To All Representatives And Senators In The United States Congress:

It has come to my attention that there is an effort being made in Congress to create yet another federal bureaucracy…This is certainly NOT what our country needs, especially at this moment.  More government usually means more inefficiency, more cost, more red tape, and less jobs created in the private sector.  HR 635 has been introduced into the House by Congressman Joe Bacca.  The stated purpose of this bill is to establish a “National Commission on the State’s Workers’ Compensation Laws.”  

Workers’ compensation is a matter that has been (and is) being handled by the respective states.  Creating yet another Federal bureaucracy to oversee the state’s Workers’ Comp programs is both redundant and inefficient since the various states have been (and are) dealing with Workers’ Compensation quite effectively.  Apparently, this type of “centralization” thought process seems rampant in Washington.  Duplication of effort in these trying times is not only inefficient and redundant, but in my opinion, just plain stupid!  Please use your influence to see that HR 635 and other redundant measures authorizing Washington bureaucrats to take over state run programs are not passed into law. 

As one of the largest employers in the state of Mississippi, my company is trying desperately to survive in the toughest economic environment we have encountered in our 44 years of operation.  The very last thing we need is even more regulation and inefficiency through creating yet another bureaucracy to regulate and oversee what the states have been handling re: Workers’ Compensation for many decades.  Please do not support Mr. Bacca’s HR 635!

While on the topic of inefficiency, we at Peavey also believe that the “Cap and Trade” proposal currently before you is nothing less than an incipient disaster, bundled with a thinly disguised huge tax increase that will unfairly impact those least able to pay.  From heating oil, to diesel fuel, to electricity; every aspect of American society will be impacted by the nightmare of “Cap and Trade.”  Last week, Secretary Clinton visited India and was pointedly advised that India would NOT be participating in efforts to limit “greenhouse gasses!”  China has also advised the Europeans and the US, that CHINA would also NOT abide by the proposals to reduce “greenhouse gasses”…Obviously, if two if the largest producers of so-called “greenhouse gasses” refuse to “play ball,” WHY SHOULD WE?  Especially, since the huge increases in taxes, etc, etc. will invariably increase the cost of EVERYTHING!

Sadly, it seems apparent that many in Congress have failed to grasp that when business (large or small) experiences increased costs, those costs INVARIABLY get PASSED ALONG TO THE CONSUMER!  The ONLY WAY that our nation will pull out of this economic downturn is for CONSUMER SPENDING to RETURN to previous levels.  When consumers have less disposable income, then obviously they spend less.  Imposing a “Cap and Trade” unilaterally will essentially create an “umbrella tax” that will “trickle down” into EVERY ASPECT OF U.S. SOCIETY!  The present economic situation dictates that WE NEED FEWER TAXES, NOT MORE!  If there is any “logic” to “Cap and Trade,” it certainly does not indicate that the timing of such a program is right for PRESENT economic conditions.  My personal belief is that “Cap and Trade” is really a thinly disguised program to MASSIVELY increase taxation, which will inevitably result in a HIGHER COST OF LIVING FOR EVERYBODY in the USA, while India and China will be able to grab even more manufacturing jobs from the USA!  Cap and Trade will be the “final nail in the coffin” of U.S. manufacturing!

As a major manufacturer in the state of Mississippi and as one of the largest in the music and audio in the United States, I beg you to resist destructive measures such as HR 635, Cap and Trade, and last (but certainly not least) the present Heath Care “reform” package now before Congress.  Massive taxation has never saved any nation, but has destroyed many.  The USA possibly wouldn’t exist if the King of England hadn’t implemented harsh and unreasonable taxation on the American colonists! 

The “tea parties” that are cropping up around the nation are a significant “wakeup call” that our representatives and leaders in Washington need to listen to and I hope and pray that you ARE listening to what your constituents are saying.  Thank you for your attention and consideration of this matter. 

Respectfully,
Hartley Peavey
CEO
Peavey Electronics Corp

This letter was posted with the permission of the author.

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