Slaughter Named Porker of the Month!
March 30, 2010
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has named House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) Porker of the Month for conjuring up an eponymous House “rule” that would have allowed House Democrats to ram through the $2.3 trillion healthcare reform bill without directly voting on it. The invocation of the “Slaughter Rule” was one of the last steps in the tortured journey of the bloated, expensive healthcare bill. In an effort to absolve vulnerable House Democrats of having to take an unpopular vote on the Senate version of the bill without an ironclad guarantee that the Senate would later enact corrections to the most toxic provisions, Chairwoman Slaughter jury-rigged a proposed “self-enacting” rule that would allow the House to vote to “deem” the Senate bill as passed without forcing members to cast individual votes up or down. To quote former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, “Last year, the House was passing bills without reading them. This year, they’re passing bills without voting on them.” This mind-boggling disintegration of the legislative process into procedural travesty enabled by Chairwoman Slaughter provoked questions of constitutionality, fairness, and transparency, and in the end was not used to pass the abominable healthcare bill. For her mindless slaughter of the legislative process and leading an assault on the credibility of Congress, House Rules Committee Chairwoman Slaughter is CAGW’s March Porker of the Month. Read more about the Porker of the Month.
The Party of No – OPINION
March 30, 2010
Look at some of the things they have tried to outlaw or legislate out of existence in order to say no to freedom and personal choice.
- No to health care choice (everyone must now have health coverage or pay a fine). As we know, health insurance companies will be “starved” out of existence by having to compete with a government entity that doesn’t have to earn a profit. Experts say they have about 3 years before the government will be forced to step in and offer a public option… something Obama and Pelosi wanted from the beginning.
- No to following the immigration laws that are on the books with amnesty.
- No to smoking and tobacco products, though look at all the entitlement programs that are being funded by the taxes levied on them. What happens when everyone finally stops smoking? Where will the money for those programs come then? (If you are patting your wallet right now, you would be correct.)
- No to gun ownership, but I am told that even the most liberal of our representatives (Woolsey, Boxer, Feinstein and Pelosi) all have carry permits. I wonder if there is a way to get this information through the Freedom of Information Act? Of course, as we also know from our reading, the rules apply to us, not to them. That’s why there is a push to get a 28th amendment passed.
- No to trans-fats (Democrats in some states have passed this ban) as if trans-fats are the only thing that are making us unhealthy. And as if we will live forever anyway.
- No to salt (Same as above) which has been responsible for high blood pressure. You’d think politicians, knowing the health care system will be overburdened, would welcome death in any form… Sorry if this is politically incorrect!
- No to fast food, especially for children. We have an obesity problem. Does anyone else wonder when poor people are shown on the television they are all overweight? I usually associate poor with malnourished. I guess being fat doesn’t make you nourished. But it certainly doesn’t make you a Biafran baby either.
- No to choice of vehicles people drive as in the case of trying to raise mileage standards so as to put SUV and big car manufacturers out of business. Everyone should be driving an electric car… however, where will we plug them in if they won’t develop nuclear, let us burn coal, dam up rivers for hydroelectric. We saw what happened to Boone Pickens’ wind farm experiment. Even with government subsidies, he has given up!
- Here in Marin, they are saying No to PG and E in order to set up a second tier bureaucracy to run our power systems. Remember, PG and E is already regulated by the Public Utilities Commission. Now they want to lay another level of red tape on top which they “say” will lower our costs. Remember, PG and E will still have to manage their resources for the Marin group, so where will the cost savings come from? And what business has the government run right? I asked that question last week and am still waiting for an answer.
- No to petroleum.
- No to nuclear power.
- No to coal.
- No to hyrdroelectric.
- No to LOWER TAXES.
The list could go on. Any time liberals and “moderate” Republicans get an idea of what’s best for us (as in John McCain’s bill to control supplements) they are saying no to Freedom! To buy Sudafed I have to give them my driver’s license so they can record my name. It’s the same with many other so-called “over the counter” medication. Are they over the counter or not?
