Legislative Vigilance

Legislative Update for February 8, 2011 Meeting

2011-02-08T13:20:00.000-08:00

Virginia Legislation

HB 1721

Bob Marshall's bill to keep land use planning at the local level, and make now state mandated “Urban Development Areas” optional rather than mandatory (pushing back again Agenda 21), was reported out of the House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee by only one vote.

YEAS--Marshall, R.G., Oder, Marshall, D.W., Iaquinto, Crockett-Stark, Poindexter, Merricks, Knight, Morefield, Stolle, LeMunyon, Wilt--12.
NAYS--Ingram, Edmunds, Spruill, Ware, O., Pollard, McQuinn, Howell, A.T., Surovell, Kory, Torian--10.
ABSTENTIONS--0.
NOT VOTING--0.

There is a scheduled House vote today (Feb. 8) on this bill, but as of this update, no further information has been available.

HB 1421 - Immigration Law Enforcement

Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (15-Y 6-N)

YEAS--Albo, Kilgore, Athey, Janis, Bell, Robert B., Cline, Iaquinto, Gilbert, Peace, Miller, J.H., Loupassi, Villanueva, Habeeb, Johnson, Barlow--15.
NAYS--Armstrong, Watts, Toscano, Herring, McClellan, Hope--6.
ABSTENTIONS--0.
NOT VOTING--Cleaveland--1.

HB 1727 - Virginia Fair Employment Act

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (16-Y 4-N)

YEAS--Albo, Kilgore, Athey, Janis, Bell, Robert B., Cline, Iaquinto, Gilbert, Peace, Miller, J.H., Loupassi, Villanueva, Habeeb, Johnson, Armstrong, Barlow--16.
NAYS--Watts, Herring, McClellan, Hope--4.
ABSTENTIONS--0.
NOT VOTING--Cleaveland, Toscano--2.

HB 1775 - School Transparency

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (16-Y 4-N)

YEAS--Albo, Kilgore, Athey, Janis, Bell, Robert B., Cline, Iaquinto, Gilbert, Peace, Miller, J.H., Loupassi, Villanueva, Habeeb, Johnson, Barlow, Watts--16.
NAYS--Armstrong, Herring, McClellan, Hope--4.
ABSTENTIONS--0.
NOT VOTING--Cleaveland, Toscano--2

HB 1397 - End Mandatory Federal “Green” Home Inspections

Delegate Bob Marshall:

"HB 1397 passed the House of Delegates thanks to your help! This bill sets up another challenge to the federal government’s overreach which could require inspections by the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct mandatory “green” energy audits and mandatory remodeling before selling your home. It is now in the Senate Agriculture Committee."

HJ 496 - End the Practice of Adding Taxes & Fees and Removing Tax Deductions in Budget

Delegate Bob Marshall:

I pre-filed this Constitutional Amendment on July 19, 2010 to end the practice of hiding fees and taxes in the budget. I spoke all around Virginia and my son designed a four-page glossy brochure to educate citizens. We printed, mailed and distributed nearly 10,000 brochures about the need for this Constitutional Amendment. Despite the tradition that when two virtually identical bills are introduced, the lower number bill passes, my bill was instead incorporated into Delegate Janis’ Bill, HJ 615 which was filed one day before session started. My bill was before the subcommittee the first week of session, but was passed over until Del. Janis was able to have his measure before the subcommittee.

While this was an abuse of process (Delegate Janis is the Subcommittee Chair) imitation is a form of flattery. I thank you all for helping move the substance of my bill forward, even if the bill number does not bear by name, as it will promote the common good for Virginia.

Gun Bills discussed by VCDL:

Senator Reynold's pneumatic gun bill, SB 757, passed the Senate and heads to the House, where it starts working its way through the committee structure all over again.

The following anti-gun bills were KILLED, er, actually, CRUSHED, tonight in the House Militia, Police and Public Safety subcommittee #1:

HB 1699 - Delegate McClellan's "gun show loophole" bill died by a vote of 4 to 1 (Delegate Keam voted for the bill).

HB 2343 - Delegate Morrissey's bill to criminalize the consumption of an alcoholic beverage in a restaurant by someone who is openly carrying a handgun died **unanimously.** A Richmond police officer in UNIFORM came to speak for all the gun control bills, including this one. That was awfully rich from someone who is allowed by the law to carry a concealed handgun and drink. What a hypocrite.

HB 2524 - Delegate Carr's bill to ban the sale, barter or transfer of magazines that hold 20 or more rounds died **unanimously.**

And Some Bad News

HB 1732 - Delegate Carrico's full recognition of out-of-state permits was withdrawn without comment

HB 2069 - Delegate Athey's Constitutional Carry bill (no CHP required) was withdrawn. Athey stated that he had drawn up the bill himself and didn't use Legislative Services. The bill is fatally flawed, he said, and could not be fixed unless it is reintroduced with a different description and all the technical mistakes fixed. That, he vowed to do next year.

Feb. 3 Update from the Tuesday Morning Coalition Group:

1) Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment:
HJ 647 Constitutional amendment; taking or damaging of private property for public use (first reference).
Robert B. Bell all patrons

Status:
01/12/11 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/13/11 House: Assigned P & E sub: #1 Constitutional
01/17/11 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (3-Y 2-N)
01/28/11 House: Passed by for the day in Privileges and Elections by voice vote

On late Thursday evening of last week, HJ 693 patroned by Del. Johnny Joannou contained the language to which we had agreed for reforming the eminent domain law of Virginia by constitutional amendment. By Friday morning the language had changed, substantially. No longer would property owners receive just compensation for their losses, as business losses would no longer be a compensable damage.

After this language was struck from the resolution, the remaining language was made identical to a resolution put forth by Del. Rob Bell, HJ 647, and the decision was made that the new resolution would go forward with Del. Bell as the patron. Last Friday (1/28), the resolution was not brought up for a vote, but was carried over until this Friday (2/4).

The excuse given by legislators for not wanting to provide compensation for business loses to property owners who are having their land taken by eminent domain, is that this would cost too much. They acknowledge that there are real costs that must be borne by one of the parties. However, instead of society bearing these costs because it is benefitting from the taking of the property, the government wants this cost to be absorbed by the property owner who is already having to relinquish his property due to no fault of his own.

If society is not willing to provide just, and full, compensation for the taking of private property, then we must ask ourselves if there was a real justification for taking the property in the first place.

Please call the people on the committee below and tell them you want the language that was deleted from Del. Joannou’s resolution to be put in Del. Bell’s resolution before it is voted on this Friday.

In the final analysis this is another example of the state government putting its interests ahead of the interests of the people, or the state government putting the welfare of special interest condemners ahead of the people.

This November all 140 members of the General Assembly are up for reelection.
John Taylor

House Privileges and Elections Committee Members:
Del. Mark Cole (R) (804) 698-1088 DelMCole@house.virginia.gov (chairman)
Del. Lacey Putney (I) (804) 698-1019 DelLPutney@house.virginia.gov
Del. Riley Ingram (R) (804) 698-1062 DelRIngram@house.virginia.gov
Del. Chris Jones (R) (804) 698-1076 DelCJones@house.virginia.gov
Del. David Albo (R) (804) 698-1042 DelDAlbo@house.virginia.gov
Del. John Cosgrove (R) (804) 698-1078 DelJCosgrove@house.virginia.gov
Del. John O'Bannon (R) (804) 698-1073 DelJOBannon@house.virginia.gov
Del. Robert Bell (R) (804) 698-1058 DelRBell@house.virginia.gov
Del. Jackson Miller (R) (804) 698-1050 DelJMiller@house.virginia.gov
Del. Steven Landes (R) (804) 698-1025 DelSLandes@house.virginia.gov
Del. Bill Janis (R) (804) 698-1056 DelBJanis@house.virginia.gov
Del. Timothy Hugo (R) (804) 698-1040 DelTHugo@house.virginia.gov
Del. Todd Gilbert (R) (804) 698-1015 DelTGilbert@house.virginia.gov
Del. John Cox (R) (804) 698-1055 DelJCox@house.virginia.gov
Del. Clarence Phillips (D) (804) 698-1002 DelBPhillips@house.virginia.gov
Del. James Scott (D) (804) 698-1053 DelJScott@house.virginia.gov
Del. Kenneth Alexander (D) (804) 698-1089 DelKAlexander@house.virginia.gov
Del. Johnny Joannou (D) (804) 698-1079 (no email)
Del. Mark Sickles (D) (804) 698-1043 DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov
Del. Algie Howell (D) (804) 698-1090 DelAHowell@house.virginia.gov
Del. Rosalyn Dance (D) (804) 698-1063 DelRDance@house.virginia.gov
Del. Lionel Spruill (D) DelLSpruill@house.virginia.gov

2) Intrastate Commerce:
HB1438 Goods produced or manufactured within State; not subject to federal law, federal regulation, etc.Mark L. Cole all patrons

Status: 01/27/11 Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor. HB1438 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor. It is not expected to be taken up by the committee until after Crossover (2/9).

3) Budget Transparency:
SB 867 Budget bill; Conference Committee Report shall not be considered until on website for 72 hours.
Ralph K. Smith all patrons

Status: 01/26/11 Senate: Assigned Rules sub: #1.

SB867 passed the Senate Rules Sub-Committee #1 by a vote of 2-1 (Quayle and Puckett voted yea, Edwards voted nay). It will now be heard in the full Senate Rules Committee. This committee meets at the call of the Chairman which could be as early as tomorrow afternoon or Friday morning. Please call the members of this committee TODAY to let them know we’re watching this bill, and ask them to vote YES on SB867.

HB 1440 Prolife Bill

Would

Express the consensus of the General Assembly that life begins at conception and that unborn children are endowed with fundamental rights.
Allow a parent to assert a civil cause of action for the wrongful death of a pre-born child. This was the effect of the equivalent Missouri law. While most states already recognize this cause of action, Virginia does not.
Create a foundation upon which future abortion regulations or prohibitions might be based. With this in place, the General Assembly might choose to enact future regulations that go beyond those currently allowed under Supreme Court precedent. This is because the law would recognize a separate source of fundamental rights for pre-born children to be affirmed and recognized as valid under the Virginia and the U.S. Constitution.

Bill Commentary the Roanoke Tea Party:

SJ 27 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT; TAKING OF PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC USE (FIRST REFERENCE).
Based on the sad history of eminent domain in Roanoke, not voting for this is unconscionable.

HJ 558 U.S. CONSTITUTION AND BILL OF RIGHTS; SUBCOMMITTEE TO STUDY COMPLIANCE OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ETC.
We strongly contend that nullification is the right and proper path for the Commonwealth to take to combat Federal overreach. We are confident this committee will show that.

HJ 557 ALTERNATIVE CURRENCY; SUBCOMMITTEE TO STUDY WHETHER SHOULD ADOPT IF BREAKDOWN OF FEDERAL RESERVE.
Preparing for the inevitable collapse of the Federal Reserve System is prudent. We welcome this study, as it will cast light on the disaster that is our Federal Reserve System.

Federal Legislation

H.R. 67 - Renewal of expiring provisions the Patriot Act

Congress is expected to vote on today (Feb. 8) on this bill, but as of the time of this update the vote has not yet occurred.

Feb. 9 Update: The renewal bill is H.R. 514. The bill failed a Feb. 8 House vote. See this article for more info.

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) up for re-authorization

VAWA was authored by Joe Biden. It costs $1 billion per year, and violates the 14th Amendment Equal Protection clause, providing domestic-violence protections and benefits exclusively to women, and effective made men guilty until proven innocent concerning domestic disputes.

ObamaCare 1099 Reporting Requirements

Good news on the IRS 1099 form reporting requirements for commercial transactions of $600 or more (which, among many types of transactions, would have affected transactions for precious metals). Those requirements are expected to be repealed in this Congressional session. Harry Reid, of all people, has been on the record advocating the repeal of the 1099 provisions.

See

http://www.accountingtoday.com/news/Baucus-Reid-Pledge-Repeal-1099-Requirements-57029-1.html
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/02/03/2629519/health-laws-bookkeeping-provision.html

Legislative Update for January 11, 2011 Meeting

2011-01-11T12:37:00.000-08:00

Congressional Lame Duck Session: The attricious Food Safety Bill, (formerly known as S510). Details here.

Virginia Legislative Session
(Commencing Jan. 12)

HB 1515 - Allows police to use red light activation terminals as a basis for detaining or arresting drivers who run read lights. Red light activation terminals allow police to remotely check whether a light is red, so that they do not have to follow red light offenders through an intersection to catch up with them.

