Sarah Steelman's Letter to GOP Leadership

A recent communication sent from the Missouri Republican Party to Robin Carnahan contained the following question (#6 out of 10): 6.) Senator Bond supports worthwhile projects for Missouri in Congress. Senator McCaskill won't. Would you join with Senator McCaskill, so that Missouri unilaterally disarms itself, and gets nothing while other states get projects in Congress? An Open Letter to Fellow Missouri Republicans I recently saw the ten questions sent out by the Missouri Republican Party for Robin Carnahan. I don't have any quarrel with most of the questions. However, I am bewildered by question no. 6, which not only asks Robin Carnahan's position on the improper, inefficient, and corrupt practice of earmarking, which is an entirely appropriate question, but actually defends pork barrel spending at a time when most republicans, at least those who don't live in Washington D.C., are trying to stop the mounting and dangerous deficits. I don't believe that a majority of the state committee supports inefficient and wasteful spending. I know that a majority of Missourians don't. The Missouri Republican Party should not proclaim earmark spending a virtue. It is not. This does nothing but harm the efforts of principled politicians of both parties, who recognize that the old way of doing business; earmarks, pork, and a lack of accountability, has cost America jobs, security, and confidence. The old ways can no longer be tolerated. I have been asked how the Republican Party lost its Congressional majority. One of the major reasons, in my opinion, is that our party no longer has credibility on fiscal issues. I want our party to flourish and expand and to help lead the country out of this economic disaster. But why would anyone believe in our principles when Republican elected officials don't? We can no longer be the party that says one thing and does another. We must restore fiscal restraint and discipline. We must be the party that supports ethical reform by holding our elected officials to a higher standard of public service than exists today. We must always remember that Congress is spending taxpayer's money – it belongs to the people – and it should be spent prudently. Please remember what Ronald Reagan said in 1964, "The Founding Fathers knew a government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they knew when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. So we have come to a time for choosing. " Sincerely, Sarah Steelman -- http://MissouriNetizen.com http://www.bransonedge.com http://www.bransonmissouri.missourinetizen.com