Northwest SGP

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Comment by Debby on December 11, 2009 at 9:19am

Below is a copy of an e-mail I received from freedomworks [The folks who sponsored the big 9/12 protest in DC last fall] regarding a call to action of activist groups. They include the protest on Tuesday in DC, but I will not be able to go. There is another alternative that may be of interest to those of us who remain at home. The last section of the letter talks about holding candlelight vigils locally.

FreedomWorks
The fight against Obamacare in the Senate

Dear Deborah,

I just wanted to update you on the battle against a government takeover of health care. A few weeks ago, the House of Representatives passed its version of Obamacare, and now the Senate is considering its own version. Neither plan offers real solutions that empower patients. Nor do they include common sense solutions like tort reform or allowing consumers to purchase health insurance across state lines. Both versions of Obamacare are filled with billions of dollars in higher taxes, government mandates and $2.5 trillion in new spending. We still have a chance to defeat this big government monstrosity and preserve one-sixth of our economy from being taken over by the federal government.

The battle in the Senate has reached its most critical point, and we need your help to convince a handful of swing voters in the Senate to vote NO on the Senate bill. Sen. Harry Reid is trying to have a vote to end debate next week. These next few days are crucial, and we need your help! We are hearing that this bill is so unpopular that Sen. Reid and Speaker Pelosi want to avoid normal procedure and skip the usual bicameral conference to reconcile the bills. Instead, the Senate bill may be the final version of Obamacare.

Please TAKE ACTION now to start calling them, and remind them that the American people oppose Obamacare. Also, you will note that the targets have local offices in their states, and we are encouraging people to go sit in these offices every day until we stop this bill. This action will send a powerful message across the country that we are serious about defeating this terrible legislation.

DC Rally and Sit-ins!

Next week, on Tuesday, December 15th, we expect thousands of Americans to come back to Washington for a rally at Upper Senate Park at 1:00pm. At the conclusion of the rally, these citizens will go visit their Senators, and some folks will stay until they get a face-to-face meeting. We will sit in these offices all day if we have to, and will not be denied our right to be heard! If you cannot make it to DC for the sit-ins, please organize local senate office sit-ins in your state. Be sure to send us your pictures and videos! If you'd like to participate in any of these efforts, please contact Juan Hernandez at jhernandez@freedomworks.org (202)-942-7672.

Events in Arkansas

Also, if you live in Arkansas where only 28% of the people support Obamacare, we have a few events that you should be aware of. Senator Blanche Lincoln is a key swing vote on Obamacare, and we intend to add some pressure to her next week with events in Hot Springs, Conway and Little Rock. Our Chairman Dick Armey will be speaking at an event in downtown Little Rock on December 15th about health care, cap and trade and the limited government movement. Please contact Juan Hernandez at jhernandez@freedomworks.org (202)-942-7672 for more information about the Arkansas events.

Nationwide Candlelight Vigils

On December 16th we are coordinating with other national groups including Tea Party Patriots and National Taxpayers Union to encourage candlelight vigils outside Senate offices throughout the country. December 16th is the anniversary of the original Boston Tea Party, so we find it fitting that patriots on this day should continue to keep the fire of liberty lit. Please connect with other activists to organize a candlelight vigil if there isn't already one being planned in your area.

The limited government movement has made a huge impact on the public debate over health care this year. We have communicated through thousands of phone calls, emails, faxes and letters to our elected officials. We have marched in town squares, state capitals and right up to the steps of Congress in defiance of big government. Public opinion polls show a sharp decline in support of Obamacare, and the politicians that are pushing it in Congress. The more time that people have to read about the legislation, the less they like it. We are making a huge impact in this debate, and we can't let up now! Thank you for joining us these last few weeks of the year as we rally one more time to say NO to a government takeover of health care, and NO to an ever-increasing federal government.

In liberty,
Kibbe Signature
Matt Kibbe
President and CEO
FreedomWorks.org

Comment by bbforbis on December 10, 2009 at 1:12pm

Good Luck, we need and all and all out effort. Folks need to understand that even if we may not be able to vote, we can support. We really need to get the vote out. If we can some how manage to pull on vote away from the Dem's it will help.

That's very important to victory. Get folks who don't even live in MA to support any way that they can.

