RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN
ADVANCING THE CONSERVATIVE CAUSE
Vol. 3 – No. 11 January 2020
Happy New Year!
NEXT MEETING OF THE RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
The next meeting of the Rhea County Republican Party will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2020, at 7:00 PM, at the Rhea County Sheriff’s Training Center, 711 Eagle Drive, Evensville, TN. (Bring a friend!)
RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Bitsy Gryder – Chairman Gary Drinkard – Vice Chairman
Laura Travis – Secretary Larry Pendergrass – Treasurer
Linda Pendergrass – Vice Treasurer
RANDOM THOUGHTS
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you’re not allowed to criticize. – Voltaire
EDITORIAL
The natural inclination for rational human beings might be to view the Democrat’s impeachment of President Trump as just another manifestation of the psychotic and sickening hatred that causes them to disagree merely for the sake of disagreeing.
Considering the Democrats monolithically, it’s easy to see why they hate our President; their policies have been, in many cases, devastating failures and their policies have not only diminished the freedoms and independence of every American Citizen, they have lowered the status of the United States on the world stage.
Certainly, the Democrats’ envy of the economy, made possible by President Trump’s economic vision, is a major driver of the Democrats’ hatred. In only three years, the United States has seen our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rise to over 4% – nearly doubling the GDP figures that Mr. 0bama told us was the “new normal.”
Among the millions of new jobs created over the past three years we see the largest percentage increase in the manufacturing sector. This tells us that the United States is on its way to once again becoming a true “Producer Nation” (exporting more than we import) again, as opposed to being what we’ve been for the past several decades – a “Consumer Nation.” This makes every American less dependent on foreign goods (and less dependent upon the whims of countries who have been able to manipulate us for so long).
With unemployment at generational lows – and in some demographics historical lows – the American worker finds they are no longer dependent on the welfare programs they wore like a harness for decades. Not only have millions of new jobs been created during the first three years of the Trump administration, wages for the American worker have risen at historical rates, with middle class wages rising higher and faster than all others!
The Democrats, who touted their Keynesian economic model for so long, are being revealed for the prevaricators they are. The American worker has come to realize fallacies of the socialist economists, like Paul Krugman, who have attempted to strike fear in their hearts with their claim that President Trump’s free market economic policies will “return us to Depression economics.”
More often than I can ever recall we are seeing Americans freeing themselves of the bonds of welfare – and their need for the Welfare State that was created by the Democrat Party. This is especially true of minorities, tens of thousands of whom have joined organizations like the #Walkaway movement and the Black Republican Caucus.
The Democrats then are angry that their economic policies could never hold a candle to what has been created by President Trump. They are angry that the ruse they used to manipulate Working Class America has evaporated in the light of day as millions of union workers have decided to buck their union bosses and vote for President Trump.
The Democrats, with the loss of two of their primary voting blocs, and their utterly ridiculous field of candidates running for the 2020 nomination, know their only hope to defeat President Trump is to overturn the will of the American Citizens by launching a coup against him.
We know, of course, the Democrat’s coup will fail; we know that the Republican-held Senate will never remove President Trump from office and, if nothing else, we now understand the degree of derangement that the Democrats have revealed.
But, is their envy of the stellar successes of President Trump’s policies enough to drive them over the edge to such a degree?
It seems there must be something more driving the Democrats derangement, and once that “something more” is revealed, the totality of the Democrats affliction with “Trump Derangement Syndrome” becomes apparent. Please consider:
If President Trump is allowed to remain in office and yes, to be reelected, the Democrats will lose some crucially important power for decades to come. This is why impeachment is their only hope! Here’s how it was laid out to me.
On 15 December, I found myself able to catch the Mark Levin radio program (on WHAS, 840 AM), and Mark reported on a conversation he’d had with one of his neighbors.
In the not-too-distant future, Mark’s neighbor noted, the President will nominate a replacement for at least one Justice to serve on the Supreme Court – a lifetime appointment – and the Republican-held Senate will confirm that appointment. One additional Supreme Court Justice will give the conservatives a six-to-three margin over their liberal counterparts. Two more Supreme Court Justices will increase the margin to seven-to-two! Might there even be more Supreme Court Justices appointed in the next five years?
Imagine knowing that our rights under the Constitution cannot be abrogated by the whims of some future socialist, communist, or fascist administration! Imagine knowing that a possibility might truly exist to overturn the ultra-liberal Supreme Court decisions of the past!
When we combine all the factors laid out above, it becomes quite clear as to why the Democrats have totally lost touch with their senses.
Ultimately, given the job performance of President Trump – especially the booming economy – and the fact that so many good Americans have opened their eyes and are leaving the Democrat Party, we have many reasons to be optimistic. But, with this optimism also comes with a warning – a severe warning! We must watch out for Democrats (especially at the state level) working to figure out ways to throw the elections. They’ve already begun by convey voting privileges to people who should not vote. Be cautioned then that the Democrats will do everything they can to steal the 2020 elections . . . and beyond!
