- Rein In the IRS - Pictures from Beaumont, Tx Rally
- Attention #Texans - @GovernorPerry Needs Your Input on Budget, CSCOPE
- Proud to be a Democrat - Humor
- Southeast Texans to Protest at IRS Office in Beaumont at Noon Tomorrow 5-21-13
- Southern Baptists' Wrong Decision on Gay Scouts
- Taking Charge of Our Own Healthcare
- Police Being Used to Intimidate IRS Staffers?
Attention #Texans – @GovernorPerry Needs Your Input on Budget, CSCOPE
Texas Governor Rick Perry needs to hear from you regarding these issues and more.
Please urge the governor to rein in the 83 Legislature’s rampant over-spending.
Action items via:
Stand Up for Liberty!
An important message from JoAnn Fleming:
Over the Memorial Day weekend, the GOP-controlled Texas legislature passed appropriation bills and a 2014-2015 budget that combine to increase spending 26%!Major conservative and local grassroots liberty groups have united and are calling on Governor Perry to veto the budget and a major supplemental spending bill that raids the state’s Rainy Day Fund - HB 1025. The groups are calling on the Governor to bring the legislators back to a special session to cut spending.Call Gov. Perry now to say:1) you don’t support a 26% increase in spending. In the 2012 Republican Primary, 94% of voters voted for the Proposition that called for government to cut spending! (The 26% spending increase covers all the new appropriations bills AND the budget, when combined and compared to last session. These numbers have been verified by Texas Public Policy Foundation and Grassroots America.)2) veto HB 1025 which raids the Rainy Day Fund and the budget (SB 1);3) bring the legislature back to the drawing board to cut spending and fully fund your proposed tax cut of $1.8 billion. Texans don’t need, don’t want, and don’t deserve wild, liberal spending like this! Governor Perry has the power to stop it, and he should![Online form for written feedback: http://governor.state.tx.us/contact/assistance.aspx]Call now! The Governor is signing bills as we speak.Fight for a Strong Texas…Speak UP!
It has also come to light that the CSCOPE curriculum has not been defeated in it’s entirety.
So did you notice… The political maneuvering in the Texas Legislature over CSCOPE?
Please urge support for HB 760 and SB 1406
Please urge Governor Perry to VETO H.B. No. 1675
HB 1675 contains a back door provision to keep the Regional Education Service Centers until 2019 (See Article 3).
See also:
Common Core Nationalizes and Dumbs Down Public School Curriculum
Taking Charge of Our Own Healthcare
From the Tip Line: One cancer survivor’s experience with health care reform:
Taking Charge of Our Own Healthcare
By Keith Friend, Fort Worth, TX
At a time in my life when most are thinking of their family’s future relating to kids going to college, weddings and maybe even future grandkids, I was hit with a very different future, or even no future at all. At the age of 41, I had been diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer.
After my diagnosis, I went home – my mind still racing – to find a haunting statistic: the 5-year mortality rate for patients with this stage of colon cancer is 92 percent. Determined to be part of the eight percent, I have worked closely with my doctors. And thanks to the innovative treatments that are currently available, more than 115 chemo treatments and 4 ½ years later, I am happy to be alive. Since I have been so fortunate, I have become dedicated to being an advocate for other patients who might be going through the similar experiences.
In the U.S., we have always valued the need to both develop new medications for patients and give physicians access to the information that will help them better treat their patients. We know that decisions about the best course of action for each individual patient are something that must be decided between the patient and his physician. Taking a “one-size-fits all” approach to medicine would not have worked for treating my cancer.
And it will not work for other patients either.
It is important to remember that every body is different. Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has begun taking steps that lead me to worry that there is work being done that will interfere with the patient-physician relationship. The sacred nature of this relationship – and the results it provides – is why I can write this column today.
For example, HHS has begun a $30 million pilot project to establish a “government detailing” program. This program calls for government contractors to visit individual physicians and encourage them to change their prescribing decisions based on comparative effectiveness research (CER) study results.
