STOP THE CARP! Public meeting Thurs., Jan 16 / 4pm-7pm

Except this is no joke, and it’s not a Godzilla monster. 

It’s the Asian Carp.

The Plain Dealer editorial appears here, and below are some extracts. Mark your calendar for  Thursday, Jan. 16. The Army Corps of Engineers will host a public meeting at the Cleveland Public Library, 325 Superior Avenue, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The carp cometh. (Marlin Levison, The Star Tribune)

The pending carpocalypse of the Great Lakes

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- the same folks who have come up with endless ways to delay action on the threatened invasion of Asian carp into the Great Lakes -- seem determined to institutionalize that failure with a new report that obscures the need for immediate action beneath an avalanche of "risk matrix" and "cost methodology."

But you can stop the Corps from turning the Great Lakes into a corpse.

Circle Thursday, Jan. 16, on the calendar. The Corps will host a public meeting at the Cleveland Public Library, 325 Superior Avenue, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The topic: Their Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study, a wishy-washy "We could do this, we could do that" strategy that skims over the half-measures that have allowed the silver and bighead carp -- the most serious threats these 20,000-year-old liquid assets have faced -- to gain a finhold in the largest freshwater ecosystem on the continent.

The five glacial lakes provide drinking water to 30 million people and float a $7.5 billion commercial fishing industry and 800,000 jobs.

Then there is the tourism. In Ohio alone, Lake Erie recreation and tourism net an estimated $11.5 billion annually and support more than 117,000 jobs, according to state statistics.

And yet, the Corps apparently could care less about what happens in Cleveland or Milwaukee or Buffalo -- especially if it means upsetting President Barack Obama's Chicago shipping industry cronies. 

The study -- which took seven years, millions of dollars and a bipartisan boot-in-the-butt by Congress to produce -- offers eight options, beginning with the laughable suggestion that the Corps continues its current do-nothing tactic by relying on the electric barriers in the Chicago Sanitary and Carp, er, Ship Canal that its own research has proven ineffective.

. . .

And then -- buried near the bottom [of the study] -- is the only obvious solution to stop the carp as well as other invasive species from gutting the Great Lakes: Hydrological separation of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.

Cost: $18.3 billion.

And worth every penny.

Great Lake governors, local, state and federal elected officials, scientists, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and the Ohio Environmental Council all endorse that plan.

Now it time to make your voice heard. Tell the Corps why the Great Lakes mean so much to you. Personalize the relationship. 

Attend the Jan. 16 meeting at the Cleveland Public Library. Then ask the Corps officials and other officials who will be present the tough questions:

1. Hydrological separation is the only strategy that meets the congressional mandate to protect the Great Lakes and it's expensive, yet so is doing nothing. Are our lakefront elected representatives including Reps. Marcy Kaptur and David Joyce and Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman prepared to fight for this money? What about Ohio Gov. John Kasich? Spending hundreds of thousands of federal dollars on the Great Lakes Initiative annually will be a wasted investment if the lakes' fisheries and recreational attractions are laid waste by predatory carp.

2. Given that the Corps' own research confirms that the electric barriers are ineffective and that the physical separation of the two water systems will require extensive and time-consuming work, can Corps officials describe in detail the technologies and any physical barriers they are prepared to implement quickly to prevent the carp from entering the Great Lakes before the watersheds are separated?

3. Considering the urgency of the threat, how soon will Corps officials pledge to have a plan in place to separate the two watersheds? When will the actual separation work begin?

Getting unambiguous answers to these questions is critical for Northeast Ohio and all Great Lakes communities.

THE MEETING: Thursday, Jan. 16 / Cleveland Public Library, 325 Superior Avenue / 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Tea Party Patriots: training sessions announced

Exclusive Tea Party Patriots Training open for Registration!

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From Tea Party Patriots National Support Team:

2014 is here, bringing new challenges for the movement! Tea Party Patriots is sponsoring virtual training specifically for activists and members across the country. For January's classes, there are four sessions to choose from, however there are a limited number of seats available. Registration is free, thanks to donations made by hardworking men and women everywhere!

Waking the Sleeping Giant - How Mainstream Americans Can Beat Liberals at Their Own Game: A look at how the liberal minority wields such power in American politics and practical tools that mainstream Americans can use to turn the tide.
Presented by Tim Daughtry, author of "Waking the Sleeping Giant" TODAY, January 9 at 2:00PM EST.

