“But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing. It behooves you, therefore, to be watchful in your states as well as in the federal government.” Andrew Jackson, Farewell Address, March 4, 1837
Anyone is welcome to join us at our meetings, we meet the first and third Thursday of the month. Our next meeting will be Thursday, March 18, 2010 at Iowa State Bank in Sheldon, 7:00 pm. Mr. Rich Vande Hoef will speak on his experiences and also some basics of government and political office. Mr. Vande Hoef served as Iowa State Senator 1981 – 1999.
March 20, Saturday 9:00 AM - Come and exercise your responsibility as an Iowan being vigilant in watching state government . Your state representatives will be in Sheldon to hear from you and to let you know what the Iowa State Legislature has been doing these past few months and to take your questions. Senator David Johnson, Representative Royd Chambers and Representative Dwayne Alons will be at the meeting room in Iowa State Bank 9:00 – 10:30. Bring your family, friends and neighbors to get updates on current events in our state government.
At what point should a free people give up? How many times should we continue to voice our opinions that something is bad for us, personally and as a country? For those of us who enjoy history, we’ve seen George Washington’s Army on the verge of collapse, only to fight a battle that turned the war in the American’s favor. Maybe we remember the continued Southern victories to be suddenly changed at the small Pennsylvania town called Gettysburg. The Union would be preserved, but only because those weary soldiers and their commanders continued fighting. Normandy Beach was yet another example of persevering against incredible odds to fight the evil that was winning the day.
We are also in a battle. While we are not wielding guns, sacrificing human life or rationing food, the battle is nonetheless significant. Will you continue the fight against government take-over of our health care? These continued assaults on our freedoms are not as seemingly terrifying as the previous battles mentioned, but they have every bit as much significance to the America we all know and love and hope to pass onto our posterity.
MARCH 18TH, or sooner, the Congress is going to again try to pass the Health Care Bill (H.R. 3590): Here are a few details: (for further review, go to RPC Health Care Facts)
LOSS OF DOCTOR CHOICE and INSURANCE CHOICE: This will be the case in these bills.
COSTS: The proposed bill would raise, not lower, health care costs by hundreds of billions in its first 10 years alone.
(It would raise individual health insurance premiums by an average $2,100 for every family and the President’s proposal would likely raise that number even higher.)
SECRET DEALS: If this is such a necessary and wanted bill, why are the politicians bribing States in order to get the votes? I.e., Cornhusker Kickback, Gator Aid and Louisiana Purchase, just to mention a few.
MANDATES: These bills mandate that Americans buy health care. This is unconstitutional.
MORE BUREAUCRACY: New Federal bureaucracy of an unelected board to impose government price controls and micro-manage health insurance premiums.
ABORTION: Is still covered by Federal funding.
JOB KILLER: The President’s proposal nearly triples the “fair share” penalty for employers from $750 to $2,000 creating an even higher tax on jobs for companies that cannot afford to offer health coverage.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: ASK THEM WHY THEY AREN’T GOING TO BE UNDER THESE MANDATES
At our Tea Party Meeting the other night, a man lamented that he had not taken the abortion issue seriously enough when Roe v. Wade was decided and regrets to this day that he had not done more. Do we want to be voicing the same regrets to our children when we still have the ability to stop this travesty of our freedoms?
Call often and respectfully to Rep. Steve King: 202.225.4426
Senator Chuck Grassley: 202.224.3744
Senator Tom Harkin: 202.224.3254
The American public knows that if anyone needs a doctor, it is our own Congress…. to clean out their earwax so they can hear us for the last time…..KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OUR HEALTH CARE!
To quote one of the staunchest fighters for freedom: “NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!” Winston Churchill.
Make the phone calls, write the letters, send the emails, drive to their offices! Do whatever it takes. Get your friends and family to do it. Courage, persistence, vigilance. Is it really that difficult? No and I promise you, you will not regret it.
TK
“Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a firm reliance on Him, who has never yet forsaken this favored land, are still competent to adjust, in the best way, all our present difficulty.” – Abraham Lincoln
Much attention is being given to the Tea Party movement maybe because it has survived it’s first year and is growing stronger. The Republican party seems to think tea party people have joined up with them so now they will be able to get their party’s agenda accomplished. They need to do some self-examination and realize they are part of the problem.