HB 1357 Virginia's Atmospheric Sovereignty Act, introduced by Adam Light, who describes it thusly:

"HB-1357 in essence nullifies any federal law or regulation that attempts to limit the amount of CO2 that is emitted into the atmosphere. It is my contention that the effects of CO2 on Earth’s overall climate is greatly overstated by some in the scientific and political communities; it is also my contention that even if anthropogenic global warming could be proven, It is far more effective to allow each community and state decide how to best deal with it considering the varying social and economic situations of each, as opposed to a blanket of one size fits all regulation. Given that regardless of what any individual state, or even the United States does, the rest of the world will decide for itself; I think this to be the proper course. "

HB 1521 - Allows corporatization of water authorities, sewer authorities, sewage disposal authorities, stormwater control authorities, and refuse collection and disposal authorities.

HB 1522 - Grants eminent domain powers (confiscation of private property powers) to the entities corporatized by HB 1521. Also, in Prince William County, allows for occupation and excavation of lands adjoining confiscated land.

HB 1510 - Sponsored by Delegate Jim Scott. This bill is very similar to another bill, HB 1528, that was registered, but later recanted, by Delegate "Dickie" Bell, after public uproar. Both bills required pawnbrokers and precious metals dealers to report daily to police on the details of transactions involving precious metals and gems as well as physical description of the transactors with said businesses.

Commentary from The Conservative Virginian:

But, as Paul Harvey used to say, "Now for the rest of the story." The existing code Dickie's withdrawn bill intended to amend is 54.1-1401. It originated from HB 1133 [Delegate Ralph L. Axselle (1974-1990), D, District 72], 1981 Virginia General Assembly Session. It has been amended at least twice since, once in 2001 (HB 1591) [Delegate Vincent F. Callahan, R, District 34] and 2007 (SB 654) [Senator Kenneth W. Stolle, R, District 8]. I think there was a third time, but I have not yet found that one. But the problem is the language of the existing code. Amongst the insidious requirements for a dealer in precious metals and gems at the time someone sells to the dealer is to record "the full name, residence address, work place, home and work telephone numbers, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, hair and eye colors, and other identifying marks of the seller". TALK ABOUT INVASION OF PRIVACY! This sounds like a totalitarian government. The nature of this is something we associate with Nazi Germany.

And here is the final ugly aspect. If you think what Dickie had submitted was bad then consider what Delegate Jim Scott has filed, HB 1510. His bill would require the dealer to take a picture of the seller, along with a picture of the object being sold. Jim Scott is a Democrat from the 53rd District (Part of the County of Fairfax and the City of Falls Church). His phone number in Richmond is (804) 698-1053. His District Office phone number is 703-560-8338. His email is DelJScott@house.virginia.gov. So make a choice People - either sit on your thumbs or start dialing this joker, and call your Delegate to say NO. Then
we need to get to the business of replacing code 54.1-1401. I have offered Delegate Bell the following loose language as an alternative approach to meeting the police request for tracking potential sales of material from thefts.

Instead of requiring licensed dealers in precious metals, pawn shops, etc. to automatically report transactions lets reverse the direction:

It is the responsibility of the victim of the theft to report the theft to the police. The police are then responsible to send out a bulletin of the theft to every precious metal and pawn shop dealer - state-wide. (These dealers would be on an alert network, email or what, when licensed. The police's would alert deals by way of that network.) The dealer would then report any transaction that would seem to be related to theft. The recording of the individual (name, address, and phone) by way of acceptable ID coming into the dealer's business would be at the discretion of the dealer and not at the command of Government.

In this manner a responsible dealer would be helping police - a good thing. But the inroad of the Government to corrupt or stretch the responsibility, or use it for an unintended or over-reaching manner in the future, by way of a regulation requiring carte blanche reporting of customer activity would be avoided.

HB 1574

"Mandatory self-identification. Provides that any person, when he is lawfully detained by a law-enforcement officer under circumstances that reasonably indicate that the person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime, and is requested by the officer to identify himself, shall do so. Any such person who refuses to identify himself is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor."

Note the verbiage: "reasonably indicate that the person ... is about to commit a crime". This starts down a very dangerous slippery slope. This bill now opens the door the police behave like Gestapo and require anyone to "show their papers" based solely upon suspicion, or a fabrication of suspicion. Anyone charged with not showing identification is put in the position of having to prove he was not intending to do any thing illegal, which is often impossible to do, and which amounts sanction presumption of guilt without proof of said guilt.

SJ 300 - Introduced by Stephen H. Martin. ('J' stands for Joint as in a joint House/Senate bill)

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); electoral boards and general registrars. Permits the General Assembly to provide by law that two or more counties and cities may share one electoral board and general registrar if a majority of the voters in each participating county and city so approve and the localities already share clerks of court. This proposed amendment is patterned after the provision in the present Constitution for the sharing of constitutional officers by consenting localities.

Commentary from Dave Mason, of The Constitution Party of Augusta County:

"Thank you Danny Goad [of the 2nd Tuesday Constitution Group] for this one. SJ 600 is the hard core porn of Agenda 21 (A-21) and somebody must stick a wooden stake in it. This is further Regional Government, the favorite modus operandi of the A-21 forces of tyranny and it further dilutes and disenfranchises We the People."

The following bills and commentary are excerpted from email notices also sent out by Dave Mason:

SJ 300 Constitutional amendment; two or more counties and cities may share one electoral board, etc.
Introduced by: Stephen H. Martin | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=111&typ=bil&val=SJ300&Submit2=G
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+SJ300

Summary as Introduced:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); electoral boards and general registrars. Permits the General Assembly to provide by law that two or more counties and cities may share one electoral board and general registrar if a majority of the voters in each participating county and city so approve and the localities already share clerks of court. This proposed amendment is patterned after the provision in the present Constitution for the sharing of constitutional officers by consenting localities.

Thank you Danny Goad for this one. SJ 600 is the hard core porn of Agenda 21 (A-21) and somebody must stick a wooden stake in it. This is further Regional Government, the favorite modus operandi of the A-21 forces of tyranny and it further dilutes and disenfranchises We the People.

SJ 300 and the 'J' stands for Joint as in a joint House/Senate bill.
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HB 1420 Immigration laws; State Police to enter into agreement with U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement.
Introduced by: David B. Albo | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=111&typ=bil&val=HB1420&Submit2=Go

Summary as Introduced:

Enforcement of immigration laws; agreement with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Provides that the Superintendent of State Police shall seek to enter into a memorandum of agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement that would allow the State Police to perform certain federal immigration law-enforcement functions in the Commonwealth. Such an agreement is often referred to as an agreement under the federal 287(g) program.
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Immigration Bills:

HB 1430 Arresting officer to ascertain citizenship of arrestee; supplements existing law.
Introduced by: David B. Albo | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=111&typ=bil&val=HB1430&Submit2=Go

Summary as Introduced:

Arresting officer to ascertain citizenship of arrestee. Supplements the existing law that requires sheriffs to make a query into legal presence when a person is "taken into custody" at a jail. This bill expands such inquiries by requiring inquiries of everyone arrested, independent of whether they were taken into custody at a jail and requires that an arresting officer inquire of every arrestee whether he (i) was born in a country other than the United States and (ii) is a citizen of a country other than the United States and that, if the person responds he was born in another country and is not a citizen of the United States, the officer shall make an immigration alien query to the Law Enforcement Support Center of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and shall communicate the results of any immigration alien query to the Central Criminal Records Exchange of the Department of State Police in a format approved by the Exchange.
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HB 1421 Immigration laws, federal; enforcement by State, political subdivisions, or localities.
Introduced by: David B. Albo | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=111&typ=bil&val=hb1421&Submit2=Go

Summary as Introduced:

Enforcement of federal immigration law by the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions. Provides that no agency of the Commonwealth, political subdivision of the Commonwealth or locality, or an employee of any of them acting in his official capacity, may limit or restrict the enforcement of federal immigration laws to less than the full extent permitted by federal law. The bill also provides, in a second enactment, that the Governor may withhold the appropriation of state funds under his control to any agency, political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or locality in violation of this act, or to any agency, political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or locality whose employee is in violation of this act, in an amount deemed sufficient to ensure compliance, and shall release the funds to the entity when compliance is achieved.
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HB 1465 Higher educational institutions; admission of illegal aliens.
Introduced by: Christopher K. Peace | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=111&typ=bil&val=hb1465&Submit2=Go

Summary as Introduced:

Admission of illegal aliens at institutions of higher education.

(below code insertion highlighted)

http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+HB1465 (Change in Sec. 23-9.2:3 - highlighted below)

(ii) an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible for admission to any public institution of higher education in Virginia; (ii) (iii)the accreditation status of a Virginia public high school shall not be considered in making admissions determinations for students who have earned a diploma pursuant to the requirements established by the Board of Education; and (iii) (iv) the governing boards of the four-year institutions shall establish policies providing for the admission of certain graduates of Virginia community colleges as set forth in § 23-9.2:3.02.
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HB 1468 Citizenship or legal presence required for public assistance; verification required.
Introduced by: David B. Albo | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles

Summary as Introduced:

Legal presence required for public assistance; verification required. Provides that local departments of social services shall verify or cause to be verified information regarding the citizenship or legal presence of an applicant for public assistance prior to initiating provision of benefits, and that the Governor may withhold the appropriation of state funds under his control to any agency, political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or locality in violation of this act.

These then are some of the immigration problem bills. In general, we support them

Also--if you have your eyes on anything special--good or bad, pass it along and we will assist making sure that all groups (Tea Parties, Constitution Parties and other Constitution/Liberty friendly groups) see your offering(s).

Thanks much!
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IV. Amendments and VA Fair Employment Act:

Folks,

The below is in from the person you tipped us off to HB 1528...and with that, the wheels were set into motion We owe a debt of deep gratitude here. Add some thunderous applause too!

This person would like some feedback on the below.

Dave
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From an email questioner:

I know you are all busy but if you have a chance I have questions about legislation we are supposed to support. Number 1 I think is critical because the Tea Party is sponsoring it.

1. The Repeal Amendment. (Tea Party)
It sounded like a great idea until I read Del. Bob Marshall's thoughts. As he points out this could undo good laws as well as bad laws like Obamacare. This has the potential to destroy our whole Constitution. I personally can't support this but does the TEA party really want to support this?

(Dave comment: It's been time since we looked at this...but we tend to agree with Bob Marshal. We think that this approach is not well thought out as to consequences. The states already have the power to reject unconstitutional laws, executive orders, regulations and other edicts. Google and see the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. They are the best writing on this matter. http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/oct/17/ed-marshall17-ar-566354/)

2. Virginia Fair Employment Act (American Council for immigration reform)
This requires E-verify. A voluntary system involving Homeland Security and Social Security. It does not provide immigration status. So again this seems like more snooping on legal citizens - more tracking.

3. Constitutional Amendment to Eliminate State Income Taxes.
I'm all for doing away with income tax but I'm not big on Constitutional Amendments. The amendment requires phasing our corporate and income tax in 4 years. Is this plausible and worth pursuing?

From Delegate Bob Marshall:

Please help me pass the following bills which have a direct or indirect effect on jobs and family welfare. I have introduced or will introduce these measures in the 2011 General Assembly session which begins January 12:

No Hidden Taxes/Fees HJRes 496, a constitutional amendment, seeks to promote accountability and transparency by ending the practice of hiding fee and tax increases and removals of tax deductions in the Budget bill.
Home Ownership & Title Protection HB 1506 seeks to protect home ownership and maintain the integrity of real property tiles by requiring proper recording in the Courthouse as investment banks buy and sell bundles of mortgages for investment securities and record transfers through a private entity, MERS (Mortgage Electronic Registration System) to avoid (evade?) recordation fees and taxes. In some cases numerous banks had claimed title to the same property. This affects foreclosures and passing property on to heirs.

Block Obama Cap & Trade HB 1397 and HB 1398 will challenge the federal government’s “Cap & Trade” mandates regarding Kyoto-like CO2 emissions and proposed federal “green” home energy audit inspections before you can sell your home.

Freedom of Information HB 1457 and a companion bill require that if a FOI officer purposely withholds documents available under Freedom of Information, that employee is fired. It also mandates documents be classified as they are created, as either subject to or not subject to FOI to prevent huge “research” fees for FOI documents.

Life Insurance Benefits HB 1458 requires that if the family of a deceased beneficiary does not take an immediate payout from a life insurance policy, the assets of the insurance fund must be secured so that the family of the deceased does not lose money.

Financial Stability Study HJRes 557 studies the feasibility of a possible alternative currency in the event of a breakdown of the Federal Reserve leading to excessive inflation. Fed Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told a Congressional Committee recently that: "the federal government is on an unsustainable fiscal path."

Federal Abuses of Bill of Rights HJRes 558 studies and documents the compliance or non-compliance of the federal government with regard to the Constitution and our Bill of Rights.

