If it’s good enough for the Government, then it’s good enough for us too!

Do we live in a "Do as I say, not as I do" country? Sometimes it appears that way!

Congress—they don’t pay their taxes and they still get appointed to high ranking positions within the government!

News release from Rep. John Boehner:

WASHINGTON, DC – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement after Rep. John Carter (R-TX) announced his intention to offer a privileged resolution next week to force a vote on removing Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) as Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee, pending completion of the Ethics Committee investigation that is now in its second year:

“Working families across America are struggling in today’s economy, and they need to have confidence that the individual in charge of the House’s tax-writing panel is following the laws the committee is charged with crafting and overseeing. It is improper for Rep. Rangel to remain in a position with such vast power and influence while serious questions about his official conduct continue to multiply and go unanswered. Several weeks ago I wrote a letter to Rep. Rangel asking him to step aside while the Ethics Committee conducts its investigation. He has not done so, and his fellow Democrats have voted to protect him every step of the way.

“When Democrats took the majority, Speaker Pelosi promised the most ‘open and ethical’ Congress in history. Given the nature and severity of the charges against Rep. Rangel, I would urge all my colleagues, Democrat and Republican, to do the right thing and support the Carter resolution next week.”


Along this same mind-set:

Congress--they have “opted out” of participating in the health care that they are forcing us to accept and it’s been proposed that if we don’t get health insurance (according to them), we’ll pay a penalty or go to jail!

HYPOCRITES!

Have you heard of the “Rangel Rule”—it is proposed by Rep. John Carter of Texas and states that “if you're caught cheating on your taxes, you would pay what you owe, then write "Rangel Rule" at the top of your return, and you wouldn't be charged any penalty or interest.”

Now, we are not advocating breaking the law, we’re just saying, “fare is fare” and if the politicians aren’t going to participate in the health care that they are forcing on us, then we should be able to express our dissatisfaction in a similar fashion (without penalties or jail time) as the “Rangel Rule” would allow. We feel that we should be able to write something similar across the top of our government-issued insurance forms when we declare that we do not want what they are providing!

What do you think? What could we write across the top of our insurance forms? How about “Congressional Coverage” or “Representative Repudiation”?

We’d love to know your suggestions and urge you to share them with your elected Representatives as well.

Summer is gone, but the passion that was alive and well during the August town halls has not diminished. Please continue to write/call/email the White House, Senate, and Congress and let them know how you feel—it does matter and you are making a difference!

"The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse. Do you feel as though the power we gave our politicians has been abused?" (James Madison-from a speech in the Virginia Constitutional Convention, 12/2/1829)

God Bless America and thanks for your consideration.

No! I don't think so....Because did it ever really belong to you in the first place?

The picture above kinda makes me angry. What is Jeff Darcy trying to say in this picture? Even Old Glory belongs to the people first ! Correct me if I am wrong. I could spend hours picking apart this pic, but I think you can judge for your self of what picture the liberal media is painting of the Tea Party Patriots. It does not insult me but it does make me want to fight harder, because no matter how much they ignore the Tea Parties, someone is hearing us loud and clear!

Tea Party Patriots - Take Ohio Back for Ohio!

Fellow Tea Party Patriots

As we continue the fight to save our country, we must not lose sight of the problems plaguing our state of Ohio. AS we all know, and as numerous reports, studies, and polls show, due to archaic tax laws and business killing policies - Ohio is dying a slow death.

As witnessed with our blown state budget, which is now akin to a Grand Canyon size gap, we must also concentrate our efforts here at home.

It is time for us to "Take Ohio Back for Ohio"

There is currently a package of 10 "job creating, tax-lowering, student & economic development -friendly" proposals in the Ohio House Economic Development Committee that are not only receiving no attention -- but they are being ignored. We cannot allow this to happen!

The Tea Party Patriots and all our fellow conservative groups in OH must save our state from hemorrhaging more jobs and further plunging into an economic abyss - we must Take Ohio Back for Ohio!

Our first step is to get educated on the "Future of Ohio" package languishing in the OH House. We have contacted the office of State Rep. Nan Baker (R-Westlake), the ranking minority leader on the OH House Economic Development Committee, & State Rep. Todd Snitchler (R-Uniontown) for more information on these proposals....

