Tennessee deserves better than this bloated budget mess

Tennessee deserves better than this bloated budget mess

The Tennessee budget has been passed. The pork, the busted caps and excess spending limits have left many Tennesseans with a very bad taste in their mouths.

In what has been touted as a fiscally responsible, constitutionally intact budget has been determined to be quite the opposite.

As many of our elected leaders criticize Washington DC for financial irresponsibility we in Tennessee are doing the same thing. We have somehow placed a pink bow on a pig and we call it beautiful.

Despite what you hear, the budget for Tennessee is anything but beautiful. Take off the bow and look at it’s content. 

Don’t get bedazzled by our legislators returning to their respective districts while blowing smoke right up your rear ends.

Having a budget that would make a liberal proud is not a good thing.

Please allow me to summarize what Mr Drew Johnson has so eloquently expressed in his opinion piece below about the Tennessee budget that was passed.

1) This is the largest, most bloated budget in Tennessees 217 year history.

2) Our legislators, en masse, voted to once again vote away the constitutional cap to allow our TN budget to become bloated.

3) At 32.8 billion, this is a full 2 billion more than last years budget.

4) The Constitutional Cap was lifted by 132.5 million.

5) This 132.5 million will be added to every budget from here to eternity costing taxpayers billions.

6)  Instead of a tax holiday or further reduction in our taxes, your legislators and Governor elected to waste it on pork projects, millions of dollars worth.

7) The legislators did provide some cuts in this budget of about 7.00 per person.  I’ll just take my seven dollars, buy a 12 pack of a choice beverage and my benefit will long be forgotten.

Opinion piece by Drew Johnson from the Chattanooga Times:

Tennessee deserved better from GOP budget-busters

Tennessee’s Republican state lawmakers must think we’re stupid.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have bragged about passing a “balanced budget,” as state Sen. Ken Yager, R-Harriman; state Rep. Kevin Brooks, of Cleveland; and a number of other GOP lawmakers did last week.

And they never would’ve implied that new state budget was “thoughtful and strategic” like Gov. Bill Haslam did last Friday. And they certainly would never have called the budget “fiscally responsible” as House Speaker Beth Harwell did with a straight face in a guest op-ed in The Tennessean.

Did these Republican leaders think Tennesseans would forget that the State Constitution requires a balanced budget?

Did these supposed “fiscal conservatives” believe that taxpayers wouldn’t realize that they just passed the biggest, most bloated budget in the 217-year history of the Volunteer State?

Did they hope that no one would notice their hypocrisy when they voted to bust the state’s cap on spending after they spent much of the legislative session championing ideas intended to strengthen the spending limit?

At $32.8 billion, the new state budget is the largest in Tennessee’s history. It’s a full $2 billion more than last year’s budget.

But that’s not the worst of it for taxpayers.

The state portion of the state budget — the chunk of the budget paid for by revenues from state taxes, such as the sales tax, franchise and excise tax, state gas tax, and the Hall income tax — is limited by the Tennessee Constitution. State spending is limited based on the personal income growth in the state over the previous year. That spending limit, known as the “Copeland Cap,” can only be overridden by a majority vote of both houses of the legislature.

With a Republican supermajority in the Tennessee General Assembly, taxpayers must have believed that GOP lawmakers wouldn’t dare vote to bust the cap and spend more than they were constitutionally allowed. But they did — by $132.5 million.

When the state coffers began filling with more money than expected, rather than returning the excess tax dollars to taxpayers by further reducing the sales tax on groceries or enacting several sales tax holidays, lawmakers decided to waste it.

Out of 132 members of the Tennessee General Assembly, only seven voted against busting the spending cap. Even state Rep. Courtney Rogers, R-Goodlettsville, who sponsored a constitutional amendment to make the cap much more difficult to bypass, voted to exceed the spending limit. So much for principles. So much for fiscal conservatism.

That $132.5 million isn’t just a one-year expenditure. Since each year’s spending cap is based on total state spending from the previous year, the $132.5 million will be added to every state budget from here to eternity. Republicans’ decision to bust the cap will ultimately cost state taxpayers billions upon billions of dollars.

So how did Republicans in the Tennessee legislature spend the extra money they collected from the pockets of Tennesseans? A number of questionable pork projects found their way into the budget at the last minute, including:

• $1 million for grants to private zoos and aquariums in the state.

• $1 million in handouts to refurbish the Lorraine Civil Rights Museum Foundation.

• $475,000 to fund a State Museum Task Force to look at building a new State Museum.

• $400,000 in additional funding for the Jackson Theater in Jonesborough.

• $310,000 to build a storage shed at the West Tennessee Cemetery in Memphis.

• $125,000 to spread among Tennessee’s public television stations.

• $50,000 to the Alex Haley House and Museum.

• $20,000 in giveaways to National Coalition of 100 Black Women chapters in the state.

Did the budget do some good things? Sure, lawmakers passed a number of tax cuts. But, in total, those tax cuts amount to less than $7 per Tennessean, or approximately diddly-squat.

For years, Republicans in Tennessee promised that if they ran state government things would be different. The budget would be lean, spending would be responsible and the state spending cap would remain intact.

Well, now the GOP is in control, and what happened? They spent more than Democrats ever did.

After such a dramatic display of fiscal irresponsibility by GOP lawmakers, conservatives in Tennessee must be thinking, “With Republicans like these, who needs Democrats?”

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/apr/23/tennessee-deserved-better-from-gop-budget/?opinionfreepress

Ben Cunningham explains the Copeland Cap!

http://taxingtennessee.blogspot.com/2009/08/copeland-cap-is-toothless-tiger-for-tn.html?m=1

Harwell/Haslam power grab limits TN legislators to 10 bills each session

Speaker Beth Harwell and Governor Haslam try to gain iron-grip control over TN legislature

The latest news coming from Nashville Tennessee this week can be best described as a “Power Grab” by lawmakers and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and House Speaker Beth Harwell.

The recent steps taken by these two political puppets is clearly a step in giving the legislative branch of our representative government less power while taking the representation out of our state legislatures hands and puts the power to manipulate legislation in the hands of the speaker and the leftist Governor and out of the hands of the people they represent.

In a recent proposal made by TN House Speaker Beth Harwell, obviously made from a request by the Governors desk, calls for TN Legislators to have the ability to only sponsor and submit 10 bill proposals in a legislative session with many exemptions and no restraints on the Governor, giving him dictatorial powers only realized by a few states.

The TNR article below reports the following exemptions giving the Governor more dictatorial power.

Proposed exemptions in the 10-bill cap include:

+ Bills dealing with cities and counties

+ Sunset bills

+ Memorializing or congratulatory resolutions that are not referred to a standing committee

+ Resolutions confirming appointments or authorizing charitable events

+ Resolutions that are procedural in nature that are not referred to a standing committee

Harwell’s office defended granting the governor and his staff special latitude under the measure.

“Much of the legislation presented by the administration has more to do with the nuts and bolts of running state government, and is necessary to the process,” Harwell spokeswoman Kara Owen told TNReport in a statement. “Further, we certainly want to allow members the latitude to use their ten bills for their districts’ priorities, so we feel the exemption to Administration is needed.”

