Originally published on 9/25/2014
It is election season, time to re-elect Congressman Jim Himes! Jim Himes has always promoted our best interests economically, politically and globally as citizens of Ridgefield and the United States of America. This year’s election is especially important to ensure our country continues to lead the world’s economic recovery and international security.
Mr. Himes serves on The Financial Services Committee. He voted for and supported the Dodd-Frank Consumer Protection Act, courageously endorsed the bi-partisan Simpson Bowles Financial Reform Act, and is a leading advocate for economically sound, responsible and market-friendly budgetary, fiscal and tax policies. Presently, Mr. Himes is a sponsor of the Delaney-Carney-Himes housing sector finance reform bill that would harness market forces to efficiently price and manage mortgage risk. Congressman Himes also sponsors The Jobs Act to assist community banks to raise capital, invest in local businesses, and stimulate job growth.
Congressman Himes is a strong supporter of the National Infrastructure Bank, a program to leverage and target federal loan guarantees and private investment to enable cash strapped cities and states to invest in regional and national highway, road and rail projects with proven and substantial economic benefits, including projects in our region to repair and enhance I-95 and Metro North. Over the past 5 years Ridgefield received over 6.5 million in federal dollars to repave and repair roads, install renewable energy, promote the arts, provide lunches for low-income children, and help students with special education needs as well as people with disabilities.
As a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Congressman Himes has been a clear-eyed, pragmatic voice on security and defense policy. Jim supports air and drone strikes against ISIS in Iraq, aid to Kurdish forces and the Iraqi army, and humanitarian relief for threatened minorities, but cautions against the kinds of solo U.S. involvements that have recently proven to be both counter-productive and unjustifiably costly in terms of human life and treasure. Jim would have the United States eschew both the reckless hubris of ill-conceived, open-ended military adventurism, as well as head-in-the-sand passivity and isolationism, instead weighing and undertaking available actions which can reliably diminish, rather than exacerbate dangers the world faces.
Jim is a passionate advocate of reforms to address the sky rocketing costs of higher education and student debt. Jim supports equality for all, including our LGBT citizens, equal pay for equal work, a raise in the minimum wage, sensible gun safety laws to minimize gun crime, and universal health care, including a woman’s right to choose.
For all these and many other reasons, our town, our state and country need Jim Himes in Congress. Please remember to cast your vote for Congressman Jim Himes in November.
The Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee supplies this column.