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ) has chosen to leave the Democrat Party rather than vote for President Trump’s impeachment. Jeff Van Drew represents a District that President Trump won by a very large margin in 2016. While it’s good to have another Republican in Congress, we are left with an important question: Did Van Drew change party affiliation to keep his seat in Congress, or does he really have issues with the Democrat’s impeachment scam? Let us remember the iconic words of President Reagan: “Trust but verify.” I intend to keep my eye on Van Drew’s voting record going forward. How about you?
ON THE HOME FRONT
According to a report in the 8 December 2019 edition of The Chattanooga Times – Free Press, Chattanooga is experiencing the largest growth rate in the nation of foreign-born residents. [Just as Michigan and Minnesota did a few years ago! – Editor]
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Donald Trump is but one man but he has gone to war with every elected liberal, every bureaucrat in government, every illegal alien, every welfare parasite, and every enemy
be for him are either just mouthing the words or don’t know what to do to help him or even how to do it. We help best when we first take time to educate ourselves on the issues of the day.
QUESTION OF THE MONTH
What are the primary topics of letters, emails, and phone calls you have made to your elected representatives (at all levels of government), over the past month?
Readers are encouraged to share their responses to the Question of the Month. Please send your thoughts to: pyrope84045@mypacks.net – Editor
RANDOM THOUGHTS
The Pledge of Allegiance starts with an “I” and ends with “all.” That’s what America is all about – “I” (individual) and “all” (all of us). When all of us understand how vulnerable each of us is, that’s powerful. And here’s what else is powerful: When each of us understands how powerful we are when we’re united.
America is unique because it offers you an economic ladder to climb. And here’s what’s exciting: It is the bottom of the ladder that is crowded – not the top!
In America we have the greatest chance of opportunity than anyone in the past six and one-half thousand years. Never in recorded history have so many different gifts been brought from all over the world and deposited in one country.
In America, everything you need to succeed is within reach. – Jim Rohn, 1994
BOOK OF THE MONTH
The Incredible Adventures of Rush Revere, by Rush Limbaugh, is part of a collection of excellent books to help educate our young people on the real history of our nation’s founders. Reading this book with our youngsters will help them to see through the lies being taught to them by the “progressive” public school system.
https://www.amazon.com/Incredible-Adventures-Rush-Revere-Presidency/dp/1501179993
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
Scott DesJarlais (R-TN, 4th District) sent the following regarding to the Democrats’ vote to impeach President Trump:
“Today was Democrats’ fourth attempt to impeach the President, since Nancy Pelosi became House Speaker. The Radical Left may have succeeded in impeaching Donald Trump this time, on a purely partisan vote, but have failed to convince Americans this is anything other than a stunt to distract from their socialist agenda and weak presidential candidates – the real abuse of power. Fortunately, the Founders understood the potential for legislative over-reach and placed checks and balances into our system. The Senate will end this waste of time, and we can move on to important business, such as passing the USMCA trade deal and improving an economy that is already very strong.”
Rep. Glen Casada, (R-63rd District) provided the following:
“Tennesseans are required to obtain their Real ID by 1 October 2020. This new ID will allow them to access all federal buildings, enter nuclear facilities, and travel onboard domestic U.S. flights.”
[According to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, this form of documentation was created through the REAL ID ACT of 2005, which establishes minimum security standards for license issuance and production, while prohibiting federal agencies from accepting driver licenses and identification cards from states not meeting the Act’s minimum standards.
Tennesseans are not required to obtain a REAL ID compliant license. Those who wish to get this credential will need the following information when visiting a driver services center.
- Proof to establish citizenship or legal presence.
- Proof of your full Social Security Number.
- Two proofs of Tennessee residency
Additional information on “REAL ID” can be found at the following link: https://www.tn.gov/tnrealid/what-is-real-id.html – Editor]
Randy Weber (R-TX, 14th District) offered the following on S 151
“I just voted to pass the TRACED Act. This bill would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prescribe regulations related to robocalls including granting the FCC authority to levy civil penalties of up to $10,000 per intentional robocall and requiring voice service providers to adopt call authentication technologies. It brings together the FCC and different federal agencies to identify and report to Congress on improving deterrence and criminal prosecution of robocall scams. It establishes a Hospital Robocall protection group to protect hospitals from spoofed call scams. Finally, it requires the FCC to issue a number of reports to Congress on reducing robocalls and related issues.”