Speaker Harwell and the Governor are citing costs as the driver of this proposal that limits representation from our state representatives. Some legislators are capable of submitting 90 to 100 bills in a session and some representatives have a reputation for “getting a great number” of those bills passed. State budget advocates say it costs a great deal of money to research each bill and apply “numbers” to each bill, stating less bills equals less money spent unwisely. Many citizens who feel bill proposal limitations are a way to deflect their voice and limits the power if the people using their representatives to legislate protection of their rights as members of a constitutional republic.

If this proposal goes forward and is approved by the legislature and ultimately the Governor, large special interest groups and lobbyists with endless money influence will rule our Tn State Legislature and will take the power of the people away and into the hands of a bureaucrat with deep pockets.

It is rumored in Nashville that many lobbyists and special interest groups are already lobbying for their place in line with each legislator, “I get the 2nd and 3rd bill of 10, so and so got your ear last year, one of those spots belong to me!” What a tragedy this Harwell proposal creates. The power of the people taken away at the expense of big government with constraints on those that represent them and lay prey to special interests.

One can argue that “I thought you wanted smaller government, sir? Yes smaller government is always better but smaller government with less representation is not a favorable solution.

Let’s get on the phone and let this RINO darling know that we want equal and unfettered representation in our State House. We the people on occasion suggest model legislation also with issues that affect us. In my opinion this move by the Governor and Speaker Harwell limits our ability to be represented in our own state.

Call the numbers below and quickly as this issue is being debated this week and a decision will be made soon. Let’s let Harwell and Haslam know that dictatorships are not well thought of in the state of Tennessee!

They together are trying to railroad a rules change to stop conservative policies from being implemented. Let’s not let this takeover of our representative government by a few puppets who are deadset on limiting the power of the people.

Here is the story:

http://tnreport.com/2013/01/05/harwells-bill-limit-proposal-filled-with-exemptions/

Call or email her office and tell her NO rules changes!

speaker.beth.harwell@capitol.tn.gov

(615) 504-5398

(615) 385-0357

(615) 741-0709

2nd Amendment Preservation Act needing a sponsor

The Tenth Amendment Center has created a piece of legislature to preserve our gun rights in Tennessee. As many of you know, in the wake of recent school shootings, the liberal Socialists in DC are pursuing every opportunity to take our guns out of many hands because of the actions of a few evil twisted people.

The 2nd Amendment was written to protect us from a tyrannical government, not purely for hunting and target practice. The assault on our constitution by the likes of the United Nations, Harry Reid, Diane Feinstein and a host of others is coming out of their mouths much too easily these days.

This preservation act that had recently been drafted is to send a strong message to our Federal Government that our guns and our Constitution or any part of it are not on the table for any disruption or hijacking by the likes of a communist regime. Our guns are not negotiable and we will not simply stand by while you destroy the fiber of what has made this country strong and free for years.

We are needing a sponsor or someone to pick up this act and deliver it to the house for approval. Our state rights must be our voice and we are asserting our rights to do so. I am calling on all or any legislators or State Senators to run this throughout the necessary committees to get it approved and in place as we are sure to see very soon an onslaught of new regulations that will squelch and eventually take away our gun rights.

I am putting out a challenge to one of our Tn State Legislators or State Senators to take the proverbial ball and run with it.

State Representative Kevin Brooks or Eric Watson?
State Senator Mike Bell or perhaps the likes of Bo Watson?

Who can take this bill and make it a reality?

We must get on the phone with these guys and encourage them to stand in the gap and get it done!

We are only a minute from losing many rights that our forefathers and the many after them have fought very hard for to prevent this day and we are making it way to easy on a fake president and his cronies to do it in one 8 year term.

Please feel free to copy and paste this proposed act and take it with you so it can be done. Please give me a call if you accept the challenge. It would be great if I could get 10 calls or more. But to prevent duplication and we need a sponsor and then co sponsors. There is plenty of room for all.

2nd Amendment Preservation Act

AN ACT, which shall be known and may be cited as the “2nd Amendment Preservation Act.”

To prevent federal infringement on the right to keep and bear arms; nullifying all federal acts in violation of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF (STATE) DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1 The legislature of the State of ____________ finds that:

A. The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States reads as follows, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

B. All federal acts, laws, orders, rules or regulations regarding firearms are a violation of the 2nd Amendment

SECTION 2 PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL INFRINGEMENT OF THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS

A. The Legislature of the State of _______________ declares that all federal acts, laws, orders, rules, regulations – past, present or future – in violation of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States are not authorized by the Constitution of the United States and violate its true meaning and intent as given by the Founders and Ratifiers, and are hereby declared to be invalid in this state, shall not be recognized by this state, are specifically rejected by this state, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in this state.

B. It shall be the duty of the legislature of this State to adopt and enact any and all measures as may be necessary to prevent the enforcement of any federal acts, laws, orders, rules, or regulations in violation of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

SECTION 3 EFFECTIVE DATE

A. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

http://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d&id=b61ff8c85c&e=280a756647

OBAMA appoints terrorist sympathizer Al-Marayati to OSCE post

Salam al-Marayati, founder of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), was chosen to represent the United States government at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) annual 10-day human rights conference, the Human Dimension Implementation Meetings (HDIM). The conference concluded last week in Warsaw and Mr. al Marayati’s appointment to the delegation may have been largely overlooked due to the furor over the threats by the Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to arrest OSCE election monitors.

Al Marayati has been widely criticized for his support of Hamas and Hezbollah; both listed by the United States government as terrorist organizations. Mr. al Marayati insists the groups are engaged in providing social programs and humanitarian assistance to the residents of Gaza and Lebanon and he refuses to condemn them for their repeated acts of terrorism; cynically referring to the murder of Israeli civilians as “quote unquote military operations.”

Al-Marayatis appointment by Obama was highly criticized in Jewish media as Counter-terrorism expert Steve Emerson told The Jewish Press that “Al-Marayati’s appointment is not just scandalous but also does incalculable damage to our values as a nation whose core principles categorically reject the legitimization of a racist supporter of terrorism, and an incendiary proponent of paranoid conspiracies that provides the motivation for radical Muslims to carry out terrorism.”

Al-Marayati was recently quoted as saying at an OSCE Human Right conference in WARSAW, yes home of the largest Jewish ghettos and population centers said, “the situation of Muslims as a religious minority in America.”  He quoted President Obama’s 2009 Cairo speech, in which he said, “‘it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit – for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear,’” and called for “governments to ‘stop targeting Muslims through legislation or policy, and instead enshrine the ground of religion or belief as a prohibited ground of discrimination in all realms.”

Steve Emerson, one of the premier counter-terrorism experts, and someone who has conducted extensive research into Al-Marayati’s background, told The Jewish Press,

For this administration to appoint (Al-Marayati) to a human rights organization, who has openly supported Hezbollah, claimed that the FBI has illegally incited Muslims on terrorism charges because of FBI sanctioned policies of “racial profiling,” has defended as innocent the most notorious members of Hamas who were found guilty of laundering millions of dollars to a terrorist group, and someone who has complained of ‘having the Holocaust shoved down [his] throat,’ is an outrage.

