Tea Party Patriots Ordinary citizens reclaiming America's founding principles.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Happy Memorial Day 2010

The Cleveland Tea Party Patriots salute all our veterans & soldiers. Please take time today & remember our fallen warriors & those currently serving...

Without their sacrifice - we would have no Nation for God to Bless!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Challenge Your City to Stand FOR Arizona

Patriots,

Now is your chance to fight back for Arizona!

Under the pressure of pro-amnesty groups more and more cities are coming out against AZ's new Immigration -- we need to help them fight back against these full-frontal assaults on their rights as a sovereign state of this great nation.

With the City of Cleveland being just one of the area cities jumping on the band wagon against AZ, you can be sure with a new County Council being seated in Cuyahoga County, this will soon follow at a county level. We cannot allow that to happen and must be proactive in stopping it.

Below you will find a template for a Resolution supporting the AZ Immigration Bill. We are encouraging everyone to copy & paste it for presentation to your City Council's for passage.

From Grassroots Rally Team --

On May 17, 2010 Cleveland City Council passed Resolution 675, which opposes Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 and supports Comprehensive Immigration Reform. It has been said that Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Lorain and Toledo will be asked to pass similar resolutions.

The Grassroots Rally Team of Ohio has a Resolution which supports Arizona. The resolution was drafted with the help of Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI). We will be taking this resolution to our townships, villages and cities asking they pass this resolution to support Arizona.

This is a grassroots effort to combat the anti-Arizona resolutions that are being passed in cities. We're asking you to stand with us in supporting Arizona, by asking your community to pass this resolution.

-- Start --

Whereas, the City of (INSERT YOUR CITY), Ohio believes strongly in the integrity of the borders of the United States and that the federal government has a duty to protect these borders, including regulating the numbers and the qualifications for entrance into the country;

Whereas, the Federal Government has failed in its role to protect our borders from an unprecedented number of illegal aliens entering our country;

Whereas, the State of Arizona is in the unusual and unfortunate position of enduring the vast majority of illegal border crossings and suffering from the narcotics trafficking into our country;

Whereas, the Federation for American Immigration Reform estimates that 500,000 illegal aliens live in the State of Arizona;

Whereas, after considering both Fiscal Costs and Fiscal Revenues, it is estimated that illegal aliens cost the State over $2.7 billion annually,

Whereas, the State of Arizona, has passed Arizona Senate Bill 1070, which was amended by Arizona House Bill 2162, to assist the federal government in enforcing the nation’s immigration laws;

Whereas, the Arizona law requires its law enforcement officers to verify a person’s immigration status with the federal government, if the officer has a reasonable suspicion to believe that the person is unlawfully in the United States;

Whereas the Arizona law expressly prohibits the use of racial profiling and is designed to help enforce the nation’s immigration laws in a way that does not violate anyone’s civil rights;

Whereas the Arizona law requires aliens to register for and carry documents with them that the federal already requires such aliens to possess and does not require United States citizens to carry any documents;


Be it Resolved, that the citizens and [Your City Council] of (Your City), Ohio hereby affirm their support for the people of Arizona who must endure the direct consequences of our federal government’s failure in protecting our borders. The [xxxxx] further applauds and thanks Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and the Arizona State Legislature for protecting its citizens when the Federal Government has refused to do so.


-- End --

Senator Scott Brown a turncoat?

Senator Scott Brown (R-Mass) is facing some heat over his stance on Wall Street reform. People must remember Brown was elected only because he was the 41st vote against health care in the Senate -- NOT because he was a conservative!

But this serves as a perfect example of why it is important to put faith in our values and not politicians.

From New Patriot Journal (via Politico) --
In January, he broke the Democrats’ lock on the Senate.

On Thursday, he gave it back.

Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) effectively became the 60th vote to cut off debate on Wall Street reform Thursday – a far cry from when Republicans were hailing him as the 41st GOPer who was going to stand up to the Democrats’ agenda. Brown also voted "yes" on final passage.

Brown’s vote allowed Democrats to move swiftly toward final passage of one of President Barack Obama’s top legislative priorities, a day after he was accused of breaking his word by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who said Brown had promised to vote yes Wednesday.

By Thursday, though, Brown switched from no to yes, after a talk with Reid and a full-on sales-pitch from Democrats in the Massachusetts delegation, including Sen. John Kerry, who made the pitch that the bill is good for the state. Brown met Kerry at the Democrat's Georgetown home at 6 a.m. Thursday for a bike ride where they discussed the pending bill extensively, Brown said.

“I spoke at length over a 40 mile bike-ride with Senator Kerry about it,” Brown said exiting the floor after casting his vote Thursday. “It was this morning, and he’s a very good athlete.”

Kerry, who had hip replacement surgery in January, rode with Brown all the way to Great Falls, Md., an aide to the Democrat confirmed to POLITICO.

