Harry Reid: Working hard for all Americans
To the editor:
In response to the Nov. 6 article, "Nevada job preservation: Claims for credit weighed":
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, which oversaw much of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, I worked closely with Sen. Harry Reid to shepherd the legislation through Congress, including the final version of the debt cancellation provision, which was developed by Sen. Reid and included in the bill at his request.
The debt cancellation provision has helped countless American companies in Nevada, in my home state of Montana and around the country, save tens of thousands of jobs during this recession.
During debate in the Finance Committee, Sen. John Ensign, who ultimately voted against the Recovery Act, citing deficit concerns, put forward a version of the debt cancellation provision that would have cost American taxpayers more than $20 billion -- $18 billion more than Sen. Reid's proposal. The cost was unacceptable to me and the majority of the committee.
Sen. Reid's proposal allowed U.S. businesses to repurchase their outstanding debt at a discount and defer the tax impact without harming American taxpayers. He brought the provision to our committee and asked me to include it. We finally moved the stimulus measures out of committee to the Senate floor for further debate, including Sen. Reid's important debt cancellation measure.
During floor debate, Sen. Reid beat back efforts to weaken this proposal and pushed to make the debt cancellation provision work even better for American companies, workers and taxpayers, and ultimately help save and create tens of thousands of jobs nationwide.
Without Sen. Harry Reid's hard work in developing an acceptable debt cancellation provision, it would not have been included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Sen. Max Baucus
Washington, D.C.
THE WRITER, A MONTANA DEMOCRAT, IS CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Cowardly soldiers
To the editor:
In Tuesday's letters to the editor, Irwin Kaufman suggests we try our terrorists in criminal court to "Let the whole world see the best judicial system at work."
If he's talking about the same judicial system that freed O.J. Simpson, I know the one he means -- and I don't want anyone else to see it.
Mr. Kaufman should consider that this also includes:
-- Affording all our due process rights, rules of evidence, full constitutional protections and appeal rights to foreign-born, alien combatants whose only interest in the United States of America is its destruction.
-- Bringing terrorist leaders into the heart of Manhattan and creating a high-profile stage for further acts of terrorism.
-- Exposing our classified counter-terrorism techniques, systems, policies and practices to the rules of evidence and discovery.
-- Greatly reducing the chances of convictions and punishment for these cowardly "soldiers of Allah."
Ronnie Garner
HENDERSON
Hurry up
To the editor:
President Obama wants to make sure to "get things right" with his decision on more troops for Afghanistan.
In one sense that is good. But what about the morale of the soldiers there?
I'm sure they are feeling ignored.
On the other hand, President Obama tells the Senate to "hurry up" and pass the health care bill.
Where is the "get things right" attitude? Something with such far-reaching effects on the American people, and he wants the Senate to "hurry up"? That doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
We've gone forever without health care legislation. A few more months "getting it right" should not be a problem.
Bob McKinley
NORTH LAS VEGAS
For freedom
To the editor:
I would like to take a moment to thank the Las Vegas Review-Journal for publishing its daily series "Saluting American Valor."
At a time when honor, true commitment and extreme sacrifice are clouded over by politics and greed, these men and women commit themselves to a belief of earning their freedom so that others may have their freedom handed to them on a silver platter.
Your stories remind everyone that the "silver platter" of freedom is really the blood, sweat and lives of a small group of honorable men and women who would sacrifice their very lives before surrendering their freedom.
Once again, thank you, for honoring our veterans.
Please keep the articles coming.
James Woodring
LAS VEGAS
My right
To the editor:
I read your Nov. 11 editorial, " 'Are you serious?' " and was incensed to learn that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and company plan to order us to buy health insurance.
By the same token, where in the Nevada Constitution does it authorize the state to force us to buy liability insurance for our cars?
I feel that it's my right to plow into you on the expressway and then stiff you when you seek recompense for your medical and vehicular losses.
This big-government intrusion into our private lives must end.
John mcwold
LAS VEGAS
