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Tuesday, July 26, 2011
07/26/11 Greenwich Patch - Breaking News Alert
07/26/11 Jim Himes: Raise the debt ceiling and get to work
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Dear Friends,
As you know, Washington is embroiled in heated discussions regarding the federal budget and the nation's debt limit. We reached our debt limit on May 16, but through some accounting gymnastics, we’ve been paying our bills. On August 2, that changes. If we don't raise the debt limit, checks to Social Security recipients and soldiers might not get sent, and we could default on interest payments to bond holders. Failure to pay any of these bills would almost certainly trigger the loss of our nation's AAA credit rating and send the world economy into a tailspin. Interest rates would rise, causing the cost of home mortgages and student, small business, and car loans to follow suit, not to mention the extra $140 billion per year our nation will pay to finance the debt for every percentage increase in the interest rate.
We absolutely need to cut our debt, but holding our economy hostage is neither smart nor responsible.
You don't have to take my word for it. Yesterday, the Stamford Advocate said it best in their editorial, "Raise the debt ceiling and get to work." They're right. The debt ceiling has become dangerous, dishonest political fodder. Some key points from the editorial:
Here's a news flash for you: Government sometimes does things that accomplish nothing but give the impression that things are being accomplished. The granddaddy of them all is the debt ceiling, a meaningless "limit" that allows our leaders to tell us debt won't get out of control, but which is raised whenever needed -- which is often.
The debt ceiling allows our representatives to hold the country hostage to massive hypocrisy. Much like use of the filibuster, politicos tend to be for or against raising the debt ceiling depending on the party of the president in office at the time.
Click here to read the full editorial.
If our nation is going to lead the world in the areas we know are important for our long-term success—education, energy reform, innovation—we need leadership in Washington committed to an honest discussion about our spending priorities. That won’t happen if we aren’t first honest about the process, about the fact that the debt limit has nothing to do with this future spending. As I’m quoted in the editorial:
“Don't use the debt ceiling as a negotiating tool in the most challenging negotiations Congress may ever have.”
It's time to move beyond this foolishness. Neither party is blameless for our increased debt, but no one wins if we send the economy into another Great Recession.
Thanks, Jim
07/26/11 The Greenwich First Selectman Report
| Greenwich Selected for National Pilot Program on Emergency ... Patch.com DEMHS Commissioner Peter Boynton recommended Greenwich participate in the ... without power in mid-March 2010, according to First Selectman Peter Tesei. ... | ||
| Auditorium project unearths contaminated soil at Greenwich High Greenwich Time First Selectman Peter Tesei said he learned about the soil issues after he was forwarded Freund's letter on Friday. "In terms of their moving forward, ... |
| Fashion's Night Out returns in September At a press conference Tuesday outside the store's Greenwich Avenue location, First Selectman Peter Tesei was introduced as the honorary chairman for the ... www.greenwich-post.com/.../98360-fashions-night-out-returns... |
07/26/11 Man Charged in Rape of Greenwich Juvenile and more news at the Greenwich Topix News Message Board
| Greenwich - News July 26, 2011 Man Charged in Rape of Greenwich Juvenile (Patch)
 Picture yourself at Bruce Park, enjoying a view of the pond while munching on a tasty breakfast sandwich from a local deli. Greenwich Selected for National Pilot Program on Emergency Response [Video] (Patch) Please send your comments, news tips and press releases to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com PatchCast: Socialite Busted on Second Shoplifting Charge, Teen Survives Bear Attack (Patch) Backyard Pond Leads to Orchard and Honey (The Daily Wilton)
 A town man was arrested Saturday when he was found with marijuana in plastic baggies during a traffic stop, police said. Greenwich Citizens Police Academy Seeks Recruits (The Daily Greenwich)
 A New York City socialite, accused of stealing an $11,000 scarf in June from a high-end Greenwich boutique, was arrested again for stealing another scarf. Did Beata Boman steal a $750 scarf from Richards a week before stealing the $11,050 scarf? (theoriginalgreenwichdiva) Mammography screening set in Westport (The Hour Online) |
07/26/11 A 'Ruff' Afternoon at The Nathaniel Witherell and more from Greenwich Patch
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07/26/11 Aggressive Geese Populate Greenwich Parks and more news at The Daily Greenwich
| What's Up in | The Daily Greenwich |
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| Aggressive Geese Populate Greenwich Parks | |
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| by Anna Helhoski | 07/26/11 | |
 | GREENWICH, Conn. — Picture yourself at Bruce Park, enjoying a view of the pond while munching on a tasty breakfast sandwich from a local deli. You see a gaggle of geese wade toward you and waddle up over the water's edge. Suddenly, it feels like a scene out of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" as the |
| Westport EMS Training Helps Teen After Bear Attack | |
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| by Vanessa Inzitari | 07/26/11 | |
 | WESTPORT, Conn. – To help save the lives of seriously injured hikers in Alaska after a grizzly bear attack, Westport teen Samuel Boas recalled training he had received from Westport Emergency Medical Service — news that Marc Hartog was happy to hear. For Hartog, coordinator of Westport EMS, the fact |
| Joan Bouton, Longtime Greenwich Resident by Anna Helhoski | 07/25/11 | ||
| GREENWICH, Conn. — Joan Bouton, a resident of Cos Cob for nearly 50 years, died June 15. She was 82. Bouton was born in Richmond Hill, N.Y., and graduated from New York University. She was active in various parent teacher associations, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Christ Church's Sunday School and READ MORE | ||
| Man Charged With Intent To Sell Pot in Greenwich | |
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| by Anna Helhoski | 07/25/11 | |
 | GREENWICH, Conn. — A town man was arrested Saturday when he was found with marijuana in plastic baggies during a traffic stop, police said. Willie Aurioles, 24, of 106 Spruce St., second floor, was a passenger in a car stopped at Henry Street and Byram Street. The driver, Ramiro Gudino, did not |
| Westport Mom Proud of Teen's Actions in Alaska | |
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| by Vanessa Inzitari | 07/25/11 | |
 | WESTPORT, Conn. – Carol Boas has always known her 16-year-old son Samuel was an amazing person. That's why she wasn't surprised to learn that after surviving a grizzly bear attack in Alaska, he stayed at the sides of those who were seriously injured. Samuel, a student at Staples High School, was |