The Tea Party Movement started with the bank bailouts and the health care debates but soon revealed our country’s problem goes much deeper and wider. Every President, Senator, Representative, candidate and political organization needs to prove themselves in their understanding of and their abiding by the limits placed on government, and the protection of the people’s freedom held in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States of America and the Bill of Rights. Tea Party people are getting educated all across America and will vote in November based on how well the candidate or incumbent adheres to the Constitution, no matter what title is by their name on the ballot.
| Boehner Marks First Anniversary of Tea Party Movement |
| WASHINGTON – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement marking the first anniversary of the Tea Party movement: “The Tea Party movement has reminded us who’s really in charge of this country, and that’s the American people. These great patriots have been at the forefront of a growing political rebellion born from the American people’s opposition to greater government control over our economy and our lives. They are leading a diverse and growing movement, one comprised of Americans from all walks of life, many of whom are becoming engaged in politics for the first time because they are so fed up with Washington and the direction of the country.
“It’s not enough, however, for Republicans to simply voice respect for what the tea partiers are doing, praise their efforts, and participate in their rallies. Republicans must listen to them, stand with them, and walk among them.
“In these uncertain times, when government is growing and our nation is being driven deeper and deeper into debt, the Tea Party movement has given Americans who believe in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights the opportunity to band together and say ‘enough is enough.’ Government is no substitute for the hard work and common sense of the American people, and only by preserving this most self-evident of truths can we truly protect the blessings of freedom and liberty. This is exactly why the American people want us to scrap this massive government takeover of health care and start over.”
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The Iowa Supreme Court judges unanimously legislated Iowa law to be changed in 2009. From the beginning of time marriage has been between one man and one woman but these judges changed Natural law to something else in Iowa’s law books. One of the many effects is the rewriting of language that refer to a husband and a wife. Copied below is just a part taken from a house study bill concerning taxes showing some of these language changes. You’ll need to overlook the bill’s line numbers as it does not read nicely in this format.
While this is just one bill the Iowa legislators are looking at right now requiring langue changes, do you wonder how many more language changes we will face since the judges legislation on defining marriage? How many more language changes in laws, legal documents, marriage ceremonies, and teacher to parent conferences? Iowa school children have access to many library books about families with one mom and one dad. What about these books our children read in school? Do you think the gay activists have thought about that? You can bet they have — that, and much more. This is not about simple word changes and it’s not about tolerating other’s changed sexual preferences. This is about change in our beliefs. If you believe like I do that God ordained marriage only between one man and one woman, put feet to your convictions. Contact Iowa legislators – any of them / all of them. http://www.luviowa.com/
House Study Bill 705
“29 23 person as an employer, and deferred compensation plans or any 29 24 earnings attributable to the deferred compensation plans, 29 25 up to a maximum of six thousand dollars for a person, other 29 26 than a husband or wife married person, who files a separate 29 27 state income tax return and up to a maximum of twelve thousand 29 28 dollars for a husband and wife married persons who file a 29 29 joint state income tax return. However, a surviving spouse 29 30 who is not disabled or fifty=five years of age or older can 29 31 only exclude the amount of pension or retirement pay received 29 32 as a result of the death of the other spouse. A husband and 29 33 wife Married persons filing separate state income tax returns 29 34 or separately on a combined state return are allowed a combined 29 35 maximum exclusion under this subsection of up to twelve 30 1 thousand dollars. The twelve thousand dollar exclusion for 30 2 married persons shall be allocated to the husband or wife each 30 3 spouse individually in the proportion that each spouse’s 30 4 respective the pension and retirement pay received by that 30 5 spouse bears to the total combined pension and retirement pay 30 6 received by both spouses. 30 7 Sec. 42. Section 422.9, subsection 1, Code Supplement 2009, 30 8 is amended to read as follows: 30 9 1. An optional standard deduction, after deduction of 30 10 federal income tax, equal to one thousand two hundred thirty 30 11 dollars for a married person who files separately or a 30 12 single person or equal to three thousand thirty dollars for 30 13 a husband and wife married persons who file a joint return,…”
(*slash thrus of “husband and wife” did not come through on the posting but is corrected best can do)
A similar bill with language changing is SSB 3200. In the House, the floor manager for HSB 705 is Rep. Sharon Steckman and subcommittee members are Rep. Charles Isenhart and Rep. Erik Helland. In the Senate, the floor manager for SSB 3200 is Sen. Pam Jochum, subcommittee members are Sen. Joe Bolkcom and Sen. Brad Zaun. Instead of taking time to redefine marriage, lawmakers need to take up the Iowa Marriage Amendment and begin the process of letting Iowans vote on the definition of marriage.
