An Open Letter to Congresswoman Edwards, Congressional District 4

Friday, March 01, 2013

Dear Congresswoman Edwards: 

I have just viewed a speech you made recently about the sequester and the Violence against Women Act.  In it, you laid the blame at the feet of Republicans with inflammatory rhetoric with words like "taking a sledgehammer" and “230,000 victims will be calling crisis hotlines and those calls will go unanswered." You went on to say, "And so for the women who are forced to stay in their homes with their abuser because there’s no place to go, because shelters have been cut, because hotlines go unanswered, that is on the hands of the GOP here in the House of Representatives.” 

You make assertions without citing any specific basis for those assertions.  You and I both know that most of these shelters are nonprofit organizations that have other funding and are mostly staffed by volunteers.  Secondly, crisis hotlines are always available 24/7 at 9-1-1. 

To say this is due to Republican's fault is outrageous and demeaning, and I personally resent it. I think you should immediately apologize to your constituents of the 4th District for that needless rhetoric.  

You know that it is the President who suggested the sequester, and you know we have spending that is out of control, much because your Democrat counterparts in the Senate and the President have not approved a budget in over 4 years.  In fact, it was a Democratically controlled House that passed a massive stimulus and we are still spending at those levels, a full 40% more now than in 2007. YOU are responsible in aiding and abetting this unsustainable situation.  

Congresswoman Edwards, you pride yourself as representing military entities like Joint Base Andrews.  I note that there was no mention of the unreasonable cuts to your constituents of the military that are much more massive than what you cite for domestic violence hotlines and shelters. 

As a business person, I know there are many alternatives to spend more efficiently and strategically to counterbalance the hammer effect of these cuts.  I urge you to support any legislation that allows for flexibility in the implementation of these cuts to reduce negative impact.  National security is the primary focus of government so a priority on national security is expected.   Doing so is expected of you as our District 4 leader and representative.  Real leadership and courage on your part would seek answers with those on the other side of the aisle.  

If you and others do not employ leadership on unsustainable spending, our nation’s fiscal house will, in all likelihood, come crashing in on us like a thief in the night.  When it does come crashing down, all your special interests will be hurt so deeply and so irreparably, there will be nothing left for anyone.  

Sincerely, 

David M. Zwald

Concerned Citizen- Congressional District 4 

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/rep-donna-edwards-gop-forcing-women-stay-their-homes-their-abuser-because-sequester