YOU DID.
EMBATTLED, DOTTY U.S. REP. JOHN LUIGI MICA FLEW TO TIBET WITH YOUR MONEY -- HE NOW CLAIMS IT WAS TO SELL BOEING AIRPLANCE TO COMMUNIST CHINA -- JUST WHAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS HAD IN MIND IN ARTICLE I, SECTION 8 of the CONSTITUTION!
None of his committee assignments involve foreign affairs.
His excuse in the St. Augustine Record was he was helping BOEING (one of his campaign contributors) sell airplanes to China.
Not one Tibetan is in the decisionmaking process for Chinese airplane procurement.
This was a junket by an egomaniacal Congressman, and another example of waste, fraud, abuse, misfeasance, malfeasance and nonfeasance by tatterdemalion Congressman JOHN LUIGI MICA. Let's show this wild wastrel the door. Elect Heather Beaven to Congress.
Rep. JOHN LUIGI MICA Brags of Flying to Tibet To Sell Boeing Airplanes to Communist China -- Is That Why We Elect Congresspeople? See His 9/2/2007 Column,
Guest Column: Rep. Mica defends role in international relations, oil drilling
JOHN L. MICA
Washington, D.C.
Publication Date: 09/23/07
A recent guest column in The St. Augustine Record was critical of a 2005 trip that I made several years ago to China and Tibet and several of my legislative positions. Let me respond by providing your readers with both the facts and my viewpoint.
As Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, I was part of an official United States Delegation to China to promote American manufactured products including aircraft and aviation equipment. China is our largest market for those sales.
Prior to that visit, the Europeans had been taking a larger and larger share of that market.
Joining with other Congressional leaders, then-Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and Small Business Chairman Donald Manzullo, our mission had two goals.
First, increasing U.S. exports and second, to urge BeijingÕs leaders to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear agenda. China accounts for our biggest trade deficit and we made it clear that was unacceptable. Aviation manufacturing has been our largest export goods employer and is vital to the American economy and our ability to compete in a global market.
During our mission, China bought 42 U.S. aircraft totaling nearly $5 billion in sales. Since our visit Boeing has regained a majority of market share and progress has been made with North Korea on nuclear disarmament Ñ both of which I am pleased to have played a small part. My meetings in South China and Tibet, which China now controls, focused on markets which Europeans have begun to capture. While as many people live there as the entire population of the U.S., America has only six foreign commercial officers to tackle that emerging market.
European competitors are providing training to civil aviation officials and airline professionals to capture those markets.
As a direct result of that visit and working with our U.S. Trade Development Administration and the private sector, we are making certain the U.S. will compete in those growing markets.
Another issue raised by the writer criticized my position on offshore drilling. Since my service in the Florida Legislature during the 1970s oil crisis, I have supported a sound and reasonable offshore drilling policy. In fact, with the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, I helped secure a 100-mile buffer for oil drilling off FloridaÕs coast.
However when Gov. Jeb Bush and others sought to increase that limit and change terms of drilling in Track 181 off FloridaÕs panhandle, I disagreed.
Today the technology exists to develop natural gas off our shores, out of the line of sight and without threat to the environment.
During the 1990s we urged utility companies that produce FloridaÕs power to convert to more eco-friendly natural gas and a billion dollar gas pipeline was constructed in the Gulf.
Consistently changing the terms for exploration and development makes the U.S. more dependent on foreign gas and oil. Most oil spills occur in transport, including Exxon Valdez.
Just look off St. Augustine shores and everyday you will see more ships within eyesight transporting more foreign oil and gas, increasing our risk and dependency. Our long term goal must be to abandon fossil fuels but we need a sound interim policy that does not bankrupt consumers or destroy our economy.
Finally, I will be glad to compare my record of service to St. Johns County, relating to transportation, veterans, seniors, and community projects, with any current or past elected official.
You can find additional information on my legislative record on my Web site at www.house.gov/mica.
