Posted on 03/06/2009 1:55:41 PM PST by GOP_Raider
At the triangle piece of lawn where Capital Blvd. and 9th streets converge, near Julia Davis Park (near 700 S. Capital Blvd.)
(Excerpt) Read more at teapartyboise.com ...
Sign ideas anyone?
More information about this here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53153659711
Though the paper wanted to claim we only had only a few at the last event last week (which is very untrue) and around forty at the following event, we now have several groups involved and many days of preparations/notices, therefore we likely expect people in the hundreds this weekend. These other groups have been fighting for our freedoms behind the scenes for some years now, and will partner withthe New American Tea Party's quest to get this issue confronted.
Would be great to see hundreds (or more) at this event. Spread the word.
ping
http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20090306/NEWS01/903060317/1001/NEWS
(Lafayette, LA) Stimulus spurs local protest
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1114673.cfm
Commission calls for budget cuts in response to tax-hike protests
BY CHRIS SAUNDERS : The Herald-Sun
chh@heraldsun.com
Mar 7, 2009
CHAPEL HILL — As a clamorous chorus of citizens continues to voice disapproval of the tax burdens they feel during an economic decline, the Orange County Board of Commissioners has joined with the county manager in asking all county departments to propose a 10 percent budget reduction that could affect temporary personnel and operational expenses, but not permanent county employees.
“We’ve heard the message,” said Pam Hemminger, a county commissioner. “[The citizens] would like their taxes lowered. The starting point is to go ahead with a budget without a tax increase.”
Hemminger said too many projects were started before the economic downturn. That factor along with what she called “explosive school growth” — five new schools in the last 10 years in Chapel Hill and Carrboro — has created a shortfall of revenue in Orange County, in which 71 percent of the budget comes from property tax income.
Joseph Coletti, a fiscal and health care analyst for the John Locke Foundation, co-authored a regional paper that identified Orange County as high on a list of North Carolina counties whose tax revenue growth has surpassed the need brought on by population growth and inflation. He said when many North Carolina counties and municipalities are faced with either raising taxes or accepting federal bailout money to dig themselves out of a hole brought on by the recession, they should look at a third option: Stop digging.
And some members of the Orange County Board of Commissioners seem to agree with Coletti’s warning. Hemminger said the commissioners have reviewed what programs and projects work and which ones do not.
“We’ve reviewed the list to make sure we’re not duplicating any efforts,” she said. “We’re looking to cut costs.”
Not only have the county commissioners supported a 10 percent budget reduction from all departments, but they also have delayed a few projects, one of which is the renovation of Hillsborough’s John Link Government Services Center.
Other projects in Orange County that had been budgeted for, Hemminger said, include the Central Orange Senior Center, which opened in Hillsborough in January.
Commissioner Alice Gordon said there are other places to find some revenue, like selling some of the old buildings the county is renting out on Churton Street in Hillsborough.
“[We’re] looking to divest ourselves of some of these buildings we’re vacating,” she said. “Sell the old ones. Get the money. Give the county some dollars.”
Coletti voiced caution about the sort of cuts that are recommended by department heads. He said he has heard of governments in other areas using what is termed the “Washington Monument Ploy” when budget discussions start. Elected officials suggest examining solutions, such as politically sensitive measures of cutting teacher positions and salaries. Putting such controversial items into play may blunt public calls for cutbacks and, thereby, avoid any scrutiny of programs that may or may not be working.
The commissioners, Gordon said, have to accept that in the new climate changes are going to have to be made.
“It’s a new day,” she said. “We still are the same county in terms of excellent services, like education. We have to figure out a way to deliver excellence at a cost we can afford.”
Regardless of how they find a way to do that, Hemminger said the commissioners are resolute in not wanting to raise taxes.
“They have been raised for the last 20 years,” she said. “That’s enough.”
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1114672.cfm
Proposed budget and program cuts
Mar 7, 2009
Listed below are some of the budget and program cuts proposed to the Orange County Board of Commissioners. To view the full list, visit http://www.co.orange.nc.us/OCCLERKS/0903051b.pdf
Social Services
* Eliminate financial counseling contracts with a private contractor and the Women’s Center.
