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
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
Southeast Texans to Protest at IRS Office in Beaumont at Noon Tomorrow 5-21-13
From the Southeast Texas Tea Party:
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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.
Texas’ Gold Standard?
Ever think about what would happen should the dollar collapse? With the Federal Reserve and the Obama administration playing fast and loose with our economy, the possibility is a lot closer to reality than some would have you think. What effect would the devaluation have on your family? There is a bill in the Texas legislature at this time to create a means by which Texans could start transacting their business in precious metals, thus bypassing the dollar altogether and shielding themselves from deflation and or a dollar collapse altogether. Unfortunately, according to some of my sources, there are powers at work in the legislature to stop this legislation in it’s tracks.
Your help is needed to push the bill through and at least get it a fair hearing in committee and a vote.
The bill is called Texas Bullion Depository (HB 3505).
From TexasSoundMoney.org -
There exists a bill (HB 3505) to create a Texas Bullion Depository. HB 3505 would establish the Texas Bullion Depository as an agency of this state in the office of the comptroller.
The Stated purpose written right into the bill is to:
- Provide basis for intergovernmental payments and transactions between persons.
- Create a process and mechanism by which to function in a systemic national or international collapse.
What the bill essentially does is create a means for intergovernmental transactions to occur in precious metals. Taxes could be paid in precious metals and it would allow people who receive payments from the government to elect precious metals for payment. It would also allow normal citizens to open an account and deposit their precious metals in the state depository. They could then use the electronic system to make payments to any other business or person who also hold an account.
All metals would be redeemable on demand. Fractional Reserve banking would be prohibited as well as all other types of banking or investment with the deposits.
The Texas Bullion Depository Bill was filed by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake), and according to his office Governor Rick Perry is very interested in the idea.
Why This Is A Key Bill
This is a key bill, because the bill will solve most all of the problems associated with using Gold or Silver as money.
If you read my post “Why We Don’t Use Gold And Silver As Money”, you will know there are 4 major reasons Gold and Silver are not used as money today in Texas.
1. There is not much of a Gold and Silver economic ecosystem. In other words there has to be a critical mass of places which will accept Gold and Silver before other places accept Gold or silver.
The Gold Depository bill solves part of that problem by establishing that at the very minimum everyone can pay their taxes using Gold or Silver. Plus it would open up the door for government employees and contractors to receive payment in Gold or Silver if they chose to do so.
There exists a bill (HB 3505) to create a Texas Bullion Depository. HB 3505 would establish the Texas Bullion Depository as an agency of this state in the office of the comptroller.
The Stated purpose written right into the bill is to:
- Provide basis for intergovernmental payments and transactions between persons.
- Create a process and mechanism by which to function in a systemic national or international collapse.
What the bill essentially does is create a means for intergovernmental transactions to occur in precious metals. Taxes could be paid in precious metals and it would allow people who receive payments from the government to elect precious metals for payment. It would also allow normal citizens to open an account and deposit their precious metals in the state depository. They could then use the electronic system to make payments to any other business or person who also hold an account.
All metals would be redeemable on demand. Fractional Reserve banking would be prohibited as well as all other types of banking or investment with the deposits.
The Texas Bullion Depository Bill was filed by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake), and according to his office Governor Rick Perry is very interested in the idea.
Read the rest and send your representative a direct message of support for this bill at Texas Sound Money - Texas Bullion Depository (HB 3505) - http://texassoundmoney.org/gold-depository-bill-potential/
What Texans Should Know about Agenda 21 – Videos from Cathie Adams & Lord Christopher Monckton
This past Monday, my local Tea Party chapter hosted a presentation on Agenda 21 given by Cathie Adams, Texas Eagle Forum President. Mrs. Adams was gracious enough to allow us to tape the presentation and post it for those who were unable to attend. In the talk, she explains how the U.N. and certain world leaders are using false information like so-called “Climate Change” and pushing nonsensical terms like ”Social Justice” to accumulate more power and in turn, control the countries and people of the world.
Please watch.
Since Mrs. Adams mentioned Lord Christopher Monckton in her presentation, this seems like a good time to post this video in which he debunks the Global Warming scam before the California Legislature.
Texas Conservatives – A Call for Action – Support These Bills
From the TCN mailbag:
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Also under consideration: HCR 77
“A bill filed by a state legislator to reaffirm Texas’ intent to defend its state sovereignty raises for the first time the potential of defending that sovereignty by leaving the Union.”
HCR 77… will direct the legislature to put DC on notice that they are violating the 10th amendment with Obamacare and many unfunded mandates.
