Mayor-elect is just doing what he said he would
Re: “District’s budget and the mayor-elect,” Nov. 24
In her column, Ms. Jonetta Barras complains that Mayor-elect Vincent Gray didn’t lay out a clear budget-cutting blueprint at his press conference. But I applaud Gray for having the wisdom to first wait for Mayor Adrian Fenty’s budget proposal (which the D.C. Council got after the press conference) before stating what he would like to cut.
This is the process that Gray talked about when he ran. There will be hearings on the mayor’s budget submission and everyone will have their say. Then the cuts will be made in a timely fashion and a balanced budget will be approved.
Fenty lost because he made decisions without input. Mayor Gray won’t make the same mistake. But people shouldn’t confuse working within a process with not being able to make the hard decisions.
Peter D. Rosenstein
Washington
GM shares are artificially inflated
Re: “Obama’s GM ‘success story’ is still a losing deal,” editorial, Nov. 22
The Examiner was right to note that General Motors’ supposed “success story” is actually a money-loser for taxpayers. Not only did GM’s recent sale of some government-owned shares raise billions less than was needed for taxpayers to break even, but future sales of GM shares may also lose money because GM’s value is artificially inflated by government favors that may not last forever.
GM stock is worth something partly because its government ownership allows it to claim up to $45 billion in tax savings that would otherwise have been wiped out in bankruptcy. GM is also getting massive taxpayer subsidies for its Chevy Volt, despite recent revelations that it exaggerated its performance.
GM’s finances are also puffed up by temporary deferral of union pension obligations, which rose $6 billion since 2009.
Hans Bader
Senior attorney, Competitive Enterprise Institute
DREAM Act would be a nightmare for U.S.
President Obama met with leaders from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and indicated that he wants the DREAM Act passed before lawmakers adjourn in December.
The lame-duck Democrats are now going to try to push through amnesty for illegal immigrants. They will start with a House vote and then move this unwise and harmful legislation to the Senate. Outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tentatively scheduled a vote for Nov. 29, the day Congress returns from the Thanksgiving recess.
We must stop this harmful and foolish plan before it destroys our country.
Al Eisner
Silver Spring
