Archive for the ‘Constitution & State Rights’ Category

EVENT CANCELED
Van Hollen had to cancel his appearance in Eagle River.  We urge you to donate to his campaign in any case and we’ll let you know if this event will be rescheduled in the future.

JB Van Hollen donation page can be found on his website and you can follow JB on Facebook and Twitter

Our Wisconsin Attorney General will be sweeping through the northern region of the state and will make a stop in Eagle River to meet residents on the Northwoods. He will share his thoughts on issues confronting Wisconsin citizens and the upcoming elections. The event will be held at Butch and Kim Simac’s farm and is being co-hosted by many Vilas and Oneida County citizens who are grateful to JB for his hard work and dedication.

“At a time when so many elected officials are proving to be a disappointent to voters, JB Van Hollen is like a breath of fresh air” says Kim Simac, one of the hosts for the event. “JB has been making tough decisions and standing firm on so many issues coming to the table resulting in an overwhelming amount of respect and support for him across the state.”

Refreshments will be provided by the Republican Women of the North and the Lakeland Republican Women. Any and all contributions to JB’s campaign would be greatly appreciated.

Attorney General Van Hollen will address those in attendance at 6:00pm.

RSVPs appreciated but not necessary.   For further information please contact Butch or Kim Simac at 715/479-8784.

More information about JB Van Hollen can be found on his website and you can follow JB on Facebook and Twitter.

Please email if you’d like to volunteer at this event!  Republican Women of the North, Northern WI, rwotnorth@gmail.com

VILAS REPUBLICANS AND NORTHWOODS PATRIOTS TO HOST GARY MEINERT
Topic:  Illegal Immigration - from the front lines.

June 15  @  6:30pm
Gary Meinert - Guest Speaker
Eagle River Derby Track
Eagle River, WI

On June 15th Gary Meinert will be the guest speaker at a joint meeting of the Vilas County Republicans and the Northwoods Patriots. Mr. Meinert has spent 8 months a year for the past 5 years living 36 miles from the Mexican border with Arizona near Nogales Mexico.  He has been photographing and documenting the illegal activities of the Mexican cartels and their drug trafficking.  He travels the 1,100 square miles of the inhospitable Sonoran desert, almost always off trails.  He serves on the Citizens Advisory Board of the Nogales Border Patrol Station.  He has developed mutual trust and respect with many officials, including the ranking officers of the Border Patrol, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and many deputies of the various County Sheriff’s Departments. He recently spent 30 minutes at a meeting with Arizona Governor Brewer to discuss SB1070 and it’s affect on Arizona.  Mr. Meinert has given dozens of slide presentations to organizations in several states, has been a guest on many radio talk shows, and his material has been used as source material for magazines, newspapers, and one TV Documentary. He has also briefed U.S. Congressmen on the border crisis.  If you are at all interested in the situation taking place on our border with Mexico, you won’t want to miss out on this opportunity.

The meeting will be held at the Snowmobile Derby Track in Eagle River, and will start at 6:30 in the evening of Tuesday, June 15. Refreshments will be served.

Our very-own Kim Simac (Vilas County GOP Vice-Chair and Leader of Northwoods Patriots) spoke at Madison’s Tax Day Tea Party April 15, 2010.

For Immediate Release April 16, 2010

Contact: Senator Glenn Grothman 1-800-662-1227 - Capitol
262-689-8421 - Cell

Time to Educate the Public, Congress on Our Constitution

A Civilian National Security Force Not Needed Against Americans

On Thursday, April 15th, while thousands of people marched on the State Capitol lawn to bring our government back to its limited government roots, State Senator Glenn Grothman announced he is introducing a resolution objecting to a potential national security force that President Obama touted during his campaign.

“While prior administrations of both parties expanded federal power in ways which would have horrified the drafters of the Constitution, the current Administration is continuing this pace at a fevered pitch,” said Grothman. “My constituents are demanding the Legislature fight back.”

“While I have signed on to resolutions dealing with the recent healthcare power grab, I have decided to bring the Legislature’s attention to President Obama’s bizarre campaign promise to establish ‘… a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, and just as well funded” as our military,” said Grothman. “The speech was given at the University of Colorado on July 2, 2008, and the context of the speech makes it clear this is not an expansion of AmeriCorps or similar other civilian make-work program. There is no way any American that is the least bit concerned about our nation’s future should not be horrified at what is going on in that man’s mind.”

“Domestic security in America is clearly a local function. I can understand why totalitarian regimes want a large domestic security force to keep the citizenry in line,” said Grothman. “It is appalling when a person running for federal office would have uttered the words above and we have yet to hear any adequate explanation for what he was saying. It is important the State of Wisconsin go on record as saying we will not recognize the authority of any new national police force President Obama plans on sending into our state.”

