Senate Trying to Ram Through Another Bad Bill . . . Surprised?

Dear Fellow Tea Party Patriots,

This Friday Senate Bill 3217, also known as the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010, introduced by Democrat Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut, is scheduled to hit the floor of the US Senate where it must wait 72 hours before it comes up for a full vote. CLICK HERE to read the actual 1,421 page bill.

The vast majority of Tea Party Patriots' Local Coordinators from all over the country agreed on our most recent weekly conference call that this is a bad bill and we oppose it.

In short it grants permanent, unlimited bailout authority to the Federal Reserve. It's like TARP forever without the nasty, unpopular debates and votes in Congress. Beyond that it gives the Fed the power to takeover vaguely defined "nonbank financial companies". And the Fed has the power to decide what constitutes a "nonbank financial company" on a case by case basis.

Here are some links to a few articles that give a bit more insight into this very, very bad piece of legislation which must be stopped:

How To Create Bailouts Forever

Hidden Danger in Dodd Financial "Reform" Bill

Dodd Bill Creates Permanent TARP and You Can Quote That

Connecting the Dots: Does Wall St. Want Dodd Bill?

Obama: Read My Lips, No More Bailouts (But Let's Keep $50 Billion Around Just in Case)

So, what are we asking you to do?

Four things:

1.) Please contact your own Senators first and voice your opposition to this bill. If possible, physically go in person to the local home offices of your two Senators and speak to someone there who will take note of your opinion and pass it on. If you're not able to go in person, please call, email, and fax the offices of both Senators from your state. (Find Your Senators by State on the Senate Website)

2.) Call, email, and fax these 8 Republican Senators who are not yet 100% opposed to this bill:

Bob Bennett of Utah (202) 224-5444
http://bennett.senate.gov/public/

Susan Collins of Maine (202) 224-2523
http://collins.senate.gov/public/

Christopher Bond of Missouri (202) 224-5721
http://bond.senate.gov/public/

Saxby Chambliss of Georgia (202) 224-3521
http://chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm

Bob Corker of Tennessee (202) 224-3344
http://corker.senate.gov/public/

John McCain of Arizona (202) 224-2235
http://mccain.senate.gov/public/

Olympia Snowe of Maine (202) 224-5344
http://snowe.senate.gov/public/

Scott Brown of Massachusetts (202) 224-4543
http://scottbrown.senate.gov/public/

3.) Write Letters about this issue to your local paper for publication on or before Sunday. Also leave comments on as many news blogs and websites related to this subject as you can find.

4.) Forward this message to as many people as you can and ask them to take these same 4 steps as soon as possible. Use the full power of your circle of influence to move others (at least 1 more person) to take action.

Once again it's up to us, you and your fellow Tea Party Patriots, to defend America from out of control government.

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots members running for ORP State Central Committee

Patriots,

There are several CTPP members running for State Central Committee (SCC) for the Ohio Republican Party. For those that don't know what this is.... in a nutshell -- these are the party positions for the State Parties that give out endorsements, vote on party policy and choose the party chairman. The SCC is responsible for the political musical chairs we see in the State Races on the GOP ticket. FOr more on the ORP antics in this years primaries click here.

The SCC is why you only have Mike DeWine to vote for as AG in the GOP primary. Voting in these races is of the utmost importance if we want to stop party hacks from being promoted as candidates, and have a way to advance candidates that share yur views and embrace our core values.

While this not an endorsement, we went to let everyone know some of our members have stepped up as individuals and decided to run for these seats. The SCC is comprised of one woman and one man for each State Senate District. Please check or verify the Senate District where you reside.

A map identifying the state senate district for each Ohio county can be found at http://www.ohiosenate.gov/map.html.

For this area they are as follows;

Senate District 21
Sue Rodman
Charles Drake

Senate District 23

Mike Griffiths (running against former ORP Chairman Bob Bennett)

Senate District 24
Molly Smith

Senate District 25
Ron Lisy (running against former vice-chair of Republican Party of Cuyahoga County)
Bev Goldstein

Jon "Tea Party" Husted draws loud rebuff

In today's Metro section, Republican secretary of state candidate Jon Husted got slapped around by one of our own. Mr. Husted, aka "Creator of Ohio's CAT tax", has been running ads claiming to be a Tea Party candidate.

Anybody with a small business can tell you that CAT is just another way for Ohio to have it's hand in your pocket. According to the Ohio.gov website, The CAT is an annual privilege tax measured by gross receipts on business activities in this state. This tax applies to all types of businesses.

A "privilege tax?" Don't make me laugh Jon.. With CAT's May due date looming, go find me a small business owner in this economy who feels "priveleged" to hand over more hard earned money.

The Tea Party stands by three very simple principles. Fiscal Responsibility, Limited Government, and Free Markets. Husted is going to have a hell of a time trying to convince anybody he's the furry little kitten candidate.

But Ralph King said it best in today's paper. "The only relation Jon Husted would have with the Tea Party is if he would have been driving the British ship into the Boston Harbor."

Contract from America signing at Cleveland Tax Day Tea Party

At the recent Tax Day Tea Parties hundreds of local Tea Party and limited government groups around the country joined together to announce the launch of the "Contract from America," a grassroots legislative blueprint for 2010 and beyond.

