THE RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN

ADVANCING THE CONSERVATIVE CAUSE

Vol. 6 – No. 2 April 2022

The original content of this publication is copyrighted. Requests for reprinting may be obtained by contacting the Editor and Publisher at: pyrope84045@mypacks.net

Table of Contents

Editorial ———————————————————————–1

What You Need to Know About “Going Green” —————- 3

Taking Issue with Taxpayer Funded Lobbyists——————5

Comments From Representatives ——————————— 7

Comments From Correspondents ———————————- 8

Legislative Report —————————————————– 12

Rhea County Republican Party News —————————- 15

Lagniappe—————————————————————— 19

Contact Your Elected Representatives Today! ————— 20

EDITORIAL

Kris Bancroft, Editor & Publisher

It has long been a common practice that when a politician (or some other well-known person), fails to live up to society’s definition of manifesting ideal character traits, those who come to their defense rely on the moral equivalency argument; we all have feet of clay. On its surface, the argument seems to have merit; we all do, to some greater or lesser extent, come short of perfection. When we acknowledge that, yes, we are all fallible, the defenders of that errant individual deploy the gambit about not casting the first stone but, if we objectively examine that premise, we come to realize the biblical reference was intended only to apply to the judgment of our peers. When it comes to judging those who are elevated to stations of honor, not only are we justified to cast the appropriate “stones” when they fail to live up to our ideals; we, as citizens, are in fact obliged to do so. Let us consider for the remainder of this article our treatment of the errant politician.

One of the primary duties of a citizen is to seek out and nominate candidates for political office who will serve with honor as they work to fulfill the stated needs of their constituents. “Honor” is measured by the extent to which the elected individual lives up to the ideals held by those who elected them. On the campaign trail, we hear the promises of the candidates to do just that – they give us their unequivocal commitment to accomplish the tasks we demand of them and do to so with honor. (If we do not hear such promises then we are to blame for our failure to ask!)

Our Founding Fathers understood that integrity was integral to successful governance, and they also knew that, from time to time, “We the People” might allow ourselves to be hoodwinked by some charlatan who professed honor. The foresight of our Founding Fathers gave us the means by which to impeach and expel those office holders who fail to serve with integrity.

Our Founders also had the foresight to make the impeachment and expulsion process an onerous task, but is it fair to say that those who serve in elected office today possess the energy and work ethic required to complete such a daunting task? For that matter, do “We the People” have the concern – and sense of duty – required to hold our elected representatives’ feet to the fire when it comes to ensuring they serve us with integrity in the way of ostracizing the undesirables from their midst?

Beginning with today, and then going back to the time when we first started voting, if we consider all the reports of errant behavior we’ve heard about all the politicians – at all levels of government – who have betrayed our trust in innumerable ways, it becomes apparent that we have tolerated too much malfeasance – and outright crimes – for far too long. If we toss in those career service government employees whom have been caught in the commission of criminal acts, our failure to hold accountable those whom we have elected to serve us becomes all the more glaring. In short, as responsible citizens, we have failed to meet our obligations.

Due in large part to our own failure to do our duty in finding – and supporting – those candidates who most closely represent our ideals and then expelling from office those who do not, the increasing numbers of reports on the abhorrent behavior of our elected representatives should not come as a surprise. We have no one to hold responsible for the corruption in our government but ourselves.

As conservatives, except to offer fair warnings when they are needed, we cannot extend much in the way of controls over whom our Democrat neighbors nominate, but if we fail to rid our own Party of grifters and then nominate and support candidates who embody our own ideals, both in the way of their political philosophy and in the way of personal integrity, we cannot proclaim with credibility to be any better than the Left – and that is unacceptable. We must, in every way, be the viable alternative to the Left.

You have read in this publication the forecast of a “Giant Red Tsunami” in the upcoming November election – an electoral tsunami that we conservatives hope will wash the “swamp creatures” out of Washington, and elsewhere. Given the dismal polls on Mr. Biden (and his regime), it seems obvious that the Republicans indeed have an opportunity to once again gain control of both the House and Senate (as well as winning many elections in State and municipal contests). But, how does it Advance the Conservative Cause if Republicans fail to seek out and nominate those candidates to run against the Democrats, unless their integrity is beyond reproach and their political philosophy conforms to our highest standards? For that matter, how does it Advance the Conservative Cause, if we fail to send our own swamp creatures packing?

The fact is, it won’t. We must not hope to solve the problems in government and reverse the destructive policies in our government if we keep electing those who have – or would – attribute to those problems.

Conservatives not only have an opportunity to wrest control from the Democrats in both the House and the Senate, but to also refine our Party by seeking out and electing those candidates who will stand firmly for fiscal restraint and to govern in accordance with our Constitution by protecting our freedoms. Such a victory would halt Mr. Biden, his destructive regime, and the malicious designs he has against our Constitutional Republic. Victory in this cause begins with studying the candidates, learning their history, assessing their capabilities, evaluating their platform, choosing the best of all options and, working to elect them. With Freedom comes an equal measure of Responsibility, and being engaged in the process is but one of those responsibilities.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

The refusal to take sides on great moral issues is itself a decision. It is a silent acquiescence to evil. The tragedy of our time is that those who still believe in honesty lack fire and conviction, while those who believe in dishonesty are full of passionate conviction. – Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT “GOING GREEN”

Robert Johnson, Montgomery, TX

Batteries, they do not make electricity – they store electricity produced elsewhere, primarily by coal, uranium, natural gas-powered plants, or diesel-fueled generators. So, to say an EV is a zero-emission vehicle is not at all valid.