Comment by Debby on December 10, 2009 at 12:52pm

Hi bbforbis-Thanks for the welcome. I was a bit nervous about making this kind of "cold call" for support, especially in these times. But the rest of the country has had to deal with Kennedy and his policies for so long I thought people might want to get in on making some change, since all the democratic candidates here are falling all over themselves to declare that they are most like Kennedy.
I am going to a local Tea Party meeting tonight, first one after the primary. Hoping to make some inroads in strategy.

Comment by bbforbis on December 10, 2009 at 11:50am

Hi Debby, MA has just one month. I am way out here in MT, but I agree with you. Even if it's $5 I think that there needs to be a push to support Brown.

Haven't heard much, but are the Tea Party folks pushing on this?

Comment by Lisa Allen on December 6, 2009 at 8:58pm

Nice to meet everyone here! Now, to see if there is a place for counties to REPEAL their growth policies, making zoning moot (which robs you not just of property rights, but nearly every right, including guns and religion)! Agenda 21 is a pretty scary thing! Then, to get Constitutional Sheriffs in your corner to uphold their oath and protect their citizens, even from the Feds and their B.S. laws!

http://montanaconservative.wordpress.com

Comment by Laura Alexander on November 23, 2009 at 1:38am

The Health Care Battle is certainly a hard one. I know that if I broke a leg it could sink me financially with a $20K unexpected bill. I had a 1/2 Hour doctor visit a month ago which was only a consultation about my digestive system - Cost $478 plus xrays (my insurance program approved $326 for the 1/2 hour visit - that's $652 per billable hour)

It is estimated in these stories that the proposed Health Care plan will cost $900 Billion over the next 10 years. That must be a forecast. When you take 1 year @ $900,000,000 then divide that by the census bureau report of how many tax payers are paying into the tax base the cost is still 3 times the taxed amount recieved.

According to the Census Bureau there are: 307,474,004 persons in the US
http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html
COMPONENT SETTINGS FOR SEPTEMBER 2009
One birth every.................................. 7 seconds
One death every.................................. 13 seconds
One international migrant (net) every............ 35 seconds
Net gain of one person every..................... 10 seconds


According to the Census Bureau the 2008 Taxes collected are: Total Taxes are $781,325,294, Taxes based on income are $329,860,409 - (Divide this number by the total number of occupants in the USA 307,474,004) That breaks down to $0.932 cents per person.
Now take the cost of the proposed Health Care Bill of $9Billion dollars (over 10 years) divided by 10 years 900,000,000 per year cost - divide that by the total occupants of the USA 307,474,004 = $2.927 per person.

Obviously, there is a deficit between collected income taxes and the cost of Health Care (-$1.995 per person_). Now that is absorbing ALL of the Health Care cost with ALL of the income tax cost. So the remainder of the money owed has to come from some where. The options are 1. Cause more Tax PAYERS, 2. Raise Income Taxes on the person contributing to the tax base, 3. Reduce the available national programs.

Last time I checked persons that earn more that $100K annually were already paying 45% tax rate.
http://www.census.gov/govs/statetax/0800usstax.html


Item Amount

Total taxes 781,325,294

Property taxes 12,719,220

Sales and gross receipts 357,276,568
General sales and gross receipts 240,415,097
Selective sales taxes 116,861,471
Alcoholic beverages 5,291,245
Amusements 6,377,239
Insurance premiums 15,710,811
Motor fuels 36,437,019
Pari-mutuels 225,511
Public utilities 14,501,967
Tobacco products 16,050,425
Other selective sales 22,267,254

Licenses 49,741,507
Alcoholic beverages 463,902
Amusements 934,281
Corporation 10,279,092
Hunting and fishing 1,427,979
Motor vehicle 19,547,133
Motor vehicle operators 2,168,895
Public utility 1,096,616
Occupational and business, NEC 12,976,239
Other licenses 847,370

Income taxes 329,860,409
Individual income 279,122,604
Corporation net income 50,737,805

Other taxes 31,727,590
Death and gift 5,346,116
Documentary and stock transfer 7,727,178
Severance 18,259,637
Other 394,659