Grassroots activists from across the country visited the website to choose their top ten priorities from a list of 21 action items that committed Americans from all walks of life proposed. The top ten issues comprise the final Contract. After garnering nearly half a million votes in less than two months, the Contract from America has now been finalized into a blueprint that will serve notice to public officials about what the people want for their future.

Bob Frantz of WTAM/1100 led the unveiling of the Contract from America at our 2nd Annual Cleveland Tax Day Tea Party...


10th Congressional District candidate Peter Corrigan

13th Congressional District candidate Justin Wooden


Secretary of State candidate Sandra O'Brien


OH House District 7 candidate Tony Hocevar

OH House District 14 candidate Dave Morris was present, but was called into work immediately prior to the ceremonial signing. Mr. Morris has signed the actual Contract from America though.

We want to thank these candidates for attending and participating in our ceremonial signing of the Contract from America.

Understanding that this is not an endorsement and that the Tea Parties do not exist for candidates or political parties, but for "We the People", the Contract from America will be in front of many candidates and politicians running for reelection and asking if they support this grass roots crafted contract.

More information about each plank, including its full description and the name of the activist who first proposed it, is available at the Contract from America’s website (Click here).

Cleveland Tax Day Tea Party; Operation Pink Slip

At our 2nd Annual Tax Day Tea Party this past Thursday.... Thanks to member Tom Dzurko -- Operation Pink Slip -- was launched.

Joining Bob Frantz (WTAM/1100) on stage, Tom & Bob led the crowd in sending a message to Congress!


And boy did the crowd join in!

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots Candidate Forum (Video)

Below are the videos of the CTPP Candidates Forum held on April 7th, 2010 at Bedford Rec Center.

Candidates attending were:

State Auditor Race

Rep. Seth Morgan
(Opponent Dave Yost refused to participate)

Secretary of State

Sandra O'Brien
(Opponent John Husted refused to participate)

Congressional District 10

Peter Corrigan
Benjiman Franklin

OH House District 95

State Senator Tim Grendell
Walter (Skip) Claypool

#1 of #7

#2 of #7

#3 of #7

#4 of #7

#5 of #7

#6 of #7

#7 of #7

We want to thank the candidates for coming. We ask you best decide who represents your values and who will best represent our core values of, Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and the Free Markets.

We also want to thank Kat Palmer & Steve Christopher for doing a great jon at moderating the event and, Cynthea, Dave, Jason, Dan & everyone else that helped out. A special thanks goes to those who served in formulating the questions for the first part of the event and Grant McCallum of Cuyahoga County for Liberty for video taping the event.

The Lady (Video)

Tea Party Scam Alert: OH Elephant Clan on Parade as Tea Party Candidates!

Fellow Patriots

The Ohio Republican Party (Ohio Elephant Clan) and the chief clown leading their three ring political circus -- ORP Chairman Kevin DeWine, are up to their old "we can't do anything with integrity" tricks again!

In a direct mailing campaign for the ORP endorsed candidates, State Central Committee Candidates included, the Ohio Republican Party is including a Tea Party style logo (right) claiming they stand for "Tea Party Values."

The logo alleging that the ORP endorsed candidates share our values is nothing more than a cheap attempt at trying to fool voters into believing these candidates are supported by groups in the Tea Party movement.

This shows the Ohio Republican Party and their leader Chairman Kevin DeWine still does not understand that the Tea Party movement does not exist for the GOP or their handpicked candidates.

That's right the same Ohio Republican Party that has stated the Tea Parties & 9.12 groups are nothing without the GOP, the same Ohio Republican Party that called the police on Patriots protesting at their HQ over the sham state endorsements given out earlier this year are now pretending they have "Tea Party" values!

Make sure you let all your Tea Party & 9.12 friends know, that some of the candidates (Husted, Mike DeWine & Dave Yost) using the above GOP fabricated "Tea Party logo" -- refused to participate in several Tea Party candidate forums -- but now they supposedly share our values.

State Auditor candidate Dave Yost proposes taking away Independence of State Auditors Office

The Ohio Republican Party hand-picked & endorsed candidate for State Auditor, Dave "I was for being Attorney General before I was against it" Yost, in an over reaching attmept to politicize an office that MUST maintain its' independence is proposing a State Budget Commission to be made up of the State Treasurer, the State Auditor & State Attorney General.....

Republican State Auditor candidate Dave Yost today proposed creation of a State Budget Commission of the Auditor, Treasurer and Attorney General to improve state fiscal planning and increase accountability.

“Ohio counties have been well-served by county budget commissions made up of the county auditor, treasurer and prosecuting attorney, which designate a revenue total and then make regular updates,” Yost continued.

“A budget commission works for counties, it can work for the State, too,” Yost concluded. “By making these important calculations the responsibility of specific statewide elected officials, voters will know exactly where to look when the numbers are wrong or slow in coming.” (Dave Yost for Auditor)

With this proposed partisan move and as reflected in the above statement, Yost clearly affirms a lack of knowledge on the vastly different roles of a County Auditor and a State Auditor.

His opponent in the State Auditors race, Seth Morgan, counters Yost's proposal with this statement....