Make no mistake, reasonable people of all parties understand the process of how our economy works, and they are well aware that saying no to the free enterprise system only hurts our country. I have talked to several people who are leaving the health care industry while they can to find a job in another sector before there is a mass exodus from the sinking ship. After all, we have seen the kind of people who end up working for the government… which is what the health care industry will become, a wholly owned and run government program.
So when you run into that rabid liberal who starts calling you the party of no, lay into them with some of these facts or any others you can come up with. It may not change their mind, but you might feel better knowing the facts are on our side.
- FedUpEditor
We Were Right – Health Care Bill Is Not About Health Care After All!
March 24, 2010
Michael Connelly, Ret. Constitutional Attorney
Well, I have done it! I have read the entire text of: The Affordable Health Care Choices Act of 2009. I studied it with particular emphasis from my area of expertise, constitutional law. I was frankly concerned that parts of the proposed law that were being discussed might be unconstitutional. What I found was far worse than what I had heard or expected.
To begin with, much of what has been said about the law and its implications is in fact true, despite what the Democrats and the media are saying. The law does provide for rationing of health care, particularly where senior citizens and
other classes of citizens are involved, free health care for illegal immigrants, free abortion services, and probably forced participation in abortions by members of the medical profession.
The Bill will also eventually force private insurance companies out of business, and put everyone into a government run system. All decisions about personal health care will ultimately be made by federal bureaucrats, and most of them
will not be health care professionals. Hospital admissions, payments to physicians, and allocations of necessary medical devices will be strictly controlled by the government.
However, as scary as all of that is, it just scratches the surface. In fact, I have concluded that this legislation really has no intention of providing affordable health care choices. Instead it is a convenient cover for the most massive transfer of power to the Executive Branch of government that has ever occurred, or even been contemplated. If this law or a similar one is adopted, major portions of the Constitution of the United States will effectively have been destroyed.
The first thing to go will be the masterfully crafted balance of power between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the U.S. Government. The Congress will be transferring to the Obama Administration authority in a number of different areas over the lives of the American people, and the businesses they own.
The irony is that the Congress doesn’t have any authority to legislate in most of those areas to begin with! I defy anyone to read the text of the U.S. Constitution and find any authority granted to the members of Congress to regulate health care.. This legislation also provides for access, by the appointees of the Obama administration, to all of your personal healthcare information, your personal financial information, and the information of your employer, physician, and hospital. All of this is a direct violation to protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. A direct violation of the specific provisions of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution. You can also forget about the right to privacy.
That will have been legislated into oblivion regardless of what the 3rd and 4th Amendments may provide. If you decide not to have healthcare insurance, or if you have private insurance that is not deemed acceptable to the Health Choices Administrator appointed by Obama, there will be a tax imposed on you. It is called a tax instead of a fine
because of the intent to avoid application of the due process clause of the 5th Amendment.. However, that doesn’t work because since there is nothing in the law that allows you to contest or appeal the imposition of the tax, it is definitely depriving someone of property without the due process of law.
So, there are three of those pesky amendments that the far left hate so much, out of the original ten in the Bill of Rights, that are effectively nullified by this law It doesn’t stop there though.
The 9th Amendment that provides: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people; The 10th Amendment states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are preserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Under the provisions of this piece of Congressional handiwork neither the people nor the states are going to have any
rights or powers at all in many areas that once were theirs to control.
I could write many more pages about this legislation, but I think you get the idea. This is not about health care; it is about seizing power and limiting rights. Article 6 of the Constitution requires the members of both houses of Congress to “be bound by oath or affirmation to support the Constitution.” If I was a member of Congress I would not be able to vote for this legislation or anything like it, without feeling I was violating that sacred oath or affirmation. If I voted for it anyway, I would hope the American people would hold me accountable.
For those who might doubt the nature of this threat, I suggest they consult the source, the US Constitution, and Bill of Rights. There you can see exactly what we are about to have taken from us.