Also, since forty percent of the electricity generated in the U.S. is from coal-fired plants, it follows that forty percent of the EVs on the road are coal-powered, do you see?

Einstein’s formula, E=MC², tells us it takes the same amount of energy to move a five-thousand-pound gasoline-driven automobile a mile as it does an electric one. The only question again is what produces the power? To reiterate, it does not come from the battery; the battery is only the storage device, like a gas tank in a car.

There are two orders of batteries, rechargeable, and single-use. The most common single-use batteries are A, AA, AAA, C, D. 9V, and lantern types. Those dry-cell species use zinc, manganese, lithium, silver oxide, or zinc and carbon to store electricity chemically. Please note they all contain toxic, heavy metals.

Rechargeable batteries only differ in their internal materials, usually lithium-ion, nickel-metal oxide, and nickel-cadmium. The United States uses three billion of these two battery types a year, and most are not recycled; they end up in landfills. California is the only state which requires all batteries be recycled. If you throw your small, used batteries in the trash, here is what happens to them.

All batteries are self-discharging. That means even when not in use, they leak tiny amounts of energy. You have likely ruined a flashlight or two from an old, ruptured battery. When a battery runs down and can no longer power a toy or light, you think of it as dead; well, it is not. It continues to leak small amounts of electricity. As the chemicals inside it run out, pressure builds inside the battery’s metal casing, and eventually, it cracks. The metals left inside then ooze out. The ooze in your ruined flashlight is toxic, and so is the ooze that will inevitably leak from every battery in a landfill. All batteries eventually rupture; it just takes rechargeable batteries longer to end up in the landfill.

In addition to dry cell batteries, there are also wet cell ones used in automobiles, boats, and motorcycles. The good thing about those is, ninety percent of them are recycled. Unfortunately, we do not yet know how to recycle single-use ones properly.

But that is not half of it. For those of you excited about electric cars and a green revolution, I want you to take a closer look at batteries and also windmills and solar panels. These three technologies share what we call environmentally destructive production costs.

A typical EV battery weighs one thousand pounds, about the size of a travel trunk. It contains twenty-five pounds of lithium, sixty pounds of nickel, 44 pounds of manganese, 30 pounds cobalt, 200 pounds of copper, and 400 pounds of aluminum, steel, and plastic. Inside are over 6,000 individual lithium-ion cells.

It should concern you that all those toxic components come from mining. For instance, to manufacture each EV auto battery, you must process 25,000 pounds of brine for the lithium, 30,000 pounds of ore for the cobalt, 5,000 pounds of ore for the nickel, and 25,000 pounds of ore for copper. All told, you dig up 500,000 pounds of the earth’s crust for just – one – battery.

Sixty-eight percent of the world’s cobalt, a significant part of a battery, comes from the Congo. Their mines have no pollution controls, and they employ children who die from handling this toxic material. Should we factor in these diseased kids as part of the cost of driving an electric car?

I’d like to leave you with these thoughts. California is building the largest battery in the world near San Francisco, and they intend to power it from solar panels and windmills. They claim this is the ultimate in being ‘green,’ but it is not. This construction project is creating an environmental disaster. Let me tell you why.

The main problem with solar arrays is the chemicals needed to process silicate into the silicon used in the panels. To make pure enough silicon requires processing it with hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrogen fluoride, trichloroethane, and acetone. In addition, they also need gallium, arsenide, copper-indium-gallium- diselenide, and cadmium-telluride, which also are highly toxic. Silicon dust is a hazard to the workers, and the panels cannot be recycled.

Windmills are the ultimate in embedded costs and environmental destruction. Each weighs 1688 tons (the equivalent of 23 houses) and contains 1300 tons of concrete, 295 tons of steel, 48 tons of iron, 24 tons of fiberglass, and the hard to extract rare earths neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium. Each blade weighs 81,000 pounds and will last 15 to 20 years, at which time it must be replaced. We cannot recycle used blades.

There may be a place for these technologies, but you must look beyond the myth of zero emissions. “Going Green” may sound like the Utopian ideal but when you look at the hidden and embedded costs realistically with an open mind, you can see that Going Green is more destructive to the Earth’s environment than meets the eye, for sure.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must first endure the fatigues of supporting it. – Thomas Paine

TAKING ISSUE with TAXPAYER-FUNDED LOBBYISTS

The Tennessee Conservative published an informative article written by Paula Gomes, about a Tennessee Senator who has taken a stand against taxpayer-funded lobbyists.

Senator Kerry Roberts had stern words for two representatives of a state agency last week. During a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Jim Layman from Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and Doug Diamond, general counsel for DCS provided testimony against Senate Bill 2098.

SB2098, sponsored by Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon-District 17) would have changed the length of time DCS could keep records of unsubstantiated claims of child abuse. Pody originally wanted just 90 days for the records to be kept on file, DCS wanted 10 years. Pody then brought an amendment for 3 years.