Emerson suggested  that the appointment of Al-Marayati as a representative of the U.S. at one of the world’s largest human rights conference, cries out for a congressional investigation of the larger and more heinous scandal of the unprecedented degree to which the Obama administration has embraced and collaborated with radical Muslim groups in the U.S. whose lineage derives directly from the world wide totalitarian Muslim Brotherhood movement.

The larger picture of why there are UN/OSCE “poll watchers” in Nashville Tennessee and across the US to observe our next election is becoming clearer by the day as my research is revealing.

The deafening silence from our State Legislators, Senators and our Governor Bill Haslam is becoming more understandable as the days pass. The muzzling of our elected leaders seems to be in unison and planned, perhaps suggesting complicity with Islamic extremist and the political correctness that has become acceptable as we coddle the same people that want to cripple our country.

Sprinkle in the flurry of new mosques in Nashville, ALECs model legislation, corporate funded Voter ID bill, appointment by Haslam of a Sharia Finance expert to a high level position within our own Tennessee Government with ties to sheiks and immams associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. The appointment of Al-Marayati to the OSCE who happens to be in Nashville Tennessee monitoring, intimidating voters and perhaps swaying the vote any way they can.

The recent requests of the NAACP, SEIU and the ACLU to monitor our elections is suspect. The United Nations involvement in our elections, Former ACORN (True Vote) consulting with OSCE on what to look for in the way of Election fraud while being one of the worst offenders of election fraud in recent history is ascnine. The Reverend Al Sharpton sacheting his “brigades of poll watchers” into town to spew hate and promote racism would be comical if not so sad. Our elected officials allowing this to brew and spew over into our communities is rediculous and the integrity of our election potentially being jeopardized is disheartening and begs of someone to be held responsible for their open appeasement.

Furthermore, the Anti-Defamation League spokesperson had this to say about Obamas appointment of Al-Mayarati to the OSCE Commission: “It is regrettable that someone with such distorted, conspiratorial views—even with a lackluster apology—is delegated by our government to represent our country abroad,”

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, argued that the State Department is showing inconsistency by touting an individual who has defended the militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas, both of which are designated by the U.S. as terrorist organizations.

“One would assume that individuals selected to represent the United States at an international human rights conclave would share our government’s longstanding policy that Hamas and Hezbollah are dangerous terrorist organizations,” Cooper told the Free Beacon. “But Mr. Salam al-Marayati and his organization are long-time advocates that these deadly terror groups be removed from the U.S. terrorist list.”

“With terrorism continuing to boil the Middle East,” Cooper added, “the question is why the U.S. State Department would say he is ‘highly credible’?”

Josh Block, a former Clinton administration official who now serves as CEO of The Israel Project, said the State Department’s defense of al-Marayati lacks credibility.

“That statement, defending a person who is clearly a terrorist sympathizer and deeply hostile to Israel, calls into question the credibility of the person who gave it, and it raises a very serious question: What exactly is the U.S. government saying here?” Block asked.

“It is inexplicable and deeply concerning that a person who has suggested Israel was responsible for the 9/11 attacks and advocated for terrorist organizations including Hamas and Hezbollah, which has killed more Americans than any terrorist group except al Qaeda, would be described as ‘valued’ and ‘highly credible’ by our government,” Block said.

The State Department, however, defended al-Marayati’s participation, calling him “valued and highly credible.”

Remember, these so called “valued and highly credible” people are inside our borders, represented by the United Nations and are monitoring our elections and may even influence the outcome or spark riots in the streets if the outcome of the election is not to their liking.

God help us America. Our best hope is that our elected officials will wake up and stop this takeover of our government and everything it represents.

Humbly my opinions and we all know what opinions are like.

Source of info:

I want to personally thank the authors of many of these quotes as they are very important to spreading the news of the happenings in our country. Please visit these sites often and offer them support, public information is our greatest weapon against this onslaught. The complete rendering of the leftist press to remain silent on this issue is beyond my understanding. Thank God the first amendment is still intact….for now.

http://www.inquisitr.com/384565/obama-delegate-to-osce-human-rights-conference-called-israel-911-suspect-supported-hamas/

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/wap/Item.aspx?type=0&item=160909

http://sheikyermami.com/2012/10/03/scandalous-obama-regime-sends-mu-bro-operative-salam-al-marayati-to-warsaw-human-rights-conference/

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2012/10/obama-picks-islamic-supremacist-defender-of-hamas-and-hizballah-to-represent-us-at-human-rights-conf.html

Obama, Clinton grant UN “poll watchers” diplomatic immunity, Texas AG says “bring it”

BCN Note- A showdown between Lone Star Texans Attorney General Abbott, Governor Rick Perry and Communist, Marxist and Socialist Barrack Hussein Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton is quickly heating up over UN Monitors from the OSCE observing our elections.

As attention to this battle intensifies the fangs are coming out and the real reasons the United Nations are in our back yard is starting to come to light!

Obama granting this OSCE “poll watching” group “full diplomatic immunity”, meaning they are above the law and not required to follow our state election laws speaks volumes of why they are in our country.

When groups like ACORN (True Vote) although defunct are still very active under another name, ACLU, NAACP, SEIU, Al Sharpton you know there is an agenda. It seems this UN/OSCE delegation which has now grown to 150 or so has turned from apolitical to partisan. Recent research has revealed that the constitutional voter ID laws are the fuel that is igniting their increased presence in Tennessee and the US.

It is evident that their continued and increasing presence at polling places all over the US is going to fan a possible revolution if Obama loses that will be preceeded with a massive deluge of lawsuits challenging our elections and they will have the strength of an international body at their backs. Mark my word it’s clear as crystal.

Please read the article below and visit the New American website for many more outstanding articles. It was so informative I wanted to keep my rants short.

Sunday, 28 October 2012 15:00
Obama Backs UN-linked Election Monitors, but Texas Stands Firm
Written by  Alex Newman

http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/13415-obama-backs-un-linked-election-monitors-but-texas-stands-firm

As the national scandal over United Nations-linked “elections monitors” in the United States continues to grow after Texas threatened potential prosecutions, the international outfit deploying “observers” demanded that the Obama administration come to its aid. The U.S. State Department promptly claimed that the UN-affiliated monitors would have “full” diplomatic immunity. But in the Lone Star State, officials fired back and upped the ante: Don’t mess with Texas.

On October 23, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott sent a strongly worded letter to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) warning that its representatives could be prosecuted if they violate state law or are found within 100 feet of a polling place. Among the most serious concerns was the fact that the UN partner organization was working with discredited far-left radical groups to supposedly seek out conservative “voter suppression” schemes — mostly state laws aimed at preventing election fraud.

In a statement, the OSCE also said it would monitor “compliance” with unspecified “international obligations” supposedly applicable to the United States. The controversial organization, which includes as members the governments and dictators ruling Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and other nations, responded to Texas with its own letter to the U.S. State Department warning against any efforts to “restrain” its personnel.

“The threat of criminal sanctions against OSCE/ODIHR observers is unacceptable,” complained Janez Lenarcic, chief of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) monitoring operations. “The United States, like all countries in the OSCE, has an obligation to invite ODIHR observers to observe its elections.” (Emphasis added.)  