Legal Person Status for Preborn Children HB 1440 will begin restoring the first civil right in our Declaration of Independence, life, to preborn children in certain areas by enacting “The Missouri language,” which was already upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and cannot be challenged. This will allow wrongful death tort suits for the death of a child before birth.

Keep Land Use Planning Local My bill will amend current law which now requires localities to designate and rezone urban high growth areas. Localities will be permitted to examine, but will not be required to rezone these areas. This bill addresses concerns over “Agenda 21,” the United Nation’s international land use planning initiatives.

Mint Bullion Coins for Investors I will introduce a bill to authorize Virginia to mint gold and silver bullion coins to raise revenue for Virginia. The U.S. Mint brought in $2.855 Billion in sales of American Eagle Silver, Gold or Buffalo Gold bullion coins. The Commonwealth could authorize bullion coins to be minted which could create jobs in the areas of manufacturing and sales while allowing Virginians a chance to hedge against the devaluation of the dollar.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell & VA National Guard I will introduce a bill to continue the DADT policy in Virginia’s National Guard. The Lame Duck Congress with 13% approval rating recently ended 232 years of military policy and 6000 years of moral teaching, on a Saturday in late December by repealing DADT. See my Op Eds in the Washington Times by clicking here,the Daily Press here and the Fox News interview by clicking here.

Lyme Disease Rejects the very narrow CDC definition of Lyme Disease and requires that any Virginia physician who treats suspected or confirmed Lyme Disease shall report the number of persons so treated to the Commonwealth.
The bills I introduce this session can be found and tracked here: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?111+mbr+H57C
Please ask your own state delegate and state senator to support my bills and please ask your family and friends around the state to do the same. You can find out who represents you here: http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform.
Also ask the Governor to support my bills by contacting him here: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm.

Federal Legislation

RED ALERT:

In the aftermath of the recent mass shooting in Tucson, AZ, whereby a federal judge, John McCarthy, and a 9 year old girl were among the victim dead, and whereby Representative Gabriell Giffords was critically wounded, Representative Carolyn McCarthy is preparing to introduce a gun control bill that is expected to outlaw high capacity ammunition magazines. Senator Frank Lautenberg intends to introduce similar legislation in the Senate.

Further Details: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47338.html#continue

H.R. 2 - Repeal of ObamaCare

Introduced by Rep. Eric Cantor. Details here.

Legislative Update for December 14, 2010 Meeting

2010-12-14T11:54:00.000-08:00

!!! HIGH ALERT !!!
LAME DUCK SESSION of Congress

S.3991 - Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2010

This bill is a newer version of S.3194, introduced by Harry Reid on Dec. 1, 2010. The aim of the bill is the unconstitutional compulsory unionization of state and local public-safety workers. It would eliminate local government control over the labor relations of their own workers.

Fortunately the bill failed a Dec. 8 vote cloture which required 60 votes. The cloture vote failed with 53 yay votes to 43 nay votes, and 2 senators abstaining.

S.3772 - Paycheck Fairness Act

Introduced by Harry Reid This bill narrowly failed a cloture vote on November 17 with 58 Ayes, 41 Nays, and 1 senator abstaining.

The following description from Eagle Forum summarizes why we should be glad cloture failed:

Originally introduced by Hillary Clinton during her time in the Senate, and reintroduced by Sen. Harry Reid, the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 3772) (PFA) would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA) in the following ways:

Allows for unlimited compensatory and punitive damages to be granted, even without proof of intent to discriminate. Currently, an employer must be found to have intentionally engaged in discriminatory practices in order for an employee to receive monetary compensation, and even then, the employee is entitled only to back pay. The provision in the PFA is unacceptable and unnecessary, as damages are already available under Title VII for pay discrimination.
Changes the “establishment” requirement. The EPA currently requires that employees whose pay is being compared must work in the same physical place of business. The PFA would amend the word “establishment” to mean workplaces in the same county or political district. It would also invite the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to develop “rules or guidance” to define the term more broadly. This leaves the door open for the EEOC to compare a woman’s job in a rural area to a man’s job in an urban area that has a much higher cost of living, which would drive up the cost of employing the woman in the rural lower cost area. Such increase in employment costs would result in fewer people being employed, and would also result in employers shipping jobs overseas.
Replaces a successful pay discrimination-determining system with a proven failed system. The PFA would invalidate the successful, Supreme Court-endorsed system for determining whether pay discrimination has occurred (known as the Interpretative Standards for Systemic Compensation Discrimination), and would replace it with the highly inaccurate Equal Opportunity Survey, which has found true discriminators to be non-discriminators 93 percent of the time.
Increases the numbers in class-action suits. Under EPA, if an employee wants to participate in a class-action suit against his employer, he must affirmatively decide to participate in the suit. The PFA would automatically include employees in class-action suits, unless they affirmatively opt out. This change would result in booming business for trial attorneys, and huge costs to employers, who may decide to ship jobs overseas to avoid such costs altogether.
In addition to these changes, the PFA would institute a system of “comparable worth” effectively allowing judges, juries and unelected bureaucrats to set employees’ wages, instead of employers. Thus, an employee’s compensation level would be based on some vague notion of his “worth,” instead of on concrete factors like education, experience, time in the labor force, and hours worked per week. The PFA would also cause employers to avoid hiring women in low-paying positions, since the employers may then become targets for burdensome lawsuits. This trend would result in even higher unemployment for low-skilled women, potentially increasing the number of families dependent on government assistance.

H.R. 5987 - Seniors Protection Act

From OpenCongress.org: "Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to disburse a $250 payment to recipients of Social Security, SSI (Supplemental Security Income under title XVI of the Social Security Act), railroad retirement benefits, and veterans disability compensation or pension benefits if no cost-of-living adjustment is payable in 2011."

We already know that Social Security is broke since Bill Clinton robbed Social Security to claim he balanced the budget in the '90s. Since then Social Security has been funded by later generations who are still currently working, and who will likely never receive compensation for the money they are coerced to pay into the system today. The politicians are attempting to placate current Social Security recipients by offering this one-time disbursement, paid from money we will have to either borrow or print.

On Dec. 8 there was a motion to suspend the rules and vote on this bill, which would have require a 2/3 majority vote to pass. This vote failed with 254 Ayes, 153 Nays, and 27 abstentions.

H.R.6416 - American Traveler Dignity Act

OpenCongress.org Summary: Removes legal immunity for government employees so that TSA screeners would be subject to the same sexual harassment laws as the general public. In the word's of Ron Paul, "if you can't grope another person, if you can't x-ray people and endanger them with dangerous x-rays, if you can't take nude photographs of people, why do we allow the government to do it?"

This bill was introduced Nov. 17 by Representative Ron Paul in the midst of the latest controversy about the TSA and its molesting of travelers and it's deployment of DNA-unzipping body scanners.

Despite all of the TSA controversy this bill only has two cosponsors at the time of this post. They are Representatives Walter Jones and John Duncan.

Dream Act [H.R.6497 / S.3992]

The pro-amnesty bill for illegal aliens under 35 years of age was passed in the House on Dec. 8. with a 216 to 198 margin, with 208 Democrats and 8 Republicans voting for the bill, and 160 Republicans and 38 Democrats voting against it.

The eight Republicans who went against the tide of common sense were:

Joseph Cao (LA)

Mike Castle (DE)

Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL)

Mario Diaz-Balart (FL)

Charles Djou (HI)

Vernon Ehlers (MI)

Bob Inglis (SC)

Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (FL)

For the complete roll call, visit: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll625.xml.

In the Senate on Dec. 9, Harry Reid attempted a cloture vote on the Dream Act and came up one vote short, and was forced to table the bill.

S.510 - FDA Food Safety Modernization Act

For the context of previous discussion of this bill, refer to this article.

There is a long saga of deception surrounding this bill. At its core it is actually a measure toward bringing the United States in line with the globalist Codex Alimentarius agenda, which seeks to totally and globally, corporatize and control the worlds food supply, and deny small farmers and individuals the right to produce and sell their own food. The even bigger picture is that Codex Alimentarius is one dimension of the eugenics depopulation agenda.

On Nov. 30, S.510 passed the Senate with an amendment by a 73 to 25, yay or nay vote. Nevermind that the Constitution requires all bills that raise revenue to originate in the House. (This constitutional requirement was also ignored when TARP bill was originated in the Senate when the House voted initially voted it down.)

Many in the patriot community thought that the unconstitutionality of the S.510 originating in the Senate would be enough to stop the bill from proceeding. Unfortunately, they were incorrect. The language of S.510 was shamefully attached to H.R.3082 via H.R.1755, a continuing resolution bill for funding military operations and veterans benefits.

The Tax "Deal" between Democrats and Republicans

According to Campaign for Liberty:

You may have heard that Obama and the Republicans reached a deal to extend the current tax rates for two more years.

But what the statists are trying to sweep under the rug is that part of this "deal" is that the Republicans will agree to a continuing resolution to fund the government until September 30, 2011.

That means the Republicans are selling out to fund ObamaCare for at least the next ten months.

It's vital you contact your senators immediately and DEMAND they blow up any shady deals to link extending the current tax rates to funding ObamaCare.

Legislative Update for November 9, 2010 Meeting

2010-11-08T20:51:00.000-08:00

!!! HIGH ALERT !!!
LAME DUCK SESSION of Congress
Begins November 15

Look out! A new lame duck session of Congress begins on November 15. This session is the last chance for several terrible bills to be pushed through before many lame duck legislators are sent home for good.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who surprising escaped the lame duck branding amid questions of election fraud, is expected bring Cap and Trade (H.R. 2454) up for a vote. The House of Representatives already passed the bill back on June 26, 2009. It has been on the back burner ever since. Cap and Trade has been such a controversial bill that Senate Democrats did not want to be on record voting for it going into the November election. If the Harry Reid does not pass the bill in the lame duck session, the bill dies, and the Democrats would face little chance of passing it next year. They would have to reintroduce it into the House of Representatives which will no longer be under their control.

Look out for Senator Dick Durbin to push forward the DREAM Act, which is a pro-amnesty bill for children of illegal aliens.

There is a Defense Authorization Bill which has embedded in it a repeal of the current "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. The repeal would allow gays to openly serve in the military.

Expect Joe Lieberman to push his Cybersecurity Bill (S. 3480) , which we covered in July's update. The bill essentially gives the President the power to seize control of, or shut down the internet. Besides the huge economic and social disruptions, a shutdown of the internet would cut off sources of independent news from the people, and it would effectively take away much of the exercise of First Amendment rights we are so accustomed to today via the internet.

There is also a push for the ratification a New Start nuclear armament reductions treaty with Russia. This bill actually could be something positive out of this Congress. Maintaining the current level of U.S. nuclear weapons is costing a lot of money when the U.S. is already broke. Equitable reduction of nuclear armaments on both sides would be one of many needed steps toward fiscal sanity.

The Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 are slated to expire unless renewed by the end of the year. Harry Reid has indicated that Democrats would likely vote against a wholesale extension of the tax cuts. He said Democrats would agree to extending the cuts for middle-class families, Reid said, but allowing them for wealthy Americans “is not going to happen” because it would "cost" $4 trillion. Lately, the definition of wealthy has been anyone married earning $250k, or single, $200k, annually. This is the expected for the Democrats to apply for the renewal cut-off point.

Also look for the fake "food safety" bills S. 510, and S. 3767 to possible come to a vote.

An article posted on The Hill mentions some additional legislative items that could be brought up in the lame duck session.

Virginia Legislation

Although the next session of the Virginia legislature doesn't begin until January 12, 2011, there are some bills being lined up to be introduced for that session. Delegate Bob Marshall pre-filed to introduce a bill that is to be a nullification measure to carbon emissions regulation provisions in the pending federal Cap and Trade bill. Marshall's bill is HB 1397.

Delegate Bill Carrico is expected to reintroduce the Firearms Freedom bill which had failed to pass in the last legislative session. The bill would prevent the federal government from regulating firearms and ammunition that is produced and sold within Virginia's borders.

The Virginia Campaign for Liberty is proposing a bill to repeal the invasive land use policy in HB 3202 that was passed in 2007 to comply with the United Nations Agenda 21 plan for "sustainable development". More details about HB 3202 can be found here.

Potential for New Fed Oversight

In the redux of the November midterm elections, Govtrack.us reports that House Representative Ron Paul appears to be in line to be the next Chairman on the House subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology. This subcommittee has the purview to investigate Federal Reserve on its monetary policy.

Last legislative session Ron Paul's H.R. 1207 bill to audit the Federal Reserve had garnered 320 cosponsors and passed the House, only to be effectively stripped out of the "Financial Reform" bill and replaced by audit measures that were severely limited for only a one-time application.