During their testimony, the two gentlemen from DCS made valid points for why this was too short a timeframe but also overstepped their bounds according to Roberts.

“I’m deeply offended by your testimony,” Roberts began. “You both have sat here and lobbied against a bill by a member of this Tennessee General Assembly. It’s your role to tell us the consequences that you see from your professional opinion but it’s not your role to sit here and say you’re philosophically opposed to a bill. It’s not your role to say it’s bad public policy.”

Roberts then mentioned being visited by another representative of DCS earlier in the day, who he had told, “We are tired of taxpayer-funded lobbyists coming into our offices and trying to tell us what to do.”

It is Roberts’ belief that state agencies should be neutral. “You ought to be Switzerland,” he said. “No one elected you to be a legislator. This is a legislative branch of government that is charged with responsibility [of] passing laws. If you want to tell us what the consequence of passing that law is we need to hear it. That’s a great use of your time. That’s a great use of our time to listen to it, but it’s not appropriate to come in here and tell us what you think is a good or bad idea.”

A bill to prohibit taxpayer-funded state agencies from lobbying for or against state legislation was taken off notice for the House Public Service Subcommittee on March 2nd, due to the fact that the practice the bill aims to address is most likely already in violation of Tennessee Code and the state’s Constitution.

Representative Smith said, “What I’ve decided to do, rather than run the bill, is I’ve submitted a letter to the Attorney General asking for his official opinion, asking if the current law and our Constitution is being upheld.”

The Tennessee Conservative asked DCS if the agency thinks it is ethical or constitutionally appropriate to use taxpayer dollars to lobby against the interest of citizens or legislators. At the time of publication of this article, no comment had been made by the agency.

Sadly, DCS is not the only state agency potentially violating state law. The following day after Roberts’ remarks the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) testified against HB2509 to the House Criminal Practices Subcommittee.

During the Judiciary Committee, Roberts concluded by saying, “I want every commissioner in Tennessee to hear this. We have three separate branches of government and it’s our job to pass the laws… I’m tired of having people come in here from a department, a board, a commission or whatever and lobby, paid for by taxpayer dollars. State employees come here and lobby against what the people elected us to do.”

[Reprinted with permission. About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.]

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Please file this under the heading of “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up.”

The Wall Street Journal published an interview with former U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, in which he warned whomever was listening about “massive emissions consequences” from the Russian war against Ukraine. Kerry said this war would be a distraction from his work to mitigate climate change. He added, “I hope President Putin will help us stay on track with respect to what we need to do for the climate.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=vksGzhgYnEw&t=276s

The take-away here is that Mr. Kerry is among those more irrational Left-Wingers (of whom seem to be in the majority) whose delusional thought processes seems constantly focused on those issues that feed their egos. This is why it remains a top priority to drain the Swamp! https://www.wsj.com/articles/john-kerrys-ukraine-emissions-climate-russia-vladimir-putin-11645736997

RANDOM THOUGHTS

If some people are entitled by right to the product of the work of others, it means those others are deprived of rights. – Ayn Rand

COMMENTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES

Elected Representatives from all States and all levels of government are encouraged to share their thoughts, opinions, ideas, and announcements by emailing them to pyrope84045@mypacks.net . Your constituents want to hear from you! – Editor

Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-TN-4^th District

Dear Mr. Bancroft,

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding gun-control and Second Amendment Rights in this country. I truly appreciate having the benefit of your views on this important issue.

Unfortunately, the left-wing media and House Democrats are using a number of legislative initiatives to make it more difficult for law abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment Rights. The issue on which we should be focusing is how to better identify and stop home-grown violent extremist threats, lone-wolf attackers, and radical Islamic terrorists. An outright ban on certain types of firearms, as well as the implementation of universal background checks, would do little to deter criminals who currently obtain firearms illegally and would do absolutely nothing to combat the real issue here – violent and mentally ill individuals. Furthermore, these proposed “red flag laws” are deeply flawed, as they violate the due process rights of law-abiding gun owners and pose a real risk of being abused by anti-gun fanatics. Please know that I will oppose any and all legislation that is seeking to deprive our citizens of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

The Second Amendment makes plain to criminals that their targets have the right to defend themselves, their families, and their property. Since criminals already violate the law, gun-control legislation would only hinder the safety of law-abiding citizens. Rather than depriving our citizens of their constitutional rights, I will instead focus on working with my colleagues to enact sensible measures that strengthen our fight against both foreign and domestic terrorism

The Second Amendment was set in place by our nation’s founders to ensure that law-abiding citizens have the unalienable right to carry and use firearms without the government infringing upon those rights. I would like to once again assure you that I stand by the Second Amendment. I have received an “A” rating from both the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Gun Owners of America (GOA). You have my promise that I will never vote for any legislation that will threaten your Second Amendment rights.

As your voice in Washington, please know that I will work relentlessly to protect the rights of gun owners, sportsmen, sportswomen and outdoor enthusiasts across Tennessee. It is an honor and a privilege representing you and all of Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District. As the 117th congress continues to tackle the challenges facing our great nation, please let me know if you have additional comments on this or any other legislative matter.

