Ohio's Top Conservative Bloggers & "We the People"

It was great to see the top conservative bloggers in Ohio, Tom Blumer of Bizzy Blog (www.bizzyblog.com), Matt Hurley & Mark Garbett from Weapons of Mass Discussion (http://massdiscussion.blogspot.com/) and Maggie Thurber of Thurber's Thoughts (http://thurbersthoughts.blogspot.com/) 
Note: There are many good conservative bloggers in Ohio.  In the very near future, you will soon 
          hear a lot more about them and from them.

Matt & Tom participated on a panel for one of the break out sessions also.  In sharing his views on the "We the People Convention," Mark G (WMD) offers up his take on Tom B's and Matt's portion of the break out session...

"Those two did a lot to bring blogging to the people and disspell a lot of the esoteric b.s. of some other presenters who tried to make it sound like you had to do what they did to be successful, or that you couldn't cover national events because Malkin already does. Kudos to those two for excellent work...oh yeah, and I helped!"

Weapons of Mass Discussion Live Blogged the "We the People Convention" and has replays of it for Day 1 (Click Here) and for Day 2 (Click Here).

In the world of the blogosphere, Weapons of Mass Discussion, BizzyBlog and Thurbers Thoughts, are what would be considered "grassroots" blogging in the same aspect the Tea Party is a grassroots movement. The mainstream media blogs serve their purpose, but the grassroot blogs like those listed above and the many other like them is where you will find the best sources of information -- especially on issues in your state.

But, pleae be warned there are what are called "trolls" in the blogosphere and some that could be defined as, if the blogosphere were a living person -- they would be the arm pit. Though there are many good blogs -- there are some very bad ones - so beware.  The three highlighted in this post (Weapons of Mass Discussion, BizzyBlog and Thurbers Thoughts)  are award winning, reputable and full of resourceful information nationally and for the State of Ohio.

Not an often ventured into area for most tea party type people, the blogosphere is a tool greatly underused by our movement.  It is an area the left continually uses to shape public opinion and perception. It is an arena we must enter in a much larger presence.  Take the plunge, visit Weapons of Mass Discussion, BizzyBlog and Thurbers Thoughts.

Obamacare -- Ohio Style?

As we prepared to celebrate the birth of our country and freedom from oppresive and government intrusion, on 6/29/11 some members of Ohio's Donkey Brigade in Columbus introduced legislation that will create an Ohio version of Obamacare -- HB 287.

In part, and in creating regional health care boards, HB 287 will enact the Ohio Health Security Act to establish and operate the Ohio Health Care Plan to provide universal health care coverage to all Ohio residents.....

Sec. 3922.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "Blind trust" means an independently managed trust in which the beneficiary has no management rights and in which the beneficiary is not given notice of alterations in or other dispositions of the stock, mutual funds, or other property subject to the trust.

Sec. 3922.02.  (A)(1) There is hereby created the Ohio health care plan, which shall be administered by the Ohio health care agency under the direction of the Ohio health care board.

(2) The Ohio health care plan shall provide universal and affordable health care coverage for all Ohio residents, consisting of a comprehensive benefit package that includes benefits for prescription drugs. The Ohio health care plan shall work simultaneously to control health care costs, control health care spending, achieve measurable improvement in health care outcomes, increase all parties' satisfaction with the health care system, implement policies that strengthen and improve culturally and linguistically sensitive care, and develop an integrated health care database to support health care planning.

(B) There is hereby created the Ohio health care agency. The Ohio health care agency shall administer the Ohio health care plan and is the sole agency authorized to accept applicable grants-in-aid from the federal and state government, using the funds in order to secure full compliance with provisions of state and federal law and to carry out the purposes of sections 3922.01 to 3922.33 of the Revised Code. All grants-in-aid accepted by the Ohio health care agency shall be deposited into the Ohio health care fund established under section 3922.09 of the Revised Code.

