National Debt
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.
Posted July 27th, 2011 by Konni
Friday evening, while driving home, I was listening to Pres. Obama on raising the debt limit.
His tone was so dismissive and rude I got the feeling something very important and bad was about to happen.
If I understood him correctly, he was ordering a co-branch of government to be in his office the following morning to tell him, not if they had decided to raise the debt limit, (he had already decided that was the only acceptable answer) but rather how they were going to do it.
It made me feel that perhaps Pres. Obama did not quite grasp the concept of the separation of powers.
I knew I’d hate myself if years from today I had to say “I stood by and did nothing”.
So, I decided to march up and down my town’s Main Street with some protest signs to make my feelings known.
I pointed out Mr. Obama’s lack of understanding of the separation of powers, a fairly important concept in the United States Constitution, according to which the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the United States government are kept distinct in order to prevent abuse of power. This is our famous system of checks and balances.
Some have suggested an even better way to eviscerate the Constitutional system of checks and balances. Through an incredible distortion of the 14th amendment they want to create the “self-funding Executive”. That dosen’t sound so good..
In any case you might want to think about what you might say in defense of the constitution so you won’t have to say “I stood by and did nothing”..
Expressing your first amendment rights to publicly protest an issue (even if by yourself or one or two others) can give you a runners high and I suspect is good for the soul.
My suggestion for all who are as concerned as I am, is to get ready to make your feelings known. Get some signs and banners ready to go.
My impromptu demonstration down Main Street was an exercise of my First Amendment rights. After a shaky start I began to realize this First Amendment stuff produces endorphins just like running – it’s a great feeling to know you are doing what Citizens should do.
If something spectacular happens that irks YOU enough, grab your sign and do some spontaneous protesting.. Don’t wait for someone to “organize” you! Do it NOW.
It makes you feel better!
-Roger Beatty
We here at NE Tarrant Tea Party couldn’t agree more! Thanks Roger for doing something constructive with your aggravation!
Posted July 25th, 2011 by Julie
Patriots,
Moveon.org has protests planned at every congressional office in America for 12:00 tomorrow (Tuesday, July 26) demanding that the debt ceiling be raised. Their email has used all kinds of scare tactics and lies to rally their leftist members into action.
Now, I know most of us who are opposed to raising the debt ceiling are too hard at work on a Tuesday at noon to have time to counter-protest. However, all of us can find time to make a phone call or shoot an email to our Congressmen to encourage them to stand strong.
Please use the contact information below to send your encouraging, uplifting message to our Congressmen. Tell them they have your full support to NOT raise the debt ceiling, and thank them for standing strong so far.
Here’s the call that Moveon.org put out…
From: Daniel Mintz, MoveOn.org Civic Action <moveon-help@list.moveon.org>
Subject: Tuesday: Emergency drop by at Rep. Marchant’s office
Date: Sunday, July 24, 2011, 8:47 PM
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Can you drop by Rep. Marchant’s office and tell him “Don’t destroy the American Dream?” Click below to sign up and drop by this local office Tuesday at noon: 9901 East Valley Ranch Parkway, Irving, TX 75063
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Dear MoveOn member,This weekend, it became 100% clear that Republicans would rather see America default, Social Security checks stop going out, the stock market plummet, and unemployment soar than give one inch on their position: that the very richest people and most profitable corporations shouldn’t pay one penny more in taxes. Even after the president offered Republicans a debt-ceiling deal most MoveOn members probably consider unconscionable—with trillions in cuts, even to Medicare and Social Security—Speaker Boehner still walked away from the table.
Our only chance to move the Republicans is to make sure that the dire consequences of their actions are laid directly at their feet. So with other leaders of the American Dream movement, we’re putting out an urgent call for every patriotic American to show up outside Republican congressional offices on Tuesday at noon to deliver a crucial message: “Don’t destroy the American Dream.”
We need to show up in force and let Rep. Marchant know that we’ll hold him accountable for his position and for the consequences to our economy.
Can you drop by Rep. Marchant’s office on Tuesday at Noon?
Yes, I can drop by on Tuesday!
We’ll follow up with all the details and a link to print your own “Don’t destroy the American Dream” signs to bring to Rep. Marchant.
Then you just have to show up on Tuesday here:
9901 East Valley Ranch Parkway, Irving, TX 75063 We need to show as much public concern as possible, so please pass this along to anyone else you know who could join in on Tuesday. This is a moment when we need to bring together the vast majority of Americans who find the Republicans’ position immoral.
