Tea Party Patriots Ordinary citizens reclaiming America's founding principles.

Friday, March 25, 2011

RSC introduces Welfare Reform Act of 2011

Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (OH), freshman Rep. Tim Scott (SC), and Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ) introduced the Welfare Reform Act of 2011...

From the Republican Study Committee --

H.R. 1167: Welfare Reform Act of 2011

“Continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fibre. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit… We must preserve not only the bodies of the unemployed from destitution but also their self-respect, their self-reliance and courage and determination.”
-President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1935 State of the Union Address—the speech that launched the American welfare state

Since the “War on Poverty” began in 1964, Americans have spent $16 trillion on state and federal welfare programs. In the two decades leading up to 2008, welfare spending grew by 292%. According to the most recent data available, spending for this purpose will amount to more than $10.3 trillion at all levels of government over the next decade. These spending programs have not achieved the stated aims of their authors, which was to reduce poverty and to increase self-sufficiency. Instead, 43 million Americans live at or below the poverty level, and dependence on government is increasing by any objective measurement. In order to reverse course, the RSC offers the Welfare Reform Act of 2011, which will:

1.      Require disclosure of total means-tested welfare expenditures (for the 77 existing programs) in the President’s budget submission.

2.      Place an aggregate spending cap on these means-tested welfare expenditures limited to the level of 2007 plus inflation growth (effective when unemployment falls below 6.5%).

3.      Provide enforcement of this spending cap through the budget resolution.

4.      Extend work requirements to the Food Stamp program.

5.      Incentivize states to alleviate poverty through self-sufficiency, not dependence on government, by reallocating $300 million of current welfare spending toward a new program of grants to states that successfully reduce poverty and increase self-sufficiency.

6.      Prevent federal funding of abortion through these programs.


Disclosure of Welfare Spending in President’s Budget: The legislation requires the President’s budget to include a figure on proposed aggregate federal welfare expenditures over the next ten years, as well as estimated state and local welfare expenditures over this period. This will give taxpayers information on how much the federal government, and also all levels of government, are spending on means-tested welfare spending.


Cap on Welfare Spending: Overall means-tested welfare spending (for the 77 current programs) is limited to the level of 2007 plus inflation growth. This is an overall cap, which means it does not require cuts to any specific program. Instead choices would be made through the budget process. Effective date: On the first fiscal year after the unemployment rate is 6.5% or less.  

Enforcement of Spending Cap: Amend the Budget Act to require all of the following (in order to comply with the cap):

1.      Require the budget resolution to establish a total spending allocation for means-tested welfare spending that does not exceed the aggregate cap established by the legislation.

2.      Require the budget resolution to provide to each authorizing committee with jurisdiction over one or more mandatory means-tested programs a maximum spending allocation for that year for the combined cost of all the mandatory means-tested programs under its jurisdiction.

3.      Provide for reconciliation instructions for each committee of the difference between the allocation and the CBO baseline of spending for means-tested welfare programs under the committee.

4.      Require the budget resolution to place a cap on the Appropriations Committee’s (i.e. discretionary) means-tested spending, and require the committee to divide this cap between the subcommittees.

5.      Require the sum of the mandatory means-tested sub-limits for each of the authorizing committees and the discretionary means-tested limit for the appropriations committee to not exceed the aggregate cap for means-tested welfare spending for that year.

6.      Provide a point of order in House and Senate against consideration of any budget resolution that does not comply with these requirements.


Food Stamp Work Requirements: The legislation establishes work requirements for Food Stamps modeled on the success of the 1996 welfare reform law. States would be required to place 4% of the monthly caseload in a work activation program in 2012, and then 7% in 2013 and thereafter.

In general, able-bodied individuals (from ages 19 to 62) would have to meet work requirements established by the legislation, including:

Ø Employment;
Ø Supervised job search;
Ø Community service work;
Ø Education and job training;
Ø Drug or alcohol treatment.

Individuals would have to meet 60 hours per month of the above-listed activities (families with dependent children 120 hours per month). The legislation would also reduce TANF spending by $1 billion a year, and repeal a provision from the “stimulus” increasing Food Stamp benefits. This money would pay for the cost of state administration of work requirements (authorized at $2.5 billion a year).


Incentives for States to Increase Self-Sufficiency: The legislation creates a new program of grants to states (more than paid for by other spending reductions in the bill) that can meet rigorous standards on reducing poverty without increasing government dependence. To be eligible, a state would have to increase their “self-sufficiency ratio” compared to 2007. This calculation would be based on the number of families that are above the poverty line after excluding receipt of means-tested welfare spending. Up to three states would be eligible for this award, with a total cap on spending for this award of $300 million. Conservatives believe that the answer to poverty is work, higher earnings, and marriage. This program would reward states that can meet the stated aims of the creators of our current welfare programs: to move able-bodied individuals into self-sufficiency. The costs of this program would be more than offset by the savings elsewhere in the bill.

