Stop the Job Killing Big Tobacco Bailout

Big Tobacco companies have inserted an amendment to the massive federal highway bill that is currently being debated in Congress.  This amendment reclassifies all small Roll Your Own (RYO) cigarette retail shops as “cigarette manufacturers” for the sole purpose of driving them OUT of business, killing jobs across the country and limiting consumer choice.

Beginning Tuesday, May 8, the House and Senate will begin meeting to discuss this bill in a conference committee.

From Tax Tracker --

We’ve all played a good game of hide & seek, right? Cover your eyes, count to ten, run around and find your friends? It’s fun because you get to exercise just how clever you can be. If you can stay hidden, you’re clever. If you can find people, you’re clever. It’s a game that is SO much fun, some members of Congress are still playing!

Hidden in the Senate’s massive version of the 2012 transportation reauthorization act is a teeny weeny provision allowing Big Tobacco companies to SQUASH small businesses. You heard me. In between money for roads, bridges, airports, trains, and Amtrak is a monumental United States Government bailout for Big Tobacco.

TODAY’S MESSAGE: Enough hide and seek. Tell Congress REMOVE the #BigTobacco bailout from the highway bill. It’s a job killer. http://bit.ly/NewTax

If you’re a frequent reader of my blog, you already know this. But, we’re getting new readers every day so here it is again:

Big Tobacco has bought some lawmakers. These lawmakers have introduced legislation reclassifying small tobacco shops where you can roll your own smokes as “tobacco manufacturing” facilities. This throws small, roadside tobacco shops into the same tax and regulatory category as mammoth cigarette manufacturing facilities. Unfair, right? Well, the pain doesn’t last long for Mom & Pop tobacco shops. They pretty much go out of business immediately.

Why is Big Tobacco doing this? Because 99 percent market share isn’t enough. They make no money off people who roll their own smokes. If they can eliminate our ability to roll our own, Big Tobacco thinks they’ll pocket more money. Which, they probably will if they’re successful.

That’s where you come in.

You can help by reaching out to members of Congress. Scroll through some of my previous posts for lists of folks to hit.

Today: Engage a few members in the morning and a few members in the afternoon. Take a few minutes for Facebook. And if you have time, take a few minutes to post in the comments section of online news stories. Members of the news media appreciate heads’ up on how their member responds to your inquiries!

Tuesday, Congress reconvenes to hammer out a final 2012 transportation reauthorization act. Let our voices be heard!

President Obama & the Democrats Assault on College Students

In President Obama & the Democrats continued "War on Children" we see how his North Korean like ballistic missiles of fiscal and economic failure have crashed down on many youthful supporters of his 2008 ascent to Commander of Youthful Grief, (the office formerly known as Commander in Chief).

A report done by the Economic Policy Institute shows unemployment for young college graduates was 10.4% in 2010, and the underemployment rate was 19.8%. For young high school graduates, the statistics were even grimmer: unemployment was 32.7% in 2010, and the underemployment rate was 55.9%.

From the Economic Policy Institute --

Though the labor market is now headed in the right direction, the prospects for young high school and college graduates remain grim. This briefing paper examines the labor market that confronts young graduates who are not enrolled in additional schooling—specifically, high school graduates age 17–20 and college graduates age 21–24—and details the following findings:

• Unemployment and underemployment rates of young graduates have only modestly improved since their peak in 2010. 

• For young high school graduates, the unemployment rate was 32.7 percent in 2010 and 31.1 percent over the last year (April 2011–March 2012), while the underemployment rate was 55.9 percent in 2010 and 54.0 percent over the last year.

• For young college graduates, the unemployment rate was 10.4 percent in 2010 and 9.4 percent over the last year, while the underemployment rate was 19.8 percent in 2010 and 19.1 percent over the last year.

• There is no evidence that young high school graduates have been able to “shelter in school” from the labor market effects of the Great Recession; college and university enrollment rates for both men and women have not meaningfully departed from their long-term trend since the start of the Great Recession.

• The long-run wage trends for young graduates are bleak, with wages substantially lower today than they were in 2000. Between 2000 and 2011, the real (inflation-adjusted) wages of young high school graduates declined by 11.1 percent, and the real wages of young college graduates declined by 5.4 percent.

• Young graduates lack opportunities for advancement, a trend underscored by the fact that there are now nearly 30 percent fewer voluntary quits each month than there were each month in 2007.

• Graduating in a bad economy has long-lasting economic consequences. For the next 10 to 15 years, the Class of 2012 will likely earn less than they would have if they had graduated when job opportunities were plentiful.

• The safety net of federal and state assistance programs often does not cover young workers due to eligibility requirements such as significant prior work experience.

