Garden State Patriot

Here are some more pics from this weekend’s conference. It was great meeting so many of the right’s influential people and having a moment to chat with some of them as well. Yet, it was also great meeting so many others, including scores of other bloggers on ‘Bloggers Row.’ Enjoy!

John Fund

 Mary Katharine Ham

Laura Ingraham

Senator Jim DeMint

Stephen Moore

Cross-posted at Conservatives with Attitude!

NJ Protesters Sound Off At Obama Rally

A New Jersey contingent joined a crowd of several hundred sign-waving protesters outside the Capitol in Washington on Friday to oppose changes the Obama administration wants to make to health insurance and much more.

“We’re just really concerned about basically our liberty being taken away,” said Mike Proto of Hackensack, holding a sign reading “Socialism Isn’t Cool.”

Along with health care, Proto cited the proposals to reduce carbon emissions through a cap-and-trade system as job killers that would infringe on personal liberty.

The rally was organized by the group Americans for Prosperity as part of its two-day “Defending the Dream” summit.

Proto’s sign and the hundreds reading “Hands Off My Health Care,” were printed by AFP, but many people also held hand-lettered signs with such slogans as “King George Didn’t Listen Either” and “Obamacare/The Next Cash for Clunkers/Turn in Grandma.”

“The government is mandating that we all get health care and if we don’t we all get fined. I don’t think that’s right,” said George Humphris of Toms River. His elaborate, homemade sign attracted many in the crowd who wanted a snapshot of it.

{3:15} We are in the ‘breakout’ period right now where there are several discussion/panels going on at one time. I attended a panel on business and job growth issues which touched on things like our regulatory state, this misnamed ‘Freedom of Choice Act’ (card check), and pensions. Some tidbits from this session:

• Even if we strip away all the bad legislation currently before us (healthcare, cap and trade), we will have a TRILLION dollar regulatory state in place which is stifling job growth
• The worst regulations – the ones we need to watch most – are environmental and occupational regulations
• The regulatory state is killing small business, which accounts for 2/3rd of America’s jobs
• Since the passage of the Porkulus bill, 27 MILLION jobs have been lost (and we now know that the unemployment rate is 9.8%, well past the cap of 8% ‘promised by Obama)
• If the FOCA were to pass, we can expect 600,000 jobs to be lost in year one (although the speaker expected FOCA would not pass)
• Multiple Employer Pensions - If, for example, 5 companies are pooled into the same pension fund and, say, 4 go out of business the remaining company would be on the hook to pay the pensions of the others who four that are defunct. In such a scenario, the remaining company would likely decide to just fold up shop.
• For more info on these topics, check out workerfreedom.org   

{12:00} John Fund

• John Fund discussed things going on on the Hill…says they still don’t want anyone to read their bills
• Says we need to pressure them to vote for the Discharge petition…must pressure them to read bill…never again should have bills the size of a telephone phone book…happened 3 times already this year…no more…we want them to read the bill
• Reagan on Carter: Reagan said if Carter were to govern left he would fail…liberal policies always fail, when they fail people will notice, when they notice they will get angry, after they get angry they will rouse to action
• In 1993 – Clinton campaigned as mod and did the same thing
• So, 1977, 1993…add 16 years…look where we are now in 2009, same thing happening again

{11:45} Ed Morrissey, HotAir.com

• Our Constitution is based on property rights
• Our tax code undermines our individual liberty
• Overhaul we most need is a tax code overhaul that is decades overdue
• $250B in tax prep last year, $200-$600B to comply
• Tax code is social engineering, limits our choices, forces certain behavior…one of worst aspects of American life…sapping our freedom, liberty
• More deductions, more people think they benefit…it is a way to buy influence, buy taxpayers to your side…
• Existing tax code suits politicians…Congress picks winners and losers…tax code gives too much power to a legislature in a free society

{11:35} Hugh Hewitt

• “When they attack Rush, Sean, Levin, et al… they are attacking you, your family, the 1st amendment”
• “We must expose/mock liberals the way they have done it us”
• “Do not be silent with your friends who are willing to move”
• “Credential young people”
• Israel – “…time is coming…when they strike we must stand with Israel…when that happens there will be a chorus of hate in the media against our ally”

{11:15} Herman Cain, Radio host and Fox News Contributor

• Mr. Cain recited the 2nd paragraph of the Declaration from memory (nice job!) – Follows up with “we’ve got some altering and abolishing to do”
• Thing we MUST DO to win this fight: “We must save the saveable!” – How to tell if a lib is NOT saveable – need to understand the liberal “SIN” principle! S=They shift the subject ; I=They ignore the facts; N=They name-call
• Thing we MUST NOT DO: “NEVER, NEVER give up on America!!”