The Obama administration responded to the controversy by purporting to offer the international “elections monitors” supposed “diplomatic immunity” — essentially claiming that they were above the law, even in Texas. The two monitors for Texas, scheduled to be deployed in Austin, are Conny Jensen from Denmark and Melanie Leathers from the United Kingdom, documents show. In an October 26 press conference, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland claimed that “in general, we give them protected status.”

The spokesperson also claimed there were “no sovereignty issues” involved, emphasizing, as Texas’s attorney general did, that the OSCE obviously has no authority over the states it chooses to monitor. “They have said that they do not intend to violate any laws while in the United States,” Nuland claimed. “So we are going to let the conversations go forward between the OSCE and Texas and see how that goes.”

In the Lone Star State, however, officials did not take kindly to the international whining or the Obama administration’s response. “No UN monitors/inspectors will be part of any TX election process,” tweeted Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, in support of his chief law-enforcement officer. GOP U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz, a popular conservative who made opposition to UN schemes a key part of his campaign, also saluted Abbot for standing up to the scandal-plagued international outfit.  

The Texas attorney general, meanwhile, remained defiant despite State Department pronouncements and OSCE complaining. “UN-related vote monitors warn Texas: Don’t mess with us. My response: BRING IT,” Abbott tweeted in response. He also quoted Sam Houston saying: “Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may.” Following the tweets, Abbot also sent an official letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton laying down the law. 

“It appears that OSCE is under the misimpression that the State Department can somehow help its representatives circumvent the Texas Election Code. Texas law prohibits unauthorized persons from entering a polling place — or loitering within 100 feet of a polling place’s entrance — on Election Day,” the attorney general explained to Clinton. “OSCE monitors are expected to follow that law like everyone else.”

Of course, as Clinton already knows, Texas election laws govern anyone and everyone who wishes to participate in elections held in the Lone Star State, Abbott said. “The fact that representatives of the United States joined the U.S.S.R, Yugoslavia, Romania, and other OSCE member-nations in signing a document at a 1989 conference in Copenhagen has absolutely no bearing on the administration of elections or laws governing elections in the State of Texas,” he warned.

If the OSCE wants to visit Texas during the election, Abbott said the state would welcome the opportunity to educate its representatives about state elections — perhaps it could be useful to OSCE member regimes like the brutal communist tyrant ruling over Belarus. “But OSCE is not above the law and its representatives must at all times comply with Texas law when they are present in this state,” he added.

The 1990 OSCE governing document signed by the representatives of the U.S. government and cited by the international group in its pleas with the Obama administration is “legally irrelevant” in Texas and “will have no impact” on the way the state administers its election, Abbott pointed out. However, the attorney general still added that, even according to that agreement, observers are required to follow applicable law. In other words, the OSCE is making “false” claims.

In addition to misconstruing its own governing documents, in its letter to the Obama administration, the OSCE promised only to follow all “national” laws and regulations. “This statement may simply reveal that the OSCE is unfamiliar with our nation’s federalist system,” Abbott observed in his letter to Clinton. “On the other hand, it may reveal that the OSCE does not consider itself restrained by state law.”

In either case, Texas needs assurances from the OSCE that it intends to strictly comply with all state laws. So far, Abbott said, those assurances have not been forthcoming. There are other problems, too, however.  

“In addition to my desire to defend and enforce Texas election laws, I am also concerned that an unnecessary political agenda may have infected OSCE’s election monitoring activities,” the state’s top law enforcement officer explained, citing the international outfit’s objections to efforts aimed at preventing registration fraud as well as state laws requiring voter ID. “The OSCE may object to photo identification laws and prohibitions on felons voting — but our nation’s Supreme Court has upheld both laws as entirely consistent with the U.S. Constitution.”

Ironically, Abbott added, the OSCE’s U.S. election monitoring boss, diplomat Daan Everts, hails from the Netherlands, which requires that all voters present identification to help combat fraud. “Why the OSCE appears to now question voter identification laws in the United States is beyond reason. Perhaps it is just politics,” the letter stated. “Regardless, the OSCE’s perspective on Voter ID is legally irrelevant in the United States.”

Meanwhile, the attorney general also took the opportunity to blast the OSCE yet again for meeting with “plainly partisan” U.S. organizations. Among the American groups working with the OSCE are the NAACP, the ACLU, and assorted splinter groups like “Project Vote” formed after the taxpayer-funded, Obama-linked organization ACORN collapsed in disgrace amid charges of massive voting fraud.

In letters and meetings with the international monitors, those groups warned of alleged efforts by conservatives to “disenfranchise” minority voters. The OSCE promised to follow up on the half-baked accusations, drawing widespread criticism and ridicule across the country.

“This appears to reflect a concerted effort to politicize an initiative that was previously perceived as an international information exchange program,” Abbot wrote. “While Texas may welcome visitors from any nation or international organization who wish to learn more about the steps the State has taken to protect the integrity of state elections, we need not open our doors and accommodate an international effort affiliated with partisan organizations in the United States that wish to suppress electoral integrity.”

Of particular concern, Abbot said, was an organization known as Project Vote, which recently boasted that it was helping to advise the OSCE on what issues and jurisdictions to “monitor” this election. “In light of Project Vote’s history of voter registration fraud and its more recent failed attempt to enjoin Texas election laws that were enacted to prevent fraud, no legitimate international body would affiliate with Project Vote,” the attorney general wrote. “Consequently, OSCE’s affiliation with this dubious organization necessarily undermines its credibility and the independence of its election monitors.”

Abbott also took the opportunity to provide some constitutional education for Clinton and Washington, D.C., which seemingly view Texas and other sovereign U.S. states as mere provinces subject to the whims and dictates of the federal government. In the Lone Star State, at least, officials apparently know that the United States was founded under a system in which the central government has limited and specifically enumerated powers. 

“The United States Constitution authorizes the States to regulate the conduct of state and federal elections within their borders,” Abbott’s letter continues. “Unlike the unelected bureaucrats at the OSCE, our State’s leaders and decision-makers were duly elected by Texas voters. Elected members of the Texas Legislature enacted the Texas Election Code to ensure our State’s elections are free, fair, open, and reliable.”

Finally, the attorney general emphasized again, Texas’ election laws do not authorize OSCE representatives to enter polling places. If they do, there will be consequences. Nothing in any OSCE governing documents has any impact — legal or otherwise — on how elections are conducted in Texas, Abbott warned.

“If the OSCE does not wish to follow the laws that govern everyone else present in the State of Texas, including the voters who elect our State’s leaders, then perhaps it should dispatch its representatives to another state,” Abbot concluded. “In closing, I have a simple request: Please work with the OSCE to ensure they agree to comply with Texas law. If they refuse to do so, OSCE’s representatives may be subject to legal consequences associated with any violations of state law.”

Analysts and activists across the country promptly showered praise on the state of Texas and its officials for standing up to the controversial international scheme while protecting state sovereignty, constitutional values, and the rule of law. However, more than a few experts also warned that the UN and its affiliates were becoming increasingly threatening. If America hopes to maintain its freedom and sovereignty, it must continue to resist any and all efforts to impose or even legitimize purported international “authority” over the American people.

Iowa joins other states reigning in UN “poll watchers”, TN remains mute

Iowa has joined with Alabama and Texas as states listening to the will of the people and warning UN “poll watchers” that they will be arrested if they violate strict election and voting laws.