“This is a great example of the difference between having a CPA as Auditor of State and someone who served as auditor of county. A CPA like the Ohio Auditor both work to ensure independence and objectivity whenever issuing audit reports. A county auditor has no responsibility to issue such reports,” said Seth Morgan, CPA.

“To have the Auditor of State who is tasked with issuing an objective and independent financial audit report being involved with placing their credibility on the estimates of the revenue itself creates the appearance of a lack of independence in issuing that financial audit report. How does the Auditor of State first tell the citizens of Ohio what the revenues will be and then issue a report on the revenues themselves without being tainted by the fact that their credibility is already on the line?” said Morgan.

Additionally, the Governor’s role and the legislature’s role are to debate and enact the state budget. Seth Morgan has expressed major concerns in the past about the reliability of having the Governor issue the revenue estimates through his Office of Budget Management (OBM). (Friends of Seth Morgan Campaign)

Putting aside the comments from the candidates, Mary Taylor (current State Auditor and candidate for Lt. Governor), who has taken the State Auditors office to level of fiscal competency not seen in years, has some concerns about Yost's attempt at politicizing the office....

State Auditor Mary Taylor says an Ohio Budget Commission proposal unveiled this week by auditor candidate Dave Yost could create a conflict-of-interest problem for the office.

“We would be concerned that their might be an independence issue if the legislature were to approve legislation…that required the auditor of state to participate in any budgeting process, and then after the fact would be required to go in and audit,” Taylor said Friday during a taping of ONN’s Capitol Square, which will air Sunday at 10 a.m., noon, and 7 p.m. (Columbus Dispatch)

For more insightful comments on Yost's proposed Budget Commission here are a couple other posts made by two of the more competent and accurate bloggers in OH at Right Ohio (click here) and Bizzy Blog (click here).

Support Cuyahoga County for Liberty & COAST's Ban Red Light Cameras Rally tomorrow in Cleveland

The Cuyahoga County for Liberty group by working with COAST is kicking off their campaign to ban Red Light Cameras in Cleveland & Garfield Hts. The Cleveland Tea Party Patriots have endorsed this effort without reservation and encourage all our members to attend the press confernce tomorrow.

Make sure to visit the CC4L booth at our Tax Day Tea Party where you can sign up to be more involved.

From our friends at Cuyahoga County for Liberty--

COAST brings campaign to ban Red Light Cameras

to

Cleveland and Garfield Heights

Friday, April 9, 2010 at Noon

For immediate release:

Monday, April 5, 2010 at 8:30 AM

For more information:
Christopher P. Finney, 513-720-2996 (COAST)
Maryanne Petranek, 216-503-2238 ( Cleveland )
Frank Wagner, 216-799-2909 ( Garfield Heights )

On Friday, at the invitation of local activists, COAST returns to Cleveland to formally launch petition drives to fight Red Light Cameras in the cities of Cleveland and Garfield Heights . COAST will come with petitions and petitioning instructions in hand to start the 2010 drive. The details of the gathering are as follows:

The intersection of Chester Ave. and E. 71st
Friday, April 9, 2010 at Noon

(This is the intersection where more tickets have been issued for red light cameras in Cleveland than any other.)

In 2009, at least three other cities in Ohio batted back Red Light Cameras. Pickerington residents defeated the plan with legislative action, and voters in Chillicothe and Heath, Ohio banned the cameras with ballot initiatives.

In 2008,Cincinnati voters banned the pernicious and intrusive devices with a Charter Amendment.

The Cleveland and Garfield Heights Charter Amendment proposals are modeled after Cincinnati 's and will effectively ban unmanned red light and speeding cameras from being enforced in City limits.

On Thursday, COAST and local volunteers in Toledo will re-launch the effort to ban the cameras in that City as well.

# # #

Check us out online:
COAST Website
GOCOAST on Twitter
COAST on Facebook
COAST Blog

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots Candidate Forum; After-Action Report

We had an awesome turnout for the CTPP Candidates Forum with about 65 people attending. The questions posed to the participating candidates were far from the usual softball type questions and settings most typically seen.

The candidates that participated were given no "open book" type questions prior to the event and were told they would be coming into an unknown setting. Other than the most basic description of the format and that their opponents would be invited, the candidates were completely kept in the dark about what they would be facing.

The reasoning behind this was twofold -- one, the Tea Parties should not exist for the candidates & their campaign but for our members & our core values. The other being -- if a candidate must study or prepare for a Candidates Forum, they have no business running for office. They should already know what they stand for and why they are running for office. The candidates were informed that the days of softball type questions and cookie-cutter type formats are a thing of the past with the Tea Party Patriot groups in OH.

Here is a break down on the candidates that attended & those that didn't;

Secretary of State

Sandra O'Brien, who is running for Secretary of State was in attendance, her opponent, John Husted refused to attend.

After first giving a verbal commitment that they would attend the series of candidate forums being hosted by the Tea Party Patriot groups in OH, the Husted campaign played games and wanted to just come and talk to the groups alone. They were told we do not exist for candidates to bloviate pie in the sky promises -- after this the Husted campaign did not respond to several requests for confirmation of their attendance.

State Auditor

Seth Morgan, who is running for State Auditor was in attendance. His opponent, Dave "I was for being Attorney General before I was against it" Yost.... well we don't know what happened to Dave.