Item
Amount




Total taxes
781,325,294




Property taxes
12,719,220




Sales and gross receipts
357,276,568

General sales and gross receipts
240,415,097

Selective sales taxes
116,861,471

Alcoholic beverages
5,291,245

Amusements
6,377,239

Insurance premiums
15,710,811

Motor fuels
36,437,019

Pari-mutuels
225,511

Public utilities
14,501,967

Tobacco products
16,050,425

Other selective sales
22,267,254




Licenses
49,741,507

Alcoholic beverages
463,902

Amusements
934,281

Corporation
10,279,092

Hunting and fishing
1,427,979

Motor vehicle
19,547,133

Motor vehicle operators
2,168,895

Public utility
1,096,616

Occupational and business, NEC
12,976,239

Other licenses
847,370




Income taxes
329,860,409

Individual income
279,122,604

Corporation net income
50,737,805




Other taxes
31,727,590

Death and gift
5,346,116

Documentary and stock transfer
7,727,178

Severance
18,259,637

Other
394,659



Item Amount

Total taxes 781,325,294

Property taxes 12,719,220

Sales and gross receipts 357,276,568
General sales and gross receipts 240,415,097
Selective sales taxes 116,861,471
Alcoholic beverages 5,291,245
Amusements 6,377,239
Insurance premiums 15,710,811
Motor fuels 36,437,019
Pari-mutuels 225,511
Public utilities 14,501,967
Tobacco products 16,050,425
Other selective sales 22,267,254

Licenses 49,741,507
Alcoholic beverages 463,902
Amusements 934,281
Corporation 10,279,092
Hunting and fishing 1,427,979
Motor vehicle 19,547,133
Motor vehicle operators 2,168,895
Public utility 1,096,616
Occupational and business, NEC 12,976,239
Other licenses 847,370

Income taxes 329,860,409
Individual income 279,122,604
Corporation net income 50,737,805

Other taxes 31,727,590
Death and gift 5,346,116
Documentary and stock transfer 7,727,178
Severance 18,259,637
Other 394,659

Item Amount

Total taxes 781,325,294

Property taxes 12,719,220

Sales and gross receipts 357,276,568
General sales and gross receipts 240,415,097
Selective sales taxes 116,861,471
Alcoholic beverages 5,291,245
Amusements 6,377,239
Insurance premiums 15,710,811
Motor fuels 36,437,019
Pari-mutuels 225,511
Public utilities 14,501,967
Tobacco products 16,050,425
Other selective sales 22,267,254

Licenses 49,741,507
Alcoholic beverages 463,902
Amusements 934,281
Corporation 10,279,092
Hunting and fishing 1,427,979
Motor vehicle 19,547,133
Motor vehicle operators 2,168,895
Public utility 1,096,616
Occupational and business, NEC 12,976,239
Other licenses 847,370

Income taxes 329,860,409
Individual income 279,122,604
Corporation net income 50,737,805

Other taxes 31,727,590
Death and gift 5,346,116
Documentary and stock transfer 7,727,178
Severance 18,259,637
Other 394,659

Thank you for reading this far, I hope you consider all of the FACTS, when make your personal decision. Sincerely - Laura Alexander
__________________________________________________________________
pitches health care at college campus
By CHARLES BABINGTON (AP) – 3 hours ago