Let’s get out there on Tuesday and let Republicans like Rep. Marchant know that crashing the American economy in order to protect tax giveaways for the rich is unacceptable.
Click here if you can drop by Rep. Marchant’s office on Tuesday at noon:
http://civic.moveon.org/debtdropby.html?id=29154-9767737-ys7ZSDx&t=3Thanks for all you do.
–Daniel, Elena, Tate, Robin, and the rest of the team
Posted July 24th, 2011 by Konni
Patriots, Tea Party Groups in Ohio are paying Speaker Boehner a visit tomorrow – and they NEED OUR HELP. On Monday 7/25, Ohio Tea Parties will hand deliver letters and emails sent from patriots all across the Nation – telling him to BE BOLD, STAND STRONG AND CUT THE SPENDING. In the words of Ohio Tea Party leader Sue Hardenbergh, “Speaker Boehner holds the gavel and all the power. Not a cent may be spent without being initiated by the House. Americans know the truth about our Country’s dire financial situation and are ready to do what it takes to get our country on the path to prosperity. It all starts with trimming all excess from the budget. We do it in our homes, we expect it from our leaders.”
PLEASE TAKE 10 MINUTES AND WRITE AN EMAIL TO SPEAKER BOEHNER. Then email it to Sue.hardenbergh@communityteaparty.org. All emails and letters will be hand delivered to his Ohio office tomorrow at 4:30pm. So please write and email your letter now! We must do all we can to have our voices heard on the issue of our budget! We need our elected officials to hold the line – and they need to know we have their backs. This is where the going gets tough. Do not be silent! Please send your personal message now! And again, thanks for all that y’all do!
Posted July 21st, 2011 by Konni
Hello Everyone-
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:
Great work to those of you promoting Cut, Cap, Balance! As you are likely aware, it passed in the House last night by a vote of 234-190. The 9 Republicans voting ‘nay’ claim that the proposal doesn’t go far enough. 5 ‘Blue Dogs’ also voted in favor. The Senate plans to discuss CCB tomorrow, with a vote as early as Friday or Saturday.
This early Senate vote is not necessarily good news. A consensus is forming that the vote shouldn’t take place until next week, thus allowing more time to contact Senators and gain momentum. If CCB fails to pass, the Senate will consider the Reid-McConnell ‘Plan B.’
The CCB Coalition is urging its member groups to contact Senator Democrats in anticipation of the vote. Many Democrats have previously indicated some degree of favor for the CCB proposal, and time is now running short – we must get 60 votes for passage - please let me know if you’re willing to take action on this item and alert your members to contact the Senate. Note that the Senate will be in session weekends until the debt ceiling issue is resolved.
The ‘Gang of Six’ released a vague deficit reduction proposal promising $1.5 trillion in tax relief. However, the House Budget Committee analyzed the proposal and reports that it actually results in $2 trillion in tax hikes.
Here’s how the Gang of Six ‘calculated’ $1.5 trillion in relief on the current CBO baseline: The Budget Committee explains: “The CBO baseline assumes the expiration of tax relief, resulting in a $3.5 trillion revenue increase. As a result, the plan appears to include a $2 trillion revenue increase relative to a current policy baseline.” In fact, if you include the $800 billion in taxes from ObamaCare, revenues are increased by a total of $2.8 trillion!
Other:
Clean Water Restoration Act – what Congress could not implement through the legislative process, it is now trying to push through regulation and the EPA. More information to come from Senator Jim Inhofe this week.
Support for Cap & Trade has seriously dwindled in the Senate – at the most it has 24 supporters. Some Democrats are now acknowledging that it’s a wasteful use of $300-400 billion each year, and does nothing to reduce carbon emissions.
Sincerely,
Katy E. Blackwell
Liberty Central, Inc.
Posted July 6th, 2011 by Konni
CUT CAP BALANCE .com invites you to a Tele-TownHall with Senator Jim DeMint (SC) to discuss the US Budget/Debt Ceiling and the Cut, Cap & Balance Pledge.
When: Wednesday, July 6th
Time: 9:00 PM EDT / 6:00 PM PDT
Conference Number: (712) 432-3100
Passcode: 160992
Please share this with others so that they too can hear what Senator DeMint has to say about the current debt ceiling debate. He has volunteered to do this call because he wants everyone in the grassroots movement to fully understand where we are and why he and so many Constitutional conservatives support the Cut, Cap & Balance Pledge.