Representative Paul, with this expected position as the subcommittee chairman would have subpoena powers to finally pursue a long overdue investigation of the Fed's actions that have been hidden behind closed doors.

Legislative Update for October 12, 2010 Meeting

2010-10-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

H.R. 4646 - Debt Free America Act

This bill is a terrible act. It is worse than the European style "value added" tax (VAT) that taxes every stage of production of goods.

This act imposes a 1% federal tax on every financial transaction.

From OpenCongress.org:

"States as purposes of this Act the raising of sufficient revenue from a fee on transactions to eliminate the national debt within seven years and the phasing out of the individual income tax. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a 1% fee, offset by a corresponding nonrefundable income tax credit, on transactions that use a payment instrument, including any check, cash, credit card, transfer of stock, bonds, or other financial instrument. Defines "transaction" to include retail and wholesale sales, purchases of intermediate goods, and financial and intangible transactions. Establishes in the legislative branch the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action to review the fiscal imbalance of the federal government and make recommendations to improve such imbalance. Provides for expedited consideration by Congress of Task Force recommendations. Repeals after 2017 the individual income tax, refundable and nonrefundable personal tax credits, and the alternative minimum tax (AMT) on individuals.

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to:

(1) prioritize the repayment of the national debt to protect the fiscal stability of the United States; and

(2) study and report to Congress on the implementation of this Act."

Even though the bill offers the repeals of the income tax after (just how long after?) 2017, the compounded taxes of every financial transaction would amount to multiple times the total wealth that is already confiscated under the income tax.

The bill is currently under consideration by four committees: House Ways and Means, House Budget, House Rules, and House Appropriations.

H.R. 6144 - Better Use of Light Bulbs Act

To repeal certain amendments to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act that were scheduled to phase-out of incandescent bulbs set to starting in 2011.

See the following article for more information and to contact key House committee member.

DREAM Act Illegal Alien Amnesty, continued

In late September Senate Democrats hoped to attach the pro-amnesty DREAM Act to the Defense bill that was under consideration. Fortunately, the cloture vote on the Defense bill failed, with prevented the intended means for attaching the DREAM Act.

H.R. 6145 and S. 3791 (introduced by Tom Coburn)

From the Sept. 22 Reality Report:

"To require Members of Congress to disclose delinquent tax liability, require an ethics inquiry, and garnish the wages of a Member with Federal tax liability."

Section three details that within 30 days after filing, the member must "arrange with the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, as appropriate, and the Internal Revenue Service to have their salary REDUCED by an amount appropriate to pay the taxes owed to the United States within a reasonable time period."

Support H.R. 6145 and S. 3791. They are small but pivotal steps to stop corruption in the government."

S. 3790 (introduced by Tom Coburn)

From the Sept. 22 Reality Report:

"A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that persons having seriously delinquent tax debts shall be ineligible for Federal employment."

According to Section 7381 part b, the ineligibility for federal employment applies to future and current employees, which means it can KEEP the bums out, and KICK some of them out too! These include the Secretary of Treasury, Timothy Geithner, Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, and 39 other Presidential Executive Office employees. All together they owe over $830,000."

Disclose Act, continued

On Sept. 23 the U.S. Senate failed to garner the 60 votes necessary to invoke cloture to consider the DISCLOSE Act. The final vote was 59-39.

Downsize DC: "This makes it very unlikely that the bill will be passed before the election, and there's almost no chance it could be passed after the Republican gain seats in Congress. This means DISCLOSE is dead. It's a definite victory."

S. 3767 - Food Safety Accountability Act of 2010 (introduced Sept. 13 by Patrick Leahy)

From NaturalNews:

"Beware of Senate bill 3767, the so-called Food Safety Accountability Act. This dangerous legislation, if passed, would criminalize nutritional supplement manufacturers who tell the truth about their products or link to published scientific studies describing the biological benefits of their products. Based on language in the bill, health proponents who sell supplements could be criminalized and convicted to ten years in prison."

Continue reading.

30 Large Corporations Get Obamacare Waivers

Via Daily Paul and USA Today:

Nearly a million workers won't get a consumer protection in the U.S. health reform law meant to cap insurance costs because the government exempted their employers.

Thirty companies and organizations, including McDonald's (MCD) and Jack in the Box (JACK), won't be required to raise the minimum annual benefit included in low-cost health plans, which are often used to cover part-time or low-wage employees.

The Department of Health and Human Services, which provided a list of exemptions, said it granted waivers in late September so workers with such plans wouldn't lose coverage from employers who might choose instead to drop health insurance altogether.

Legislative Update for September 14, 2010 Meeting

2010-09-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

Federal Legislation

H.R. 6099 and S. 3760 - Auto IRAs

This bill takes away more personal financial freedom. It requires employees (who work for companies that have 10+ employees) to submit to a required automatic payroll deduction toward an "Auto IRA". Of course, the bill is supported by financial companies, such as Putnam Investments, who would benefit from a new class of involuntary customers.

The bill is written in flowery language that attempts sound as if the politicians are just looking out for you, and Putnam's Chief Executive Officer, Robert L. Reynolds had the nerve to pretend that your potential loss of freedom is an event to be hailed. “This is a smart, low-cost idea that can give almost all working Americans a stake in our free enterprise system and help them secure their own futures at the same time. At the end of the day, all Americans would benefit from having a more inclusive, robust retirement savings system.”

It is believed by some insiders that the Auto-IRA is just a first step toward comprehensive nationalization of almost all retirement funds. The thought is that this scheme will be used to finance government-issued debt instruments that foreign investors have been backing away from over the past year, forcing the Federal Reserve to monetize national debt by creating currency out of thin air to buy longer term national debt treasury bonds. This process is analogous to a snake eating its own tail. Those in power know it is unsustainable, and therefore this Auto IRA bill is likely only a first step toward further control of citizen retirement funds, which will effectively act as collateral for the debt byproduct of our suffocating behemoth government.

It should be noted that defeating this plan is not as simple as just voting out Democrats and voting in Republicans in November. Many on the conservative side are also spinning the Auto IRAs in a positive light, such as David John, a leading analyst from the Heritage Foundation.

S. 1619 - Livable Communities Act, introduced by lame duck, Chris Dodd

This bill will usurp power from local and state governments by impose new federal zoning regulations to measure to implementing the United Nations Agenda 21 "Sustainable Development" policy domestically within the United States.

The Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities will be charged with administering two new grant programs. One program will pay for multi-regional comprehensive planning; the other will pay for the projects called for in the multi-regional plans. Nearly $4 billion is authorized to be appropriated. A new Interagency Council on Sustainable Communities will see that "Sustainable Development" policies are implemented throughout the federal government. The Council will consist of cabinet secretaries or their designees. The Council will be authorized to hire a staff to “ensure interagency coordination of federal policy on sustainable development.”

From The Times Examiner:

Land that is designated as “wilderness” occupies more than 107 million acres. “Wilderness is land on which no human activity – other than walking carefully – is allowed.

Dodd’s bill, like all sustainable development propaganda, paints a warm and fuzzy picture of what ‘livable’ or ‘sustainable communities’ should be,” said Lamb. “The propaganda fails to point out that in order to achieve this Marxist utopia, government has to enforce the vision. This means that people must live where government says they must live; in homes that meet the government’s design criteria; and travel to work in vehicles approved by government.

The end result of the comprehensive land use plan is to draw lines on a map, which deprives individuals of private property rights whose land is outside the urban boundary zones – commonly called ‘Smart Growth.’ The value of the land inside urban boundary zones skyrockets, as does the cost of living for all who reside there.

[Henry] Lamb [of Sovereignty International] concludes that: “Dodd’s bill goes a long way to transforming America into what looks a lot like regional soviets where unelected agency appointees draft a plan by which all must live, and then enforce the plan with the power of law. Such a place cannot be described as ‘the land of the free.’ Nor can it be called ‘the home of the brave’ if voters allow this transformation to continue."

According to the non-profit American Policy Center the bill:

Is a blueprint for the transformation of our society into total Federal control.
Will enforce Federal Sustainable Development zoning and control of local communities.
Will create a massive new “development” bureaucracy.
Will drive up the cost of energy to heat and cool your home.
Will drive up the cost of gasoline as a way to get you out of your car.
Will force you to spend thousands of dollars on your home in order to comply.

According to Personal Liberty Digest:

"A carrot and stick policy will be used to get your local government to sign on. The carrot is billions of dollars in grants available if your local government agrees to amend zoning laws that restrict housing in outlying areas, forcing people to give up their homes and land and move into the city center.

"The stick will be denial of the funds and bad publicity generated by “Green” organizations criticizing government officials for turning down free money.

"The rub is the grants will come with strings attached that force local governments to bend to the will of the Feds.

"The idea of these social engineering initiatives is to force people to live in a congested area in high rise buildings with housing on the upper floors and stores on the bottom. The whole area will be linked by mass transit creating the “utopian” communities loved by socialists.

"The result will be higher costs for housing (because overcrowding will make housing space a premium) and goods and services (because of less choice and competition) and less freedom to move about (because cars won’t be necessary and parking space will be prohibitively expensive)."

Yet Another Obamacare Surprise - 3.8% Home Sales Tax

As of January 1, 2013 a new 3.8% home sales tax will be slapped on home sales for anyone who is considered rich ($250,000+/$200,000+ annual gross income, married/single) for capital gains that exceed $250,000/$500,000 for those who are single/married.

Bear in mind these are nominal dollar amounts. Given the rate at which the Federal Reserve is debasing the dollar it is easily possible to see a 10% compounded inflation by 2013, and for inflation to thereafter continue along its parabolic long-trending upward curve. Eventually this added progressive taxation will hit more and more of the middle class.

H.R. 1064 - Youth Promise Act, aka "Cash for Crips"

The official full name of this bill is actually the "Prevention Resources for Eliminating Criminal Activity Using Tailored Interventions in Our Neighborhoods Act of 2009". The bill has 235 House cosponsors.

This bill seeks to spend $1.6 billion in taxpayer money toward rehabilitation centers for urban gang members. Among the services covered by bill are the removal of gang tatoos.

According to Judicial Watch, “The infusion is necessary because budget cuts have forced groups like Homeboy Industries to stop paying gang members to attend work training sessions and carry out maintenance work at centers that offer them a variety of free perks. Some do administrative jobs to help out, but they still get regular checks.”

Virginia Legislation

H.B. 1397 - Nullification of "Cap and Trade" Building Regulations

Delegate Bob Marshall has introduced H.B 1397 for the 2011 Virginia Legislative session to nullify federal building regulations that would be imposed under the impending federal "Cap and Trade" bill.

Here is the bill summary:

Residential energy efficiency standards. Exempts any residential building or manufactured home in Virginia from being subject to federal "cap and trade" legislation if such buildings comply with the Statewide Uniform Building Code. The owner of such building or home cannot be required by the federal government to (i) have an energy efficiency analysis conducted on his residence, (ii) have his residence meet federal energy efficiency standards, (iii) participate in a building performance labeling program, (iv) make modifications to the residence in accordance with federal legislation, and (v) post a label showing the energy efficiency of his home prior to its sale. The bill also prohibits a state agency from assisting any federal agency in the implementation of global warming or climate change legislation.

Legislative Update for August 10, 2010 Meeting

2010-08-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

H.R. 5741 - Mandatory National Service, introduced on July 15, 2010 by Charles Rangel

"To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, and for other purposes."

Note that this bill would be more comprehensive than the last national military draft. The bill enslaves both men and women, and at much broader age group. Some would say that since Barack Obama has committed the U.S. to war if Israel goes to war, passage of this bill will essentially put the freedom of U.S. citizens in the hands of the Israeli policy makers. However, many forget that we are already at war in the Middle East, and we have had many wars since the last time the U.S. headed the Constitution to wage war in WWII with a declaration of war.

H.R. 1586 - Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act

H.R. 1586 was originally the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act, but the House-passed text of the FAA authorization was replaced in the Senate with an amendment sponsored by Sens. Reid (D-NV) and Murray (D-WA) to become a bailout.

The Senate passed the altered bill on August 5, 2010. Nancy Pelosi has called a special session of Congress to address this bill. The special session will cancel meetings that represenatives would have had with their constituents.