House Financial Service Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) also talked to Brown – telling him that his concerns about the impact on home-state financial firms such as Fidelity and State Street would be addressed.

It wasn’t simply home-state pride. Democrats needed Brown when it became clear that the ‘no’ votes of Democratic senators Maria Cantwell of Washington and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin couldn’t be flipped.

The vote – and perhaps even his long conversation with Kerry – seem sure to give Brown trouble with the government-wary Tea Party movement that backed his candidacy to take Sen. Ted Kennedy’s seat. Grassroots supporters who once heralded Brown responded to the senator's vote immediately on social media such as Facebook and Twitter, accusing him of being a "liar" and "Republican in name only." Read more....

Support Ohio Sovereignty Amendment


Ohio Tea Party Patriots
Support
Ohio Sovereignty Amendment

Ohio- May 21, 2010 On Thursday, May 13, the People's Constitution Coalition of Ohio (PCCOH) officers met with the Ballot Committee and obtained approval for the Sovereignty Amendment. On May 17, the Attorney General's office returned the certified petition to PCCOH. On May 18, The Ohio Tea Party Patriots announced its support of the drive to gather petition signatures to place this amendment before Ohio voters.


History of PCCOH

Ever since the August 1, 2009 Liber-Tea Party in Columbus, which was the first call to rally support around an Ohio Sovereignty Amendment, Al Wilson/PCCOH has been working closely with Ohio Senator Tim Grendell, in order to ensure that the language in the amendment and the language in the Senate bill(s) were consistent, and that the Senate efforts and PCCOH efforts strengthened each other to enhance the chances of passage. Sen. Grendell has formally endorsed the PCCOH Ohio Sovereignty Amendment.


Substance of PCCOH

The PCCOH amendment is a comprehensive sovereignty amendment, intended to protect Ohio residents from intrusive federal legislation, regulation, and mandates. The language has been drafted to protect Ohioans from healthcare mandates, Cap and Trade, amnesty for illegals, card check, and so on - all bills that are either already enacted by Congress or are coming down the pike. If the PCCOH amendment gets enough signatures to get on the ballot, there will be no need to gather signatures for any other sovereignty amendment.

In addition, because its protection extends to so many areas of de facto or potential federal encroachment, the OH Tea Party groupsPatriot will be able to look to other organizations concerned with particular issues (e.g., groups opposing amnesty or gun control ) to join in the signature-gathering, thus increasing the likelihood of success. The text of the draft as approved is on the PCCOH website at http://www.pccoh.com/ .

Signatures Needed:

To get on the election ballot, the petition needs 400,000 registered Ohio voter signatures + 200,000 additional registered Ohio voter signatures to cover the inevitable disqualification of signatures. PCCOH recommends 700,000 signatures to absolutely guarantee success.

Deadlines:


In order to get this amendment onto the November 2010 ballot, volunteers would need to collect at least 600,000 signatures by June 20, since 10 days are needed to process the petitions prior to the official June 30 deadline. But that leaves only about 30 days for canvassing, which translates into collecting 20,000 signatures per day.

A more realistic timeframe is to aim to get this amendment on the ballot for the May 2011 election, which means we have a mid-December 2010 deadline for submission. Every signature that we collect prior to June 20, 2010 remains valid if we submit in December 2010.

Volunteers:
Seven northern Ohio groups have already signed on to work with the PCCOH on signature-gathering. They will be looking for team captains to take on specific geographic areas. The first priority will be to identify participating organizations and groups in Ohio , and then team captains from those groups. Specific plans will follow from each participating group.

About The Ohio Tea Party Patriots

The Ohio Tea Party Patriots & affiliate groups consists of conservative minded organizitions in the great state of Ohio. Cleveland 9.12 Project/ Medina Tea Party Patriots / Mansfield Tea Party Patriots / Geauga - Lake County Tea Party Patriots / Buckeye Lake Tea Party Patriots / Bowling Green Ohio Tea Party Patriots / Cleveland Tea Party Patriots / Geauga 9-12 Patriots

About The Tea Party Patriots (www.teapartypatriots.org)

The Tea Party Patriots is a non-partisan, national organization whose core principles are Limited Government, Fiscal Responsibility, and a Free Market Society.

Prohibit Illegal Aliens from receiving Worker's Comp: Support OH SB 238

From Grass Roots Rally Team (OH) --

Senate Bill 238

Synopsis:


Senate Bill 238 would prohibit illegal and unauthorized aliens from receiving compensation and benefits under Ohio's Workers' Compensation Law.

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_SB_238_I_Y.pdf

Proponent testimony was on May 18, 2010. We attended the hearing and gave testimony in support of this Bill. Opponent testimony is scheduled for Tuesday May 25, 2010 at 4:00 PM.

