Does the Constitution Matter?
Posted by NCF912Project
If it does, then we need to re-examine it. What does it mean? Are we following it? Do we even know? Is Obama the only one guilty of discarding the principles of “Limited Government”? KrisAnne Hall will put the matter to rest on March 3rd. If the mandates of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are the origins of limited government, are we able to challenge ourselves to ask serious questions about where we are and how we got here? The North Central Florida Tea Party thinks we are able! But we need your help, we need your support. We need you to spread the message to all of your friends, family, co-workers, fellow church attendees, your barber etc. We need YOU to come on March 3rd and bring as many people as you can fit in your car! Nothing matters more than your attendance and your help in spreading this message. We also need you, if you can, to bring a finger food type snack. It can be bite size sandwiches, cookies, brownies, a bag of apples, a few bunches of bananna’s. Think … Pot Luck, but snack version. We are furnishing coffee, tea, and water. Thank you so much, and if you wouldn’t mind, shoot me an email (longingforliberty@hotmail.com) letting me know what you can do to help spread the message and if you can bring a snack to share.
Join us on Saturday, March 3, 2012 from noon until 6:00 p.m. when KrisAnne Hall presents her “Roots of Liberty”, Bill of Rights Seminar. KrisAnne is a local celebrity, published author, and Constitutional attorney who brings our history to life.
This class will explore the struggles and triumphs in the cause of human liberty and the rights of man. This is an in-depth study of what our founders reclaimed in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. This presentation is essential for all of us, especially our children and grandchildren.
This class will be held at the Taylor Building, 128 SW Birley Ave. in Lake City. The Taylor Building is located on the south side of U.S. 90 and Birley Ave. approx. 3 miles west of the I-75 interchange. For more information, call Sharon at 386-935-0821 or email Judy, longingforliberty@hotmail.com
We are trying to get the information out to as many students as possible. So far, we haven’t been able to get permission from the School Board Administration in either Columbia or Suwannee County to send home a flyer to each student in grades 6 and above. Will you please call/email the Superintendent/School Board members in your county and politely ask that they allow the flyer to be sent out to the students? I am going to include the contact information for both counties in this newsletter. If you would like a copy of the flyer, please email shiggins@windstream.net.
Please continue to pass the information on to anyone you think will be interested; let us know of any places we might get the message out. This is an important class for all of us – we promise you won’t be disappointed!
Columbia County School Board Contact Info
Superintendent Mike Millikin
372 West Duval Street
Lake City, Fl 32055-3990
Phone – (386) 755-8000
Fax – (386) 755-8008
Elected 2008 – Term Expires 2012
E-mail: millikin_m@firn.edu
Steve Nelson Chairman District 3
Phone – (386) 758-3294
FAX – (386) 719-7788
Elected 2002 – Term Expires 2014
Email: nelsons@firn.edu
Glenn Hunter Vice-Chairman District 5
Phone – (386) 752-2707
FAX (386) 752-2724
Elected 1988 – Term Expires 2014
Email: glenn.hunter@hunterprinting.com
Keith Hudson District 4
Phone – (386) 758-0057
FAX (386) 758-0066
Elected 1976 – Term Expires 2012
no email listed – it’s probably hudsonk@firn.edu (but don’t know)
Linard Johnson District 1
Phone – (386) 755-5351 -
FAX – (386) 719-2070
Elected 2002 – Term Expires 2014 Email: johnsonl@firn.edu
Charles Maxwell District 2
Phone – (386) 497-2741
Elected 2004 – Term Expires 2012
Email: maxwellc@firn.edu
Suwannee County School Board Contact Info
Superintendent Jerry Scarborough
Address: Suwannee County School Board
702 – 2nd Street, NW
Live Oak, FL 32064
Office Phone: (386) 647-4600
Cell Phone: (386) 362-8037
Home Phone: (386) 362-3463
Email: jascarborough@suwanneeschools.org
District 1 – Jerry Taylor
Phone 386-362-4720
Email: taylorj@siwannee.k12.fl.us
District 2 – Muriel Owens
Phone 386-219-0161
Email mowens@suwannee.k12.fl.us
District 3 – Julie Ulmer
Phone 386-362-7303
Email julmer@suwannee.k12.fl.us
District 4 – Ed daSilva
Phone 386-208-1093
Email ed.dasilva@suwannee.k12.fl.us
District 5 – J. M. Holtzclaw
Phone 386-935-1161
Email jmholtzclaw@suwannee.k12.fl.us
Septic Tank Inspection Repeal Alert
Posted by NCF912Project
SB 820, which is the closest bill we have had to repeal the Mandatory Septic Tank Inspection law has made it through all of its committees except for the Budget Committee. They will be meeting on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 3:45 p.m.
