RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN

ADVANCING THE CONSERVATIVE CAUSE

Vol. 3 – No. 5 July 2019

MONTHLY MEETING OF THE RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY

The regular meeting of the Rhea County Republican Party will be held on July 11^th, at 7:00PM., at the Sheriff’s Training Center, 711 Eagle Drive, Evensville, TN. We look forward to seeing you there! (Bring a friend!)

EDITORIAL

President Trump and the Sword of Damocles

Some years ago I read a book penned by the Roman philosopher Cicero, entitled “Tusculan Disputations” (written sometime around 45 BC), wherein he told the story of the Greek tyrannical king Dionysus.

Being a tyrant who was much hated by his enemies, Dionysus grew paranoid after many assassination attempts were made against him. Still, there was one courtier named Damocles, who always spoke of how wonderful Dionysus’ life must be; the king was perpetually surrounded by riches and all the pleasures such riches could bring, and servants who were ever willing to follow his commands.

Dionysus took offense at Damocles’ remark and, paraphrased from the language of the day said: “So, Damocles, you think I’ve got it made, eh? Well, let me show you what my life is really like.” Dionysus ordered Damocles to sit on a golden couch beside his throne and partake of all the food, wine, and entertainment Dionysus enjoyed, but there was a catch. To symbolize the perpetual threats Dionysus dealt with, he ordered that a razor sharp sword be suspended by a single horse hair directly over Damocles’ head. And so, today, we have adopted (and somewhat morphed) the euphemism of “the sword of Damocles” as a situation where one person or group creates a scenario that causes another person or group to capitulate on their orneriness.

And so, today, after numerous good faith attempts to work with others to make good on his promises to the American people – to “Make America Great Again” – following are a few examples of how President Trump has used the only means left to him by unleashing his own versions of the Sword of Damocles.

President Trump tried his best to bargain with Congress to find a means by which our southern border – and the crisis that has ensued because of their dithering – could be secured in a way to keep hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens from streaming into our country. For the first two years of his presidency (much to the glee of the Democrats), the Republican majorities failed to pass a bill to build a border wall and enhance it with the proper high-tech accoutrements to stem the invasion. When the Democrats took advantage of the Republicans’ dithering and won the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi and her acolytes thumbed their noses at President Trump, vowing that there would never be a border wall. Since the Democrats’ takeover, they have struck down 17 bills that would have relieved the crisis at our southern border – bills that would have provided adequate housing, sanitation, and medical care to all those children they seem so concerned about – because the bills also had funding for border security. There was nothing in the way of immigration reform coming from the Democrat-controlled Congress except to disagree for the sake of disagreeing!

The Sword of Damocles President Trump deployed to get the Democrats to the bargaining table was the threat of unleashing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport illegal aliens by the tens of thousands from at least nine “sanctuary cities.” Pelosi and her hard-nosed gang of followers went apoplectic, and the very next day President Trump received a call from Ms. Pelosi, who suggested they should “meet to discuss the matter and work out a solution.”

When President Trump turned his attention to south of the border, he first addressed the problems caused by hundreds of thousands of migrants traveling through Mexico. Knowing that Mexico’s economy would soon collapse without trade with the United States, he informed President Lopez Obrador that unless Mexico took immediate and decisive action to stop the caravans that tariffs would be placed on all goods coming from his country – starting at 5% and increasing to 25% by October. This version of President Trump’s Sword of Damocles produced immediate action; the next day, President Lopez Obrador dispatched 6,000 troops to his southern border, and the migrant hordes were stopped in their tracks. On 14 June, President Trump sent the following Tweet: “I am pleased to inform you that the United States of America has reached a signed agreement with Mexico. The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended.” Apparently, Mexican President Lopez Obrador wanted to make absolutely certain President Trump would have no reason to impose tariffs on Mexican goods. Then, on June 24^th, upon being informed of a group of ISIS terrorists who were headed toward the southern border, he dispatched an additional 15,000 troops. See: https://nypost.com/2019/06/07/isis-plotted-to-send-terrorists-through-us-mexico-border/?fbclid=IwAR28tBX-riyns4ng5h-ynGLEf3Ur25iqvYHhC2F5mjErkBpGyzYIV2aqcMg

To help alleviate the strain placed on Mexican troops caused by the major source of migrants, President Trump unleashed yet another Sword of Damocles. He informed the governments of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras – the “Northern Triangle” – that unless they took immediate action to stem the outflow of their citizens he would cancel all foreign aid to those countries. Again, President Trump saw immediate action; overnight the Northern Triangle countries initiated reforms that would immediately have a positive impact on stopping their citizens from wanting to expatriate; high violent crime rates, government corruption, and gang-related activities, e.g. extortion, drugs, and human trafficking in the Northern Triangle are, at last, being addressed.

So, what does it all mean? Simply this: President Trump has found a way to relieve the crisis at our southern border in spite of the obstacles placed before him by the Democrats and governments of foreign countries. Additionally, it shows that our President can find ways to succeed in making good on his promises to the American people, even if he has to do so without the help of the Republicans, and in spite of the Democrats, who could have passed a bill to provide funding for all the mechanisms he pleaded for that were necessary and essential to providing for border security.

