book

Friday, February 22, 2013

Tell your legislators to vote NO on Virginia HB 2313 Tax Hike Bill


Virginia has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.

The 109-page conference report on HB 2313 wasn't released to legislators until last evening and we are told it's even worse than we originally thought.
  
Delegate Ben Cline called it a "Frankenstein Monster" of a bill.  

HB2313 raises the state sales tax, regional sales tax, vehicle and tangible personal property taxes, vending machine tax, heavy equipment tax, recordation tax on commercial, industrial and residential real property sales, hotel tax, hybrid vehicle tax, and diesel fuel tax.

They call this a transportation bill but not all of the raised revenues will go to roads. Much of it will go to Metro and some to the General Fund.

To make matters worse, the NEW Regional Transportation Funding Authorities, an unelected governing board, in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads will decide how the transportation funding is spent. If they get it wrong, they are not vulnerable to the electorate.

The vote on HB 2313 will be today, despite the fact that few will have been able to read the Conference Report.

Please contact your legislators and tell them to vote "no" to the HB2313 conference report.

Tell them an increase in taxes will further weaken the economy.

Tell them they need to cut spending, not raise taxes.

Please contact your legislators without delay and demand that they vote "NO" to the HB2313 conference report.


Yours in liberty,
Donna Holt
Executive Director
Virginia Campaign for Liberty


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Please urge Governor McDonnell to keep his promise and reject any legislation that seeks to accommodate “Obamanocare.”


Passing on a message from Bob Marshall to Virginians to message Bob McDonnell


Dear Fellow Virginians,

Please urge Governor McDonnell to keep his promise and reject any legislation that seeks to accommodate “Obamanocare.”  The “Affordable Care Act” does not require States to run their own Health Care Exchanges.  At least 26 states have refused to set up exchanges which are website marketplaces of health insurance plans meeting federal criteria. (Google: “Virginia Health Care Exchange.” Several private marketplaces already operate).

If states refuse to set up their own exchanges, it will probably take longer for the federal government to deform healthcare and perhaps postpone enforcement of mandates requiring abortion pills and “medical” inquiries regarding which homes have guns.

In 2010, Governor McDonnell’s Secretary of Health set up a Commission to study health care “reform” with a $1 Million grant.  I asked Secretary Hazel why Virginia was proceeding with government-run health care while we were challenging the law in federal court.  I was told Virginia must be “prepared.”

Governor McDonnell has publicly stated he would not set up a Virginia exchange. Now he appears willing to sign bills which authorize state involvement while purporting to provide state “oversight” of a federal exchange. In reality the bills commit Virginia resources, including personnel from several state agencies, claiming (without guaranty) that Virginia will be reimbursed by the federal government (still our tax money).  If this is not a state insurance exchange then what is it?

Instead of Virginia exercising its right to refuse to set up a state exchange as other states are doing, Virginia will use its authority, resources and personnel to grease the Obamanocare skids and objectionable mandates.

Several bills have already passed the General Assembly. Senate Bill 922, introduced February 11, 2013, passed the House of Delegates.  It states in part:

Section 32.1-16 (b): “The Department shall be compensated for expenses incurred in providing such services. “   Does this mean compensation by state agencies or Washington?  In either case, it involves additional tax money.

Section 38.2-326 (A)(i) states in part: “full funding is available.”  Funding from where?

Section 38.2-326 (A) (ii) states in part:  “technology infrastructure, including integration with federal, state, and other necessary entities, is made available to the commission by or through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or the Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources…”  Will funding come from the feds or the state? What are the costs? Understand that “made available,” does not mean “provided free of charge.”  If the feds “provide,” what will they charge Virginia taxpayers?

Section 38.2-326 (B) states in part:  “the Commission may contract with and enter into a memoranda of understanding to carry out its plan management functions with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or any other state or federal agency…”   A MOU with another state agency simply would obligate more Virginia tax money and resources from the other state agency to pay for costs associated with the plan.