* Reduce in-home assistance by $46,000, resulting in fewer hours of service to each client and fewer clients receiving in-home aide services.
* County funds in the amount of $50,000 for child care subsidy, previously committed by the commissioners, have been eliminated, resulting in 33 fewer children having the ability to utilize this funding to receive child care.
Health
* Eliminate student stipend for community health assessment ($9,000).
* Suspend hiring for the dental hygienist/community dental care coordinator position for 09-10 year ($10,170).
* Eliminate access to dental clinic services at Carr Mill Mall ($67,641).
Child Support Enforcement
* Case loads expected to increase from the current 357 cases per child support officer to 370. North Carolina recommends a case load size of 300-325.
Emergency Services
* Response times will increase from 17 minutes to 20 minutes or above.
* Needed upgrades to EMS stations will not occur.
* Public education and outreach programs will be cut.
Aging
* Discontinue stipends for student interns for department director.
* Cut 410 hours of in-home service administered by the Aging Transitions (Eldercare) program staff.
* Cut funds available for senior center activities and special programs, such as food, decorations and entertainment.
Orange Public Transportation
* Discontinue Wheels for Work Program, which will affect 32 current recipients and save $21,909 in permanent payroll.
* Discontinue Saturday dialysis transportation, which will affect 15 residents and save nearly $7,000.
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705289328,00.html
Anti-tax-and-spend group throws “tea party” at Capitol
By David Servatius
Deseret News
Published: March 7, 2009
Conjuring the fighting spirit of the country’s founders, a large group of defiant protesters gathered on the west steps of the Capitol rotunda Friday for a “tea party” modeled after the Boston Tea Party of more than 200 years ago.
Instead of tossing bales of tea overboard, however, this crowd seemed more interested in tossing President Obama and members of Congress out of power.
The event was part of what has become known as the Tea Party Movement, a series of rallies and demonstrations taking place in cities around the country to protest increased taxes, budget deficits, the recently passed federal stimulus package and trillion-dollar bailouts of the financial and auto industries.
Event organizer David Kirkham said he decided to put together one of the events locally because he viewed rampant deficit spending by the federal government as no different from the “intolerable acts” that led to the original Boston Tea Party.
“We are not spending our own money,” Kirkham said after the rally. “We are taxing our children. Our children have no representation and we are taxing their dreams.”
During the rally, he urged the president to not get the country in more economic trouble.
“Common sense tells us that if you find yourself in a hole you stop digging,” Kirkham told protesters. “We are here to say to Mr. Obama, ‘Put down that shovel!’ “
Salt Lake County resident Greg Zenger said he was there because he was tired of federal, state and local taxes going up.
“Everybody is digging into our pockets deeper and deeper,” Zenger said. “We are rushing headlong into socialism and it’s just wrong. It’s not what this country was founded on.”
Recent federal bailouts of the failing financial and automobile industries are what brought South Jordan resident Janalee Tobias to the Capitol to protest.
“We’re sick and tired of rewarding bad behavior,” Tobias said.
Dozens of rally participants carried handmade signs reading, “Debt is killing our country” and “Put an end to borrow and spend.” Several had small children in tow who were also carrying signs that read, “Stop stealing money from my piggy bank!”
Spanish Fork resident Keryn Ross had her four children with her.
“I want them to understand they can be part of the political process,” Ross said. “I’m worried about my kids. I’m worried that this recklessness is all going to come down on them in 20 or 30 years.”
Many in the crowd were there to prompt state lawmakers to pass HJR17, a joint resolution urging Congress to reject any future bailout legislation and stop spending money the federal government does not have.
The resolution is sponsored by Rep. Craig Frank, R-Cedar Hills, who spoke to rally participants and told them to contact their representatives expressing support for it.
“Let’s get government out of our pockets,” Frank said to cheers and applause.
A handful of other Republican representatives took turns briefly addressing the crowd. Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo, commended them for showing up.
“Up here on the Hill we do not hear enough from you,” Herrod said. “The silent majority better stop being silent or they might find they are no longer in the majority.”
Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork, said massive federal deficits were “enslaving our kids.”
“Let’s hold all of our congressmen and senators accountable for their votes to bail out these millionaires and billionaires,” Sumsion said.
