To the Editor:

Roger Marshall’s recent defense of President Trump’s “Big Bad Billionaire Bill” raised some skepticism. The purpose of this 1,000 page bill was supposed to save money, wasn’t it? But Marshall talks about giving us all $1,000 per month if it passes, which will all be lost if it doesn’t. He fails to mention what else will be lost if it passes, like Medicaid health insurance for millions of low-income Americans and the demise of many hospitals and nursing homes. Cuts for food for children and education are included as well. Hidden parts of this BBB Bill limits the power of courts by stripping away any consequences for officials who ignore judges’ rulings. Who do you suppose wants that put into law?

The point is, this Big Bad Bill needs to be fixed before it goes any further, and it is Marshall’s and the Senate’s job to fix it or else start over. It adds trillions of dollars to our national debt and does not make us safer or healthier. Who says it has to be passed by July 3 anyway?

Money for walls, money for more ICE agents, but not for health care for Americans.

Americans did not vote for this. In fact Trump did not receive a majority of votes – only 49%, so there is no “mandate” for his agenda, which seems to be to set up a dictatorship with a Police State to keep us from protesting, (our First Amendment right). Marshall then brings up the “riots” in LA, which were peaceful protests until masked ICE agents showed up and started pushing people around. People will push back. Local law enforcement is trained to manage and diffuse situations, which they were doing, but Trump wanted escalation and sent in the National Guard – and then Marines who are trained for war against foreign enemies. Trump wants some violence so he can exert his power and distract us.

ICE agents storming into workplaces where folks are doing their jobs – processing or picking food for our tables, then shipping them off to who knows where, with no “due process” (charges for illegal activity). Some folks who were appearing for their regular check in with immigration, got snatched up by ICE just for being an immigrant or looking like one.    

The American citizen insurrectionists, who, at Trump’s direction, violently tore up the US Capital and threatened to kill the VP, on that Jan. 6, were arrested. They had charges filed against them and appeared in court, and a few hundred went to prison. They got “due process,” which the Constitution guarantees to anyone. Trump just pardoned them all, without supervision or follow-up. So what the ICE agents are made to do is actually, according to our laws and Constitution, not legal – just plain wrong! ICE wears masks so they can’t be recognized, and they should feel ashamed about what they are doing.

In my mind the saddest part about Marshall’s comments was his effort to put God’s blessing on the unlawful, cruel treatment of so many good people who have built our roads, schools, fixed our roofs, paid taxes, even paid into Social Security for us, somehow seems sacrilegious, even blasphemous. I don’t see God putting his stamp of approval on any of this. God loves and values everyone.

If we are so anxious to “save money,” what about the over $140 million for the military action in California, and the big birthday military parade in D.C which is costing millions? Oh well, we must keep up with the Putins.

Dee Anne Grummon

Great Bend