Romeo Area Tea Party

The Romeo Area Tea Party is pleased to present:

2012 Michigan US Senate Candidates Forum

Moderated by WJR Radio Personality Frank Beckmann

Monday, May 21, 2012 at 7 p.m.

-The Palazzo Grande- 
54660 Van Dyke Shelby Township, Michigan 48316

All of the candidates running for US Senate in Michigan have been invited to attend.

-For more information on the candidates, click any picture-

Scotty Boman

Clark Durant

Gary Glenn

Randy Hekman

Pete Hoekstra

Peter Konetchy

Chuck Marino

Rick Wilson

Debbie Stabenow

 This candidate forum will be an excellent way to get to know the candidates, and their positions on the issues of the day.

Come prepared to be informed!

presents…

Three important and compelling videos for our monthly Movie Night.  Although each video is brief, they are meaningful, educational and inspiring.

• John McManus of the John Birch Society, presents a very educational 30 minute video,“Americans for America,”

This video explains the various forms of government across the political spectrum.  In an easy to understand way, John also lays out the differences between the various forms of monetary systems in the world, from the controlled economies of communism to free market capitalism.

• Daniel Hannan, Member of the European Parliament (MEP), speaks before the most recent CPAC gathering last February in Washington D.C. In this 27 minute video, he provides an outsider’s look at the United States of America and what she has to offer the world. In this intense and compelling address, he reminds Americans of our blessings and the dangers we face.

• Allen West, the heroic first-term congressman from Florida’s 22nd district, answers a reporter’s question about what he meant when he referred to 76 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus as “Communists”. Congressman West is a patriot who is unafraid to call it as he sees it. This 4 minute video clip will make you want to stand up and cheer!

This FREE event to be held on 
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 7 p.m.
Washington Twp. Offices, Ruby Room
57900 Van Dyke, Washington Twp, MI 48094

May 4, 2012

Weekly local legislator roll call report for the Romeo Area Tea Party

Among other actions this week, the House and Senate in effect rejected all the budgets passed by the other body the previous week, which is a procedural means of getting these into conference committees to work out the differences. The goal is to complete work by June 1 on budgets for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting

Senate Bill 315, Require kindergartners be 5 by Sept. 1: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To require children to be age 5 by Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten, rather than by Dec. 1 under current law. This earlier age cut-off would be phased in one month at a time over three years, starting in 2013. A child who would have been eligible under the current requirements could still attend if the parents “opt in” by notifying the school by June 1. The phase-in and “opt-in” was negotiated because school districts get money from the state for each kindergartner, whose numbers would be reduced during the transition period.

House Bill 4594, Restrict insurance company use of consumer credit scores: Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate
To prohibit insurers from using “credit information” under a broad definition of that term contained in the bill to deny, cancel or choose to not renew a policy. Also, to impose restrictions, plus requirements for credit-status confirmation, disclosures and more, on an insurer using credit or credit-based “insurance scores” to determine the price at which it will issue an insurance policy.

Senate Bill 802, Require state agencies post spending plans online: Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate
To require state agencies to submit and get approval within 60 days of their annual budget’s enactment of a spending plan that includes a “schedule” or list of programs covered under each line item, and the amount they plan to spend on each.

House Bill 4925, Expand allowable ORV road-shoulder riding locations: Passed 84 to 26 in the House
To expand a law that allows counties in the northern part of the state to allow off road vehicles to be driven on the shoulder of some or all streets and roads, so that it would be available to all counties statewide. The bill would also eliminate a 2013 sunset on this law.

Senate Bill 269, Raise small claims cap: Passed 107 to 2 in the House
To gradually increase the maximum amount that may be recovered in small claims court from $3,000 to $7,000, with the increase coming in several steps from 2012 through 2024. In small claims court actions a lawyer is neither required or allowed, which makes them more accessible to regular people; as introduced the bill would have increased the cap to $10,000 immediately.

House Bill 5468, Revise prepaid cell phone contract 9-1-1 tax: Passed 106 to 3 in the House
To replace current taxes imposed on pre-paid cell phone service to cover the cost of government 9-1-1 service, with a new 1.92 percent levy imposed at the point of sale (like sales tax). The current 9-1-1 service tax regime would still apply to other kinds of cell phone accounts.