Bruce Griffey (R-75th District) offers the following announcement:
“Today, I filed House Bill 1572, legislation to require TN school athletes to compete in accordance with their biological gender at birth, NOT the gender with which they currently identity. We are seeing more and more transgender athletes competing and posting victories in traditionally gendered sports competitions, and doing so to the detriment of girls and women biologically born female. Boys and men, due to testosterone levels, bigger bone structure, greater lung capacity, and larger heart size, have physical advantages in sports relative to girls and women. These very biological differences are the reason sports have been bisected into separate male and female competitions – to allow females to compete in an environment that is not weighted against them. For this reason, it is fundamentally unfair to allow someone biologically born a male, but who now identifies as a female, to compete in an athletic competition against biologically born females, who are disadvantaged. It’s particularly unfair for high school athletes, who are born female and who are competing for college admissions and even college scholarships that will determine their entire life path. With House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushing through passage in the U.S. House of Representative HR 5 – the Equality Act — that, among other things, creates a civil right for male athletes to self-identify as females in sports competitions, I believe it is important for states to take a stand. This is what I seek to do through the filing of House Bill 1572.”
Bryan Terry (R-48th District) shared the following:
“For all the money spent, advice given, and politico’s used, winning a campaign basically boils down to persuading more people to like you and your message, then motivating them to get to the polls. Sure, there are a multitude of retail and wholesale methods including simple and high tech techniques, but if you aren’t persuasive nor motivating, regardless of method, odds are that unless you have an overwhelming majority of voters already willing to vote for you, you aren’t going to win.
“For what anyone thinks of President Trump or his policies, he understands this concept. Joe Biden does not. Ironically, it seems most people running for office including running for President do not understand this.
“Trump speaks of Making America Great Again or Keeping America Great. Joe pulls out #NoMalarkey. Seriously, that’s the best he could do.
“Trump is overseas having Thanksgiving with soldiers nibbling on turkey. Joe spends Thanksgiving nibbling on his wife’s fingers on stage.
“Trump spent time at a Florida rally before Thanksgiving speaking to 20,000 Americans hitting many hot topics including making the impeachment not about him, but an attack on conservatism and against those in attendance.
“Joe spent time at his rally mumbling about his leg hair and kids jumping on his lap.
Four years ago, I had several conversations with folks about the Republican Presidential Primary. While at the time, I wasn’t sure who would win, I pointed out that candidate Trump hit all the marks while all the others had some serious flaws in understanding the basics. Jeb Bush simply ran a campaign void of persuasion and motivation. Most, if not all of the Democrats fall under that umbrella.
“Again, the concepts are simple. Joe doesn’t appear to understand the concepts.”
[For more on “Sleepy Joe Biden” see: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/this-cant-be-real-life-joe-biden-leaves-many-grossed-out-with-story-about-his-leg-hair and https://www.foxnews.com/politics/joe-biden-no-malarkey-bus-tour and https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/you-dont-have-to-do-this-joe-internet-mocks-image-of-joe-biden-nibbling-wifes-finger and https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/you-dont-have-to-do-this-joe-internet-mocks-image-of-joe-biden-nibbling-wifes-finger – Editor.]
Bruce Griffey (R-75th District) announces the following:
“Today I filed House Bill 1578 would require a local government to consent to receiving refugees in its community through a resolution receiving a 2/3 vote, and, then, the legislature would have to approve the local government’s resolution by a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate before refugees could be resettled in the specific local community requesting it.
“There are numerous reasons that dictate against continued refugee resettlement in Tennessee. First and foremost, almost all economists, and simple logic, indicate that adding refugees to Tennessee’s labor pool would have an adverse effect on wages for Tennesseans at the bottom of the economic scale. Since the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), both rural Tennessee and rural America has suffered historic losses in good paying manufacturing jobs. I saw firsthand the devastating effects of NAFTA on small town workers, their livelihoods, and how that devastated the local economy. The good news is American manufacturing is on the rebound. We need to protect and help American manufacturing grow while at the same time protect and try to increase wages for those Tennesseans at the bottom of the economic scale. It is the right thing to do, not just for Tennesseans but for ALL AMERICANS. It is too soon in my estimation to ease wage pressure by importing refugee labor and/or allowing illegal immigration labor to continue to operate in Tennessee unabated. My motto is ‘Tennesseans First.’
“Second, the refugee resettlement program costs millions of dollars, which the federal government transfers to the state for absorption and Tennessee ends up funding the program. Instead of supporting refugees, Tennessee tax dollars should be supporting Tennesseans first and foremost. In Tennessee, we have homeless veterans, who we need to be helping before refugees. We have children living on dirt floors and/or in meth homes, who we need to be helping before refugees.
“Third, refugee resettlement poses not only high costs, but also high risks in relation to security. There are inherent problems with screening and vetting refugees. Electronic footprints are rare or non-existent, and reliance exclusively on hard documents is rife with fraud by individuals seeking to create false identities using counterfeit paperwork.
“Fourth, the toll that refugee resettlement takes not only on Tennessee, but also on local jurisdictions within the state, can expand exponentially due to chain migration policies allowing each refugee to ultimately add to the population multiple new immigrants, who often do not speak English, are uneducated, lack marketable skills and further drain state and local resources. Inevitably, they increase the burden on public schools, social service agencies and emergency rooms and further strain local infrastructure such as roads and public housing.
