To the Editor:

Congressman Frank Wolf is supporting the creation of yet another study group to buy time and examine a critical problem rather than actually solving the problem. This time, the crisis is the economy and the proposed study group is the SAFE Commission.

And Mr. Wolf is right on schedule. In 2006, he called for the creation of the Iraq Study Group. However, rather than supporting the commission’s findings, Wolf voted to support President Bush who ignored each of the Iraq Study Group's findings. Consequently, we are now watching the renewed meltdown in Iraq just as the Study Group predicted, and Wolf is moving on to his next academic exercise.

If passed, the SAFE Commission Act would assemble a panel of financial experts, congressmen and senators who would travel around the country for a year and ask ordinary citizens for their recommendations on fixing the economy. Then, 90 days following their field trip, the committee would present a consolidated recommendation to Congress. Based on his track record, it is likely that Wolf would then ignore the panel's findings — as he did with the Iraq Study Group.

Many people in the 10th district may say Wolf’s proposal is "too little too late." As of August, 2007, the foreclosure rate in Fairfax County has increased 500 to 800 percent since 2006. The D.C. Metro area, which includes Mr. Wolf's district, is now ranked 41st in the top 50 foreclosure markets in the U.S. We are on the brink of what many would consider one of the worst housing crises in U.S. history. Our nation’s credit sector is reeling.

And Congressman Wolf, who sits on the HUD sub-committee, has done nothing at all to address these urgent issues for his constituents. He has not sponsored, co-sponsored, or helped draft a single measure now being considered in Congress to address the housing crisis. To many residents, Wolf seems out of touch and out of his depth — again. Just as in the past, Wolf wants to form a commission to talk about draining the swamp while the rest of us are up to our necks in alligators.

I have proposed a specific, detailed plan to address the housing crisis that I will sponsor when elected to Congress. Please visit my Web site at www.MikeTurnerforCongress.com to read about it.

Mike Turner
Waterford

Visit the Vienna/Oakton Newspaper to see the published letter.