AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 15 - August 19, 2008

Foreclosures: It's getting really ugly.

Here's an example of just how bad things really are. New Hampshire's population (just over 1.3 million) ranks only 41st in the country. It's largest city is Manchester with a population of only 110,000 (approx). Today, Manchester's nationally recognized daily paper, The Manchester Union Leader, contained the equivalent of 9 full pages of foreclosures notices (out of 58 total pages in today's edition) which equals almost 16% of the entire paper. The total number of foreclosure notices was 108; with a total of 510 for the past 7 days.

But the number of foreclosures is only the tip of the ugly iceberg. Many of these homeowners who are facing foreclosure are looking to their lenders for help; not realizing that these lenders have no choice to use the borrower's vulnerability as the deceptive means (often disguised as "let's take a look at your situation and perhaps we can help...") to extract every last micro-drop of blood before officially pulling the plug. This is because the entire U.S. banking system (which has enjoyed years of wind-fall profits as the housing and mortgage balloons were blown up to generate huge wind-falls of profits for the insiders) is also under siege as the "castle of cards" created by the [independent?] federal reserve and central banking system has now started to collapse.

As you know, many folks have their entire lives invested in their homes; the "icon" of the American Dream. It is true that many of these folks have made short-sighted and/or incorrect financial decisions, but the fact of the matter is that the majority of them would be more than willing to work exceptionally hard to earn the money to save their homes and protect their families. In a vast majority of cases, that will not be an option.

In order to help folks minimize their damages and more effectively deal with the foreclosure process (especially if they intend or need to fight or delay a foreclosure), a free checklist of crucial considerations and information can be accessed anonymously at:

http://www.ehsportal.com/foreclosure-help.php

Feel free to just forward a copy of this email to anyone you think might benefit. Visitors to the page can also get additional help with their specific circumstances if they want it.

Traditionally, home equity has been the single largest component of net wealth for most families in the United States. But for many thousands of households (if not millions), home-ownership will become the most devastating financial disaster of their lives.

And the banks, not the borrowers, will still get the most support from Congress in the process.

Please reply to avfr@ehsreports.com to share your thoughts, comments, or opinions.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 14 - August 12, 2008

McCain versus Obama: Either way you will lose more money.

McCain says he's going to fix the stagnation of American wages by lowering taxes. Obama claims he's going to solve the problem by having the government spend more money to create more jobs:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/01/news/economy/wages_candidates/index.htm?postversion=2008080111

This is just another prime example of just how stupid both of these candidates must think most Americans really are.

Regarding McCain's proposed solution, he appears to be basically oblivious to the fact that America is already experiencing the drastic effects of a budget which includes a plan to increase deficit spending by hundreds of billions of dollars. How stupid do you have to be to believe that McCain is going to run the country with less tax revenue - or is he just trying to create that illusion?

Regarding Obama's proposed solution, just exactly where does he think all this extra money is going to come from? You and I both know it will come out of your paycheck - and then some!

The sad fact of the matter is that there is little or no hope of averting or stopping the continued U.S. financial melt-down and continued economic disaster without (a) some immediate and dramatic reductions/changes in the U.S. budget and spending priorities coupled with (b) an absolute moratorium on deficit spending.

Otherwise, both would just be blowing up a bigger balloon.

Please reply to avfr@ehsreports.com to share your thoughts, comments, or opinions.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 13 - July 15, 2008

IndyMac Bank Failure: Surprise, surprise.

Here we go again. Last week saw one of the largest bank failures in U.S. history and Uncle Sam is coming to the rescue with your money.

But one gentleman, Michael W. Perry (CEO of IndyMac Bankcorp for many years), is far less concerned than the bank's customers. Despite his cut in annual salary to a mere $500,000 on July 7, 2008, he hasn't done all that bad; with a 5-year compensation total of some $42 million as of 2006 or so:

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/12/794L.html

So rest assured that this poor guy won't be struggling to put gas in his car.

However, American taxpayers are starting to get sick and tired of watching those in charge getting rich off the growing demise and financial destruction of the American enterprise. As our ship goes down, members of Congress will still be getting their ever-increasing base salaries (now at $169,300) and Bernanke will still get his $191,200 base salary (while the other Federal Reserve Board members get their $172,200 salaries); all with benefits to choke a horse. Performance of their jobs is, obviously, not part of the equation.

Meanwhile, the $7.25 per hour minimum wage that Congress finally approved and passed in May of 2007 won't be effective until summer of 2009!

By the way, the Fed's plan and forecast for interest rates over the next year is a slow but steady rise; which will probably squeeze the last drop of blood out of millions of Americans who are already on life-support. Read it yourself at:

http://www.money-rates.com/fed.htm

Maybe putting your money under your mattress is the safest place after all.

Please reply to avfr@ehsreports.com to share your thoughts, comments, or opinions.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 12 - June 27, 2008

Congressional Earmarks: One big cookie-jar.

The very existence of earmarks is just one of many reasons that Americans must get their checkbook back from Uncle Sam. Despite the increased exposure by such organizations as Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government), earmarks are on the rise.

In fact, (in their own words), "The Congressional Pig Book is CAGW's annual compilation of the pork-barrel projects in the federal budget. The 2008 Pig Book identified 11,610 projects at a cost of $17.2 billion in the 12 Appropriations Acts for fiscal 2008. A "pork" project is a line-item in an appropriations bill that designates tax dollars for a specific purpose in circumvention of established budgetary procedures....":

http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reports_pigbook2008

Even more incredible, perhaps, is that the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) makes the following statement to America:

"Earmarks are funds provided by the Congress for projects or programs where the congressional direction (in bill or report language) circumvents the merit-based or competitive allocation process, or specifies the location or recipient, or otherwise curtails the ability of the Executive Branch to properly manage funds. Congress includes earmarks in appropriation bills - the annual spending bills that Congress enacts to allocate discretionary spending - and also in authorization bills..."

Read it yourself at (it's the first paragraph on the page!):

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/earmarks/public-site-preview/

A simpler translation of this paragraph is considerably shorter:

"Earmarks represent the intentionally improper distribution of billions of dollars of taxpayers' money by Congress."

.....and, judging by the fact that the U.S. Senate recently shot down (71-29) an effort to ban earmark spending for one year, they could care less what you think about it.

Get the checkbook back.

Please reply to avfr@ehsreports.com to share your thoughts, comments, or opinions.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 11 - June 11, 2008

Obama and McCain: They share a dubious distinction.

As you probably know, there are a total of only 100 U.S. Senators representing the entire population of the United States. That mean there is, roughly, only one senator for every 3 million people. Therefore, it is fair to say that their participation in the legislative process which constitutes the very core of a representative democracy (and which just happens to be their job) is crucial; if not of paramount importance.