Rep. Michael Noel, R-Kanab said he was just as disappointed with the previous administration’s sense of fiscal responsibility as he was with the current one.
“Ronald Reagan said the only way stop government growth was to stop feeding it,” Noel said.
Not everyone in the rotunda, however, was sympathetic to the complaints of the protesters and lawmakers.
“I think it’s funny that the people who screwed it all up are the first ones to complain about the solutions,” Holladay resident Steve Ivie said.
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705289328,00.html
Anti-tax-and-spend group throws “tea party” at Capitol
By David Servatius
Deseret News
Published: March 7, 2009
Conjuring the fighting spirit of the country’s founders, a large group of defiant protesters gathered on the west steps of the Capitol rotunda Friday for a “tea party” modeled after the Boston Tea Party of more than 200 years ago.
Instead of tossing bales of tea overboard, however, this crowd seemed more interested in tossing President Obama and members of Congress out of power.
The event was part of what has become known as the Tea Party Movement, a series of rallies and demonstrations taking place in cities around the country to protest increased taxes, budget deficits, the recently passed federal stimulus package and trillion-dollar bailouts of the financial and auto industries.
Event organizer David Kirkham said he decided to put together one of the events locally because he viewed rampant deficit spending by the federal government as no different from the “intolerable acts” that led to the original Boston Tea Party.
“We are not spending our own money,” Kirkham said after the rally. “We are taxing our children. Our children have no representation and we are taxing their dreams.”
During the rally, he urged the president to not get the country in more economic trouble.
“Common sense tells us that if you find yourself in a hole you stop digging,” Kirkham told protesters. “We are here to say to Mr. Obama, ‘Put down that shovel!’ “
Salt Lake County resident Greg Zenger said he was there because he was tired of federal, state and local taxes going up.
“Everybody is digging into our pockets deeper and deeper,” Zenger said. “We are rushing headlong into socialism and it’s just wrong. It’s not what this country was founded on.”
Recent federal bailouts of the failing financial and automobile industries are what brought South Jordan resident Janalee Tobias to the Capitol to protest.
“We’re sick and tired of rewarding bad behavior,” Tobias said.
Dozens of rally participants carried handmade signs reading, “Debt is killing our country” and “Put an end to borrow and spend.” Several had small children in tow who were also carrying signs that read, “Stop stealing money from my piggy bank!”
Spanish Fork resident Keryn Ross had her four children with her.
“I want them to understand they can be part of the political process,” Ross said. “I’m worried about my kids. I’m worried that this recklessness is all going to come down on them in 20 or 30 years.”
Many in the crowd were there to prompt state lawmakers to pass HJR17, a joint resolution urging Congress to reject any future bailout legislation and stop spending money the federal government does not have.
The resolution is sponsored by Rep. Craig Frank, R-Cedar Hills, who spoke to rally participants and told them to contact their representatives expressing support for it.
“Let’s get government out of our pockets,” Frank said to cheers and applause.
A handful of other Republican representatives took turns briefly addressing the crowd. Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo, commended them for showing up.
“Up here on the Hill we do not hear enough from you,” Herrod said. “The silent majority better stop being silent or they might find they are no longer in the majority.”
Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork, said massive federal deficits were “enslaving our kids.”
“Let’s hold all of our congressmen and senators accountable for their votes to bail out these millionaires and billionaires,” Sumsion said.
Rep. Michael Noel, R-Kanab said he was just as disappointed with the previous administration’s sense of fiscal responsibility as he was with the current one.
“Ronald Reagan said the only way stop government growth was to stop feeding it,” Noel said.
Not everyone in the rotunda, however, was sympathetic to the complaints of the protesters and lawmakers.
“I think it’s funny that the people who screwed it all up are the first ones to complain about the solutions,” Holladay resident Steve Ivie said.
http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20090307/OPINION/903070313
Our view: Tea party a reason to go to Lafayette
http://www.dailynews-record.com/opinion_details.php?AID=36050&CHID=59
Going Galt Protestors Say ‘Enough’
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=5779651
Protesters angry about Obama’s plan to help economy
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/06/going-galt-everyones-doing-it/?ref=opinion
‘Going Galt’: Everyone’s Doing It!