Leading the call will be Tea Party Express Chairwoman Amy Kremer, and also joining the call will be special guest Ken Klukowski to discuss the constitutionality of the Cut, Cap & Balance Pledge. You can read more about Ken Klukowski HERE.
Have you watched our new web video “RED INK“?
If you think America is drowning in a sea of red ink, click here to watch our new web video “RED INK”.
Posted July 6th, 2011 by Konni
Patriots,
Over the last decade, Presidents and lawmakers from both parties have triggered an explosion in our national debt from $5.8 trillion to more than $14.4 trillion – nearly a 150 percent increase!
As our leaders in Washington continue private negotiations over an increase in the debt limit, we need YOUR help to make sure we solve this problem once and for all.
President Obama and his political allies keep ignoring the danger signs that America’s fiscal policy is failing, and a European-style debt crisis is looming unless we act. In recent weeks the Obama administration has been encouraging Congress to rush through an increase to the debt ceiling of $2 trillion or more, with no fundamental budget reforms – which would only ensure that irresponsible spending and record debt continues.
To fight back, the NE Tarrant Tea Party, along with a broad coalition of over 200 organizations, have unveiled a pledge for three demands before agreeing to any increase in the debt ceiling:
- Cut – Congressional passage of immediate and substantial cuts must be made to reign in our deficit in the short term;
- Cap – Congressional passage of durable statutory spending caps must be passed that would reduce federal spending to its historic range of 18-20 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP); and
- Balance – The House and Senate must send to the states for ratification a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that contains a spending limitation and a “super-majority” vote requirement in Congress for raising taxes.
TAKE ACTION: You can click here to join over 100,000 Americans in taking the Cut, Cap, Balance Pledge today in support of this plan and pledging to contact your Congressman and both state Senators to urge them to support this pledge too!
House and Senate leaders appear ready to ignore serious spending reforms and instead agree to a debt limit increase in return for relatively modest spending cuts. That’s simply not enough. Without structural changes like a Balanced Budget Amendment, Washington will continue to spend money we don’t have for things we don’t need and send the bill to our children and grandchildren.
It’s time to say, “ENOUGH!”
We must remind the folks in Washington that the debt ceiling has already been raised 10 times in the past 10 years and has never failed to be increased in its history.
Each agreement to increase the limit has come with promises that the federal government will get its house in order, that this time things will be different, but every year the promises get broken and business as usual continues.
America can no longer play these political games. Today our spending represents about 100% of national GDP. Using realistic assumptions about future policies, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projects that debt as a share of GDP would soar beyond its historical peak by 2025 and would reach 185 percent in 2035.
Make no mistake – this is THE major, unified push that fiscal conservatives will be making in connection with the debt ceiling vote. If you intend to act at all on this issue, NOW is the time!
Click here to take the Cut, Cap, Balance Pledge. Then, please contact your U.S. Representative and Senator Cornyn and Senator Hutchison and ask them to take the pledge too!
Please don’t delay … Congress will be moving on this issue very soon!
Posted April 4th, 2011 by Julie
We’ve got an unbelievable night planned for April 11. You MUST be there, and you MUST invite every voter in NE Tarrant County that you can.
NE Tarrant County Municipal Candidate Fair & Straw Poll
1060 E Highland, Southlake TX 76092
6-7pm – fair and straw poll (polls close immediately at 7pm)
7:15-7:30 – Lela Pittenger, candidate for US Senate
7:30-8:30 – Michael Badnarik on the Federal Reserve and fiat money
8:30 – straw poll results announced
First, from 6-7pm we’ll have a candidate fair. We’ve invited the contested candidates from all our cities to set up tables and meet the voters one on one (scroll down to see the list of those who have confirmed attendance). NO CANDIDATE SPEECHES! We’ll be handing out their answers to our tea party questionnaire, AND we’ll be conducting a straw poll. Join us and decide for yourself who to vote for. All politics start locally! And remember, the key to a successful candidate fair and straw poll is to have a lot of people there! Invite everyone you can! Post it to your Facebook pages too!
We’ll be offering two slices of pizza and a drink for $5 at this event (while supplies last), so don’t worry about dinner. Just get to the fair before the polls close!
Then at 7:15 we’ll hear from our first US Senate candidate, Lela Pittenger. Between now and October, we’ll have one candidate at each of our monthly meetings. We’ll ask each of them the same pre-determined questions of concern to tea party members. Let’s get to know them and make an educated decision on who should receive our votes and our support.