"Future of Ohio"

• Employer tax credit to hire unemployed Ohioans: H.B. 277 (Todd Snitchler) would authorize a nonrefundable tax credit for hiring and employing previously unemployed individuals. Ohio businesses that hire previously unemployed individuals will receive a $2,400 tax credit for each such employee that they employ. Each credit will be claimable for up to two years so long as the employee was unemployed for four consecutive weeks immediately preceding their hiring date; the employee is lawfully employable in the United States; and the employee is continuously employed by the employer claiming the credit for a period of two years.

• Small business capital loans: This bill would authorize the creation of a low to zero interest loan program for small businesses through the local business linked deposit program.

• Tax credits for Ohio graduates: H.B. 144 (Cheryl Grossman) would grant an income tax credit eliminating tax liability for five years for individuals who obtain a baccalaureate degree and who reside in Ohio. Eliminating the state income tax liability for graduates will allow them to use the extra money to help pay back their student loans and other debts incurred during college, as well as attract college students from other states.

• Tax credits for specialized crafts: This bill would apply the income tax provisions of H.B. 144 to any person in a trade who has reached the journeyman status or its equivalent.

• Estate tax relief: This bill would reduce the estate tax, authorize townships and municipal corporations to exempt from the estate tax by initiative any estate property located in the township or municipal corporation, and distribute all estate tax revenue originating in a township or municipal corporation that does not exempt property from the tax to the township or municipal corporation of origin.

• Small business regulatory reforms – S.B. Companion 3 (Keith Faber): S.B. 3, a package of small business reforms, is currently under consideration in the House State Government Committee and has been under debate since mid-March. In order to expedite passage of S.B. 3’s key provisions, we drafted companion legislation covering three key proposals to help businesses cut through bureaucratic red tape and provide accountability in crafting agency regulations.

• Small business resource portal: This bill would direct ODOD to create an online small business resource center (expanding upon the existing Ohio Business Gateway) on its internet website, to serve as a clearinghouse of information relevant to Ohio businesses.

• Private Sector compensatory time – S.B. 17 Companion (Kevin Coughlin): This proposal would provide more flexibility, allowing an employer to instead provide compensatory time, or paid time off of work. The intent of this legislation is to enable employers to provide a more family friendly work environment by providing flexibility for their employees. S.B. 17

• Tracking job placement success: This bill would require the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to submit annually to the leaders of the General Assembly a copy of the report submitted to the United States Department of Labor pursuant to the federal Workforce Investment Act and to make a copy of the report available on the department's website.

• Analyzing company exodus: This bill would require the Ohio Department of Development to produce a report of companies that have relocated out of Ohio, develop a standard questionnaire to elicit the reasons why those companies have chosen to leave Ohio, and share its findings with the legislature.

You can click here to read the press release.

Now -- to get this going, with the same energy we've already shown in our battle against a country-killing Cap & Trade bill and government run health care, we are asking phone calls, emails and letters be sent to Gov. Strickland, OH House Speaker Rep. Armond Budish, Democrat members on the OH House Economic Development Committee & your local OH State Rep's and urge them to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to saving jobs and saving our state!

Governor Strickland

Governor's Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
Phone: (614) 466-3555
Fax: (614) 466-9354
Email: Click Here

Speaker of the House

Armond D. Budish (D-Beachwood)
Address: 77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-5441
Fax: (614) 719-0008
Email: district08@ohr.state.oh.us

Economic Development Committee

Chairwoman
State Representative Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland)
Address: 77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-1414
Fax: (614) 719-0011
Email: district11@ohr.state.oh.us

Vice-Chair
Representative Denise Driehaus (D-31st District)
Address: 77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-5786
Fax: (614) 719-3585
Email: district31@ohr.state.oh.us

State Representative Michael DeBose (D-Cleveland)
Address: 77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-1408
Fax: (614) 719-3912
Email: district12@ohr.state.oh.us

State Representative Timothy J. DeGeeter (D-Parma)
Address: 77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-3485
Fax: (614) 719-3911
Email: district15@ohr.state.oh.us

State Representative Jay Goyal (D-Mansfield)
Address: 77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-5802
Fax: (614) 719-3973
Email: district73@ohr.state.oh.us

State Representative Tracy Maxwell Heard (D-26)
Address: 77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-8010
Fax: (614) 719-3580
Email: district26@ohr.state.oh.us