Please contact Senator J. D. Alexander (850) 487-5044 and ask him to please put SB 820 on Tuesday’s agenda in the Budget Committee for the 2.5 million people in Florida who own septic tanks.
For more information on this bill, go to:
http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/0820; read the full context of the bill, sign up to track it so that you can see where it is at any given time in the legislative process.
FL Redistricting Almost Completed
Posted by NCF912Project
The Florida Legislature has completed their Redistricting Maps, although there have already been lawsuits filed.
The Congressional Map (SB 1174) can be viewed at:
The State House Map (SJR 1176) can be viewed at:
The State Senate Map can be viewed at:
Constitutional Convention Bill Introduced in Florida
Posted by NCF912Project
On Tuesday, January 10, 2012 House Concurrent Resolution 8005, was introduced to the Florida State House of Representatives. Bill HCR 8005 applies for the Congress of the United States to call a convention for proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to provide for a balanced budget amendment (BBA).
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION by Ahern
Balanced Federal Budget Amendment; Urges Congress to call convention for purpose of proposing amendment to U.S. Constitution to achieve & maintain balanced federal budget.
However noble this proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution may be in its attempt to balance the federal budget, grant the President the power of a line-item veto, and the adoptions of budgets to be submitted and adopted every two years rather than every year, the calling of a general Article V convention is not the proper route that should be taken to make or propose such an amendment to the Constitution.
The last time that such a convention was convened was in Philadelphia in 1787 when General George Washington, James Madison, and the various delegates from the thirteen United States assembled to propose amendments to the Articles of Confederation — the law of the land at the time.
Although called to strengthen and centralize the national government, the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 was convened to amend the Articles of Confederation rather than replace them. We were lucky then, seeing as the convention resulted in such an excellent Constitution. We were also fortunate to have had enlightened statesmen and drafters, such as James Madison, who understood the Lockean virtues and principles of individual liberty and limited government. Looking back, who among us today comes close to exemplifying the virtues of our Founding Fathers?
The answer is too few and far between, if any at all. The proposal for a second Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) promoted by so-called conservatives would likely result in a runaway convention in which extremist or revolutionary elements could hijack the convention and alter the Constitution to include harmful amendments, such as “second generation” or “positive” socialist rights while curtailing our nation’s traditional negative rights that protect our liberties from the government.
What we need is not for the States to revise the Constitution, but rather to restore and enforce it as our Founding Fathers originally intended. We should not risk the passage of a Con-Con call no matter how appealing it may be. You now have the ability to help stop Florida from calling upon Congress to authorize such a convention. Contact your State Representative and State Senator now and urge him or her to oppose the passage of HCR 8005, H 499 and S 1142, and if it does come to a vote on the floor to vote NAY on the bill.
Florida Redistricting Update
Posted by NCF912Project
Proposed Redistricting Maps to be Considered on January 9
The Florida House’s Redistricting subcommittees officially noticed meetings for Monday, January 9, 2012 – at which time they will consider proposed committee bills (PCBs) for the State House, State Senate and Congressional maps.
If you have not already, you can check out the proposed maps and related information via the Redistricting Bills button at www.floridaredistricting.org The maps are identical to those that were released on December 6 and workshopped in the subcommittees on December 8, 2011.
The Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee and Senate Redistricting Subcommittee will both meet from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The House Redistricting Subcommittee will meet from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Want to watch the meetings live? Make sure to visit The Florida Channel at http://thefloridachannel.org/ on January 9. Want to catch up on redistricting committee meetings you may have missed? Visit The Florida Channel’s redistricting committee meeting archive at http://thefloridachannel.org/featured-stories/redistricting/.
Septic Tank Inspection Repeal Bill
Posted by NCF912Project
There are several bills in committee that may Repeal the Septic Tank Inspection part of SB 550. Please take a few minutes to look the bills over, especially the one sponsored by Senator Dean, and let the appropriate Senators/Representatives know what your opinion is!
Go to: http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/178 to view the information on these bills.
SB 238 – Ethanol Repeal Update
Posted by NCF912Project
This was sent through the Tea Party Network:
Posted on December 30, 2011 by John Collins
SB 238: Stuck in committee, please help.
SB 238: Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act
GENERAL BILL by Evers; (CO-INTRODUCER) Gaetz
Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act; Repealing the Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act, to remove the requirement that all gasoline offered for sale in this state include a percentage of ethanol, subject to specified exemptions, waivers, suspensions, extensions, enforcement, and reporting; conforming a cross-reference, etc.
