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....

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....)

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.

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

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.