{11:00} Senator Jim DeMint

• “Being a conservative is preserving what works”
• “What you’re doing is what we need”
• “When politicians are more afraid of voters than special interests, we’re going to win freedom back”
• “The heart and soul of this country is at stake”

{10:45} Stephen Moore of Wall Street Journal 

• “Global warming is the greatest hoax of last century”
• “We have borrowed more in past 8 months than past 40 years”
• What is a trillion dollars? Would take Lebron James 25,000 seasons at $40 million a year to hit a trillion bucks!
• “What happens when the Chinese and Saudis stop buying our debt?”
• “The Chinese think they’re going to become an economic superpower…and leave us in the dust”
• “We need a flat or fair tax” (Crowd mostly in favor of fair tax!)
• 3 things we need to do to fix health care: 1) Medical malpractice reform – would “drive premiums to half of what they are now”, 2) Need a system of health savings accounts, 3) Need to be able to buy insurance across state lines – in NJ, MA premiums are 3 times higher than a state like New Hampshire 

{10:30} Speaker Gingrich just finished up – to the lament of a crowd that wanted to hear more!

• Newt laid out a REAL stimulus plan for America: 1) A 2 year, 50% reduction in the Social Security and Medicare tax – “people would actually see how much they pay in taxes,” he said; 2) Match the Chinese capital gains tax which is…ZERO!; 3) Match the Irish coroporate tax rate of 12.5%; 4) Permanently abolish the death tax – “people shouldn’t be punished when they die.”
• Other quotables: The Speaker said we need “an American energy policy from American sources” and “bowing to a Saudi king is not an energy policy!”
• “We can balance the federal budget because in 4 years when I was Speaker we balanced the budget”

Got to shake the Speaker’s hand as he left the hall.

{9:45} Tim Phillips getting ready to introduce Speaker Gingrich. Praise for Steve Lonegan: “He has more energy than me and he’s older than me!” “We are going to turn New Jersey around!” Introduces Newt as “the best mind in our movement.” Speaker Gingrich takes the stage.

We finally seem to have a good connection here at the AFP Summit and, hopefully, it will remain that way for the remainder of the day’s events!

Yesterday we arrived at around noon and headed directly to the Capitol steps for a rally and a surprise visit to the offices of Senator Lautenberg. In the evening, we were treated to a number of terrific speakers, highlighted by Congressman Mike Pence and Laura Ingraham. Laura gave a fun and inspiring speech, fitting of the wit she displays daily on her radio show. There is a lot of energy among the AFP members and a clear determination to continue opposing the radical agenda coming from this White House and Congress.

In a few moments, we will have our first speaker of the day, and fittingly that will be Speaker Gingrich. So, keep checking in for updates!

And meanwhile, have a look at some of yesterday’s events…

Our friends at Americans for Prosperity have put together a fact sheet about a number of the provisions of H.R. 3200 – aka the Obamacare bill, aka the government-run healthcare bill.

The list is long but very much worth your while reading. To read AFP’s take, click on the read more button. (more…)

In an effort to stop a government takeover of our healthcare system, Americans for Prosperity has begun a project called Patients First. The initial goal of Patients First is a petition drive of no less than 500,000 signatures to send a loud and strong message to Congress that we the people oppose this radical agenda. To sign the petition, simply click the picture below. 

Steve Lonegan is returning to the organization he helped build before his run for governor, Americans for Prosperity. As an active AFP member, I am happy to Steve return to this important conservative organization.