Two of our senators, Obama and McCain, are the front-runners in the race for the White House. Unfortunately, they are anything but the front-runners when it comes to doing their jobs. In fact, based on their voting performance (i.e. the number of times they even show up to vote), they have the two worst records of the entire Senate. Since January 6 of 2005, Senator Obama has missed 259 of 1231 votes (21%). In the last quarter (Q2 of 2008), he missed 51 out of 60 votes (a whopping 85%). Since February 4 of 1993, Senator McCain has missed 682 out of 4,048 votes (17%) and although this is only the second to worst record of the entire Senate, he did manage to beat Obama in the last quarter (Q2 of 2008) by missing 59 out of 60 votes (a more than whopping 98.3%). Check out this sad story yourself by visiting:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd

You would think that a $169,300 salary, with the Rolls-Royce of health care plans and extraordinary other benefits and privileges, would create some sort of obligation to at least show up and vote. God-forbid that Americans should actually be able to see how these candidates are actually voting on the issues during the campaign. That would probably give voters way too much accurate information!

What a horrible example this sets to those who are led to believe that one of these gentlemen has the ability to perform the miracles required to get America back on track. They should both get pink slips, not campaign contributions.

Try skipping out on your work or job 20% of the time and see how long your paycheck keeps coming.

Please reply to avfr@ehsreports.com to share your thoughts, comments, or opinions.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 10 - May 24, 2008

Obama v. Clinton v. McCain: No matter what happens, the pundits win and America loses.

The 2008 Presidential Election represents the birth of the "super-genre" of programming for TV watchers; formally merging the soap-opera with the political news show (where the commentators and guests combine efforts to present an "all in one" commercial, situation comedy, documentary, talk show, action adventure, detective show, and science fiction presentation for the viewer!). As you might suspect, this is designed to generate big ratings and big bucks; as the media pundits cover such important issues as the notion that Hillary Clinton can't be Vice-President because Michelle Obama wouldn't want her hanging around the White House!

Meanwhile, however, America is going down the tubes. Gas has made it to $4 a gallon and other prices are sky-rocketing out of control. Stimulus checks are too little too late. The U.S. dollar is going down. Incomes are stagnating. Unemployment is going up. Cities and towns are scrambling to cover their budgets. Financial pressure is giving way to crime and corruption. Infrastructures are deteriorating all over the country. Health care is becoming a bigger problem. Pensions and social security are less secure. Billions of dollars of aid to Iraq and are being siphoned off through corruption and mismanagement while our troops remain in harm's way (in Iraq and all over the world). Large-scale deficit spending continues as the national debt approaches $10 trillion and Uncle Sam's unfunded future entitlements and promises are approaching $100 trillion. Tax increases are inevitable as the 2009 proposed federal budget exceeds $3 trillion for the first time in history.

If the American people continue to buy in to this battle between Democrats and Republicans as the answer for a renewed prosperity and future for America, it will be utter and absolute devastation for millions of Americans. This is because, no matter who becomes President, America is locked-in to spending over half it's money on military-related spending over the coming years absent a dramatic change in the U.S. budget and tax process in Washington. That dramatic change (the change that Obama should really be talking about) is that Uncle Sam needs to return his checkbook to the American people.

Meanwhile, you'll be happy to know that Uncle Sam's Phoenix Mars Lander will arrive at its destination on Mars tomorrow night, ready to search for signs of habitability there. Your tax dollars at work.

Maybe that's where the next presidential debate should be held.

Please reply to avfr@ehsreports.com to share your thoughts, comments, or opinions.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 9 - May 8, 2008

Pennies and Nickels: A $100,000,000 loss to begin with.

Here's a profound, but mind-boggling, example of Uncle Sam's financial management skills.

It was reported yesterday by Laurie Kellman of Associated Press that it now costs the U.S. Mint 1.26 cents to make a penny (down from 1.67 cents at the end of 2007) and 7.7 cents to make a nickel (down from just under 10 cents at the end of 2007); costing the Treasury and taxpayers an extra $100,000,000 last year alone.

In terms of standard and accepted government rhetoric, this represents an example of "keeping costs down". In terms of reality, it represents plain stupidity.

Pennies are 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper while nickels are 75% copper and 25% nickel; and the U.S. Mint cites metal prices as the culprit in the deal. Apparently Congress is in the process of asking the Treasury to "prescribe" a more economical composition of the penny and nickel. No doubt that this is motivated by the questionable practice of minting coins with melt-values that (although melting coins is illegal) are equal to, or higher than, face-values (some say that the melt-value of a nickel is now almost double its face-value).

As you know, the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the right to coin money and regulate its value.

That being the case, you would think that even Congress could find a way to make money at a profit!

Please reply to avfr@ehsreports.com to share your thoughts, comments, or opinions.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 8 - April 21, 2008

Internet Security: It's a huge cost.

The "insurance" necessary to travel safely on the information super-highway is getting very expensive because, unfortunately, the very nature of Internet communications leaves itself wide open to a host of very damaging and costly abuses. Crooks of all kinds are having a field day "stealing and spamming" everything in sight: your identity, your money, and much more. Deranged and sinister minds from all over the world are busy sending out computer viruses in every imaginable form and method to corrupt files, crash computers, and otherwise create havoc. For example, one common scheme is to transmit a virus (as, perhaps, a script that's embedded in an attachment or email to you) that sends out thousands of unsolicited emails from your computer using your email address!

In the past few months, AVFR has spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to improve the security of its web presence and email communications. All of our electronic communications (incoming and outgoing emails) are now screened for viruses and infected files in order to give our visitors and members a very high degree of confidence.

More important, however, is that the whole idea of protecting data and communications in cyberspace is coming at a hefty cost; especially to big business and governments around the world.

How big a cost? In December of 2005, the U.S. Government began a transition to an improved internet protocol (IPv6) that was expected to cost anywhere from $25 to $75 billion. However, this cost is for architectural design and transition, not security. Making the transition to IPv6 while maintaining Internet security (while dealing with the world-wide gang of enemy-hackers) may be like putting on a new roof during a hurricane! And like the Iraq War, you're going to hear that we were "forced" to do it in order to maintain world order.

So.don't think for a second that Uncle Sam has given up on an Internet tax

. Please reply to avfr@ehsreports.com to share your thoughts, comments, or opinions.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 7 - April 9, 2008

Your Stimulus Package Check: Too little too late.

Uncle Sam is going to "give" (actually it's a rebate on 2008 taxes) individual taxpayers somewhere between nothing and $600. Couples filing jointly will get somewhere between nothing and $1200; while qualified children will get up to $300.

First take a moment to visit this page:

http://www.irs.gov/app/espc/

.with, perhaps, last year's tax return in your hand (if you filed one) to help guide you with the information you'll need. You'll be able to quickly (in less than five minutes) find out what amount you can anticipate for a check.

If you find out that you are going to get a check, and the amount of the check, (and also assuming your check will not be offset by taxes owed for prior years); this concludes the "good" news in this newsletter.

Now for the bad news:

While any amount is certainly better than nothing, many Americans will find Uncle Sam's hand-out to be like getting that last gulp of air before drowning (Please Note: Contrary to Al Gore's belief, Americans will drown in debt - both theirs and Uncle Sam's - long before they drown from the run-off caused by melting glaciers.).