[The comments above are the response to an email I sent to express my concerns with H.R. 127, on which is an analysis presented in the “Legislative Report” feature of this issue. – Editor]

COMMENTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS

You are invited to become a Correspondent and share thoughts, opinions, ideas, and announcements with subscribers to this newsletter. Please state your city, state, or country in your submissions and email them to: pyrope84045@mypacks.net . Your fellow Conservatives want to hear from you! – Editor

Lisa Schiffren, Bronx, New York shares comments on Mr. Biden’s funding of illegal aliens’ welfare.

So DHS, under the traitorous Mayorkas, is trying to change the law to allow in illegal aliens who are entirely dependent on welfare, SNAP, Medicaid, all free stuff, etc. No sane nation takes ‘public charges.” Now what?

According to America First Legal:

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, President Biden’s Department of Homeland Security announced that it would be proposing a new rule that would enable and facilitate the use of taxpayer-funded resources–including SNAP, CHIP and Medicaid benefits–without being considered a “public charge” when applying to receive legal residency in the United States.

This new rule is a dramatic reversal from the 2019 Trump-era policy that aimed to protect taxpayers from bringing in more public charges from abroad, and ensure that immigrants were self-sufficient and not going to rely heavily on government assistance.

Statement from America First Legal President Stephen Miller:

“A foundational, common-sense principle of all nations, and all immigration systems, is that newcomers must be financially and economically self-sufficient. The Biden Administration engaged in unethical procedural gamesmanship that resulted in the attempted removal of the Trump-era public charge rules. And now, the Biden Administration is trying to permanently violate the federal statute with a new regulation that—against all logic and human reason—decrees that immigrants wholly reliant on public benefits, including healthcare, food stamps, and housing are not public charges. They know it’s a lie and the American people know it’s a lie. To freely admit millions who will need taxpayers to provide their lifelong medical care, shelter, and substance will bankrupt this country and tear through the safety net low-income citizens of all backgrounds depend upon. This regulation abrogates our moral commandment to care for our own citizens and our legal duty to enforce the immigration laws of the United States. America First Legal will fight this rule,” Stephen Miller said.

Diane Bederman, Ontario, Canada appeals for the return of ethical journalism:

Mr. Prime Minister, what has happened since March 2020 that you have attacked the truckers?

An ethical journalist would have confronted the Prime Minister with this statement the day he went after the trucker convoy.

Rex Murphy, a journalist in Canada, wrote about journalism, today, in his article in December 2018: “Time is wrong.” Today’s journalists are not guardians of truth. “It has long since replaced the attempt to be objective with a commitment to activism and advocacy. Much of contemporary journalism does not report on the game. It sees itself as part of the game — it seeks to massage opinion, reinforce favoured perspectives, take down its “enemies” and shield its heroes.” He later wrote, March 30, 2019, that journalists “abandoned principle, journalistic ethics, and in some cases rationality.

Alan Bloom wrote “The most successful tyranny is not one that uses force to assure uniformity but the one that removes awareness of other possibilities…that makes it seem inconceivable that other ways are viable, that removes the sense that there is an outside.”

Now, more than ever, ethical journalists are needed to hold all government and their bureaucracies to account. But, something has gone terribly wrong and I have been watching this over the years. We are witnessing the devolution of journalism: the failure to ask questions. Nothing is more important than asking good questions of our political establishment to keep them honest.

https://dianebederman.com/the-failure-of-journalism-the-rise-of-a-fascist-trudeau-and-the-fall-of-canada/

Don Jenkins, Paris, TN.

Please read the two links below about two bills by Rep. Griffey dealing with illegal aliens. Our state legislature has a responsibility to defend us from the impact of illegal aliens even if the federal government refuses to secure our border. Apparently the legislators in these committees are as unreliable as the federal government. It’s not surprising when democrats vote to continually undermined our state but Republicans have a supermajority that they refuse to use for good legislation like this. If you know people in their district please pass this information on to them. This is an election year and their constituents need to know.

https://tennesseeconservativenews.com/3-republicans-support-taxpayers-funding-illegal-immigrant-education-in-tn/

https://tennesseeconservativenews.com/tn-bill-to-relocate-illegal-aliens-to-home-states-of-biden-harris-pelosi-schumer-fails-in-subcommittee/?inf_contact_key=a3893bce4fda14204175ea6a9573e823680f8914173f9191b1c0223e68310bb1

Lloyd Banner, Surprise, AZ

It seems every time we see her we cannot help but notice how she’s collapsing under the strain of her office.

When I saw Kamala Harris say give her preschool-level “explanation” of what’s going on in Ukraine, I actually felt sorry for her. She was actually reading from her notes when she said: “So, Ukraine is a country in Europe. It exists next to another country called Russia. Russia is a bigger country. Russia is a powerful country. Russia decided to invade a smaller country called Ukraine. So, basically, that’s wrong.”

But that was not the most bothersome thing she’s done recently.

When she held a press conference with the President of Poland, she tried to hand off the answer to him. When he indicated that she should answer the question, she broke out in one of her “cackling spells” again. This kind of response is an indication of a person with bi-polar disorder, and that is very dangerous, indeed!

Taylor Dawson, Beacon Center of Tennessee appeals to parents to demand choices when it comes to their children’s education.

Parents everywhere are tired of being ignored. Despite speaking at school board meetings, PTA meetings, and elsewhere, school districts and teachers unions across the country are forcing schools to close yet again due to COVID-19.

