IOWA’S TENTH AMENDMENT RESOLUTION

February 23, 2009 by 4 Comments

I’ve been so busy keeping track of what other states have been doing to make sure the Tenth Amendment is upheld in their states that I haven’t been paying any attention to what Iowa is up to in this regard. Thanks to taco for alerting me and THANK YOU STATE SENATOR PAUL MCKINLEY for the work he is doing.

Paul McKinley has sponsored a senate concurrent resolution which in substance and spirit pushes back against the federal government should it attempt “to commandeer the regulatory and legislative processes” of our state. This resolution is linked to the Tenth Amendment, the last in the Bill of Rights, because the Tenth Amendment is the one that states unequivocally, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The Tenth Amendment is considered one of the principal truths of the Constitution.

Here is the McKinley resolution in its entirety along with the link to the legislature’s webpage:
http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&ga=83&hbill=SCR1

 
About twenty other states have worked on similar resolutions, and it is important to note that a concurrent resolution is defined as:
A legislative measure, designated “S. Con. Res.” and numbered consecutively upon introduction, generally employed to address the sentiments of both chambers, to deal with issues or matters affecting both houses, such as a concurrent budget resolution, or to create a temporary joint committee. Concurrent resolutions are not submitted to the President and thus do not have the force of law.
 
In other words, this resolution the Iowa legislature is going to consider would have more weight if it were law.  I am hoping that as Iowans take a closer look at the activities of the federal government these days they will raise their voices and clamor for it to become law!

The links below will take anybody who is interested to further discussions and actual wording of resolutions in other states:

Oklahoma
http://letsgetthisright.com/blog/view/id_595/title_oklahoma-10th-amendment-resolution-passes-state/
http://www.therightsideoflife.com/?p=3333
http://www.forum.hucksarmy.com/viewtopic.php?f=141&t=18665
Arkansas
http://jasontcpa.blogspot.com/2009/02/state-sovereignty-bill-filed-in-house.html
http://www.fontcraft.com/rod/?p=849
New Hampshire
http://friendfeed.com/e/ba05268e-a0db-db8a-89b1-bb01b4a78b66/The-Revolution-Begins-In-New-Hampshire/
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/HCR0006.html
http://www.forum.hucksarmy.com/viewtopic.php?f=141&t=18624

Filed under Politics Tagged with , , ,

Huckabee on Obama “we have nothing but fear”

February 23, 2009 by 10 Comments

I share here an interview with Mike Huckabee. When I first read the article it occurred to me that Huckabee put all the thoughts I have had about Obama out for everyone else to hear. My concerns about the economy, the less than honest people put up for high level Cabinet positions, the gloom and doom that comes with every Obama speech to name a few.

Huckabee is joining in with other voices to sound the alarm about where Obama and his crowd are taking America. I appreciate the voices of descent yet wonder how long it will be before they are squelched.

Huckabee’s words at the end of his interview “With Obama, it’s we have nothing but fear” ring true for me. Each day brings news of more spending and new legislation that we must be “quick” to enact.

As I write this post I hear Obama speaking to the Nation’s Governors. It is apparent to me that the governors are not to question his decisions. The President makes it sound like disagreeing via cable news is just starting early campaigning. Obama is not listening to other opinions and he does not want us to listen to any dissenting voices either.

And “fear”… fear is having Joe Bidden in charge of anything important.

I can only hope that Huckabee and others keep sounding the alarm. We need to hear what they have to say and sites such as Iowa Defense Alliance will keep sounding the alarm as well.

Filed under Politics Tagged with , ,

Gas Tax Proposal Demonstates Democrats Lack of Leadership

February 23, 2009 by 8 Comments

In an editorial in today’s paper the Des Moines Register has endorsed an increase in the gas tax. This should come as no surprise, after all many of us realize that The Register is nothing more than the Iowa Democrat Party’s propaganda mill. Unfortunately the paper has far too much credibility in among the lesser informed residents in Iowa. The basic presumption that The Register makes in the editorial is that the state would be better off in the short term and the long term if our state legislators pass the tax increase.