When Dave was going to be the Tea Party darling and run against Mike DeWine for Attorney General he was all gung-ho on coming to the events. After he decided to do the bidding for ORP Chairman Kevin DeWine ( and John "CAT Tax" Husted) by abandoning the AG race (and the Tea Parties & 9.12 Groups) for the State Auditor race, Yost refused to schlep in for any of the TPP candidate forums. This brings us to the conclusion Yost would much rather drink Ohio GOP kool-aid than "Tea" with you & me.

For the record, when Dave Yost, who can now be referred to as the AG candidate of yosterday, dropped out of the AG race, he claimed it was the grass roots organizations that asked him to do so. We don't want to say he is not telling the truth, but he has been unable to provide any proof of these requests.

10th Congressional District & OH House 98th District

Peter Corrigan & Ben Franklin running in the District 10 primary were in attendance and both performed very well.

Tim Grendell & Skip Claypool running for OH House 98th District were also in attendance and both of these candidates rose to the occasion also.

****************************

Overall, the candidates all performed very well and should be applauded for their willingness to wade into an unknown format, something rarely done by candidates. We wish them all the best of luck in the May primary races.

We want to thank Steve Christopher (former AG candidate) and Kat Palmer for moderating the event. We also want to thank the Cuyahoga for Liberty group for taping the event for us. The video will be up soon and you can judge the candidates performance for yourself.

Buckeye Firearms gives out 2010 Endorsements & Grades

For our members interested in what candidates running for office believe in and support the 2nd Amendment of our Constitution, Buckeye Firearms has released their grades and endorsements in the upcoming May Primary races. (Click here to read)

We've noticed some new candidates have been endorsed in the State Central Committee races over the longtime GOP favored incumbents. Namely in Senate District 25 where Ron Lisy was endorsed over long time incumbent Dave Bailey and Mike Griffith was endorsed over former OH Republican Party Chairman and incumbent Bob Bennett in Senate District 23.

On the Democrat side, challenging Rep. Betty Sutton in Congressional District 13, Justin Wooden was given the endorsement.

These BFA endorsements are being listed strictly as educational material and not as endorsements from the Cleveland Tea Party Patriots.

Contract from America to be unveiled at Tax Day Tea Parties

Please join us at our 2nd Annual Tax Day Tea Party (click for details) where we will be unveiling the grass roots built Contract from America.

From Contract from America

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Alexandria, VA) – The Tea Party Patriots, a national umbrella organization for hundreds of local tea party groups around the country, joined today with the National Taxpayers Union, FreedomWorks, and Americans for Tax Reform, three of the nation’s most prominent free-market advocacy groups, to announce the upcoming April 15 launch of the “Contract from America,” a grassroots legislative agenda for 2010 and beyond. Originally proposed by Ryan Hecker, a Houston Tea Party activist and National Coordinator for the project’s chief organizing group Tea Party Patriots, the Contract is a different kind of agenda for our federal lawmakers: unlike the Contract with America from the 1990s, every plank of the Contract from America was proposed and voted on by everyday citizens.

After a fight that seemed to last forever, Congressional leaders were finally successful in ramming through a controversial $2.5 trillion health care plan. They did it despite poll results showing that the bill was deeply unpopular, and despite efforts from of millions of taxpayers who contacted Congress, came to townhall meetings, and attended protests to speak out against the proposal. Now those taxpayers can use their frustration to do more than just protest – they can change the direction of our
country.

Right now, concerned citizens can visit the Contract FROM America website (www.contractfromamerica.org) and choose their top ten priorities from a list of 21 planks proposed by committed Americans from all walks of life. By asking website visitors to propose and vote on the agenda, the result will be not a list handed down from on high by old-bull politicians, but one handed up from the true grassroots in this country. Once voting is complete on Monday, April 5, 2010, the Contract will be finalized into a blueprint that will serve notice to public officials about what the people want for their future.

As of April 1, over 360,000 votes had been cast on the Contract website. The three most popular planks were: (1) beginning the process of enacting a balanced budget amendment to our Constitution, (2) requiring legislation to cite the Constitutional provision under which it is authorized, and (3) rejecting “cap-and-trade” national energy tax proposals.

Tea Party Patriots (www.teapartypatriots.org), National Taxpayers Union (www.ntu.org), FreedomWorks (www.freedomworks.org), and Americans for Tax Reform (www.atr.org) are nonpartisan, nonprofit citizen organizations working for lower taxes and smaller government.

2nd Annual Cleveland Tax Day Tea Party

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots
2nd Annual

Tax Day Tea Party

"Takin' it to the Street"

• Date: Tax Day April 15, 2010
• Time: 4pm - 6:30pm
• Location: Mall C / Downtown Cleveland
• Address: E.6th & Lakeside

Last year on April 15th 2009, millions of hardworking Americans stood in unison in over 800 protests around the country.

These protests, which became known as the Tax Day Tea Party, expressed real concerns against reckless government spending and spawned millions of Americans to get involved in their local Tea Parties which today are holding elected officials accountable.

With our nation at a time like no other since we’ve gained our Independence, it is important, now more than ever, that YOUR voice be heard. Please join us & your fellow Americans in celebrating this non-partisan, grass roots movement sweeping the nation!