Register for "Waking the Sleeping Giant" HERE

  The Determinators - Whoever Pays Holds the Power to Decide: The dark underside of Obamacare that, once fully implemented, will significantly threaten the way Americans live…and die.
Presented by Dr. C.L. Gray, author of "The Battle for America's Soul" Thursday, January 16 at 7:30PM EST.

Register for "The Determinators" HERE

Trump the Race Card! Learn how to trump the race card, inspire more minorities, women and young people to join the ranks of the conservative movement.
Presented by K. Carl Smith, President, Frederick Douglass Republican Thursday, January 23 at 7:30PM EST.

Register for "Trump the Race Card!" HERE

Exercise Your Civic Authority - Put the Odds Forever in your Favor: A new approach to citizen activism.
Presented by Mark Herr, President, Center for Self Governance Thursday, January 30 at 7:30PM EST.

Register for "Exercise Your Civic Authority" HERE

Article V Amending Convention Symposium - Article V of the U.S. Constitution outlines two methods for amending the Constitution. The first method allows for Congress to originate an amendment and the second provides for a convention of the states. The second method has never been used. The founders specifically provided that method to allow the people and the states the ability to reign in an over reaching federal government. However, there are some fears and some dangers to an Article V amending convention.

Join us for this discussion to become well informed about this very important issue permeating our political discussions. The schedule is as follows.

Tuesday, January 14 at 7:30PM EST –  Arguments for and against: Continuing the discussion with a pro expert and a con expert regarding an Article V amending convention of the states.

Tuesday, January 21 at 7:30PM EST – Proposed Amendments Part 1: What are some of the amendments being promoted by pro Article V amending convention groups? From a Balanced Budget Amendment to Term Limits to Repeal 16, learn about them on this webinar.

Tuesday, January 28 at 7:30PM EST – Proposed Amendments Part 2: A continuation of proposed amendments.

If demand for classes is high, there may be opportunities for additional training. 2014 Will be a busy year for the Tea Party, make sure you have the tools to be a part of it!

War on Coal Update

A cartoon posted on the Ohio Coal Assoc.'s Facebook page. 

Erika Johnson at the blog Hot Air ("War on coal, phase two: EPA finally publishes rules for new power plants") reports that the next round of strangulation EPA rules is essentially

a ban on the construction of coal-fired power plants (and even that reveal was the result of still another months-long delay as the administration struggled to formulate the rules in a way that could both survive the inevitable legal challenges while not restricting greenhouse-gas emissions so stringently as to disqualify even the construction of new natural gas plants . . .

The Federal Register text is here. The Ohio Coal Assoc. is not happy:

EPA's NSPS regulations are the latest destructive energy policy from the Obama Administration. Yet another example of the war on coal.

Check the OCA's Facebook page for updates. 

Cuyahoga County Executive candidate debate cancelled

Not good news for Cuyahoga County voters:  

Cuyahoga County Executive candidate debate 

scheduled for Thursday  cancelled

From The Plain Dealer:

A county executive debate scheduled for Thursday night has been cancelled.

According to event organizer Mike Nenadovich, a Garfield Heights councilman, Ohio Sen. Shirley Smith pulled out on Wednesday following a death in the family.

Since former County Sheriff Bob Reid was the only other candidate slated to attend -- State Rep. Armond Budish took a pass -- the event will be canceled.

"We can't have a debate with one candidate," Nenadovich said.

The debate will not be rescheduled. The three candidates -- all Democrats -- are expected to appear at a forum organized by the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party on January 18 in an event that will not be open to the general public.

Bob Reid's Facebook page is here. 

Armand Budish's website is here. 

Shirley Smith's Facebook page is here. 

What is a Cartel Party?

Photo credit: capitalistpreservation.blogspot.com

What is a Cartel Party?

A recent article by Peter Oborne from the UK Telegraph is titled “Europe is slowly strangling the life out of national democracy,” with the subtitle “Decisions affecting the lives of voters are being taken by bureaucrats and unelected 'experts'.” But substitute “The U.S. Government” for “Europe” and his report will sound painfully familiar [emphasis added].  