U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, represents FloridaÕs Seventh Congressional District, which includes St. Johns County.
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Rep. John Mica Brags of Flying to Tibet To Sell Boeing Airplanes to Communist China -- Is That Why We Elect Congresspeople?
Does Tibet Have Any Independence? Who Says Tioet Buys Airplanes Anyway?
See His 9/23 Column, Below, responding to two sentences in my earlier column.
JOHN L. MICA
Washington, D.C.
Publication Date: 09/23/07
A recent guest column in The St. Augustine Record was critical of a 2005 trip that I made several years ago to China and Tibet and several of my legislative positions. Let me respond by providing your readers with both the facts and my viewpoint.
As Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, I was part of an official United States Delegation to China to promote American manufactured products including aircraft and aviation equipment. China is our largest market for those sales.
Prior to that visit, the Europeans had been taking a larger and larger share of that market.
Joining with other Congressional leaders, then-Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and Small Business Chairman Donald Manzullo, our mission had two goals.
First, increasing U.S. exports and second, to urge BeijingÕs leaders to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear agenda. China accounts for our biggest trade deficit and we made it clear that was unacceptable. Aviation manufacturing has been our largest export goods employer and is vital to the American economy and our ability to compete in a global market.
During our mission, China bought 42 U.S. aircraft totaling nearly $5 billion in sales. Since our visit Boeing has regained a majority of market share and progress has been made with North Korea on nuclear disarmament Ñ both of which I am pleased to have played a small part. My meetings in South China and Tibet, which China now controls, focused on markets which Europeans have begun to capture. While as many people live there as the entire population of the U.S., America has only six foreign commercial officers to tackle that emerging market.
European competitors are providing training to civil aviation officials and airline professionals to capture those markets.
As a direct result of that visit and working with our U.S. Trade Development Administration and the private sector, we are making certain the U.S. will compete in those growing markets.
Another issue raised by the writer criticized my position on offshore drilling. Since my service in the Florida Legislature during the 1970s oil crisis, I have supported a sound and reasonable offshore drilling policy. In fact, with the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, I helped secure a 100-mile buffer for oil drilling off FloridaÕs coast.
However when Gov. Jeb Bush and others sought to increase that limit and change terms of drilling in Track 181 off FloridaÕs panhandle, I disagreed.
Today the technology exists to develop natural gas off our shores, out of the line of sight and without threat to the environment.
During the 1990s we urged utility companies that produce FloridaÕs power to convert to more eco-friendly natural gas and a billion dollar gas pipeline was constructed in the Gulf.
Consistently changing the terms for exploration and development makes the U.S. more dependent on foreign gas and oil. Most oil spills occur in transport, including Exxon Valdez.
Just look off St. Augustine shores and everyday you will see more ships within eyesight transporting more foreign oil and gas, increasing our risk and dependency. Our long term goal must be to abandon fossil fuels but we need a sound interim policy that does not bankrupt consumers or destroy our economy.
Finally, I will be glad to compare my record of service to St. Johns County, relating to transportation, veterans, seniors, and community projects, with any current or past elected official.
You can find additional information on my legislative record on my Web site at www.house.gov/mica.
U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, represents FloridaÕs Seventh Congressional District, which includes St. Johns County.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/092307/opinions_092307029.shtml
Rep. John Mica Brags of Flying to Tibet To Sell Boeing Airplanes to Communist China -- Is That Why We Elect Congresspeople?
Does Tibet Have Any Independence? Who Says Tioet Buys Airplanes Anyway?
See His 9/23 Column, Below, responding to two sentences in my earlier column.
Guest Column: Government reform requires public's help
ED SLAVIN
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 09/09/07
"Politicians are like diapers -- they need frequent changing, and for the same reasons." -- Ronald Reagan
It's been 1 1/2 years since St. Augustine officials were caught red-handed, illegally dumping city dump contents -- including arsenic, sewage and bedsprings into Old City Reservoir. Our city officials haven't testified or answered our questions yet. Cleanup will be costly. Prosecute lawbreakers.
