My Senate email...

[brooklynite]

Dear Senator Schumer:

I am writing, as a constituent, to urge you to take an action that, before today I would not have contemplated. I am requesting you and the Democratic Caucus to –not- accept Majority Leader Read’s debt limit proposal without amending the bill to add an income tax revenue component if, as expected, the House Leadership passes a debt limit Bill requiring an affirmative vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.

I appreciate the effort that the Senate Leadership has taken to develop responsible legislation to address both the debt limit and budget reductions, and believe that the current proposal is a reasonable compromise with the Republicans. However it is NOT a reasonable starting point for a further “compromise” with the House Republicans driven to the edge of extremism by their Tea Party faction.

As the President said on Monday, the wealthy in the nation, myself included, should be prepared to share in the sacrifices being brought about by the need to reduce the budget and should be prepared to contribute additional tax revenue. It is a responsible position, and an essential starting point for the eventual Conference Committee negotiations with the Republican House Leadership. If it must be bargained away, then the Republicans must be prepared to give up policies of equal value. The only way this crisis will be averted is if all parties feel that their concerns are addressed. A “grand bargain” that gives away principles of fairness first to the Senate Republicans and THEN to the House Tea Party will never be seen as a fair deal by either Base or Mainstream Democrats.

Sincerely,

xxxxx