Members of the Grassroots Rally Team also emailed supportive testimony to Senator Seitz, which was also presented as testimony at the hearing. You can still e-mail testimony to Senator Seitz at
SD08@senate.state.oh.us .

Please contact the committee members and voice your support of this bill.

The following are the Insurance, Commerce and Labor committee members:

Steve Buehrer (R) Chair

Phone: (614) 466-8150
Email: SD01@senate.state.oh.us

Keith Faber (R)Vice Chair

Phone: (614) 466-7584
Email: SD12@senate.state.oh.us

Joe Schiavoni (D) Ranking Minority Member

Phone: (614) 466-8285
Email: SD33@maild.sen.state.oh.us

Karen Gillmor (R)

Phone: (614) 466-8049
Email: SD26@senate.state.oh.us

Jim Hughes (R)

Phone: (614) 466-5981
Email: SD16@senate.state.oh.us

Shannon Jones (R)

Phone: (614) 466-9737
Email: SD07@senate.state.oh.us

Eric Kearney (D)

Phone: (614) 466-5980
Email: SD09@maild.sen.state.oh.us

Tim Schaffer (R)

Phone: (614) 466-5838
Email: SD31@senate.state.oh.us

Bill Seitz (R)

Phone: (614) 466-8068
Email: SD08@senate.state.oh.us

Fred Strahorn (D)

Phone: (614) 466-6247
Email: SD05@maild.sen.state.oh.us

Nina Turner (D)

Phone: (614) 466-4583
Email: SD25@maild.sen.state.oh.us

Chris Widener (R)

Phone: (614) 466-3780
Email: SD10@senate.state.oh.us

Friday, May 21, 2010

Arizona Needs Your Support!

From the Medina Tea Party Patriots --
According to the Columbus Dispatch, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman has banned work-related travel to Arizona. He wants to send a message to Arizona that the new immigration law is not the American way. Click here to read the entire article.

It’s time to stand with Arizona and to voice our support for Arizona Senate Bill 1070. We ask you to contact the Mayor's office and politely, respectfully express your concerns about his recent decision to boycott Arizona.

Mayor Coleman’s Office
Phone: 614-645-7671
Fax: 614-645-5818
Email:
mac@columbus.gov

Join us in thanking Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer

Since the signing of SB 1070, Governor Jan Brewer and her state have been scorned and mocked for upholding the law. As Tea Party Patriots, we need to show our support for Gov. Brewer’s actions. Please contact the Arizona Governor’s office and thank her for standing up for America’s laws. Tell her that Ohio stands with Arizona in this fight to protect our country, its boarders and our citizens.

Governor Jan Brewer’s Office
T: 602-542-4331 / 1-(800) 253-0883
F: 602-542-1381
E-mail:
http://www.azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp

Here is a very compelling video put out by the Governor’s office:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLgZ1LWLlko.

Thanks to Amy & Jeff (Medina TPP) for the above.

Patriots, we wanted to add the following info to the above contact info....

In our coordinator call last night Scott Boston (Bowling Green Tea Party Patriots) shared the discussions he had with Tea Party leaders last weekend in AZ at the TPP Regional training meetings. The AZ Tea Party coordinators have expressed their heartfelt thanks for the support they are seeing from across the country. After recently facing a full frontal assault by President Obama and many Democrats in Congress, we must continue our support and stand by our American sisters & brothers in AZ.

How You Can Help

When you contact Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman's office, ask them to put thier money where their mouth is.... the red light cameras in Columbus are run by an AZ company. Challenge Mayor Coleman to stand behind his own boycott and shut down the red light cameras.

Continue calling the City of Cleveland and express your outrage over their recent emergency passage of a Resolution against the AZ Immigration Bill. Within the next couple days, we will have a template for a Resolution supporting AZ that you can take to your own City Council and ask your local elected officials to support AZ.

Whenever possible please support the Buycott AZ movement with your purchases. To boycott the boycotters, please click here for a list of those boycotting AZ.

Please sign the Tea Party Patriot petition in support of AZ by clicking here. After signing the petition, share the link with everyone on your Facebook pages and email lists.

Please use the below 'I Support Arizona' image on your Facebook and Twitter profiles.


For further information, click here for a link to the text of the bill.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

City of Cleveland Passes Resolution Opposing AZ Immigration Bill


From our friends at Grass Roots Rally Team --

CALL AND VOICE YOUR OPINION! THEY DO NOT SPEAK FOR GREATER CLEVELAND AND PROBABLY NOT FOR MANY OF THEIR OWN CLEVELAND

RESIDENTS!!!
Why was this passed as an Emergency Resolution?

On May 17, 2010, Cleveland City Council passed Emergency Resolution 675, a resolution opposing Arizona 's SB1070, supporting CIR, and affirming the contributions of all immigrants. Latino community members who were present have reported that the testimony advanced was overwhelmingly positive and empowering.