Facts about the bill:

It contains a total of $26.1 billion in temporary state bailouts.
The bill provides $10 billion that states are REQUIRED to use to pay teacher salaries. States who receive this money must agree to not reduce their budgets below 2009 levels. This all but guarantees that further taxpayer funded bailouts will be required, because even if states wanted to take responsible action to reduce their spending, they are prohibited from doing so.
This bill sets the stage for a nationalized education system by expanding federal government control over education and diminishing the role of parents, teachers and local communities.
Democrats claim this money is necessary spending on children’s education. In reality, this is a blatant payoff for teachers unions, a significant Democrat base, which keeps demanding more money from taxpayers without producing better results for children. The Wall Street Journal made this point in a July 14th editorial, “School districts have been adding to their payrolls for decades without regard to student enrollment and much to show in academic improvement. Total education spending grew by 32% between 1999 and 2009, while K-12 enrollment has grown by less than 1% each year over the same time period. The reality is that districts could economize and trim the bureaucracy without having to lay off as many teachers as they claim.” But, this legislation would prohibit such economizing!
The bill also increases Medicaid spending by $16.1 billion by extending the federal Medicaid matching rate of 6.2% to all states through December 2010, then phasing the matching rate increase down to 3.2% for the first three months of 2011, then to 1.2% for April through June 2011.
The legislation includes $9.7 billion in permanent tax increases on multinational companies. This will absolutely kill jobs and further diminish the United States’ ability to compete with foreign corporations.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that this bill will increase the deficit by $12.6 billion.

According to washingtonwatch.com, the bill will cost the average American $126 a year.

H.R. 3534 - Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act

This bill would the control of U.S. lakes and coastal waters in the in the hands of the National Ocean Council, which Barack Obama established through fiat by executive order. This would be done by the creation of yet another new council would would be overseen by Obama's National Ocean Council. The ultimate plan is to usurp the state and national sovereignty of these waters to place them in the control of unelected officials who agree with the tenants of the U.N.-sponsored Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST). LOST is part of Agenda 21, a fraudulent agenda to build up more top-down global control over formerly sovereign nations, under the guise of improving ecological sustainability.

More info at http://bit.ly/cGNiXG .

H.R 5175 / S. 3628 Disclose Act - Failed Senate Cloture Vote

The Disclose act failed a Senate cloture vote, 57-for to 41-against, on July 27. 60 votes are require for a cloture vote to pass. This is a temporary victory against this terrible bill (which was discussed in the previous legislative report). Since Harry Reid reversed his yay vote to nay at the last minute, after he saw that the cloture would fail, Senate rules allow him to move for reconsideration of the bill for another cloture vote at a time of his choosing.

Obamacare surprise #1 - new Form 1099 IRS filing requirement on transactions >= $600

Starting Jan. 1, 2012, IRS Form 1099s must be filed for purchases of all goods and services by small businesses and self-employed people that exceed $600 during a calendar year. This means that government would have the means to track significant purchases of precious metals. It should be remembered that in 1933 President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6102 and confiscated privately owned gold which was subsquently shipped overseas. The previous owners of the confiscated gold were compensated by only a fraction of the gold's value.

Obamacare surprise #2 - Taxable income may be raised by employer cost of insurance

Starting in 2011, next year-the W-2 tax form will include the the cost of whatever health insurance you are provided. There is some debate over whether this reported insurance cose will be included as part of gross income.

If the insurance cost does get counted as gross income, this will effectively increase income taxes, and, for some who get bumped into a higher tax bracket, it would increase their tax rate.

SEC Now Officially a Rouge Agency

The recently-passed Financial "Reform" Bill gives SEC exemption to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This basically means that the public will have little of any recourse to any economic interference by the SEC, and that that public also will not have adequate information to discern whether the SEC is properly performing its intended regulatory function.

H.R 5970 - SEC Transparency Act of 2010, introduced July 20, 2010 by Ron Paul

"To repeal the amendments made by section 929I of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act relating to the confidentiality of materials submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission."

Legislative Update for July 13, 2010 Meeting

2010-07-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

H.R. 5175 - Disclose Act [passed June 24 House vote, 219-206 (Boucher - Nay, Goodlatte - Nay, Periello - Aye, others)]

This bill has been called the Establishment Protection Act. The bill amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require disclosure of all members and donors of all third polical groups that recieve donations. It also require individuals or political groups that make "independent expendators" exceeding $10,000, or $1,000 within 20 days before an election, must file electronically a report within 24 hours of the transaction.

Without a special deal that the NRA made with the Democrat leadership to be exempt from the the bill's restrictions, the bill would not have passed. Also exempted were labor unions.

S. 3480 - Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act of 2010 (PCNAA), sponsored by Joe Lieberman

Would grant the President far-reaching emergency powers to seize control of, or even shut down, portions of the internet.

The legislation says that companies such as broadband providers, search engines or software firms that the US Government selects "shall immediately comply with any emergency measure or action developed" by the Department of Homeland Security. Anyone failing to comply would be fined.

From ZDNET:

To sweeten the deal for industry groups, Lieberman has included a tantalising offer absent from earlier drafts: immunity from civil lawsuits. If a software company's programming error costs customers billions, or a broadband provider intentionally cuts off its customers in response to a federal command, neither would be liable.

If there's an "incident related to a cyber vulnerability" after the President has declared an emergency and the affected company has followed federal standards, plaintiffs' lawyers cannot collect damages for economic harm. And if the harm is caused by an emergency order from the Feds, not only does the possibility of damages virtually disappear, but the US Treasury will even pick up the private company's tab.

See also: Senate Bill Would Give Obama Internet ‘Kill Switch’

Financial "Reform" - H.R. 4173 and S. 3217

The House rejected a motion to reinsert Ron Paul's H.R. 1207 Audit the Fed bill into the Financial "Reform" bill by a vote of 229-198. This vote is particularly despicable because H.R. 1207 had 319 (of 434) cosponsors. The majority of those who voted against the insertion were cosponsors of H.R. 1207!

There is one silver lining to the way things worked in for the bill -- the provision to expand the Federal Trade Commission’s powers—and with it, the likely restricted access to nutritional supplements—did not make it into the final Wall Street “Reform” bill.

Congressman Henry Waxman (D–CA), with the support of powerful Congressman Barney Frank (D–MA), made a strong last-ditch effort to save the provision we’ve fought so hard against. The conference committee deliberations went on until early Friday morning, but in the end, the provision was not accepted and will therefore not be in the reconciled bill that will be submitted for final House and Senate passage and presidential signature.

Legislative Update for June 8, 2010 Meeting

2010-06-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

Financial "Reform"

House and Senate Bills, H.R. 4173 and S. 3217, have each been passed and the two Congressional bodies are preparing for a conference committee to reconcile the differences in the two bills. The Senate conferees are, Sens. Dodd (D-Conn.), Chambliss (R- Ga.), Corker (R-Tenn.) Crapo (R-Idaho), Gregg (R-N.H.), Harkin (D-Iowa), Johnson (D-S.D.), Leahy (D-Vt.), Lincoln (D-Ark.), Reed (D-Nev.), Shelby (R-Ala.), and Schumer (D-N.Y.). The House is expected to announce their conferees this week and it is still undetermined if this will be an open or closed session.

Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) identified 12 major differences between the two bills that conferees must deliberate over.

H.R. 5444 - Private Option Health Care Act

Introduced May 27, 2010. This bill would which would completely repeal ObamaCare and replace it with free market solutions.

In sharp contrast to mandates and force, H.R. 5444 would:

Provide all Americans with a tax credit for 100% of health care expenses. The tax credit is fully refundable against both income and payroll taxes;
Allow individuals to roll over unused amounts in cafeteria plans and Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA);
Provide a tax credit for premiums for high-deductible insurance policies connected with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and allow seniors to use funds in HSAs to pay for medigap policies;
Repeal the 7.5% threshold for the deduction of medical expenses, thus making all medical expenses tax deductible;
Guarantee individuals can purchase health insurance across state lines;
Permit a tax credit for negative outcomes insurance purchased before medical treatment reducing expensive malpractice suits;
Reduce barriers to importing FDA-approved prescription drugs.

As of June 8, this bill still has no cosponsors. Again, as with the H.R. 4995 "End the Mandate Act", where are all the House Republicans that protested ObamaCare? (Since last month H.R. 4995 has gained only 3 cosponsors, for a total of 16.)

Contact your Congress critter and tell him that you want him to cosponsor both H.R. 5444 and H.R. 4995!

Legislative Update for May 11, 2010 Meeting

2010-05-10T23:35:00.000-07:00

Companion Bills for more statist regulation and less freedom, under the guise of "reform":

H.R. 4173 - Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 (introduced by Barney Frank, Dec. 2, 1009)
S. 3217 - Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 (introduced by Chris Dodd, April 15, 2010)

House version reverses decisions of previous Congresses, vastly expanding the powers of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to act as a legislature in its own right to govern an regulate industries which have nothing to do with the current financial crisis. Among the industries affected would be the access and potency of health supplements and vitamins. This form of control is one of the agenda items of Codex Alimentarius, an eugenics agenda formed by unelected globalists affiliated with the UN and WTO aimed at achieving top-down global control of all food-related commerce.

The only good part of H.R. 4173 is that it contains the language of Ron Paul's no-compromise Audit the Fed Bill (H.R. 1207). Unfortunately, Bernie Sanders did not introduce this language into the Senate 3217 bill, which had as been in his S.604 companion bill to Paul's H.R. 1207. Instead, Sanders introduced a comparatively watered down amendment, which, among many differences, would not allow any transactions between the Fed and foreign central banks to be audited. In addition, any audit of the gold in Fort Knox (which is under the purview of the Fed) will also be off the table. Some say that it is not a coincidence that the Dow Jones momentarily dropped nearly 1000 points at the same time that amendments to S. 3217 were being discussed, and that the establishment's desire for Sanders' capitulation could be a better explanation for the unprecedented market drop than the widely posed notion of some "fat finger" order entry error on the part of some major market player. Regardless of the explanation, the establishment got the result it wanted. There is still some hope for a real Fed Audit. Senator David Vitter has committed to offering the H.R. 1207 / S. 604 audit language as an amendment to the bill.

H.R.4995 - End the Mandate Act of 2010 (Introduced by Ron Paul, April 13, 2010)

Repeals both the individual and employer mandates enacted by Obamacare. As of May 10, 2010 there are 13 cosponsors of the bill. All House Republicans who opposed Obamacare should have cosponsored this bill by now. Where are they!?

S.3194 - Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009 (introduced by Harry Reid on April 12, 2010)

This is a reintroduction of a previously unpassed bill. Under the provisions of the bill, regardless of state and local officials, every police officer and firefighter will be handed over to union boss control. If municipalities refuse to go along, the Federal Government will step in and turn over first responders to Big Labor. As with all labor negotiations, there is the possibility of a break down and the resulting strike.

Unions are effectively a control structure of their participants. The scope of union control would cross over jurisdictions, which would mean that local areas would effectively lose sovereignty of their police and fire fighting squads because the loyalties of those employed would compromised toward the interest of state and national unions. This also means that grassroots efforts such as the Oathkeepers (www.oathkeepers.org), who promote reaffirmed fealty to the U.S. Constitution among police and firefighters (and military personnel), will also suffer as a result of this co-opted leadership by unions.

The Travesty of Obama Care

2010-04-12T19:50:00.001-07:00

Why ObamaCare (H.R. 3590) is Unconstitutional:

The federal government has no authority under Article One, Section Eight the Constitution to force citizens to purchase insurance from for-profit corrupt corporations. The pretense by some elected officials that health care can be regulated uner the The Commerce Clause is also bogus. The commerce cause is only relevant to commerce between states, and was intended to ensure regular commerce between the states of the union.

Many elected officials are saying ObamaCare is Constitutional just because there is not The federal government cannot artibrarily make up its own powers just because the Constitution does not say the government cannot regulate health care. This turns the constitution on its head. It is a ridiculous pretense that government is all powerful by default unless a power is explicitly denied. The founders predicted efforts of this type to usurp power and they gave us the Tenth Amendment, which declares that all powers not explicitly granted to the federal government are reserved to the states and the people.

The Constitution's Article I Section 7 states "All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills." ObamaCare increases taxes/revenues and as such MUST originate in the House according to the Constitution. Contrary to this requirement this bill was passed into law without being first being properly considered in the House as a revenue-raising health care bill. [5]

ObamaCare illegally commandeers state legislatures. It undermines their state sovereign discretion and dictates to them how they must regulate or alter existing regulations for health care. [Credit goes to Judge Andrew Napolitano for raising this point.]

States are unequal under the law; benefits were granted to certain states or sections of states, that are not granted to all other states.

The IRS will fine individuals who do not purchase health insurance. This violates the 5th Amendment which prohibits the government from imposing fines without due process of law.

Not to mention that there are countless violations of personal privacy protected by the Fourth Amendment with the establishment of government tracking of medical records.

Health Care Rationing:
(commentary by Kathleen Gilbert and Peter J. Smith [2])

The National Right to Life Committee's (NLRC's) health care blog points out that "Section 3209 of the health care bill ... effectively allows federal bureaucrats at the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) of the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to bar senior citizens from adding their own money, if they choose, to the government contribution in order to get private-fee-for-service Medicare Advantage (MA) plans less likely to ration life-saving treatment."