• The cost of higher education has grown far more rapidly than median family income, leaving students with little choice but to take out loans, which, upon graduating into a labor market with limited job opportunities, they may not have the funds to repay.

• The scarcity of job opportunities for the Class of 2012 is a symptom of weak demand for workers in the overall economy. What will bring down the unemployment rate of young workers most quickly and effectively are policies that will generate strong job growth overall, such as fiscal relief to states, substantial additional investment in infrastructure, expanded safety net measures, and direct job creation programs in communities particularly hard-hit by unemployment.



Unemployment and underemployment rates for young college graduates, 1994–2012

 To read the whole report click here.

But on the bright side... the Master Degree counter workers at McDonald's will now know how to give change!

Americans Spend More $$$ on Taxes than Housing, Food & Clothing

Under the four years of failed leadership and "share the wealth" policies of President Obama, you will be spending more of your hard earned money on paying taxes to support others -- than you will on your own housing, clothing ad food expenses combined!

From The Tax Foundation --

In 2012, Americans will pay approximately $4.041 trillion in taxes, which is $152 billion, or 3.9%, more than they will spend on housing, food, and clothing combined, according to a new study from the Tax Foundation. In addition, an increasing proportion of government benefits now go to pay for those same basic expenses of low-income Americans.

Examining the trends of tax collections and expenditures on housing, food, and clothing for the past several decades, the study shows that an ever-increasing amount of taxpayer money has gone into government programs that subsidize or pay for essential household goods. Cash and voucher benefits now pay for over a third of basic household expenses, up from less than 1% in 1929 and less than 20% in the early 1970s.

"Transfer payments, or government social benefits, have grown to represent a substantial portion of money spent on living expenses, encompassing housing, food, clothing, healthcare, and transportation," said Tax Foundation Adjunct Scholar Kevin Duncan. "This means that the government is picking up an increasing portion of the tab for these essential goods."

From the creation of Medicare in 1965 through 2010, transfer payments rose from 11.39% to 34.79% of living expenditures. While some money spent on transfer programs is spent on other items besides healthcare, food, clothing, transportation, and housing, the strong prevalence of in-kind benefits, or government transfer payments for a specific item or service, keeps this as a small fraction of overall expenditures.

Between 1929 and the early 1980s, aggregate tax collections were less than total expenditures on housing, food, and clothing. From 1929 to 1980, tax liabilities grew from $10 billion to $751 billion, while expenditures on housing, food, and clothing grew from $41.6 billion to $775.7 billion. The gap between tax collections and expenditures on essential goods reached a maximum in 2000, when Americans gave 19% more to the government than they spent on these items.

But, this makes it official that President Obama has finally held true on one of his campaign promises - Hope & Change.  Yes, you "hope" you will have some "change" left after President Obama gets his hand out of your pocket so he can pay for others.

Senator Sherrod Brown & Senator Dick Durbin to Host Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on "Voting & Civil Rights" in Cleveland

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), two of Senator Harry Reid's best buddies, will be hosting an official hearing of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee this coming Monday (5/7/12) on Voting Rights in Ohio - specifically the supposed negative effects of HB 194.

SB 194, which is subject to a repeal effort in the 2012 General Election, reduces the amount of voting days registered voters can cast a ballot prior to election day, puts the responsibility of voting in the proper location on said registered voter and would require registered voters to submit a Vote by Mail application if they wish to vote absentee.

From Hispanic Ohio -- (Emphasis added)

United States Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) will hold an official hearing of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights in Cleveland on Monday examining the impact of Ohio’s new voting law, H.B. 194, which shortens early voting and eliminates the requirement that poll workers direct voters to the proper precinct. U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Warrensville) will provide testimony; additional witnesses will be announced at a later date.

Ohio’s new law reduces the number of early voting days from 35 to 17, and eliminates voting on the weekend before an election and prohibits county boards of elections from mailing unsolicited absentee ballots.

H.B. 194 will be subject to a ballot repeal measure in November.

The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. at the Carl B. Stokes federal courthouse, 801 W. Superior Avenue, all are encouraged to attend.

Where HB 194 and other election law related bills passed on Ohio this year will instill some integrity back into the election process and close loopholes that encourage voter fraud, the Democrats, no longer allowed to use votes from the cemetery as voters are now required to, if not registered, to at least have a pulse, would rather have voting available to anybody with a pulse, being allowed to vote anywhere -- days, weeks, and possibly months before election day.

With Ohio being a known battleground state, with the Democrats having to perform well in Cuyahoga County to win in Ohio and with Sherrod Brown & President Obama unable to run on their past 4 yrs of failure, that this Democrat-led Dog & Pony Show of "Voter Victimhood & Veiled Class Warfare" should come as no surprise.