Listed in no particular order, our speakers will be covering a whole range of topics;

• Bob Frantz (WTAM 1100)
• Al Wilson (PCCOH)
• Colleen Holmes (Eagle Forum / Executive Director)
• Maryanne Petranek (Cuyahoga County for Liberty)
• Jack Boyle (End Ohio Estate Tax)
• Mike Carey (Ohio Coal Association / President)
• Ross Phar ( Young Americans for Liberty)
• Russ Scarvelli (Operation Firing for Effect / Veterans Advocacy)
• Jim Trakas (former OH State Rep.)
• Jim Bridgens (Oath Keepers)
• Dr. Walker Todd (J.D., Ph.D. Research Fellow, American Institute for Economic Research)

Along with our great list of speakers, C.J. & Adeena will again be blessing our ears with thier incredible voices (Listen Here). And wait until you hear the patriotic pipes on CTPP's co-coordinator Glynn Urban as she sings her song "Freedom" (Listen Here).

To top everything off, the Tea Party Patriots, National Taxpayers Union, FreedomWorks, and Americans for Tax Reform will be unvieling the Contract from America at Tax Day Tea Parties across the country. Help draft the final version of the Contract from America. Click here to vote on your priorities.

Groups supporting & participating in this years Tax Day Tea Party are to date;

Lake/Geauga Tea Party Patriots
Bowling Green Tea Party Patriots
Cleveland 9.12 Project
Burton 9.12 Project
Cuyahoga County for Liberty
Young Americans for Liberty
John Carroll Conservatives
Grass Roots Rally Team of OH
N/E Ohio Value Voters
Ohio Jobs & Justice PAC
Ohio Coal Association
Oath Keepers
Heartland Institute

Support OH Senate Bill 244 / (prohibit requiring an individual to obtain or maintain a policy of health insurance.)

Patriots,

OH State Senator Shannon Jones & OH State Senator Tim Grendell have sponsored Senate Bill 244 which would prohibit requiring an individual to maintain a policy of health insurance.

State Senator Shannon Jones has also started an on-line petition in support of this bill. Please take the time to read the bill (below) and sign the petition if you agree.

You can read & sign the on-line petition in support of SB 244 by clicking here.

S. B. No. 244
Senators Jones, Grendell
Cosponsors: Senators Buehrer, Carey, Gibbs, Schaffer, Seitz
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Tea Party President Pam Stout On Late Show with David Letterman

Action Alert: Support the Ohio Health Care Freedom Act

The OH House Blog --

State Representatives Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania) and Ron Maag (R-Lebanon) today introduced legislation to preserve the freedom of Ohioans to make their own health care decisions. House Joint Resolution 3, known as the Ohio Health Care Freedom Act, would propose an amendment to Ohio’s Constitution to prohibit any Ohio law or rule from forcing any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in a health care system.

“This is important legislation because it demands that the patient be the center of health care reform,” Sears said. “The further you remove decision-making from the patient, the further the individual patient is from the center. The center instead becomes groups, averages, norms, and benchmarks.”

“Democrats across the country are addressing the health care crisis with a government power grab,” Maag said. “I believe we must protect the fundamental rights of citizens by ensuring that they are not subject to a ‘one-size-fits-all’ bureaucratic government takeover. Our citizens deserve to have the options available to make appropriate assessments as it relates to their own doctors, treatments, and health care. This legislation would ensure that we, here in Ohio, do not enact a universal plan without the will of the people.”

If passed, the Ohio Health Care Freedom Act would appear as a ballot issue in February 2010. Ohio joins seven other states (Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming) across the nation who have also introduced legislation with similar language.

“Over the years, a number of proposals have been introduced here in Ohio that would implement and require single health care system,” said Maag. “The individual freedom of people to make their own health care decisions is essential to their well-being and with the enactment of the Ohio Health Care Freedom Act in the Ohio Constitution, the right of every person to make lawful decisions about their own health care shall not be infringed.”

Here is how you can help -- Currently, House Joint Resolution 3 (Click here to read) is languishing in the House Insurance Committee. In order for anything to happen, there needs to be two (2) more public readings of HJR3, it must successfully pass out of Committee and then it can be brought to the House floor.

We need to contact the offices of the OH House members on the Insurance Committee where it appears HJR3 may be purposely being stalled by Rep. Dan Dodd, Chairman of the House Insurance Committee. We are asking the OH House Insurance Committee members to support HJR3 and that it be immediately scheduled for the required readings.