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — President Barack Obama called reinventing health care a "defining struggle of this generation," even as several Democrats criticized some of the fine print in the Finance Committee's new proposal.
Obama pressed on nonetheless, telling thousands of college students at a campaign-style rally that Congress must resist scare tactics and false accusations to do a makeover.
The fight will be difficult, and resistance that started surfacing Thursday to a key provision in Sen. Max Baucus' bill illustrated that. Several Democrats said publicly they were worried that a new tax that Baucus would impose on high-value health insurance policies would end up hitting middle-class workers.
Some members of Obama's own party pushed back against the Finance panel's language on this issue — lawmakers who fear, as do some of Obama's labor backers, that the tax would hit people who shouldn't have to pay more for coverage.
The president has mostly seemed unfazed by the torrent of criticism directed at the plans for a system overhaul. And on Thursday during his appearance at the University of Maryland, he said an "unprecedented coalition" of hospitals, doctors, nurses and drug makers support the effort. Some of the most enthusiastic backers, he told loudly cheering students at the University of Maryland, "are the very medical professionals who have firsthand knowledge" of how badly the current system operates.
"When I sign this bill, it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick," the president said.
Obama again called for a public insurance option, which most congressional Republicans, and some Democrats, oppose. It would not amount to "a government takeover of health care," he said. Obama stopped short of insisting on such a plan.
Eliminating "waste and abuse" in the Medicare and Medicaid programs will help the government find money to cover most of the Americans now without insurance, he said.
Baucus is a Montana Democrat and chairman of the Finance Committee. The bill he introduced Wednesday, among other things, aims to roll back spiraling medical costs and require nearly everyone to carry health insurance. A vote in his committee could occur as early as next week, but many hurdles remain in both the House and Senate.
Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., intends to begin debate on the Senate floor as early as late this month or early October. The House also is aiming for action this fall. The hope is to meet Obama's goal of signing legislation this year.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs called Baucus' plan overall an "important building block" that "gets us closer to comprehensive health care reform." And Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it "will move this historic debate forward."
Other Democrats were less enthusiastic, and not a single Republican announced support when Baucus introduced the measure Wednesday.
Obama's rally in Maryland was part of a campaign-style blitz to keep the pressure on Congress. He's also planning to appear on five Sunday morning talk shows and visit David Letterman's late-night show Monday on CBS.
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said Thursday that party leaders would do all they could to ensure they get the votes for legislation. "We're not going to accept failure, we're going to find another way to bring real health care reform," he said.
Congressional budget experts estimate the proposal would reduce the ranks of the uninsured by 29 million over a decade, and trim federal deficits by $49 billion over the same period. Many of the bill's major provisions would be delayed until 2013.
Baucus' legislation reflected nearly a year of preparation, a partially successful attempt to gain support from outside interest groups and months of painstaking negotiations with two other Democrats and three Republicans on the Finance Committee — the so-called Gang of Six.
But when Baucus stood in front of the cameras Wednesday, he was alone. Republicans withheld their support, claiming the measure was still too costly and intrusive, and liberals reacted bitterly, too, saying it didn't go far enough to make health insurance affordable for lower-income people. Others said the middle class would take a hit.
"Many middle-class people would pay more than they are paying today and would face the prospects of a penalty if they don't comply," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the Finance Committee who wasn't involved in the negotiations.
Not carrying insurance could result in a steep fine under Baucus' bill, as much as $3,800 per family, or $950 for an individual. People who can't afford their premiums would be exempted from the fine.
Wyden said he would try to amend the bill to make it more affordable to the middle class, one of a host of amendments sure to be offered from both sides in the Finance Committee next week. Another worry for some lawmakers, including Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., is that a proposed tax on high-value insurance plans would hurt middle-class workers, particularly union members with generous benefit packages.
Of the three Republicans involved in the Gang of Six talks — Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Mike Enzi of Wyoming and Olympia Snowe of Maine — Democrats hold out most hope that Snowe ultimately will vote "yes."
Snowe promised to continue to work with Baucus and Democrats on drafting a bipartisan bill.
Like other proposals in circulation, Baucus' plan would require insurance companies to sell coverage to all seeking it, without exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions or prohibitively expensive premiums.
The legislation would create so-called insurance exchanges in the states, where insurance companies could sell policies that meet criteria set by the government, with federal subsidies available for lower-income individuals and families who otherwise would be unable to afford coverage.
To pay the cost, the legislation calls for a new tax on high-cost insurance plans and a series of fees and taxes on insurance companies, the pharmaceutical industry and other health care providers, plus the penalties on people who refuse to purchase coverage or on large companies that refuse to offer it to their employees.
Planned spending in Medicare and other government programs would be cut by roughly $500 billion over a decade.
In place of a government-run insurance plan to compete with the private market, a feature of the other health care bills in Congress, Baucus included nonprofit co-ops.
The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday that co-ops "seem unlikely to establish a significant market presence in many areas of the country," providing ammunition to critics on the left who've pushed for a public plan instead.
Associated Press writers David Espo, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Julie Hirschfeld Davis contributed to this report.

Comment by Paul Lewis on November 22, 2009 at 11:52am

This is a link to a health care bill handout that can be circulated to spread the word on the details of this bill. It is a good one. Let's turn up the heat! Send it to governors and state legislators. This bill is a killer for many states.

http://www.takebackmedicine.com/health-care-turkey

Comment by Paul Lewis on November 9, 2009 at 4:26pm

James Hyde posted on the wire of the group "The RIGHT Movement":

"Faith brought it to my attention. It comes from the Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee.

