I would first like to thank The Massapequan Observer for allowing me the space to respond to Legislator Peter Schmitt. Schmitt calls his response to my previous letter a "clarification." In order for it to be a "clarification," the facts in my letter needed to have been addressed. Schmitt merely presented empty rhetoric. Schmitt also presumes to lecture me on what a community is. I know what a community is and I know that Schmitt has cost the community plenty over the years.

Schmitt is wrong when he says the Democrats have been in "solid control" for the past four years. The Democrats took control of the legislature in 2000 and Tom Suozzi has only been in office since 2002, which means there has only been one year of "solid control." To say that increases are a "last step" for Republicans defies the facts. Schmitt forgets that Republican budgets have included tax increases. The verifiable record is that the fiscal irresponsibility was so deep when the Democrats took control, the county needed to clean up its act to stave off an oversight board taking over the county finances. After the Democrats took control, the bond rating of the county increased after being rated JUNK during Schmitt's tenure as deputy presiding officer. Schmitt does not want to look back, because there lies his malfeasance.

Schmitt digresses to the Democrats in Washington, but they have presented their plans for fiscal stability, while Bush has squandered a historic surplus and has thrown us into huge deficits for the next five to 10 years. Schmitt demands cuts and caps, yet it was he who bloated the county. And again I ask, where were his plans when he was in the majority? Why did it get so bad? Schmitt has yet to present a viable plan for recovery.

Suozzi is being honest about fiscal matters and the county needs to solve the problems now so that our children are not saddled with a huge debt. A thousand jobs have already been cut and more consolidation is on the way. If Schmitt has noticed, the independent NIFA board sees the Suozzi budget and actions as a positive not a negative. Schmitt was given a copy of the NIFA letter approving Suozzi's plan and according to the NIFA review the Storm Water and Sewer Authority will save money. Schmitt can deny the improvements all he wants, but they are real and they will continue to come despite his nay-saying.

John Rennhack