At 7:30 we’ll start our presentation on the Federal Reserve and fiat money. This is a huge topic in the US right now as we watch the value of our dollar decrease world-wide. Our speaker is the reknowned Michael Badnarik of Constitution Preservation, an expert on this topic.
At 8:30 we’ll announce the winner of our straw poll.
I told you… it’s going to be a packed night. You don’t want to miss one moment of it!
CANDIDATE RSVP LIST
Wanna know which candidates have committed to attending the candidate fair? Click here. You’ll also be able to see who has completed the NETTP questionnaire and who has signed NETTP’s transparency pledge.
CANDIDATE FAIR PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Municipal Candidates Get a Candidate Fair and Straw Poll
On April 11, 2011, citizens from eleven NE Tarrant County cities will be able to come to one location to meet and question candidates running for mayor, city council and school boards in their respective cities. This Candidate Fair will be held at the Highland Meadow Montessori Academy gym: 1060 E. Highland, Southlake TX 76092, and will be from 6:00 – 7:00p.m.
Candidates will be available to answer citizens’ questions and will have the chance to provide literature with their positions on issues. In addition, each candidate has been asked to fill out a questionnaire that will be available at the Fair and online (www.NETarrantTeaParty.com). Once voters have had the chance to speak to the candidates, they will enjoy voting in the Straw Poll that will be set up. The winners of the Straw Poll will be announced at the end of the night’s events, so everyone will want to stick around for those winner announcements.
The NE Tarrant Tea Party represents Grapevine, Southlake, Colleyville, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Keller, North Richland Hills, Richland Hills, Watauga, and Haltom City and has invited all contested race candidates from these cities to attend this event. Because we strive for an informed electorate and know that all politics begins at home, we are excited to host this event for these communities. We urge all citizens to come, meet and question these candidates so that they can decide who they will vote for in these important elections. Election day is May 14th, 2011.
Immediately following the night’s Candidate Fair and Straw Poll will be a presentation by Michael Badnarik on the Federal Reserve System. All are invited to attend!
Posted March 16th, 2011 by Julie
TX House Representative David Simpson (R-Longview) wrote the following article:
Civil government has nothing except that which it takes from We the People. Unlike God, the government cannot create value or substance out of nothing.
When the Federal Reserve with Congress’ approval “prints more money,” it simply increases the number of Federal Reserve notes (“dollars”) that are being exchanged in our economy for goods and services. The increase in the number of Federal Reserve notes in circulation does not represent more wealth. It merely divides the same value of goods and services in the economy into smaller parts. If you divide an apple into 4 parts or 8 parts, it is still just one apple.
The Texas legislature cannot create wealth either. It has no money except that which it takes from We the People. It can divide the apple of wealth we enjoy and redistribute it, but it cannot create more apples.
Even so, we are running out of apple. Even after adjusting for inflation and population growth, the portion of the apple that our state government consumes has grown by 45% over the last decade (that number is 87% without any adjustments). As the state’s portion has grown, Texas families and businesses have had to settle for a smaller portion to feed themselves.
Despite tightening the state’s belt over the last year and a half, the government is on track to consume $4.3 billion more of the apple by September 1 than is available. To pay the bills, the state will either have to cut current spending or use its savings in the Rainy Day Fund—or both.
I support a return to wise and frugal government at all levels. However, we must not abandon the weak among us or use draconian measures that wreak havoc on our educational and health systems. Our diet should begin with eliminating all corporate “sweets.” In other words, we should cut corporate welfare before cutting funding for our classrooms or the weak among us.
Second, we should dramatically reduce administrative burdens and mandates for schools, giving them freedom to utilize their funds according to each district’s local priorities. Substantial reductions can be made by eliminating administrative overhead at the TEA such as the Higher Education Coordinating Board and freezing pay. Also cuts should be made so that the most efficient institutions and programs such as our community colleges and the Texas Tuition Equalization Grant are preserved or at least only cut proportionately.
Third, overhead at TxDOT should be dramatically reduced and funding of non-essential projects delayed. Finally, we must wean ourselves of government dependency and stop rewarding the irresponsible. At least a half-billion dollars can be saved if Medicaid fraud is stopped.
Serious diets are not enjoyable, but are sometimes necessary to restore health. I ask you to pray that the legislature will be given wisdom and courage to find a way to live within our state’s means while still providing necessary services and protecting the most needy in our community. I invite you to contact my office with suggestions toward that end.
For Texas and Liberty,
David Simpson