House Bill 4851, Revise medical marijuana law regulations: Passed 105 to 4 in the House
To prohibit a doctor from prescribing medical marijuana unless there is a “bona fide physician-patient relationship,” as defined in the bill. This would require the doctor to get the patient’s medical history, perform a physical and keep records. The bill also requires medical marijuana grown outside to be securely locked in a fenced area, and when transported to be in the trunk or a case inaccessible to vehicle occupants.

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit http://www.MichiganVotes.org.

Presented by:  Eagle Forum

April 30, 2012

In this MegaVote for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: 21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012
• Senate: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011
• House: Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act
• House: Interest Rate Reduction Act

21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012 – Vote Passed (62-37, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed its U.S. Postal Service overhaul bill. The bill seeks to trim the workforce by about 100,000 employees through attrition and delays efforts to eliminate Saturday delivery and close some post offices. The House has yet to pass its version of the bill. The postmaster estimates the agency needs to trim $22 billion in operating costs to remain in business.

Sen. Carl Levin voted YES       (202) 224-6221
Sen. Debbie Stabenow voted YES      (202) 224-4822

Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011 – Vote Passed (68-31, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act for another five years. The 1994 law gives federal law enforcement agencies tools to combat crime against women. The reauthorization adds provisions relating to Native American and immigrant women, and sexual orientation. The House is likely to pass a bill similar to the current authorization.

Sen. Carl Levin voted YES       (202) 224-6221
Sen. Debbie Stabenow voted YES    (202) 224-4822

April 27, 2012

Weekly local legislator roll call report for the Romeo Area Tea Party

Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting

Senate Bill 961, Senate version of next year’s public school budget: Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate
The Senate version of the public school budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2012. This would appropriate $12.71 billion, compared to $12.66 billion originally authorized for this year, and $12.68 billion proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder. The bill would increase the per-pupil foundation grant by between $116 and $232, depending on how much school districts currently receive. Both the House and Senate versions of this budget watered down and reduced the dollar amounts of “best practices” grants proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder, which make a portion of the money contingent on adopting specified fiscal and transparency reforms.

Senate Bill 961, Hopgood amendment to increase school spending: Failed 16 to 22 in the Senate
To increase the spending proposed in the Senate School Aid budget by $495 million, and increase per-student spending by $300. Republicans Green, Hansen, Jones and Rocca joined all Democrats in supporting the amendment.

Senate Bill 951, Senate prison budget: Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate
The Senate version of the Department of Corrections budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2012. This would appropriate $1.991 billion, compared to $1.936 billion this year. The budget includes provisions that could result in placing some prisoners in a private prison, which is strongly opposed by the SEIU-affiliated prison guard union. Republicans Casperson, Caswell, Emmons, Kahn, Nofs and Walker joined all Democrats in opposing this budget.

 Senate Bill 951, Anderson anti-prison privatization amendment: Failed 15 to 23 in the Senate
To increase the procedural barriers to privatizing a prison or particular functions in a non-privatized prison. Among other things, the department would be prohibited from realizing savings through privatization unless this saves more than 10 percent compared to the current cost. Republicans Casperson, Emmons and Nofs joined all Democrats in supporting the amendment.

Senate Bill 949, Anderson community college fund-source amendment: Failed 19 to 19 in the Senate
To not use tax revenues earmarked to the state School Aid Fund in next year’s community colleges budget, but instead use non-earmarked revenue. Although under the state constitution the SAF is “exclusively for aid to school districts, higher education, and school employees’ retirement systems,” the public school establishment contends that the 1994 Proposal A initiative earmarking a sales tax increase to the SAF means it can only be used for K-12 schools. Republicans Caswell, Colbeck, Green, Hansen, Jones, Nofs and Rocca joined all Democrats in support.

House Bill 5189, Water-down local government reform “incentive grants”: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To water-down the requirement in the state budget enacted for the current fiscal year that local governments must adopt certain fiscal and transparency reforms as a condition of receiving the portion of state revenue sharing distributions not required by the state constitution. In particular, the bill essentially eliminates the “incentive grant” requirement that municipal employees must contribute at least 20 percent toward the cost of their health insurance fringe benefits.