Chairman for Insurance Committee:
Representative Dan Dodd
Phone: 614-466-2500
Email : District91@ohr.state.oh.us

Vice Chair:
Rep Tom Letson
Phone: 614-466-5358
Email: District64@ohr.state.oh.us

Majority Members:
· Rep John Carney
Phone: 614-466-2473
Email: District22@ohr.state.oh.us

· Rep Stephan Dyer
Phone: 614-466-1790
Email: District43@ohr.state.oh.us

· Rep Sandra Harwood
Phone: 614-466-3488
Email: District65@ohr.state.oh.us

· Rep Tracy Heard
Phone: 614-466-8010
Email: District26@ohr.state.oh.us

· Rep Joe Kozuira
Phone: 614-466-5141
Email: District56@ohr.state.oh.us

· Rep Debbie Phillips
Phone: 614-466-2158
Email: District92@ohr.state.oh.us

· Rep Mark Schneider
Phone: 614-466-6074
Email: District63@ohr.state.oh.us

Committee Ranking Member:
Representative Jay Hottinger
Phone: 614-466-1482
Email: District71@ohr.state.oh.us

Minority Members:

· Rep John Adams
Phone: 614-466-1507
Email: District78@ohr.state.oh.us

· Rep David Daniels
Phone: 614-466-3508
Email: District86@ohr.state.oh.us

· Rep Robert Hackett
Phone: 614-466-1470
Email: District84@ohr.state.oh.us

· Rep Richard Hollinger
Phone: 614-466-5088
Email: District98@ohr.state.oh.us

· Rep Kris Jordan
Phone: 614-466-6711
Email: District02@ohr.state.oh.us

· Rep Ross McGregor
Phone: 614-466-2038
Email: District72@ohr.state.oh.us

· Lynn Wachtmann
Phone: 614-466-3760
Email: District75@ohr.state.oh.us

Tea Party Patriots in DC -- After the Vote (Video)

Sign the Tea Party Patriots "Repeal The Bill" Petition

To sign the Tea Party Patriots ' Repeal The Bill ' petition CLICK HERE.

Then visit the Tea Party Patriots facebook page and tell us what signor number you are in the comments section.Lets see who can be signor number 25,000, 50,000 and 100,000.

Make sure you also visit the Cleveland Tea Party Patriots facebook page (click here) for information about the real grass roots Tea Party that will be held on Tax Day April 15th at Mall C in Downtown Cleveland.

What are you doing on April 15th?

Tell OH Congressman to Vote NO on a Government Take Over of our Health Care

Below are the Congressman in OH that are one the fence for supporting a government take over of our health care.

Flood the phones, faxes & emails --

Rep. Steve Driehaus, Ohio, 1st
http://driehaus.house.gov/DC
Office Number: (202) 225-2216, DC Fax Number: (202) 225-3012
Local Office Number: (513) 684-2723, Local Fax Number: (513) 421-8722
Voted Yes on Health Care
Currently Undecided on Next Health Care Takeover Vote

Rep. Charlie Wilson, Ohio 6th
http://www.charliewilson.house.gov
DC Office Number: (202) 225-5705, DC Fax Number: (202) 225-5907
Local Office Number: (330) 533-7250, Local Fax Number: (330) 533-7136
Chief of Staff: Candace Abbey email: candace.abbey@mail.house.gov
Voted Yes on Health Care
Currently Undecided
Listed on Blue Dog Coalition

Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Ohio, 9th
http://www.kaptur.house.gov/
DC Office Number: (202) 225-4146, DC Fax Number: (202) 225-7711
Local Office Number: (419) 259-7500, Local Fax Number: (419) 255-9623

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio 10th
http://kucinich.house.gov/
DC Office Number: (202) 225-5871
Local Office Number: (216) 228-8850
Voted Yes on Stupak
Voted No on Health Care
Currently NO vote on Health Care (http://rawstory.com/2010/03/defiant-kucinich-rips-health-bill-insurance-industry-bailout/)

Rep. Betty Sutton, Ohio 13th
http://sutton.house.gov/
DC Office Number: (202) 225-3401
Local Office Number: (330) 865-8450
Chief of Staff: Nichole Reynolds email: nichole.reynold@mail.house.gov or nichole.reynolds@mail.house.gov
Voted Yes on Health Care
Currently Undecided

Rep. John Boccieri, Ohio, 16th
http://boccieri.house.gov/
DC Office Number: (202) 225-3876, DC Fax Number: (202) 225-3059
Local Office Number: (330) 489-4414, Local Fax Number: (330) 489-4448
Voted Yes on Stupak
Voted No on Health Care
Currently Undecided on Next Health Care Takeover Vote

Rep. Zack Space, Ohio 18th
http://space.house.gov/
DC Office Number: (202) 225-6265, DC Fax Number: (202) 225-3394
Local Office Number: (330) 364-4300, Local Fax Number: (330) 364-4330
Chief of Staff: Stuart Chapman email: stuart.chapman@mail.house.gov
Voted Yes on Health Care
Currently Undecided
Listed on Blue Dog Coalition

Harry Reid says "Taxation is Voluntary"

Will they "Slaughter" the Country with Hellth Care?

From the Washington Examiner --

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have never before been asked to pass legislation by "deeming" it approved under a House rule instead of following the process required by the U.S. Constitution in which they actually vote on the proposal itself, according to a senior aide to House Republicans.

The procedure - dubbed by critics as the "Slaughter Solution" - is the brain-child of House Rules Committee Chairman Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-NY, who, at the request of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, is trying to fashion a rule that would allow the House to move toward passage of a health care reform bill without a recorded vote on the Senate version.

Like the Senate, which adopted its health care reform measure on Christmas Eve, the House passed its version last year. But there are major differences between the two measures, especially concerning federal funding of abortions. The Senate version includes billions of dollars to fund new health care clinics that would offer abortion services. The House bill was passed only after Rep. Bart Stupak's amendment barring federal funding for the procedure was included.