By giving parents part of their tax dollars back to pay for education expenses like tuition at a private school of their choice, parents can ensure that their children get the education they deserve.

Email your lawmakers to show your support for giving parents greater choice and education options!

and

Enough is enough. Parents need choice when it comes to their children’s education.

Randall Limbach, Sierra Vista, AZ (via Jack Dona), remarks on the “Death of Representation” in Arizona

On March 3, 3022, Arizonans were distracted by the Arizona trucker convoy while the Arizona House and Senate approved House Bill 2839. This bill passed unanimously by Republicans and Democrats and was signed into law by Gov. Ducey via an “emergency” session. This bill effectively reduces local representation to one precinct committeeman (PC) per precinct, regardless of political affiliation, and regardless of size of precinct.

Those interested now submit their PC nomination paper of candidacy to the county political party committee. The committee is composed of the chairman, along with his committee members that he selected, all of whom are likely to be of a similar political ideology that will “toe” the party line. From the pool of candidates, the committee selects one PC candidate from each precinct, all of whom are appointed by the county board of supervisors.

In the past, a PC was elected by neighbors, people who knew her and generally agreed politically, socio-economically, etc. Now, one individual and/or body handpicks PCs who will be of a similar political mindset, and who will support the political incumbents and candidates the chairman so desires. Anyone known by our community as independent thinking, who holds our politicians accountable, will likely never again represent their community.

Why did our representatives and governor, under cloak of darkness, pass a bill to silence our voices and quash local representation? When was the last time both parties passed legislation unanimously? Are our politicians concerned with midterm elections?

Joni Bryan, Nashville, TN shared an excellent idea:

Diane Sawyer’s special report was about all the items in our houses made in China. They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family’s home that were not made in the USA. There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the special they showed truckloads of items, USA made, being brought in to replace everything and talked about how to find these items and the difference in price etc.

It was interesting that Diane said if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items for one year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs. When buying food at Walmart, often on the label it will say MADE IN CHINA or PRC. For example “Our Family” brand of mandarin oranges say on the label “Made In China” I was shocked for a few more cents I could buy the Liberty Gold brand or the Dole brand made in California, look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says ‘Made in China ‘ or ‘PRC’ (and that now includes Hong Kong), simply choose another product. Think about this: If 200 million Americans each refuse to buy just $20 of Chinese goods, that’s a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor, fast! Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this NOW. Send this [idea] to everybody you know.

Buy American made first! I’m in!

Lisa Schiffren, Bronx, NY 10 March 2022

In his WSJ column today, Gerard Baker discusses how various wars have shaped Russian history. With all due respect, the column is a bit shallow, though it is true that the loss of wars has often preceded regime collapse in Russian history.

But what are we to make of this bit, which rings true enough, “Seventy years later the Soviet Union’s ignominious retreat from Afghanistan exposed the hollowness of Russian military might and the futility of the sacrifice of thousands of Russian families. That led directly to the collapse of the USSR two years later.”

What of our ignominious retreat from Afghanistan? Did it expose the hollowness of … I would say our political institutions, not the military per se, but either is possible? Will it lead to a collapse, shortly, of the regime that oversaw it? To a collapse of American freedom and Democracy overall? Or was that accomplished some other way? Or are we a nation that will defy the iron laws of actions having consequences?

Jim Clarkson, RMS Energy explains how the Biden regime is acting in the best interests of OPEC

For decades the Federal government has sought to be energy independent and achieved that goal in 2019. Biden’s war on our own energy includes increasing imported energy.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, has formal members Algeria, Angola, Congo, Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Venezuela. Informal OPEC members are Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Oman, Russia, and Sudan.
The OPEC+ group a few years back tried to stifle US shale competition by cutting prices. More recently they have announced they will hold their current level of production. They no longer need to reduce prices to suppress US shale production; the current federal energy policies do that for them.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

I know only too well how hopeless it seems to convince impassioned of the socialist idea by logical demonstration that their views are preposterous and absurd. I know too well that they don’t want to hear, to see, and above all to think. – Ludwig von Mises

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

The Legislative Report provides information on some of the more remarkable bills that have been introduced in Congress. Its purpose is to provide the reader with information about pending legislation that may prompt the reader to contact their representatives to express their views.

In the emailed version of the Legislative Report, you will see markers + and + on certain bills. The red icon is placed to encourage the reader to contact their representatives and ask them to vote against the legislation. On bills marked with the green icon, the reader is encouraged to contact their elected representatives and ask them to support the legislation. The reader is always encouraged to keep informed about all legislation from other sources so they may be aware of bills that effect our lives. Decide today that you will make your voice heard. If you remain silent, your representatives will never know your thoughts! – Editor

+++++HR 127 Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act (Sheila Jackson Lee, D-TX, 19 pages).

Passage of this bill would require the licensing of firearm and ammunition possession and the registration of firearms, and prohibit the possession of certain ammunition. In several years of reviewing legislation I have seen few bills that posed a more egregious threat to our rights guaranteed under the 2^nd Amendments. PLEASE contact your elected representatives and ask them to vote AGAINST this bill! Thanks!

+++ ++HR 350 Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2021 (Bradley Schneider, D-IL, 17 pages).

The stated purpose of this bill is: “To authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism.”