“Fifth, the lines are often blurred between “humanitarian aid” and financial gain with respect to refugee resettlement programs. The federal refugee resettlement program has spawned a private refugee cottage industry consisting of purported “charitable groups” that lobby for more and more refugee admissions inasmuch as it equates to greater financial gain and more money in their pockets.
“Sixth, although economic integration and self-sufficiency are allegedly the goals of organizations that have developed a profitable refugee industry, refugees are often abandoned shortly after their arrival, leaving the taxpayer subsidized welfare system to take over their support. Refugees are eligible for numerous welfare benefits immediately upon their arrival just as if they are native-born citizens. Relative to native-born citizens, however, refugees are 3-5 times more likely to receive food stamps, SSI, Medicaid, cash welfare and public housing. For example, a 2013 study reflected that 74% of refugees received food stamps.
“For these reasons, I firmly believe that the refugee resettlement program is not in the best interest of Tennessee or Tennesseans.” he said. “We need to take care of our own first – Tennessee and Tennesseans first! Only when the vast majority of Tennesseans are employed with good jobs and good wages and in a position to take care of their families without relying upon income assistance from the government, should Tennessee even consider allowing refugees to resettle here.”
RANDOM THOUGHTS
“The danger to America is not Barack 0bama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an 0bama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgement to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. 0bama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack 0bama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.” – Vaclav Klaus, former Premier of the Czech Republic, 2012.
COMMENTS FROM READERS
Readers are encouraged to submit their thoughts, opinions, ideas, and announcements from their city, county, state, and country. Please share your ideas, thoughts, opinions, and announcements by emailing them to pyrope84045@mypacks.net . Your fellow Conservatives want to hear from you! – Editor
Ross Harvey, a reader from Murfreesboro, TN shares the following:
“I want to put things into perspective. We elected Trump to ‘Drain the Swamp’ [and] ‘Make America Great Again.’ We didn’t say which party we wanted to take down. If you remember, [many of] the Republicans didn’t like him. They had no choice but to get behind him. He didn’t win the popular vote. He won the Electoral College. A process that protects our Republic. Not democracy. While democracy is good, it is as fatally flawed as socialism or communism. It just won’t work alone. I’m so sick of what our elected officials have done to OUR country. Divided us as a nation. We weren’t so far apart several decades ago. And here we are now. They all grow richer while we bicker back and forth. This is your country. They think we’re all stupid. And we are. Until we decide to collectively study the Constitution and take our country back…status quo. Blame yourself. Not the person in the party you hate. It’s time we came together and run all of these crooks out of our country. There’s nothing wrong with our Constitution. The problem is those who bend it to serve themselves. They think we’re stupid. Until we wake up, we are.”
Demetri Antonis, a reader from Newport, KY shared the following:
“The Inspector General’s Report on 2016 FBI Spying Reveals a Scandal of Historic Magnitude Not Only for the FBI but Also the U.S. Media.
“In 2017, the FBI decided to seek reauthorization of the FISA warrant to continue to spy on Page, and sought and obtained it three times: in January, April and June, 2017. Not only, according to the IG Report, did the FBI repeat all of those ‘seven significant inaccuracies and omission,’ but added ten additional major inaccuracies. As the Report put it: ‘In addition to repeating the seven significant errors contained in the first FISA application and outlined above, we identified 10 additional significant errors in the three renewal applications, based upon information known to the FBI after the first application and before one or more of the renewals.’
“Among the most significant new acts of deceit was that the FBI ‘omitted the fact that Steele’s Primary Subsource, who the FBI found credible, had made statements in January 2017 raising significant questions about the reliability of allegations included in the FISA applications, including,’ for example, that he/she did not recall any discussion with Person 1 concerning Wikileaks and there was ‘nothing bad’ about the communications between the Kremlin and the Trump team, and that he/she did not report to Steele in July 2016 that Page had met with Sechin.’”
Richard Silk, a reader from Nashville, TN shared the following:
“Senator Marsha Blackburn Sponsors Bill to Import Unlimited Number of Syrian & Iraqi Refugees to Tennessee. (1)
“AND GOV LEE PONDERS the question; “Gov. Bill Lee says he hasn’t decided yet if he’ll accept President Donald Trump’s offer to let states refuse to accept refugees.” (2)
The skids have already been greased in TN, TO SCREW THE PEOPLE!