What this amounts to, according to NRLC, is that "doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers will be told by Washington just what diagnostic tests and medical care is considered to meet 'quality' and 'efficiency' standards – not only for federally funded health care programs like Medicare, but also for health care paid for by private citizens and their nongovernmental health insurance.”

“Treatment that a doctor and patient in consultation deem needed or advisable to save that patient's life or preserve or improve the patient's health but which the government decides is too costly – even if the patient is willing and able to pay for it – will run afoul of the imposed standards. In effect, there will be one uniform national standard of care, established by Washington bureaucrats and set with a view to limiting what private citizens are allowed to spend on saving their own lives." Read more from the NRLC on health care rationing in H.R. 3590 here: http://www.nrlc.org/HealthCareRationing/SenateBill122309.html.

Abortion Funding:
(commentary by Kathleen Gilbert and Peter J. Smith [2])

Current restrictions in the health care bill say that federal funds cannot be used directly to pay for abortions; however that does not prevent federal dollars from propping up the bottom-line of insurance companies that can re-allocate private dollars to pay for abortions.

Although the Executive Order Obama signed following the bill's passage purports to apply the Hyde amendment to the bill, the White House's Robert Gibbs admitted that the president’s directive, revealingly titled "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's Consistency with Longstanding Restrictions on the Use of Federal Funds for Abortion," merely "reiterates" what is already in the bill, and does not address its inherent flaws.

- Direct funding of abortion through the Community Health Centers program: The new law directly appropriates $7 billion for Community Health Centers (CHCs) into a separate fund. Since the funding does not fall under annual Health and Human Services (HHS) appropriations, it is therefore unconnected to any restriction on the use of these funds for abortion.

Some backers of H.R. 3590 have asserted that none of the 1,250 federally funded CHCs provide abortions; yet, the website of the Reproductive Health Access Project strongly assures CHC operators that offering abortions is not only possible, but "important for the health of your patient."

The President himself defended “reproductive care” – a term typically used to imply abortion services – as “essential care.” Without a legislative statute to the contrary, it is possible that a court challenge launched by pro-abortion groups could open up CHCs to provide abortion.

- Other direct appropriations not covered by abortion restrictions: The Senate bill contains additional pools of directly appropriated funds that are not covered by any limitations regarding abortion, including $5 billion for a temporary high-risk health insurance pool program (Sec. 1101 on pages 45-52) and $6 billion in grants and loans for health co-ops (Sec. 1322, pp. 169-180). Only bill-wide, permanent language, such as the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, could have ensured that none of these funds are tapped by pro-abortion political appointees and bureaucrats to pay for abortion.

- Federally administered abortion plans: The bill would create a new program under which the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) would administer two or more national (“multi-state”) insurance plans. (See Section 1334.)

The bill provides that “at least one” such plan would be subject to limitations on abortion coverage. This implies that other federally administered plans could cover elective abortions, or perhaps even be required to do so by the federal administrator. This is a sharp break from longstanding federal policy, adopted by Congress, under which plans that participate in the OPM-administered Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program are prohibited from covering elective abortions.

Also, even the purported requirement (pages 2087-2088) that the OPM program offer one pro-life plan is rigged to expire each year; this requirement will remain in force only if pro-life forces prevail annually in preserving pro-life language on an unrelated annual appropriations bill.

- The "abortion surcharge": Section 1303, page 2069 of the bill contains the objectionable “Nelson-Boxer language,” under which private plans that cover elective abortion would qualify for the federal subsidy. However each enrollee in those plans that include abortion coverage would have to pay an "abortion surcharge" of at least one dollar per month. These funds would be used to pay for abortions.

This requirement applies to anyone who enrolls – or may have to enroll – in a subsidized plan that covers elective abortions. This will certainly include many people who would learn of the abortion surcharge only after enrolling, but who would also have no choice other than to pay the abortion surcharge, or see their entire health coverage lapse.

- Authorities for pro-abortion mandates: The new law contains a bewildering array of provisions that grant authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and other federal entities to issue binding regulations on various matters.

Some of these provisions could be employed in the future as carte blanche for the HHS to issue pro-abortion mandates, requiring health plans to cover abortion and/or provide expanded access to abortion, unless there is clear language to prevent it. For example, under the Mikulski Amendment (Section 1001, pp. 20-21), the HHS could force every private health plan to cover elective abortions merely by placing abortion on a list of “preventive” services.

While the Senate bill does contain some anti-mandate provisions, NRLC's analysis finds that these clauses are worded in such a way that they control only specific provisions of the bill (e.g., the reference to “essential health benefits” on page 2070), or are ambiguous in their scope.

- Open door to future abortion funding in Indian health programs: The Senate-passed health bill revamps and reauthorizes all Indian health programs. In the House bill, these programs were permanently barred from providing elective abortions by the Stupak-Pitts Amendment. But in the Senate bill, no such prohibition exists, other than a mere policy-neutral clause (Section 10221, pp. 2175-2176) that “punts” the abortion policy, requiring that it be set annually on an appropriations bill.

The Senate omitted the necessary pro-life language even though a permanent Hyde Amendment had won approval by the Senate the last time that the Indian health reauthorization (S. 1200) was on the Senate floor in amendable form. (The House never acted on S. 1200.)

- Missing abortion conscience language: The House-passed bill contained a codification of the “Hyde-Weldon” language (H.R. 3962, Section 259), which would prevent government actors from penalizing health care providers who refuse to participate in providing abortions.

However pro-abortion senators blocked its inclusion in the Senate bill. The so-called conscience protections in H.R. 3590 (e.g., on page 123) are exceedingly narrow.

Obama's Own Private Army
[3] Commentary by By Henry Lamb, World Net Daily, April 10, 2010:

Who knew that Obamacare provides for a "Regular Corps," and a "Ready-
Reserve Corps," of officers and individuals who are appointed by the
President? Commissioned officers are subject to active duty at the
call of the Surgeon General. The new law provides $17.5 million in
each of the first four years to recruit and train these reserves.

During his campaign, Obama said, "We cannot continue to rely only
on our military . . . we've got to have a civilian security force
just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded. We cannot
continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the
national security objectives we've set."

Beginning of Obama's civilian security force

Section 5210 of the Patient's Protection and Affordable Care Act
(a.k.a. Obamacare) may be the beginning of Obama's civilian security
force. This section amends Section 203 of the U.S. Public Health
Service Act. Why it was included in the massive health care bill is
a question in search of meaningful answers. Judge Andrew Napolitano
from FOX News [2] has a few questions of his own.

The new law says "The purpose of the Ready Reserve Corps is to
fulfill the need to have additional Commissioned Corps personnel
available on short notice (similar to the uniformed service's reserve
program) to assist regular Commissioned Corps personnel to meet both
routine public health and emergency response missions."

The law requires the Ready Reserve to participate in "routine
training" to meet the general and specific needs of the Commissioned
Corps. The Ready Reserve "shall" be ready for involuntary calls to
active duty. The Ready Reserve must be prepared to respond to orders
from the President to go anywhere in the country, or anywhere outside
the country.

From HR 3590:

SEC. 430. ESTABLISHING A READY RESERVE CORPS.

Section 20 3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 20 4) is amended to read as follows:

SEC. 20 3. COMMISSIONED CORPS AND READY RESERVE CORPS.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Service a commissioned Regular Corps and a Ready Reserve Corps for service in time of national emergency.

PS- I spent 2 days on and off researching this to verify.

(2) REQUIREMENT.—All commissioned officers shall be citizens of the United States and shall be appointed without regard to the civil-service laws and compensated without regard to the Classification Act of 1923, as amended.

(3) APPOINTMENT.—Commissioned officers of the Ready Reserve Corps shall be appointed by the President and commissioned officers of the Regular Corps shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(4) ACTIVE DUTY.—Commissioned officers of the Ready Reserve Corps shall at all times be subject to call to active duty by the Surgeon General, including active duty for the purpose of training.

(5) WARRANT OFFICERS.—Warrant officers may be appointed to the Service for the purpose of providing support to the health and delivery systems maintained by the Service and any warrant officer appointed to the Service shall be considered for purposes of this Act and title 37, United States Code, to be a commissioned officer within the Commissioned Corps of the Service.

(b) ASSIMILATING RESERVE CORP OFFICERS INTO THE REGULAR CORPS.—Effective on the date of enactment of the Affordable Health Choices Act, all individuals classified as officers in the Reserve Corps under this section (as such section existed on the day before the date of enactment of such Act) and serving on active duty shall be deemed to be commissioned officers of the Regular Corps.

(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Ready Reserve Corps is to fulfill the need to have additional Commissioned Corps personnel available on short notice (similar to the uniformed service’s reserve program) to assist regular Commissioned Corps personnel to meet both routine public health and emergency response missions.

(2) USES.—The Ready Reserve Corps shall—

(A) participate in routine training to meet the general and specific needs of the Commissioned Corps;

(B) be available and ready for involuntary calls to active duty during national emergencies and public health crises, similar to the uniformed service reserve personnel;

(C) be available for backfilling critical positions left vacant during deployment of active duty Commissioned Corps members, as well as for deployment to respond to public health emergencies, both foreign and domestic; and

(D) be available for service assignment in isolated, hardship, and medically underserved communities (as defined in section 399SS) to improve access to health services.

(d) FUNDING.—For the purpose of carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Commissioned Corps under this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to the Office of the Surgeon General for each of fiscal years 20 10 through 20 14. Funds appropriated under this subsection shall be used for recruitment and training of Commissioned Corps Officers.

New Taxes:
(commentary by Steve Watson and Paul Watson [4])

As reported by Bloomberg News today, analysis by the nonpartisan congressional Joint Committee on Taxation reveals that the bill will generate $409.2 billion in additional taxes by 2019.

In addition, the Congressional Budget Office states that the bill also levies almost $69 billion more in penalties for those who fail to meet mandates to buy insurance.

The Journal of Accountancy boils down some of the tax hikes and penalty fees in H.R. 3590 and the Reconciliation Act – the highlights include:

Excise Tax on Uninsured Individuals – Individuals who fail to maintain minimum essential coverage will be subject to a penalty equal to $750. The fee for an uninsured individual under age 18 is one-half of the adult fee.

Excise Tax on High-Cost Employer Plans – The federal government would impose a 40% tax on the value of employer-sponsored health coverage exceeding certain thresholds. Those levels are projected to be $8,500 for self only and $23,000 for any other level by the year 2013. This excise was announced with fanfare by the White House and labor unions in January and remains in the final bill.

Increase in additional tax on distributions from Health Savings Accounts and Archer Medical Savings Accounts not used for qualified medical expenses – An increase from 10% to 20% on taxes of money in a health savings account not used for qualified medical expenses. For Archer medical savings accounts, an increase from 15% to 20%.

Additional Hospital Insurance Tax on High-Income Taxpayers – High income tax payers, making on a joint return over $250,000 and a standard return over $200,000, are required to pay an additional 0.5% of wages. This applies to both self-employed, and regularly employed individuals.

Fees on Health Plans – A fee applied to all health insurance providers based upon net premiums and any third party fees associated with the administration of those programs. The fees will total $6.7 billion annually. This figure begins at $8 billion in the Reconciliation Act and rises to $14.3 billion by 2018.

Tax on Indoor Tanning Services – The act imposes a 10% tax on amounts paid for indoor tanning services. Like a sales tax, the tax will be collected from the person tanning when payment for the tanning services is made.

Business Insider boils down 15 more tax hikes here – highlights include:

Tax on individuals without acceptable health care coverage – A 2.5% income tax on individuals who do not have health care coverage, limited to a cost less than the average national health care premium.

Excise tax on elective cosmetic medical procedures – A tax of 5% is levied upon the am mount paid for any cosmetic surgery. This does not include the need for such surgeries created by trauma or a disfiguring disease. If the tax is not collected by that professional completing the procedure, their business is still liable for the requirement.

The Reconciliation Act also legislates for the following surcharges: 1% surcharge on individuals making more than $350,000, 1.5% surcharge on individuals making more than $500,000, 5.4% surcharge on individuals making more than $1 million.

Yet more tax provisions in the bill are highlighted by INvestors Business Daily in their piece titled 20 Ways ObamaCare Will Take Away Our Freedoms – highlights include:

Taxes On Employers – If you are a large employer (defined as at least 101 employees) and you do not want to provide health insurance to your employee, then you will pay a $750 fine per employee (It could be $2,000 to $3,000 under the reconciliation changes) (Section 1513).

Taxes on Pharmaceutical Companies – The government will extract a fee of $2.3 billion annually from the pharmaceutical industry (Section 9008 (b)).

Taxes on medical device manufacturers – The government will extract a fee of $2 billion annually from medical device makers (Section 1405).