Ward 1
Terrell H. Pruitt
Council Phone: (216) 664-4944
council1@clevelandcitycouncil.org

Ward 2
Zachary Reed
Council Phone: (216) 664-4945
Joe Cimperman
Council Phone: (216) 664-2691
Kenneth L. Johnson
Council Phone: (216) 664-4941 Ward Office: (216) 421-8639
Phyllis Cleveland -Majority Leader
Council Phone: (216) 664-2309
Mamie J. Mitchell
Council Phone: (216) 664-4234 Ward Office: (216) 791-8683

Ward 7
TJ Dow
Council Phone: (216) 664-2908
Jeffrey Johnson
Council Phone: (216) 664-4231
Kevin Conwell
Council Office: (216) 664-4252 Ward Office: (216) 791-6642
Eugene R. Miller
Council Phone: (216) 664-4743
Michael D. Polensek
Council Phone: (216) 664-4236
Home: (216) 531-7648
Anthony Brancatelli
Council Phone: (216) 664-4233
Kevin J. Kelley - Majority Whip
Council Phone: (216) 664-2943 Ward Office: (216) 351-7077
Brian J. Cummins
Council Phone: (216) 664-4238 Ward Office: (216) 459-8400
Matt Zone
Council Phone: (216) 664-4235 Ward Office: (216) 939-1717

Jay Westbrook
Council Phone: (216) 664-4230Ward Office: (216) 664-4230
council16@clevelandcitycouncil.org

Ward 17
Dona Brady
Council Phone: (216) 664-3708Ward Office: (216) 961-4999
council17@clevelandcitycouncil.org

Ward 18
Martin J. Sweeney - Council PresidentCouncil
Phone: (216) 664-2942
council18@clevelandcitycouncil.org

Ward 19
Martin J. Keane
Council Phone: (216) 664-4239
council19@clevelandcitycouncil.org

President Obama; Another one who has not read the AZ Immigration Bill

There comes a point in time where political spin turns into flat out lies and a purposeful misrepresentation of the truth....

From the Washington Times -- (Picture & emphasis added)

President Obama on Wednesday took another shot at Arizona's new immigration law, saying even last-minute changes leave open the "possibility" of racial profiling, and urged Congress to pass an immigration legalization proposal drafted by Senate Democrats.

In a joint appearance in the Rose Garden, Mr. Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon offered little in the way of specific solutions to several thorny topics of discussion that ranged from the Arizona law to the violent smuggling of drugs and weapons across the border to ongoing trade disputes.

But in pointed remarks, Mr. Obama said he sympathized with Arizona's frustration over federal inaction on immigration but agreed with Mr. Calderon the state's new law could lead to discrimination. He also said Republicans are holding up efforts to reform immigration policies.

"I think a fair reading of the language of the statute indicates that it gives the possibility of individuals who are deemed suspicious of being illegal immigrants from being harassed or arrested. And the judgments that are going to be made in applying this law are troublesome," Mr. Obama told reporters.

For his part Mr. Calderon, speaking at an earlier arrival ceremony with Mr. Obama, said the law shows that Mexican migrants "face discrimination" in Arizona. More...



So instead of just slamming the country he is supposed to lead, President Obama, another one who has not read the AZ Bill, will use his bully pulpit in a hell-bent & politically feeble attempt to castigate AZ for standing up for their states rights with nothing more than amnesty-loving lies!

President Obama, what is troublesome is that, in your role as POTUS, you would willingly misrepresent the truth about a sovereign state of this nation in the presence of the leader of another country.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Help the Ohio Valley Tea Party Welcome Obama in Youngstown Visit

From the Ohio Valley Tea Party --

Barack Obama will be in Youngstown on Tuesday at V&M Star Steel according to a Business Journal article.

http://business-journal.com/clients/business-journal/obama-to-speak-tuesday-at-vm-star-p16473.htm?twindow=Default&smenu=1&mad=No

According to the article, he will be speaking at approximately 1:30pm. So if you are available, it would be great to give him a Tea Party welcome. Bring plenty of signs and please remember to keep them clean and civil. I have also been informed that the workers at the plant have been encouraged to stay home from work that day. (For whatever that is worth)
Please remember this is intended to be a peaceful demonstration / protest of agenda, policy and performance not the person.

“Love the sinner, hate the sin” if you will. News crews will be on hand so please be careful what you say or do.

Here is a link to a Yahoo Map to help you find the place. Hope to see you there!http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=41.12637&lon=-80.679804&zoom=14&tt=V%26M%20Star&tp=1&ioride=us&q1=2669%20Martin%20Luther%20King%20Jr.%20Blvd.%20Youngstown%2C%20oh

www.ovteaparty.com

Saturday, May 15, 2010

AG Holder uses MSM to draw legal conclusions

Amazing! It appears Holder would rather draw his looney legal conclusions from the liberal fish wraps and the MSM instead of reading the actual Bill itself!