Section 38.2-326 (C) states in part: “the Commission’s obligation to perform plan management functions described in subsection A is contingent upon receiving federal funding sufficient to pay the operating expenses necessary to carry out the plan management of functions.  The Commission shall seek full reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for such expenses.  “Seeking full reimbursement does not mean obtaining full reimbursement.   Without wording which states, “The SCC shall not perform plan management functions unless all Virginia expenses are paid in full by the Federal government” this section does not assure plan management functions will be paid for by the feds (still our money).   Even if the Commission has no obligation to perform plan management functions, there is no prohibition on their performing plan functions.

Section 32.2-326 (E) states in part that “Technology resources provided by the Commission in carrying out the plan management functions shall be limited to existing commission technology support functions…” How much will this cost Virginia taxpayers?

Section 32.2-326 (F) states in part that “The Commission shall make available to the public on its website a written report on the implementation and performance of its plan management functions during the preceding  fiscal year, including, at a minimum, the manner in which all funds utilized for its plan management functions were expended.”   How much will this cost the State to carry out this function? How many state employees will be needed? Will others need to be hired?

If you do not want Virginia to speed up compliance with “Obamanocare” please call (804) 786-2211 or email the Governor here: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/aboutthegovernor/contactgovernor.cfm

Ask him to veto any legislation that accommodates “Obamanocare.”

Thank you for your help!

bob marshall

P.S. I thank Dr. Mark Berg for his help and insights on this bill.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Updates from MegaVote


February 19, 2013
In this MegaVote for Virginia's 7th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

  • Senate: Gender-based Violence Prevention – Final Passage
  • Senate: Defense Secretary Nomination – Cloture
  • House: Disaster Aid for Houses of Worship – Suspension
  • House: Hydropower Regulation – Suspension
  • House: Federal Pay Freeze Extension – Final Passage
  • House: North Korea Nuclear Test

Editor's Note: The House and Senate are in recess until Monday, February 25.
Recent Senate Votes
Gender-based Violence Prevention – Final Passage - Vote Passed (78-22)

The Senate passed a comprehensive reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) last week, including a controversial provision that grants expanded authority to tribal courts over non-American Indian offenders. The bill would also expand protections for LGBT victims. VAWA consists of a variety of grant programs to state and local law enforcement agencies and service organizations that specialize in treating victims of such crimes as rape, domestic violence, and stalking. S. 47 extends VAWA for five years. The Senate debated several amendments to the bill, notably defeating a proposal from Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn to remove the expanded tribal court authority (Roll Call 14 ). Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy of Vermont successfully attached a four-year extension of anti-human trafficking measures to the overall bill (Roll Call 15 ). House leaders have been vague about their plans regarding the legislation , which expired last year amid disagreement between the two chambers. President Obama supports the Senate bill.

Sen. Mark Warner voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Tim Kaine voted YES......send e-mail or see bio


Defense Secretary Nomination – Cloture - Vote Rejected (58-40, 1 Present, 1 Not Voting)

One of the more contentious nomination fights in recent memory was dragged into the President’s Day recess when the Senate failed to invoke cloture on Chuck Hagel’s bid to become Defense Secretary. The former Republican senator from Nebraska endured a withering confirmation hearing on January 31 , during which he was grilled for hours by fellow Republicans on a narrow range of issues, particularly Israel and Iran. The nomination passed out of the Armed Services Committee February 12 on a straight party-line vote , and Reid attempted to end debate two days later. Several Republican senators, including John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Lamar Alexander stated that they would not vote for cloture that day but would following the recess (though they would ultimately oppose the nomination). After extended back and forth about whether the Republicans were filibustering Hagel by essentially requiring 60 votes to confirm him, the cloture vote failed. Four Republicans – Susan Collins, Thad Cochran, Mike Johanns and Lisa Murkowski – joined all Democrats and independents Angus King and Bernie Sanders in supporting the motion. Republican Orrin Hatch of Utah voted “present,” which in this instance had the same effect as a “no” vote.

Sen. Mark Warner voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Tim Kaine voted YES......send e-mail or see bio


Recent House Votes
Disaster Aid for Houses of Worship – Suspension - Vote Passed (354-72, 5 Not Voting)

This bill would expand the definition of “private non-profit facilities” eligible for federal disaster funding to include houses of worship such as churches and synagogues. Many such buildings were damaged by Hurricane Sandy, which brought the issue to lawmakers’ attention.

