Dan Benishek for Congress

Super Committee Struggles

Benishek for Congress — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:39:59 +0000

The so-called “super committee” was created as part of the budget deficit and debt ceiling negotiations back in August of this year. There is one week left before they are required, by law, to present a deficit reduction plan to Congress. Failure to do so will force $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts.

Recent news stories indicate they may not meet this deadline and, as a recent poll suggests, the vast majority of the American people doubt they will be successful as well (from CNN Money):

…Americans are skeptical that a congressional super committee will reach a deficit reduction agreement by next week’s deadline…seventy-eight percent of people questioned in the survey say they think it is somewhat or very unlikely the committee will develop a plan to significantly reduce the federal budget deficit by Nov. 23…”

The fundamental conflict between Democrats and Republicans that got us here is quite clear; Democrats insist on tax increases while continuing to spend at current levels while Dr. Dan and his fellow Republicans are calling for cutting spending, closing tax loopholes, reducing rates on business owners, and easing burdensome regulations which would allow for increased investment in jobs and infrastructure.

It is important to note that, despite the Democrats, Republicans on the super committee have been working in good faith. This impasse, however, is the fundamental reason why Senate Democrats have not cared to pass a federal budget since President Obama took office… 950 plus days ago, and counting.

As we approach the November 23rd deadline, this conflict continues in the super committee; Democrats are reportedly holding out for revenues (tax increases) and Republicans are standing firm for spending cuts. Neither side seems prepared to budge, and failure is already being considered as a viable option (from Fox News):

…the current conversation mostly overlooks the fact that partial failure is an option…the super committee has discussed the possibility of kicking half of the can farther down the road…”

Failure to reach a deal will force spending cuts, some of which may not be well-advised to make right now (the Defense budget is the first likely target). The super committee was tasked with reaching an agreement on how to reduce spending and lower the federal deficit and debt in order to get the economy moving forward again.

Kicking the can down the road should not be an option, nor should a failure to agree be an option. The American people deserve better than this from their elected officials.

Our Tax System Is Broken

Benishek for Congress — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:16:30 +0000

A recent report suggests that the problem with the current tax code is that it allows certain companies to pay no federal taxes. The present collection of loopholes and special taxbreaks undermines taxpayer confidence in the entire system.

This study, regardless of the highly partisan source, underscores the need for a lower, flatter and fairer tax code. In light of our current complicated tax code, it is inevitable that only those with the resources will be able to exploit the loopholes and hidden benefits carved out for the special interests.

Dr. Dan recently said, “when Northern Michigan citizens hear that billion dollar companies legally pay no taxes because of special deductions and exceptions they are rightly frustrated. Fairness and equality are fundamental principles in the American system, but are now absent from a tax code that has been manipulated over the decades.”

Americans would be better served by a flatter, fairer, and simpler tax code that doesn’t favor certain sectors of the economy. Overhauling the federal tax code, simplifying the system, and lowering rates would help spur job growth and provide a more stable economic environment for businesses to start and grow.

It’s about Jobs, not campaign speeches

Benishek for Congress — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:23:58 +0000

President Obama recently delivered a speech before a joint session of Congress during which he instructed members of both the House and Senate to pass his jobs bill. He made this demand a total of 17 times.

Campaign Rhetoric

The President has been touring the country, on the taxpayer’s dime, pushing for his latest jobs bill rather than staying in Washington to actually get one done in Congress. Choosing to use the jobs crisis as a campaign fundraising opportunity, and blame Republicans for his own failure to lead on this issue, the President has made it clear he is far more concerned with getting re-elected than he is with the business of putting Americans back to work (from Slate):

…Obama called out House Majority Leader Eric Cantor by name after the Republican declared the president’s jobs bill dead… ‘Republican majority leader in Congress, Eric Cantor, said that right now he won’t even let this jobs bill have a vote in the House of Representatives. I would like Mr. Cantor to come here to Dallas and explain what exactly in this jobs bill does he not believe in, what exactly he is opposed to….”

It is easy for Obama to blame Cantor, and the House of Representatives in general, but his campaign rhetoric leaves out a fundamental truth; the House has acted, many times, and the Senate refuses to. It is not the fault of Republicans that President Obama’s own party doesn’t support his plan(from MSNBC):

…Obama continued his sales blitz across the country… touting his jobs plan and scolding Republicans… [but]… his $447 billion proposal was blocked in the Senate-by his fellow Democrats… The last-minute move by Reid saved Obama from the immediate embarrassment of losing a battle inside the family, but it highlighted the gulf between Obama and Congressional Democrats, who now operate almost entirely apart from the White House and have… decided that supporting their unpopular president today is not worth losing their own jobs next November….”

Hypocrisy

The President’s problems are of his own making; more than a dozen bills have been passed in the House that would improve the jobs situation, yet the Senate continues to ignore them, refusing to even bring them up for a vote. Campaign rhetoric and hypocrisy make for great headlines and bigger campaign coffers, but they do nothing to advance the cause of putting people back to work.

While the President has been busy pitting one class against the other and blaming Republicans for his sagging poll numbers, the House continues to work toward the goal of putting America back to work. They’ve done their job and it’s time for the President to do his.

To learn more about the efforts of the House to put America back to work, click HERE to review Majority Leader Cantor’s Jobs Legislation Tracker.