Michael Connelly
Retired attorney,
Constitutional Law Instructor
Carrollton , Texas
Rent Board Announces Annual Allowable Rent Increase
March 24, 2010
The San Francisco Residential Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board has announced that the annual allowable rent increase for the March 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011 period is .1 percent. The interest rate payable on tenant security deposits for the same period is .9 percent. For further information, visit the Rent Board’s web site at www.sfgov.org/site/rentboard_index.asp.
- SFAR
Note: Liberal San Francisco law says landlords must pay tenants 0.9 percent interest on deposits held while landlords can only earn less than nothing in a savings account. Any wonder why people go out of the rental busines in rent controlled cities? – FedUpEditor
With Obamacare Now Law, Democrats Turn Their Attention to Cap-and-Trade Tax
March 23, 2010
Note: There will be an all out sprint to liberalism since Democrats know they are toast in 2010! Their theory is to get it while they can! – Editor
Newsmax: With the battle over healthcare reform won, President Barack Obama’s allies in Congress are turning their attention to climate change legislation — and drawing opposition from both sides of the issue.
Sen. John Kerry, a proponent of Congressional action on climate change, said administration officials can now “pour their energy and attention” into the issue.
“In the wake of healthcare’s passage, we have a strong case to make that this can be the next breakthrough legislative fight,” the Massachusetts Democrat declared.
“Climate legislation is the single best opportunity we have to create jobs, reduce pollution and stop sending billions overseas for foreign oil from countries that would do us harm . . . This can happen.”
In June, the House passed a bill that would approve a “cap-and-trade” system to restrict greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming. The Senate has yet to act on similar legislation.
Kerry hopes to win Republican support and is working with Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina on climate legislation, according to a report from AFP.
But most Republicans oppose climate change legislation, warning that it will harm the economy, and some have sought to take away the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate carbon dioxide emissions.
Some environmentalists also oppose the House bill, which would curb emissions by only 17 percent by 2020 compared to 2005 levels — much less than promised by the European Union and Japan.
They also fear that a Kerry-Graham bill would likely back nuclear energy and offshore oil drilling — “anathema to some environmentalists,” AFP observed — and water down cap-and-trade provisions.
“If the senators feel it’s their job to move from what was one of the biggest corporate giveaways in American history to make something that’s even more friendly to polluting industry, that would be a huge mistake,” said Nick Berning, director of public advocacy at Friends of the Earth.
In a Newsmax interview on Monday, Sen. Kit Bond was asked if passage of the healthcare bill will embolden Obama and the Democrats to forge ahead with cap-and-trade and other items on their agenda.
“I hope it will not,” the Missouri Republican said.
“But as I believe the president has said, passage of this government takeover of healthcare — he didn’t call it that, I did — is a template for how we’re going to deal with the rest of the economy.”
Rachel Maddow to Challenge Scott Brown in Mass.
March 23, 2010
Note: If anyone ever tells you there is no media bias toward liberals, give them this example. – FedUpEditor
From the desk of Scott Brown: It’s only been a couple of months since I’ve been in office, and before I’ve even settled into my new job, the political machine in Massachusetts is looking for someone to run against me. And you’re not going to believe who they are supposedly trying to recruit — liberal MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow.
Rachel lives in western Massachusetts, and recently it was reported that the chairman of the state Democratic Party had apparently tried to reach out to her in an attempt to coax her into a race against me. You can read about it here.
The political season never ends, which is why I need your continued support. While my opponents strategize on how to defeat me in 2012, I’m going to continue to speak out against higher taxes, more spending and greater government control in our lives.
I relish being an independent voice in Washington, one that doesn’t march in lockstep with the rest of the Washington crowd. The Democratic Party bosses in Massachusetts disagree. They want a rubberstamp who will vote for their plans to expand government, increase debt and raise taxes. Someone like Rachel Maddow. I’m sure she’s a nice person — I just don’t think America can afford her liberal politics.
Rachel Maddow has a nightly platform to push her far-left agenda. What about you? I’d like to encourage ordinary American citizens concerned about the future of their country to get more involved in our government. I hope you were encouraged by my victory to become more politically active, maybe even become a candidate for office yourself. We can continue to push our movement forward by running for office, joining in rallies and petitions that challenge President Obama and Nancy Pelosi’s healthcare legislation, supporting campaigns against the tax-and-spenders or by donating time and money to office-holders and candidates who will restore the principles of our founders.
