Regarding your behavior today 12-20-05: I have been watching the budget debate on C-Span today and I feel compelled to write to you. I understand that budget matters are vast and complex. I hope you are vastly more qualified to handle them than I am. But to watch you debate this with your colleagues just reinforces the growing concern that I have and that I believe a majority of Americans are having as well...that there is a stubborn unwillingness in the Republican led legislature to seriously look at the needs and desires of ordinary Americans and to work out bipartisan solutions to the problems that we are asking you to help solve. The tax cuts proposed may be complicated beyond my reach but it's a hard sell to say that this is a cost effective or efficient solution to the economic and social crisis occurring in this country. To hear from the President that our economy is on the move just doesn't register as a reality on the big city streets and small town roads in this country that I'm familiar with. Ordinary Americans are losing ground monthly and we are watching our political leadership try to pass legislation that will only make it better for the wealthiest citizens and corporations and more challenging for those of us who have to continuously struggle to make things work financially. We are trying to improve our selves through education and social opportunities that will make our skills and our ideas more valuable to those around us. We want to live in a country that reflects our ideals and that we can be proud of. What I am seeing from this Republican led Congress and White House seems increasingly off that mark. It's confusing and it's frustrating.When I look into the issues and alternatives available to address them it appears that the Republican leadership is more interested in protecting its political grip, special interests, home state projects and partisan politics and less interested in solving real problems and representing the will of the majority of ordinary Americans. It certainly looks that way from what I've been observing. I see so many people paying much closer attention to how the government is run and we are taking the time to become more informed about issues and policy making. I know there are many ways to skin a cat and in politics it seems you have to be willing to stretch things to the extreme, but this does not shed a flattering light on you. Ordinary Americans would like to see this kind of legislative maneuvering, which seems underhanded, end. We want bipartisan support for real solutions to real problems for real people.For myself, I will vote accordingly. I'm an independent, registered voter who has both conservative and liberal ideals that blend together without conflict in the pursuit of pragmatic solutions to the challenges in my life. And I am becoming increasingly frustrated with what seems like a Republican stance that is out of step with the lives, needs and ideals of ordinary Americans. I will vote across the board against Republican office holders and lobby others to do the same if this is the way it's going to continue to play out politically in my country. I hope you will accept this criticism as a sincere wish to see my political leaders live up to the reputation that this country has had in the world as a great Democracy and to try to reclaim the respect of the American citizens for their government which is being so horribly eroded. I encourage you to work for the greater good for all Americans during this challenging time in our country's history. Please have a great holiday season with your family and friends and thank you for the sacrifices you make in those areas in order to fulfill the duties of public office. Sincerely, Don Conoscenti / Chicago IL 12-20-05