Veterans Day 2011

Dr. Dan — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:04:29 +0000

I stand with the rest of America today to honor and give thanks to all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

President Wilson first honored the service and sacrifice of the men and women serving in our Armed Forces on November 11, 1919 calling it the first commemoration of Armistice Day and saying this:

…To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

In 1954 President Eisenhower signed a law renaming this day to “Veterans Day” and calling for us to solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who have fought to preserve our heritage of freedom. As a member of the House committee on Veterans Affairs, I proudly work to ensure that the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform are honored and remembered every day throughout the year.

Today is a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. I ask everyone to join me in remembering our Veterans and, should you happen to meet a Veteran today, make sure to thank them for their service.

Lies & Distortions: The Democrat Way

Benishek for Congress — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:28:40 +0000

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV), a far left-wing radical political advocacy group, recently kicked off a smear campaign against Dr. Dan with the usual distortions of the facts. These environmental activists would have us believe that Dr. Dan is handing out “billions in special tax breaks” to help big oil “profit off Michigan families twice: once at the pump and again from their federal taxes.”

As Michigan families struggle to pay thousands of dollars in taxes, Congressman Benishek is voting to hand out billions in special tax breaks to the nation’s most profitable oil companies,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski. “He may claim that oil companies pay their fair share, but there’s nothing fair about his votes to allow oil companies to profit off Michigan families twice: once at the pump and again from their federal taxes.”

Despite these false claims by the LCV, here are the facts:

#1 Dr. Dan has repeatedly argued for comprehensive tax reform and favors an end to all subsidies, credits, and loopholes that favor one energy source over another.

#2 The Congressman makes no apology for stating the facts: the petroleum industry has already paid $35.7 billion in taxes.

#3 Oil and Natural Gas Companies ARE NOT SUBSIDIZED. These companies get business tax deductions that most other industries receive. There simply is not one tax credit provision (direct government spending to the oil and natural gas industry) in the tax code. We challenge anyone to show us where in the tax code such a provision exists.

We’d like to hear from the LCV about the Solyndra scandal; $535 million dollars stolen from the taxpayers for a boondoggle that benefits a huge Obama donor that has now gone bankrupt. Where is the outrage over the theft of that money from those Michigan taxpayers the LCV says it is so concerned about? We certainly didn’t see it mentioned in the attack ad against Dr. Dan.

Showing its partisan colors, the League of Conservation Voters has nothing to say about any of these scandals, proving they are nothing more than a left-wing environmental activism front group opposed to any sensible balance between economic development and environmental protection.

McDowell Distortions Continue

Benishek for Congress — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:02:28 +0000

Gary McDowell is at it again.

In an 11/1 fundraising e-mail, supporters are asked for donations in exchange for McDowell’s empty promise to “take some common sense to Washington.” Using the recent attack ad from the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) against Dr. Dan as the backdrop, McDowell suggests that “the average oil company is subsidized each minute to the tune of $6,000 in taxpayer dollars.” This is simply not true, and Gary McDowell knows it.

We find it interesting that McDowell prefers to help advertise the LCV ads inside his own e-mail asking for donations, when he could have used the opportunity to explain why he remains silent on the $535 million that was stolen from the American taxpayers by Solyndra and the radical environmentalism movement he is so anxious to defend.

Gary McDowell…silent on Solyndra scandal…$500 million bilked out of taxpayers by Obama donors…

Those tax-paying families he says he is so concerned about would be far better served hearing from McDowell regarding the hundreds of millions of their hard-earned dollars that was stolen from them rather than to continue being lied to about the billions in tax dollars law-abiding oil companies continue paying in to the system.

Dr. Dan: “demonstrates courage in the face of political pressure to maintain the status quo”

Benishek for Congress — Thu, 12 May 2011 10:34:52 +0000

Dr. Dan Benishek has been taking heat for sticking to his values, principles and campaign promises. In keeping with his promise to not seek any earmarks and cut federal spending, Rep. Benishek did not seek Taxpayer money for a program that neither former President Bush or current President Obama failed to include in their budgets. A program that the Office of Budget Management (OMB) rates as being duplicative and not performing.

In a letter to the editor published May 11, 2011, a constituent of Michigan’s First District commends Dr. Dan for stand strong and not participating in politics as usual.

Where to Vote

Benishek for Congress — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:56:26 +0000

The tool is not perfect and doesn’t work for every address. If you have any questions about where to vote, go to the Michigan Secretary of State website or call the campaign headquarters at (906) 828-1179.

Praise For Dan Benishek

Benishek for Congress — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 19:42:16 +0000

Jennifer Kuznicki, Hawks, MI:

One man in this congressional race has said, Enough is Enough. One man has stood for the repeal of the disastrous and costly Obamacare Law. One man has fought for conservative ideas and the individual’s right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Dr. Daniel Benishek will represent this conservative district by taking the steps necessary to ensure the restoration of America.

Mike Maturen, Harrisville, MI:

The Republican party has nominated a candidate who is fresh and new…unspoiled by years as a career politician. Dr. Dan Benishek is a career physician, spending most of his life helping others. He has successfully run his medical practice, in good times and in bad…and he can do the same for us in these troubled times.

Leo Couch, Alpena, MI:

I’m voting for Dan Benishek because he talks openly and honestly. We need to talk about our problems as adults. I am not going to be fooled.

The Alpena News Endorses Dan Benishek

Benishek for Congress — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 19:25:24 +0000

The Alpena News endorses Dr. Dan Benishek for Congress:

However, when one examines more closely where their history has led them, and where their dreams are pointing them, we believe GOP candidate Dan Benishek is the right man to represent our interests in Congress for the next two years.

UPDATE: The joint editorial board of the Iosco County News-Herald and Oscoda Press also endorsed Dan.