The bill borrows the definition of “foreign terrorist” and uses it to cobble together a definition of “domestic terrorist,” but the bill leaves to the discretion of the U.S. Attorney General as to whether an individual may be prosecuted as a “Domestic Terrorist.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2331

The definition of what may be defined as an act of terrorism does not necessarily mean that an individual accused of being a “domestic terrorist” has committed acts that have resulted in death or destruction of physical property.

Ultimately, this bill authorizes the regime in power at any given moment to charge any individual whom it may define as a “domestic terrorist;” according to the text of the bill, this could include the regime’s political enemies.

HR 6968 Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act (Lloyd Doggett, D-TX, 11 pages).

There is some confusion caused by a discrepancy between the title of the bill and its stated purpose, which is: “To prohibit the importation of energy products of the Russian Federation, and for other purposes.” That said, Mr. Doggett’s bill may be considered a “good start,” insofar as stopping the flow of US Taxpayer’s dollars to governments who basically hate our guts and want us to die.

It is also difficult to turn a blind eye toward the timing of Mr. Doggett’s opus. Was he inspired to write this bill because he wants to disable Mr. Putin in his aggression toward Ukraine? Was this effort inspired by his desire to cause the reopening of the domestic oil production that Mr. Biden halted on his first day as “0ccupant of the 0val 0ffice?” Or, might this bill be nothing more than a foil against the “Giant Red Tsunami” that will wash many a Democrat Swamp Creature out of office in the mid-term election? Most likely, we will never know the truth. What we do know is Mr. Doggett is in the far left quadrant of the ideology scores for the House of Representatives and it is unlikely that he has experienced any recent epiphanies. Lloyd Doggett, Representative for Texas’s 35th Congressional District – GovTrack.us

+++ ++HR 2471 Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (Hakeem Jefferies, D-NY)

This is the Omnibus Bill with a clever and misleading title. The full cost to fund this bill is $1.5 Trillion, it funds the Federal government through September, 2022.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2471/text

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/votes_new.htm

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/117-2022/h65

Republican Members of the House of Representatives who voted to pass this bill are: Amodei (NE-2), Bice (OK-5), Brady (TX-8), Calvert (CA-42), Carl (AL-1), Carter (TX-31), Cole (OK-4), Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Fleischmann (TN-3), Garcia (CA-25), Gimenez (FL-26), Gonzales (TX-23), Gonzalez (OH-16), Granger (TX-12), Herrera Beutler (WA-3), Hinson (IA-1), Joyce (OH-14), Katko (NY-24), Kim (CA-39), Kinzinger (IL-16), Malliotakis (NY-11), McCaul (TX-10), Meijer (MI-3), Miller-Meeks (IA-2), Newhouse (WA-4), Reed (NY-23), Reschenthaler (PA-14), Rogers (KY-5), Rutherford (FL-4), Salazar (FL-27), Sessions (TX-17), Simpson (ID-2), Steel (CA-48), Turner (OH-10), Upton (MI-6), Valadao (CA-21), Womack (AR-3), and Young (AK-At Large). The total vote in the House was 361/69.

Republican Senators voting to pass the bill are: Barrasso (WY), Blunt(MO), Capito(WV), Collins (ME), Cornyn (TX), Ernst (IA), Graham (SC), Grassley (IA), Hyde-Smith (MS), McConnell (KY), Moran (KS), Murkowski (AK), Portman (OH), Shelby (AL), Thune (SD), Tuberville (AL), Wicker (MS), Young (IN). Inhofe (OK) did not vote. The total vote in the Senate was 68/31.

The excuse that will be given by the Republicans will be that it was the only way they could get $13.6 Billion in funding for Ukraine, to defend itself against the Russian invasion. (See refugee outflows from Ukraine and tracker from the U.N. refugee agency.)

Some of the more disturbing parts of the bill include $24.6 Billion to dole out in student loans (to add to the existing $1.2 Trillion that remains unpaid), and another $3.2 Billion to fight “climate change,”

+++HJ Res 75 Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2022 (Rosa DeLauro, D-CT, 1 page). This resolution passed on voice vote which means the votes of individual representatives were not recorded. With a dab of whiteout, the Federal government increased its continuing appropriations from a mere $300,000,000 to $500,000,000, and no one’s sticky little fingerprints are on the paperwork. How cool is that? (sarcasm)

Fiscal responsibility has been banned from Federal government!

S 3799 PREVENT Pandemics Act (Patty Murray, D-WA, 256 pages).

This Act may be cited as the “Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act,” or the PREVENT Pandemics Act. It is a bipartisan bill that requires bipartisan decisions and inputs in future situations where the United States may be threatened by pandemics or other expansive health threats.

S 3817 TORNADO Act (Roger Wicker, R-MS, 15 pages).

This Act may be cited as the Tornado Observations Research and Notification Assessment for Development of Operations Act or the TORNADO Act.

The purpose of this bill is to improve the forecasting and understanding of tornadoes and other hazardous weather, and for other purposes.

+S 3262 FREIGHT Act (Roger Wicker, R-MS, 29 pages).

The purpose of this bill is to improve the efficient movement of freight at ports in the United States, and for other purposes.

This bill is well-crafted, it provides seemingly workable solutions that will solve complex problems and correct the multiple errors made by our current Secretary of Transportation.