It's a press release. Please disseminate this post to as many people as you can. It is critical that people know about this. If you don't have medical insurance, you could wind up in jail for FIVE (5) years:

http://republicans.waysandmeans.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=153583


PELOSI: Buy a $15,000 Policy or Go to Jail
JCT Confirms Failure to Comply with Democrats’ Mandate Can Lead to 5 Years in Jail
Friday, November 06, 2009

Today, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI) released a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirming that the failure to comply with the individual mandate to buy health insurance contained in the Pelosi health care bill (H.R. 3962, as amended) could land people in jail. The JCT letter makes clear that Americans who do not maintain “acceptable health insurance coverage” and who choose not to pay the bill’s new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.

In response to the JCT letter, Camp said: “This is the ultimate example of the Democrats’ command-and-control style of governing – buy what we tell you or go to jail. It is outrageous and it should be stopped immediately.”

Key excerpts from the JCT letter appear below:

“H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax.” [page 1]

- - - - - - - - - -

“If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…” [page 2]

- - - - - - - - - -


“Criminal penalties

Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.” [page 3]

When confronted with this same issue during its consideration of a similar individual mandate tax, the Senate Finance Committee worked on a bipartisan basis to include language in its bill that shielded Americans from civil and criminal penalties. The Pelosi bill, however, contains no similar language protecting American citizens from civil and criminal tax penalties that could include a $250,000 fine and five years in jail.

“The Senate Finance Committee had the good sense to eliminate the extreme penalty of incarceration. Speaker Pelosi’s decision to leave in the jail time provision is a threat to every family who cannot afford the $15,000 premium her plan creates. Fortunately, Republicans have an alternative that will lower health insurance costs without raising taxes or cutting Medicare,” said Camp.

According to the Congressional Budget Office the lowest cost family non-group plan under the Speaker’s bill would cost $15,000 in 2016.

Comment by Paul Lewis on November 3, 2009 at 2:07pm

First, I would like to thank you for your efforts to address the problems we have with our government. I am thankful for every single person who is paying attention to what is going on. I am sending you this message to ask for your help. I have set up a website for two reasons. First, to educate those who are not aware of some of the issues we are faced with, and second....most importantly..to offer a solution which will allow us to correct ALL the problems we have with government and not just one or two. The web site is www.americanvote.info. I have included an article on health care, one on cap and trade, and the solution is in the Manifesto. The critical news contains recent updates and additional areas of concern. I would suggest the articles be read in that order for continuity. My request is that you read it over and, if you agree with me, that you send the web address to anyone...family, friends, anyone who is a concerned citizen. If you can help get the link out via twitter, facebook, myspace or any other communication site it will help greatly. I am trying to get this to as many people as possible as soon as possible. All of us need to act or I fear it could be too late by the time we wake up enough people to what is going on. I must point out that the cap and trade article appears to be getting skipped by some readers. That is a mistake because it contains a "wealth" of info on what we are up against and who is behind it. To fully understand the importance of the solution outlined in the manifesto you need to read that first. I thank you in advance for your time. My best wishes for you and the future of the country we love. Paul
ps. I have now added three new articles and again they are best read in order, as I write with the presumption you understand what I have explained in previous articles....new: "State of the Union", "Regarding Liberty" and "Their Plan". I also added the mission statement to make it clear what VOA intends. I have been told by those who have read the entire site that I have understated the importance of what is posted. I will let you be the judge of that. It is a rather long read, but it is loaded. I would appreciate you comments. You can sign the guestbook on the site or you can message me here. I listed a new article today. It is titled...JOHN GALT ..it is written to the liberal minded. And..I would welcome your feedback on the site.Best regards, Paul

Comment by Laurel Guy on September 28, 2009 at 7:45am

Know anyone in CA? Meg Whitman should not be elected!

show details 9:39 PM (10 hours ago)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSn37TMXZO8

Meg Whitman (former EBAY Ceo) is going to make a run at the Gov. office in CA. If you know anyone in CA, they need to hear this short clip of Whitman singing the HIGH praises of the former "green" CZAR Van Jones.

So please pass on to anyone you may know in CA.

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