Slice it any way you want, but the average recipient of a stimulus check is going to have to come up with thousands, not hundreds, of extra dollars to cover their recent and future losses; or even stay afloat. Your stimulus check, if you get one, will do little more than offset the increased amount you will pay (or have paid) at the gas pumps for a period of one year (the average person uses about 500 gallons of gas in a year). But what about all the other costs of living that are sky-rocketing? And what about the tens of thousands of dollars in lost home equities? What about retirement reserves that have disappeared?

While all this has been happening, members of Congress have received (since January of this year) their "automatic" cost-of-living pay increase (which was graciously reduced from 2.7% to 2.5%); raising their annual salaries to $169,300 (with, of course, a secure pension plan that is 2-3 times the value of most pension plans for executives in corporate America plus all the other lucrative perks and benefits).

By the way, it was certainly a nice gesture by Uncle Sam to provide some $30 billion dollars of financing to assist JP Morgan in the bail out of Bear Stearns..like JP Morgan really needs it!

Kind of makes you wonder: Does Uncle Sam care more about (a) your neighbors getting foreclosed on or (b) the investors who put their money behind Bear Stearns mortgage securities?

Dumb question.

Please reply to avfr@ehsreports.com to share your thoughts, comments, or opinions.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 6 - March 20, 2008

Financial Crisis in the US: Lots of rhetoric but no solutions.

For months prior to the collapse of Bear Stearns, U.S. Government officials argued about whether or not America was even in some sort of recession. Now, all of a sudden, the "spin" is that the government intervened to prevent a severe recession.

Therefore, the government's intervention, coupled with all the interest rate "corrections" by the Fed over the past six months, sets the stage for a lengthy period of high inflation. For the next few years, at the very least, you can expect to pay 5% to 10% more to live compounded by the fact that, if you own a home, chances are it is now worth 5% to 10% less than it was a year ago; adding insult to injury.

Here's what it means:

1. A household with a median income (that's now about $50,000 in the US) will need $2500 to $5000 more each year to maintain the status quo; and

2. A home-owner with a median-value house (that's now about $200,000 in the US) lost $10,000 to $20,000 in equity last year; assuming that the homeowner hasn't lost, or borrowed against, all the equity in his/her home already (in which case the home is now "underwater"). Unfortunately, this decline in values is expected to continue for years.

But it gets even worse:

Despite the many campaign speeches of "progressive sounding rhetoric", the candidate who makes it to the White House has absolutely no choice but to RAISE TAXES and CUT SPENDING. There is no other way out. Therefore, one way or the other, all Americans will pay more for government and get less in return. It's that simple and, unfortunately, there is no other solution for economic survival. Your stimulus check will be a short-term band-aid at best. If we are drawn into an obligation to police the entire world to deal with terrorist ideologies; then it may take just short of magic, or a miracle, to get America out of hock.

The bottom line is that those folks who take the time to learn and understand what's really happening in Washington will have the best chance to protect themselves and their futures; and he first step toward that objective will be for Americans to get their check-book back from Uncle Sam; both literally and figuratively.

Otherwise, Congress will spend America into oblivion.

Please reply to avfr@ehsreports.com to share your thoughts, comments, or opinions.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 5 - March 10, 2008

Many folks around the country are just scratching their heads and wondering what's going on as, in the midst of war and economic turmoil in the US, the main-stream media would have us believe that the upcoming presidential election will provide the cure-all for Americans; providing that much needed "change".

While the candidates are stumping around the country saying whatever is necessary to get elected, it appears that they believe the rest of the world will just stay "on hold" until one of them makes it to the White House.

Well, it won't. The sad truth is that many American families will not even make it to the next election. They will lose their lives at war. They will lose their homes in foreclosure. They will lose their battles with disease. They will not have money to educate their children. They will shut down family businesses they can no longer afford to run. What they will have is higher prices and more taxes to pay with less income; all with a dollar whose value is declining in a deteriorating economy.

This is all happening because the government's agenda is at odds with the agenda of the American people.

So...whose agenda should prevail? Should the government work for the people; or should the people work for the government?

Currently, Americans are working for the government with little or no say in their future.

Congress is always talking about "straight up or down" votes; so let's have a few. Here are two that would dramatically improve America's chances to remain the leader of the free world; by showing democracies all over the globe that we actually practice what we preach:

1. Let the people approve the gross federal budget through a national referendum; and

2. Let the people vote on the amount of tax they should each pay to support it.

Then you'll have a real debate.

Please reply to avfr@ehsreports.com to share your thoughts, comments, or opinions.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 4 - February 27, 2008

Clinton - Obama Debate: Almost a waste of time.

Last night's debate in Cleveland was destined to be all but a waste of time as the moderators, especially Tim Russert (who's key mission, apparently, was to get Hillary to say that she voted wrong about going to war with Iraq), did their best to steer the discussion away from what may be proving out to be the most crucial issue of all.

That issue, simply put, is this: Where is the money going to come from to support the proposed national agendas of the respective candidates? Maybe it's about time that voters found out the answers to two very basic questions:

1. What's your proposed agenda of "change" really going to cost?

2. Where are you going to get the money?

A prime example was the healthcare debate: The notion that we can afford or deliver "mandated" universal healthcare without "mandated" individual healthcare requirements for participation is ludicrous. In other words, we can't have universal healthcare until after we provide universal education that encourages people to live in a more healthy fashion. An ounce of prevention is worth much, much more than a pound of cure. However, hundreds of education programs were cut or eliminated in the proposed 2009 U.S. budget; an issue that was not even mentioned by either candidate with respect to it's effect on the financial roadblocks that exist with respect to instituting a universal healthcare program.

The healthcare crisis is just another example of why Americans need to get their checkbook back from Uncle Sam.

America woke up this morning, in the aftermath of this great debate, to find out (a) that crude oil reached the highest price in history at over $102 a barrel, and (b) the U.S. dollar reached an all time low value against the Euro. These are examples of issues to which the moderators of the so-called "debate" might have directed some discussion; as being, perhaps, more important than when Hillary will disclose her tax return.

Most insulting to Americans, however, should be the matter-of-fact reiteration by Hillary and Barack (in this and previous debates) that, "no matter what happens, [they] will be fine".

Maybe that's the real problem.

Please reply to avfr@ehsreports.com to share your thoughts, comments, or opinions.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 3 - February 5, 2008

The President's 2009 Proposed Budget: An economic disaster in the making.

This proposed 2009 U.S. budget of over $3 trillion, that was delivered to Congress a few days ago, has disaster written all over it. You can review the basics of the budget at:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hlkG9t2Z4m8UfIya6iQ3-TfTPhRwD8UJDNKO4

The reality of the situation is that this enormous budget proposal (President Bush was the first to reach a $2 trillion budget; never mind $3 trillion) sets the stage for a "show-down" like no other in American history: Simply put, how many lives and how much of America's resources should be put on the line to fight a global war on terror; knowing that it will cause a continued deterioration of the America's economy? And what happens if the ultimate damages to our economy are irreparable (like the damages that many folks have suffered at the hands of Katrina)?

