Monday, May 23, 2005
Message from Senator Harkin
Dear Friend,
The Senate will be in session round-the-clock tonight as leadership pushes for a vote on the “nuclear option” to eliminate judicial filibusters. By going nuclear, advocates of this action would break the rules of the Senate, ending 217 years of constitutional checks and balances, as well as threatening to undermine the bipartisan cooperation that the Senate depends on to address the needs of the American people.
This is not healthy for our democracy. Americans prize our system of checks and balances and the spirit of moderation it fosters. So I will be here to fight to protect those checks and balances.
But what about the people’s business? What about all the things that Iowans are worried about? What about health care, education, rising gas prices, and the minimum wage?
Iowans have told me—loud and clear—that these are the issues they want the Senate to address. Unfortunately, the Senate will instead spend all night focused on a quest for absolute power, rather than addressing the issues that matter to people like you.
Tonight, I want to take your concerns to them. And I need your help to do that. I want to know what keeps you up at night.
My office will be open all night. My staff and I will be answering the phones to hear your concerns. Maybe you are working a second job, wondering when Congress will finally act to raise the minimum wage. Maybe you are a parent tossing and turning over worries about how you will pay for your child to go to college. Maybe you are thinking about that doctor visit you have been putting off because your family doesn’t have health care coverage. Or maybe you are a farmer getting hit hard by skyrocketing fuel prices.
You can e-mail me your concerns on my website at harkin.senate.gov, or reach us by phone at 202-224-3254 or 515-284-4574.
I plan to take your concerns directly to the Senate floor and let the powers in Washington know that the time has come to focus on the people’s business.
Thank you.
Tom Harkin
The Senate will be in session round-the-clock tonight as leadership pushes for a vote on the “nuclear option” to eliminate judicial filibusters. By going nuclear, advocates of this action would break the rules of the Senate, ending 217 years of constitutional checks and balances, as well as threatening to undermine the bipartisan cooperation that the Senate depends on to address the needs of the American people.
This is not healthy for our democracy. Americans prize our system of checks and balances and the spirit of moderation it fosters. So I will be here to fight to protect those checks and balances.
But what about the people’s business? What about all the things that Iowans are worried about? What about health care, education, rising gas prices, and the minimum wage?
Iowans have told me—loud and clear—that these are the issues they want the Senate to address. Unfortunately, the Senate will instead spend all night focused on a quest for absolute power, rather than addressing the issues that matter to people like you.
Tonight, I want to take your concerns to them. And I need your help to do that. I want to know what keeps you up at night.
My office will be open all night. My staff and I will be answering the phones to hear your concerns. Maybe you are working a second job, wondering when Congress will finally act to raise the minimum wage. Maybe you are a parent tossing and turning over worries about how you will pay for your child to go to college. Maybe you are thinking about that doctor visit you have been putting off because your family doesn’t have health care coverage. Or maybe you are a farmer getting hit hard by skyrocketing fuel prices.
You can e-mail me your concerns on my website at harkin.senate.gov, or reach us by phone at 202-224-3254 or 515-284-4574.
I plan to take your concerns directly to the Senate floor and let the powers in Washington know that the time has come to focus on the people’s business.
Thank you.
Tom Harkin