State Representative Matt Lundy (D-57th District)
Address: 77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-5076
Fax: (614) 719-3957
Email: district57@ohr.state.oh.us

State Representative Dennis Murray (D-Sandusky)
Address: 77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-6011
Fax: (614) 719-6980
Email: district80@ohr.state.oh.us

State Representative Debbie Phillips (D-Athens)
Address: 77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-2158
Fax: (614) 719-6992
Email: district92@ohr.state.oh.us

State Representative Raymond Pryor (D-Chillicothe)
Address: 77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-7928
Fax: (614) 719-6985
Email: district85@ohr.state.oh.us

State Representative Peter S. Ujvagi (D-Toledo)
Address: 77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-6017
Fax: (614) 719-6947
Email: district47@ohr.state.oh.us

Click here for all Economic Development Committee members. Click here to find your OH House Representative.

Lawmakers work to reenergize Ohio

We want to thank Sara from State Rep Nan Baker's office for forwarding us the following requested press release...

For Immediate Release

September 21, 2009

Media Contact: Megan Piwowar
(614) 466-0863

Lawmakers work to reenergize Ohio

Cleveland—State Representative Nan Baker (R-Westlake) today unveiled proposals by Ohio House Republicans to spur economic development. Baker and other members of the House Republican Caucus, including Minority Leader William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) and Representatives Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster), Todd Snitchler (R-Uniontown), Dave Hall (R-Killbuck), and Terry Boose (R-Norwalk), revealed extensive plans to bring about job creation and industry growth.

“During this economic crisis, with everything at stake, Ohio cannot afford another second of inaction on the part of House leadership,” Baker said. “As the ranking minority member of the House Economic Development Committee, I have become increasingly frustrated by the Democrat leadership’s unwillingness or inability to lead. Therefore, House Republicans worked tirelessly over summer recess to create a collection of economic proposals that could potentially turn the economy around.”

The press conference, in conjunction with four other conferences across the state, was conducted to address the failure of the Democrat-controlled Economic Development Committee to conduct regular, productive hearings on the economic condition of Ohio.

“The Republican caucus is focused on what Ohioans care about the most, jobs and economic development,” Batchelder said. “While Democrats have not given priority to the creation of jobs, we have been working on solutions for Ohio’s economy.”

Frustrated with inaction on the part of Governor Strickland and the Economic Development Committee, Republican members engaged in discussions with the local business community for ideas to revamp Ohio's economy. Based on their findings from market research and conversations with constituents, the House Republicans created a package of proposals that were announced at the press conferences and will be introduced in the coming weeks.

“So far, the Democrats have not shown that they are willing to make any important decisions regarding economic development within our state,” Hall said. “How many more businesses and young people need to flee the state before the Democrats decide they need to act?”

Among these ten bills are proposals to offer employer tax credits to hire unemployed Ohioans and to grant income tax credits for college graduates who remain in Ohio. Altogether, these bills are designed to provide resources to small businesses, offer incentives for businesses and young people to remain in Ohio, and track Ohio's progress in rebuilding its economy.

“In presenting a package of economic proposals, our goal is to spark an honest, constructive debate about the best course of action for Ohio’s future,” Amstutz said. “House Republicans have a specific plan in place to bring about economic recovery, but since the onset of this General Assembly our voices have been silenced, regardless of how practical our ideas were.”

“This recession is affecting all Ohioans, both Republican and Democrats,” Snitchler said. “We need to all work together to provide a solid foundation for Ohio’s economic future. We encourage lawmakers at all levels of government to consider our proposals and use them as they wish—changing the course of Ohio is what is important, not receiving credit or praise.”

The House Economic Development Committee has only met four times since the commencement of the 128th General Assembly and has yet to pass a single bill. The only item to pass out of committee was an ineffectual House Resolution that created the Compact With Ohio Cities Task Force, which focuses on local municipalities rather than the economic health of the entire state.

“Ohioans have entrusted us to make difficult decisions during difficult times, and we have an obligation to uphold our commitment,” Boose said. “This is not the time to coast. This is not the time to sit back with our fingers crossed. Ohio needs action, and if the Democrats won’t step up to the plate then I will.”