The budget for military funding has already put the squeeze on a host of domestic spending budgets and objectives. Our economy is in trouble and financial pressures are descending on state and local governments; who, in turn, are looking to the people for more money. At the same time, prices for just about everything are going up faster than incomes. The housing market is slow and equities are shrinking.

The direction America will take is a function of where America decides to invest its resources.

So..

Who should really approve the U.S. budget?

AVFR believes that, because it will be their lives and property on the line, the people must have a more direct say in the U.S budget and tax process at this point in history; the way it was intended to be in the first place.

An epic battle between Democrats and Republicans won't solve the problem. In fact, it may make things worse.

Please reply to avfr@ehsreports.com to share your thoughts, comments, or opinions.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 2 - January 28, 2008

2008 U.S. Presidential Election: It's really about money..your money.

The media would have us believe that American voters are intently focused on trying to figure out whether the core beliefs of Republicans or Democrats represent the key to America's future well-being and prosperity; that this age-old clash in political ideology produces some sort of magical answer to the resolution of foreign and domestic problems which are raging out of control.

The key story in the U.S. 2008 Presidential Election should be the fact that all of the candidates are dancing around the obvious "catch-22": Exactly how are government operations going to be financed in the future and what will be the net effect on taxpayers?

The simple fact of the matter is that the financing of U.S. government operations (i.e. with a federal budget of almost $3 trillion, public debt of over $9 trillion, and future entitlements and mandatory spending obligations that probably approach $100 trillion) is already causing a "domino-effect" of financial disaster; as financial pressures are cascading down on state and local governments to ultimately rest on the shoulders of individual taxpayers. You get a not-so-subtle reminder every time you pay a bill, buy groceries, pull up to a gas pump, go through a toll both, or pay to park your car. The so-called "stimulus package" is too little, too late, and only a band-aid that doesn't even begin to address the underlying problems.

The bottom line is that government budgets need to be drastically slashed, government spending must be re-directed to reflect the priorities of the people, and efficiencies of government operations need to be dramatically improved. Deficit spending must stop.

Otherwise, Congress will just keep spending money they don't have; no matter who becomes President. These deficits will ultimately become unmanageable and they will paralyze American enterprise; a process which has already begun.

The only way to get things on the right track is to get America's purse-strings back into the hands of the American taxpayers; the way it was intended to be in the first place (i.e. "government of the people, by the people, for the people.").

Even a first-grader knows that you can blow up a balloon only so big before the pressure makes it burst.

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR PRESS RELEASE - January 22, 2008

Fiscal Reform Group Seeks to Empower U.S. Taxpayers

MANCHESTER, NH - Recently established American Voters for Fiscal Reform (AVFR) is advocating the direct involvement of American taxpayers in the U.S. budget and tax process; in response to a U.S. economy which is over-burdened by a current federal budget of over $2 trillion which is expected to add approximately $240 billion to a public debt already in excess of $9 trillion.

AVFR was founded by Edward H. Smith, a business consultant who believes that "American taxpayers must have a more direct voice in the U.S. budget and tax process at this crucial time in American history"; recognizing that all American consumers have the ultimate financial responsibility to pay for the operation of the federal government, but "have very little say, if any, about how much money is spent for what".

AVFR's mission to educate and alert taxpayers is driven by the simple fact that current federal budget appropriations and deficit spending are creating an extraordinary "domino-effect" of financial pressures which wind up directly on their shoulders as they struggle with an economy which claims more and more of their money and property.

To accomplish its mission, AVFR maintains a database of crucial information and resources for the exclusive use of its members. The objective is to help members protect their income and property during this era of relentlessly increasing taxes, fees, surcharges, fines, penalties, and other costs; coupled with increasing prices for just about everything.

AVFR is a non-partisan organization and membership is open to any eligible voter. Membership information is available at (www.ehsreports.com).

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 2 No. 1 - January 4, 2007

USASpending.gov: A step in the right direction.

Barack Obama's victory in Iowa comes just a few days after his first bill in Congress, The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), became a reality for the American public.

The following excerpt is from the biography at BarackObama.com:

".His first law was passed with Republican Tom Coburn, a measure to rebuild trust in government by allowing every American to go online and see how and where every dime of their tax dollars is spent.."

This law, passed in September of 2006, required the free, public database to be up and running by January 1, 2008.

You can check it out at:

USASpending.gov

If you take a moment to visit the site, remember that the U.S. fiscal year (FY) runs from October 1 to September 30.

Also, you might enjoy this entertaining clip on YouTube by Huckabee, the other Iowa winner, entitled "Mike Huckabee: Congress spends like Edwards at a beauty shop":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm1ARFKWdow

All in all, it appears that the priority issue that is coming to the surface in the minds of voters, as the 2008 election progresses, is the management of Uncle Sam's checkbook; and it should be.

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 20 - December 20, 2007

Government Handling of Taxpayer Dollars: Mind-boggling irresponsibility.

Here's a bit of 2007 news that epitomizes and underscores the urgent need for the American people to get their checkbook back from Uncle Sam.

It was reported by Tony Capaccio on August 16, 2007 (Bloomberg) that "A small South Carolina parts supplier collected about $20.5 million over six years from the Pentagon for fraudulent shipping costs, including $998,798 for sending two 19-cent washers to an Army base in Texas, U.S. officials said."

You read it right. That's almost a million dollars to ship a package to Texas that probably could have been sent by Priority Mail for less than $10.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=ardg6DwCCMFI&refer=home

If you review the account of this story (and notwithstanding the criminal intent of the two sisters who ran the small company), it underscores how negligent the government (in this case the Pentagon) can be with respect to the handling of taxpayers' money.

It was further reported that "bills for shipping to combat areas or U.S. bases that were labeled 'priority' were usually paid automatically, said Cynthia Stroot, a Pentagon investigator". In this age of terrorism which mandates the highest levels of intelligence and security, it is all but inconceivable that such a policy could ever have been implemented in the first place; never mind continuing for six years. But it was and it did.

At best, the bottom-line reality of the situation is that the federal government simply lacks the proper level of respect for money when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars. At worst, someone inside the government assisted with the scam. In either case, there is no credible evidence that shows that these types of taxpayer abuses will change until and unless American taxpayers become a great deal more involved in the US budget process; and the government becomes a great deal more accountable to the taxpayers.

PLEASE NOTE: Beginning in 2008, for security and privacy, AVFR News will be emailed only to AVFR members of record. However, non-members can still view the archive of newsletters at (www.ehsreports.com) and periodic news items are also posted at (www.ehsportal.com). Finally, all AVFR members should have already received, on or before December 15, 2007, their usernames and passwords to access the new AVFR Database of Information and Resources.

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 19 - November 15, 2007

Presidential Campaigning: Who's paying the bill?

Perhaps the presidential campaign finance process is the epitome of what's wrong in Washington. Maybe there are better things for candidates to do with contributors' money than to run the incessant campaigns of advertisements slamming each other.

The amount of money collected so far by the presidential hopefuls is approaching a whopping half a billion dollars; which is more than all of the Congressional campaigns put together:

http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/stats.asp?Cycle=2008

Why?