— 30 —

Contact: Senator Glenn Grothman 262-689-8421
______________________________________________
From: Sen.Grothman
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 9:11 AM
To: *Legislative All Assembly; *Legislative All Senate; *Legislative Assembly Democrats; *Legislative Assembly Republicans; *Legislative Senate Democrats; *Legislative Senate Republicans

Subject: Co-sponsorship - LRB 4595/2 - Resolution Against a Civilian National Security Force
Importance: High

TO: All Legislators

FROM: Senator Glenn Grothman

DATE: April 16, 2010

RE: Co-sponsorship - LRB 4595/2 - Resolution Against a Civilian National Security Force

Short Deadline: If you would like to co-sponsor this legislation, please contact my office at 266-7513 by Noon on Tuesday April 20th.

Colleagues,

We have seen an alarming expansion of federal powers over the last 13 ½ months which is clearly contrary to the intent of the framers of our Constitution.

This erosion was preceded by the prior administration but has increased at an accelerated clip under President Obama. It is time to assert our rights under the 9th and 10th Amendments to the Constitution as we don’t know what the next expansion will be.

At one point on the campaign trail, Candidate Obama mentioned establishing “…a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, and just as well funded” as our military.

In order to make clear that the states will not stand for this extreme power grab and educate the public as to what a bizarre president we currently have, I am drafting a Senate Resolution objecting to such a police force.

If you would like to co-sponsor Senate Joint Resolution (LRB 4595/2), please contact my office at 266-7513 by Noon on Tuesday, April 20.

- Glenn

For Immediate Release Mark Block 262-617-2716

TOMMY THOMPSON TO SPEAK AT TAXPAYER TEA PARTY

Milwaukee- Wisconsin’s most famous statesman will be spending Tax Day reminding elected officials that “November is Coming!”

Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson will be among the speakers at the Taxpayer Tea Party at the State Capitol in Madison on Thursday, April 15th. The Wisconsin State Director of Americans for Prosperity, Mark Block, says he is thrilled Thompson is joining the event.

“Tommy Thompson ended welfare as we knew it in Wisconsin, our economy prospered under his watch - creating a half million new jobs and he delivered the largest property tax cut in our state’s history,” Block said, “His message of common-sense conservatism is what Wisconsin needs more than ever.”

Tommy Thompson joins a growing list of taxpayer warriors at the Taxpayer Tea Party including:

1. Vicki McKenna, WISN and WIBA Radio, Milwaukee and Madison
2. Mark Block, State Director, Americans for Prosperity
3. Linda Hansen, Executive Director, Wisconsin Prosperity Network
4. Pat Snyder, WSAU Radio, Wausau
5. Paul Kern, WRJN Radio, Racine
6. Tim Dake, Wisconsin Grandsons of Liberty
7. Kim Simac, Northwoods Patriots ***********
   
8. Michael Dean, First Freedoms Foundation
9. David King, Milwaukee God Squad
10. Ron Johnson, Oshkosh Tea Party
11. Larry Gamble, Oath Keepers

Tax Day Taxpayer Tea Party Rally:

Thursday, April 15th, 2010
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Wisconsin State Capitol
King Street Side of Capitol
Madison, WI

More information can be found at fightbackwisconsin.com

###

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 975,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 30 state chapters and affiliates. More than 60,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial investment in AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org
Are you coming with us?  AFP has arranged for a bus — go to www.rightbackwisconsin.com and get your seat asap!

Click to News of the North Article for complete report, thorough coverage with photos and video from yesterday’s event in St. Germain:
http://newsofthenorth.net/article/Top_Stories/National/Sen_Feingold_faces_wrath_on_health_care_bill_on_eve_of_vote/37758

ST. GERMAIN – Sen. Russ Feingold came to St. Germain on Saturday, March 20, for his 32nd “listening session” of 2010 and 1,256th since 1993 and heard a lot of anger from a sometimes raucous and hostile crowd.

About 100 people showed up at the Community Center at noon for the one-hour meeting and, as expected, health care was the big topic.

Several people made statements, most of which were critical of the health care bill now before the House, or interrupted the Democratic Wisconsin senator with catcalls although appreciative applause also broke out at times from some in the audience who supported the health care legislation.

But for the most part it was a confrontational session as speaker after speaker blasted what they see as government takeover of the health care system. Outside a few protesters carried signs opposing “Obama care.” Another said, “Are you listening?”

The placard-carrying critics included Rudy Fuys of Boulder Junction, who said he was “outraged by the taking of $500 billion out of the Medicare program. That’s ridiculous. Myself and many other seniors have paid for this our whole lives and it’s gone. How can they force this on the American people?”

