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!

Announcement: First meeting of 2014

Please join us at our first meeting of 2014 to start the year off right and hit the ground running.

This year looks to be an action packed year and we will be gearing up to deal with issues at all levels of government from local councils & school boards to Cuyahoga County Council, Ohio State House, and Congress.  

While we deal with upcoming issues, we will continue to preach the mantra of "all politics are local" and how what we do this year all leads up to the 2016 Presidential race.

Leading off our initial meeting of the year will be County Councilman Dave Greenspan who will talk about the State of Cuyahoga County and the upcoming proposal to renew the SIN Tax to pay for FIrst Energy Stadium improvements.

We will also have Jesse Smith the N/E OH Regional Coordinator for Americans for Prosperity talk about what they will be doing this upcoming year and the renewed relationship with TPP and AFP in Ohio.

• Date: Monday Jan-06-14
• Time: 7pm - 8:30pm
• Location: Brecksville Library
• Address: 9089 Brecksville Rd Brecksville, OH  (Map)

We look forward to seeing you there!

Happy New Year

 from Cleveland Tea Party Patriots