We hope it's got more to do with the importance of resolving our country's problems than the simple fact that, when it comes to benefits and retirement, the office of President is the closest thing we have to "royalty" in the United States (In 2008, Carter will get $518,00, Bush will get $786,000, and Clinton will get $1,162,000; all in addition to the benefits of state funerals, medical expenses, secret service protection, and presidential libraries managed by the National Archives and Records Administration:

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:PO7XjcQLGX4J:www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/98-249.pdf+Presidential+Retirement+Benefits&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=opera

In any event, it appears that, at least to some degree, the U.S. Presidency is still for sale; but, as usual, the winner will not be using their own money to buy it.

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 18 - October 24, 2007

American Healthcare Crisis: Maybe some common sense would help.

There has been a lot of talk lately about healthcare; the skyrocketing costs and the growing number of uninsured (now approaching 47 million people).

The latest AMA proposal seeks "to provide all Americans with the means to purchase health care coverage, to give individuals choices to select the appropriate coverage for them and their families, and to promote market reforms that enable this new approach":

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/17712.html

Like much of the progressive-sounding rhetoric we hear about solving the healthcare crisis, this proposal is void of the obvious: The problem can't be solved by more options and choices because good health care in the United States is just too expensive!

This article by Malcolm Gladwell in The New Yorker says it all:

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/10/25/041025crat_atlarge

Maybe the emphasis should be on lowering healthcare costs and not in finding more ways for people to pay for it (as sadly exemplified by the "donut-hole debacle" created by the engineers of the Medicare Plan D Prescription Drug Coverage Plan).

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 17 - October 3, 2007

Newt Gingrich & American Solutions: Read between the lines.

This past Saturday, Newt Gingrich announced that he would not, in fact, enter the race for President. At the eleventh hour (i.e. after a year of entertaining the possibility of his candidacy), he summarily dismissed the notion that he could legally serve both his citizen-activist ambitions and a run for the presidency at the same time:

http://thegate.nationaljournal.com/2007/10/newt_gingrichs_noncampaign_thi.php

One can't help but wonder what's really going on in Newt's mind. Perhaps this is the most prophetic statement yet to the effect that the existing political machinery in Washington is simply not capable of solving our nation's problems. After all, Mr. Gingrich was Speaker of the House and, as such, was 2nd in line (1st in line being the Vice President) to become President in the event of the incapacity of the President. He certainly has an insight as to what can be accomplished and what can't.

Apparently, Mr. Gingrich feels that he can do more working outside the brutally inefficient arena of partisan bickering and rhetoric that, decade after decade, has left our country deeper in trouble and deeper in debt.

He may be right.

We especially hope that Newt's organization (see www.americansolutions.com) might take up the goal of helping Americans get their checkbook back from Uncle Sam and, thereby, providing Uncle Sam with a budget and tax bill which are both in accordance with the will of the people; all before it's just too late.

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 16 - September 18, 2007

Served by Papa Gino's, meatballs are two for 99 cents. Served by the Justice Department, as shown by a recent audit, two meatballs cost American tax-payers $9.54 ($4.77 each). You can read the ABC news report yourself at:

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Story?id=3603415&page=1

At one conference, a Justice Department division also paid $3.25 for bags of chips served with deli-sandwiches, $4.87 for yogurt, $4.55 for a can of soda, and $4.87 for a bottle of water.

In all, the Justice Department paid more than $45 million on conferences in 2006; with approximately one-third of that amount going for food.

You can draw your own conclusions, but this is a sad commentary on the one division of the US government that is entrusted with the impartial administration of justice for all Americans. This sort of disrespect for taxpayer's money exemplifies the "spending mindset" of big government.

From meatballs to major military conflicts, it's pretty obvious Uncle Sam just doesn't have the ability to control his bad spending habits: wasting taxpayers' money and spending money he doesn't even have.

It's time for Americans to "just say no" to Uncle Sam and restore fiscal policies that reflect the will of the American people; as it was intended in the first place.

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 15 - August 27, 2007

The US Economy: Fasten your seatbelts.

As the pre-election partisan bickering, arrow-flinging, and self-serving political rhetoric accelerates; the sad truth is that the candidates are all avoiding the most critical issue of all: The United States is going bust because Congress can't stop spending money it doesn't have.

If you haven't already, take a moment to read this CBS 60 MINUTES segment:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/01/60minutes/main2528226.shtml

Please realize it is anything but "un-patriotic" (as some would allege) to call attention to what surely will become the largest financial scandal in the history of man-kind if some ultra-drastic measures aren't taken in a real hurry. The Enron fiasco will be a drop in the bucket compared to the financial devastation that Congress has pre-engineered for the people of America through their irresponsible financial management of the greatest nation on earth.

Most folks are just "going along to get along" because they feel powerless to do anything about the complicated debacle at hand. However, we are at a point in history where putting the wrong person in the White House could be like throwing gas on a fire that is already raging out of control.

The recent sub-prime mortgage scandal and its ripple-effect on other financial markets is just the tip of the iceberg.

Guard your money and property like never before.

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 14 - July 28, 2007

The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007: Too little, too late.

This past Tuesday, the first minimum wage increment went into effect; raising the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour (where it has been for the last decade) to $5.85 per hour. This means that Congress (after raising their own salaries thousands of dollars every year since 1997) has officially cast its blessing for a full time minimum wage employee to receive an extra 28 bucks a week (less any deductions, of course).

How Congress got this done is almost as disgraceful as how little it does for the growing magnitude of hard-working people who have no shot whatsoever at "The American Dream".

This Act was actually signed into law on May 25, 2007 as part of the (get ready for this) "U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007". Obviously, the very notion of an increased minimum wage is nothing that Congress felt could, or should, stand on its own merit.

Next, the act raises the federal minimum wage to the advertised $7.25 level only after a series of 3 incremental delays over more than two years: $5.85 per hour 60 days after enactment (this past Tuesday, July 24); $6.55 per hour a year down the pike on July 24, 2008; and finally to $7.25 per hour yet another year down the pike on July 24, 2009!

However, the bickering politicians also had to offer small business approximately $5 billion in tax cuts over the next ten years to, apparently, illustrate their acknowledgement that it is the small business community that is going to foot the extra seventy-cents per hour burden. This is almost as disingenuous as the amount of the federal minimum wage increase; especially when compared to the $500 billion or more in excess of its anticipated revenues that Congress plans to spend in 2008. Remember, more than half of the total $9 trillion national debt was generated in the past decade.

The bottom line is that, in the final analysis, The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 represents, at best, just another example of an exercise in partisan bickering that accomplishes very little for the American worker or the small business owners who support them.

Of course, Congressional salaries are now almost $170,000 with extraordinary benefits.

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 13 - July 14, 2007

Real Estate Brokerage: Here come the banks...

President Andrew Jackson (pictured on the $20 bill) once said, in opposition to the creation of another privately owned bank in America, "If the American people only understood the rank injustice of our money and banking system - there would be a revolution before morning..."