TX AG Abbott Vows No Gun Control in Texas
Much like anything else the Obama administration does, the obfuscation and misdirection on gun control continues unabated among other disturbing anti-Second Amendment fanaticism. Even though Senator Feinstein’s gun grabbing amendment fell by the wayside, the push for background checks for purchases and transfers between private citizens moves forward, pushed by the leftist media as a rational reaction to uncontrollable insanity. These calls for more restrictions on law abiding citizens, in the view of this commentator, are the true examples of insanity at best and a prelude to registration, confiscation and despotism at worst as not-so-subtly hinted at recently by El Vice Presidente’ Biden.
Big Jolly Politics reports, via Breitbart:
On March 28th, 2013 Vice President Joe Biden told the coalition “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” that:
“and lastly, but not least, the Assault Weapons ban and the limitation on the size of magazines, let me say this as clearly as I can: this is just the beginning…”
Houston’s Mayor Parker is a member of the firearm-grabbing coalition “Mayors Against Illegal Guns“. How does Mayor Parker define “illegal guns”? In the mind of Progressives, the definition is a firearm owned by the 99 Percent of law-abiding, legal firearms owners (Progressives, Hollywood-types & their bodyguards are exempted from this definition, of course).
Luckily (sarc), the UN has stepped in with an attempt to sideswipe the Second Amendment debate here in the US with its own Gun Grabbing – Arms Control Treaty masquerading as a Gun Grabbing – Arms Control Treaty which, incidentally has the full support of none other than Obama admin and former Sec. State Hillary Clinton.
I feel so much better with that knowledge. (more sarc)
Thankfully, we Texans have an advocate by the name of Attorney General Greg Abbott:
I was on FOX News today talking about the UN Arms Trade Treaty. If the President continues to support this threat to our liberties, TEXAS WILL LEAD THE CHARGE to overturn the treaty. Stand with me – sign my letter to Pres. Obama! http://bit.ly/Z7cgLf
Additionally, via AG Abbott on his Facebook page:
Pres. Obama said he will use 23 Executive Orders to force his gun control measures. I will fight them all to protect OUR 2nd Amendment Right! Stand with me by signing today! http://bit.ly/10m7rRE
CSCOPE to be reviewed by Texas SBOE and Attorney General Abbott
A few new developments regarding the Texas CSCOPE curriculum.
In an article at Texas Insider, Marty Rowley, SBOE Dist. 15 announces CSCOPE Will Be Reviewed by the SBOE.
While this is good news, I don’t think it holds the weight of legislation to reign in the bureaucracy and underhanded dealings that created CSCOPE in the first place. In order to correct the situation, State Senators Dan Patrick and Dr. Donna Campbell have authored SB 1406, a bill that will enact significant reforms of CSCOPE. See Texas CSCOPE Review - Patrick/Campbell SB #1406
In support of this bill, SBOE member, David Bradley issued the following press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2013
SUBJECT: CSCOPE CURRICULUM
From: DAVID BRADLEY, State Board of education, District 7
Contact: Theone Bradley
bttbradley@yahoo.com
409-745-9195
Many are asking questions about the accessibility, content and structure of CSCOPE, which is now being used in 80 percent of Texas school districts. Some call it “curriculum,” while others describe it simply as “lesson plans.” Its development began a decade ago when teachers were looking for lesson plans to align with new standards being adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE). By law, curriculum is reviewed by the SBOE, while lesson plans are not. In essence, CSCOPE is now an online curriculum program marketed to individual school districts by members of the Regional Education Service Centers. It was not coordinated through the Texas Education Agency, and it was never reviewed or approved by the SBOE to assure conformity with Texas curriculum standards.
Concerns regarding parental access stem from the ten-page CSCOPE contract that teachers are required to sign prior to using the curriculum. It prohibits educators from showing CSCOPE content to parents. This directly conflicts with the state law assuring parents the right to review any and all curriculum used in public schools to instruct their children. In this same vein, it took the Chairman of our Education Board six months to obtain an access password from CSCOPE developers known as the Texas Education Service Center Curriculum Collaborative (TESCCC). The TESCCC board is comprised of the 20 executive directors of the 20 publicly funded Regional Education Service Centers in Texas. Access to their meetings and minutes was repeatedly denied until the Texas Attorney General insisted that their meetings be posted and open to the public in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act.
Reports of questionable CSCOPE content range from viewing the Boston Tea Party as an act of terrorism to requiring students to design a flag for a new socialist country. One document handed out during a 2012 CSCOPE summer training session called for rigid compliance with CSCOPE content, stating that steps should be taken to ensure that “individual teachers do not have the option to disregard or replace assigned content.” Yet today, the CSCOPE website claims that CSCOPE curriculum is “customizable” and “aligned with” Texas state standards.
Also of concern is the fact that state employees have used public funds to develop a product and are then turning around and selling it to Texas schools. Texas taxpayers are essentially paying for the work twice. And despite protestations that the Regional Service Centers have yet to “break even on their investment,” any amount of money paid for CSCOPE multiplied by four million Texas students is a hefty sum! In my mind, there is an obvious conflict of interest when employees of the Regional Service Centers decide to market their own product to a captive audience of school districts that they are already employed to serve.
