Tea Partier Mike Lee

From: Brynja Kohler

Subject: Re: Response to the correspondence you sent to Senator Mike Lee

Date: August 4, 2011 8:16:55 AM MDT

To: "Taylor, Jonathan (Lee)"

Thanks for your reply, but frankly this appalls me! The senator is using a document written in the 18th century to guide government budgets in 2011? I am typing this email on an iPad, you refer me to a Facebook page, and guess what, there is no more slavery ... Our world has changed dramatically!

By the way, the constitution doesn't call for a two party system, and Jefferson had some pretty abhorrent morals. But let's not take the argument of how strong the federal government should be so far back in the past. Let us wake up and look at what will make or country most successful in the 21st century.

It is incredibly irresponsible for the senator to deliver such strong rhetoric calling for tax revenue reductions and enormous cuts in our federal spending without a single idea about what programs or spending the government should cut. Please discuss my disappointment with him.

Sincerely,

Brynja Kohler

On Aug 4, 2011, at 7:08 AM, "Taylor, Jonathan (Lee)" <Jonathan_Taylor@lee.senate.gov> wrote:

Hi Brynja,

Our office is currently looking into all the agencies, programs, and organizations funded by the federal government. Senator Lee has not specifically compiled a list of wasteful areas at this time, but wants to first look at every aspect and analyze how changes would affect those involved. The guiding document in deciding what the federal government should and shouldn't be involved in is the United States Constitution. Please feel free to follow Senator Lee's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/senatormikelee and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/SenMikeLee for information on the latest items he is working on.

Thanks again for writing and please don't hesitate to contact our office if we can be of assistance in the future.

Best,

Jonathan

From: Brynja Kohler <brynja.kohler@usu.edu>

Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 20:21:54 -0400

To: Greg Sutherland <jonathan_taylor@lee.senate.gov>

Subject: Re: Response to the correspondence you sent to Senator Mike Lee

What government programs and services does Senator Lee want to cut, eliminate, and/or defund? I want to better understand his priorities.

Thank you,

Brynja Kohler

On Aug 3, 2011, at 7:45 AM, "jonathan_taylor@lee.senate.gov" <jonathan_taylor@lee.senate.gov> wrote:

August 3, 2011

Dear Brynja:

Thank you for writing Senator Lee. He always enjoys hearing from interested citizens. I have reviewed your letter and have discussed your comments about the debt ceiling with Senator Lee, so that he may keep them in mind when discussing or voting on the matter.

Senator Lee can also be reached on Facebook at www.facebook.com/senatormikelee and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SenMikeLee.

Please don't hesitate to contact our office if there is anything we can assist you with. Thank you again for writing.

Best,

Jonathan Taylor

Office of Senator Michael S. Lee
(202) 224-5444
Jonathan_Taylor@Lee.Senate.Gov

Dear Senator Lee:

I am writing tonight because of the President's address to the nation regarding the debt issues that are currently debated in congress. I was very glad to hear him call upon the American people to take more responsibility, to contact their representatives, and let their voices be heard on this issue. I have no faith anymore that anyone in the republican party is listening to middle class Americans. And much less faith that the extremist tea partiers are listening to and serving American values and interests. As a citizen of Utah this leaves me with little recourse. But President Obama has inspired me to be hopeful and faithful in his speech tonight, so I will not give up and I will be relentless about expressing my own interests and views.

Repeal the tax breaks for super rich individuals and corporations.

Do not make unfair cuts in medicare and medicaid.

Cut military spending.

Invest in jobs through government and education funding that get people working on long-term projects that benefit the common welfare. In hard economies, I want the government to step up and help the American people get back to work. Do what it takes to keep the air and water clean, the infrastructure current and up-to-date, schools running without having to cut faculty, etc... Along with a responsibility to pay bills that have already accrued, these are responsibilities of government. And I am extremely unhappy with republicans for failing to take any actions on these responsibilities.

Stop hijacking real progress in America with a failure to address real issues while inventing this current debt ceiling issue -- it was never a problem in the past to raise the debt ceiling.

I hope you will understand my frustration. I hope that as my representative you will revisit your outlook and reflect on what best serves the hard working middle class. No more handouts for those that are gaining the most - not when the rest of us are sacrificing so much.

Sincerely,

Brynja Kohler