The hearing starts at 9 a.m. Monday 5/7/12 at the Carl B. Stokes Federal Courthouse, located at 801 W. Superior Avenue Cleveland, OH (Click here for Map). 

A Tea Party Patriots (OH) Salute to Ohio Law Enforcement

Date: 5/4/12

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ralph King

Clevelandteaparty@gmail.com

  

A Salute to Ohio Law Enforcement:

FBI deserves big Thumbs Up

Cleveland, Ohio - The Federal Bureau of Investigation earned a huge “job well done” from all Ohioans for the precise and efficient strike against a domestic terrorists group who allegedly attempted to destroy a bridge near Cleveland.

Ohio tea partiers are encouraging all citizens to praise the FBI and local law enforcement for the outstanding job they do every day. Tea Party Patriot State Co-Coordinator Ralph King said, “we have just witnessed excellence in achievement from the finest law enforcement people in the world.”

Many of us in the Cleveland area were shocked to discover on April 30th, 2012, on a typical Monday evening, the FBI arrested five men involved in a conspiracy to blow up a bridge that may have injured and killed people and would have had a destructive impact on travel and interstate commerce and therefore our struggling economy. "It's instances of violence such as this that continue to set tea party members and supporters apart as peaceful, respectful and reasonable citizens protesting an excessive and over reaching government," said Marianne Gasiecki, State Co-Coodinator for the Tea Party Patriots.

All too often, honorable institutions like the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been wrongly criticized, often for political purposes. It is time for an honest look at a great law enforcement body with important accomplishments during some of the most trying times of this great nation. For more than a hundred years the FBI has served tirelessly to fill the gaps between local laws, dealing mostly with criminal activity across State lines.

The FBI and local law enforcement personnel were on the job while the rest of us went about our business without a clue as to what the conspirators were planning. Because of the tireless efforts of honorable men and women serving in law enforcement the attackers were under surveillance from the beginning, and the public was never in danger. The FBI has once more demonstrated its expertise in carrying out the FBI mission to protect our communities, businesses and our lives. Thank you FBI and God Bless you.

# # #

Tea Party Patriot values vs Occupy

From National Review Online cartoons of the day (it’s from last November, but is still au courant):

Support SB 323: Protect Ohio Workers Compensation Benefits

ACTION ALERT

On Tuesday May 1, 2012 at 4:00 P.M. in the South Hearing Room 231, The Insurance, Commerce, and Labor Committee will hear proponent testimony on Senate Bill 323.

Senate Bill 323, sponsored by Senator Bill Seitz, will amend sections 2743.02, 2744.02, 4123.01, and 4123.511 and to enact sections 2307.82 and 4123.513 of the Revised Code to prohibit illegal and unauthorized aliens from receiving compensation and certain benefits under Ohio's Workers' Compensation Law.

If you are unable to attend this hearing you can email your testimony/letter for S.B. 323 to Senator Seitz at SD8@senate.state.oh.us or Senator Bacon at  SD3@senate.state.oh.us. Subject Line - SB 323 Testimony/Letter. Proponent testimony can be submitted until the bill goes up for a final vote.

By law, illegal immigrants are not permitted to work in Ohio. Employers choosing to ignore these laws by hiring illegal immigrants, should also be held responsible for incurring costs related to any injury while the illegal alien was under ther employ.

SB 323 will protect the citizens and law-abiding employers in Ohio from being further financially victimized  & burdened by those willfully ignoring the laws of our state.  SB 323 will assure that only individuals legally employed in Ohio will be eligible for Workers Compensation Benefits.

Please contact the below members of the Senate Insurance, Commerce & Labor Committee and urge them to support SB 323.

Insurance, Commerce & Labor Committee

Chairman

Senator Kevin Bacon (R)
Phone: (614) 466-8064
Email: SD03@senate.state.oh.us

Vice-Chair

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

Republican Members

Senator Bill Beagle
Phone: (614) 466-6247
Email: SD05@senate.state.oh.us

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

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

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

Senator Kris Jordan
Phone: (614) 466-8086
Email: SD19@senate.state.oh.us

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

Democrat Members

Ranking Minority Member

Senator Joe Schiavoni
Phone: (614) 466-8285
Email: SD33@senate.state.oh.us

Senator Edna Brown
Phone: (614) 466-5204
Email: SD11@senate.state.oh.us

Senator Eric Kearney
Phone: (614) 466-5980
Email: SD09@senate.state.oh.us

Senator Tom Sawyer
Phone: (614) 466-7041
Email: SD28@senate.state.oh.us

You can also contact your State Senator and ask them to voice their support for the SB 323.  Click Here to find your State Senator.

Thanks to the Grassroots Rally Team of Ohio for the above info.