+++ ++HR 4521 America COMPETES Act of 2022 (Eddie Johnson, D-TX, 3610 pages).

The alleged purpose of this bill is to provide for a coordinated Federal research initiative to ensure continued United States leadership in engineering biology. However, while that may be true to some extent, buried deep within the text are enormous set-asides for colleges and universities who have never contributed anything of value to science and technology, and most likely never will. There are also enormous amounts of tax dollars earmarked for STEM programs that have no meaningful oversight capabilities. Finally, there is a draconian rewrite of sexual harassment laws that would enable persons who fail to meet academic (or other) standards to arbitrarily and capriciously sue for damages. The general theme of this Section seems to abandon the idea of graduation based on merit.

RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY NEWS

Rhea County Republican Party Executive Committee

Bitsy Gryder – Chairman Kris Bancroft – Vice Chairman

Judy Bancroft – Secretary Ted Engel – Treasurer

Marvin Keener Sr. – Vice Treasurer

The Rhea County Republican Party Monthly Meeting

The next meeting of the Rhea County Republican Party will be a regular meeting, held on 7 April 2022, at 7:00 PM, at the Sheriff’s Training Center, 711 Eagle Lane, Evensville, TN 37323. JOIN US & BRING A FRIEND!

NOTE: The Rhea County Republican now reaches more than 1800 people worldwide. For that reason, this will be the last month that the Minutes from our meetings will be published in this newsletter. Those wishing to read the Minutes from previous meetings may visit the Rhea County Republican website and click on the tab “Meeting Minutes.” Thank you! – Editor

Minutes from the ExCom Meeting – February 20, 2022

Chairman Elizabeth Gryder called the meeting to order at 2:08 pm.

Marvin Keener offered prayer.

Minutes: The minutes for the February 3^rd Executive Committee meeting and the February 3^rd general meeting were approved.

Meet ‘n’ Greet for Candidates on June 18^th 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm: The Dayton Chamber of Commerce meeting room will be available from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm to allow for set-up and take-down. Someone will be asked at our next meeting to be in charge of food. Kris Bancroft will ask for RSVP’s on Facebook of those planning to attend. Ted Engel may arrange for a straw poll at the event. Elizabeth Gryder will obtain a list of all candidates and bring this to our next meeting.

Reagan Day Dinner:

Tickets will be ordered this week.
Laura Travis was called during this meeting for discussion, and she reported that 48 tables have been sold or claimed.
Kris Bancroft will do his best to refigure the placement of tables so that there will be room for all of them on the floor rather than some on the platform.
The podium will be on the floor in the middle.
Programs will be a tri-fold design. They will include lists of table donors and silent auction/door prize donors, categorized in ranges of value.
Elizabeth Gryder will welcome everyone and introduce emcee Lebron Purser.
Purser will introduce candidates for each position. Candidates will not be speaking.
Elizabeth Gryder is arranging for the purchase and presentation of plaques for the Republican of the Year and another honoree.
Kris Bancroft will be providing certificates or plaques for several other presentations.
Elizabeth Gryder will announce at the next general meeting that all families are expected to bring a dessert.

Young Republicans: There is no update at this time.

Herald News Article: Approval was given for payment of $150 for the sponsorship of the article “Famous First Ladies” in the series “Presidential Profiles.”

Rhea County Republican Party Bylaws: Notice has not yet been received as to whether or not our amended bylaws have been approved by the State GOP.

Cell Phone for Use by Chairmen: Purchase of a phone and arrangements for monthly service will be postponed until just before Reorganization elections early next year.

Refreshments: Attendees will be asked, by e-mail and Facebook, to bring refreshments to the next general meeting.

The next general meeting will be held March 3^rd at 7:00 pm. The Executive Committee will meet at 6:30 pm that same evening.

There will be another Executive Committee meeting on March 20^th at 2:00 pm.

The meeting adjourned at 3:30 pm.

Judy Bancroft

Secretary

Minutes from the ExCom Meeting – March 3, 2022

Chairman Elizabeth Gryder called the meeting to order at 5:45 pm.

Reagan Day Dinner Kris Bancroft reported on preparation progress. The Herald News will be doing a feature shortly. All members will be included in the Hospitality Team and red badges will be provided for them to wear. Elizabeth Gryder will ask Lorilei Dreibelbis to make place cards for the tables. Silent auction bid winners will pay Treasurer Ted Engel and receipts will be provided for pick-up of items.

A motion was made by Kris Bancroft and seconded by Marvin Keener, Sr., to donate $100 each to Gail Clingan and Mary Ann Messimer for building and custodial management, $100 to the ROTC and $100 to the choir performing the National Anthem. Motion carried by unanimous consent.

Bills from Keener Marketing Elizabeth Gryder moved that payment be approved for $159 for Reagan Day Dinner tickets and $88 for Rhea County Republican Party stationery. Motion carried by unanimous consent.

Bledsoe County Reagan Day Dinner Elizabeth Gryder reported that the event will be held March 25^th. We have a table for eight available for those interested in attending.

Candidate Debate A decision was made to hold a debate for State Senatorial candidates at our July 7^th meeting. Ted Engel will moderate and questions posed will be submitted by our members. The candidates will be notified of the event by letter, with RSVP’s requested. The debate will be advertised in the Herald News, Facebook, our website and The Rhea County Republican.

The meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm.

Judy Bancroft

Secretary

Minutes from the Previous Regular Meeting – March 3, 2022

Before tonight’s official meeting began, Chairman Elizabeth Gryder and meeting attendees congratulated Marvin Keener, Sr., on his upcoming 90^th birthday! Cake was served.

Elizabeth Gryder called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm.

Meeting Minutes Judy Bancroft read the minutes for the general meeting held February 3, 2022. A motion was made by Marvin Keener, Sr., and seconded by Elizabeth Gryder to accept the minutes as read. Motion carried.

Treasury Report Elizabeth Gryder reported that the treasury balance is unchanged. She also reported that the Executive Committee approved our sponsorship of the article “Famous First Ladies” in the series “Presidential Profiles,” published recently by the Herald News.

Candidates A number of candidates for office were present at the meeting and were given the opportunity to address the audience.

Senatorial Debate Elizabeth Gryder announced that we will be hosting a debate for candidates for State Senate. The event will take place on Thursday, July 7^th, at 7:00 pm at the Sheriff’s Training Center in Evensville. Members were asked to bring questions to our next meeting which they would like the debate moderator to ask the candidates.

Reagan Day Dinner Set-up will begin Friday at approximately 4:00 PM. We can finish up Saturday morning, if need be. On Saturday, candidates may set up their table spaces in the lobby beginning at 4:30 PM. Guests will begin arriving at 5:00 PM for a social hour, and the program and dinner will begin at 6:00 PM.

Elizabeth Gryder announced that purchased tickets were available for pick-up at the end of tonight’s meeting (288 tickets have been sold thus far).

She reminded those present that each Rhea County Republican Party family is requested bring one dessert (uncut).

Bledsoe County Reagan Day Dinner Elizabeth Gryder announced that this event will be held on Friday, March 25^th, at 5:30 CDT. Those interested in attending were asked to call her; her cell phone number will be posted at our website.

Goya Foods Kris Bancroft shared that Bob Unanue, President of Goya Foods, is sending 100,000 cans of food to Ukraine; Kris suggested that we patronize their products as a means of showing our gratitude and solidarity.

HR 127 Kris Bancroft reported that a bill has been introduced to the U. S. House of Representatives which would require registration of all firearm trades, including trades among family members. Also, a national registry would be instituted for all purchases of ammunition. Members were encouraged to contact their elected representatives and voice their opinion of this bill.

Contacting Government Officials Elizabeth Gryder brought a newspaper to the meeting with contact information for use in letting our elected officials know of our legislative concerns. Contact information is also available in each edition of The Rhea County Republican. Ted Engel encouraged phone calls as a preferred method of communication, as the numbers of positive and negative responses are recorded.

Rhea County Fair Elizabeth Gryder announced that an event will be held next month to celebrate the Fair’s 15^th Anniversary and to honor the founder of the Fair, the late Harold Fisher. The event will take place on Friday, April 1^st. Attendees were asked to contact her if interested in attending.

The meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm.

Judy Bancroft

Secretary

LAGNIAPPE

A recent court filing by Special Counsel John Durham stated that a “technology executive”—whose company was hired by the 0bama White House to provide internet-related services—was exploiting this “sensitive arrangement” and his access to White House internet domain name information to work with Clinton Campaign operatives in 2016 to create a false narrative that rival candidate Donald J. Trump was colluding with Russia. Then, they pitched the narrative concocted with this information to the FBI, which initiated a federal investigation into the Trump Campaign and later President Trump. And so ends the investigation most formally known as the “Durham probe” that began in July 2020. After nearly two years and $3.8 million, Mr. Durham and his team have finally “milked the cow dry.”

The work product generated by Mr. Durham has provided no cause for indictments that will ever be recognized by the current AG: Merrick Garland. Once again, we realize that justice delayed is justice denied.

It would be easy to blame the Democrats for this denial of justice, but we must accept that former AG William Barr (an alleged “Republican”), also had copious amounts of evidence against the Clintons, Mr. 0bama, and his regime, that would have justified hundreds of indictments, yet he failed (miserably) to stand up for law and order.

At this point, it seems that many Americans have lost faith that anything resembling “justice” (as it was once upon a time defined), still exists in our judicial “system.” By way of refreshing our memory, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “Justice” is defined as: “the maintenance or administration of what is just, especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims, or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments.”

Another way of defining “justice” that still works for most people is: “If you do the crime you do the time.” Unfortunately, this meme is more of a joke than a warning.

A society without justice – swift and sure – ultimately devolves into a state of anarchy, defined as: “a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority.” Recalling the riots and looting over the past few years, I think we’re there.

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TODAY!

Regardless of where you live in the United States, you can find your elected representatives at any level of government by visiting the following link. Remember: While they might be fairly bright, none of them can read your mind, so it is your obligation as a citizen to express your thoughts (and to urge all your friends and family and like-minded folks to do the same!) https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

Here’s a handy guide for Tennesseans in the 4^th Congressional District:

Joseph Robinette Biden (a.k.a. the “Big Guy”)

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington D.C. 20500

Phone: (202) 456-1414

Fax: (202) 456-2461

e-mail http://www.whitehouse.gov

president@whitehouse.gov

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn

357 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510