Slaughter's approach would bring to the House floor a reconcilliation bill to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of health care reform with the rule deeming the House to have approved the Senate version. More.....

Action Alert: President Obama is coming to town

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots
Healthcare Protest Rally
President Obama in Strongsville
Monday morning, March 15

March 11, 2010
Contact: Cleveland Tea Party Patriots clevelandteaparty@gmail.com

Here are unconfirmed details for the healthcare rally on Monday, March 15. President Obama is tentatively scheduled to speak at 10:30 a.m. in Strongsville.

Where:
Strongsville Recreation Complex
18100 Royalton Road, Route 82
Strongsville,
OH 44136

When:
Cleveland Tea Party Patriots encourages us to arrive early, anytime after 9a.m., to park and take our places on Route 82, Royalton Road. We will be lining the sidewalks in front of the Recreation Complex with our signs. Plan on rallying until noon?? The Strongsville Police Dept. knows we're coming!

Google map is here

Parking:
There are two major shopping centers with tons of spaces. Ledgewood Square Shopping Center is just to the west of the Recreation Complex and on the same side of the street. If it fills up, there are loads more spaces across the street, off of Placid Cove, in the Southpark Shopping Center.

The "A" in the red pushpin is the Strongsville Recreation Center. Use the bar on the left to zoom in or out.

What to bring: Signs (please stay on message!) and cameras. Dress for a cloudy day, in the high 30s, low 40s. Bring your family and friends!

Reid informs McConnell they are using Reconciliation on Health Care Bill

The below unconfirmed letter from Harry Reid to Mitch McConnell was found at Buckeye State Blog. If true, we can be sure the legal fights will soon start.

March 11, 2009

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Republican Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Leader McConnell:

Eleven months ago, I wrote you to share my expectations for the coming health reform debate. At the time, I expressed Democrats’ intention to work in good faith with Republicans, and my desire that – while we would disagree at times – we could engage in an honest discussion grounded in facts rather than fear, and focused on producing results, not playing partisan politics.

Obviously, the opposite has happened, as many Republicans have spent the past year mischaracterizing the health reform bill and misleading the public. Though we have tried to engage in a serious discussion, our efforts have been met by repeatedly debunked myths and outright lies. At the same time, Republicans have resorted to extraordinary legislative maneuvers in an effort not to improve the bill, but to delay and kill it. After watching these tactics for nearly a year, there is only one conclusion an objective observer could make: these Republican maneuvers are rooted less in substantive policy concerns and more in a partisan desire to discredit Democrats, bolster Republicans, and protect the status quo on behalf of the insurance industry.

In fact, the attacks on the health care bill are part of a broader pattern. As has been well documented, your caucus conspicuously shattered the record for obstruction last Congress by demanding gratuitous procedural votes on even the most non-controversial matters, and by stalling the work of the Senate despite the urgency of the serious problems facing our country. Senate Republicans are on pace to again break their own record this Congress, illustrated by Sen. Bunning’s effort to prevent the Senate from acting to extend families’ unemployment and health benefits even
after those benefits had expired.

While Republicans were distorting the facts in the health care debate and inflicting delay after needless delay, millions of Americans have continued to suffer as they struggle to afford to stay healthy, stay out of bankruptcy and stay in their homes. Thousands of Americans lose their health care every day, and tens of thousands of the uninsured have lost their lives since this debate began. Meanwhile, rising health costs have contributed to a rising federal budget deficit.

To address these problems, 60 Senators voted to pass historic reform that will make health insurance more affordable, make health insurance companies more accountable and reduce our deficit by roughly a trillion dollars. The House passed a similar bill. However, many Republicans now are demanding that we simply ignore the progress we’ve made, the extensive debate and negotiations we’ve held, the amendments we’ve added (including more than 100 from Republicans) and the votes of a supermajority in favor of a bill whose contents the American people unambiguously support. We will not. We will finish the job. We will do so by revising individual elements of the bills both Houses of Congress passed last year, and we plan to use the regular budget reconciliation process that the Republican caucus has used many times.

I know that many Republicans have expressed concerns with our use of the existing Senate rules, but their argument is unjustified. There is nothing unusual or extraordinary about the use of reconciliation. As one of the most senior Senators in your caucus, Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, said in explaining the use of this very same option, “Is there something wrong with majority rules? I don’t think so.” Similarly, as non-partisan congressional scholars Thomas Mann and Norm Ornstein said in this Sunday’s New York Times, our proposal is “compatible with the law, Senate rules and the framers’ intent.”

Reconciliation is designed to deal with budget-related matters, and some have expressed doubt that it could be used for comprehensive health care reform that includes many policies with no budget implications. But the reconciliation bill now under consideration would not be the vehicle for comprehensive reform – that bill already passed outside of reconciliation with 60 votes. Instead, reconciliation would be used to make a modest number of changes to the original legislation, all of which would be budget-related. There is nothing inappropriate about this. Reconciliation has been used many times for a variety of health-related matters, including the establishment of the Children’s Health Insurance Program and COBRA benefits, and many changes to Medicare and Medicaid.