It is bad enough that, quite some time ago, Congress exempted banks from usury laws which allowed banks, for example, to get away with exorbitant interest rates on credit cards.

Then, as if banks were somehow treated unfairly in the marketplace, Congress passed the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act in 1999 which, in part, paved the way for banking organizations to provide real estate brokerage and management services if the regulatory agencies determined those services were financial in nature or complementary to the banks' existing financial business affairs. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has been successful in blocking the new law through court injunctions over the past few years, but the current moratorium is up at the end of this coming September.

This bill was originally peddled on the basis that the new law would safeguard individual's privacy rights by implementing such measures as The Financial Privacy Rule to regulate the collection and disclosure of private financial information to prohibit such practices as pretexting (accessing private information using false pretenses). The Act also required financial institutions to give customers written privacy notices that explain their information-sharing practices.

Congress claims this Act will increase competition and free enterprise. However, it may simply be a ploy to increase the power and profits by government-controlled financial institutions and a ticket for banks to make even more money on your home; as if a mortgage doesn't make them enough money already.

It certainly looks that way.

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 12 - July 2, 2007

Congress Votes To "Accept" Another Pay Increase!

Last week, members of Congress chose to accept their automatic COLA (cost of living adjustment) pay hike and give themselves another $4400+ per year; bringing their base pay to approximately $170,000 per year:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6742566,00.html

With partisan bickering, delays in desperately needed legislation (like immigration), and public dissatisfaction with government operations increasing by the minute; you would think that this might not be the best time for Congress to increase their paychecks. This maneuver underscores the self-serving nature of, apparently, a majority of the members of Congress (the overall vote was 244-181). It certainly doesn't appear that their pay is linked to their performance.

The real issue here, however, is the fact that members of Congress are, collectively, exhibiting more of the same dangerous "mindset" that has paved the way for the increased deficit spending which is putting unmerciful financial pressure on all Americans. The very fact that Congress was able to enact legislation to give themselves automatic pay raises is evidence that the checks and balances designed to make government accountable to the people have been, at least to some degree, compromised or abused.

If Congressional compensation had to be approved by a national referendum of American voters (the people who elect them, the people they serve, and the people who are finding it more and more difficult to deal with the absolute barrage of government-imposed and government-sanctioned taxes, fees, and costs caused by the government's own deficit spending); how many Americans do you think would vote to increase Congressional pay at this time in history?

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR Newsletter: Vol. 1 No. 11 - June 20, 2007

The US Population Clock: The numbers are alarming...

Earlier this week, the resident population of the United States reached 302,000,000 according to the US Census Bureau:

http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html

This is based on a net gain of one person every 10 seconds (after you reconcile births, deaths, immigration, etc). This translates to an annual population gain of 3,153,600; which appears to be in line with historical data demonstrating that the US population hovers around an overall increase, in rough numbers, of about 1% per year.

However, here's the rub: Reputable analysts indicate that the cost to government (and subsequently to taxpayers) for benefits and services to each household (including multi-person families and people living alone) is considerably over $25,000 per year. One excellent report for 2004 is at:

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/sr12.cfm

You can do your own math according to your own assumptions, but a 3,000,000 increase in population is likely to cost state, federal, and local governments (historically, the federal government has paid the biggest share), at least, $75 billion per year; if not a lot more!

Obviously, this additional burden and stress on the US budget, as well as state and local government budgets, is dramatically increased as the number of "low-skill households" increases; since very little of the additional costs will be recouped in taxes based on income.

This is, perhaps, why the immigration problem is such a debacle. With the war on terror, a health-care crisis, a social security system in trouble, and a current national debt of almost $9 trillion (with plans already approved to go in the hole another $400 billion in 2007); perhaps it's time for the American government to first worry about supporting, and serving, the American people.

Otherwise, we all go bust sooner or later.

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR Newsletter: Vol. 1 No. 10 - June 9, 2007

Immigration Bill: Bi-partisan bickering strikes again...

Earlier this week, Democrats and Republicans alike demonstrated how irresponsible they can be when their performance is on the line; as they chose to continue the filibuster to prevent a final vote on the immigration bill.

Despite the complexity of the issues, you would think that 4-5 months was plenty enough time for Congress to make a decision about how to deal with the immigration crisis at hand. The result is yet another major set-back for America at a crucial time in our history. In fact, it is a debacle of major proportions that we simply can not afford.

One mind-boggling issue that most Americans don't realize is that, regardless of the individual fates of all the illegal immigrants, their children born in the United States (there are several million of them) have automatically become US citizens. As such, these children are eligible for the public assistance afforded to any US citizen. On the other side of the coin, our government believes these children will play a crucial role in the viability of Social Security and Medicare in the future. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office reported, in 2004, that the Social Security gap would increase if immigration levels fell.

So...

It appears that the American Dream is, at least in part, financially dependant on the children of illegal immigrants.

Perhaps this dilemma sheds some light on why the current administration is not so quick to deport them.

How did we ever get in this position?

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR Newsletter: Vol. 1 No. 9 - June 2, 2007

The President's 2007 Budget: Putting the numbers in perspective...

When you read the Overview of the President's 2007 Budget, you would think America doesn't have a financial worry in the world. It proclaims that "strong economic growth continues". You can read it yourself at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2007/overview.html

If you do read this overview from the US Office of Budget and Management (OBM), please take note of the following:

The administration justifies the budget on the basis that the deficit becomes a smaller percentage of the GDP. However, the actual deficit (in dollars) is not lowered at all; it is increased. You would think that, in writing an overview about the US Budget, the OBM would, at least, mention the total amount of the budget. They do not. However, it is $2.8 trillion – which is a staggering $400 billion more than total projected revenues; which will put the total deficit way over $9 trillion. The breakdown is as follows (as taken from Wikipedia):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_budget,_2007

Estimated receipts for fiscal year 2007 are $2.4 trillion. This expected income is broken down by the following sources:

$1.1 trillion (+12.1%) - Individual income tax
$884.1 billion (+7.4%) - Social Security and other payroll taxes
$260.6 billion (+15.5%) - Corporate income tax
$74.6 billion (-1.3%) - Excise taxes
$28.1 billion (+0.7%) - Customs duties
$23.7 billion (-9.2%) - Estate and gift taxes

$48.4 billion (+14.0%) - Other
Total Spending:

The President's budget for 2007 totals $2.8 trillion. This budget request is broken down by the following expenditures:

$586.1 billion (+7.0%) - Social Security
$466.0 billion (+4.0%) - Defense
$394.5 billion (+12.4%) - Medicare
$367.0 billion (+2.0%) - Unemployment and welfare
$276.4 billion (+2.9%) - Medicaid and other health related
$243.7 billion (+13.4%) - Interest on debt
$89.9 billion (+1.3%) - Education and training
$76.9 billion (+8.1%) - Transportation
$72.6 billion (+5.8%) - Veterans' benefits
$43.5 billion (+9.2%) - Administration of justice
$33.1 billion (+5.7%) - Natural resources and environment
$32.5 billion (-15.4%) - Foreign affairs
$27.0 billion (+3.7%) - Agriculture
$26.8 billion (+28.7%) - Community and regional development
$25.0 billion (+4.0%) - Science and technology
$20.1 billion (+11.4%) - General government
$1.1 billion (-47.6%) - Energy

2007 Deficit Estimate (The amount that on budget government spending exceeds on budget government receipts): $400 billion

The amount that the government must borrow, either from the public in the form of bonds held by the Security Trust Fund, or by selling securities to other entities will add to the total public debt as of September 2006 (end of the Fiscal Year 2006), 8.5 trillion.

