How's Joe Biden doing? Depends who you ask. Today's letters from Seacoastonline

Overspending by Biden and Democrats is destroying our economy

Aug. 16 – To the Editor:

Much has been written, attempting to deflect responsibility for continuing/growing  inflation and now recession from Biden’s administration and Congress.  His overly-compliant Democratic-controlled Congress rubber-stamped all his multi-trillion dollar budgets/give-away programs. Republicans were only marginally helpful in reducing those way-more-than-necessary numbers.

The media aroused public frenzy with smokescreen issues (from which Biden attempts to gain “popularity” by promoting things he knows are illegal/unconstitutional/won’t/can’t do (abortion, gun laws, meaningful Ukraine assistance, etc.), to take attention away from your having to pay up to 15% more for food and basics. June, 2022, national inflation index is 9.6% and rising, more than negating minimum wage hikes and cost-of-living adjustments.

Oil?  On Biden’s first day in office, he stopped the Keystone pipeline and cancelled oil drilling leases.  Said he wanted us to become independent from oil by 2030, regardless how painful.  Then, 1/20/2021, gas was $1.569. 1/20/2022, gas was $3.399, more than double.  2/24/22 Ukraine invaded. Today it’s around $4.00. Were you aware that, while Biden released oil from our Strategic Reserves, we’re simultaneously exporting oil to multiple countries, including China?

Inflation Reduction Act?  More of the same mostly pork-barrel spending that got us into this is not going to get us out.  A slight drop, like gasoline,  designed to coincide w/mid-term elections, then a more severe downturn, plus increased taxes.

Mid-term elections?  Democrats, up for re-election, who supported all Biden’s uncontrolled spending programs, are now blatantly attempting to reverse/distance themselves from their records, claiming they’ve “seen the light.” Don’t believe it. Leopards don't change their spots.

Only gets worse.  Vote the economy.

Bruce Young

York, Maine

Joe Biden is a darn good president: Look at all he has accomplished despite challenges

Aug.14 – To the Editor:

After my wife passed away, I moved after 24 years out of New Hampshire to be nearer my children’s families. However, like many fellow Granite State emigres, my attention never strays very far from my former home.

When a difficult problem arises, many people have a curious need to unfairly blame or scapegoat someone for it. Also, among a small child’s first beliefs about politics is the idea that the president is like mommy or daddy. The president is all-powerful and can do anything. These two notions combine to explain the predicament in which President Biden now finds himself.

Inflation is high in the United States. Inflation is also a doorstep issue; it raises the prices of what Americans buy every day. It cannot be ignored. So, Americans are angry and unfairly scapegoat President Biden, arguing that he caused inflation. “Why not?” they reason.   Biden is thought by many to be an all-powerful person who can create or eliminate inflation with a wave of his hand. Nothing could be further from the truth. Inflation is created or eliminated by events, governments, and economies throughout the world. The proof? We are not alone. Inflation has spread world-wide.

As a matter of fact, Joe Biden has done a pretty good job as president, given the fact that the Senate is split 50-50 between the two parties and Democrats control the 435 member House of Representatives by merely 5 votes. Despite these slim majorities, Biden has adeptly passed into law many bills benefiting Americans. Among them are:  An infrastructure bill designed to repair dangerously defective roads, bridges, and structures throughout America.  A CHIPs bill to eliminate the shortage of much-needed semi-conductors and bring their production to the United States. A burn pit bill providing care for veterans who developed health problems after coming into contact in foreign countries with toxic materials produced by burn pits. A gun safety bill to reduce the 40,000 deaths each year attributable to firearms.

In addition, Biden oversaw the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act which: Gives Medicare the ability to negotiate lower prescription drug prices. Includes $369 billion dollars to fight global warming by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and encourages use of electric vehicles, and wind and solar power. Imposes a 15 percent minimum tax on giant, tax-evading corporations.