During this current economic instability the IDP propaganda machine (The Des Moines Register) is doing everything that it can to promote the disastrous policies and ideas born of the Democratic leadership. Throughout the story the paper makes assumptions that apply to only a small portion of the Iowa populace. Assumptions such as the citizen’s of Iowa only travel 15,000 miles per year. I can point out friends, family, and acquaintances that would love to keep their travel distance at that number or below. In actuality the majority of the people that I know must generally accumulate many more miles than that. Some people that I know have accumulated approximately 40,000 miles between two vehicles.

The Register trumpets the fact that they only want to increase the gas tax an additional 8 cents per gallon. What they fail to mention is that even though the proposed increase is indeed small it would hit individuals that can least afford it the hardest. Those that are on fixed incomes or simply earning minimum wage would be devastated by this increase. For individuals that are earning the minimum wage they would most likely have to choose between purchasing gas so that they can go to work or purchasing food to put on their tables. They would be caught between a rock and a hard place, kind of a damned if you do or damned if you don’t kind of scenario. On the one hand if these individuals decide to put gas in their tank so that they can go to work they would be taking food off their table. On the other hand if they choose food over gas they run the risk of not being able to go to work. But of course I would not expect one of the editors of the paper to think of that as they sit upon the ivory tower that they occupy in Des Moines.

The Democrats controlling Iowa’s government have a fundamental flaw in their thought processes. They lack the creativity to develop common sense solutions to the problems facing the state whether it is a budget deficit or in this case crumbling state infrastructure. Their solutions to most problems are to throw more money at it rather than developing workable solutions that do not harm Iowa’s troubled economy or safety. The state does not suffer from a revenue shortfall; instead what it suffers from is chronic overspending. If they were to get the unnecessary spending in check I believe that they would find that there is an ample supply of funds to maintain the necessary and vital functions that is at the heart of the government’s purpose. Furthermore, editorials like the one in today’s Register do nothing to advocate for strong effective leadership. Instead it enables inept politicians and government employees at all levels to get away with an effective fleecing of Iowa’s taxpayers.

Filed under Politics Tagged with , , , ,

New Names for our Wall of Pride

February 22, 2009 by 5 Comments

In case you haven’t noticed, we have a new addition to IDA.  We have had the Wall of Shame for quit some time now for those politicians who decide to disappoint or fool the Iowa voters.  We have now added the Conservative Wall of Pride which will showcase those in our party who stand by the principles of the Republican party and go the extra mile for their Iowa constituents.

The two names I would like to add to the Wall of Pride today is Rep. Kent Sorenson and Rep. Chris Hagenow.  These two fine conservatives took overnight shifts at the statehouse to keep a watchful eye on the shenanigans of Speaker Murphy and his party while waiting for the voting machine to close on the 50-46 prevailing wage failure.  Both of these men gave Twitter updates throughout the night and I would like to share with you the best update given by each of them:

Kent Sorenson……

At 4am Murphy left and a group from the ISU Republicans came to visit.

Chris Hagenow……

Rep. Zirklebach is at the rostrum spitting chew into a styrofoam cup.

Filed under Politics Tagged with , , , , , ,

Gov. Schwarzenegger and what’s best for the country

February 22, 2009 by 9 Comments

California’s governor, who just signed a bill to raise taxes by $12 billion to help close a $42 billion budget gap, said politicians need to go beyond their principles and think about what’s best for the country.

It seems to me that Governor Schwarzenegger would have enough to do in order to hold California together that he would not have the need to throw stones at other Americans. His statement about getting beyond “principles” and thinking what is “best for the country” is disguising. Yet, I am not surprised. Coming from a governor of a state that has spent its way into the poor farm, I guess it is a hope that the rest of the U.S. will want to sacrifice principles and personally earned income to help bail out all those who were and are of the spend what we don’t have philosophy.