“Former GOV BILL HASLAM — Shortly after Haslam appointed (now Senate hopeful) Bill Hagerty to be the Commissioner of Economic & Community Development (ECD), Hagerty made Senator Lamar Alexander’s son, Will Alexander ECD’s Chief of Staff. (Pictured)
“During Will’s tenure with ECD, he served on NICE’s [ NICE is the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (federal refugee resettlement contractor located in Nashville.)] board as Treasurer as a representative of TN ECD while at the same time, NICE’s President & CEO, Gatluak Thach was on the Board of TIRRC alongside the co-chairs of Governor Haslam’s Muslim Advisory Council. (3)
“ARE HAGERTY AND THE ALEXANDER’S CROOKS?”
(1) http://dailyrollcall.com/sen-marsha-blackburn-sponsors-bil…/
(2) https://tnchristian.com/…/bill-lee-looks-refugee-gift-hors…/
(3) http://dailyrollcall.com/nice-if-you-can-get-the-governmen…/
Joni Bryan, a reader from Nashville and Executive Director of the 917 Society would like to invite you to become a Member.
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE 917 SOCIETY!
10,000 Members in Tennessee will fund the entire state ($250,000 per year goal) and reach almost 100,000 students each year. Add your name to the growing list of supporters! Nationally we need to grow to 125,000 members to impact 4.5 million students. Join the movement!
You can give securely on-line by contacting: 917society@gmail.com or by mailing your check to:
The 917 Society
P.O. Box 50704
Nashville, TN 37205
The 917 Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit; all donations to the organization are tax exempt. (Tax Exempt # 46-3090292)
*Please provide your correct mailing address and allow 30 days to receive you decal and/or Constitution.
Donations also accepted at Ascend Credit Union
[As you may recall, the 917 Society is the organization that provided the pocket-sized copies of the Constitution I distributed to the 8th graders in Rhea County. Currently, the 917 Society provides Constitutions to all 8th graders in three states. Your membership enables the 917 Society to purchase and distribute those Constitutions. The goal for 2020 is to raise $85,000, which will provide 200,000 copies. I hope you will consider making a contribution. – Editor]
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Phil Shiver of the Conservative Review penned an interesting article on the state of our public school systems:
LEGISLATIVE REPORT
The Legislative Report provides 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. The reader is encouraged to keep informed about all legislation 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
Tennessee –
HB 1572 –
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to school sports. (Griffey, TN-R, Paris)
As introduced, requires elementary and secondary schools that receive public funding to ensure that student athletes participate in school-sanctioned sports based on the student’s biological sex as indicated on certificate issued at time of birth; provides for the cessation and restoration of the school’s public funding; establishes a civil penalty of not more than $10,000; requires a public official to vacate the official’s office for taking certain actions contrary to the intent of the law.
HB 1578 – An Act to Amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6, and; Title 7, Relative to Refugee Resettlement. (Griffey, TN-R, Paris)
This bill would require each local government to consent to receiving refugees in its community through a resolution receiving a 2/3 vote, and the, the legislature would have to approve the local government’s resolution by a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate before refugees could be resettled in the specific local community requesting it.
This bill seems to comport with President Trump’s Executive Order 13888, which creates new rules requiring states and local governments to give their written consent before refugees can be resettled.
Washington DC –
S 151 TRACED Act – Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (Thune, R-SD, 17 pages). This bill intends to deter criminal robocall violations and improve enforcement of section 227(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other purposes. Individuals or entities who are found guilty of violating standards set forth in this bill are subjected to civil asset forfeiture. This bill passed in the Senate and was forwarded to the House of Representatives for consideration where it passed with strong bipartisan support. This bill has been forwarded to the President for signature.
+ HR 565 AMIGOS Act – Advancing Mutual Interest and Growing Our Success Act (Cicilline, D-RI, 2 pages).
This bill would include Portugal in the list of foreign states whose nationals are eligible for admission into the United States as E1 and E2 nonimmigrants if United States nationals are treated similarly by the Government of Portugal. This bill makes an assumption that United States citizens would actually want to emigrate to Portugal! This bill passed in the House of Representatives and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.
HR 4 Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 (Sewell, D-AL, 40 pages).
The stated purpose of this bill is to amend Title 52 U.S. Code, Section 10303 (b), known generally as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Act), to revise the criteria for determining which States and political subdivisions are subject to section 4 of the Act, and for other purposes.
In its application, the modifications established by this bill would require/enable Federal courts to impose their authority over those states that are accused of violating (or having violated) the Act, most specifically in accordance with the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, if a State government or any of its subdivisions has been accused of violating an individual’s right to vote over the previous twenty-five years!
One noteworthy change to the Act is found in Subsection 4 (b) (3) (A), in that persons who are allowed vote are no longer required to be able to speak English. States will be required to print ballots in multiple languages!
Farther on in this bill is a requirement that States and all political subdivisions must effectively notify voters (in their preferred language) of any changes in voting requirements and districting. The specific language is as follows: “In order to identify any changes that may impact the right to vote of any person, prior to the 30th day before the date on an election for Federal office, each State or political subdivision with the responsibility of allocating registered voters, voting machines, and official poll workers to particular precincts and polling places shall provide reasonable public notice in such State of political subdivision on the Internet, of the information described . . . in a format that is reasonably convenient and accessible to voters with disabilities including voters who have low vision or are blind.”