Rep. Eric Cantor voted YES......send e-mail or see bio


Hydropower Regulation – Suspension - Vote Passed (422-0, 9 Not Voting)

The House unanimously supported this measure to streamline permitting and regulation of hydropower facilities.

Rep. Eric Cantor voted YES......send e-mail or see bio


Federal Pay Freeze Extension – Final Passage - Vote Passed (261-154, 16 Not Voting)

Acting to head off a scheduled cost-of-living-adjustment for federal civilian employees, the House extended the freeze on their pay through the end of the calendar year. Military pay is not affected by the bill.

Rep. Eric Cantor voted YES......send e-mail or see bio


North Korea Nuclear Test - Vote Passed (412-2, 17 Not Voting)

Responding to a nuclear test conducted by the secretive Kim Jong-un regime in North Korea , the House passed a resolution condemning the act and calling for a new round of sanctions. Libertarian Republicans Justin Amash of Michigan and Thomas Massie of Kentucky cast the only “no” votes.

Rep. Eric Cantor voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

Monday, February 18, 2013

The danger of "Feel Good" laws (re-post of Pat Webb)


The danger of "Feel Good" laws:

In the rush by our Legislatures to "DO SOMETHING" to make us all *FEEL* safe, there has been much talk about universal background checks. Let us dissect this concept and apply the laws of unintended consequences. We are all aware of how these types of laws have, in the past, turned teenage girls with a dose of Midol in their purse while at school into "drug offenders", and more recently a second grader with an "L" shaped piece of paper into a "child with a gun at school". Here is the skinny on the universal background check.

Let me start by saying that no responsible, law-abiding person wants to facilitate guns falling into the hands of criminals. However, we must examine how criminals actually do get guns. Do they go to the store and buy them? No, they don't. Do they get them at gun shows? According to the FBI statistics, less than 2% of guns used in crimes come from gun shows. Do they steal them or buy them on the black market? Aha! I think we are on to something here! Will these universal background checks affect this type of acquisition? Um, no.

For the sake of argument, let's just say that we DO pass a universal background check law. How would this be enforced? How will the government know if you sell your gun to your cousin Larry? The ONLY way to keep tabs on the legal transfer of guns is if ALL GUNS ARE REGISTERED. This bears repeating...the only way for Uncle Sam to be able to implement a universal background check system is if he knows without a doubt every gun owned by every person in the nation. There are two problems with this. Do you think that Mr. Robber or Mr. Rapist is going to report their (illegally possessed) guns to The Man? Probably not. But even more disconcerting is the fact that in *every* case of gun registration throughout history, confiscation has followed. Once that happens, the only people with guns are criminals and the government...arguably synonymous in some cases.

We must refocus our attention on the real issue. Gun ownership, indeed citizenship, is not only a right but a responsibility. As gun owners we are responsible for keeping our firearms secure and using them in a safe manner. As citizens, we are responsible for our own safety and the security of our families, our homes, our communities. In fact, the courts have repeatedly upheld that Law Enforcement Officers do *NOT* have a duty to protect the individual. That, my friend, is up to you.

So when you contact your representatives (you DO contact your representatives, right?) tell them that you will not stand for gun registration under the guise of Universal Background Checks. Tell them that we, as law abiding American citizens will stand for nothing less than an unencumbered right to keep and bear arms. Tell that we are watching them and will not tolerate any more attacks on our Constitutional Rights.

Pat Webb
National_Coordinator@2ASisters.org
VA_Coordinator@2ASisters.org
www.2ASisters.org


This may be shared in its entirety with proper credit. Thanks to all for everything you do to protect our Freedoms and our way of life!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

E Pluribus Unum?

  I am a career changer. I made the decision to move away from my many years of experience in retail work and private security and use my knowledge and love of history to become a teacher of history and civics (government). I knew what I was getting into. I have no illusions about the difficulty teachers face today. You see, aside from having many friends who are teachers, my wife has been teaching for 34 years. I hear her/their stories about the problems they face with poorly behaved students, who don't care about school/learning, the parents who only think of the school as a daytime baby-sitter that is supposed to just "pass the kids along" to the next level, and the administrators, who will not support the classroom teachers and, in fact, will throw them under the bus the first chance they get. Yeah, call me crazy, I know all of this and yet I still feel the need to try. To try and reach these kids and hopefully encourage a desire to learn in some of them, if only a very few.