Restore Florida government workers' rights to occupational safety, erased in 2000.
Seventh District U.S. Rep. John Mica votes against whistleblowers and for offshore oil drilling, favoring big oil companies. Americans paid Mica's way to Tibet but Mica's indifferent to St. Johns County.
President Bush and Vice President Cheney are likewise cynical, uncandid -- investigate impeachable "high crimes and misdemeanors."
Zealously guard free speech: Repression's stalking Americans -- intimidation and retaliation for criticizing officials and corporate oligarchs. Dissenters are hounded, persecuted and blacklisted. Enough.
Government officials lack humility, refusing to correct mistakes -- huffy, angry and evasive. Citizens' seats have been removed from St. Augustine City Commission chambers while we're silenced in workshop meetings. Stop.
Florida's 442-year old tradition of autocratic government officials includes, in recent times, land-raping speculators represented by lawyers also representing governments -- threatening/intimidating citizens for exposing wetland-killing, tree-killing and crimes against nature.
Don't be bullied, even when they abuse police powers violating Sunshine laws. Always speak out. See 11/19/06 editorial & 3/13/05 Margo Pope column re: local citizen activists speaking out at meetings.
Speaking of retaliation, why do some satraps demand county takeover of Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County?
Democracy's breaking through, after 58 years. We elected AMCD Commissioners Jeanne Moeller and John Sundeman to stop squandering money on a $1.8 million jet helicopter unsuitable for mosquito control. It's our money. The ill-advised proposed county takeover of AMCD is only a diversionary tactic and attempt to suppress criticism of mismanagement. Support Moeller and Sundeman and 25 proposed AMCD reforms. Cut government waste everywhere.
We deserve answers/solutions/budget cuts, not more power concentrated in fewer hands, as under a badly-drafted county charter, which voters must examine carefully. Why support a defective charter in hopes of amending it several years later? Get it right now.
Why did St. Augustine abolish our "First Amendment forum" for local groups' flag-flying displays on our Bridge of Lions and bayfront? Why were seven bayfront flagpoles removed in 2005? Crabby, controlling, officials chill and punish free speech, whether by African-Americans, veterans, artists, entertainers or gays/lesbians. When our bridge is restored, our city's flag-flying forum must be restored with it -- whether honoring our troops, history, organizations or diversity.
Too many local "leaders" evade accountability -- serving foreign real estate speculators and themselves, but not local residents.
Preposterous projects must be halted, like speculators' destruction of a 3000-4000- year-old Indian village north of St. Augustine High School, which must become part of a national park, attracting "heritage tourists," empowering our recovering economy. Ask Congress to please support the proposed St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Highway. (3/26/07 guest column).
Our Constitution's "an invitation to struggle," scholar Edwin Corwin wrote. "Dissension" exposes corruption/chicanery and informs citizens. Dissent's a good thing.
As Robert F. Kennedy said, "it is not enough to allow dissent, we must demand it, for there is much to dissent from."
America's founders loathed evil dictatorships/monarchies. We need more dissent, more investigative reporting/truth-telling, and more "checks and balances," not "blank checks" for flubdubs like fancy helicopters more suited to Donald Trump than skeeter-killing.
Our founders fought tyranny, writing our First Amendment. "Use it or lose it."
Journalists: kindly cover public meetings "gavel to gavel." Hold officials accountable, without fear or favor.
We need "transparency," with meetings, proposals, grants and contracts on government Web sites. Accept no excuses (like "not enough money") from wily wastrels who junket to Spain, Germany, Colombia and New York City.
America and our Nation's Oldest City are both worth saving. Democracy's on the march. Bossism's retreating. Defeat mediocrity. Expose corruption. It's our town, our time. Don't take "no" for an answer. Elect zealous, hardworking "just stewards." Save our liberties, our culture and our planet.
Help is on the way. Let freedom ring.
Ed Slavin is a frequent letter writer and speaker at local government meetings.
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