The clock is ticking and Democrats are fast-tracking every piece of legislation on their liberal “wish list.” We are concentrating our efforts right now on three important bills: the Omnibus Spending Bill, the Obama Tax Compromise and the Dream Act. Below you will find information on each bill as well as specific actions to take.
FY 2011 Omnibus Appropriations Act
Information:
On Tuesday the Senate Democrats released a $1.1 trillion Omnibus Bill that would fund the government through the 2011 fiscal year. This 1,924-page spending monstrosity includes 6,714 earmarks that total approximately $8.3 billion.
It is apparent that the current Senate leadership and some Senate Republicans may be hearing impaired, since they are completely ignoring the results of the November 2nd election by creating a pork-fest with the Omnibus spending bill.
According to Fox News, "Senator John McCain tweeted the top 10 earmarks in the spending bill, including $247,000 for virus-free wine grapes in Washington State, $413,000 for peanut research in Alabama, $235,000 for noxious weed management in Nevada and $400,000 for solar parking canopies and plug-in electric stations in Kansas. McCain expressed disbelief about the projects. "Are we tone deaf? Are we stricken with amnesia?" he said, adding that voters made it clear in last month's midterm elections that they're tired of business as usual in Washington."
If these things are not enough to tell how bad the bill is, realize this: the FDA power-grab bill (S. 510) is inserted into the Omnibus Bill. That bill didn't pass before and needs to stand on its own. Those GOPers that voted against the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act cannot in good faith vote for the spending bill.
While the Republican leadership is strongly opposing this bill, some Republicans like Sen. George Voinovich are leaning toward supporting it. Here is the list of Republicans leaning toward supporting the Omnibus Bill as reported by several news outlets:
Senator George Voinovich (OH)
Senator Richard C. Shelby (AL)
Senator Robert F. Bennett (UT)
Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Senator Thad Cochran (MS)
Senator Susan Collins (ME)
Senator Olympia Snowe (ME)
Senator Kit Bond (MO)
(These Republicans need to be reminded that the Omnibus includes $1.25 billion to start implementing ObamaCare. Again if they voted against ObamaCare, they cannot in good faith vote for this bill.)
Actions to take:
1. Call Senator Voinovich and urge him to oppose this bill: DC Office Phone: (202) 224-3353 / Cleveland Office Phone: (216) 522-7095.
2. Please call Senator Mitch McConnell and thank him for opposing this bill and encourage him to continue: DC Office Phone: (202) 224-2541
3. Senators Tom Coburn and Jim DeMint are expected to make the Clerk of the Senate read the 1,924-page bill before a vote is taken. Please call and encourage them to do so.
Sen. Tom Coburn
DC Office Phone: 202-224-5754
Sen. Jim DeMint
DC Office Phone: 202-224-6121
Resources:
Senator Coburn has created a database of all earmarks in the bill:
The Hill article:
The Washington Post article:
Text for FY 2011 Omnibus Appropriations Act:
H.R. 4853 – Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010
(Obama Tax Compromise)
Information:
On Wednesday, the “tax deal” bill passed with overwhelming support (81-19) in the Senate. Surprisingly, Senator Voinovich voted against the bill. To view the complete roll call, visit: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00276.
“The House could start debate on the bill as early as Wednesday [December 15th], although House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said a vote in the House would not happen until Thursday at the earliest,” according to a CNBC article. This does not leave us much time to take action.
Actions to take:
1. If you have not done so already, please sign the “No Tax Compromise” petition by visiting http://notaxcompromise.com/.
2. We also urge you to call the following targeted Congress members in Ohio and ask them to vote NO on this compromise.
Rep. Steve Driehaus, OH-1
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-2216 / D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-3012
Note: We were unable to reach his office, so we are unsure of his stance.
Rep. Jean Schmidt, OH-2
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-3164 / Toll-free Number: (800) 784-6366 / D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-1992
Note: We were unable to reach her office, so we are unsure of her stance.
Rep. Mike Turner, OH-3
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-6465 / D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-6754
E-mail: http://turner.house.gov/Contact/
Note: Aide is unsure of Representative Turner’s stance.
Rep. Jim Jordan, OH-4
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-2676 / D.C. Office Fax: (202) 226-0577
E-mail: http://jordan.house.gov/Contact/
Note: Aide said Representative Jordan is undecided. He has issues with some of the amendments.
Rep. Bob Latta, OH-5
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-6405 / Toll-free Number: 1-800-541-6446 (OHIO)
D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-1985 / Toll-free Fax Number: 1-800-278-8203
Note: Aide noted that Representative Latta is still undecided.
