WHAT DOES YOUR CONGRESSMAN DO TO EARN HIS PAY

On January 4, 2013 I sent Congressman Rick Crawford the following email at the address shown on his official web site—rick.crawford@mail.house.gov

WHAT DOES YOUR CONGRESSMAN DO TO EARN HIS PAY

As a voter and taxpayer I am interested in how Congress votes and spends my tax dollars and am requesting Congressman Rick Crawford to answer the following questions.

Do you and each member of your staff keep a daily record of your activities along with the names of all people contacted or who contacted you which records voters may view?

If not would you agree to keep such records in the future?

What was your Congressional expense allowance for the year 2012?

How many staff members did you have in 2012 and what was the job description for each? What was the expenses for your staff in 2012?

Please give the title and bill number for all bills you sponsored or co-sponsored in 2012 and how many of those became law.

What were the reasons that caused you to sign the Grover Norquist pledge never to raise taxes and will you continue to honor that pledge?

Would you sign a pledge never to cut benefits for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid or Food Stamps and give the reasons for your answer.

How much will you reduce your expense allowance and how much will you reduce the salary allowance of your staff in 2013?

Are you voters and taxpayers in Cleburne County interested enough in what Congress does and how much Congress costs taxpayers to write Congressman Crawford about these concerns and based on his record decide if he is earning his pay?

Congressman Crawford has not responded to my email sent him more than a year ago.

However Congressman Crawford sent me a two page letter dated October 31, 2013 containing these statements:

“The people who elected our government—throughout our country and right here in Arkansas –deserve better than this.”

“The major problems facing America require, real urgent action, not the kind of delays and frustrations that are becoming “standard operating procedure” in our nation’s capital.”

“And we deserve better than a Congress that refuses to work together on issues affecting workers, businesses, and families in the real world.”

“I went to Washington to fix these problems, not to play the “insiders’ game.”

“Paul with the election less than a year away, I need to start rebuilding my grassroots campaign for r-election. Your immediate contribution of $150, $75, or $50 would put our campaign in the strongest possible position for re-election and send a message to potential challengers that we’re ready to fight in 2014.”

“We can’t continue like this. We must find real solutions that don’t just delay problems we need to deal with now.”

“Paul, I know taking back our country is a tough road, but we cannot afford to give up now. Knowing that I can count on your generous support of $150, $75, or $50 would help our campaign for re-election hit the ground running as we approach 2014.”

/s/rick

“P.S. Paul Nancy Pelosi and her liberal allies are deciding which races to target, and your strongest support will show them that Arkansas votes its conscience. Your urgent contribution of $150, $75, or $50 will help send the message loud and clear that we deserve better. Thanks again for your support—Rick”

Congressman Crawford said he went to Washington to “fix problems.”

His letter has three paragraphs requesting a contribution of $150, $75, or $50 BUT DOES NOT LIST ONE THING HE HAS DONE IN THREE YEARS TO “FIX THOSE PROBLEMS.” ---

Has Congressman Crawford become a “Washington Insider” who spends up to 70% of his time raising money, thinking about raising money or planning to raise money but does not have time to respond to emails from voters in his district?

The Republican controlled House in 2012 was so busy raising campaign money it passed 90 bills---a record low number.