In its' entirety, HB 287 (click to read HB 287) is nothing more than trying to enact Obamacare at the state level through newly created regional and state boards deciding your healthcare.

To combat this Ohio style of Obamacare, signatures for the Ohio Healthcare Freedom Amendment to be on the ballot this upcoming election will be submitted this Wednesday (7/6/11) to the OH Secretary of States office. Getting this on the ballot and passed is the first step in protecting Ohio residents from Obamacare's forced health care insurance mandate.  (Click here to join in the Signature Submittal Rally this Wednesday).

The second step to Healthcare Freedom in Ohio is through SB 189, the Ohio Health Care Compact, which when passed and approved by Congress, will give Ohio residents the right to craft healthcare laws task specific to our needs.

National Association for the Self-Employed: "Lawmakers need to simplify the Tax Code'

From National Association for the Self-Employed --

Move Would Help Narrow $345 Billion Tax Gap, Decrease Taxpayer Headaches

Washington, D.C., June 30, 2011 – With spending up and revenues down, Senate lawmakers are looking to rein in the tax gap in order to bring down the national debt. The tax gap is the difference between what the IRS is owed versus what it collects each year and is currently estimated at $345 billion. The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) has been very active in suggesting ways that the gap might be closed, including small changes to current tax code and tax policy.

“Congress has been eager to pursue methods for reducing the tax gap, often at the expense of the self-employed and micro-businesses,” said NASE Executive Director Kristie Arslan. “Instead of further complicating the tax code with added regulatory burdens on small business and increasing enforcement activities, we suggest a more balanced approach that includes simplifying the tax code and enhancing taxpayer education.”

In the past, the federal government has targeted the self-employed (Schedule C filers) as part of their collection efforts. Recently, some agencies have publically acknowledged deficiencies in the tax system, including the IRS and the Government Accountability Office.  Both offices have acknowledged that most noncompliance is the result of inadvertent errors and tax loopholes that provide opportunities for noncompliance.  These agencies suggested what the NASE has said for years, that simplification of the tax code is a key component to narrowing the tax gap.

It is important to note that in review of current proposals to address the tax gap, we see that they solely focus on business to business transactions. Business to business transactions are already highly regulated and have substantial reporting requirements. A large area of potential non compliance and under reporting stems from business to consumer transactions. These dealings are currently not subject to reporting requirements and the creation of those requirements would likely be prohibitive to consumers and politically unappealing to legislators.

“In the fervent drive by Congress to recoup revenues for our fast depleting federal coffers, we must take the necessary steps to make certain the path we choose is balanced and effective, rather than detrimental. The NASE believes that the collective focus should be on supporting efforts for the survival, growth and innovation of small business as a foundation for long-term economic vitality,” remarked Arslan.

Read more here about the NASE’s position on specific tax gap proposals.

41 U.S. Senators Standing up against the EPA & The Clean Water Act

From Senator Thad Cochran --

COCHRAN JOINS CHALLENGE TO EPA & ARMY CORPS
NEW GUIDANCE ON CLEAN WATER ACT JURISDICTION

Group of Senators Ask Agencies to Abandon Proposed “Clarifications” on Water Regulations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) is among 41 U.S. Senators who have asked two federal agencies to abandon a regulatory guidance effort that would change rights of communities, farmers and others who are subject to the Clean Water Act.

Cochran has signed a letter authored by Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.) that asks the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers to take no further action on an interim draft guidance document on identifying waters protected by the Clean Water Act.  The letter questions the legality and necessity for change, and takes issue with the prospect of the guidance being used as “the first step toward a formal rulemaking in the future.”

The interim draft guidance notice (EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0409) was published in the Federal Register on May 2.  Public comments on the document are being accepted until July 31.

“The Clean Water Act has a proper role in protecting our waters, but the draft guidance offered by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps amounts to a slippery slope into a regulatory swamp,” Cochran said.  “The guidance document should be pulled and thoroughly reconsidered based on the many serious questions being raised about the legal authority behind it, as well as the potential ramifications for those who will be regulated.”