In order to cut costs and bolster competition, SB 6 of the 2011 legislative session expanded the term, “instructional materials,” to include hardware, software, etc. Textbook money is now sent directly to individual school districts, which are no longer required to purchase SBOE-approved curriculum that has been reviewed and certified as conforming to state standards. This month, the Texas Legislature took measures to regulate CSCOPE after learning of the issues described above. Senators Dan Patrick and Donna Campbell filed SB 1406, which, if passed, would require CSCOPE to come under the authority and scrutiny of the SBOE.
We have apparently come full circle. In the quest for taxpayer savings, we are being double-billed, and higher state standards are being set aside for online curriculum that can be changed with a simple keystroke. In the short term, SB 1406 needs our support so CSCOPE can be brought under the review of the SBOE to ensure content compliance for our Texas students. In the long term, new legislation and contracts must be developed for the new era of online education resources so we can continue to ensure Texas’ high standards of content are met.
David Bradley
State Board of Education, District 7
Representing Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine and Tyler Counties
And apparently Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot is planning a formal inquiry into the CSCOPE debacle as well.
via Concerned Women for America’s Associate State Director Michelle Smith:
Lumberton ISD Students wearing Burkas per CSCOPE?
Tuesday evening a local radio show usually devoted to economic and investment issues hosted a discussion on CSCOPE, the curriculum program which has come under fire recently due to charges of secrecy, lack of accountability and the inability of parents and some State Board of Education members to access the educational materials as required by Texas law. The controversial curriculum gained particular local attention after a photo surfaced of Lumbertion ISD students wearing burkas, allegedly as part of the CSCOPE curriculum.
The program aired on Beaumont station KLVI at 7:00 pm and the host, Mr. Hickman has uploaded the audio for those who were unable to listen live.
Lumberton ISD CSCOPE Radio Forum hosted by Todd Hickman and Gene Vallorani
Guests included:
Madelyn McLemore and her mother April LeBlanc.
Madelyn is one of the Lumberton ISD students featured in the now infamous photograph and will join us to explain not only what happened during class but what has happened subsequent to the class.
Ginger Russell
Conservative Activist and Former Teacher
Working over the past year to present CSCOPE details to the public.
http://txcscopereview.com/
&
John Griffing
A frequent contributor to American Thinker and is published across an array of conservative media, both in the realm of commentary and research.
Danny Lovett, Ed. D
Executive Director
Region 5
Education Service Center
2295 Delaware St.
Beaumont, TX 77703-4299
http://www.esc5.net/
(409) 951-1855
David Bradley (R)
SBOE Member District 7
2165 North Street
Beaumont, TX 77701
(409) 835-3808
http://
sboesupport@tea.state.tx.u
James White (R)
Texas State Representative District 19
http://
Representing Texas State House District 19 (Tyler, Polk, Jasper, Newton and Hardin counties).
Guest list obtained at the Facebook page CSCOPE public forum regarding Lumberton ISD where you can find other links and an ongoing discussion.
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Lumberton ISD will be conducting a school board meeting this evening (3-7-13) where according to the FB page above, they could be discussing the CSCOPE curriculum or scheduling a future meeting for a larger forum or both.
http://lumberton.tx.schoolwebpages.com/education/staff/staff.php?sectiondetailid=10389
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More:
Burqas in class prompt TEA review
CSCOPE–What’s Behind the Curtain? Part I
CSCOPE–What’s Behind the Curtain? Part II
Texas Congressman @SteveStockmanUS Deserves Our Encouragement in Opposing Gun Control Agenda
Not long after Representative Steve Stockman arrived at Capital Hill he began ruffling feathers of the leftists with threats to file for Obama’s impeachment if he pursued his radical gun control agenda. Now, after Obama apparently called on his “many” twitter followers to flood their congress-critters with tweets in support of the gun control legislation and veteran reporter RS McCain noted that a majority of those messages were generated by computer using fake accounts, Congressman Stockman has called Obama out for it.
Finally, at least one Republican is getting tech-savvy:
A Texas Republican on Monday said President Obama’s gun control campaign is a fraud based on fake messages over Twitter.
Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas) accused Obama of trying to make support for his position look stronger than it really is by flooding Twitter with messages from people who don’t exist. . . .
Stockman said that in response to Obama’s call for people to tweet their congressman in support of gun control legislation, he received just 16 tweets. But he said all of these messages were identical, and that a closer look at them revealed that only six were from real people.
via: Congressman @SteveStockmanUS Exposes Obama’s Anti-Gun Spambots
Kudos to Congressman Stockman. Keep up the good work, sir. We need others to follow your lead along with Ted Cruz, who is also showing a backbone.
Video at American Thinker: Ted Cruz Schools the Senate on Gun Control Facts, Rather Than Emotions and Scary Pictures