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_146248.asp
Rep. Odom: What Was Robin Smith Doing At Nashville Tea Party?
http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2009/03/06/will-atlas-shrug-an-compilation-of-blogosphere-commentary-about-going-galt/
Will Atlas Shrug? A Compilation of Blogosphere Commentary about “Going Galt”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2200899/posts
Tea Time Again
http://yonkerstribune.typepad.com/yonkers_tribune/2009/03/350-people-attend-anti-county-government-tea-party-in-yonkers.html
350 People Attend Anti County Government Tea Party in Yonkers By Hezi Aris
http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2009/03/conservative_uprising_gains_st.php
Conservatives Rise Up, Hit Local Streets
http://www.webcommentary.com/asp/ShowArticle.asp?id=lichm&date=090306
Obama and the Blueprint for America
http://facethestate.com/buzz/14616-conservatives-get-rally-fever
Conservatives get rally fever
http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1432387.html
State is behind on tax refunds
Governor says everyone will get paid; officials are tapping special accounts
Mark Johnson, Staff Writer
North Carolina is behind by at least 300,000 checks in sending out income tax refunds as officials juggle funds to give taxpayers back money.
snip
http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=view-events
Mar. 7
John & Ken TAX REVOLT Rally 2009
3:00 PM PDT - 3 hours
John & Ken of KFI am 640 radio have organized a TAX REVOLT RALLY
They have over 1 million listeners and are hoping that EVERYONE will come out with signs, tea bags, tax documents, etc. ANYTHING that indicates how TIRED we all are of giving our hard earned money back to the government for them to spend on stupid projects - like we really need lighted tennis courts in Madison, WI - they can only play 5 months out of the year!
View Details KFI am 640 radio
Kfi.com
Mar. 7
New American Tea Party - Boise, ID
2:00 PM MDT - 2 hours
These are revolutionary times, and there is something you can do! Economic decisions our government is currently making does affect us here in Idaho, and the freedoms we are losing due to the overbearing power of the federal government are very concerning. It is our obligation to keep this country running the way we approve.
“The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.”
-Thomas Jefferson
View Details www.TeaPartyBoise.com
Find us on Facebook as well Hundreds
Mar. 7
Monterey Bay Tea Party
12:00 PM PDT - 1.5 hours
A rally/protest to give a voice to those in the “silent majority” who are “mad as hell” with the direction that Congress/Obama are taking this country with its rapid fire passage of one massive spending/bailout bill after another - each loaded down with pet projects, payback to campaign supporters, expansion of entitlement and government programs - and, of course, tax hikes.
Be sure to bring your poster and camera/youtube so that we can share the success of the rally with others.
View Details community-wide grass roots organization
Contact:
If you would like to help out or need more information, contact one of the following. To ensure your email is answered - be sure to mention “Monterey Tea Party”
teapartymontereyco@sbcglobal.net or speak-up-america@sbcglobal.net
Mar. 7
Green Bay, Wisconsin Tea Party
11:00 AM PDT
Where to Meet: Titletown Brewing Co. Restaurant
200 Dousman St
Green Bay, WI 54303
View Details Contact: marc@savardforcongress.com
Mar. 7
Lafayette, LA Tea Party and Anti-Pork Rally
1:00 PM CST - 2 hours
The rally is for the purpose of protesting the massive, 787 billion dollar “porkulus” legislation just passed that will bankrupt the country and incur massive new debt for generations of Americans.
Attendees are encouraged to create signs and personal symbols expressing their outrage at this unprecedented waste of taxpayer dollars and violation of the public trust.
View Details Team Sarah and Louisiana Resistance
Leslie Alexander
(337) 258-8852
clesliealexander@yahoo.com
Mar. 7
Harrisburg Tea Party
12:00 PM EST - 4 hours
View Details Commonwealth Foundation
Mar. 7
South Florida Tea Party
8:00 AM PDT - 4 hours
We want everyone who cares about their future to come and help protest the massive bailouts and spending bills. Show you do care about pork and your country.
View Details Contact Chris Colina at ccolina5@yahoo.com
Mar. 7
Kansas City Tea Party
10:00 AM CST
Had enough of Obamanomics?
Join a grassroots gathering of like-minded freedom lovers.