While it may sound like a harmless, if not positive, approach towards giving physicians access to more information to make better decisions, the patient community should be concerned with where this new program could lead. Three things make me worry about this program – it isn’t transparent, it involves the government trying to cut costs, and it relies on judgments about how doctors should change their treatment recommendations.
These new “government detailing” programs could interfere with the doctor/patient relationship by pressuring physicians to follow recommendations based on broad population averages that do not reflect the differences of individual patients. Because every patient is different, CER results that detailers recommend may not be in the best interest of a specific patient. It would be hard to find someone who is against sharing the latest medical research. I am concerned, however, that the government’s contractors might use CER results to interfere in the relationship between my doctors and me.
In addition to encouraging doctors to use the latest CER results, government detailers will also be urging doctor’s offices to implement U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommendations. Unfortunately many of these recommendations have been criticized by members of the patient community.
In 2009, the Task Force received overwhelming pushback when they recommended that mammography screening for average-risk women under forty was unnecessary. They concluded that the benefits did not outweigh the downfalls of screening, which included stress that can be caused by false-positive results and the need for further testing. Given my experience, I can say without reservation that some stress is well worth being alive!
In fact, the recommendations were rejected by the American Cancer Society and caused an uproar among patients, particularly breast cancer survivors, who attribute routine mammogram screenings to saving their lives. While not the case for all Task Force recommendations, there are serious dangers of pressuring a doctor’s office to follow their recommendations.
If my team of doctors had taken that one-size-fits all approach for me, I think I would be part of that 92 percent statistic I mentioned earlier. Every time I have a re-occurrence, I consult my medical team and, through them, I receive expert opinions to make my decision. A standard treatment or cookie-cutter approach for colon cancer would not have worked for me. Simply, I need to be in charge of my healthcare, not government detailers.
With healthcare reform, it is not easy to be aware of how every component of the new law will affect us. But when the government begins visiting our doctor’s office and tells them how to treat us, we should all take caution. After all, patients’ lives are at risk.
Keith Friend is a 5th generation Native Texan. In June of 2008, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer and is looking forward to celebrating the 5th anniversary of this diagnosis this summer.
Proud to be a Democrat – Humor
The Carteret County News-Times recently published this anonymous letter to the editor. I’m unsure of it’s validity because of the sheer stupidity on display. I only share it with you now because we could all use a bit of humor every now and then.
“Proud to be a Democrat”
Rein In the IRS – Pictures from Beaumont, Tx Rally
At noon on Tuesday, May 21st, Southeast Texas Tea Partiers rallied in front of the Edison Building in Downtown Beaumont where the local IRS office is housed. The group came out in response to recent allegations of scrutiny by the IRS of right-wing political groups.
In an act of solidarity known as “Rein In the IRS” Tea Party members across the nation were holding similar rallies. Headed by Southeast Texas Chairman Jeff Sadighi, the group also included members of the Texas Nationalist Movement and several staff members of US Congressman Steve Stockman CD36; including Brad Lewis, David Covey, Jonathan Covey and Mike Sheeran.
Holding signs with statements such as “Intimidate Retaliate Subjugate,” “Flat Tax Now – Abolish the IRS” and “There is no Left or Right. There is only Liberty or Tyranny” the group chatted with passersby, handed out information and gave interviews to local news reporters. According to the SETX Tea Party, the event was an important one because “The IRS has crossed a line and set a precedent where individuals and their businesses may be targeted and harassed based solely on their political views or volunteer memberships.”
US News reported that the protests were originally scheduled only for Cincinnati, where the IRS has said employees responsible for the targeting were based, but Tea Party Patriots head Jenny Beth Martin received requests to protest across the country.
Here are a few pictures from the rally.
Follow Karen Brantley on Twitter: @karenbrantley1
Police Being Used to Intimidate IRS Staffers?
Transparency:
Cincinnati IRS “staffers have been threatened with their jobs if they are caught talking to the media.”