Contact your OH Rep about HB 489

Patriots,

HB 489 has been assigned to the OH House Health Committee. HB 489 will prohibit requiring an OH resident to obtain or maintain a policy of health insurance. Please contact members of the OH House Health Committee (See Contact Info Below). Click Here to Read HB 489

We are requesting everyone contact their OH House Rep and ask them to publicly declare their support for this bill. When you contact them please share your feelings on why you believe OH residents should not be forced into purchasing government mandated health insurance. To find your OH House member click here
for their contact information.

Contact OH House Speaker Armond Budish. Please inform Speaker Budish that as an OH resident you support this proposed legislation and ask that he do the same.

Speaker Armond Budish
77 S. High St 14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-5441 Fax: (614) 719-0008
Email: district08@ohr.state.oh.us

OH House Health Committee

Chair
Barbara Boyd D District 9
district09@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St., 11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
614-644-5079 / Fx 614-719-0009

Vice Chair
John Patrick Carney D District 22
district22@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 13th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-2473 / Fx 614-719-6961

Ranking member
Lynn R. Wachtmann R District 75
district75@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 10th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-3760 / Fx 614-719-3975


Edna Brown D District 48
district48@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 11th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-1401 / Fx 614-719-6948

Robert F. Hagan D District 60
district60@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 11th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-9435 / Fx 614-719-3960

Tom Letson D District 64
district64@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 11th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-5358 / Fx 614-719-3964

Deborah Newcomb D District 99
district99@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 13th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-1405 / Fx 614-719-6999

Debbie Phillips D District 92
district92@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 11th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-2158 / Fx 614-719-6992

Stephen Slesnick D District 52
district52@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 13th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-8030 / Fx 614-719-6952

Roland Winburn D District 40
district40@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 13th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-2960 / Fx 614-719-6940

Kenny Yuko D District 7
district07@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 11th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-8012 / Fx 614-719-0007

Troy Balderson R District 94
district94@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 11th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-644-6014 / Fx 614-719-6994

Dave Burke R District 83
District83@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 10th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-8147 / Fx 614-719-6983

Randy Gardner R District 6
district06@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 10th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-8104 / Fx 614-719-0006

Bruce W. Goodwin R District 74
district74@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 10th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-644-5091 / Fx 614-719-3974


Matt Huffman R District 4
district04@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 10th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-9624 / Fx 614-719-0004

Robert Mecklenborg R District 30
district30@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 11th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-466-8258 / Fx 614-719-3584

W. Scott Oelslager R District 51
district51@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 10th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
(614) 752-2438 / Fx 614-719-6951

Courtney Eric Combs R District 54
district54@ohr.state.oh.us
77 S. High St. , 10th Floor
Columbus , OH 43215-6111
614-644-6721 / Fx 614-719-6954

GOP moderation hobbles Portman in Ohio

From the Washington Times --
Despite a favorable electoral climate for Republicans and former Rep. Rob Portman's huge funding advantage over his Democratic opponent in the contest for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat, polls show the race in a dead heat.

Conservatives and "tea party" activists say Mr. Portman's record as a moderate Republican has failed to fire up not only core GOP voters but also what may prove just as important to victory - the "tea party" movement. Complicating the picture is the failure of that movement to meet expectations in some of the May 4 Ohio GOP primary elections.

Mr. Portman's resume, though extensive, has elements that raise red flags for conservatives - his service in the White House of President George H.W. Bush, who raised taxes and enlarged government; his election to six terms in the U.S. House, where he voted for the kind of spending that tea party supporters oppose; and his service as U.S. trade representative and then budget director in the big-spending George W. Bush administration.

"The tea party sees Portman as the establishment's guy, so the GOP establishment now is saying, 'Don't dismiss him just because he's a party guy,' " Ralph King, a coordinator for the Ohio Tea Party Patriots, told The Washington Times. "But that's asking us to look past his record - giving money to the United Nations and opposing [Colorado Republican] Tom Tancredo's try for a border measure in Congress."

That resume may explain why Mr. Portman, 54, is in a close race with the Democratic candidate, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, 58, to fill the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. George V. Voinovich, offering Democrats one of their few chances nationwide to "pick up" a Senate seat.

Real Clear Politics lists the race as a tossup, and its average of the four latest polls in Ohio shows Mr. Fisher leading Mr. Portman by 0.7 percentage point. The Democrat also holds a modest lead in all three of the most recent polls, with Mr. Portman favored only in a Public Policy Polling survey taken March 20-21. None of the polls has given a big edge to either man, but they are surprising for an election year not particularly congenial to Democrats.
More....