+ This bill was passed in the House of Representatives along party lines and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.
S 2967 A bill to establish the Commission on Intergovernmental Relations of the United States to facilitate the fullest cooperation, coordination, and mutual accountability among all levels of government, and for other purposes (Alexander, R-TN, _ pages).
This bill is in the first stage of the legislative process. It was introduced into Congress on December 3, 2019. It will typically be considered by committee next before it is possibly sent on to the House or Senate as a whole.
HR 3 Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019 (Pallone, D-NJ, 101 pages).
While in committee, the name of the bill was changed to read “The Elisha Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019.”
The purpose of this bill is to establish a fair price negotiation program, protect the Medicare program from excessive price increases, and establish an out-of-pocket maximum for Medicare part D enrollees, and for other purposes. There are three principal strategies that would enable this to occur:
Medicare can negotiate lower drug prices for high-priced, single-source drugs (which may enable a pharmaceutical company to raise its prices for those drugs that are manufactured by other companies), but select drug companies would be subject to excise taxes for non-compliance.
Pharmaceutical companies may issue rebates to Medicare Parts B and D recipients if price increases surpass calculated inflation rates.
Medicare Part D could conceivably be redesigned to place a cap on out-of-pocket costs which would likely be partially absorbed by the government.
However, according to some legal experts, this bill is potentially unconstitutional because it places the Federal government in a position of telling private sector concerns how much they may charge for their products – forced price-fixing. Yet, in spite of all the negative aspects of the bill it passed in the House of Representatives and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.
[HR 19 (Walden, R-OR), would be a better choice! https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/19 – Editor]
RANDOM THOUGHTS
A camel is a race horse that was designed by a government agency.
HR 4372 MSI STEM Achievement Act (Johnson, D-TX, 18 pages).
This bill was significantly modified in committee. The original version directed Federal science agencies and the Office of Science and Technology Policy to undertake activities to increase funding earmarked for undergraduate STEM education in the Nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), and for other purposes. Ms. Johnson’s bill addresses the matter that 40% of black students and 37% of Latino students drop out (fail) to complete STEM education in mainstream universities https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/the-science-divide-why-do-latino-and-black-students-leave-stem-majors-at-higher-rates/2019/05/03/e386d318-4b32-11e9-93d0-64dbcf38ba41_story.html and is an attempt to change the outcome by providing more funding for institutions who might be willing to lower their standards so that outcomes might be improved.
Post modification, the National Science Foundation is required to award STEM grants to HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs, and to also “construct models for programs and practices at HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs that promote the education and workforce preparation of minority students pursuing STEM studies and careers in which such students are underrepresented.”
Representative Johnson has also introduced a companion bill HR 4373 Engineering Biology and Research Development Act of 2019, which was passed in the House of Representatives and forwarded to the Senate for consideration. The two bills together combine to take monies from funding and grant programs provided to “non-minority students,” which might be defined as reverse discrimination.
+ These bill were passed in the House of Representatives and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.
HR 2051 Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2019 (Lipinski, D-IL, 18 pages).
This bill would provide for Federal coordination of activities supporting the use of “sustainable chemistry” techniques.
The Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development defines Sustainable Chemistry [or “Green Chemistry”] as “a scientific concept that seeks to improve the efficiency with which natural resources are used to meet human needs for chemical products and services. Sustainable chemistry encompasses the design, manufacture and use of efficient, effective, safe and more environmentally benign chemical products and processes.” [See the following link for additional information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_chemistry – Editor]
Sustainable chemistry is also a process that stimulates innovation across all sectors to design and discover new chemicals, production processes, and product stewardship practices that will provide increased performance and increased value while meeting the goals of protecting and enhancing human health and the environment.
The overarching goals of green chemistry—namely, more resource-efficient and inherently safer design of molecules, materials, products, and processes—can be pursued in a wide range of contexts.
+ This bill passed in the House of Representatives and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.
+ HR 5038 Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 (Lofgren, D-CA, 224 pages).
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for terms and conditions for nonimmigrant workers performing agricultural labor or services. The changes to Title 42 – US Code 408 (e) (1) makes it easier for an illegal alien to obtain a H2-A visa, and then to obtain legal permanent status (under Title 1 of the Farmworker Modernization Act); it reduces the requirements for employers to conduct electronic background checks and relieves employers of previously established reporting requirements; it modifies Title 29 – US Code 1811 to require the employer to post a surety bond to guarantee wages promised will be paid; it modifies Title 42 US Code 1471 (et seq.) Section 545 by enabling employers of migrant workers to obtain guaranteed loans for properties used to house migrant workers; it modifies Title 42 US Code 1490 a (d) (See Section 521 of the Housing Act of 1949), to enable migrant workers to obtain rent subsidies, and; it modifies Title 8 US Code 1101 to ease regulations (most notably on background checks) on foreign labor recruiters.