Via Breitbart: Armed, uniformed police officers ‘escorting’ media through IRS offices.
Southeast Texans to Protest at IRS Office in Beaumont at Noon Tomorrow 5-21-13
From the Southeast Texas Tea Party:
-
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
12:00 PM
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Members of the Southeast Texas TEA Party will be participating in the nationwide rally initiated by the Tea Party Patriots – teapartypatriots.org
This abuse of power has has had a chilling effect, and Rush even mentioned today that it may have contributed to the reelection of President Obama.
We need a nice peaceful and well-behaved crowd there to show our disapproval of this abuse of power and attempt at intimidation of folks who want to participate in the political process. Some suggested sign messages are below. It is better to focus on the behavior than to have ‘anti-Obama’ signs.
Mark Levin suggests this is a great opportunity to eliminate the IRS altogether and frankly, that is an awesome idea!
Ted Cruz also agrees that the IRS needs to be abolished:
http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/05/ted-cruzs-solution-to-the-irs-abolish-it/
Sample Sign Waving Messages for Protests outside IRS Buildings
Audit the IRS!
Stop the targeting!
Protect the 1st Amendment!
IRS targeting must stop!
No more cover-ups from IRS!
America deserves better!
No more harassment from IRS!
Stop the IRS’s abuse of power!
Unfair and Un-Constitutional!
Protect the Constitution!
Abolish the IRS!
THE IRS TARGETS TEA PARTY PATRIOTS. OVERVIEW OF THE IRS SCANDAL & IMPACT ON TEA PARTY PATRIOTS
Timeline: According to the IG report, the IRS began targeting conservative organizations, especially Tea Party groups, in February of 2010.
The IRS agents were directed to target organizations with the words “patriot” or “tea party” in the names.
IRS Dishonesty: In 2011, the Ways & Means Committee conducted a hearing based on initial reports that conservative and Tea Party organizations were being targeted. At that time, the IRS commissioner lied and said there was absolutely no targeting taking place, even though he had already been briefed about the process and knew that it was his agency’s policy to single out conservative groups and delay or deny their application process.
Lack of Accountability: Since the public learned about this problem, there has been very little accountability taken by anyone in the Administration or in the Executive Branch. Although Steven Miller, the acting commissioner of the IRS, resigned, he testified before the Ways & Means Committee on May 17th and denied there was any political agenda or any significant wrong-doing.
Immense Scope of the Problem:
We have learned that nearly 500 groups around the country were affected by this policy of targeting conservative organizations. We are continuing to learn about other organizations that were harassed, and we are just now beginning to see that the IRS misused its audit authority to single out individuals associated with TPP, as well as their small businesses.
Challenges TPP Groups Have Experienced:
Because Tea Party Patriots groups were targeted, many were unable to raise funds and Tea Party Patriots local groups and the national group lost membership and donors as a direct consequence of this illegal practice at the IRS.
Pervasive Culture of Fear:
The IRS’s policy of targeting Tea Party groups has had a chilling effect. Dozens of TPP state coordinators have said that they were too afraid to submit their applications after they learned about what other groups were experiencing.
II. AN EXTRAORDINARY ABUSE OF POWER
It is a well-known truth that the “power to tax is the power to destroy.” Tea Party Patriots groups know this by experience now.
The Internal Revenue Services is, perhaps, one of the most feared government agencies because of its immense power to audit and repossess people’s assets. The American public has the right to expect their tax laws to be enforced in a transparent and equal way, irrespective of the individual’s personal convictions or group memberships and associations.
The IRS has crossed a line and set a precedent where individuals and their businesses may be targeted and harassed based solely on their political views or volunteer memberships.
This large-scale abuse of power is illegal, unacceptable, and unconstitutional. The IRS’s actions are entirely inconsistent with our Founding Fathers’ vision for a government that would be accountable to the people.
III. THE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE TEA PARTY PATRIOTS
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, which the Supreme Court has consistently said includes the right of association. Americans have the right to form groups and associations for the purposes of political education and civic engagement.