The detailed letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy questions the necessity of the new federal guidance because there have not been new legislative changes or court decisions altering the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act since the last official guidance was implemented several years ago.

Led by Inhofe, who is the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the Senators contend that the new guidance has clear regulatory consequences and will shift the burden of proving jurisdictional status from the EPA and Army Corps to the regulated communities. 

“While we question seriously the need for this new guidance and believe that the Agencies lack the authority to rewrite their jurisdictional limitations in this manner, one thing is clear:  it is fundamentally unfair to the States and the regulated community (including our nation’s farmers and other property owners) to subject lands and waters under their control to a change in their legal status of this magnitude via a ‘guidance document,’” the Senators wrote.

The Senators go on to argue that the draft interim guidance will substantively change how the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers decide which waters are subject to federal jurisdiction and will impact the regulated community’s rights and obligations under the Clean Water Act.

“This guidance has clear regulatory consequences and goes beyond being simply advisory guidelines.  The draft guidance will shift the burden of proving jurisdictional status of waters from the Agencies to the regulated communities, thus making the guidance binding and fundamentally changing the legal rights and responsibilities that they have.  When an agency acts to change the rights of an individual, we believe that the agency must go through the formal rulemaking process,” the Senators wrote.  “We respectfully request you abandon any further action on this guidance document.”

Links:

• Federal Register Notice:  http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/wetlands/upload/signed_epa-hq-ow-2011-0409_frn.pdf 
• Proposed Guidance Document:  http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/wetlands/upload/wous_guidance_4-2011.pdf
• EPA Clean Water Act:  http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/wetlands/CWAwaters.cfm

###

Sign the No Debt Increase Petition

It is time to cut up Washington’s credit card and get federal spending under control.

In 1917, Congress created the debt limit to control spending. Instead every time they “hit” the limit they’ve raised it. Like irresponsible teenagers they’re at it again for the 11th time in as many years.

Since 2000, the National debt has increased three fold to $14.3 trillion or $130,000 per household. A recent CBO report indicates at the current rate of spending the budget deficit is projected to eclipse our total gross GDP in 2021.

Federal government spending has skyrocketed to nearly one quarter of the economy. The U.S. Department of Labor alone will spend approximately $1,250 per household this year!

Washington must stop overspending. If we can’t stop them now when will we?

Congress needs to quit making promises for how they will deal with problems in the future and deal with the crisis we have today.

Say NO to another debt ceiling increase. Say NO to more government spending. 

To sign the Tea Party Patriots No Debt Ceiling Increase petition click here.



Budget Deficit Projected to Eclipse U.S. Total Gross GDP in 2021

Referring to a new report issued by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), CBO's 2011 Long-term Budget Outlook (click here to read report), which indicates that unless the out of control spending is stopped our budget deficit will outpace our GDP by 2021, and calling our current fiscal path "reckless & irresponsible," House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Tom Price, M.D. (R-GA),  issued the following statement...

"Today’s report serves as the latest in a long list of reminders that the nation’s current fiscal path is both reckless and irresponsible,” said Chairman Price.  “One has to wonder how much more evidence the White House and Democrats in Congress need in order to take our debt crisis seriously.  A future saddled with skyrocketing debt will result in America having a weaker hand to play globally as our economy here at home will continue its current anemic state.  The job creators of tomorrow will live under the same cloud of uncertainty that plagues current entrepreneurs.

“House Republicans believe we owe a better future to our children and grandchildren which is why we have a plan that addresses the cost drivers of our debt and puts us on a positive path forward.  Our Democrat colleagues have a choice whether or not to be a part of solving this crisis.  To date their decision has been to demagogue the good faith efforts of others.  Under their vision of the future, the American people are left with more debt, more doubt, and more despair.  House Republicans refuse to condemn our great nation to such a fate, and we will continue to fight for an honest accounting of our nation’s fiscal and economic challenges while offering positive solutions to ensure the American Dream for future generations.”

