National Debt
Posted September 7th, 2011 by Konni
Liberty Central is excited to serve as an Ambassador-at-Large to our grassroots friends. We are continually meeting with conservative leaders and coalition groups, as well as our conservative champions on the Hill to provide a dialogue between grassroots and D.C. Here is a quick report on what’s brewing inside the Beltway this week:
For the remainder of this week, and continuing into next week, the House will focus on the following:
- Intelligence reauthorization
- The House must consider resolution of disapproval for the first tranche of the debt ceiling increase by September 22
- Tax fights regarding the gas tax expiring at the end of September, as well as the payroll tax
- Monday, the Super Committee is scheduled to meet with the head of the CBO
- REINS Act, requiring Congressional approval for regulations which have an economic impact of $100 million or more
- A possible short-term continuing resolution to carry us through November
The Senate is required to consider a disapproval resolution (recently offered by Mitch McConnell) for the first tranche of the debt ceiling increase by next Wednesday, 9/14.
It will also take up the patent bill, likely to include the Coburn amendment ending fee diversion. Finally, FAA and highway reauthorizations are up for consideration as these expire on 9/16 and 9/30, respectively.
In anticipation of the pending budget battles, here’s a reminder of the legislation passed in the House but not considered in the Senate:
Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act – HR 910
Energy Tax Prevention Act – HR 2018
Consumer Financial Protection & Soundness Improvement Act – HR 1315
Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act – HR 1230
Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act – HR 1229
Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act – HR 1231
Jobs & Energy Permitting Act of 2011 – HR 2021
North American-Made Energy Security Act – HR 1938
Budget for Fiscal Year 2012 – H.Con.Res.34
Katy E. Blackwell
Liberty Central, Inc.
Posted August 11th, 2011 by Julie
Congressman Dr. Michael Burgess attended our NE Tarrant Tea Party meeting on Monday, August 8, to talk to us about Obamacare and the recent debt ceiling vote.
Click here for his presentation.
Click here for the Q&A session.
Posted August 11th, 2011 by Konni
Fellow Patriots:
Provided below are links to the interest group ratings for each of the Republican appointees to the budget committee:
Are the Republican appointees ‘Budget Hawks’ or ‘Budget Doves’? You make the call:
HOUSE:
SENATE:
Posted August 7th, 2011 by Konni
by Billie Tucker, First Coast Tea Party, Florida
While Standard and Poor’s kept our attention about America’s credit downgrade, Obama played other maneuvers that will affect your life. Here are just a few. There are many more!
Gun Rights – NRA President, Wayne LaPierre, announces an all out fight with the Obama Administration. He said, “If they want to fight with the NRA, then bring it on.” He doesn’t hold back as he speaks to the issue of the US firearms ending up with drug cartels in Mexico. This is shocking and outrageous. Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgo9iIH45RA
Food and Land Takeover — The President created the White House Rural council to make sure we are working across Government entities (?) to ensure economic growth. Homeland Security, Justice Department and Treasury Department will be involved in promoting our food and land use. Why? President Regan talked about this and warned us about the very thing Obama is doing. This is another way for the government to tell us what to do with our land. Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_juUVKKBw-k
Bashing the rich – This is an oldie but goodie and proves this issue has always been around and the left resurrects it when they need it. Watch Milton Friedman, world-class economist teach a liberal woman the truth about “rich people.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi-D24oCa10&feature=player_embedded
As a SEAL I spit on you – “Even if we were friends and you called me a terrorist you would be expected to explain your actions and your beef with me or we would have to settle this like men. I respect your positions of office and would still call you sir and ma’am, but beyond that I spit on you! As a citizen, I spit on you. As a SEAL, I spit on you. As an American, I spit on the very thought of your Communist tactics.” Read this heartfelt article by a SEAL and Tea Party Member: http://biggovernment.com/bsmith/2011/08/06/bidenpelosi-if-im-satan-what-does-that-make-you/
So what can you do about this out of control government?
Locally – attend a tea party meeting and join forces with moms, dads, business owners, high school graduates, college graduates, and yes, Navy SEALS who are just as upset as you. To find out what’s happening in North Florida at the First Coast Tea Party, go here: http://www.fctpcommunity.org/events
Nationally – Contact your Representative at www.congress.gov and tell them to get back to DC now and fix this mess! Hold Obama accountable and do their jobs. See what the Wall Street Journal said today about an emergency hearing. This is not the time for vacations; it’s time for serious leadership. Are they serious? Read it here: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/6/obamas-downgraded-america/
Rural Council – Sign the Petition now: Stop Obama’s Rural Council
NRA Lawsuit – Join the NRA and support this lawsuit against Obama Join the NRA here
Bashing the Rich – Thank your boss tomorrow for your job or support a local business establishment and tell them you appreciate them.