I’m grateful you are with me. Thanks again for whatever support you can provide me, and I look forward to joining in further victories with you down the line.
Sincerely,
Scott Brown
United States Senator
States Move to Exempt Themselves from Health Care
March 22, 2010
North Carolina: I’m sure you share my outrage and disgust at the actions of the Democrat-controlled Congress, as last night they took an unprecedented step that tramples on the individual freedoms of Americans.
Although things appear to be grim, there are still a few rays of hope. One of them is the legislative leadership of the North Carolina Republican Party.
This past January, Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger and House Republican Leader Skip Stam announced their plans for the Health Care Protection Act, which will protect an individual’s right to make decisions about their own health coverage and ensure that North Carolina citizens are not subject to the mandates of the federal health care plan.
This will be Republicans’ first priority if elected into the majority during the November elections. We encourage you to view the web video below that champions this legislative initiative. After you view the video, we hope you’ll contact your North Carolina legislators today and encourage them to support this important act. Most importantly, we ask you to pass this message on to your email list so North Carolina voters know that we still have options and that the North Carolina Republican Party is committed to the Constitution and individual liberty.
Sincerely,
Tom Fetzer
NCGOP Chairman
A Dark Day For America – OPINION
March 22, 2010
Yesterday was a dark day for America’s future. Regardless of what Democrats say about the health care bill, it will do nothing to lower premiums or improve service. In fact, it will probably do just the opposite. As tax increases kick in to pay for the eventual spending, the economy will be hurt and the country in the process. Republicans are the only ones promising this is not the end of the road. Let us hope so.
It is shameful that Democrats put their party ahead of their country. The vote was solidly along party lines. Even FDR and LBJ had bi-partisan support for their socialist programs. So why would Democrats sign on to this suicide pact?
Television pundits say, “They won the election and this is what people voted for.”
If that’s true then why are polls showing huge negatives? Only around forty percent approve of this legislation. That is nowhere near a majority. Surely Democrats understand they will be voted out of power in 2010 thanks to this unpopular bill. Knowing this, it is mystifying why Democrats would go ahead and vote for it. Are they lemmings walking off the cliff? Not so fast.
My expectation is that, in order to replace the Democrats and Independents who have left or will leave, amnesty will be next on the agenda. After all, what better way to get a new crop of voters than to legalize aliens who are already here sucking off the public trough? And why would these people vote against the hand that already feeds, clothes and houses them? And even if the country comes out against amnesty (as they surely will), what will it matter? We made our voices clear before the health care vote, and liberal politicians would not listen. What makes anyone think they will listen this time?
Another huge bill that will hurt our economy is the Cap and Trade. Now that we know Democrats don’t care what the people think, it will be an all out sprint to pass as many of their agenda items before the 2010 election. If the amnesty bill works, then there will be nothing for them to worry about (they think). If it doesn’t and they lose the majorities, so what? Democrats will have gotten the legislation passed that they wanted… which will hurt our country, possibly beyond recovery.
Make no mistake, the health care bill is going to be one of the most expensive endeavors the US has ever undertaken. With more and more money leaving the private sector, what little investment capital that is left will go elsewhere… maybe China or India. In this environment, our economy can only remain weak if not get even worse. One Democrat was interviewed after the vote and said he expects opposition can not stay ratcheted up until November. His prediction was that people would get used to the new law and forget about it by the time elections roll around. He is dead wrong. The Tea Parties started over a year ago and the momentum is building not waning. If Democrats think they will not pay the price in the next election, the are quite mistaken. With more and more people out of work, we will have time to protest too!
The saying goes, it is always darkest before the dawn. Let’s hope that is the truth. Now is the time for Conservatives to step up and speak out. DeVore has been most vocal in criticizing the vote as have other conservative candidates. Where are our District 6 candidates who should be slapping Lynn Woolsey around for her brainless party line vote?