---- end of information taken from Wikipedia ---

Also, (and perhaps most exemplary of Washington's progressive-sounding rhetoric), is the following statement at the end of the fourth to last paragraph in the OBM Overview: "The 2007 Budget also proposes major savings in or eliminations of 141 Federal programs, saving nearly $15 billion."

$15 billion?! Let's put that in perspective. The current deficit is almost $9 trillion. $15 billion equals .0017 percent (that's seventeen thousandths of one percent!) of the current deficit and only .0054 (that's fifty-four thousandths of one percent!) of the President's 2007 US Budget of $2.8 trillion.

You be the judge!

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 8 - May 26, 2007

Iraq Funding Bill: A prime example of bi-partisan fiscal irresponsibility...

The very fact that it has taken 109 days to provide adequate funding for the American soldiers in Iraq (who, most certainly, are not at fault for being there) epitomizes the incredible fiscal mismanagement and irresponsibility on the part of the crowd in Washington that, apparently, believes the ideological fight between Democrats and Republicans is far more important than the fate of those who are on the front lines fighting for their lives.

Each side professes to represent the will of the people. However, let's not kid ourselves. Both the Democrats and the Republicans know that they are, literally, using American lives as pawns to vie for political gain. That is not the will of the people.

The focus should be, first and foremost, on the day-to-day safety and support of our troops; no matter what the cost and regardless of the ultimate decision about exactly how to withdraw from Iraq. Only then should the politicians retire to their air-conditioned chambers to debate their political ideologies and differences.

Americans understand that the right strategy in Iraq is a very complicated matter with implications that may dictate the very future of America. But using the plight of our troops as a means to extract billions of dollars for non-related earmarks (notwithstanding the fact that many of the earmarks might very well constitute worthwhile expenditures) is just plain despicable. How much time would you want to spend arguing about how much money should be tacked on to the war funding bill for military housing, veterans benefits, hurricane recovery, emergency aid to farmers, children's health care, security improvements for ports and mass transit, an increase in the federal minimum wage, money for dairy farmers, airlines, and salmon fishermen; if all to be resolved and determined while it was you that was getting shot at?!

What is so difficult about making our top national priority the immediate safety and welfare of all our troops in harms way anywhere in the world; before we take on the myriad of other problems we have?

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 7 - May 19, 2007

Re: Deficit Reduction Act of 2005

On February 8, 2006, President Bush signed into law the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. His last statements before signing were:

"The message of the bill I sign today is straightforward: By setting priorities and making sure tax dollars are spent wisely, America can be compassionate and responsible at the same time. Spending restraint demands difficult choices -- yet making those choices is what the American people sent us to Washington to do. One of our most important responsibilities is to keep this economy strong and vibrant and secure for our children and our grandchildren. We can be proud that we're helping to meet that responsibility today. Now I ask the members of Congress to join me as I sign the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005."

Then, on October 2, 2006, the Treasury Department reported that the National Debt increased $574.3 Billion in Fiscal 2006, compared to $553.7 Billion in Fiscal 2005. This is hardly keeping with the administration's goal of cutting the deficit in half by 2009!

Worse yet, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 contained instructions by Congress designed to make things look better than they really are: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) were instructed to place a brief hold on Medicare payments for ALL claims (e.g., initial claims, adjustment claims, and Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) claims) for the last 9 days of the Federal fiscal year (September 22, 2006 through September 30, 2006).

These billions of "added deficit dollars" are lining the pockets of private interests. They are not, most certainly, contributing to a solution to the growing health care crisis in the United States (the unfunded Medicare gap is calculated by some to be as high as a mind-boggling $75 trillion).

As the deficit rises under the watch of self-serving politicians, the federal government will be forced to attack even more of the assets and income of the American people.

This will continue until (a) the US economy collapses under its own weight, or (b) the people set the US Budget and control Uncle Sam's checkbook.

Which would you prefer?

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 6 - May 11, 2007

Re: The squeeze is on...

Many folks have asked, in essence, this question: "Exactly what will be the result of our government's addiction to deficit spending?"

The short answer is this: Sooner or later, a dramatic financial collapse will occur; simply because it will be impossible for Uncle Sam to "print, borrow, beg, or steal" enough money to make ends meet. Perhaps more important, however, is that Americans will be unmercifully tapped for more and more of their money long before Uncle Sam is forced to "throw in the towel".

The writing is on the wall. Look at the price of gas. Look at recent retail sales levels. Look at the cost of education. Look at the cost of health care. Look at all your tax bills. Look at your credit card statements. Look at the size of your savings account that is earmarked for your retirement.

Then look at the cuts in the proposed 2008 US budget. Where is the money really going to come from to cover "who knows how much" to sustain the war in Iraq, to fight a never-ending fight against terrorism, to fill a Medicare gap of [$71 trillion?!], to respond adequately to natural disasters (and global warming) in the US, to keep social security afloat, and to meet all the mandatory entitlements and non-discretionary spending obligations of the federal government?

The money just isn't there but, as you might suspect, it could be if big government was more responsible with Americans' tax dollars and put a halt to deficit spending. America's annual budgets in the future must be in accordance with the will of the people. In a nutshell, America is great, but the people presently controlling its checkbook are not.

Unfortunately, one of the ironic circumstances that has allowed Uncle Sam to abuse America's checkbook is the level of apathy shown by a vast majority of Americans who, simply put, just "go along to get along". This creates a huge danger for everyone; because the result is more and more abuse as Uncle Sam takes advantage of the fact that he is not presently accountable to the people in a meaningful way.

One area of critical concern to Americans is that of home ownership. Evidenced by the fact that they cashed in a whopping $431 billion in equity in 2005, US homeowners are a prime target for creditors, including Uncle Sam. In response, AVFR has published a special report that will be distributed to no cost to its members within the next few weeks. The essence of the report is the exposure and disclosure of a host of tactics of which every homeowner must be immediately aware in order to (a) safeguard ownership, (b) preserve home equity, and (c) save substantial amounts of money as the economic pressures resulting from government budget deficits continues to increase. This special report will be available to non-members for $25.

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 5 - May 4, 2007

Re: The First Republican Presidential Candidates Debate (May 3, 2007)

In sharp contrast to the first Democratic debate, several GOP candidates brought up several financial issues which are at the heart of the objectives and goals of AVFR. John McCain's statements, perhaps, were the most profound. He declared specifically that deficit spending would destroy the future of America and that we better get it under control.