SATURDAY, 3/7
See pix for sign ideas or just show up.
Channel 6 (ABC) covered the event, about 10 seconds only, on the 5:30 news (probably again tonight at 10:00) but it was not an accurate account of the event. Said dozens attended and showed a short film clip that only showed about 4 people with the camera angle used. I saw the camera man take numerous shots and know he had some that showed more accurately the large number of people attending. Must has had a Dem in the editing room that prepared the story.
I was on the southbound side of the triangle...got flipped off once, and caught a dozen or so dirty looks. But it seemed like every third of fourth car was honking and waving in support!
What impressed me the most was the number of kids there...not just small children, but teens and early 20s that were giving up a big slice of their precious Saturday afternoon for a good cause.
I've been at both so far, the one last Friday and the one today. In one week, they've gone from a handful of protestors to a couple hundred. I can't wait for the next one.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1116179.cfm?
Study: Revenue outpaces population
BY CHRIS SAUNDERS : The Herald-Sun
chh@heraldsun
Mar 9, 2009
CHAPEL HILL — A regional study released by a Triangle-based, nonprofit think tank found that North Carolina’s local government revenues have increased faster than population and inflation growth would have predicted.
“City and County Budget Crises: When in a hole, first stop digging,” released last week by the John Locke Foundation, found that 96 out of 98 counties and 24 of the 30 largest cities collected more revenue than needed to keep pace with increases in inflation and population.
The study also revealed that Chapel Hill’s government revenues increased by 23 percent from 2002-2007, ranking it the sixth-highest municipality in the state. Orange County came in at No. 18 on the list of counties, with a 27 percent increase. According to the report, Orange grew faster than any other county government in the Triangle.
“Chapel Hill is obviously one of the more active cities, and Orange County is one of the more active [counties] in spending,” said Michael Sanera, research director and local government analyst for the John Locke Foundation and co-author of the study. “They are at the top of the argument of ‘We need more money to pay for growth.’ “
The report concludes, however, that both Chapel Hill and Orange County far exceed the expected growth in revenue. Sanera said that the average increase for cities is 10 percent, and for counties, it is 13 percent.
“This is the way to respond to counties and cities who say, ‘We have to have more money. The growth is driving us crazy,’” Sanera said. “This [study] destroys that argument.”
Joseph Coletti, the John Locke Foundation’s fiscal and health care policy analyst and the brief’s other co-author, said that the purpose of the brief was to see how much revenues have grown over time. He and Sanera compared revenue data from the 2002 and 2007 fiscal years. In looking at the state’s 30 largest cities and 98 counties, they adjusted for inflation rates, which they calculated with a gross domestic product deflator, and population growth, which they derived from official government numbers.
One of the implications of the report is that local governments collect extra revenue for low-priority projects, which, in the wake of the sagging economy, has left these same governments scrounging for money.
Coletti said that such projects around the state include buying more open space, building dog parks and constructing new tennis courts.
Chapel Hill Town Council Member Mark Kleinschmidt does not categorize basic functions of the town’s government as low-priortiy projects. He cited police and the fire department as two prime examples of what the tax revenue supports.
Kleinschmidt included community projects in that fold, as well.
“Is a few thousand dollars we provide to the Y for after-school programs low priority?” he said. “Is the fact that the citizens of the community who voted for a new aquatic center — the will of the people — low priority?”
The John Locke Foundation’s common modus operandi, Kleinschmidt said, is to pit citizens against their government. In Chapel Hill, though, he sees more of a confluence between the town’s government and its citizens.
“The Town Council is a vehicle through which citizens voice their wants,” he said. “The sole purpose is to manifest the interest of the citizens.
“[T]he government is the citizens.”
Orange County Commissioner Pam Hemminger said she and colleagues on the board are supporting a 10 percent budget reduction this year in response to citizen concerns, and Commissioner Alice Gordon said she had not read the Locke report and couldn’t comment on its findings.
Attempts to reach other elected officials were not successful. They included Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy, Chapel Hill City Manager Roger Stancil, County Manager Laura Blackmon, and County Commissioners Mike Nelson and Valerie Foushee.
Well, that’s interesting - Kleinschmidt was a high school teacher of mine. Not surprising that he’s a hardcore liberal, though.
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