Another critic, James Lynn of Cloverland, said, “They totally corrupted the government and it’s unconstitutional.” Loyd Black (see video clip below) questioned the senator on whether the law should apply to everyone.

Feingold defended his support of health care reform, noting that the vast majority of Americans favored universal health care. (see video clip below), and that he was standing on principles espoused during his previous election campaign.

In discussing the soaring federal deficit and the need to cut spending, he lauded passage of the Control Spending Now Act provision to cancel unspent transportation earmarks, which won Senate approval last week on an 87-11 vote. He said the amendment could save taxpayers at least $478 million a year and considerably more over time.

Feingold also lent his support to an amendment to place a year-long ban on earmarks, although the move was defeated; he likewise endorsed a plan by House Republicans to impose a year-long prohibition on earmarks.

Another subject that came up during a pre-session interview was unemployment. Feingold said the new jobs bill, which President Obama signed into law last week, includes a payroll tax break to make it a bit easier to business to hire more workers.

“But even with this bipartisan effort becoming law, we must remain focused on creating jobs and strengthening the economy. And since the new payroll tax break expires at the end of the year, more must be done. I strongly favor the approach my own jobs tax credit bill takes, which is to provide firms with a tax break for the next two years to help them expand their payroll and put people back to work.”

Other questions dealt with illegal immigration sparking a testy exchange with Kim Simac of Eagle River, a member of the Northwoods Patriots Group (see video clip below). Deficit spending and global warming also came up, but the subject that was on most minds was health care.

Dr. William Raduege, a family physician who works in Land O’ Lakes, Wis., representing the Wisconsin Medical Society, said there should be a permanent fix for what he called the flawed Medicare payment system for doctors and hospitals, without which access to care would be threatened and limited. (see video clip below)

As the health care debate winds down this weekend and the House is on the verge of an up-or-down vote, Democrats appeared confident that the measure would pass after several months of contentious debate, which has not only split both major parties but also the country, according to public opinion polls. House Democrats were quoted Sunday morning as saying they had enough votes — at least 216 are needed — to pass the bill.

Before the listening session, Feingold, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke with NN.N about a new strain in U.S.-Israeli relations stemming from the Israeli government’s announced plans to expand settlements in east Jerusalem, and the growing possibility that former Wisconsin governor and Republican Tommy Thompson may run against him this fall. (see video clip below). Feingold was first elected senator in 1992 and is seeking a third term.

You Have the Right to Remain Silent

by Kerry Thomas

March 18, 2010

How much of your private information are you going to give to a total stranger this year?

Your government is spending millions of your tax dollars trying to convince you to voluntarily reveal all sorts of otherwise private information about yourself and everyone who lives in your home, all as part of the census.

You do have to tell these government bureaucrats how many people live in your home. But that’s all. The Constitution requires an enumeration, nothing more. And the reason for such an enumeration is to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution requires “The actual Enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct.”

Yes, Congress has the power to direct the manner in which the enumeration is taken. But they are only Constitutionally empowered to take an enumeration. Any other questions are extraneous.

Under our Constitution, you don’t have to answer any question about your mortgage. You don’t have to answer any questions about your name, your age, your sex, your race, or your employment. You don’t have to answer any questions about your income, your employer, or what time you leave for work each day.

The Census Bureau has a catchy little Obama-esque slogan for their multi-million dollar ad campaign about “We can’t move forward until you mail it back.” Move forward? With what? The fundamental transformation of America?

The Census Bureau is also sending out what they’re calling an American Community Survey, which asks even more invasive questions about you and your lifestyle. They say they need this information in order to plan future community projects and to ensure adequate government services.

If you do answer any of these extraneous questions, you had better get them all right. You can be charged with perjury if you give false answers. It’s unfortunate, but most of this information is already in a public database somewhere, be it your local zoning office, voter registration rolls, or even the phone book.

Ironically, one salient question that is not on any of the census forms is whether or not you are a U.S. citizen.

The bureaucratic peons who come to your door asking these invasive questions will tell you that refusing to answer these questions could result in a $5,000 fine. They will cite a federal law that compels you answer these questions.

In 2000, I placed a note on my front door for the census takers, in which I disclosed the number of persons living in my house. When the census takers knocked on my door, they asked if the note was for them. I answered, “Yes.” They asked if I refused to answer any more of their questions. I answered, “Yes.” They thanked me and walked away. So I can truthfully say I answered every question the census takers asked of me.

In the entire 220 year history of the U.S. census, there has been exactly one person charged in connection with refusing to cooperate with the census. It was in the 1960’s and he was charged not with refusing to answer the questions but with perjury for giving false answers.

You see, there’s a little thing called the Fifth Amendment, which ensures your right to due process and says you can’t be compelled to testify against yourself. Every trained law enforcement officer knows you have the right to remain silent. Even terrorists are given Miranda rights.