Friday, May 14, 2010

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) introduces the European Bailout Protection Act

From the Tea Party Patriots "New Patriot Journal" Blog --

After a week of preemptive attacks on a possible IMF bailout of Greece, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) introduces the European Bailout Protection Act, aimed at preventing taxpayer dollars from going to a rescue plan.

"This legislation would require that countries like Greece cut spending and put their own fiscal house in order," says Pence, backed up by other members of the House GOP, "instead of looking to the United States for a bailout. We face record unemployment and a debt crisis of our own, and American taxpayers should not be forced to bear the risk for nations that have avoided making tough choices."

The full release is below the fold, with the detail that the bill "does not permanently prohibit the IMF from lending" to the troubled counties. Nevertheless, Ezra Klein is not a fan of this proposal.

(Thanks to my colleague Ben Pershing.)

U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, joined Conference Vice-Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee Rep. Jerry Lewis, Rep. Jeb Hensarling, and Rep. Kay Granger in introducing legislation today to stop U.S. tax dollars from being used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for bailouts for European countries. Rep. Pence released the following statement today as the European Bailout Protection Act was introduced:

“The American people are fed up with taxpayer-funded bailouts and deserve to know we are bailing out Greece and possibly other European countries. If the Obama Administration has its way, the U.S. will contribute to a nearly trillion dollar bailout of European countries with economic crises that are a direct result of wasteful government spending.

“This legislation would require that countries like Greece cut spending and put their own fiscal house in order, instead of looking to the United States for a bailout. We face record unemployment and a debt crisis of our own, and American taxpayers should not be forced to bear the risk for nations that have avoided making tough choices.

Background

The European Bailout Protection Act would:

1) Prohibit any funds that have yet to be drawn by the IMF from being used to provide financing to any EU countries until all EU nations are in compliance with the debt to GDP ratio requirement in their own collective growth pact.

2) Require the Treasury Secretary to oppose any IMF loans to EU nations until all EU countries are in compliance with their debt to GDP ratio requirement.

The bill does not permanently prohibit the IMF from lending to these nations; it simply prohibits the U.S. from participating in the proposed European bailout.

Reason #745, 328 a Community Organizer shouldn't be President; Federal Budget Hits Record Deficit

We found the below article on the Tea Party Patriots "New Patriot Journal" blog....

The federal budget deficit hit an all-time high for the month of April as government revenue fell sharply.

The Treasury Department said Wednesday the April deficit soared to $82.7 billion, the largest imbalance for that month on record. That was significantly higher than last year's April deficit of $20 billion and above the $30 billion deficit private economists had anticipated.

The government normally runs surpluses in April as millions of taxpayers file their income tax returns. However, income tax payments were down this April, reflecting the impact of the recession which has pushed millions of people out of work.

Total revenues for April were down 7.9 percent from a year ago, dipping to $245.3 billion.

The Obama administration forecast in February that the deficit for this year will hit an all-time high of $1.56 trillion, surpassing the current record of $1.4 trillion set last year. Many private economists believe this year's imbalance will be closer to the $1.4 trillion set last year and that deficits will remain high for years to come.

The trillion-dollar-plus deficits are being driven by the impact of the recession, which has cut government tax revenue while driving up spending.

Analysts estimate that roughly one-third of the increase in the deficits over the past two years came from lost revenue — the result of fewer people working and lower corporate profits. Another third is from increased government spending that normally occurs in a downturn, such as higher payments for unemployment benefits and food stamps. The final third reflects the added government spending on the $787 billion stimulus bill and the $700 billion financial bailout. (More....)

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Continuing the Health Care Fight in Ohio; Support HB 489 & SB 244

Patriots,

We must not allow the hard work you have done in the fight against government run health care go to waste -- we must continue this fight, but now it needs to be at the state level. Our efforts must be channeled into areas where we can have a reasonable expectation of success. In the the same way we did in D.C., we now need to fill up the phones, faxes and emails in Columbus.

One of the avenues in which we can achieve this reasonable expectation of success comes from reconcentrating our efforts in supporting Senate Bill 244 sponsored by OH State Senator Shannon Jones & OH State Senator Tim Grendell. As introduced, SB 244 would prohibit requiring an individual to maintain a policy of health insurance in the State of Ohio.

Being introduced when the OH House goes back into session on 5/11/2010, OH Rep. Barbara Sears will be introducing OH House Bill 489 (HB 489) which would also prohibit requiring an individual to maintain a policy of health insurance in the State of Ohio and will be a companion bill to SB 244.

Here is the text of HB 489 as it will be introduced on 5/11/2010....

