Thank you for contacting me regarding the financial rescue legislation (H.R.1424). I appreciate hearing from you on this critical issue.

The fundamentals of our economy have been shaken, and Americans are deeply concerned. When Secretary Paulson and Chairman Bernanke placed an urgent phone call a few weeks ago to Congress to say we needed emergency action to prevent a major financial meltdown, I expected they would come forward with a plan that was targeted and reasonable, with appropriate oversight and taxpayer protections.

Unfortunately, what they brought us was a $700 billion blank check, which they asked us to sign with no questions asked. This plan contained no oversight, no taxpayer equity, and no control over CEO pay. I strongly opposed this proposal - and thanks to your phone calls, e-mails, and letters, Congress stopped it in its tracks.

The Senate made major improvements designed to strengthen our economy and protect our taxpayers. Instead of a blank check, the Senate plan included significant Congressional oversight, equity for taxpayers, curbs on executive compensation, an increase in FDIC insurance protection for bank depositors, middle-class tax relief, and job-creating tax incentives for renewable energy. The bill passed the Senate by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 74-25 and the House by a vote of 263-171.

These were very important changes. But let me be honest: There were still aspects of this package that I didn't like. I preferred the government acquiring more equity instead of toxic assets. I wanted the package to be put forward in smaller installments and to include more checks and balances to make sure it would work.

For me, the deciding factor in my Yes vote was information I received from the State of California. I was told by the Treasurer's office that without access to credit, which is the goal of this legislation, California wouldn't be able to sell voter-approved highway, school, and water bonds that are desperately needed for our economy and the creation of good-paying new jobs. In addition, I was told by the Governor's office, that without action, our state might be forced to withhold funds for law enforcement, schools, and other needed services. This would bring our state to its knees and many middle-class families would be in deep trouble. Small businesses are beginning to tell me they cannot get lines of credit to meet payroll, as well.

Rest assured, I will continue to speak out forcefully about the failures that led us to this place and keep working with my colleagues to strengthen confidence in our markets, protect the American taxpayers, and enact regulatory reform to ensure that we don't end up in this mess again.

Again, thank you for writing to me about this very important matter. Even though you may feel frustrated with the outcome of the legislation that passed, your voice absolutely resulted in the enactment of a better bill. Feel free to contact me again about any issue of importance to you.

Dear Senator Boxer...
Thank you for this boiler-plate response to my email urging you NOT to pass this socialistic, feed the bears, piece of crap legislation. Both you and Feinstein have let the people of California down, voting in favor of this major bailout of Wall Street fat cats. Call it a compromise, a rescue, call it necessary, call it whatever you like, I call it crap. The free-markets will prevail regardless of any legislation passed... the Dow Jones proved my point, sliding by 156 points after the bill passed..
Both you and Feinstein no longer deserve your positions as Senators, as I am sure the majority of the constituents you both represent, requested your NAY vote. In fact, Senator Feinstein admitted that 81000 of 91000 requested a NAY vote, yet she voted YAY. Who do you both think you are, that can thwart the will of the people without personal reprecussion? Have you no obligation to those you are supposed to represent? What happened to the protection guaranteed to the people that elected you to perform in THEIR best interests, not yours?
I will proceed to do whatever I can within the bounds of the law to make sure you both lose your esteemed seats as Senators of this great state. You have disgraced the position to the highest level of treason to the Constitutional bounds you so solemnely swore to uphold... that is to carry out the will of the people. Your personal interests outweighed your fundamental duty in this matter, and for that, you deserve to be retired... For you to say that the state would not be able to sell appropriate debt instruments in order to fund necessary State programs is like a simple homeowner stating they can't pay their mortgage because they have to go out to dinner and a show TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE... B FREAKING S!!!! The unyielding spending by you leftist socialists on irrelevant issues such as illegal immigration health care, gay marriage, stupid rats that prohibit the development of real estate, and hundreds of other non-issues pursuant to the betterment of the welfare of Californians, have led to this type of mis-management of public appropriation of funds.
Thank you.... THANK FREAKING YOU! Because of you and the rest of your coherts in Congress, our children will bear the burden of this irresponsible passage of the biggest tax on the American people, bar none. This is the largest transfer of wealth the world has ever known...
So to this I ask... Are you proud? Are you satisfied that you have layed at the feet of generations of children to come, those same children that you and your kind profess to protect against the ills of societal misgreants, the devestation of taxation and degredation of general welfare and rights?
How can you look yourself in the mirror knowing that you have descimated the financial well being of generations to come, all in the name of hyperbolic financial crisis diatribe......