LONEGAN REJOINS AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY FOUNDATION

Former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan is returning to the Americans for Prosperity Foundation as a senior policy director for the New Jersey chapter.

“I welcome this opportunity to educate citizens about the dangers of Washington and Trenton’s socialist policy agenda,” Lonegan said.  “Big government has one goal and that’s replacing individual initiative and excellence with collectivism and overall mediocrity.  Americans need to know what’s at stake with Washington’s plans for our nation,” Lonegan added. “Their policy ideas will destroy our nation and, like Rush Limbaugh, I hope they fail.”

Lonegan sees the current policy debate over health care reform as the top priority.

“If advocates of government-run health care get their way and put one-seventh of our economy under government control, there will be no turning back and America, as we knew it growing up, will be dead,” Lonegan boldly said.  “I am committed to making the case for the free market in health care and making sure government does not come between our families and our doctors.”

“No one understands the challenges our state and nation face better than Steve Lonegan.  His profound knowledge of economics, budgeting and entrepreneurship is unique,” Colette Campbell, state director, said. 

The reckless gang of Democrats in Congress is now trying to ram socialized medicine down our throats without any debate and by misusing the procedure called ‘reconciliation.’

Here is Americans for Prosperity’s statement on the subject. Please visit their site and help fight this by sending a message to your Senators.

We told you about efforts to jam a cap-and-trade energy tax through the Senate using reconciliation, a trick to avoid proper debate and the normal 60 vote requirement for important legislation, and you sprung into action, generating a flood of calls and emails to the Senate and IT WORKED.  WE WON that fight and kept cap-and-trade out of reconciliation. 

 

Last week, Sen. Johanns introduced a budget amendment to prohibit the use of reconciliation for cap-and-trade, and it passed on a solid 67-31 vote. Every Republican supported the amendment, as did 26 Democrats.  Before the Johanns amendment passed, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid indicated he wanted to do both cap-and-trade and health care under reconciliation, saying that cap-and-trade revenues would be “exactly how much we need for the first phase of health care reform.” 

 

Unfortunately, THERE IS NO TIME TO CELEBRATE, because now Democrats are poised to pull the reconciliation trick for their plan to NATIONALIZE AND RATION HEALTH CARE.

 

There are a few senators that are going to be very influential in this fight.  If you know anyone in the following states please forward this email to them:  Arkansas, Indiana, Montana, Nevada and North Dakota.  We need your help to get the word out!

 

While the Senate passed a budget resolution without reconciliation language, the House budget specifically includes a section authorizing the use of reconciliation for a national health care plan.  This is despite the fact that reconciliation is only relevant in the Senate, where it can short-circuit debate and pass legislation with only 50 votes instead of the regular 60.

 

This is a TRICK to let Senate Democrats claim they passed a budget without reconciliation, only to have it slipped back in during conference committee, when the House and Senate budgets are combined.

 

Please click here to send a message to your senator OPPOSING HEALTH CARE RECONCILIATION.

 

The dean of the Senate, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, Democrat from West Virginia, has made it crystal clear that this is not what reconciliation is for, saying, “I was one of the authors of the legislation that created the budget ‘reconciliation’ process in 1974, and I am certain that putting health-care reform and climate change legislation on a freight train through Congress is an outrage that must be resisted.”

 

The stakes are enormous.  Two big steps toward government-run health care are already in place with the national health information database and the comparative effectiveness research that were hidden in the stimulus plan.  We are now only a few steps away from establishing a national health board that will RATION CARE based on the results of comparative effectiveness research, and a coverage mandate designed to, over time, shift more and more people into a government-run and government-controlled health care plan.

 

Moving health care nationalization through reconciliation will SILENCE moderate Democrats and Republicans and produce the most aggressive, big-government health care plan possible.  Any government plan to restructure one sixth of our economy deserves to be debated fully under the regular rules of the Senate.

Ever since Rick Santelli fired up the hoards on CNBC, tea party protests have erupted across the nation and the movement is now about to reach full steam. On April 15th, there will be numerous tea parties across the country with several to take place in New Jersey.