Senate Committee References: Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities (CU), Commerce and Tourism (CM)
Location: In committee/council (CM)
Last Action: 11/22/2011 On Committee agenda– Commerce and Tourism, 12/07/11, 9:30 am, 401 Senate Office Building –Temporarily Postponed (TP)
http://www.flsenate.gov/PublishedContent/Committees/2010-2012/CM/MeetingRecords/Meeting_packet_for_Dec_7.pdf
The link above on pp 135-149 show the scheduled speakers from the public. There were 6 slated to speak against the bill and only 2 to speak for it. No one was allowed to speak. The bill was “TP’ed”. Senator Lynn had a change of heart about the bill (since her vote to repeal in the first committee—10 yes, 1 no, BTW)fearing the possible loss of jobs (by ethanol plants being planned/built). She wanted more time to think about it. I think that she and another senator had been approached by ethanol companies since the first committee meeting. The chair, Nancy Detert was against the bill. Now if it fails to pass committee, the senators wouldn’t experience any political fallout from a committee vote.
Most of the speakers against the repeal were executives of ethanol plant companies: Highlands Enviro Fuels, Ineos Bio, Benchmark Designs and Florida Bioenergy Association. Besides Richard Harrison a tea party member, speaking for the bill was Bonnie Bashani of Boat US in Tallahassee. (See the weblink above) I think we needed more support at the meeting for the bill.
We need to work on the Senate Committee members (Commerce and Tourism) to persuade them of the damage being done to consumers by this stupid law. The committee members are: Lynn, Dockery, Detert, Montford (for the repeal), Ring, and Flores. Chair:
Senator Nancy C. Detert (R)
Vice Chair:
Senator Paula Dockery (R)
Senator Anitere Flores (R)
Senator Evelyn J. Lynn (R)
Senator Bill Montford (D)
Senator Jeremy
Video of the committee meeting was not available.
Observation: it isn’t fair that 1 powerful Senate Committee can kill a repeal which might otherwise pass if allowed to go to the floor. We MUST change this practice—somehow. The Senate Environmental Conservation & Preservation Committee killed the septic tank law repeal last year—by themselves!
Note: Not only do they work against us they use our tax dollars to do it.
The Highlands EnviroFuels, LLC project was awarded a $7 million grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Farm to Fuel Program to be used for project development and for the purchase of plant and equipment.
To follow ths bill go to: http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/0238; if you think that it is only fair that this bill get out of committee and be sent to the full Legislature for a vote, please contact the members of this committee and ask them to put it on their agenda!
Redistricting
Posted by NCF912Project
The House Redistricting Committee will meet on Tuesday, December 6. Members will receive several options of House, Senate and Congressional maps and an overview of each option provided by Chairman Will Weatherford. On Thursday, December 8, the House, Senate, and Congressional Subcommittees will meet to workshop the various map options made available on Tuesday.
The House and Congressional Subcommittees will review maps prepared by staff of the House Redistricting Committee. The Senate Subcommittee will begin the workshopping process by reviewing the State Senate map proposed by the Florida Senate as well as a State Senate map that was submitted by the Florida State Conference of the NAACP.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
- House Redistricting Committee, 2-3 pm, 404 House Office Building
Thursday, December 8, 2011
- Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee, 12-2 pm, 404 House Office Building
- Senate Redistricting Subcommittee, 12-2 pm, Morris Hall (17 House Office Building)
- House Redistricting Subcommittee, 2:30-6 pm, 404 House Office Building
To watch these meetings live online, visit the Florida Channel at http://thefloridachannel.org, or visit http://thefloridachannel.org/featured-stories/redistricting/ to watch the replay later.
Mandatory Septic Tank Inspection Repeal Bill
Posted by NCF912Project
SB 114: Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems
GENERAL BILL by Evers; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Montford; Gaetz
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems; Deleting legislative intent relating to onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems; eliminating provisions directing the Department of Health to create and administer a statewide septic tank evaluation program; eliminating procedures and criteria for the evaluation program; eliminating provisions authorizing the department to collect an evaluation report fee; eliminating provisions relating to disposition of fee proceeds and a revenue-neutral fee schedule; repealing provisions relating to the grant program for the repair of onsite sewage treatment disposal systems identified pursuant to the evaluation program, to conform, etc.
This bill has been referred to the Health Regulation; Environmental Preservation and Conservation; and Budget Committees. It has to pass through these committees before it can be voted on by the full Senate. Please go to www.flsenate.gov ; click on committees and look for the three committees mentioned above. Contact the chairperson and ask them to put this on an agenda in the near future.
Senate Bill 1867
Posted by NCF912Project
Senate Bill 1867 passed the Senate with much debate over several parts. KrisAnne Hall wrote a great article: “Congress Decides Constitution is a Threat To National Security”. This can be found on her website: www.KrisAnneHall.com She has also released two new books: Essential Stories for Junior Patriots and . These can be purchased from her website and we hope to have some available at our December 8th meeting.