This bill passed in the House of Representatives and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.
S 1790 National Defense Authorization Act for 2020 (Inhofe, R-OK, 1928 pages!)
An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2020 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.
Yes folks, it’s that time of year again when Santa Claus pays his annual visit to the Pentagon. This bill includes funding for the establishment of a Space Force.
This bill has passed in the House of Representatives (377/48) and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.
Most recently, the conference report for this bill was agreed to in the House on December 11, 2019. The Senate must also approve it. A conference committee, comprising members of both chambers, issued the report to resolve the differences between the two forms of the bill as passed in each chamber. Provisions of this bill were incorporated into other bills.
HR 3318 Emerging Transportation Security Threats Act of 2019 (Joyce, R-PA, 8 pages).
Unfortunately, TSA has not sufficiently evolved to address new technologies and methods used by terrorists (they’re still stuck on conducting body cavity searches on grandma). This bill would require the Transportation Security Administration to establish a task force to conduct an analysis of emerging and potential future threats to transportation security, and for other purposes.
S 1189 Stopping Malign Activities from Russian Terrorism Act. (Gardner, R-CO, 3 pages).
This bill would require the Secretary of State to determine whether the Russian Federation should be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism and whether Russian-sponsored armed entities in Ukraine should be designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
S 704 European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019. (Murphy, D-CT, 11 pages).
In recent years, Russia has endeavored to become the major supplier of petroleum and petroleum products to Europe. To that end, the Russians have tried to increase their pipeline systems into Syria and Ukraine. (The Russians now hold Crimea, which serves their shipping interests by providing a port in the Black Sea. This bill would respond to Russian aggression by prioritizing the efforts of, and enhance coordination among, United States agencies to encourage countries in Central and Eastern Europe to diversify their energy sources and supply routes, increase Europe’s energy security, and help the United States reach its global energy security goals, and for other purposes. The question open at this point is whether the United States would subsidize petroleum purchases made by European countries in order to force Russia to lower its products prices to the point where it is no longer financially advantageous for them to remain in the market.
+ HR 5381 To Amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act to require the label of a drug to list the country of origin of each of the drug’s active ingredients (DesJarlais, R-TN, text is not yet available).
[This bill is a step in the right direction. US Consumers have a right to know the country of origin of all products, and components of products, we purchase. – Editor]
+ S 2204 DART Act of 2019 (Crapo, R-ID, 6 pages).
Introduced as the “Data Analytics Robocall Technology Act of 2019,” this bill would allow the Federal Communications Commission to carry out a pilot program under which voice service providers could block certain automated calls, and for other purposes.
HR 4719 Funding Instruction for Safety, Health, and Security Avoids Fishing Emergencies Act. (Golden, ME-D, 16 pages).
This bill seeks to provide taxpayer funding for privately-owned industries who must meet the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Title 29 – Code of Federal Regulations). Such funding would be unprecedented since private sector businesses are responsible for providing occupational safety and health training to their employees.
HR 150 Grant Reporting Efficiency and Agreements Transparency Act of 2019. (Foxx, R-NC, 16 pages).
Also known as the “GREAT Act, this bill requires the Office of Management and Budget, jointly with the executive department that issues the most federal grant awards, to: (1) establish government-wide data standards for information reported by grant recipients, (2) issue guidance directing federal agencies to apply those standards, and (3) require the publication of recipient-reported data collected from all agencies on a single public website.
HR 5430 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act passed by a vote of 385/41.
+ H Res 755 Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. (Nadler, D-NY, 10 pages). https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hres755/text
To see how your representative voted please visit the following links: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/116-2019/h695?utm_campaign=govtrack_email_update&utm_source=govtrack/email_update&utm_medium=email
and
Let us resolve to never forget this day, the day the Democrats sold the last of their principles for the sake of politics!
LEGISLATION IN THE WORKS
Are the Muslim Brotherhood terrorists, or would that official designation go overboard and imperil U.S. alliances in the Middle East? Jesse Rifkin, a staff writer for GovTrak Insider, provided information that will help us answer that question.
Context
Dating back to 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood is a controversial Islamic organization based in the Middle East. The loosely-affiliated group has sent extremely mixed messages, with some people committing acts of violence in the group’s name, while other factions of the group are American allies.
In April 2019, the Trump Administration announced it planned to officially name the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pressed President Trump to do so. However, it appears the move was never finalized. Saudi Arabia has also officially designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.
While few American politicians or experts actually defend the Muslim Brotherhood, many argue that the organization is not actually a terrorist group, but rather primarily involved with political activism. Both al Qaeda and ISIS have denounced the Muslim Brotherhood.
What the bill does
The Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act wouldn’t officially name the group a terrorist organization, since only the State Department can do so — but it would express a “sense of Congress” that the designation should be made.