Rep. Charlie Wilson, OH-6
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-5705 / D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-5907
Note: Office is not sure how Representative Wilson is voting on the bill.
Rep. John Boehner, OH-8
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-6205 / D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-0704
Note: We need to tell Representative Boehner how we feel about his tax compromise with President Obama.
Rep. Marcia Fudge, OH-11
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-7032 / D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-1339
Note: According to her aide, Representative Fudge is voting NO; however, it is because of the “tax cuts” for the rich. While her reasoning is wrong, we need to encourage Representative Fudge to remain a NO vote.
Rep. Patrick Tiberi, OH-12
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-5355 / D.C. Office Fax: (202) 226-4523
Note: Aide does not know how Representative Tiberi is voting.
Rep. Steven LaTourette, OH-14
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-5731 / D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-3307
Notes: According to his aide, Representative LaTourette is undecided. His vote depends on the additional amendments that will be added to the bill.
The DREAM Act
Information:
Tea Party Patriots (TPP) has been working with different groups to help defeat this spending nightmare. Chad MacDonald of Immigration Action Report has been providing TPP with daily, and sometimes hourly, updates on the DREAM Act. It seems the Senate will vote on the House version of the DREAM Act either this weekend or early next week.
Here are some “vote tally” updates from Chad:
GOP confirmations
§ Senator Lindsey Graham (SC) will vote NO on the DREAM Act. He is with us on this one.
§ Senator Scott Brown (MA) is a NO vote. He says the DREAM Act is a backdoor amnesty.
§ Senator Mark Kirk (IL) is a NO vote.
§ Senator Dick Lugar (IN) will most likely vote YES. He will cross the GOP, because he is a sponsor of the DREAM Act bill.
Democrats leaning NO
§ Senator Ben Nelson (NE) will vote NO on the DREAM Act and anything that does not improve the economy, create jobs, or reduce debt.
§ Senator Mark Pryor (AR) is a NO on the DREAM Act as well. He is with us.
§ Senator Max Baucus (MT) is leaning NO. He needs to hear from people in Montana only. He's not listening to those out-of-state from either side.
§ We are hoping Senator Joe Manchin (WV) will vote NO. He is just getting settled; this will be a major vote for him.
Here is the deal. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid needs to get to 60, which he does not have. We need all 42 GOP to stick together and hold a handful of Democrats to beat this thing. All fire power needs to be focused on the swing-vote Republicans!
Target Republicans are Collins, Murkowski, Voinovich, Snowe and LeMieux.
Actions to take:
1. Please make calls to the targeted Senators, even if you don't live in their state.
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)
DC Office Phone: (202) 224-2523 / Local Office Phone: (207) 945-0417 (Bangor)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susancollins
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SenatorCollins
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
DC Office Phone: (202) 224-6665
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SenLisaMurkowski
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lisamurkowski
Senator George Voinovich (R-OH)
DC Office Phone: (202) 224-3353 / Local Office Phone: (216) 522-7095 (Cleveland)
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
DC Office Phone: (202) 224-5344 / Local Office Phone: (800) 432-1599 (toll-free in Maine)
Senator George LeMieux (R-FL)
DC Office Phone: (202) 224-3041 / Local Office Phone: (866) 630-7106 (toll-free in Florida)
Twitter: http://twitter.com/George_LeMieux
Some actions to turn up the heat
We are afraid that phone calls will not be enough. We know that it is a busy time of the season; however, the liberals are driving this country further into debt with their reckless legislation. If you are able to take any of the following actions, we would greatly appreciate it.
1. Visit your congressman's local district office. Tell them in person that you do not want these bills to pass. Leave a note – hand write it on the back of your Christmas shopping list if you have to – to tell them you are serious about not passing these bills.
2. Visit your senators' local district offices. Again, tell the staff at each office that you do not want these bills to pass. Leave a note at each of these offices.
3. Go online to your local newspaper's website. Find the articles about these bills and leave your comments about why your congressman and senators (use their names) should not vote for these bills. As unbelievable as it may seem, their staff gives this as much, if not more, credence than your personal phone calls and office visits. (Go figure!!)
Problem is no senetor is going to listen to anything we have to say, I am 1000% against the dream act but Fienstien and Boxer are pro open borders so no mater what any of us against say they will do what they want and could care less if it destroys American citizens children that they never have to deal with. It is a wasted effort to call any of them, they are tone deaf to American citizens, there only care is illegal aliens who broke the law to be here and making sure they get everything possible from the American tax payers to reward there illegal ways. What a pathetic person a senetor is
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