  While I have put in my application for a local school system to teach at the high school level, I am working as a substitute for middle and high school in the meantime. Even as a substitute there are occasions when I have the opportunity to reach the kids with a message. A chance to challenge them to think and consider other possibilities. One such occasion occurred yesterday at a local high school in a world history class. Now, you should know that one of the things that I bring to a class is my frankness/honesty about the topics in discussion (At least I like to think I do). I don't play the PC game or sugar-coat things that I believe are important and need to be said. These are high school kids, in this case 10th and 11th graders, and they are capable of processing certain ideas/concepts, if someone has the nerve to present them. I talk to them like they are indeed young adults, who need to be challenged to think and not just memorize.

  On this particular occasion the subject of Black History Month came up. I'm not sure why the group of 6-7 students sitting together started in on that subject, but having overheard them I made my way over to them. As you might imagine, when a substitute is in the room the kids can be a bit, shall we say....chatty! I recognize this and usually don't make a big issue of it, as long as they are working on their assignments (One must learn to pick one's battles carefully). As I approached them they looked up at me, as if wondering if I were going to fuss at them and tell them to get back to work or not. I just stood there, looking at them, and said, "Please, continue with the discussion." They obviously weren't expecting that. One of the young lads, a black student, asked me, "So, Mr. Bayne, what do you think about Black History Month?" Here was one of those opportunities that can either prove beneficial to the students, if they are receptive, or can shake a hornet's nest. Well, you guys know me well enough by now to know that I don't mind taking the chance of shaking that hornet's nest, and so I took this opportunity to answer his question.

  I looked right at him and said, "I do not like the fact that we have a Black History Month and don't think it should exist." The gasp was audible from that group, and the rest of the class, heretofore engaged in their own conversations, got real quiet and looked my way. I did not give him a chance to respond to me, but instead moved right into my reasons why I was against it. "I am a history teacher," I said, "History is what happened, not what we wish had happened. History should be taught comprehensively, not piecemeal and by picking and choosing only certain aspects of it." Now the entire class was sitting up and looking my way. No one was talking, just listening. I told them that I understood why BHM had come about. It came about because the contributions of black citizens, in the building of America, were not being taught in most schools curriculum. Going back to the very founding of our nation black men and women had contributed to building this country, as had the Chinese, the Irish, the Scots, Europeans of all stripes, and those of multiple religious backgrounds.  I went on to say that if history were taught as it should be, by citing the contributions of ALL of our citizens, then there would have been no need for a BHM or any other kind of special month.

  By now some heads were nodding in apparent agreement. But I wasn't through yet. Oh no, one cannot waste an opportunity such as this. "I'll you something else I don't like about it," I continued. "It only serves to separate us into groups and I would rather see us coming together as one common culture, as Americans. There are too many people today trying to drive wedges between us and keep us apart, rather than bringing us together as Americans." I asked them, "Do you know what our national motto is?" I was not surprised that no one knew. "It is E Pluribus Unum, 'from many, one,'" I told them. I went on to explain what that meant. I asked if they had ever heard of Ellis Island and many replied that it was that place in New York that immigrants went through when they came to America, so at least they knew what it was. I related to them how immigrants to this country for many years came here to assimilate and become AMERICANS, not to create their old country here, on a new continent. Being proud of one's heritage and culture/ancestry is a good thing, but recognize that the country you have chosen to move to has its own culture and heritage and becoming one with that makes us stronger.

  One of the students spoke up and said, "Yeah, if we can have a BHM then why can't we have a white history month or any other kind of month?" I agreed with him and said that is exactly the kind of problem this presents when you start dividing people rather than bringing them together. America's history is a vast unfinished canvas that continues to be painted. Many people of many races, colors, religions, and background have contributed and our history curriculum should reflect that. When we start to create special "months" for one group or another we give the impression that one group is more special or more deserving than another. This does not create a sense of "being one nation," but only further divides us. I explained to them that this is the reason I do not use hyphenated American names like, African-American or, in my case, Scottish-American. We are ALL Americans. You may be an American who just happens to be black, I may just happen to be white, but we were both born here and we are both Americans, and when we allow people to sort us into groups like that it destroys our common American culture.

