Federal government is failing to help Americans first

I think the time has come to remind the president, the Senate and our Congress that we need to secure the United States of America, instead of spending $4 billion plus of our tax dollars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.

Our borders are not secure. Our cities are plagued by gangs, drugs and crime. Chicago is the murder capital of the world.

All of our major cities and some small towns can't afford to man their police departments because they are short on cash.

The safety of U.S. citizens is our nation's first priority and federal officials are failing in every category.

- John R. Newhouse, Lansing