 Prohibition of Federal Abortion Funding: The legislation prohibits federal funding for abortions.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

True the Vote Virtual Summit

If you are one of the millions of Americans outraged by corruption at the highest levels of our nation's government, then you can help us stop fraud where it begins - at the polling place, in the precinct where you live, in the streets of your city.  The True the Vote National Summit is THIS WEEKEND!

Fellow patriots from 25 States will converge in Houston to spend an info-packed weekend learning about how to True the Vote in their own hometowns.  

BUT- the Summit is for us, too!  How often do you get to see Anita MonCriefHans Von SpakovskySenator Norm ColemanJohn FundWarner Todd HustonAndrew Breitbart, and Christian Adams all in one place?  We are blessed to have such an all-star lineup joining forces with King Street in this national call for election integrity.

While the True the Vote Summit is Sold Out -the True the Vote Virtual Summit is only a few clicks away!  

Check out the True the Vote website for more information on how to watch the Summit online, learn the basics of the True the Vote program, and connect with fellow patriots uniting all across the country in support of election integrity!   Mark your calendars- live streaming will begin at 6:30pm CST on Friday, March 25th!  

Tea Party Patriot Survey Results

 
Below are the results of a survey conducted with Tea Party Patriot members acrss the U.S....
 
 
Do you think the Republican Leadership is in line with the will of the American people?
 
7.1% said yes
76.8% said no
15.5% undecided
<1% did not respond

Do you think Tea Party Patriots still has a lot of work to do to make sure that the Republicans 'can hear us now'?
 
98.5% said yes
<1% said no
<1% undecided
<1% did not respond

Do you think some of the Freshmen Republican Congressmen have been co-opted by the leadership?
 
60% said yes
9.3% said no
30% undecided
<1% did not respond

Do you think Tea Party Patriots should stage a protest in DC on 3/31/2011?
 
84% said yes
3.5% said no
12% undecided
<1% did not respond

Should we demand the next CR contain at least $90 billion in cuts to get us to the original promise of $100 billion this fiscal year? ($10 billion in recent cuts + $90 billion in new cuts)
 
95.3% said yes
1.2% said no
2.9% undecided
<1% did not respond

Should we demand that the defunding of NPR be included in the CR so that it actually has a chance of passing the Senate? 

94.2% said yes
1.8% said no
3.3% undecided
<1% did not respond

Should we demand that the next CR defund all of Obama Care (including $105 billion already appropriated)?

97.7% said yes
<1% said no
<1% undecided
<1% did not respond

Will you help organize or participate in a side walk protest outside of your Representative's district office on Thursday, March 24, 2011 when they are home for break?

37.9% said yes
23.1% said no
38.2% undecided
<1% did not respond

Are you willing to spend your own money to come to DC again on March 31, 2011 to protest the current actions of the House of Representatives and demand that they get their fiscal house in order? (This is the most opportune time because the House is in session and it will be right before leadership is whipping votes for the CR the following week.)

24% said yes
41% said no
34.9% said undecided
<1% did not respond 

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Republican Leadership? Where?


Since the Republicans took back the majority in the House in January, do you think they have been responsible in handling this fiscal year's budget? Have they lived up to your idea of leadership? Where is the budget that will get us through the rest of the fiscal year? Are they letting the Democrats rope-a-dope them? Do they seem to understand the urgency of America's fiscal situation? Should we let them get away with passing a Continuing Resolution that doesn't rescind the $105 billion that has already been appropriated to Obama Care? 

Your sacrifices are the reason that the GOP holds the gavel today. You put them in office, and yet they aren't listening to you, and they're not listening to those in their caucus that would dare to tell the truth. What kind of a leader goes to the negotiating table with all of his cards showing, having already given in to the opposition? Is it time, once again, for the American people to take the lead?   
 
The Facts
 
Many members of the GOP are proud that they have cut $10 billion from the budget over a period of 5 weeks. And while cutting spending rarely ever happens in Washington DC, Republicans and all Americans need to keep things in perspective. The facts are simple. Let's review.
  • An analogy: If every penny represents $1 billion, our national debt plus current deficit equals 15,800 pennies. The GOP has removed 10 pennies so far. That's it. And the Democrats wanted to remove about 4 and 1/2 pennies for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends in October.
  • $10 Billion in cuts is equal to 0.07% of the national debt. That's less than 1/10th of 1%!!!
  • The current deficit is projected to reach $1.6 trillion - just for this fiscal year.
  • Our deficit for the single month of February (the shortest month of the year!) was $223 billion - the largest deficit in our history.
  • Every single US man, woman, and child owes almost $200,000 to pay for the deficit + debt + unfunded liabilities.
The recent events in Japan are showing us that a nation living so close to the fiscal edge cannot afford an unexpected disaster to occur. We are drowning in so much red ink that one unexpected, unpreventable, uncontrollable event could bring our house of cards right down on top of us.