Rarely do I read comments left by readers but in the case of this article, I did. Somewhere out there are two people who are my kindred political spirits and I share their wisdom below.

Gov. Schwarzenegger asked the right question — “What is right for the country now”, but his answer is not quite right. The Spendulus money for California only prolong the disease of over spending, not curing it. This crisis is a good opportunity to shrink state government spending, and we are not doing it.

What a shock. A rhino who thinks principles are not important. Situational morality… what is right or wrong changes constantly depending on who or what you are trying to fix at the moment. That is called politics as usual and that is what got us into this crisis.

The country’s in the middle of a crisis and President Obama needs team players. (Schwarzenegger)

How about it, Americans, are you  going follow Arnold’s lead to sign up for Obama’s team? I opt to keep my “principles” no matter what a California governor says!

Filed under Politics Tagged with , , , ,

The Punishment of Success

February 22, 2009 by 12 Comments

The contradictions between what President Barack Obama says and what he does are immense. In an article this morning published by the Washington Post he has vowed to cut the United States budget deficit within four years. This will most assuredly be a difficult task as the current budget has become even more bloated thanks to Porkfest 2009, the recent $700 BILLION stimulus package pushed through Congress by the Obama administration.  Of course the White House has stated a couple of methods for achieving their stated goals.

One such method that the Obama administration plans to utilize in order to reduce the deficit is a reduction in spending on the Iraq War. I understand that the war will end eventually, but I think that it would be a disaster to end it prematurely. Until stability has been achieved we cannot completely withdraw troops from the nation. I truly hope that Obama can see that an earlier withdrawal from that nation can and will lead to a destabilization of the region and leave the region open to exploitation by terrorist organizations and rogue nations. A premature withdrawal of US military forces from Iraq could result in the need for a reinvasion of the nation to capture or eliminate terrorist threats in the future.

Another method that Obama intends to use to help shrink the budget deficit is to raise taxes on what he calls wealthy families. These are families earning at least $250,000 a year. He doesn’t seem to take into account that families that earn in the neighborhood of $250,000 tend to be self-employed small business owners. Because of this they do not have the advantage of employer provided benefits. As a result much of what the rest of us take for granted such as health insurance and holiday pay these “wealthy” families do not receive. For these families any unexpected operating expense for their business usually comes from the family budget. These families have poured their hearts and souls into building a successful small business. Now President Obama comes along and wants to punish these highly motivated and hard working families with higher taxes. Tell me where is the justice in that? Why should the hardworking business owners subsidize someone else’s poor judgment? Why should business owners subsidize a single mother because she doesn’t have the common sense to use protection?

President Obama has plans for the US, but they will not advance our nation. Instead Obama’s plans for our nation will put our nation at risk. They will put the middle class at risk. Obama’s plan will do more to curb ambition and aspirations for a better life. In short President Obama rather than using good sense and rewarding the most hardworking and industrious among us will punish them.

Filed under Politics Tagged with , , , , , ,

Help Close the Voting Machine on Prevailing Wage

February 20, 2009 by 1 Comment

The Prevailing Wage vote is stuck in the Iowa House at 50-46 and Speaker Murphy is keeping the voting machine open until Monday 1:00 pm.  It needs 51 votes to pass, so that means the Democrats will try to strong arm their own 5 members who voted against the legislation and try to convince the one who didn’t vote to get her butt there to cast her’s.

If you would like to contact the five Democrats who voted “no” and encourage them to stick to their guns, here is their information:

McKinley Bailey

Doris Kelley

Larry Marek

Delores Mertz

Brian Quirk

The only Democrat not to vote was Geri Huser.  If you would like to contact her and encourage her not to vote with her party, here is her information:

Geri Huser

Filed under Politics Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Jindal to decline “some” stimulus money

February 20, 2009 by 1 Comment

How refreshing to read about a REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR who has looked ahead to see  the repercussions down the road of accepting stimulus money and what it would mean for the taxpayers of his state. With so many mayors, governors, members of congress drooling over the expected money coming to a city/state near them I am relieved that Bobby Jindal can “decline” a hunk of cash.