Senate Bill 619, Increase online charter “cyber-school” enrollment cap: Passed 56 to 54 in the House
To gradually increase the number of Michigan students who may take advantage of online public “cyber schools.” Under current law, this is limited to just two online charter schools and 1,000 students statewide. The bill would increase this to 15 schools and not more than 2 percent of the state’s public school students, subject to various additional restrictions. It would also allow community colleges, school districts and intermediate school districts to create online charter schools serving students anywhere in the state.

House Bill 5414, Establish more “dark sky preserves”: Passed 80 to 28 in the House
To designate Wilderness State Park, a portion of Port Crescent State Park in Huron County, and state forestland in Emmet County as “dark sky preserves.” The term is not defined in statute, but in general it means restricting outdoor lighting to a minimum.

House Bill 5189, Water-down local government reform “incentive grants”: Passed 96 to 9 in the House
To water-down the requirement in the state budget enacted for the current fiscal year that local governments must adopt certain fiscal and transparency reforms as a condition of receiving the portion of state revenue sharing distributions not required by the state constitution. In particular, the bill essentially eliminates the “incentive grant” requirement that municipal employees must contribute at least 20 percent toward the cost of their health insurance fringe benefits.

House Bill 5365, House version of next year’s state budget: Passed 58 to 52 in the House
The House version of the non-education portion of the state government budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, 2012. This would appropriate $34.195 billion, compared to $33.14 billion originally authorized for this year. Of this, $15.03 billion comes from state tax, fee and other revenue, compared to $15.63 billion the previous year. The rest of this budget is federal money ($18.11 billion, compared to $17.52 billion the previous year).

While both the House propose slightly less spending in many areas than Gov. Rick Snyder, they also watered down the “best practices” incentive grants he proposed, which make some of the money distributed to schools, local governments and universities contingent on their adopting specified fiscal and transparency reforms.

House Bill 5372, House version of next year’s education budget: Passed 56 to 54 in the House
The House version of the K-12 public school, community college and university budgets for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2012. This would appropriate $12.81 billion for K-12 public schools, compared to $12.66 billion originally authorized for this year and $12.68 billion proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder.

The bill also appropriates $1.39 billion for state universities, compared to $1.36 billion enacted for this year. Community colleges would get $294 million vs. $283 million this year.

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit http://www.MichiganVotes.org.

Presented by:  Eagle Forum

April 23, 2012

In this MegaVote for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Cloture Motion; Paying a Fair Share Act of 2012
• House: Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012
• House: Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II
• House: Small Business Tax Cut Act

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• Senate: 21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012
• Senate: Violence Against Women Act
• Senate: NLRB union election rule
• House: Cybersecurity Enhancement Act

House: Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act

April 20, 2012

Weekly local legislator roll call report for the Romeo Area Tea Party

In both the House and Senate, this week was dominated by appropriations committee deliberation on the state budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1. There were only a few final-passage floor votes on noteworthy bills, or ones of general interest.

Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting

House Bill 4393, Give drunk minors immunity if they turn themselves in: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To extend immunity from “minor in possession” of alcohol and related laws for a drunk minor who shows up at a health facility for observation or treatment. This would also apply a friend who accompanies the drunk one, or who contacts the proper authorities.

House Bill 5245, Increase penalty on delinquent hotel marketing tax: Passed 83 to 26 in the House
To increase from 1.5 percent to 3.0 percent the monthly “delinquency charge” imposed on a hotel or motel owner who is late paying a room tax imposed to pay for regional marketing schemes, or to pay the debts of regional convention facilities. (For Detroit metro area lodging facilities this means Cobo Hall debt.) The “delinquency charge” is imposed on top of a 1.5 percent per month interest charge. As introduced by Rep. Wayne Schmidt, the bill would have increased this extra charge to 10 percent per month.

 Senate Bill 29, Allow concealed pistol permit holders to keep and bear tasers: Passed 106 to 4 in the House
To allow holders of concealed pistol licenses (CPLs) to also keep and bear tasers (electro-muscular disruption devices), subject to the same regulations and restrictions that apply to legally carrying concealed pistols, plus the requirement to obtain training in the use and effects of tasers. Under current law, citizens who are not law enforcement officers are prohibited from possessing tasers.

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit http://www.MichiganVotes.org.

Come join Michigan patriots for a legislative rally to protect the US Constitution in our state courts.