Tea Party Patriots Continuing Revolution Rally in D.C.

From Tea Party Patriots --

This past weekend we asked you if we should stage a protest in Washington, DC, on Thursday, 3.31.11. Thousands of you let us know that we should and we hear you loud and clear. 

On Thursday, March 31, 2011, Tea Party Patriots will be holding a Continuing Revolution Rally on the East Side of the Capitol Building from noon to 1:30pm. While the Congress continues "business-as-usual" with their short term continuing resolutions, we will be there to Continue our Tea Party Revolution and demand they make the tough decisions we sent them there to make. 

  • We sent them there to repeal Obama Care and they did, but if they are serious about that vote they won't let another CR pass without removing the $105 Billion in funds already appropriated to Obama Care. 
  • We sent them there to cut spending and while they may tell you that they have cut $10 Billion from the budget in a 3 week period, the same day that the last CR passed in the House, an additional $72 Billion was added to deficit... in ONE DAY.
  • They pledged to us that they were going to cut $100 Billion in spending this fiscal year, so far they have failed to follow through on that pledge.
  • We sent them there to make tough decisions, to be leaders, and yet they are timidly passing mediocre spending reforms as if they are avoiding conflict with the Democrats.
  • We sent them there to be BOLD and yet their actions are showing otherwise.
This is merely a continuation of the battles fought over the last two years. Help us continue to gain ground and build on the successes we've had. They are testing the waters and waiting for us to go away. We're not going away! Will you stand on the steps of the Capitol with us next Thursday to help send that message to them loud and clear? Click here to let us know and be on the look out for more details.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Demand to Defund NPR Grows as Newly Released Video Confirms Bias

From Tea Party Patriots --
Elitist Media Outlet Gives Up All Pretense of Neutrality

Washington, DC - Today, the Tea Party Patriots called on Congress to defund National Public Radio (NPR) of all federal funding after biased comments by Ron Schiller, president of NPR Foundation, surfaced in an undercover video released by James O'Keefe.  In the video, Mr. Schiller says that there "just aren't enough elites in this country" and calls the majority of American "uneducated" and "racist."

"Mr. Schiller himself candidly admits in the video that NPR doesn't need federal funding, and welcomes the opportunity to slant their reporting without the oversight of the taxpayer," said Mark Meckler, national coordinator for Tea Party Patriots.  "At a time when the country is upside down by more than a trillion dollars, can we really afford to provide huge subsidies to entities that openly state that they don't need the money?  Let's take his advice and pass legislation that would defund the clearly biased news organization that is out of touch with Americans across the country."

"Mr. Schiller's latest comments provoke a larger question: how long will we as a nation be willing to tolerate the arrogance of the self-appointed ruling elite?," said Jenny Beth Martin, national coordinator for Tea Party Patriots.  "His unedited comments are indicative of the mentality of ruling elites who are threatened by the power of the Tea Party Patriots.  This bizarre behavior comes at a time when Americans are taking their country back through the legislative process.  Political victory has led to policy victory, and the elite had better wake up to the new reality."

In the video, Schiller said the Republican Party has been "hijacked" by the Tea Party.  A man posing as Amir Malik from the fictitious Muslim Education Action Center Trust finished the sentence by adding, "the radical, racist, Islamaphobic, Tea Party people."   Schiller then agreed and said that Tea Party supporters aren't "just Islamaphobic, but really xenophobic, I mean basically they are, they believe in sort of white, middle-America gun-toting. I mean, it's scary. They're seriously racist, racist people."

For more information about the newly release video see Daily Caller's article: NPR Executives Caught on Tape Bashing Conservatives and Tea Party, Touting Liberals (http://dailycaller.com/2011/03/08/npr-executives-caught-on-tape-bashing-conservatives-and-tea-party-touting-liberals). 

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Judge Sets Deadline on Obamacare Ruling

The brilliant tactic of thinking if they ignore it long enough, Judge Vinson might forget about his January ruling that Obamacare is unconstitutional -- didn't work.  Judge Vinson has given the Administration 7 days to respond by Appeal or his ruling that Obamacare is unconstitutional will stand.

From American Spectator --
Judge Roger Vinson, who declared the national health care law unconstitional in January, granted the Obama administration a 7-day stay allowing them to continue implementing the law, but he ordered them to file for an expidited appeal within a week.

"The sooner this issue is finally decided by the Supreme Court, the better off the entire nation will be," Vinson wrote.

Jamie Dupree has more details. Ruling here.