- FedUpEditor
This Will Not Stand!
March 22, 2010
Message from Newt Gingrich:
This will not stand. No one should be confused about the outcome of Sunday’s vote. This is not the end of the fight – it is the beginning of the fight.
The American people spoke decisively against a big government, high tax, Washington knows best, pro-trial lawyer, centralized and bureaucratic health system.
In every recent poll the vast majority of Americans opposed this monstrosity.
Speaker Pelosi knew the country was against the bill. That is why she kept her members trapped in Washington and forced a vote on Sunday.
She knew if she let the members go home their constituents would convince them to vote no.
The Obama-Pelosi-Reid machine combined the radicalism of Alinsky, the corruption of Springfield and the machine power politics of Chicago.
Sunday was a pressured, bought, intimidated vote worthy of Hugo Chavez but unworthy of the United States of America.
It is hard to imagine how much pressure they brought to bear on congressman Stupak to get him to accept a cynical, phony clearly illegal and unconstitutional executive order on abortion. The ruthlessness and inhumanity of the Obama-Pelosi-Reid machine was most clearly on display in their public humiliation of Stupak.
The real principles of the machine were articulated by Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings who was impeached and removed from the bench as a federal judge, before being elected to the House when he said “There ain’t no rules here, we’re trying to accomplish something…All this talk about rules…When the deal goes down…we make ‘em up as we go along.”
It is hard for the American people to believe their leaders on the Left are this bad. They are.
The American people will not allow a corrupt machine to dictate their future.
Together we will pledge to repeal this bill and start over
Together we will prove that this will not stand.
2010 and 2012 will be among the most important elections in American history.
These elections will allow us to save America from a left-wing machine of unparalleled corruption, arrogance and cynicism.
Sunday was one more step in the fight against a “Washington knows best” and “Washington should run everything” attitude.
Let us turn now to the Senate to continue this fight for real reform, for real self government, and for policies that create jobs, improve health outcomes, and increase freedom.
Together, we will ensure that this does not stand.
Your friend,
Newt Gingrich
General Chairman
American Solutions
DeMint Says, “Repeal!”
March 21, 2010
After months of backroom deals, political payoffs, and strong-arm tactics, President Obama and the Democrats have forced the health care bill through Congress. The bill passed the House of Representatives tonight by a vote of 219 to 212.
House Democrats also passed a separate “reconciliation” bill that includes minor changes, but its fate in the Senate will not stop the President from signing the health care takeover later this week.
We’ve lost the battle over this bill, but the war for health care freedom has just begun.
If you’re willing to join me in the fight to save freedom, we can settle the score in November by electing true conservatives who will repeal this unconstitutional and dangerous bill.
The simple truth is the bill cannot be fixed. It must be repealed.
This is why the Senate Conservatives Fund is launching a national “Repeal ObamaCare Pledge” to rally support for conservative candidates who vow to repeal President Obama’s health care takeover. The pledge reads as follows:
“I hereby pledge to support with my time, money, and vote only those candidates who vow to repeal President Obama’s health care takeover.”
Click Here to Sign the “Repeal ObamaCare Pledge”
America is teetering toward tyranny and we must work together to reverse the radical agenda in Washington that is being used to march our country off a cliff.
Electing just any Republican is not the answer. We’ve seen what happens when we send Republicans to Washington who don’t truly believe in the principles of freedom. We end up with a Democrat-controlled Congress and a Democrat in the White House.
Instead, we must help true conservatives who love the Constitution and who will fight to repeal ObamaCare.
The Senate Conservatives Fund has endorsed four Senate candidates for the 2010 elections — Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Chuck DeVore (R-California), and Michael Williams (R-Texas). These candidates have all pledged to repeal ObamaCare and they’re all rock-solid conservatives who will fight to defend liberty.
Please sign the “Repeal ObamaCare Pledge” and encourage your friends to do the same. Together, we can repeal ObamaCare and win the fight for our nation’s freedom.
Sincerely,
United States Senator
Chairman, Senate Conservatives Fund