 Throughout my entire "lesson" the students all sat there, very quiet, listening, occasionally offering their own interpretation of what I was saying, but in all cases being in agreement with the point I was making. When I had finished there was a moment of silence. I simply ended by stating, "That's how I feel about it, but you guys might think otherwise." Eventually the young lad who had precipitated this lesson spoke up. He looked around the class at his friends and then back to me and said, with a noticeable passion and a big smile on his face, "Mr. Bayne, you need to tell this to all the other classes!" You see, folks, there is hope.......there is hope.

 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

How much more? How much longer?




Read this. Read it and think about what the author says. Read it and look at the points he makes and the legislation he cites. Read it and ask yourself if you are one of those who thinks everything is just hunky-dory and the government is really not out to impose its will on the people. Read it and ask yourself, "How did my representatives vote on issues regarding my freedom? What have my representatives done to stop this march toward tyranny?"

I can tell you what my federal level representatives have done to stop it - NOT A DAMN THING! In fact, many of the laws that have been imposed on us, that violate the Constitution and our rights, were voted FOR by my Senators and Congressman - Democrats and Republicans! How much more? How much longer?

http://personalliberty.com/2013/02/11/proof-of-a-u-s-police-state/

Saturday, February 2, 2013

You know what really pisses me off?

You know what really pisses me off? It really pisses me off that immigrants to this country (LEGAL IMMIGRANTS) have to tell native-born Americans what freedom is. Someone who has come here from Russia, Korea, China, Vietnam  Central and South America, any European country, and chose to do so to get away from oppressive government and a dearth of personal freedom/liberty. They chose to come here, not to create an enclave of their own or to "change" this country, but to assimilate and "become Americans."

These immigrants left oppression only to find it in their new home. And these people have to be the ones to stand up and tell native-born Americans what it is we are losing, what socialism/communism/fascism is, how those "isms" have failed everywhere else on Earth, and how foolish it is to think those "isms" will work here. I know some of these new Americans. They are personal and/or Facebook friends. I have spoken with them, spent time with them, shared ideas and stories with them, and I will tell you this without hesitation or fear of condemnation - THEY ARE REAL AMERICANS! They are real Americans because they, more than those who were born here, understand what America is supposed to be about. They have lived the life of the oppressed and do not wish to do so again. They know how rights are taken away under the guise of "our safety" or for the benefit of the state.

I look at these people and listen to them and hear their stories and hear of their love of freedom and the sacrifices they had to make to come here seeking the freedom that all humans are inherently born with, the freedom that is OUR birthright as Americans, and I am embarrassed by many of my fellow native-born Americans. I hear those who want the government nanny to be their caretaker, those who feel "entitled" to live off the sweat and toil of others, those who have absolutely no understanding of liberty and personal responsibility, and I weep for my country. Then I turn to the "new" Americans and I am heartened. I know that there are those who share my desire for liberty, who are willing to succeed or fail on their own merits, all they ask is that the government put no artificial, contrived obstacles in their way. These new Americans came here seeking the America that was designed by our Founding Fathers, so that they, too, could know what freedom is.

I am also fortunate to know and have as my friends, on Facebook and in my personal life, those native-born Americans who do get it. Those who don't have to have their rights stripped away from them in order to appreciate what freedom is. The sadness I feel is from knowing that far too many of my fellow countrymen do not get it, they do not understand what it is they are losing, or they just don't care. 

So, if you are feeling down some days and wondering is our efforts are worth the trials and travails, just look up one these new Americans, talk to them, hear their stories, feel the pride they have in becoming an American, and you may feel refreshed. Introduce these new Americans to any liberal friends you may have and have them explain what a real "big government" is all about. Have them explain what happens to a country, a culture, a people, when they are stripped of their freedom and their human rights. Who knows, maybe that is who the big government types need to hear from. They certainly aren't listening to us.