A 20-page article in an obscure academic journal. . . written by the political scientists Richard Katz and Peter Mair, and called “The Emergence of a Cartel Party” . . . immediately explained almost everything that had perplexed me as a lobby correspondent: the unhealthy similarity between supposedly rival parties; the corruption and graft that has become endemic in modern politics; the emergence of a political elite filled with scorn and hostility towards ordinary voters. [The late Peter Mair’s book] Ruling the Void: The Hollowing of Western Democracy, . . . is every bit as brilliant as the earlier essay.

The opening paragraph is bold, powerful, and sets out the thesis beautifully: “The age of party democracy has passed. Although the parties themselves remain, they have become so disconnected from the wider society, and pursue a form of competition that is so lacking in meaning.

. . . Political leaders no longer represent ordinary people, but are becoming, in effect, emissaries from central government.

. . .  On virtually everything that matters, from the economy to immigration, decisions are made elsewhere. . . .  This means that decisions which viscerally affect the lives of voters are now taken by anonymous, unaccountable bureaucrats rather than politicians responsible to their voters.

Progressive members in both parties in Congress fit the description of the Cartel party, to repeat:

The Emergence of a Cartel Party . . .  explain[s] . . . the unhealthy similarity between supposedly rival parties; the corruption and graft that has become endemic in modern politics; the emergence of a political elite filled with scorn and hostility towards ordinary voters.

In this category would be the leadership of both parties, plus most of the usual GOP suspects: Sen. John McCain, Sen. Lindsay Graham, Rep. Paul Ryan, etc. It is indeed "self-stuffing," but hopefully not self-perpetuating.

Meeting postponed due to weather

Due to the forecasted weather and feedback from members we will be cancelling the meeting for tonight (Monday, Jan-06) that was to be held at Brecksville Library.

Due to the importance of what was going to be discussed, we will either reschedule the meeting or host a group conference call.  

We apologize for any inconvenience. Stay warm & stay safe!

Obamacare tax hikes: here they come!

Heritage Foundation provides the following fun information on Obamacare tax hikes, three of which take effect in this New Year: 

Obamacare contains 18 specific tax hikes, mandates, or penalties that cost Americans money, and three new ones take effect in 2014. This is only the beginning—watch how two of these taxes get worse in the years to come.

1. Individual Mandate Tax. The individual mandate is designed to strong-arm individuals into purchasing government-approved health insurance or facing a tax penalty. In 2014, the penalty for not purchasing insurance will be either $95 or 1 percent of annual income (whichever is greater). Very few, if any, people will end up paying just $95, because individuals with an annual income of only $9,500 or less would likely qualify for Medicaid or a hardship exemption from the mandate. The mandate increases drastically in coming years, rising to $325 or 2 percent of income in 2015, and $695 or 2.5 percent of income in 2016—whichever is greater.

2. Health Insurer Tax. One of the largest tax increases in the law is an annual fee imposed on health insurers based on their share of the market. It is estimated to raise $8 billion in 2014 alone. The tax will more than likely be passed on to consumers through premium increases. An actuarial analysis by the consulting firm Oliver Wyman projects that in 2014, this tax will increase premiums by 1.9 percent to 2.3 percent. And the impact will be greater in later years as the tax increases.

3. Reinsurance Fee. This fee isn’t included in the list of 18 tax hikes, but it’s another one that will impact the cost of insurance. Health insurers will have to pay the temporary fee on group health plans to help spread the cost of the covering those in the individual market, inside and outside Obamacare’s exchanges. The fee begins in 2014, costing $63 per covered person and decreasing in 2015 and 2016. Like most taxes and fees, the result will likely be higher insurance premiums.

Sneak Peek at 2015: Employer Mandate. By law, the employer mandate was supposed to begin in 2014, but the Obama Administration delayed enforcing it until 2015. The employer mandate forces employers with 50 or more full-time employees (defined as those working 30 hours per week) to offer government-approved health coverage or pay a penalty. The penalty varies—either $2,000 per employee after the first 30 workers, or $3,000 per employee receiving subsidized coverage in the exchange, whichever is less.

Regardless of the delay, many businesses have already adapted by reducing hours for their employees—falling under the threshold to avoid both the cost of coverage and the penalty.

We need health reform that works for Americans—not against them.

Well, yes!