Stick to your instincts Gov. Jindal. We need someone with a conscious and a stiff back bone. Some of us in Iowa are paying attention to the decisions you make. We are hungry for a true leader. You are declining “some” of the stimulus money. It must feel lonely to stand almost alone in saying no to any of the porkulus bucks that could come your way. All the more reason I appreciate your decision to turn down help (?) now saving your state even more pain later.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Friday that he will decline stimulus money specifically targeted at expanding state unemployment insurance coverage, becoming the first state executive to officially refuse any part of the federal government’s payout to states.

In a statement, Jindal, who is slated to give the Republican response to President Barack Obama’s message to Congress on Tuesday, expressed concern that expanding unemployment insurance coverage would lead to increased unemployment insurance taxes later on.

Filed under Politics Tagged with , , , , ,

And I nominate Helen Thomas for…

February 20, 2009 by 1 Comment

And I nominate Helen Thomas for being a Poster Woman for the Liberal and Biased Media:

“I’m a liberal, I was born a liberal, I’ll be one ’til I die, what else should a reporter be when you see so much and when we have such great privilege and access to the truth?”  Helen Thomas

In my life before following politics, politicians, and the media I had heard about Helen Thomas but never gave her reporting much attention. Then recently there has been a tiff between Bill O’Reilly and Ms. Thomas (I guess they patched things up- Bill reportedly sent Thomas flowers…) but now comes along Helen with an explanation of why in Presidential news conferences she says “so-called terrorists” when asking a question.

Before you click the “Play” button sit tight in your chair. Be ready to see the voice and face of an admitted “liberal” who ‘reports’ the news. Then reflect on how biased the media is when reporting from the White House.

And the liberals think there needs to be a “Fairness Doctrine”.

Hmmm…. Helen Thomas with access to the “Truth”.

Helen Thomas commenting on “so-called terrorists.”

“So-called”? People who would rather blow up, maim, slit the throats of Americans? Inflict pain and suffering on countless families of innocent victims?

Helen Thomas- poster woman for liberals and biased media.

Ready, set, go to watch the woman in her own words:

By the way- other media deserve to be on Wanted Posters to expose them for the biased reporters that they are and none of them deserve flowers for what they do all in the name of “access to the truth.”

Filed under Politics Tagged with , , , ,

Steve King and the English Language Unity Act

February 20, 2009 by 1 Comment

Representative Steve King of the 5th Congressional District of Iowa is showing leadership by introducing legislation called The English Language Unity Act of 2009.

“English is the language of opportunity in America,” Congressman King said. “Learning English opens doors to better jobs and opportunities, the foundation America was built upon. The only way to fully learn about American culture, and what makes America truly unique, is through our common bond of the English language.”

The push to make English as the official language has support and I found the U.S. English website to be interesting with these words from Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman:

The lack of an assimilation policy for immigrants to the United States is rapidly changing the successful integration ways of the past. Gone are the days of the American Dream and the upwardly mobile society for immigrants. In its place are low expectations and government policies that encourage Americans to learn the language of the immigrants, instead of the other way around.

A geographically diverse group of lawmakers introduced legislation today to make English the official language of the United States. Sponsored by Rep. Steve King and 58 other members of the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 997 would reduce government multilingualism and return the focus of government agencies to promoting English acquisition. With numerous polls revealing that more than four-fifths of Americans support the bill, making English the official language is expected to be a hotly debated topic in any Congressional consideration of immigration and assimilation issues.

I am ready for “the focus of government agencies” to promote English as America’s language. Our melting pot has enough challenges without getting all lumped up with the practice of not expecting those wishing to live and work in American to learn and understand the language.
Way to go Congressman King! I will look forward to following the progression and passage of  the English Language Unity Act. America is in need of a “common bond.”

Filed under Politics Tagged with , , , , ,

← Older posts

Newer posts →

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 695 other followers