As Introduced

128th General Assembly
Regular Session 2009-2010

H. B. No. 489

Representatives Boose, Sears

Cosponsors: Representatives Adams, J., Adams, R., Amstutz, Bacon, Baker, Blair, Bubp, Burke, Coley, Combs, Derickson, Evans, Goodwin, Grossman, Hite, Hottinger, Huffman, Jordan, Lehner, Maag, Martin, McGregor, Mecklenborg, Morgan, Ruhl, Stautberg, Stebelton, Wachtmann

---------------------------------------------------------------------

A BILL

To enact section 3901.711 of the Revised Code to prohibit requiring an individual to obtain or maintain a policy of health insurance.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That section 3901.711 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 3901.711. (A)(1) No individual who is a resident of this state, regardless of whether the individual has or is eligible for health insurance coverage under any policy or program provided by or through the individual's employer, or a plan sponsored by this state or the federal government, shall be required to obtain or
maintain a policy of individual health insurance coverage.

(2) No provision of Chapter 1751. or Title XXXIX of the Revised Code shall render an individual who is a resident of this state liable for any penalty, assessment, fee, or fine as a result of the individual's failure to procure or obtain health insurance coverage.

(3) No public official, employee, or agent of this state or any political subdivision shall impose, collect, enforce, or effectuate any penalty as a result of the failure of an individual who is a resident of this state to procure or obtain health insurance coverage.

(B) The attorney general shall seek injunctive or any other appropriate relief as expeditiously as possible to preserve the rights and property of the residents of this state, and to defend as necessary this state, its officials, employees and agents in the event that any government, subdivision, or government agency enacts or adopts any law, rule, or regulation that violates division (A) of this section.

(C) This section shall not apply to individuals voluntarily applying for coverage under the medicaid program established under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code or the children's health insurance program established under sections 5101.50 to 5101.529 of the Revised Code.

What to Do

To help set the stage prior to HB 489 being introduced, we are requesting everyone contact their OH House Rep and ask them to publicly declare their support for this bill. When you contact them please share your feelings on why you believe OH residents should not be forced into purchasing government mandated health insurance.

Contact OH House Speaker Armond Budish. Please inform Speaker Budish that as an OH resident you support this proposed legislation and ask that he do the same.

Speaker Armond Budish
77 S. High St 14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-5441 Fax: (614) 719-0008
Email:
district08@ohr.state.oh.us

Contact your OH House Rep and ask that they publicly declare their support for HB 489. To find your OH House member click here for their contact information.

If you have not yet done so, please consider signing the online petition supporting State Senator Shannon Jones. You can read & sign the on-line petition in support of SB 244 by clicking here.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Cleveland Ban The Cams Petition Signature Collecting: This Saturday May 8th

From our friends at Cuyahoga County for Liberty --

The LARGE majority of people in greater Cleveland want the traffic cams in Cleveland to go away.

We need your help in gathering signatures on the petitions to have this issue put on the ballot for November's election.

We were at the West Side Market on May 1st and it is a tremendously productive place to gather signatures.

If you can help out for an hour or more, that would be incredibly helpful.

We will be on the parking lot side of the market, right where you enter the market. If you go to the link below, we will meet at the intersection where it shows Market St. and W. 24th.

  • Date: Saturday, May 8, 2010
  • Time: 9:00am - 2:00pm
  • Location: West Side Market - 1979 West 25th Street, Cleveland, OH

Here's a map of where the market is: http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=west+side+market&fb=1&gl=us&hq=west+side+market&hnear=Beachwood,+OH&cid=0,0,12372574425359174750&ei=gd7cS6aBN5TSNb-c_NMH&ved=0CAcQnwIwAA&ll=41.48664,-81.702983&spn=0.007008,0.01354&z=16

Monday, May 3, 2010

Geauga / Lake County Tea Party Patriots host Tea Party in Mentor

Tea Party
in
Mentor

The Geauga / Lake County Tea Party Patriots invite you to our Tea Party in Mentor.

Bring your Friends, Family, Neighbors, Flags, Signs & Patriot Spirit and stand with us as Americans in our non-partisan rally.

No candidates will be speaking!

  • When: Sunday, May 16, 2010
  • Time: 3:00 PM -
  • Where: Mentor Municipal Center
  • Address: 8500 Civic Center Blvd (State Rt 615) Mentor, OH 44060 (Click Here for Map)
Contact Coordinators Tom Baher & Arzella Melnyk at geaugalakecountyteaparty@gmail.com

Fiscal Responsibility * Constitutionally Limited Government * Free Markets

Join the Counter Protest against Illegal Amnesty today in Cleveland


Our friends at the Grassroots Rally Team members will be staging a counter protest to a rally Co-sponsored by Hispanas Organizadas de Lake y Ashtabula Counties, Reform Immigration for America, Latino Pastors Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People protesting the new Arizona Immigration law and to push for "their" version of immigration reform.