Framework Established for Implanted RFID Microchipping:

Section 2521 on page 1004 of the ObamaCare bill calls for the establishment of a 'National Medical Device Registry":

"The Secretary shall establish a national medical device registry (in this subsection referred to as the registry, to facilitate analysis of postmarket safety and outcomes data on each device that; (A) is or has been used in or on a patient; (B) is a class III device; or a class II device that is implantable."

What exactly is a class II device that is implantable? Approved by the FDA [6], a class II implantable device is an “implantable radio frequency transponder system for patient identification and health information.” The purpose of a class II device is to collect data in medical patients such as “claims data, patient survey data, standardized analytic files that allow for the pooling and analysis of data from disparate data environments, electronic health records, and any other data deemed appropriate by the Secretary.”

Page 1006 states that the National Medical Device Registry is "to be enacted within 36 months upon passage" of ObamaCare.

Today, hospitals throughout America have already recommending implanting of RFID chips into patients for medical purposes, such as those who suffer from Alzheimer's disease [5]. Soon it will become more common for RFID chips to be used in many more types of patients, which will be tracked by the national government database.

Read more here:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/politics/3193-national-healthcare-will-require-national-rfid-chips

Other Details:

16,500 new combat-trained IRS agents armed with shotguns to enforce the mandatory participation in health care insurance programs.

Student loans have been taken over by the federal government. It will administer $1 trillion in student loans over the next decade [1].

The marriage penalty: A Wall Street Journal column pointed out in January that both the House and Senate versions of the health care reform legislation would force married couples to pay "thousands of dollars more for the same health insurance coverage as unmarried people living together." The penalty results from the fact that guidelines for qualifying for health insurance subsidies rely on federal poverty guidelines; therefore, married couples would be at a disadvantage for receiving subsidies due to their combined income. [2]

Information Sources:

[1] http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/03/26/dana-perino-student-loans-health-care-sen-kent-conrad-democrats-students/
[2] excerpted from http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/apr/10040115.html)
[3] http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=138629
[4] http://www.prisonplanet.com/obamacare-taxing-the-american-people-into-oblivion.html
[5] http://money.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978167682
[6] http://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocuments/ucm072191.pdf
[7] http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/250658/rfid_chip_implants_planned_for_alzheimers.html?cat=5

Legislation Update for March 2010 Meeting

2010-03-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

Virginia Legislation

Status of Bills is searchable online at http://leg1.state.va.us/lis.htm

HB10S1 - House Bill 10, with Senate Substitution: Health Care Freedom Act [passed Senate vote, March 8; passed House vote, Feb. 11]

§ 38.2-3430.1:1. No resident of this Commonwealth, regardless of whether he has or is eligible for health insurance coverage under any policy or program provided by or through his employer, or a plan sponsored by the Commonwealth or the federal government, shall be required to obtain or maintain a policy of individual insurance coverage. No provision of this title shall render a resident of this Commonwealth liable for any penalty, assessment, fee, or fine as a result of his failure to procure or obtain health insurance coverage. This section shall not apply to individuals voluntarily applying for coverage under a state-administered program pursuant to Title XIX or Title XXI of the Social Security Act.

SB 417 - Provides that a resident of the Commonwealth shall not be required to obtain or maintain a policy of individual insurance coverage. [Passed Feb. 12 House vote; Passed March 4 Senate vote; awaits Gov. McDonnell's signature.]

HB 49 - Repeals one-handgun-a-month restriction. [Passed House voted on Feb. 16. Currently in Senate Committee for Courts of Justice.]

HB 15 - Bars the use of Virginia jails or prisons for federal terror prisoner detention. [Passed House voted on Feb. 12. Continued to 2011 session in Courts of Justice Committee.]

SB 280 - Removes the current cap of 4% for the county meals tax and allows counties to impose an uncapped rate. The bill would also allow counties to adopt or increase a meals tax by a majority vote of the elected members of the governing body. [Passed Jan 27 Senate vote; Successfully killed (effectively by tabling) in the House Subcommittee by March 1 voice vote.]

HB 570 - Changes the burden of proof from the taxpayer to the assessor when a taxpayer appeals the assessment of real property. [Passed Feb. 4 House vote; Passed March 8 vote in Senate Committee on Finance.]

SB334 - Allows Concealed Carry Permit holder to carry a handgun in restaurants and clubs, so long as he does not consume alcohol. [Passed Feb. 16 Senate vote; passed March 2 House vote.]

HB 69 - Firearms Freedom Act - Declares that firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition made in Virginia and retained within the borders of Virginia are not subject to federal law or regulation under the authority of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. [Passed Feb. 16 House vote; currently in Senate Committee for Courts of Justice where it is unlikely to pass. Contact Delegate Morgan Griffith and urge him to substitute HB 69 into SB 501; Griffith claimed the bills weren't germane, but they are -- they deal with the same section of law (18.2-308). Morgan Griffith's email address: DelMGriffith@house.state.va.us]

HB 119 - Eliminates Virginia's corporate income tax for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2013. This bill improve employment opportunity in Virginia. [Bill in the House Committee on Appropriations; could be killed in committee]

HB 269 & HB 230 - Gas tax increase – killed in committee

HB 652 - Provides that any restriction, change, or loss of access to or from property taken under the power of eminent domain shall be subject to just compensation. [Passed Feb. 16 House vote; Passed March 1 vote in Senate Committee for Courts of Justice; passed March 3 vote in Senate Finance Committee; awaits Senate vote.]

HB 30 - Budget Bill
Bob Marshall: "I was informed this weekend that the members of the Conference Committee working to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the budget have proposed adding what I believe to be an unconstitutional $76 million round of fee increases to the House budget."

HJ 124 - Should be opposed. Will set the stage for easy passage of a naturopathic licensure bill that will put all traditional naturopaths and hundreds of natural health care practitioners in Virginia out of business. Since only a small group of approximately 11 naturopaths are seeking licensure, passage of this resolution would severely restrict Virginia residents in their choice of health care providers. The house resolution gets their foot in the door for this destructive licensure bill to follow. [Passed Feb 8 House vote; to be continued in 2011 session in the Senate Committee on Rules.]

Federal Legislation

S 3002 - Bill to Amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to impose new regulations on dietary supplements. The bill reverses freedoms inherent in common law where prohibitions must be enumerated; instead, the the act would specify the only legal standards for supplements.

[Commentary from Alliance for Natural Health USA: "Hundreds of thousands of messages poured into the Senate opposing Senator McCain's bill, the bill that would have wiped out current legislative protections for dietary supplements. More and more messages were arriving by the day. The entire Congress began to take note. Senator McCain was embarrassed by our ad whose headline pointed out that he was misrepresenting and did not seem to understand his own bill. Word is now racing around Capitol Hill that Senator McCain met with Senator Orin Hatch, a champion of natural medicine, and told him that he is withdrawing his support for the bill he authored, the so-called Dietary Supplement Safety Act (S 3002). This means that the bill as written is now dead."]

Legislation Update for February '10 Meeting

2010-02-08T21:51:00.000-08:00

Virginia Legislation

Pro Gun Rights Bills:

HB 475 - Allows concealed carry permit owners to carry concealed in K-12 parking lots, and in schools when they are not in use for school activities.

HB 72 - Reduces the penalty from a felony to a Class 1 misdemeanor for someone carrying a firearm on K-12 school property with no criminal intent. [The bill was tabled in committee on Feb. 8; unfortunately this will probably kill the bill.]

HB 49 - Repeals one-handgun-a-month restriction.

Other Bills to Support:

HB 570 - Changes the burden of proof from the taxpayer to the assessor when a taxpayer appeals the assessment of real property. [Passed Feb. 4 House vote; referred to Senate.]

HB 1319 - Exempts Virginia from enforcing the federal Clean Air Act and Copenhagen Accords. [Voice vote continued bill into 2011 session.]

HB 15 - Bars the use of Virginia jails or prisons for federal terror prisoner detention. [Passed Feb. 15 House vote.]

SB 417 - Declares that Virginia residents cannot be required to purchase or maintain health insurance. [Passed Senate and House; awaits Gov. McDonnell's signature.]

Virginia Constitutional Amendments to Support:

HJ 7 - Protects an individual's right to participate or decline to participate in a health care system or plan.

HJ 26 - Limits the next year's spending to the previous year's total spending plus a factor for inflation and population increase.

HJ 115 - Enumerates previously vague powers of eminent domain; stipulates that eminent domain may not be used to increase the tax base, tax revenues, or employment. This amendment would effectively neuter the attrocious Supreme Court ruling on the Kelo case as applied in VA.

OPPOSE:

Ressurrection of the Death Tax!

HB 223 and HB 275 - [SUCCESS! HB 223 has been tabled, effectively killed; and HB 275 has been struck from the docket.]

HB 230 - Gas tax increase.

SB 280 - Removes the current cap of 4% for the county meals tax and allows counties to impose an uncapped rate. The bill would also allow counties to adopt or increase a meals tax by a majority vote of the elected members of the governing body. [Passed Senate vote; oppose passage in the House of Delegates.]

Federal Legislation

Support Ron Paul's Bills:

HR 4248 - Free Competition in Currency Act - Lifts legal tender laws and allows for the free market competition of currencies in the U.S. Lifts sales and capital gains taxes on transactions in gold and silver, thereby legalizing monetary provisions in the Constitution, that have been suppress by unconstitutional laws. This bill would remove the Federal Reserve's currency monopoly and would result in repercussions for the Fed creating money out of thin air. Citizens would be empowered to maintain the value of their savings that would otherwise be lost to inflation. (See past blog post for further details.)

HR 3394 - Freedom of Health Speech Act - Provides that the FTC has the burden of proof if it alleges that a dietary supplement claim is false or misleading, and that it cannot prosecute a company without giving 30 days notice that such claim violates the law.

HR 3395 - Health Freedom Act - Provides that FDA has the burden of proof if it alleges that a claim is false or misleading, and says that FDA may not take action to prevent use of a truthful, non-misleading claim that any nutrient in a food or supplement can cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent any disease.

OPPOSE:

HR 2159 - Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2009 - Denies issuance and transfer of firearms to labeled domestic terrorists. Would allow Obama's Attorney General, Eric Holder, to "withhold" from court and from defendants any and all evidence in gun related criminal proceedings based upon the accusation of participation terrorism. Instead, the court must accept summaries of evidence provided by Holder. Essentially, the bill allows you to be disarmed and/or imprisoned without providing real evidence.

S 3002 - Bill to Amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to impose new regulations on dietary supplements. This bill will destroy the free market for dietary supplements of almost any type, including vitamins. This is part of the globalist agenda handed down from by the international Codex Alimentarius group to take away personal health freedom. There is a high likelihood that this bill could get attached to another statist bill, S 510, deceptively coined the "FDA Food Safety Modernization Act".

S 510 - Gives futher advantages to mega corporate farmers and harms small farmers by giving a preferred voice to corporate farmers to be heard by the FDA. Harming small farms means that organic, non-GMO, chemical-free food will become more scarce. The bill also usurps state soverignty and unconstitutionally asserts that the federal government can dictate food inspection practices which, again are likey to benefit the corporate farmers at the detriment of small farmers.

Important Pending Virginia Legislation

2010-01-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

HB = House Bill ; SB = Senate Bill

Positive Virginia Legislation to Support

HB 10 - Virginia Health Care Freedom Act - Sponsored by Bob Marshall

Protects an individual's right and power to participate or to decline to participate in a health care system or plan. The bill prohibits any law that will infringe on an individual's right to pay for lawful medical services. The bill further prohibits the adoption of any law that imposes a penalty, tax, or fine upon an individual who declines to enter into a contract for health care coverage or to participate in a health care system or plan.

HB 60 - Amends Food Safety Preparation Law § 3.2-5130 - Sponsored by David J. Toscano

Exempts private homes from food safety inspections where the resident processes and prepares pickles, relishes, and salsas for sale to individuals at the home or at farmers markets and labeled "NOT FOR RESALE - PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION." Private homes are already exempt from inspection where candies, jams, jellies, and baked goods are prepared and distributed accordingly.

HB 69 - Firearms Freedom Act - Sponsored by Charles W. "Bill" Carrico

Declares that firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition made in Virginia and retained within the borders of Virginia are not subject to federal law or regulation under the authority of Congress to regulate interstate commerce.

HB 106 - Concealed Carry - Sponsored by Mark L. Cole

Allows a person with a valid concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun in a place of worship with permission of the leader of the religious meeting. The bill also eliminates the restriction against carrying a concealed handgun in a restaurant that serves alcohol.