In addition, during the Biden presidency we have seen high numbers of jobs created and low rates of unemployment to the point where all the jobs lost during the pandemic have been replaced. And Biden has strengthened and unified NATO nations to oppose the Russian invasion of Ukraine without committing American troops to battle.  And Biden oversaw operations to take the life of Ayman al-Zawahri, the leader of al Qaeda.

So, let’s give credit where credit is due. Instead of mindlessly scapegoating Joe Biden. Let’s recognize that he’s been a darn good president.

Gary Patton

Princeton, NJ

Re-elect Michele Meyer to Maine House of Representatives

Aug. 15 – To the Editor:

I am a strong supporter of Michele Meyer, one of USA Today’s Women of the Year, a recognition of her significant impact to people who live in the great State of Maine.  Michele is running for third term as a Democrat serving Eliot, So. Berwick and Kittery.

She benefits Maine residents by putting her nearly three decades as a Registered Nurse to serve as the House Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. 

As a parent and grandparent, Michele has worked to address many of the difficulties working families face, including student debt, the lack of affordable housing, health care and child care.  She also worked on landmark legislation to ease the property tax burden.  She was named the 2021 Legislative Hero by the Maine Council in Aging.

It’s imperative that we in Maine maintain the Democratic majority and re-elect Gov. Janet Mills.  The GOP has stated their intent to reverse the progress made in the last four years regarding climate action, reproductive health and much more. Maine Republicans brought multiple bills to reverse the right to an abortion that Democrats thankfully defeated.

In this era of nasty partisan politics, Michele Meyer is a model of a compassionate and collaborative legislator who works extremely hard to benefit all Maine residents.

Anne Rugg

Eliot, Maine

Facts support my letter regarding Republicans callous vote on insulin price cap

Aug. 16 – To the Editor:

On Thursday, August 11, the Portsmouth Herald published a letter I wrote titled, “By refusing to cap insulin costs, GOP sides with Big Pharma over Americans.”  My letter points out, that 43 Republican senators voted against legislation to cap the cost of insulin at $35/month. This is correct.

Here is a quote from the Washington Post. “The Senate passed a sweeping budget package Sunday [The Inflation Reduction Act] intended to bring financial relief to Americans, but not before Republican senators voted to strip a proposal that would have capped the price of insulin at $35 per month for many patients.”

These Republicans specifically aimed to keep the price of insulin high. Their only goal was to help big Pharma’s profits at the expense of their constituents!

On Aug 16 the Herald printed a letter from Craig Daigle with numerous inaccuracies. His basic point is completely incorrect: he claims that the Republicans voted against capping the cost of insulin because it was part of the Inflation Reduction Act. No! As the Washington Post article makes clear, they voted specifically to keep the cost of insulin high. That made Big Pharma happy, but could kill their constituents.

A number of those 43 Republican senators who voted for higher insulin prices come from states with the highest mortality rates for diabetes in the country—Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

It sounds like these Republican senators are in favor of death panels after all!

Michael Frandzel

Portsmouth

Sen. Gannon: Smart, conservative fiscal decisions in NH Senate good for Granite State

Aug. 15 – To the Editor:

As politicians in Washington continue their spending spree, we’ve been making smart fiscal decisions in Concord, creating good news for local taxpayers.

Our conservative state budget has built up our economy and increased revenues, which allowed us to deliver more than $500 million in property tax relief for New Hampshire families and businesses.

In Senate District 23, we’ve delivered more than $7.7 million in tax relief. This includes $1.35 million for increased revenue sharing under the Rooms and Meals Tax, $1.2 million for local roads, and more than $950,000 for municipal bridge projects. This year, we are cutting the Statewide Education Property Tax (SWEPT), saving taxpayers in our district $4.2 million. Locally, this means more than $800,000 coming back to Kingston, more than $900,000 in property tax relief for Epping, and more than $1.4 million more for Seabrook. Taxpayers in every town in District 23 will save.

I have always prioritized good fiscal management, and I’ll continue to watch out for taxpayers as I continue my work on behalf of those I represent in Concord.

Sen. Bill Gannon

Sandown

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: How's Joe Biden doing? Depends who you ask. Letters