Legislative Update and Newsletter

From Tea Party Patriots:  November 28, 2011

Federal Budget & Overspending


 Today is the 944h day since the Senate, under Harry Reid’s (D-NV) leadership, has passed a budget.
 Another credit rating agency, Fitch, has cut our outlook to “negative,” though they are keeping the actual rating at AAA for now.

Regulations, Jobs, & Growth

 ClimateGate II: 5,000 more emails leaked, showing global warming scientists fudging data and conspiring against skeptics.
 
Education


 Charter Schools and Choice: What’s All the Fuss About? By Debra England.
 America is falling further and further behind economically as a result of our failed government education monopoly. Competition through school choice can reform education. If you believe that Parental Choice = Freedom, then contact Bruce Gardner (bruce@teaforeducation.com ) or Beverly Elliott (beverly@teaforeducation.com ) or visit our website at http://www.teaforeducation.com to find out how you can help make transform education in America.
 Schedule film viewings (“Waiting for Superman”, “The Cartel”) to educate the public and your elected officials---use the Power of TEA to get comprehensive school choice legislation passed. After all, isn’t it time education is about the children?

Agenda 21

 Is Agenda 21 a part of Obamacare? You bet it is!
 Florida: Gov. Rick Scott recently urged repeal of the 30-year-old “smart growth” law as one way to increase jobs in FL. If you live in FL, keep this momentum going! Research shows “smart growth” hurts economic growth.

 Wisconsin: Check out the bills that would allow local governments to opt out of Agenda 21! Assembly bill and Senate bill.
 New Jersey: A “redevelopment plan” was approved on Nov. 14, which will supplant local policies. Public comment supposedly was solicited by "invitation" earlier this year. Email Shelly Kennedy for info on how to fight this at shellyskennedy@yahoo.com.
 KAREN BRACKEN STILL NEEDS VOLUNTEERS IN THE FOLLOWING 16 COUNTIES – to fight against the regional 40 year “Growth Plan.” Email her at karenbracken5@gmail.com. If you live in the following counties, you probably will want to know what’s going on.

o TN: Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, Meigs, McMinn, Polk, Sequatchie, Rhea
o GA: Catoosa, Dade, Murray, Walker, Whitfield
o AL: Dekalb, Jackson

Illegal Immigration


 Remember, if you are interested in participating in the Tea Party Immigration Coalition’s weekly phone call, please send an email to berksteaparty@berksteaparty.org, expressing your interest.

Special News

 After the Richmond Tea Party called attention to the unequal treatment perpetrated by the Mayor of Richmond, in terms of charging the tea party for their events while forcing taxpayers to pay for Occupy Richmond’s events, the city is now auditing the tea party group. Retribution and intimidation, also known as “hope and change.”

House of Representatives

 The big item this week in the House is the bill (HR 3049) that would counter a proposed rule by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that seeks to rush union elections through, thereby disallowing employers enough time to make their case to employees. The NLRB is yet another executive agency overstepping their bounds and a bill to reel them back in is long overdue.

Senate

 Most of the time this week will be spent on judicial confirmations and the DOD Authorization bill. Within the DOD bill is a provision that has been making the email rounds today. The provision supposedly says that American citizens, on American soil, can be picked up by the military for alleged crimes in the name of homeland security. One of our state coordinators heard from Marco Rubio’s office that said that this is not true, but that he is also offering an amendment to ensure that this could never happen. Hmmmm… we aren’t sure what the exact truth is yet so we encourage everyone to see what you can find out from your Senators (if you trust them) or from other trusted sources, and let us know what you find out/think.
 Harry Reid also wants to use a vote on the payroll tax cut extension, combined with

increased taxes on higher earners, to pin Republicans down on taxes in preparation for the elections next year. Because the Republicans will oppose the bill due to it’s increased taxes, Reid is hoping to be able to say that the Republicans want to raise taxes on middle class families while protecting "millionaires and billionaires." KEY POINT: many small business owners file their tax returns as individuals rather than corporations so they would be hit hard by any increase in taxes on "higher earners." So while Reid claims to want to protect small business owners, the reality is that they would suffer.