| February
3, 2005 The
Honorable George W. Bush
Executive Office of the President
1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500 Dear
President Bush: The
National Grange, the nation's oldest rural advocacy organization, would like to
commend you on the goals you outlined in your 2005 State of the Union Address.
Since 1867, the Grange has served as an advocate for individuals, families, farmers
and rural communities. Today, Grange members affiliated with more than 3,000 local,
county and state Grange chapters across the nation, are leaders in developing
and advocating policies that benefit their communities. To
respond to the concerns of our grassroots members, the National Grange has produced
the "Blueprint for Rural America 2005", a 10-point program of public policy initiatives
that are vital to revitalizing rural America and maintain U.S. agricultural prosperity.
The "Blueprint for Rural America" is not set in stone; it reflects the continually
evolving expectations of rural Americans. I have included a copy of the Blueprint
for Rural America 2005 with this letter. I am sure you will recognize, as I did,
many areas of agreement on the issues you out line in your State of the Union
Address. One
of the most important portions of your address was your outline to strengthen
our Social Security system. As you know, rural Americans are more likely to rely
on Social Security for their retirement income than any other group of Americans.
The National Grange supports many of the basic principals you have laid out to
guide our national debate on reforming Social Security. Such as, "We must make
Social Security permanently sound and not leave that task for another day.We must
ensure that lower income Americans get the help they need to have dignity and
peace of mind in their retirement. We must guarantee that there is no change for
those now retired or nearing retirement. And we must take care that any changes
in the system are gradual, so younger workers have years to prepare and plan for
their future." We are also heartened by the openness of your statement, "I will
listen to anyone who has a good idea to offer." As
such I would like to let you know that the delegates to the 138th Annual Convention
of the National Grange addressed the issue of reform of our social Security program
and endorsed the following policy positions regarding the direction of reform:
- The
National Grange supports allowing individuals to invest a percentage of their
payroll taxes in an individual account. Individual account options should be chosen
by the government to avoid confusion. No more than 2.2% of the value of the entire
Social Security Trust Fund should be allowed to be invested in the stock market
at any one time.
- The
National Grange endorses the present computation formula that is used to derive
Social Security benefits. We urge that all future individual minimum benefits
must be guaranteed no matter whether or not beneficiaries elected to participate
in individual Social Security investment accounts.
- The
National Grange requests that the public be provided with explicit and concise
information well in advance concerning any major changes in the Social Security
system.
- The
National Grange supports removing all Social Security "Earning Limits" for individuals.
- The
National Grange favors making all Social Security benefits free from federal personal
income taxes.
- The
National Grange supports reform to expedite the application for and processing
of Social Security Disability benefits. We further urge that terminally ill persons
be permitted to apply for Social Security Disability benefits upon diagnosis of
their terminal illness and the application process be completed within four months
of the initial application.
Since
the beginning of your term as President, you have been faced with terrorist threats,
a brutal attack on American soil and a war with Iraq. It has been over two years
since the attacks on 9-11 and since then, you've made the security of the American
people one of your top priorities. In response to international and domestic threats
to our nation's security, the Grange has added the enhancement of homeland security
and public safety to its 10-point plan. Although significant, threats to our safety
are not limited to terrorism; we must contend with those threats that exist within
our borders. America's farmers must contend with verbal and physical threats instigated
by extremist environmental groups, illegal drug manufacturers basing their operations
in rural communities, contaminating the surrounding areas and the introduction
of invasive pests and diseases into our food supply. We
must remain vigilant in protecting our nation, a point you articulated so well
when you said "our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American
people. It is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable,
comforting - and false. The terrorists continue to plot against America and the
civilized world. And by our will and courage, this danger will be defeated". With
the capture of Saddam Hussein and the promotion of democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan,
this ideal is well on the way to being realized. Another
important issue you touched upon was your call for ".legislation that makes America
more secure and less dependant on foreign energy." The National Grange strongly
believes we can achieve these objectives by utilizing biodiesel, ethanol, wind
and biomass energy that can be derived from resources already existing on America's
farms. We urge your Administration to support effective energy conservation programs
for rural areas such as telecommuting, public transportation and car/van pools
and to oppose environmentally marginal "global warming" policies that needlessly
increase energy costs on agriculture and industry.
Healthcare is another issue of great importance to our members and other rural
Americans. In your address, you stated "our nation's health care system, like
our economy, is also in a time of change. Amazing medical technologies are improving
and saving lives. This dramatic progress has brought its own challenge, in the
rising costs of medical care and health insurance". We commend you on the efforts
you have made on behalf of Medicare recipients by initiating a prescription drug
benefit that enables low-income seniors to save significantly on the cost of their
medications. Although this constitutes a step in the right direction, the benefits
outlined in your plan are of little use if healthcare facilities are inaccessible
to certain segments of the population. That is why we urge you to remove the regulatory
barriers that rural health facilities face in regard to equitable reimbursement.
The
National Grange agrees with the statement you made in your speech that, "Government
is not the source of (moral) values, but government should never undermine them."
Like you, the National Grange strongly supports a policy of defining marriage
as a union between a single man and a single woman. As you well know, the institution
of marriage is not the only national civic institution or moral value that has
been redefined by activist judges or regulators. We hope that you will lend equally
strong support to proposals to amend the U.S. Constitution to protect the flag
of the United States and to maintain the current wording of the Pledge of Allegiance.
We also hope that your Administration will support legislation to increase fines
and penalties for obscene and indecent materials broadcast over our nations airways.
The
National Grange seeks to become a pillar that upholds our civilization by working
with you to make this nation even greater. By sharing our "Blueprint for Rural
America 2004", we will continue our mission of "Advocating for America's Values".
Sincerely,
William
Steel, President
National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry | 