The three Iowa Supreme Court Justices up for relection November 2010 — Marsha Ternus, David Baker and Michael Streit
This season’s snow falls and Snowpocalypse presents a great opportunity to remember our president who also suffered through the cold to save the Republic.
The third Monday in February has come to be known—wrongly—as President’s Day. But, this is not a day to celebrate every president in our Nation’s history: like one who served only a month in office. This is the day that we celebrate the man who led America to victory in the War for Independence, who was instrumental in the creation of our Constitution, and whose character forever shaped the executive branch. We celebrate George Washington. That’s why it’s Washington’s Birthday; not President’s day.
What makes George Washington a great president, worthy of such celebration, and example to all other presidents? In short, he was committed to the principles of the American Founding. Liberty, Natural Rights, Equality, Religious Liberty, Economic Opportunity, the Rule of Law, Constitutionalism, Self-government, National Independence: these are the truths that George Washington held.
Matthew Spalding, in his latest book We Still Hold These Truths, explains each of these first principles in depth and often points to Washington as an exemplar practitioner. For instance, Spalding points to an important series of letters to different religious congregations as an example Washington’s commitment to the principle of religious liberty. In a letter to a congregation of Jewish people, one of the most persecuted religious minorities in all history, Washington explains:
The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy—a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.
Washington understood that citizenship did not require professing particular religious doctrines. Nor does the possession of rights depend upon one’s membership in a certain race or social class.
Not all presidents are George Washington. But all presidents—and all Americans—can and should dedicate themselves to preserving American’s First Principles.
(from Heritage Foundation Morning Bell 2/15/2010)
Spencer Tea Party Patriots, along with Sheldon Tea Party Patriots, Storm Lake Tea Party Patriots, Des Moines 912Project, Des Moines Tea Party Patriots, Jones Co. 912 Project, Urbandale SOAR (Suport Our American Republic), Atlantic 912Project,
and Cedar Falls Taking Back America have joined forces to host a Legislative Breakfast in the Des Moines Capitol on Feb. 16th.
The Legislative calendar at the Des Moines Capitol is filled on a daily basis with lobbyist groups hosting breakfasts, lunches and evening receptions. Most notably is the Federation of Labor, an organization representing multiple unions, which hosts a hospitality night bi-weekly while the legislators are in session. Senator
Kibbie’s and Representative Frevert’s endorsement at the January 30th Spencer Eggs & Issues forum, of Collective Bargaining and Fair Share bills (both pro-Union, anti – Right to Work bills) illustrates that lobbying works.
Therefore, Iowa’s freedom groups have decided to band together to host their own breakfast. This is the first time that Tea Party/ 912 Project/Freedom groups from across Iowa have hosted an event together. After the breakfast, the attending representatives from each of the groups will sit down together to network and plan
future strategies. We think working together as a cohesive team will allow us to have more inpact on legislation coming out of the Iowa State capitol. Right now progessive liberals like to dismiss us as radical fringe individuals who do not represent main stream Iowans. Rupublicans like to claim us as a part of their party, but hold us at arms length for fear of us upsetting their moderate agenda
Kris Thiessen
Spencer Tea Party Patriots
In spite of what some lawmakers would have us believe, the failure of the IMA to get out of committee this week is not the end of our hopes for action for this legislative session. It can still be brought to the floor of the Senate during this term – if we can get 26 members to sign on. We have 23 Senators, and we should have had Senator Kibbie’s signature on this resolution as well. He did, in fact, promise he would vote in support of the IMA if it came to a vote.
Newspaper quote from Senator Jack Kibbie:
Kibbie said he would vote to place an amendment before the people during a referendum.
”If it comes up in my presence and the roll call is called for Jack Kibbie’s vote it will be in favor of letting you vote,’‘ he said.
- The Messenger, Nov. 22, 2009
It did come to a vote. He did not support it.
It seems that Senator Kibbie is not a man of his word. It seems that Senator Kibbie refuses to faithfully represent his constituents.
The IFPC folks put it this way:
either Senator Kibbie should sign the pledge to support the IMA with all the power of his office,
or he should resign from his position.
That’s it – either SIGN or RESIGN.
Do the job he was hired to do, or get out of the way.