As you know, the vast majority of bills developed through reconciliation were passed by Republican Congresses and signed into law by Republican Presidents – including President Bush’s massive, budget-busting tax breaks for multi-millionaires. Given this history, one might conclude that Republicans believe a majority vote is sufficient to increase the deficit and benefit the super-rich, but not to reduce the deficit and benefit the middle class. Alternatively, perhaps Republicans believe a majority vote is appropriate only when Republicans are in the majority. Either way, we disagree.

Keep in mind that reconciliation will not exclude Republicans from the legislative process. You will continue to have an opportunity to offer amendments and change the shape of the legislation. In addition, at the end of the process, the bill can pass only if it wins a democratic, up-or-down majority vote. If Republicans want to vote against a bill that reduces health care costs, fills the prescription drug “donut hole”
for seniors and reduces the deficit, you will have every right to do so.

Sincerely,

HARRY REID
United States Senator
Nevada

Join the Boccieri Blitz!

The Motor City Madman -- Ted Nugent -- had the Ballroom Blitz.... our friends the Medina Tea Party Patriots are having a Boccieri Blitz!

From the Medina Tea Party Patriots --

Calling all Patriots! We are holding a “Save our Healthcare” rally at Boccieri’s office in Canton on Friday. This rally is in conjunction with other Tea Party Patriots’ events that will be talking place at local congressional offices nationwide.

Why Boccieri? He is one of Ohio’s MVPs (Most Vulnerable Politicians). As of right now, the latest Whip Count marks Boccieri as undecided. Some reports say that he is looking more favorably at the current proposal, even though he voted against the House version of the bill last November. All of this makes him a prime target for Pelosi, which means we need to turn up the heat.

Our plan of action: While we will be protesting outside Boccieri’s office, we plan to have individuals – one by one – enter Boccieri’s office and express their concerns about the current healthcare bill to his staff. Wouldn’t it be great if we had people continually entering his office for two hours straight?! This is why we need you there.

We will also have a “Boccieri phone blitz,” so bring your cell phone. While individuals from our group are meeting with staff, we can be calling his office from the sidewalk. We want to make sure that Boccieri and his staff understand that “We the People” do not want government-run healthcare.

Finally, we are in the process of trying to schedule an appointment with Boccieri, since he is visiting the district. If we are able to schedule a meeting with the congressman, we are not sure how many people his staff will allow to participate. (Sen. Voinovich’s office limited the number to 5.) Either way, we ask you to join us.

• Date: Friday, March 12, 2010
• Time: 12PM to 2PM
• Location: Congressman John Boccieri’s District Office
• Address: 300 W. Tuscarawas Street, Suite 716, Canton, OH 44702

What to bring: Signs for protesting, letters to give the Congressman and/or his staff, a cell phone to call Boccieri’s office or media, video camera and most importantly, all your concerned friends and family.

Is your healthcare freedom worth a few hours of your time? We are all tired. We are all frustrated. Do not lose focus now. It is critical that we turn up the heat. While we understand that many of you are busy, we implore you to do whatever it takes to be at Boccieri’s office this Friday in Canton to send a very clear message to our Ohio congressman.

Representative Michele Bachmann said it best, “While I realize this is asking a lot in the next two weeks to go and visit these congressional offices, it is actually a very small price to pay, when you consider that we’re on the precipice of losing the finest healthcare system that has been created…” (To listen to the entire interview, visit http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/ HotTeaRadio.) Please make it a priority to be part of this rally – let’s line the sidewalk and declare our healthcare freedom.

President Reagan (Circa 1961) - Speaks out against Socialized Medicine

Rep. Massa -- The Mother of All Health Care Rants

Rep. Massa, unleashing one of the best ever rants against the proposed health care legislation and the goose-stepping tactics being employed by the White House that would only make ruthless dictators proud....

Michele Bachmann on Hot Tea Radio Today at 4pm

TODAY

Congresswoman

Michele Bachmann

will be LIVE on

Hot Tea Radio

Call in at (347) 945-6871

4:00 Eastern and 1:00 Pacific
Listen at http://www.HotTeaRadio.com

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann will be with us today on Hot Tea Radio.

This is your chance to ask the congresswoman your question. You are invited to call in at (347) 945-6871.

We will discuss the renewed Tea Party Patriots fight to stop nationalized health care. Listen live online at 4:00 et, 3:00 ct, 2:00 mt, 1:00 pt.

Perhaps you thought the Health Care battle was over, it is not. The democrats are working towards a vote before the rallies on April 15th.

If you do not stand up now, all we have fought for may be lost.

The next 2 weeks may very well determine whether we end up with government run health care.

It's time now for ALL Patriots to renew their strength and stand up once again. For the next 2 weeks the activities of all Americans WILL make a difference.

Please join us online at http://www.HotTeaRadio.com where you will be able to discuss the events over the next two weeks and the bills before congress. We will also discuss the scheduled rallies in DC and the local rallies that will be happening over the next two weeks.

Listen to HTR every Mon, Wed and Fri from 4-5 pm ET.

Online at http://www.hottearadio.com

You are invited to call in at (347) 945-6871.

Wednesday, March 10th Hot Tea Radio will have Senator Tom Coburn.

Monday, March 15th we will have Congressman Louie Gohmert.