City: Morristown
When: April 15, 9:00 am – 12:00pm
Where: TBA
Contact: EMAIL
Other Info:
Facebook Group: CLICK HERE

————-
City: Newark
When: April 15, 12:00 pm
Where: Gateway Center One – 782 McCarter Highway, Newark Offices of Senator Lautenberg and Menendez conveniently located in the same building.
Contact: EMAIL
Other Info:Parking: 66 Edison Place, Newark
Google Map: Click Here
Facebook Group: CLICK HERE
————-

City: Trenton
When: April 15, 11:30am – 4:00pm
Where: New Jersey State House, 125 W State St
Contact: EMAIL
Other Info:
Facebook Group: CLICK HERE

Americans for Prosperity will also be holding their own tea party in Piscataway.

AFP-NJ Announces Taxpayer Tea Party to Protest Gov. Corzines’s Tax Hikes, April 15

New Jersey citizens urge Corzine to reduce spending, reject stimulus money

Join AFP-NJ along with grassroots activists across the country on April 15th at 5PM for a Taxpayer Tea Party to protest Governor Corzine’s proposed tax hikes.

NJ has the worst tax climate in the nation, and yet Governor Corzine continues to rely on tax revenues to support the state’s overgrown budget. This tradition has left us poorly positioned to deal with the economic recession.

Even with the so-called stimulus funds that are coming to New Jersey– totaling $2 billion– Governor Corzine has introduced a FY 2010 state budget with a $7 billion deficit, and massive tax hikes to go along with it.

Governor Corzine continues to increase taxes—it is the same mistake over and over again. Taxpayers have carried the burden of these mistakes long enough– It’s critical to fight back against this proposed budget and its tax hikes!

Urge Governor Corzine and state legislators to take the first step in mending this $7 billion deficit by cutting the size of the state budget and planning for New Jersey’s financial future.

What: Taxpayer Tea Party
Who: Americans for Prosperity
When: Wednesday, April 15, 5:00pm
Where: Johnson Park ( River Road, Piscataway Township)

For more information or to register, click here or call 201-487-8844.

Not surprisingly, the mainstream media has been largely ignoring these protests, but it will be hard to ignore on April 15th when thousands of us will be marching in cities all over the country at the same time. So, get out there and join the movement!

Americans for Prosperity has set up a petition to fight the so-called Obama Stimulus Plan. This plan will merely be: a payoff to liberal contituency groups filled with pork-barrel spending, a bailout for governors like Corzine who have badly managed their state’s finances and it will not creat jobs. In sum, it’s a fraud. And we need to do all we can to stop it. Our nation simply can’t afford trillions more of debt.

Sign the petition HERE.

By the way, if this plan were such a slam dunk to create jobs, then why can’t the Ranking Member of Congress’ Joint Tax Committee (about which you can read here) even answer a simple question regarding how many jobs it will create?

In a blow to New Jersey taxpayers, a Superior Court Judge in Bergen County dismissed a lawsuit by Steve Lonegan which aimed to block the state from spending $3.9 billion on school construction without voter approval. As I detailed in a previous post last week, New Jersey’s Supreme Court opened the floodgates to out of control state spending when they decided against Lonegan in two previous cases (Lonegan I & II). By virtue of this decision, New Jersey taxpayers have no recourse in preventing the state from continuing to recklessly spend our tax dollars and pile up even more debt.

However, Lonegan plans to appeal the ruling and his lead attorney Seth Grossman sees this is just one step towards ultimately having the case heard in the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Steve Lonegan will be appealing Superior Court Judge Jonathan Harris’ ruling dismissing the Lonegan v. Corzine case that seeks to block the sale of $3.9 billion in school construction bonds to be marketed without voter approval.

“This is what we expected” said Attorney Seth Grossman. “A lower court judge will not overturn a Supreme Court decision and this is just the first step on our march to the State Supreme Court for them to review and overturn their prior 4-3 decision against taxpayers.” Grossman said.

The decision is just one battle in the long war to return sanity to New Jersey’s State Government. Since 2001, New Jersey’s debt has soared from $11.7 billion to over $40 billion in debt, or more than $50,000 for every man, woman and child in the state.

Of course, GSP will keep you posted as this story unfolds!