Please join the Grassroots Rally Team on the southwest corner of E. 9th Street and Lakeside (across from the Free Stamp) Monday May 3rd from 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

We need to let Senator Brown and Senator Voinovich know citizens oppose amnesty!

Please click here to sign the Tea Party Patriots petition supporting the new AZ Immigration law.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Arizona "tweaks" New Immigration Law; Some in GOP Still Backing Away

Many people have many thoughts on how we should fix the illegal immigrant problem plaguing our country and what we should do with the ones that are already here illegally. One thing is for sure.... doing nothing will only allow the problem to expand and become a bigger financial strain on states, counties, & cities, most of which are already facing a shortage of cash & cutting back on services.

One of the first steps, being a nation of laws, the federal government should enforce the current immigration laws. But what is a state to do when the federal government does NOT enforce their own laws and this lack of enforcement is creating a financial strain on the well being of the community along with creating an unsafe environment for U.S. citizens?

Most would say it is incumbent on the elected state officials, within the powers vested in them under our Constitution & affirmed in their State Constitution, to take action in addressing the problems when the Federal government refuses to do so. The State of Arizona did just that and is now facing a full frontal attack on their states rights by the federal government that allowed the problem to grow to epidemic proportions.

In attempts to address the concerns of the PC Korretniks on the left, illegal immigrants & the expected onslaught of legal challenges, the State of Arizona recently refined the language in their controversial and so-called civil rights violating new illegal immigration law....

From L.A. Times --

The initial law, signed by Gov. Jan Brewer last week, required police to determine a person's immigration status if officers formed a reasonable suspicion about their legality during any "lawful contact." That led to suggestions by some legal experts that police would be obligated to scrutinize even people who asked for directions.

Lawmakers on Thursday night changed the language to require scrutiny only of people who police stop, detain or arrest. They also changed a section of the bill that barred officers from "solely" using race as grounds for suspecting someone is in the country illegally; opponents had argued that that would allow race to be a factor. The legislators removed the word "solely" to bar race from being used by officers enforcing the law.

"It absolutely clarifies what the intent was," said Paul Senseman, a spokesman for Brewer, who supported the changes and is expected to sign them into law. "It's undeniable now that this bill will not lead to racial profiling." More....


The intent of AZ's new law was always clear -- removing the illegal immigrants already there and stop/stem the flow of illegal immigrants from over the porous border that the federal government refuses to address. It has nothing to do with being against a certain race or culture. Nowhere in the law does it say only target people from Mexico or specific races from Latin America.

The mostly disobedient and far from peaceful protests by groups against enforcing any laws dealing with illegal immigration (other than complete Amnesty) has the GOP in a tizzy. Instead of supporting the will of the voters some high profile members of the Elephant clan show they are more concerned with votes & running for political cover than doing what's right...
Arizona's immigration law has been an immediate hit with the Republican base, but some of the party's top strategists and rising stars worry that the harsh crackdown may do long-term damage to the GOP in the eyes of America's Hispanic population.

And the party's long-term thinkers worry that the Arizona law is merely a quick political fix which may create a permanent rift with the fastest growing segment of the U.S. electorate.

"It's like a virus that you get and you don't feel like you're unhealthy for the first few days, but after that you have a fever and you're really sick," says Matthew Dowd, former President George W. Bush's chief strategist in 2004. "You can't win a national election and you can't win certain states without the Latino vote. And Republicans already had a problem."

"I think there is going to be some constitutional problems with the bill," top Bush strategist Karl Rove said during a stop on his book tour. "I wished they hadn't passed it, in a way." (AZ Central)

And they've even got their "bought & paid for" wing of the Tea Party speaking out against the law....

Even Sal Russo, the longtime California Republican political operative who helps fund the Tea Party Express, acknowledges that the Arizona law creates problems for the party.

"I think Republicans do a poor job of communicating to non-traditional Republican voters," Russo said. "We've done a poor job in reaching out beyond the Republican base, and I think that's been part of the problem. (AZ Central)

Even though this new law has bi-partisan support in Arizona, and the fact that AZ Governor Jan Brewer actually saw an increase in poll numbers AFTER the law was signed, as usual ignoring the will and voice of "We the People," Russo & the GOP want to make it about the "party" and not the people.

A couple of polls being ignored by the spineless GOP and the "drive-by" Tea Party Express is a Gallup poll showing 51% of Americans aware of the Arizona law support it -- along with 39% of the people polled who have not yet heard of the law also supported it. The 39% most likely reflects U.S. citizens happy somebody is just doing something about the illegal immigration problem in this country.

And in a poll done by SurveyUSA, 82 percent of Florida Republicans who have heard about Arizona's law agree with it—and 81 percent think Florida should pass a similar measure.

You can click here to sign the Tea Party Patriots petition supporting Arizona's new law.