-30-

OH Supreme Court upholds Tax on Groceries

Since we are not already burdened with too many taxes in OH our robed Republican rubes riding the big bench in Columbus ruled it is OK for gross receipts of grocery stores to be taxed...

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled the state can continue to collect a business tax when it’s applied to grocery store food sales, avoiding what could have been an $188 million annual hole in the state budget.

In a 6-1 decision, the court upheld the collection of the Commercial Activities Tax on food sold by grocery stores and others for offsite consumption. The Ohio Grocers Association had argued that applying the tax to food sales violated the state Constitution, which prohibits sales taxes on the sale of food that’s taken off store premises to eat.

The tax amounts to 26 cents per $100 in sales over $1 million, or a flat rate of $150 for the first $1 million in sales, as long as sales are above $150,000. State tax officials estimate the portion of the tax collected on food receipts would amount to about $188 million a year.

Lawmakers have called the tax as one levied on the privilege of doing business in Ohio, but grocers argued the payment amounted to a sales tax.

The court rejected that argument, noting that state laws are given a strong presumption of constitutionality and that the court was required to uphold the tax if it may “plausibly be determined as permissible.” (Canton Repository)

And one would presume a State Supreme Court Justice would be smart enough to realize that if the grocery stores are taxed on the total amount of food items they sell then this cost will be passed onto consumers on the un-taxed grocery items they purchase - thus creating a sales tax on groceries.

I love how they say you must pay for the "privilege" of doing business in OH.

Action Alert: Humane Border Supporters Agenda will Increase Health Care Costs

Fellow Patriots

This is just in from Arzella of the Cleveland Tea Party Patriots and the Co-Coordinator for the Grass Roots Rally Team.

We apologize for the short notice, but this falls in line with our core values and if you are available please attend our protest...

Free lecture by Rev. Robin Hoover

Cuyahoga Community College invites community members to attend three free lectures by Rev. Robin Hoover, President and Founder of Humane Borders. He will address the topic of Humane Borders: the Moral Argument for Reform.

Immigration concerns the whole population and affects newcomers to this Nation. Rev. Hoover's lecture will be particularly interesting and informative to the Hispanic population, which includes a high percentage of relatively new immigrants, and confronts important issues in the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

Rev. Hoover will talk about the mission and initiatives of Humane Borders, as well as the issues surrounding immigrants to the United States: legalizing the undocumented; beginning a responsible guest worker program; increasing the number of visas for Mexican nationals; demilitarizing the border; supporting economic development in Mexico, and providing federal social services for the undocumented.

LECTURES ARE SCHEDULED AT: September 23 at 6:30 p.m. Performing Arts Center, Eastern Campus 4250 Richmond Rd., Highland Hills, 44122

We will be meeting with Arzella and the Grass Roots team at 5:30pm and stayin until approximately 6:00pm.

Kucinich to promote health care @ Gtown/DC

Our neighbor's daughter goes to Georgetown University-Washington DC and just received this email, which she forwarded to us. Why is he spending time speaking with students @ Gtown instead of addressing us, here in Ohio?


Based on the zip code of your home, it appears that you are either a constituent of (or near since some zip codes are shared by multiple Congressional districts, live near the district of) Congressman Dennis Kucinich, I wanted to make sure you were aware that he is speaking here on campus at the invitation of the group,Georgetown Solidarity Committee.


Rep. Dennis Kucinich on Universal Health Care: Keeping a Public Option on the Table

Wednesday September 23

White-Gravenor 201 A

8:00-9:30 p.m.


Below is the description from Georgetown Solidarity Committee about the Congressman's talk:


Representative Dennis Kucinich will be speaking on the subject of /Universal HealthCare:


Keeping a Public Option on the Table/. Mr. Kucinich (D-OH) has twice run for U.S. President, both times citing universal health careas the preeminent issue motivating his campaigns, saying, "no injustice is greater in this country than the fact that 30 million people go without health insurance in this, the richest nation in the world." As one of the most vocal advocates for publicly-financed health care, he is currently galvanizing support on Capitol Hill for an amendment to House Resolution 3600. If it passes, this resolution would allow for individual states to adopt single-payer health care systems if they so choose.


The address will be an overview of the health care debate from Mr. Kucinich's perspective as well as a legislative update on his amendment (which currently has 86 cosponsors). He will speak for 30-40 minutes to be followed by a question/answer session.