process of repealing the multi-trillion healthcare entitlement.  The bill’s major thrust was to create a permanent guarantee, much like food stamps, for health insurance.  While states and the federal government currently provide Medicaid coverage for the poorest Americans, this new entitlement expands the coverage to an additional 32 million people.

So while our country suffocates under a financial burden of $56.5 trillion for programs for which there is not sufficient revenue, Speaker Pelosi and President Obama’s solution is to saddle our nation with trillions in additional costs.  This irresponsible behavior will have significant adverse ramifications in the not-so-distant future.

Excluding the recently-passed healthcare entitlement program, every man, woman, and child would have to pay $184,000 to cover his or her share of the $56.5 trillion shortfall.  Unfortunately, our financial hole is getting deeper at a rate of about $3 trillion annually as our elected officials do nothing to stop the problem.  To cover the shortfall, budget watchers estimate that taxes will have to double or triple for all Americans.  Can you imagine the job-killing impact this would have?

Before you dismiss this as nonsense, consider that the top marginal tax rate throughout the 1970s was 70 percent.  That’s right, a person in the upper income bracket only kept 30 cents of every dollar he or she earned.  Let’s assume that this applied to the top 10 percent of all income earners (joint returns included).  A person–or couple filing jointly–at the bottom of the top ten percent, according to the IRS, makes roughly $119,000.  The federal government would take $83,300 and the taxpayer would be allowed to keep $35,700 (before state and local taxes, of course).

A sobering thought on the day after Tax Day.

Of course, the problem with raising taxes back to the level of the 1970s is that it would crush our economy.  However, Congress spends as if it has ample money in its pocket.  Apparently Congress’ “money” has burned a hole through its pocket, through the floor, and halfway through the planet!

If this troubles you and you are interested in becoming involved in taking back our country, I urge you to join my campaign team and share this article with others.  As the National Journal story indicates, there is a growing sentiment in America that it is time to boot Speaker Pelosi and her liberal agenda.  But we cannot do it without you and others emailing and calling friends to share the facts and contributing to our campaign so that we can continue to run a strong race that will end Speaker Pelosi’s control of the House of Representatives.  Remember, a government by the people requires active participation by “We the People.”

You can read more of my thoughts about the budget at my website: http://www.MeetRickCrawford.com/issues/americas-budget-crisis

Obama says, “worst of the storm is over.” But is it?

I think President Obama must live in a bubble.  In North Carolina today speaking about America’s economic conditions, he said the “worst of the storm is over” and pointed to the trillion dollar stimulus program as a huge success.  I’ll restrain myself from writing about how much tax money was wasted on so-called stimulus efforts.  Instead, I would like to discuss the real “storm” that the President apparently cannot see.

We know that our nation is on the hook for $56.5 trillion.  We know that hole is getting deeper each year by roughly $3 trillion—on autopilot.  But with these enormous liabilities on our books, Congress had the foresight to create a new entitlement program to provide taxpayer-funded health insurance for an additional 32 million people.

Was this a time to expand government and add trillions in additional liabilities to our nation’s books?  Of course not.  What will be the effect of such actions?  The mother of all economic storms, Mr. President.

Unfortunately, President Obama and Congress’ refusal to govern responsibly is only making matters worse.  They continue to expand government, push for more wasteful spending, and grow the long-term debt of our nation.  If we are to take corrective action as a nation, we need a more informed electorate.  Please join me in disseminating the truth about our country’s financial condition.  If people start to believe that the “worst of the storm is over,” then the professional politicians will be empowered to continue their spending binge at the expense of our children and grandchildren.

I encourage you to share my policy paper on the budget with others.

Democrats’ Opinion about Healthcare Entitlement Improves

According to the Democratic polling firm Rasmussen Reports, Democrats attitudes toward President Obama’s healthcare entitlement program are improving.  The report states:

Sixty-five percent (65%) of Democrats now are optimistic about the nation’s current course, a 17-point jump from the week before. Thirty percent (30%) are not. A week ago, Democrats were almost evenly divided on the question: 48% said the country was headed in the right direction, and 44% felt it was going down the wrong track.

It is unclear if Democrats in Arkansas are also becoming more favorable toward the new law, but this poll is certainly a cause for concern to anyone who cares about the direction our country.

I believe many, if not most, Democrats in Arkansas do not favor giving taxpayer-funded health insurance to 32 million people when our government is on the hook for $56.5 trillion and growing at a rate of $340 million an hour.  When people understand the deep, deep financial hole our country is in, I have to believe there is overwhelming opposition to spending trillion more – regardless of party.

In less than 12 years, interest payments on the national debt will be more than what we spend on national defense.  It will be more than we repay in Social Security benefits.  It will even exceed what our government pays for Medicare.  In less than 12 years, our nation’s interest payments will be larger than any other single budget program in our entire government.

Join me is spreading this message throughout the First District and we will seize control of the House from Nancy Pelosi and start the long process of restoring fiscal responsibility.