In a specific statement Iowas Secretary of State issued a warning to UN “poll watchers” that if they enter polling areas and are within 100 feet of a voting booth they will be arrested on the spot.

Many have reported seeing UN “poll watchers” inside election buildings meeting candidates and observing along side election officials as a few sources observing the observers have confirmed.

To date, in Tennessee we have not heard such a bold statement from our elected leaders even at the behest of many of their constituency.

Altough Tennessee State Senator Mike Bell did report via email, in a conversation recently with Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, Bell went on to explain Hargett said the observers will only be there to “learn and observe and the will adhere to election laws.”

Senator Bell added that concerns about the observers were “overblown” but did affirm his distaste for the UN in this email statement, “First, I will say we should be completely out of the U.N.  This organization is (and) has always been controlled by interest who would like nothing better than to take down America.”

Multiple attempts to converse with other Tennessee local state and federal officials has gone unanswered.

Several concerned citizens from Bradley County, Tennessee are exploring the option of seeking court injunctions to stop the observation and potential overreach of UN/OSCE delegates while on US soil if our representatives fail to act.

The lack of response of our elected officials to protect our sovereignty and integrity of our election process should be noticed, especially in light of a recent Tn State House resolution by State Representative Kevin Brooks, HJR 587, condemning UN involvement in our communities, as it relates to Agenda 21, a UN agenda to transform our communities. The measure passed easily in the house and Senate but failed to get Governor Bill Haslams signature.

The letter below from Iowa Secretary of State Shultz lays down specific ground rules for UN involvement from observers and draws a line in the sand citing specific state laws that confines their activities in and around the polling booths.

(DES MOINES)—Matt Schultz, Iowa Secretary of State, issued the following statement in response to reports that members of a UN-chartered delegation are being dispatched across the United States, including Iowa, to observe the General Election:

“As Secretary of State, I support the efforts of other nations to learn more about our election process and ways in which they might improve their own election systems. We welcome the four international visitors to our great state.

The Texas Secretary of State recently drew the ire of the OSCE when he announced that UN International poll watchers would be arrested if they showed up within 100 feet of polling areas. However, it was reported yesterday that members of this organization are attempting to gain access to Iowa polling places on Election Day. My office met with two delegation representatives last week to discuss Iowa’s election process and it was explained to them that they are not permitted at the polls. Iowa law is very specific about who is permitted at polling places, and there is no exception for members of this group.”

Iowa Code section 49.104 defines the limited number of individuals permitted at polling places on Election Day, and section 49.105 states that poll workers “shall order the arrest” of any persons violating these provisions.

Any election law violations can be reported to the Iowa Secretary of State’s office by calling the Election Hotline at 1-888-SOS-VOTE.

The OSCE recently responded to the Texas Secretary of State in a speech to NATO and in a letter to Secretary Hillary Clinton regarding Texas’ threats to arrest UN “poll watchers” that violate the law.

“The threat of criminal sanctions against [international] observers is unacceptable,” Janez Lenari, the director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), said in a statement. “The United States, like all countries in the OSCE, has an obligation to invite ODIHR observers to observe its elections.”

It shows that we have allowed way too much control by international bodies when they scathingly address the US and it’s people the way the OSCE Director Janez Lenari recently did.

This type of reprimand by the UN asserts that they have some type of ownership and supervision of a free people. This is unacceptable to a freedom loving country and should not be tolerated by those in office that represent us.

“The only thing between accepting tyranny from the UN is an undying desire from its patriots to remain sovereign and free!”

You can quote me on that one!

http://patdollard.com/2012/10/iowa-to-forbid-un-international-observers-at-elections/

http://m.wcfcourier.com/mobile-touch-2/?disableTNStatsTracker=1&asset=75e4c70f-76f3-599a-9722-8943b3e36379#75e4c70f-76f3-599a-9722-8943b3e36379

ALEC- Big corporation “bill mill” members revealed, has local ties

Revealing a “bill mill” member list that has numerous corporate influences has proven to be a difficult task. Although no one really appears to want to be associated with this group, the list has been evasive but not insurmountable.

In case you were wandering, TN State Rep 24 District Kevin Brooks and State Senator 9th District Mike Bell are on this list with Julia Hurley, Gerald McCormick and recently RINO hunted and ousted Debra Maggart.

ALEC’s own website misdirected me and left me with no results when I pressed the tab for a complete membership list. This prompted me to request via email to a Mrs K. Jones to reveal that list, which at the time of this posting has not been answered.

The level of influence this semi secretive fascist group has on legislation that hits the State Senate and House floor is phenomenal. ALEC boasts about a thousand successful bills that have ranged from cutting large corporate taxes to defunding public schools and shifting public money to private education.

Largely this group identifies itself as a conservative group with grassroots ties but many of their proposed bills over the years has suggested otherwise.

Scanning over the list of elected and non elected officials I see many RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) tied to NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) and PPPs (Public Private Partnerships)

It does not surprise me that the Gates Foundation recently donated almost a half million dollars to the group to promote educational And other issues but later pulled it’s membership but left it’s donation. Sort of tells me they were in and out with the cash. Sort of like a lobbyist would do to get a bill passed.

The KOCH brothers essentially creating and funding this organization with many corporate membership fees deepens the involvement of the bureaucracy that is influencing our elected officials and getting their bills to the house floor. Being of multi billion dollar oil fortunes, it again doesnt surprise me that around 15 oil companies are on the corporate list of manipulators.

Struggling public schools are meeting heavier challenges as ALEC passes legislation through it’s educational committee that is crippling the local education cash flow. Our very own 24th District Tennessee State Representative Kevin Brooks is on the education board.

I am all about we need to reign in our public schools and the endless flow of taxpayer dollars that get sucked up by huge vacuums of red tape and lucrative paying jobs for top brass. I think it is more important to recognize those that are behind the scenes making this more difficult. Our State Legislator publicly supports public education but the “model legislation” that cones out of ALEC is the opposite. I am preparing a blog about the bills that have been passed through ALEC’s Education committee to support my claim. The info is out there it is just disguised very well and warrants many hours of research to expose it.

Take a look at the people, the companies and the outside organizations, many international, that are working with ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) to influence legislation that affects you.

At first glance you think these bills that are being tossed out of ALEC are the genius of a very productive legislator or Senator, when in fact they are nothing more than a clone of a big corporation with an avenue to destroy the free market through favoritism and manipulation.

ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC’s operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy’s ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our PRWatch.org site.

Tennessee legislators and Senators that are members of ALEC. Not surprising locally our very own State Representative Kevin Brooks and State Senator Mike Bell are on board with this fascist group.

http://www.tndp.org/m/blogpost?id=2933001%3ABlogPost%3A53627

A complete list of ALEC politicians past and present that are acting as corporate drones.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ALEC_Politicians#Task_Force_Politicians

A complete list of corporations that are driving legislation that favors their interests.

http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=8078765

Large coporations that have bailed out of ALEC recently because of controversy.

http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=8232981

Remember these comments and opinion on this page are conclusions based on fact and hours of research. The pleasing long term result for me is now you get to make up your own mind and come to your own conclusion and we all sleep better at night knowing we are now informed. Have a great day!