“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” — Pericles
Posted August 3rd, 2011 by Konni
By JoAnn Fleming, volunteer Executive Director, Grassroots America – We the People, Chair of the TX Legislature’s TEA Party Caucus Advisory Committee, jafleming3@juno.com
Due to numerous requests for details and an analysis of the debt ceiling deal, the following represents the basics. It is written to assist constitutional conservative groups in their efforts to educate, empower and motivate their members. My hope is that it will be of some value as we all work to wake up those who still slumber as our nation continues down a destructive path. To each of you, God speed.
House Passes “The Deal”
Posted August 3rd, 2011 by Konni
A message to the Tea Party
In the wake of the national debate on the debt ceiling, I’m sending this note out to all of my friends in the Tea Party movement to encourage everyone to not give up the fight in demanding fiscal responsibility at all levels of government. As a Texas state senator who received an A+ rating, by Michael Quinn Sullivan’s Empower Texas, for my consistent conservative voting on fiscal matters, I was greatly disappointed in the bill that passed the House and Senate and was signed by the President. I applaud the courageous 66 Republicans and Senators who voted no on the bill, a bill that does nothing to seriously cut spending, address the 14 trillion debt, or address our entitlement programs that cannot be sustained as currently structured.
I know that tough votes are not easy make. This past session I was the only Republican on Finance who voted no on the budget in committee. I believed we should not spend funds from the Rainy Day Fund for our next budget. (We are going to have a budget gap again and needed to keep every dollar we could. We may need all of it just for Medicare if some of the legislation we passed to find savings doesn’t work as hoped. ) With the help of several other Republicans in the Senate, not on Finance, who shared my view, we blocked the finance bill passed out of committee from coming to the floor until those funds were removed from the 2012-13 budget. Sadly we do not have enough Republicans in Congress or the U.S Senate who are willing to make tough votes.
I watch the national media, including so-called conservatives, criticize and blame the Tea Party movement for the debt ceiling crisis.
Posted July 29th, 2011 by Julie
On July 28, David Bond gave a presentation to NETTP on Emergency Preparedness. Everyone agreed he shared great insight and knowledge with us. Many, many of you have requested the following information…
- Click here for the handout David provided.
- Click here for the first half of the slide show from David’s presentation.
- Click here for the second half of the slide show from David’s presentation.
- Click here for the video of David’s presentation (Part 1 of 3)
- Click here for the video of David’s presentation (Part 2 of 3)
- Click here for the video of David’s presentation (Part 3 of 3)
Posted July 28th, 2011 by Konni
Liberty Central is excited to serve as an Ambassador-at-Large to our grassroots friends. We are continually meeting with conservative leaders and coalition groups, as well as our conservative champions on the Hill to provide a dialogue between grassroots and D.C. This also enables us to report to you about the current hot topics inside the Beltway.
Here is this week’s update:
Economy:
Much of the focus is shifting away from the Aug. 2 deadline to the underlying problem – the pending AAA credit rating downgrade. (Remember, Dodd-Frank put the federal government in charge of regulating these ratings agencies.) Still, the GOP is stressing the importance of a debt ceiling back-up plan. Many Senators now seem unwilling to go past the August 2 deadline, even if leverage is gained afterwards.
House Leadership maintains that it will not agree to less than dollar-for-dollar cuts in exchange for the debt ceiling increase. Boehner’s plan (altered after the latest CBO report that it cuts only $850 billion over 10 years) is expected to come to the House floor tomorrow. The plan does contain potential for tax increase, although the likelihood of such an increase is being debated amongst the GOP: Any recommended tax increase must have at least 7 votes to pass out of the Joint Committee, at which time the proposal would go to the House for a vote. Leadership argues that, because of the current House make-up, any tax increase is virtually impossible.
Meanwhile, Harry Reid’s plan requests the largest debt ceiling increase in history – $2.7 trillion – while ‘cutting’ $2.2 trillion. In fact, $1 trillion of these so-called ‘cuts’ are nothing more than smoke in mirrors – as they assume winding down of the global war on terror. (The administration is contacting CEOs and businesses requesting their support for the Reid plan. The administration is also contacting banks, telling them not to worry about a default.)
