John's reaction to the latest version of Chris Dodd's Financial Regulatory Reform Bill:
It does do some good things, and is an improvement upon the November version (see "Too Big to Fail" on my website). However, it does not go nearly far enough. We should reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act, to separate most commercial and investment banking activities. And, after causing huge damage to our economy, and requiring huge amounts of taxpayer-funded bailouts, it's time to break up huge institutions like Morgan Stanley or Goldman Sachs into, say, five smaller (but still extremely large) institutions. Mr. Dodd says that "No legislation will stop the next crisis from coming." I do not agree. Stronger action to prevent entities from being "Too Big to Fail" can do the job. I would vote for Mr. Dodd's bill, but I would also fight hard for much stronger protections for us, the people.
We are facing huge long-term problems: a real unemployment rate of 18%, dysfunctional banks that are "too big to fail", a regressive tax structure that's stifling economic growth, prisons that are bursting at the seams, urban schools that are struggling, a health care system that still needs major reform, the lack of a coherent national energy policy that will protect our economy and the environment, and a government that has been encroaching on our civil liberties. For decades we have lived with irresponsible public policies from career politicians in Congress who care more about increasing their party’s power and getting re-elected than they care about solving long-term problems. They haven’t been honest with us, and they have been lousy public servants.
I’m different. I do not want to be a career politician. I am not a Democrat or a Republican. I’m a Problem Solver. I want to force members of Congress to be responsible, and implement sustainable solutions to real problems. Please read the positions I present on this website, and spread the word to friends and family.
Please email me at John@Mertens2010.com, and become a supporter on Twitter at @mertens4senate or Facebook: John's FB
Monday, March 15, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Overview of Some Legislation I Will Fight For:
A U.S. Senator enacts change through legislation. My opponents seem to forget or ignore this. Here's a summary of some of the specific short-, medium-, and long-term legislation that I will fight for. You can find details of each on this website, and by watching my TV show.
• Flip the FICA: to deal with unemployment, foreclosures, small business failures, and tax fairness, eliminate FICA taxes for workers and employers on incomes below $100,000, and institute FICA taxes on additional income above $100,000. When full employment is reached, FICA taxes for everyone.
• Require all lenders to keep 30% of every loan they make, for the lifetime of the loan, to prevent future mortgage crises.
• Social Security: remove the income cap, means-test payments (see TV show on YouTube).
• Universal Health Care, with cost containment (see TV show on YouTube).
• Make permanent a temporary renewable energy tax credit that is impeding investment.
• Close hedge-fund-managers tax loophole that costs us $6 billion dollars a year.
• Specific, large improvements in our ethanol policies.
• Implement a National Energy Policy for the first time.
• Require corporations to disclose compensation packages to stock holders. Transparency.
• Reinstate 1990 Budget Enforcement Act.
• Reinstate Glass-Steagall, and address “Too Big to Fail”.
• Fight for Constitutional Amendment that ends Eminent Domain Abuse.
• Fight for Constitutional Amendment that prevents corporations from donating limitless funds to political advertising, and states that corporations are not treated as persons.
• Urge reduction of troop levels in Afghanistan to 10,000. Focus on Al-Qaeda in Pakistan, corruption and 60% unemployment in Afghanistan. Purchase all Afghani poppies.
• Fight for U.S. Drug Policy urged by Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). (see TV show on YouTube.) Address 30% high school dropout rate in the U.S. with savings.
• Implement real campaign finance reform.
• Tax Fairness: our tax burden has been shifted to the middle class. Reverse this with more progressive tax structure.
• Keep government out of our personal lives.
• End tax credits for businesses that outsource jobs.
• Fight obesity and diabetes epidemic, replace corrupt FDA food pyramid with Harvard study.
• many more....
• Flip the FICA: to deal with unemployment, foreclosures, small business failures, and tax fairness, eliminate FICA taxes for workers and employers on incomes below $100,000, and institute FICA taxes on additional income above $100,000. When full employment is reached, FICA taxes for everyone.
• Require all lenders to keep 30% of every loan they make, for the lifetime of the loan, to prevent future mortgage crises.
• Social Security: remove the income cap, means-test payments (see TV show on YouTube).
• Universal Health Care, with cost containment (see TV show on YouTube).
• Make permanent a temporary renewable energy tax credit that is impeding investment.
• Close hedge-fund-managers tax loophole that costs us $6 billion dollars a year.
• Specific, large improvements in our ethanol policies.
• Implement a National Energy Policy for the first time.
• Require corporations to disclose compensation packages to stock holders. Transparency.