A.L.E.C.- Koch Brothers manipulating legislators to push “model legislation”

What is ALEC?
The American Legislative Exchange Council-(ALEC)

BCN Note- Deep within our state legislative and Senate house a semi secretive organization exists that wines and dines select State Legislators and State Senators in hopes of grabbing a vote on “model legislation” that favors big corporations and essentially leaves the little guy at a steep disadvantage.

While many fail to mention they are in this covert group, understandibly many can easily see how one can adapt to the loss of memory if the kick back or benefit of membership into this club is high enough.

These elected officials are coerced into passing or submitting legislation that favors huge business with lucrative trips and gifts. Some have even been known to accept a stripper or two according to some sources. They sit side by side with leaders of large corporations that directly influence coporate policy in exchange for a bill and a vote that passes the muster.

The free market was designed to function as a complete entity separate from manipulation and coercion. It cannot exist as long as a few have the power and influence. This action will somehow tip the balance severing the free market and causing it to collapse as we are seeing now as we inch closer to a depression.

You will have a real tough time believing who locally is on this corporate panel that favors large corporations. The hand is out once again and it’s saying “show me the money!” I am working on a list of Senators and legislators who participate in this ample reward club.

ALEC is not a lobby; (although it functions as one) it is not a front group (although it is a “think tank” for large corporations with plenty of money to blow on the lifeless soul of an elected official.

It is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, behind closed doors, corporations hand state legislators the changes to the law they desire that directly benefit their bottom line.

Along with legislators, corporations have membership in ALEC. Corporations sit on all nine ALEC task forces and vote with legislators to approve “model” bills. They have their own corporate governing board which meets jointly with the legislative board. (ALEC says that corporations do not vote on the board.) Corporations fund almost all of ALEC’s operations.

Participating legislators, overwhelmingly conservative Republicans, then bring those proposals home and introduce them in statehouses across the land as their own brilliant ideas and important public policy innovations—without disclosing that corporations crafted and voted on the bills.

ALEC boasts that it has over 1,000 of these bills introduced by legislative members every year, with one in every five of them enacted into law. ALEC describes itself as a “unique,” “unparalleled” and “unmatched” organization. We agree. It is as if a state legislature had been reconstituted, yet corporations had pushed the people out the door.

Who funds ALEC?

More than 98% of ALEC’s revenues come from sources other than legislative dues, such as corporations, corporate trade groups, and corporate foundations. Each corporate member pays an annual fee of between $7,000 and $25,000 a year, and if a corporation participates in any of the nine task forces, additional fees apply, from $2,500 to $10,000 each year.

ALEC also receives direct grants from corporations, such as $1.4 million from ExxonMobil from 1998-2009. It has also received grants from some of the biggest foundations funded by corporate CEOs in the country, such as: the Koch family Charles G. Koch Foundation, the Koch-managed Claude R. Lambe Foundation, the Scaife family Allegheny Foundation, the Coors family Castle Rock Foundation, to name a few.

Less than 2% of ALEC’s funding comes from “Membership Dues” of $50 per year paid by state legislators, a steeply discounted price that may run afoul of state gift bans. For more, see CMD’s special report on ALEC funding and spending here.

Is it nonpartisan as claimed?

ALEC describes itself as a non-partisan, non-profit organization. The facts show that it currently has one Democrat out of 104 legislators in leadership positions.

ALEC members, speakers, alumni, and award winners are a “who’s who” of the extreme right. ALEC has given awards to: Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, George H.W. Bush, Charles and David Koch, Richard de Vos, Tommy Thompson, Gov. John Kasich, Gov. Rick Perry, Congressman Mark Foley (intern sex scandal), and Congressman Billy Tauzin. ALEC alumni include: Speaker of the House John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Congressman Joe Wilson, (who called President Obama a “liar” during the State of the Union address), former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, former House Speaker Tom DeLay, Andrew Card, Donald Rumsfeld (1985 Chair of ALEC’s Business Policy Board), Governor Scott Walker, Governor Jan Brewer, and more. Featured speakers have included: Milton Friedman, Newt Gingrich, Dick Cheney, Dan Quayle, George Allen, Jessie Helms, Pete Coors, Governor Mitch Daniels and more. (That’s a huge collection of mostly RINOs, a few exceptions perhaps)

What goes on behind closed doors?

The organization boasts 2,000 legislative members and 300 or more corporate members. The unelected corporate representatives (often registered lobbyists) sit as equals with elected representatives on nine task forces where they have a “voice and a vote” on model legislation.

Corporations on ALEC task forces VOTE on the “model” bills and resolutions, and sit as equals with legislators voting on the ALEC task forces and various working groups. Corporate and legislative governing boards also meet jointly each year. (ALEC says only the legislators have a final say on all model bills. ALEC has previously said that “The policies are debated and voted on by all members. Public and private members vote separately on policy. It is important to note that laws are not passed, debated or adopted during this process and therefore no lobbying takes place. That process is done at the state legislature.”)

The long-term representation of Koch Industries on the governing board means that Koch has had influence over an untold number of ALEC bills. Due to the questionable nature of this partnership with corporations, legislators rarely discuss the origins of the model legislation they bring home. Though thousands of ALEC-approved model bills have been publicly introduced across the country, ALEC’s role facilitating the language in the bills and the corporate vote for them is not well known.

(ALEC legislators sometimes compare the organization to the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), yet the two organizations could not be more different. NCSL has zero corporate members. It is funded largely by state government appropriations and conference fees; it has a truly bipartisan governance structure, and there is a large role for nonpartisan professional staff; it does not vote on or promote model legislation; meetings are public and so are any agreed upon documents. Corporations do sponsor receptions at NCSL events through a separate foundation. For more information, see the document ALEC & NCSL.)

How do corporations benefit?

Although ALEC claims to take an ideological stance (of supposedly “Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism, and individual liberty”), many of the model bills benefit the corporations whose agents write them, shape them, and/or vote to approve them. These are just a few such measures:
Altria/Philip Morris USA benefits from ALEC’s newest tobacco legislation — an extremely narrow tax break for moist tobacco that would make fruit flavored tobacco products cheaper and more attractive to youngsters.

Health insurance companies such as Humana and Golden Rule Insurance (United Healthcare), benefit directly from ALEC model bills, such as the Health Savings Account bill that just passed in Wisconsin.
Tobacco firms such as Reynolds and pharmaceutical firms such as Bayer benefit directly from ALEC tort reform measures that make it harder for Americans to sue when injured by dangerous products.

Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) benefits directly from the anti-immigrant legislation introduced in Arizona and other states that requires expanded incarceration and housing of immigrants, along with other bills from ALEC’s crime task force. (While CCA has stated that it left ALEC in late 2010 after years of membership on the Criminal Justice Task Force and even co-chairing it, its prison privatization bills remain ALEC “models.”)
Connections Academy, a large online education corporation and co-chair of the Education Task Force, benefits from ALEC measures to privatize public education and promote private on-line schools.

How do legislators benefit?

Why would a legislator be interested in advancing cookie-cutter bills that are corporate give-aways for global firms located outside of their district? ALEC’s appeal rests largely on the fact that legislators receive an all-expenses-paid trip that provides many part-time legislators with vacations that they could not afford on their own, along with the opportunity to rub shoulders with wealthy captains of industry (major prospective out-of-state donors to their political campaigns).