AMERICAN LAWS FOR AMERICAN COURTS

MICHIGAN House Bill 4769 and Senate Bill 701

THURSDAY, May 10, 2012; 8:30 AM ‐ 12:00 PM

Mackinac Room – Anderson House Office Building
124 North Capitol Avenue, 5th Floor, Lansing, MI

We must Act Now to re‐affirm, as public policy, the primacy of the US Constitution to ensure that no US citizen or resident is denied ‐ as a result of the application of foreign law ‐ the liberties, rights, and privileges guaranteed by our Constitution.

Speakers:

• Representative Dave Agema ‐ R, 74th District ‐ Legislation Sponsor 
• Richard Thompson, President & Chief Counsel – Thomas More Law Center 
• William Wagner, Professor of Constitutional Law ‐ Cooley Law School 
• Christopher Holton, Vice‐President ‐ Center for Security Policy 
• Manda Zand Ervin, Founder & President ‐ Alliance of Iranian Women 


All attendees are asked to make appointments with their state lawmakers beginning at 11:00 am to urge passage of this vital legislation.

To schedule your legislative appointment call: 517‐373‐0135

Space is limited and this event is only open to those who have a confirmed RSVP.
For more info, or to RSVP, click here.

Light refreshments will be served.

You thought Obama-Care was bad; wait until you hear about Obama-Ed!

9th District Republicans are delighted to announce that 

Lindsey Burke, Education Policy Expert

from the renowned Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC

will address our public forum on Obama-Ed

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

7 PM, doors open at 6:30

Bloomfield Twp Offices Auditorium
4200 Telegraph Rd, Bloomfield Hills
(south of Long Lake, west side of Telegraph)

Come learn from this foremost education policy expert how the Obama Administration is over-reaching its authority to impose nationalized standards and curriculum for K-12. Join us to hear about the costs to our state and to educational liberty posed by national common core standards and tests; learn why state leaders should reject this federal over-reach!

What will this mean for the future of education…for the future of America?

For more information, click here.

The following is an open letter Lou Pritchett, former vice-president of Proctor and Gamble,
wrote to President Barak Obama.

Dear President Obama:

You are the thirteenth President under whom I have lived and unlike
 any of the others, you truly scare me.

You scare me because after months of exposure,
I know nothing about you.

You scare me because I do not know how you paid for your expensive
 Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and housing with no
 visible signs of support.

You scare me because you did not spend the formative years of youth
 Growing up in America and culturally you are not an American.

You scare me because you have never run a company or met a payroll.

You scare me because you have never had military experience,
and thus
 don’t understand it at its core.

You scare me because you lack humility and ‘class’, always blaming others.

You scare me because for over half your life you have aligned yourself with radical extremists who hate America and you refuse to
 publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail.

You scare me because you are a cheerleader for the ‘blame America’
 crowd and deliver this message abroad.

You scare me because you want to change America to a European style
 country where the government sector dominates
instead of the private sector.

You scare me because you want to replace our health care system
 with a government controlled one.

You scare me because you prefer ‘wind mills’ to responsibly 
capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves.

You scare me because you want to kill the American capitalist goose
 that lays the golden egg which provides the
highest standard of
 living in the world.

You scare me because you have begun to use ‘extortion’ tactics
 against certain banks and corporations.

You scare me because your own political party shrinks from
 challenging you on your wild and irresponsible spending proposals.



You scare me because you will not openly listen to or even consider
 oppposing points of view from intelligent people.

You scare me because you falsely believe that you are both
omnipotent and omniscient.

You scare me because the media gives you a free pass
on everything
 you do.

You scare me because you demonize and want to silence the
 Limbaugh’s, Hannitys, O’Reillys and Becks who offer opposing,
 Conservative points of view.



You scare me because you prefer controlling over governing.

Finally, you scare me because if you serve a second term I will
 probably not feel safe in writing a similar letter in 8 years.

~Lou Pritchett~

Mr. Pritchett confirmed that he was indeed the author of this much-circulated “open letter” quoted above: 

 I did write the ‘you scare me’ letter. I sent it to the New York Times, but they never acknowledged or published it. However, it hit the Internet and, according to the ‘experts’ has had over 500,000 hits.

This letter certainly is a very succinct statement of what hard-working Americans feel concerning President Obama and his policies.