And hopefully Congressman Price will convince the rest of the GOP in Congress, Speaker Boehner too, that raising the debt ceiling is not an option.  Anymore, and after the GOP's broken promise of cutting $100 Billion in spending this year, and in reality the CBO now says they actually increased spending by $2.5 Billion, however well intentioned, Congressman Prices comments are empty words.

We do not have faith that Congress will actually make significant cuts or be able to keep this promise.  Congress can and should make cuts to the budget and still NOT increase the debt ceiling.

Congress has been making promises to constituents for years about what future Congresses will or will not spend money on (Social Security and Medicare are prime examples) and they cannot live up to these promises.  Decreasing government spending from 24% of GDP to 18% or lower is a good goal. The reality is that this Congress cannot bind another Congress to those caps unless it is done through an Amendment.

Congress needs to quit making promises for how they will deal with problems in the future and deal with the crisis we have today. It is time has come to cut America's credit card and cut the out of control spending now.

The Tea Party Patriots, along with some upcoming tele-town halls on the subject, will be rolling out another Engagement Center with emails, tweets, phone calls, letters, etc. for supporters to make over the next several weeks.

Americans Deserve Better

Fellow Patriots,

We've already told you the Four Big Lies you will hear in connection with raising the debt limit and over the coming days we will show you the reasons why we don't have to increase the debt limit.

At what point do we say enough is enough? At what point of government borrowing will our liberty be encroached upon enough that Americans will demand REAL change in Washington? The time may very well be upon us.

Five Reasons

Why Not To Increase the Debt Ceiling 

1. We won't default if we prioritize our spending.

The federal government takes in enough revenue to cover our debt obligations. The real problem is the spending. We must act now to control our spending for the sake of America's future.

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can't pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies."  - Senator Barack Obama, March 16, 2006*

2. If they raise it they will spend it.

Since the debt ceiling was first put into place, Congress has not failed to raise it when the debt was critically close to reaching and exceeding the limit. The debt ceiling has been raised 10 times in the last 11 years and we are on the verge of raising it yet again. What makes this time any different? What is to stop them from raising it the next time we reach the limit? Isn't that the point of the debt ceiling, to prevent the borrowing of more money?   

"If Washington were serious about honest tax relief in this country, we would see an effort to reduce our national debt by returning to responsible fiscal policies. But we are not doing that..."   - Senator Barack Obama, March 16, 2006* 

3. We have been warned to stop the reckless spending.

Moody's, Standard & Poor's, economists, and even China have warned us to stop our reckless spending. Increasing the debt ceiling is an enabler to our spending problem. If the government is not able to borrow anymore money, they will be forced to start prioritizing spending. 

"[T]he more we depend on foreign nations to lend us money, the more our economic security is tied to the whims of foreign leaders whose interests might not be aligned with ours. Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that ''the buck stops here.'' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America's debt limit." - Senator Barack Obama, March 16, 2006*

   

4. We don't have to reinvent the wheel on spending.

If we go back to 2003 spending levels we can begin to pull ourselves out of this fiscal crisis that we are in. If we went a step further back to the spending levels at the end of the Clinton administration, we could balance our budget. It is true that sacrifices will have to be made but if we don't make those sacrifices now, just imagine how much harder it will be in the future.

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure."  - Senator Barack Obama, March 16, 2006*    

5. A rising national debt hinders jobs and the economy. 

As the government continues to borrow money, confidence in the economy dwindles, business owners worry about how the government will pay its debts, and the talks of increasing government revenues by raising taxes causes businesses to save capital and plan for survival rather than planning for growth.  

"[T]he cost of our debt is one of the fastest growing expenses in the Federal budget. This rising debt is a hidden domestic enemy... interest payments are a significant tax on all Americans-a debt tax that Washington doesn't want to talk about." - Senator Barack Obama, March 16, 2006*

Enough is enough.

America deserves better.