For a few hours of work on a task force and a couple of indoctrination sessions by ALEC experts, part-time legislators can bring the whole family to ALEC’s annual convention, work for a few hours, then stay in swank hotels, attend cool parties — even strip clubs– and raise funds for the campaign coffer, all heavily subsidized by the corporate till. In 2009, ALEC spent $251,873 on childcare so mom and dad could have fun.

Is it lobbying?

In most ordinary people’s view, handing bills to legislators so they can introduce them is the very definition of lobbying. ALEC says “no lobbying takes place.” The current chairman of ALEC’s corporate board is W. Preston Baldwin III, until recently a lobbyist and the Vice President of State Government Affairs at UST Inc., a tobacco firm now owned by Altria/Phillip Morris USA. Altria is advancing a very short, specific bill to change the way moist tobacco products (such as fruit flavored “snus”) are taxed– to make it cheaper and more attractive to young tobacco users according to health experts.

In fact, 20 of the 24 corporate representatives on ALEC’s “Private Enterprise Board” are lobbyists representing major firms such as Koch Industries, Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, Wal-Mart and Johnson and Johnson.
ALEC makes old-fashioned lobbying obsolete. Once legislators return to their state with corporate-sponsored ALEC legislation in hand, the legislators themselves become “super-lobbyists” for ALEC’s corporate agenda, cutting out the middleman. Yet ALEC enjoys a 501(c)(3) classification, which allows it to keep its tax-exempt status while accepting grants from foundations, corporations, and other donors.

In our view, the activities that corporate members engage in should be considered lobbying by the IRS, and the entity that facilitates that effort to influence state law, ALEC, should also be considered to be engaged predominantly in lobby-related activities, not simply “educational” activities. Re-classifying ALEC as primarily engaged in lobbying facilitation would mean that donations to it would not count as tax-deductible for businesses and foundations. Common Cause filed a complaint with the IRS on July 14, 2011, setting forth evidence supporting its complaint that ALEC is engaged in lobbying despite its claims to do no lobbying.

Is it legal?

ALEC’s operating model raises many ethical and legal concerns. Each state has a different set of ethics laws or rules. The presence of lobbyists alone may cause ethics problems for some state legislators. Wisconsin, for instance, generally requires legislators who go to events with registered lobbyists to pay on their own dime, yet in many states, legislators use public funds to attend ALEC meetings.

According to one study, $3 million in public funds was spent to
attend ALEC meetings in one year. Some legislators use their personal funds and are reimbursed by ALEC. Such “scholarships” may be disclosed if gifts are required to be reported. But should the legislators be allowed to accept this money when lobbyists are present at the meeting? Still other legislators use their campaign funds to go and are again reimbursed by ALEC; in some states, campaign funds are only allowed to be used to attend campaign events.
In short, many state ethics codes might consider the free vacation, steeply discounted membership fees, free day care or travel scholarships to be “gifts” that should be disallowed or disclosed.

This is a great site, please visit frequently and encourage more to stand up against injustice and attacks on our sovereignty! Thanks for the exposing ALEC website and providing most of the dialogue above except for a few commentaries and for telling it like it is. Go to the site below for more information in ALEC.

http://alecexposed.org/wiki/What_is_ALEC%3F

These “esteemed” savages got the key to our city and we call them sister

I am going to limit my words here to leave the emphasis on the obvious of what just happened in Cleveland Tennessee. Our Mayor Tom Rowland and our State Legislator Kevin Brooks and Governor Bill Haslam have welcomed one of the worst human rights offenders in the world to our city and we call them sister and give them the key to our city.

We were swept away with the pomp and circumstance as our Mayor bowed to a ruthless dictator while slipping him the key to our city. Where is the humanity in this? Where are the church leaders in our town that should be speaking up for these children and their parents being taken in and forced into slave labor, child prostitution and human trafficking? Why do we choose to turn a blind eye to the reality of our associations? How can Rowland, Brooks and Haslam not see this delegation for what they truly are? Why doesnt the rule of you are known by your associations apply here? How can we build these people up while ignoring their devilish and satanic actions?

I will tell you simply. We have once again sighted our vision in the almighty dollar instead of the humanity that suffers because of our actions. We can forget the action if it profits me!

We listen to others influential in all things business like the Chamber of Commerce. We instead ignore Gods voice of conviction that must lay heavy on these leaders hearts.

We have lost touch with the sense that while helping a few become wealthy while making a few spiritual leaders feel warm and fuzzy all over. The intended message has been eternally lost. Gods message to love thy neighbor and assist them when troubled has been watered down by an opportunity to outsource a mattress factory and spread the wealth. A child slaving over a mattress has become more important than giving that same kid a place to rest his head at night.

The assumed numerous children of Pol Pot living in Phnom Penh who have lived to tell the story of horrendous crimes and powerful regimes are now being further exploited by our elected leaders who would rather turn a blind eye to the iniquities of many for the promotion of self.

God bless our city and the misdirection it has received, bless our leaders as this regime is lifted to royalty. Please let’s take a look at the real people that we are gloating about and let’s put value on his excellency for what they really are……ruthless thugs with enough power to influence many to participate in the degregation of a generation of children and people and further chaining their feet to a communist/socialist regime that is being empowered by the elite a thousand miles away from them.

Please take the time to get to know these Cambodian delegates and sisterS of our city that have been given the key to our city by seemingly likeminded politicians who seem oblivious to the influence our support has on the futures of a generation where 50 percent of it’s population is under the age of 21. What a great opportunity missed to reach millions squandered on greed and pride.

Pleas take a few minutes to read from a news source inside Cambodia and Phnom Penh who see the light because it is shinin on them brightly.

I encourage you not to read the posted website if your stomach is easily upset or vivid images stick in your head for a long time that may produce PTSD side effects. What I read literally made me wash my hands with soap and water to remove the filth when I shook their hands! While you may choose to read with great hesitancy remember the greatest tragedy is how we have lifted this “delegation” up as the example of what our city needs to be.

http://gvnet.com/humantrafficking/Cambodia.htm

Never forget these are my opinions only and are mine only. These thoughts reflect my interpretation of some very sad events that are happening in Cleveland Tennessee that are not being reported by mainstream media. I would be remiss and negligent to observe these atrocities and not report them. Please read and come to your own conclusions about our elected and non elected leaders. Let the shame fall where it may.

Essence of evil permeates Chamber of Commerce as a host of City Leaders bow to Cambodian “dignitaries”

I want to mention that Kep Chuktema has forcefully evicted over 3000 urban poor families from the center of Phnom Penh during his tenure.  He has been quoted in the national papers as saying that the urban poor “pollute our city’s beauty”.  Most recently he evicted roughly 1,500 urban poor to a location without any basic services:  No running water, bathrooms, health clinics, schools, etc.  Literally dropped off over a thousand families into a barren ricefield during the rainy season.  The UN Special Rapporteur on Housing (Miloon Kothari) has described the trends occurring in Phnom Penh as approaching that of an ‘apartheid city’.  He has employed police and soldiers to carry out evictions, armed with electric batons, guns, gas masks, and riot gear.  The last eviction he used roughly 1,000 such ‘security’ forces, carried out the eviction at four in the morning, and refused to allow UN monitors, NGO human rights monitors, or the media from observing the evictions.

http://www.worldmayor.com/comments06/phnompenh_comment06.html

The above passage was written by a Cambodian begging for someone to hear his or her plight. It is the cry of the Cambodian people! Save me!