Archived at KerryThomas.com: http://kerrythomas.com/Archives/Census.htm

Legislation has been introduced in Wisconsin to join dozens of other states in passing legislation that says citizens cannot be required to have medical insurance (opposing Obamacare). Our Representative Meyer is one of the sponsors of the bill. See article below.

• Call Rep. Dan Meyer 608-266-7141 or 888-534-0034 or email Rep.Meyer@legis.wisconsin.gov and thank him.
• Call Sen. Jim Holperin 608-266-2509 or 800-334-8773 or email Sen.Holperin@legis.wisconsin.gov and ask him to support the bill.
• Call Sen. Jon Erpenbach 608-266-6670 or 888-549-0027 or email Sen.Erpenbach@legis.state.wi.us and ask him to take up the bill.

3/15/2010

Nullification? Might not need it this time around

published at FoxPolitics.net: http://foxpolitics.net/politics.iml?mdl=issues.mdl&issue_id=42531&Category=1

Virginia says no way will they allow the federal government to mandate their residents purchase health insurance and as such is seeking to nullify the federal law.

The Virginia Legislature this week is poised to become the first state to pass legislation that says citizens cannot be required to have medical insurance.

Dozens of other states are considering similar measures, possibly setting the stage for one of the greatest tests of federal power over the states since the civil rights era.

If states are allowed to opt out of the mandate, the foundation of Obama’s effort would be undermined, turning the nascent revolt here into one with national implications.

… Virginia’s lawmakers are focused on constitutional questions and the power of states to run their own affairs.
Wisconsin State Representative Leah Vukmir says it just right: “The real goal of national health insurance exchange isn’t competition — it’s a federal power grab that flies in the face of the Tenth Amendment.”

Well, Wisconsin is on of those “dozens of other states” attempting a similar nullification effort. Senate Joint Resolution 62 would create a constitutional amendment which requires adoption by two successive legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it can become effective. It’s pretty straightforward:
The people have the right to enter into private contracts with health care providers for health care services and to purchase private health care coverage. The legislature may not require any person to obtain or maintain health insurance coverage or to participate in any health care system or plan.
Senator Leibham is the bill’s chief sponsor, joined by Senators Lazich, Kapanke, Darling, Grothman, A. Lasee, Hopper and Schultz; and Representatives Vos, Davis, Pridemore, Suder, Petersen, Meyer, Nygren, Kestell, Townsend, Kerkman, Tauchen, Kramer, Knodl, Gunderson, LeMahieu, Strachota, Honadel, Lothian, Kleefisch, Spanbauer, Ballweg, Nass and Ziegelbauer.

This is very serious stuff. Normally I’d say If your state representative or state senator isn’t on the list of supporters above (all Republicans by the way, except Rep. Ziegelbauer, D-Manitowoc), call them and ask them to add their name. I’d also suggest railing on Sen. Erpenbach (D-Waunakee), chair of the Senate Health, Health Insurance, Privacy, Property Tax Relief and Revenue Committee, who so far hasn’t taken up the bill.

But I don’t think we need it!

(It’s a good thing too. I can’t imagine Erpenbach will allow the bill to be heard in committee. On top of that, there’s a good bit of doubt that these state challenges would stand up to constitutional tests - yeah, explain that one – geeez.)

Timothy Jost, via the New England Journal of Medicine, suggests that while the Senate bill imposes a mandate and imposes a slap-on-the-wrist penalty for not complying with the mandate, the penalty may not even be enforceable!
… the mandate is particularly vulnerable from an enforcement perspective. It essentially imposes a tax penalty (to begin in 2014 and to be fully phased in by 2016) on uninsured individuals who do not purchase health insurance, subject to a number of exceptions for those who cannot afford health insurance or who oppose it for religious reasons. Individuals are supposed to pay this penalty with their annual income taxes, but the Senate bill waives criminal penalties and prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from imposing liens or levies on a taxpayer’s property for failure to pay. Compliance will, therefore, be largely voluntary (although the IRS can still make a tax resister’s life miserable, whether or not it can ultimately collect). The state bills can thus be seen as invitations to civil disobedience that counsel state citizens to “violate the federal law, wave this statute in their face, and dare them to come after you.”
Time to wave the statute in somebody’s face.

Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net

– shared by Mark Levin, noting a year-long celebration in honor of Ronald Reagan’s 100th Birthday - Click for More

“CPAC Wraps Up Washington Meeting

Saturday

The 2010 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) wrapped up its last day in Washington, DC. The three-day meeting focused on promoting the conservative movement and advocates conservative policies. This session’s highlights include Fmr. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Ann Coulter and Glenn Beck.
Washington, DC”

Recording of CPAC’s Closing Session on C-SPAN