Despite the fact that Iraq was the central theme of the debate, candidates also brought up the issue of scrapping the current IRS tax code and instituting a "fair tax": a national retail sales tax which would replace all federal income taxes (including AMT), payroll taxes (including Social Security and Medicare taxes), corporate taxes, capital gains taxes, gift taxes, and estate taxes. This is a step in the right direction, but it is AVFR's position that it does not go far enough; since it doesn't address the corresponding need to rigorously control deficit spending. Without "people-controlled" deficit spending, coupled with a "people-approved" national budget (both through the approval of the American people through a national referendum or other direct voice of the people), the resulting tax burden on Americans will still be way to big no matter what method is used to collect the necessary revenues.

In any event, the debacle in Iraq is bringing attention to the reality that Uncle Sam's checkbook, even with the help of its his printing presses at the US Treasury, just can't sustain the burdens of increased military conflicts around the world, an energy crisis, a health care crisis, natural disasters and global warming, and a host of other mandatory and discretionary spending obligations; without flirting with financial disaster.

The bottom line is that it is rapidly becoming impossible for Americans to foot the financial burden of their government's ill-fated spending and self-serving decisions.

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 4 - April 27, 2007

The following message was sent earlier today to a host of national media outlets; including national TV networks, cable television, national radio, national newspapers, and national magazines:

********************

Re: The First Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate (April 26, 2007)

Unfortunately, this debate did not shed any light on the one issue that will no doubt shape America's destiny: the control of Uncle Sam's checkbook.

We heard from the various candidates about how they want to "engage" the American people; and how the Republicans are at fault for "duping" us into the war in Iraq. What we didn't hear is, perhaps, the most crucial issue which is facing all Americans. That issue is the simple fact that the United States is in severe financial trouble and, as a result, the American Dream may rapidly become a thing of the past. Most folks are just not aware of the immanent dangers associated with our government's own addiction to deficit spending, our government's orchestration of a sky-rocketing national debt, and the unmerciful financial burden which will be thrust on all Americans as big government seeks to accomplish the impossible task of balancing the budget while the US Treasury prints more money to pay its bills.

It's time for a budget that reflects the will of the American people. Check out the facts at (www.ehsreports.com) and support a more direct voice for Americans in the US budget process before it's too late.

I hope your news organization will help expose the facts and educate the people about the pending financial disaster that will likely result from the next election if "business as usual" continues in Washington.

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Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 3 - April 20, 2007

$400 haircuts? We couldn't have asked for a better example to illustrate the fiscally irresponsible and self-serving mindset of Washington politicians.

The following is an except for an Associated Press release dated April 17, 2007:

"...The Democrat's campaign committee picked up the tab for two haircuts at $400 each by celebrity stylist Joseph Torrenueva of Beverly Hills, Calif., according to a financial report filed with the Federal Election Commission. FEC records show Edwards also availed himself of $250 in services from a trendy salon and spa in Dubuque, Iowa, and $225 in services from the Pink Sapphire in Manchester, N.H., which is described on its Web site as "a unique boutique for the mind, body and face" that caters mostly to women..."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18157456/

If Edwards did this to the very people that are paying the tab to support his election, what do you think he would do with your money if he ever got into the White House?

This sort of nonsense will never stop until the American people have a direct voice in the US budget process and stop throwing away their money to the whims of the likes of John Edwards.

As reported in the same Associated Press article, "Edwards, 53, who has made alleviating poverty the central theme of candidacy, has been criticized for building a 28,000-square-foot house for $5.3 million near Chapel Hill, N.C. The complex of several buildings on 102 acres includes an indoor basketball court, an indoor pool and a handball court."

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWSLETTER: Vol. 1 No. 2 - March 31, 2007

American Voters for Fiscal Reform is off to a good start as the need for American voters to have a more direct voice in the US government budget process is becoming more and more obvious with the coming election. Many folks are just sick and tired of getting "nickeled and dimed" to death with every imaginable cost, tax, surcharge, and fee imposed to generate more money to create a bigger government.

As you know, the US 2008 proposed budget has been in the news lately. We can't help but wonder if Congress is using some of Enron's financial accounting theories and practices to somehow justify their various versions of the 2008 budget proposals. It all boils down to "robbing Peter" (that's you and your family members!) to "pay Paul" (that's big government). At least Capital One is asking the right question: "What's in your wallet?" The bottom line is that the government is going to keep spending to oblivion and leave us and our children - and our children's children - with the tab.

The past month has been a prime example of the risky nature of this "business as usual" in Washington; as shown by (a) the ridiculous earmarks, to the tune of billion of dollars, tacked on to the President's request for emergency military funding and (b) the volatility of our securities markets after the congressional hearings into credit-card and sub-prime mortgage abuses.

We want to thank the many voters who have joined our organization and made the decision to support us. Also, please remember that AVFR sees membership as a two-way street. AVFR pays its members for their referrals and, as part of the membership package, informs its members about how they might protect their property and income in the years to come (please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information).

Finally, here's an excerpt (in quotes, below) from an article posted at:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/16/politics/main2579256.shtml

"... CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports President Bush helped House Republicans to raise an estimated $6.2 million at a fund-raising dinner last night. And, boy, how it was needed. After losing control of Congress, the National Republican Congressional Committee began the 2008 campaign cycle $15 million in debt..." Dinner tickets to this event were $1250...

Take care and please, for your own good, help us get the checkbook back from Uncle Sam.

Please visit www.ehsreports.com for more information and/or email American Voters for Fiscal Reform at avfr@ehsreports.com to share any comments, thoughts, or opinions; or to be removed from our email list.

AVFR NEWS: Vol. 1 No. 1 - February 19, 2007

American Voters for Fiscal Reform is a non-partisan, grass-roots organization that was formally established and registered with the State of New Hampshire earlier this month.

The essence of the organization is to address the fiscal abuse in the US government.

Currently, the US government is spending over $1.5 billion per day that it doesn't have to support a self-serving budget that does not reflect the will of the people; trying to win a war that can not be won and trying to meet mandatory budget obligations which are simply impossible. Government leaders appear to be placing a top priority on protecting their own interests and only a secondary priority on protecting the interests of the people. This is shown by the facts that our country is not adequately secure and our country is headed toward financial ruin; despite the extraordinary resources that our government has been entrusted with to carry out its operations. Instead of real progress, all we get is progressive-sounding rhetoric by the politicians who, in the final analysis, appear to thrive on more prestige, more power, more control, more influence, and more of your money.

The solution is for the people of America to take over America's checkbook in order to restore a properly functioning, representative democracy with the people in charge of the purse-strings. Specifically, this can be accomplished if the citizens of the United States recover and exercise their constitutional right to set and approve (a) our government's master budget, and (b) set and approve a "sum certain" tax amount to be paid by each citizen over the age of 18 to support only "people-approved" government operations; all through an annual referendum of registered voters.

If you are in basic agreement with this solution, please support the cause by joining American Voters for Fiscal Reform (more information is at www.ehsreports.com). Also, please feel free to forward any comments to:

avfr@ehsreports.com