• Reinstate 1990 Budget Enforcement Act.
• Reinstate Glass-Steagall, and address “Too Big to Fail”.
• Fight for Constitutional Amendment that ends Eminent Domain Abuse.
• Fight for Constitutional Amendment that prevents corporations from donating limitless funds to political advertising, and states that corporations are not treated as persons.
• Urge reduction of troop levels in Afghanistan to 10,000. Focus on Al-Qaeda in Pakistan, corruption and 60% unemployment in Afghanistan. Purchase all Afghani poppies.
• Fight for U.S. Drug Policy urged by Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). (see TV show on YouTube.) Address 30% high school dropout rate in the U.S. with savings.
• Implement real campaign finance reform.
• Tax Fairness: our tax burden has been shifted to the middle class. Reverse this with more progressive tax structure.
• Keep government out of our personal lives.
• End tax credits for businesses that outsource jobs.
• Fight obesity and diabetes epidemic, replace corrupt FDA food pyramid with Harvard study.
• many more....
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Lecture by John Mertens in Hartford, March 9, 12:15-1:15 PM
U.S. Senate candidate John Mertens is presenting:
“The Nuts and Bolts of Public Policy, American Politics, and Running for Office”
in Hartford, Connecticut on March 9, 12:15-1:15 PM.
Dr. Mertens will discuss the practicalities of implementing public policy solutions in American politics. He will address Medicare and Healthcare, Social Security, Energy Policy, Bank Regulations, U.S. Drug Policy, and others. He will also discuss the practicalities of running for office: ballot access, campaign funding, and media access.
The presentation is in Boyer Auditorium, Albert C. Jacobs Life Sciences Center, Trinity College, 300 Summit St., Hartford, Connecticut.
The event is free and open to the public; all are invited to attend.
“The Nuts and Bolts of Public Policy, American Politics, and Running for Office”
in Hartford, Connecticut on March 9, 12:15-1:15 PM.
Dr. Mertens will discuss the practicalities of implementing public policy solutions in American politics. He will address Medicare and Healthcare, Social Security, Energy Policy, Bank Regulations, U.S. Drug Policy, and others. He will also discuss the practicalities of running for office: ballot access, campaign funding, and media access.
The presentation is in Boyer Auditorium, Albert C. Jacobs Life Sciences Center, Trinity College, 300 Summit St., Hartford, Connecticut.
The event is free and open to the public; all are invited to attend.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
John Mertens is Guest on FOX 61's "The Real Story" on Sunday, Feb. 28
John Mertens will be a guest on "The Real Story" hosted by Laurie Perez on Sunday, February 28th. "The Real Story" is broadcast in Connecticut on Sundays at 10:30am on FOX 61, 11:00am on WTXX, and 8:30pm on CTN.
Podcast of Dr. Mertens' appearance on WNPR's "Where We Live"
You can listen here to John Mertens' discussion with John Dankosky on WNPR's "Where We Live":
http://www.cpbn.org/program/where-we-live/episode/where-we-vote-john-mertens
http://www.cpbn.org/program/where-we-live/episode/where-we-vote-john-mertens
Sunday, February 21, 2010
John Mertens on WNPR's Where We Live on Tuesday, Feb. 23rd
Dr. Mertens will be the sole guest on WNPR's Connecticut radio show "Where We Live", hosted by John Dankosky, on Tuesday, Feb. 23rd, from 9-10 AM. The show is rebroadcast at 7 PM. The broadcast can be heard live online at http://www.cpbn.org/listen-live
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Congress has made another huge mistake:
"The Senate Tuesday rejected a plan backed by President Obama to create a bipartisan task force to tackle the federal deficit this year despite glaring new figures showing the enormity of the red-ink threat."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-01-26-federal-budget-deficit_N.htm
" 'Yet another indication that Congress is more concerned with the next election than the next generation,' said Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., a sponsor of the plan."
I (John Mertens) would have strongly supported the formation of this task force. And this comes on top of a recent budget passed by Congress that increased spending for almost all agencies by 10%! Most companies and non-profits that I know of have frozen spending (if not cut it). Congress should have done the same.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-01-26-federal-budget-deficit_N.htm
" 'Yet another indication that Congress is more concerned with the next election than the next generation,' said Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., a sponsor of the plan."
I (John Mertens) would have strongly supported the formation of this task force. And this comes on top of a recent budget passed by Congress that increased spending for almost all agencies by 10%! Most companies and non-profits that I know of have frozen spending (if not cut it). Congress should have done the same.
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