The Cambodians reaching out because of these and other atrocities by them at the hands of Kep Chuk Tema. Memories of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge still exists and the remnants of that horrible regime have made their way to America, specifically Cleveland Tennessee.

Rape, child rape, sex crimes and trade that are only echoed in horror chambers, drugs, abuse of women, evictions, bribery, murder and mass corruption these are there cries!

The cry of a child prostitute offering her self for “one dollar”, “one dollar” speaks of darkness that only a few know.

I am dumbfounded by the level of acceptance by our church leaders, elected officials, NGOs, the Chamber of Commerce, the Mayor Tom Rowland and any others that may wish to participate in this endeavor.

I find it interesting, we criminalize patriots for questioning land policy in Cleveland, yet embrace a delegation that has evicted, raped and pillaged hundreds of thousands in phnom penh and we give them the key to the city who are known Socialists/Marxist/Leninist with close ties to the Khmer Rouge, go figure!

The worst of human rights abuses are on the record and they were committed by the man and his government that we accept in Cleveland Tennessee with open arms. The atrocities that Mr Garmon and Mr George were the work of the man they are parading around in our town as a hero to his people. In Phnom Penh it is quite different.

The United Nations, yes it’s hard for me to say that, but their human rights board is investigating his Khmer Rouge/Apartheid type activity all in the name of sustainable economic development.

Why is he here in my opinion? The World Bank has cut off all his money for land development because of his human rights violations. So he accepts the offer from God fearing, freedom loving Americans that are more than willing to save the world. So, Mr Chuktema by building little cities, with the cooperation of the US of course shows some good will and is able to get his World Bank financing back. At the same time the Chamber of Commerce, the Mayor and Planners might get a business out of it!

This is truly the saddest part of this all. Our Church leaders and elected leaders that we trust to protect our sovereignty and freedoms end up giving them to a Buddhist/Socialist/Marxist/Leninist regime.

The people we are entrusting to lead us out of the economic downfall are the very ones that are doing the most to prevent a free market and capitalism to work. Let’s share the wealth! That is the game. Have you seen pictures of Phnom Penh lately? Do you think there is a shortage of cash in this area that needs or can get a step ahead by the generous tithing of a few hundred church faithful? 2.2 million to hand to a dictator that has the equivalency of a King and his court? To build 800 or so homes for a tyrannical leader that does not see the bad in evicting 200, 000 poor people from his kingdom? Why has he done this? It is to secure a sustainable future! Where if you offer enough money I will gladly displace thousands if your dream is to build a strip mall or a high rise apartment for the poor you just dumped in a rice paddy in the middle of nowhere. How can our churches and elected leaders participate in this apartheid! I thought we were about helping the poor, not benefitting from their demise.

Read the many excerpts below! Many from first hand reports from Cambodians who have suffered greatly from the entourage that has invaded Cleveland Tennessee recently. The poor in these countries need real representation, not a gaggle of yes men who only see evil in those that try to keep America and our county free. I was told by one of these high ranking church officials that these were only homeless people who live in cardboard boxes on the street near the airport. Wow! God bless America! We have seen what the mighty dollar can do to corrupt a city like Cleveland Tennessee, see what greed and seeking power can and has done to Cambodia!

Read below with an open mind and ask your self why would our spiritual leaders be supporting such an awful regime? I am afraid our leaders have chosen to look beyond the human plight and found a few dollars to replace the sins of many!

These below are the same ones that our City Mayor, State Legislator Kevin Brooks, the Chamber of Commerce, select church leaders gave the key to the city to.

Read below and look at the magnitude of this tragedy.
220, 000 poor have been evicted from their property by Governor.

http://saveboeungkak.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/city-residents-present-petition-against-eviction/

60,000 evicted from Phnom Penh by Governor Kep Chuktema

http://www.opendevelopmentcambodia.net/tag/kep-chuktema/

City protests against eviction, falls on deaf ears.

http://saveboeungkak.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/city-residents-present-petition-against-eviction/

Benivides Raneses and Kep Chuk Tema gather local poor citizens for protesting this government from taking their farms

http://khmerization.blogspot.com/2012/08/activist-in-hiding-denies-claims.html?m=1

Kit Sopha- Another delegate evicts 100 poor families without compensation from homes near airport.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012072757659/National-news/airport-dwellers-displaced-from-anarchic-houses.html

Koeut Chhea- another delegate member- Holds and imprisons 24 women and 6 children after being evicted from homes. Both the United Nations and HRW have documented suspicious deaths, rape, torture and beatings there.

http://signalfire.org/?p=16909

4,000 families evicted to make way for Chinese company.

http://www.khmerpropertynews.com/?inc=content.php&id=3349

Eat Dog meat poor people! “Chuktema also said dog meat should be sold openly in the markets because there is a demand among poor people who eat it. “They don’t have [nice] wine, but poor people can enjoy their dog meat with palm juice wine,” Chuktema said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/09/12/2003067545

2500 garment slave workers march to phnom penh government and are turned back by armed police and forced back to work. Because they were being sexually harassed.

http://khmerization.blogspot.com/2012/08/factory-workers-allege-sexual.html?m=1

On August 20th, while touring Cleveland Chuk Temas government sends volunteers into village asking for deeds as proof they own the land they occupy then keep them and give them to other people. 60 families lose their property.

http://khmerization.blogspot.com/2012/08/people-accused-hun-sens-volunteers-of.html?m=1

UN inquiring about Kep Chuktemas human rights abuses.

http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Soc/soc.culture.cambodia/2009-06/msg00512.html

Horrific bridge dedication presided over by Kep Chuktema. one theory of what went wrong causing the injury to 700 plus and the death of 353 was the government police electrocuted the crowd and shot with water cannons. The bridge is family owned by Prime Minister Hun Sin.

http://khmerization.blogspot.com/2011/11/lessons-learnt-from-cambodias-bridge.html?m=1

US State Department report on horrendous abuses by Kep Chuktema and Prime minister Hun Sen controlled governments. Charges to include children sex trade, drugs, police beatings and evictions and numerous other human rights issues.

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/186476.pdf

Another eviction notice by Kep Chuktema. I hope that by giving him the key to the city our elected officials don’t use his atrocious human rights tactics at home.

http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Soc/soc.culture.cambodia/2009-04/msg00452.html

Governor sells Khmer Rouge killing fields for development, you know sustainable development.

http://khmerrougetrial.blogspot.com/2005/10/in-killing-field-khmer-memories-for.html?m=1

The “boss” of Governor Kep Chuktema, Prime minister Hun Sen was a battalion commander for the Khmer Rouge regime.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hun_Sen#section_5

God bless our county and our country if we have leaders like this making our decisions for us. Someone please question the lack of judgement in our city and county. How can we support such wickedness while acting so faithful to God. God please forgive these men who have been blinded by Satan and are playing games with the devil at the cost of many lives inside Cleveland Tennessee. Please lift the blinders from them and have them ask for forgiveness and to truly see the light.