It was introduced in the House on April 30 as bill number H.R. 2412, by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL25).
What supporters say
Supporters argue that top Muslim Brotherhood leaders and affiliates have been designated as terrorists, with the umbrella organization being the logical next step.
“This bill recognizes the simple fact that the Muslim Brotherhood is a radical Islamic terrorist group,” Sen. Ted Cruz said in a 2015 press release upon introduction of a previous version of the legislation.
“For years, American presidents of both parties have correctly designated the Brotherhood’s various affiliates, such as Hamas and Ansar al-Sharia, as terrorist groups,” Sen. Cruz continued. “They have designated individual Muslim Brotherhood leaders [including Shaykh Abd-al-Majd Al-Zindani and Sami Al-Hajj] as terrorists.”
“Now we can reject the fantasy that their parent institution is a political entity that is somehow separate from these violent activities,” Sen. Cruz added. “A number of our Muslim allies have taken this common-sense step, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.”
What opponents say
Opponents counter that the Muslim Brotherhood is not truly a terrorist group, and such an official designation would complicate U.S. alliances and relations throughout the Middle East.
“A minority of MB [Muslim Brotherhood] members have engaged in violence, most often in response to harsh regime repression, perceived foreign occupation, or civil conflicts,” an internal CIA memo leaked to Politico read.
“MB groups enjoy widespread support across the Near East-North Africa region and many Arabs and Muslims worldwide would view an MB designation as an affront to their core religious and societal values,” the memo added. “Moreover, a US designation would probably weaken MB leaders’ arguments against violence and provide ISIS and al-Qa’ida additional grist for propaganda to win followers and support, particularly for attacks against U.S. interests.”
Odds of passage
The bill has attracted 32 House cosponsors, all Republicans. It awaits a potential vote in the House Judiciary Committee. Passage is unlikely in the Democratic-controlled chamber.
Previous House versions introduced by Rep. Diaz-Balart attracted 71 bipartisan cosponsors in 2015 (69 Republicans and two Democrats) and 77 Republican cosponsors in 2017. Neither received a vote in the full chamber, although the former was approved in committee.
Previous Senate versions introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) received seven Republican cosponsors in 2015 and four Republican cosponsors in 2017. Neither received a vote. It does not appear that a Senate version has yet been introduced in the current session.
LAGNIAPPE
I am among those fortunate enough to have heard Paul Harvey’s commentaries on radio. Perhaps his most famous essay was from 1965, entitled “If I were the Devil.” I think if you read and reflect upon the message he sent us back then, you will agree.
“If I were the prince of darkness, I would want to engulf the whole world in darkness.
I’d have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree — thee.
“So, I would set about however necessary to take over the United States.
I’d subvert the churches first, and I would begin with a campaign of whispers.
With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.”
“To the young, I would whisper that the Bible is a myth. I would convince the children that man created God instead of the other way around. I’d confide that what’s bad is good and what’s good is square.
“And the old, I would teach to pray after me, ‘Our Father, which are in Washington …’
“Then, I’d get organized, I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting.
“I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.
“If I were the devil, I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves and nations at war with themselves until each, in its turn, was consumed.
“And with promises of higher ratings, I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.
“If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellect but neglect to discipline emotions. I’d tell teachers to let those students run wild. And before you knew it, you’d have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.
“With a decade, I’d have prisons overflowing and judges promoting pornography. Soon, I would evict God from the courthouse and the schoolhouse and them from the houses of Congress.
“In his own churches, I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science. I’d lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls and church money.
“If I were the devil, I’d take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.
“What’ll you bet I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich?
“I’d convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun and that what you see on television is the way to be.
“And thus, I could undress you in public and lure you into bed with diseases for which there are no cures.
“In other words, if I were the devil, I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing.
CONTACT YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
| President Donald Trump
The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington D.C. 20500 Phone: (202) 456-1414 Fax: (202) 456-2461 |
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 40 – Suite 2 Washington D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 244-4944 Fax: (202) 228-3398 |
| U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn
B40B Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-3344 Fax: (202) 228-0566 To contact visit website: |
U.S Representative Dr. Scott DesJarlais
2301 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-6831 Fax: (202) 226-5172 |
| Governor Bill Lee
Tennessee State Capitol Nashville, Tennessee 37243 Phone: (615) 741-2001 Fax: (615) 532-9711 |
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House
https://www.speaker.gov/contact Link above provides all methods of contact.
Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=contact
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| State Representative Ron Travis
301 Sixth Avenue North Suite G-3 War Memorial Building Nashville, Tennessee 37243 Phone: (615) 741-1450
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State Senator Ken Yager
301 Sixth Avenue North Suite G-19 War Memorial Building Nashville, Tennessee 37243 Phone: (615) 741-1449 Fax: (615) 253-0237 |
