Calling on Schumer to Combat Anti-Semitism

(The following open letter to Senator Chuck Schumer was sent to The Jewish Voice for publication)

Dear Senate Majority Leader Schumer,

Over the past two weeks thousands of U.S. citizens (many who are residents in New York and many who reside elsewhere) have written to you and urged that you very quickly bring to a vote by the full Senate two critically important bills, H.R. 8282 (the “ICC Sanctions Act”) and H.R. 6090 (the Antisemitism Awareness Act”). You have not replied to our letters; nor, as far as we know, have you scheduled those bills for a Senate vote.

Therefore, we renew and reiterate our request that you promptly move forward with votes by the full Senate on both the ICC Sanctions Act and the Antisemitism Awareness Act. In addition, there are two other related pieces of legislation that also remain on your desk awaiting disposition by the full Senate. H.R. 6408 (the “Forfeit Tax Exempt Status Act “) terminates the tax-exempt status of organizations which provide financial support to terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. H.R. 5933 (the “IHE Transparency Act”) requires all institutions of higher education (“IHEs”) to report to the US Department of Education ALL gifts, no matter how small, received from a “foreign country of concern”, or a “foreign entity of concern”, and all contracts entered into with any such countries and entities. That bill also requires IHEs to report all gifts of at least $50,000 received from all foreign countries and entities.

The importance of these two additional bills both in protecting Israel and in helping to fight the startling explosion of illegal and dangerous antisemitic demonstrations and encampments in campuses throughout the U.S., including your home state of New York, is patent. We understand that there are certain members of the Senate Democratic caucus, and perhaps some Republican Senators as well, who oppose some or all four pieces of these bills. But that is not a valid reason, nor are there any other valid reasons, for further delay in bringing each of them to a vote by the full Senate.

Repeating the point that we made in our first letter to you respecting the ICC Sanctions Act, you are the Senate Majority Leader. Your job is to lead and bring important legislation to the Senate floor for a vote, rather than hold off the votes due to the opposition of some of your colleagues who often are not very supportive of Israel and may not share your professed concern with respect the marked rise in antisemitism in the U.S.

Finally, the passage of the ICC Sanctions Act, the Antisemitism Awareness Act, the Forfeit Tax Exempt Status Act, and the IHE Transparency Act most certainly are matters of utmost importance to many of your constituents in New York. Therefore, please keep all your constituents apprised of your actions to promptly bring all four of these Acts to votes by the full Senate.

Very truly yours,
Scott Jacobs
Formerly of New York, NY
YIW Action

“Cheap Fakes” & the Democratic Party

Dear Editor:

“Cheap Fakes,” “Deep Fakes;” are the all new, made up, Webster terminology pouring out of the Democrat defense war room, like lava heaving out of a Hawaiian volcano, in a 24/7 effort to cover for the almost daily tell-tale signs of Biden’s ever growing senility. And the ever compliant liberal news media is steadfastly willing to sacrifice whatever credibility they still have, to support such wild allegations that the actual videos of Biden’s disturbing wide-eyed, open-mouthed freeze-ups and his absent minded, baby-step strolls were photo edited by the Trump camp. Here is an NBC report of June 14th, 2024:

“The video (Of G-7 event) is one of many that have circulated widely online in recent weeks attempting to cast relatively normal moments as gaffes or evidence that Biden is suffering from a mental decline. Experts have warned that while advanced technology like generative artificial intelligence can spread misinformation, so-called cheap fakes that often use only minor or selective editing can be more effective at spreading false narratives.”

The question we must ask of ourselves is just how much longer can the Biden camp and its media toadies continue to push the fantasy that Joe Biden is mentally alert, aware, conscious and competent enough to continue on as President and fully able to do another four years at the nation’s helm? To be honest…..not much longer. Sooner or later, Joe will just collapse on stage, utter sheer nonsense into the mic or just scare the you-know-what out of us all by telling the unvarnished truth about his cognitive disabilities. But don’t hold your breath for the last possibility. For whenever he opens his mouth, another lie pops out.

So, what do we do until this Hollywood-like scenario sham is uncovered, to make us all aware of the criminality of those around Biden who falsified his competency enough to threaten the safety, security and lives of over 350 million of our citizenry? We must speak out and inform those who are still under the misapprehension that Biden is up to par, to keenly observe the actions of the President at all live events, to watch his speeches and to tune in, once in a while, such news channels as Newsmax and Fox to hear the other side of the story and compare with their favorite outlets. They must take nothing for granted. They should always evaluate and think.

Sincerely
Alan Bergstein
Boca Raton, FL

Concerned About the National Debt

Dear Editor:

According to the Congressional Budget Office, our current $33.7 trillion national debt will soon grow to $2.9 trillion annually reaching $56 trillion by 2034. Today’s tab averages $94,779 per citizen or $247,766 per taxpayer. (Source: June 21, 2024 — National Debt Clock)

President Biden and Congress should freeze overall spending. Any future extension of the debt ceiling should be matched by corresponding real cuts in spending.

Implement “pay as you go” budgeting, means testing for all government assistance and sunset provisions for agencies and programs that have completed their missions.

Install national debt clocks in both Congress and the White House. They can see how much they are adding to long term debt every time they pass spending bills dependent upon borrowing to pay the tab.

Government, the private sector and citizens must make difficult financial decisions on how to use existing resources. Americans prioritize their own family budgets. They make the hard choices on how existing household financial resources will be spent. The President and Congress should do likewise.

Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Great Neck