Tea Party Patriots is a national organization that exists for the purpose of encouraging grassroots involvement in holding the government accountable. One of TPP’s core beliefs is that our government should be constitutionally limited. The IRS scandal illustrates just how important the Tea Party Patriots’ mission is.
Although TPP has been targeted and harassed over the past three years by our government, we will continue our work, educating the public about the Constitution and also reining in the scope of the federal government.
We need more answers about IRS abuse of power
On May 10th, America learned that the IRS – perhaps the most frightening of all government agencies – has been singling out and targeting conservative groups, including Tea Party groups. This admission from the IRS confirms what many of us had already suspected. The IRS has, in fact, been delaying our applications and harassing those of us who wanted to form local Tea Party chapter organizations. In some extreme cases, the IRS went after Tea Party local leaders and audited their family members. President Obama said the IRS’s actions are “unacceptable.” He’s right, but these actions are also un-American and un-Constitutional.
The First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees the right to free speech, which includes the right to political speech and the right to associate and form groups with other like-minded individuals. The Tea Party movement, which began organically in 2010 in response to government excess, has attracted millions of regular Americans. The Tea Party movement is, at its core, the embodiment of the American spirit. The Tea Party movement sprang up in response to the government’s abuses of its powers, and this latest stunt from the IRS confirms for many of us why the Tea Party is so necessary.
In response to this outrageous revelation, the House Ways & Means Committee immediately held a hearing to question Steven Miller, the former acting commissioner of the IRS who resigned because of the scandal, but only one month before his term would have ended. The questions at the hearing covered a broad spectrum: When did you learn about this targeting? What actions did you take after learning about this issue? Why did you previously lie to the Ways & Means Committee? Why did you mislead the American people about this problem? But Mr. Miller is apparently suffering from temporary amnesia because the only answer he offered was: “I don’t remember.” The systemic abuse of power that took place for nearly three years at the IRS is simply too far-reaching and widespread for Mr. Miller to get away with not remembering what took place.
Americans expect that our government will enforce its laws and rules – especially its tax laws – with fairness and equal application. Congress needs to keep asking questions and demanding more substantive answers than the evasive responses Mr. Miller provided.
Please help us spread news of this event far and wide and please join us tomorrow in Beaumont.
Editor’s note: You need not be a member of a Tea Party to participate in the protest. The abuse of power should not be tolerated by ANY American, no matter your political stripe.
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Southern Baptists’ Wrong Decision on Gay Scouts
Southern Baptists held their annual meeting in Houston this week and among the items discussed was what to do about the recent decision by the Boy Scouts of America to allow openly gay boys to participate. After some deliberation, the SBC issued a resolution condemning the BSA decision but fell short of calling for Baptist churches and its members to stop sponsorship of the Boy Scouts.
The Southern Baptists made a terrible mistake. They ignored the word of God which calls homosexuality a sin and refused to take a stand against the LGBT community’s push for acceptance and indoctrination.
So much for Honoring Timeless Values.
The reasoning the SBC gave for the recommendation to continue sponsoring the scouting organization was to allow the opportunity to share their faith. While this may seem like a noble endeavor, one must consider that these are children who are not trained to proselytize for the church. Nor should they be expected to have enough experience to deal with any sexual advances, much less from a member of the same gender. If a boy is self-identifying as homosexual, then he is already acting out in a sexual way and should not be admitted into the same area with other boys much like any young female would be excluded from the troop. The Boy Scouts are a wholly inappropriate setting for any type of sexualized behavior. Members of the Southern Baptist Convention know this and should condemn it in no uncertain terms.
via:
Southern Baptists criticize policy but stay with Boy Scouts
Read more at Southern Baptists criticize policy but stay with Boy Scouts
While the SBC has chosen to do nothing more than issue a resolution, I would urge any true Christian Church to remove all sponsorships of the BSA or its activities until they get right with God and refuse to condone or promote the gay agenda.
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