HB 108 - Disposition of Firearms - Sponsored by Mark L. Cole

Provides that no locality may participate in any program in which individuals are given a thing of value in exchange for surrendering a firearm to the locality unless the governing body of the locality has enacted an ordinance authorizing the participation of the locality. The ordinance shall require that such firearms shall be sold by public auction or sealed bids to a person licensed as a dealer or be disposed of in any other appropriate manner.

HB 109 - Elimination of Firearms Licensing Fees and Records - Sponsored by Mark L. Cole

Repeals local authority to impose a license tax of not more than $25 on persons engaged in the business of selling pistols and revolvers. Also, a recordkeeping requirement for such persons is deleted and the clerk of the circuit court shall destroy any such existing records.

HB 152 - Personal Protection for Private Security Employees - Sponsored by John M. O'Bannon, III

Virginia Legislation to Oppose, as explained by VCDL

SB 70 - Reinforces Federal Gun Ban for Domestic Violence Misdemeanor - Sponsored by John M. O'Bannon, III

Allows a person convicted of certain criminal offenses to petition to have his conviction expunged after a five-year period has expired following the conviction, upon a showing that his opportunities for employment, education, or professional licensure are prejudiced by the existence of the criminal record. Expungement would not be available for someone convicted of a violent felony, a DUI-related offense, an offense for which registration on the sex offender registry is required, or domestic violence.

VCDL.org Comments: This bill disallows expungement for MISDEMEANOR domestic violence convictions if that conviction bans the possession of a firearm under federal law. Once convicted, you will be forever banned from possessing firearms as there will be no way to get that conviction expunged. The misdemeanor domestic violence gun ban is a travesty and we need to have a way for good people to get their gun rights back.

HB 183 - Firearms Freedom Act - Sponsored by Joseph D. Morrissey

Allows a person convicted of a criminal offense to have his conviction expunged after 10 years have passed following the conviction, upon a showing that his opportunities for employment, education, or professional licensure are prejudiced by the existence of the criminal record. Expungement would not be available for someone convicted of a violent felony, a DUI-related offense, an offense for which registration on the sex offender registry is required, or domestic violence.

VCDL.org Comments: This bill is a matching bill to SB 70, which allows for expungement of certain convictions, but does not do so in a way that the federal government would likely accept because the expunged data is not really expunged, but is kept for possible reference in the future. Even if the expungements were valid, the bill does not allow the expungement of MISDEMEANOR domestic violence convictions if that conviction bans the possession of a firearm under federal law. Once convicted, you will be forever banned from possessing firearms as there will be no way to get that conviction expunged. The federal misdemeanor domestic violence gun ban is a travesty, is unconstitutional, and Virginia should not be supporting it in any way.

HR 4248: Free Competition in Currency Act

2009-12-16T20:15:00.000-08:00

Introduced 12/09/09

Introduction combining Ron Paul & “Fall of the Republic” economic data

A system of the reintroduction of competing currencies needs to be established now. At this country’s emergence there was no Federal government monopoly on coin and currency, no Federal Reserve to print currency without regard to inflation. In fact the Federal government needs to have the ability to inflate the fiat Federal Reserve Notes in order to carry on constant wars and at the same time provide the people with their bread and circuses. The current national debt including toxic derivatives exceeds the GNP by 20 to 30 times. Our economy is bankrupted. The Wall Street bankers together with their international partners are holding Congress hostage with the threat of Marshall law unless more bailout currency is appropriated to them. No amount of bailout is enough to stem the tide of the toxic derivatives originally put in place by the Clinton administration. Obama has the same hencemen as Clinton.

To take back control of our own currency, the following needs to be established:

Eliminate capital gains and sales taxes on gold and silver coins.
Reestablish private mints.
Eliminate legal tender laws. The Constitution, article I section 10 allows states to use only gold and silver as legal tender in payment of debts. The Constitution says nothing about the Federal government declaring anything a legal tender. The Federal government on its own declared the fiat Federal Reserve Notes legal tender. If people are free to reject debased currency such as the Federal Reserve Notes, and instead demand sound currency, than sound currency will return. A free market will dictate this result. Merchants and citizens would be free to reject the Federal Reserve Notes and thus reject the yolk of the Federal Reserve!

H.J. Res. 5 - Repeal of 22nd Amendment

2009-09-07T16:30:00.000-07:00

This joint resolution was introduced in the House by New York Representative José Serrano. The resolution would repeal the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, removing the two-term presidential term restriction, enacted as a consequence of the four terms of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Given that we know our voting system has been compromised by an expanding paperless system of black-box electronic voting (constructed thanks to the Help America Vote Act of 2002) passage of the resolution would mean that an unlimited dictatorial succession of presidential terms for Barack Obama or any other president would be possible.

S. 773, Cybersecurity Act of 2009

2009-09-07T15:10:00.000-07:00

The Cybersecurity Act of 2009, S. 773, was introduced by John Rockefeller of West Virginia under the guise of improving security of critical technical systems within government and private sectors.

The bill usurps and centralizes more power to the Executive branch in the following ways:

The bill empowers the President to declare a cyber security emergency and take control of any so-called "critical infrastructure" within the private sector.

In such an "emergency" the President can also order companies to disclose private information, regardless of privacy laws like the Wiretap Act or the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.

The bill creates a federal certification program for cybersecurity professionals. This certification would be mandatory for certain systems and networks within the private sector.

Status as of September 7, 2009: Three Cosponsors; in Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Related Links:

HR 1495

2009-08-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

Purpose: To amend the IRS Code of 1986 to make health care coverage more accessible and affordable.

Dr. Ron Paul introduced this bill which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

Health Insurance costs: a. CRDEIT 1. the amount paid by the taxpayer for insurance which constitutes medical care for the taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse and dependents
plus 2. the amount contributed to a health savings account of the individual
b. LIMITATION 1. the taxpayer's net income tax
plus 2. the taxpayer's social security taxes

Disposition of unused health benefits: carried forward to the next year (no loss)

Strengthening Health Savings Accounts: the amount allowable as a deduction to a taxpayer under subsection (a) for the taxable year shall not exceed $8000 or $16000 for a joint return

REPEAL OF 7.5% THRESHOLD ON DEDUCTION FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES!

COMMENT: Immediately, anyone who works benefits from the above proposed changes. This is the 1st of a series of bills that Dr. Ron Paul will introduce to the House to take on the health care issue, bypassing Obama's proposal for health care. Write your congressman now to support this bill.

HR 3200

2009-08-25T07:28:00.001-07:00

The hot topic of debate these days are the health care reform bills. The front runner in the House of Representatives is HR 3200. What is so bad about health care reform anyway? First and foremost, it is unconstitutional. Article 1, section 1 says that

"All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States..".

That is easy enough to understand, Congress is they only branch of the federal government that has been granted the power by the States to make laws. This does not mean that Congress can make just any law it feels like. Article 1, section 8 lays out the powers of Congress

"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof."

Herein we find the root problem with health care reform. The federal government has no authority under the Constitution of the United States to legislate health care. If that power has not been given to the federal government, then it belongs to the States respectively. That should be the end of the debate, but unfortunately, it is not. We know our Representatives only consider what we think when enough of us speak up. The rest of the time they hear from special interest groups and lobbyists. Why do we see the CEO of Carillion and pharmaceutical representatives trying to sell us this health care reform? It is suspicious at best. These corporations will be reaping the benefits from health care reform, they would lobby against it otherwise. So often the loudest voices heard have the most dollar signs attached. We must never forget the men and women in Washington are supposed to be working for us, and it is our duty to supervise their activities, just like any "boss" should. We can have the ultimate effect on our elected representatives pocketbook by not re-electing them.

In regards to the actual bill, HR 3200, there is much to be desired. I will not break down every part, this has been done already by many different people. I will provide links and encourage you to read and share what you see.

What does is say about major health care issues?

Page by page breakdown of HR 3200.

Legislative Alerts for July 14 Meeting

2009-07-26T00:50:00.000-07:00

Federal Legislative Alerts

Nefarious Legislation

H.R. 2454 - Cap and Trade - Passed the House on June 26; no Senate bill yet

This bill was over 1400 pages long and 256 pages were added the same day as the House vote. The pretense of the bill was to combat climate change, give us clean air, build alternative energy. However, many measures of the bill are based on pseudoscience, such as the notion that carbon dioxide is the primary culprit for global warming, and that the carbon tax the bill institutes will solve this problem. Experts say H.R. 2454 would redistribute $2 trillion dollars from the productive economy into the hands of powerful favored institutions via its complex regulatory scheme. The bill also mandates every home owner to submit to a home energy audit, under potential threat of fines for refusal.

S. 909 and H.R. 1913 - Hate Crimes Bill (Pedophile Protection Act) - Committees: Senate Judiciary & House Judiciary

Creates thought crimes out of a new class of "perceived" hate crimes. The bill violates the 14th Amendment's equal protection under the law provision. Local and state prosecutors would receive more federal assistance in pursuing a cases that are perceived to be motivated by perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of the victim . Pedophiles would be included under this special protection. Justice for victims of otherwise ordinary crimes would take a backseat to prosecuting hate crimes.

H.R. 675 - Amendment to Title 10, United States Code - Committees: House Judiciary House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security; House Armed Services

Extends to civilian employees of the Department of Defense the authority to execute warrants, make arrests, and carry firearms. H.R. 675 sidesteps Posse Comitatus by defining "law enforcement officer of the Department of Defense." This bill is a step toward formation of Obama's "civilian national security force," which some would liken to Hitler's "brownshirts."

S. 1261 - Pass ID Act - Committee: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Repackages the Real ID to mandate state drivers licenses to conform to a global biometric standard. This bill is a key component of globalist plans for the establishment of a real-time accessible "Big Brother" surveillance and control system. This bill, like Real ID, is pushed by AAMVA and ICAO, two agencies of the United Nations. Visit www.stoprealidcoalition.com for more info.

H.R. 759 - Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act of 2009 - Committee: House Energy and Commerce

Would grant full authority to the FDA to set minimum, "science-based" standards for what it deems the safe production and harvesting of produce in the "global market." Requires farms to register with the FDA and pay annual registration fees for program compliance, as well as other requirements including hazard evaluation, preventive hazard control, and copious record-keeping stipulations, regardless of the farm's size, organic certification, or already-existing safety guidelines. The same regulations placed on large agribusiness would be placed on farmers providing fresh vegetables at the local farmers market.

H.R. 875 and S. 425 - Food Safety Modernization Act - Committees: House Agriculture subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry; House Energy and Commerce; Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Establishes NAIS (National Animal Identification System) requirements the will be cost prohibitive to small farmers to comply with. Gives federal government authority to track all livestock. Gives competitive advantage large corporate farms. Noncompliance potentially results in hefty fines, asset seizure, and prison time.

H.R. 2749 - Food Safety Enhancement Act - Committee House Energy and Commerce subcommittee for Health

Allows the FDA to quarantine any geographic area to prohibit or restrict the movement of food or the transportation of. This bill also provides the authority to shut down local food sources and would empower the FDA to regulate how crops are raised and harvested. This bill effectively allows for martial law to be enforced by the FDA in a supposed 'food safety' act. Additionally, putting the FDA on the farm will cost the small farmer and would once again favor corporate farming.

H.R. 645 - National Emergency Center Establishment Act - Committees: House Armed Services subcommittee for Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities; House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee for Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish national emergency centers otherwise known as FEMA camp facilities on military installations. Existing infrastructure is to be used for the implementation of these facilities. Essentially this bill amounts to legalization of the FEMA camps that have already documented already exist across the country. Such camps are purported to exist under benevolent auspices. However, if this is so, one has to question why the camps have been photographs with barbed wire at top of fences angled inward.

H.R. 676 - National Health Insurance Act - Committees: House Energy and Commerce, House Ways and Means, House Natural Resources

Establishes a single-payer, socialized health care system, financed at taxpayer expense.

Constructive Legislation

H.R. 1207 and S. 604 - Bills to Audit the Federal Reserve - Committees: House Financial Services, Senate committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs - # of Cosponsors: H.R. 1207 has 260; S. 604 has 8.

Call for transparency of the Fed. Requires the GAO to conduct a full audit of their activities.

H.R. 450 - Enumerated Powers Act - Committees: House Judiciary subcommittee for Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties; House Rules
Would require Congress to specify the source of authority under the United States Constitution for the enactment of laws, and for other purposes.

H.R. 3021 - Citizens Protection Act - Committee: House Judiciary
Eliminates 1/2 mile wide gun-free zones established by the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990.

H.R. 3022 - Second Amendment Protection Act - Eliminates gun purchase background checks, waiting periods, lock requirements, and sporting distinctions.

Read the Bills Act - written by DownsizeDC.org; not yet introduced ; Would require each house of Congress, in a quorum, to read any bill that is voted on. Bills must be reread in full, if amended.

Useful www resources: opencongress.org, govtrack.us, or Google search of bill numbers.