Sen. Pat Toomey re-introduced his bill which obligates the Treasury Secretary to prioritize debt interest, Social Security, and active-duty military pay in the event of default. (Rep. David Schweikert introduced the House companion bill). These 3 priorities make up less than 1/2 of our tax revenue for the month of August — and we reportedly have enough revenue to pay all bills until approximately August 9th.
Energy & Commerce:
The House set a deadline for the administration’s decision on the Keystone Pipeline expansion – November, 1. It passed the House yesterday by a vote of 279-147. Note the Pipeline is projected to create over 100,000 jobs, double our intake from Canada, and produce 1.3 million barrels per day by the end of the next decade.
The House Energy & Commerce Committee is aiming to have every agency under its jurisdiction (HHS, EPA, FCC, etc.) testify to justify its budget requests, in an effort to drastically increase oversight of these regulators. Next up for the Committee will be Dept. of Interior appropriations.
Katy E. Blackwell
Liberty Central, Inc.
Posted July 28th, 2011 by Julie
Patriots,
Most conservatives are STRONGLY against Boehner’s plan, and yet surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly) many Congressmen plan to vote for it. And this is AFTER Congress already overwhelmingly passed a bi-partisan solution (cut, cap and balance). Why are they giving up on that plan and going for one that makes essentially no cuts at all (it cuts about 1 day’s worth of spending)? Please, please make calls to the TX Congressmen listed below.
For more info, go here: http://video.foxnews.com/v/1083234701001/debt-debate-dissension-in-gop/
Texans voting NO (don’t call these ones): Ron Paul, Louie Gohmert
Texan Republicans leaning YES (call and get him over the fence!): Blake Farenthold Phone: (202) 225-7742, Fax: (202) 226-1134
Texan Republicans voting YES (call and change his mind!): Bill Flores (The tea party voted him in and can vote him out too!) Phone: (202) 225-6105, Fax: (202) 225-0350
Undecided (call these ones for sure!): Joe Barton (202) 225-2002 or FAX (202) 225-3052, Kevin Brady (202)225-4901, Michael Burgess (202) 225-7772 or Fax: (202) 225-2919 , Francisco Canseco Phone: (202) 225-4511 or Fax (202) 225-2237, Ted Poe (202) 225-6565or FAX (202) 225-5547
Here’s the full list, which includes other states. Please share with your contacts around the country…
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/173745-whip-list-on-boehners-new-plan-on-debtdeficit
It’s interesting to note that Allan West is voting YES. Not sure why he’d do that. Perhaps not so conservative after all. Also, I could not find Marchant on this list, so I’ve asked his aide to let me know. If you’re not on Facebook, get there and you can see regular updates. Friend me under Julie White McCarty, and be sure to “Like” NE Tarrant Tea Party. I’ve been told that he’s undecided. Here’s his number if you want to call him: 202-225-6605 or fax 202-225-0074. That’d probably be a good idea.
Let’s get busy!
Posted July 27th, 2011 by Julie
One of our members wrote the following letter to Congressman Burgess in regards to the debt ceiling and national budget. I thought it was good enough to share.
Dear Dr. Burgess,
I can’t even imagine the pressure you must be under from Speaker Boehner and the other establishment Republicans (not to mention ALL corners of the press and your counterparts across the aisle) to vote in favor of the Speaker’s deficit reduction bill.
Sir, please kindly remind the Speaker that you represent and are held accountable by the people who elected you, NOT the Speaker.
I urge you, sir, please do NOT vote in favor of Speaker Boehner’s bill. Cut, Cap and Balance was the bill that the House forwarded. Let’s see the Senate come up with their version. Unless I was taught incorrectly in my high school Government class, I believe the House will have the right to vote on a Senate bill, too, no? If it does not pass muster, I trust the Repulicans in the majority of the House to do with it what Harry Reid did with the only bill forwarded thus far.
Sen Reid called the Cut, Cap, and Balance bill the worst piece of legislation that he has ever seen. Funny – Cornwallis called Washington’s Army something similar, and look how that turned out…
Sir – PLEASE – FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT! Do what is right for our kids and for all our futures. Do NOT support the smoke and mirrors bill that Speaker Boehner feels compelled to serve up to the president.
You can do better, sir. And I know you will….
Respectfully,
Now let me ask you this… Have YOU written YOUR letter to your Congressman? Click here for contact info.