2/11/10 Pleasant Hill, IA – Standing between Iowa citizens and their right to vote on the Iowa Marriage Amendment, Senate Democrats this week obstructed efforts to take action on the amendment ahead of an important legislative deadline. Bills that fail to move out of committee before the end of “funnel week,” are generally no longer considered viable for the remainder of the session. While Senate rules provide options for leadership to take action on items like the Iowa Marriage Amendment after the funnel, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal has publicly offered to risk his majority status, and his next election, to keep Iowans from having an opportunity to vote.
The Republican effort to let Iowans vote on the Iowa Marriage Amendment this week was lead by Senator David Johnson of Ocheyedan. By inviting the other Senators to sign a discharge petition, Johnson attempted to bring the Iowa Marriage Amendment to the floor for a vote over Gronstal’s objection. The petition quickly gained the signatures of all 18 Republican Senators, along with that of Democrat Senator Tom Hanckock. As the week wore on, other Democrats began to respond to calls and e-mails from their constituents. As the funnel closed, Democrat Senators Black, Kreiman, Olive, and Seng had added their names to the list. Ultimately, Johnson fell three Members short of the 26 signatures he needed.
IFPC Action spokesman Bryan English responded to the end of this week’s activity in the Iowa Senate by saying, “Thanks to the hard work of Senator Johnson and his Republican colleagues, we now have a record of who really cares about marriage, and who understands that the Supreme Court is not the lawmaking body of this state. It is blatantly apparent that in the environment created by last April’s Iowa Supreme Court opinion, Senate Democrats are not qualified to remain the majority party.” According to English, “Iowans who support real marriage are not going away, and if Mike Gronstal would like them to focus their energy on removing him from the majority, they will be happy to comply.”
One Member of the Iowa Senate whose signature was glaringly absent from the discharge petition was Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg. Senator Kibbie, who has on several occasions publicly declared his support for real marriage, and his willingness to vote for the Iowa Marriage Amendment, refused to take even the smallest action to keep his promises. This week, Senator Kibbie chose to side with Mike Gronstal and the homosexual lobby over the wishes of his constituents, and an opportunity to preserve the only definition of marriage, by refusing to sign the petition.
Commenting on the larger implications of the events of the week, English said, “The battle raging in Iowa over the issue of marriage is a political reflection of a larger spiritual war that began with original sin. Anyone who has read the Bible knows that while individual battles will continue, the ultimate outcome of the spiritual war was settled long ago by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” He concluded by saying, “When the current political debate over marriage is viewed through the lens of eternity, politicians like Mike Gronstal and Jack Kibbie need to understand that they’ve already lost.”
(from Iowa Family Policy Center – Tom Steen)
The observance of Presidents’ Day in the United States is seems to mean something different to everybody. In looking through the local newspaper, one could easily conclude that the modern holiday was created by merchants, just so they could hold their annual Presidents’ Day sales. Depending on your perspective or what part of the country you’re from, Presidents’ Day is intended to honor George Washington, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, or all the American presidents. And for many of us who don’t get the day off from work, the holiday seems to pass almost unnoticed. So what is Presidents’ Day and how did it come about? You can read about it at http://presidentialprayerteam.com/presidentsday/
We received an email asking if our tea party members are open to criticism. It’s time for you to comment.
“ Two questions for members of the so-called “Tea Party” movement:
First, where do you even get off using that name? To identify yourselves with the Boston Tea Party is delusional. That demonstration protested taxation without representation. You have representation. In the 2008 election each of you had the same vote I did. And after having it your way for eight disastrous years, you lost.
Secondly, in the midst of raving hysterically against “big government,” have you ever stopped to think who else is going to defend you against corporate plutocracy? Case in point: If you actually informed yourselves, you’d support health care reform instead of spreading paranoid fantasies about “government takeover of health care.” If one day you suffer a catastrophic illness and lose your home and life savings after being ripped off by your health insurance company, you’ll be getting what’s coming to you.”
3/6/10 – We do not have representation when senators like Harkin do not respond to our calls, letters or emails and will not hold a town hall meeting in our area. When politicians take from us our money, our choices in services we buy and run our businesses by stringent regulations, while these laws do not apply to themselves – then they are not one of us and they do not represent us.
We did not have our way for eight years although there is some truth to the disastrous aspect.
Corporate plutocracy does not concern me nearly as much as socialism and the lack of recognizing Natural Law in our country.
Do you believe the government will protect your home and life savings more than these corporations will? At least the corporations realize their survival depends on citizens being able to buy and spend. The government realizes it grows when citizen’s are oppressed. When you turn over your right of pursuit of happiness to the government for the sake of a little security, then you will get what’s coming to you. You and your children’s children. dvm