Those of us who are concerned about border security owe President Trump a huge debt of gratitude. We can best repay him by letting him know we appreciate his efforts and by supporting those Republican candidates who pledge their support to help him realize his vision for border security agenda and replacing – or, at least, severely admonishing – those Republicans who have failed to do so.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

By signing the Declaration of Independence, fifty-six Americans pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. It was no idle pledge. Nine signers died of wounds they received during the Revolutionary War. Five were captured or imprisoned. Wives and children were jailed, mistreated, or left penniless. Twelve signers’ houses were burned to the ground. Seventeen lost everything they owned. No signer defected; their honor – like their nation – remained intact. I hope we can all remember this, not just when we celebrate Independence Day, but every day of the year!

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

A government report issued earlier this month informs us that Social Security will be bankrupt in 2035, and that Medicare will go broke in 2028. What thoughts will you convey to your representatives regarding the actions they should take to preserve and shore up Social Security and Medicare? Please share your thoughts you convey to your representatives with other readers by emailing them to pyrope84045@mypacks.net . Thank you.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history. – George Orwell

COMMENTS FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVES

[Representatives from all states are invited to share their comments with our readers. Please email them to pyrope84045@mypacks.net Thank you! – Editor]

Scott DesJarlais (R-TN, 4^th District) offered the following comment regarding the passage of HR-6. For more information please see the Legislative Report section.

“Already this week, the House passed a disaster aid bill without a single dime to alleviate the disaster at the border. Today, Nancy Pelosi and her caucus passed a bill providing amnesty and a path to citizenship, as well as Medicaid, food stamps, and other welfare benefits, to millions of illegal aliens, but no resources to prevent more than a hundred thousand from crossing the southern border every month. It would encourage legal aliens to break the law, to receive the same preferential treatment, and reward repeat criminals, including gang members.

“Bad laws like this are fueling the border crisis, reaching far into the U.S. Fortunately, despite misleading media coverage, Americans are beginning to understand the problem and effective solutions. We need to build a wall and end legal loopholes drawing enormous migrant caravans. Open borders are destructive.”

Jay Reedy (State Representative District 74) issued the following statement in his bid for becoming the next Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives via the following letter to his fellow representatives:

Dear Colleagues:
The Eyes of Tennessee are upon us!
Things are forgotten from one generation to the next, which should not be.
It seems that we have forgotten God, Country, and Family. We hold to self-indulgence and moral corruption that goes against Gods Laws. We turn our backs on our country and family when we come to Capitol Hill and forget why we are elected.
The reason that I fought to be elected to HD 74 was to continue my service to God and Country, as I had as an enlisted U.S. Army Soldier and later as a U.S. Army Reserve Officer.
Respect and responsibility require much trust! The trust that we share in the Honorable Tennessee House of Representatives is a must, among the members, for the future of ALL Tennesseans.
Seven Basic Values that I was taught in the Army:
Loyalty – Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit and other soldiers.
Duty – Fulfill your obligations.
Respect – Treat people as they should be treated.
Selfless Service – Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own.
Honor – Live up to all the Army values.
Integrity – Do what’s right, legally and morally.
Personal Courage – Face fear, danger, or adversity (physical or moral).
(I have, will, and will take these values to my end.)
I have the ambition, drive, tenacity, self-confidence, and psychological openness, to continue to be the leader for God, Country, and Family!
The future of all Tennesseans matter!
After much prayers, thoughts, and conversations, I feel obligated to run for the upcoming open- position of Speaker of the House for the remainder of the 111th General Assembly.
I would be honored to have your vote of confidence to serve as your next speaker!

Respectfully,

Jay Reedy

PS: I will not be making phone calls and harassing you for your vote. I look forward in speaking/meeting with you to discuss the future goals of the House of Representatives.

[Representative Reedy wishes to inform us that the vote to elect the new Speaker for the Tennessee House of Representatives will be taken in late July. Between now and then he will be crisscrossing Tennessee to meet with his fellow House members to discuss their concerns and his vision for the future of Tennessee. Readers in Tennessee who wish to support Jay Reedy have a narrow window of opportunity to contact their Representatives to express their thoughts. Let your voice be heard today! – Editor]

Randy Weber (R-TX, 14^th District) issued the following statement:

“House Republicans have brought up legislation that would help solve the border crisis 17 times. Each time, the Democrats rejected it.

“On June 12th, I was among the first to make a unanimous consent (UC) request for humanitarian aid to deal with the border crisis, which was denied. The reality is that DHS will run out of funding by the end of the month if a Supplemental is not passed. The situation along our border is untenable, and the only ones who don’t seem to get that is the Democrat leadership.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Tolerance and apathy are the last vestiges of a dying society. – Aristotle

COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS

[Readers from all countries and states are invited to share their comments, ideas, and opinions. Please email your comments to pyrope84045@mypacks.net – Editor]

Kathy Hinners, a reader from Nashville, TN offers the following observation:

America is imploding. No longer is democracy the foundation to which the republic was built upon. Those days are gone. We as Americans have no one to fault but ourselves, as we have allowed the enemy to exist among us, as we twist the words of the founding fathers to fit an agenda.
Freedom of speech no longer exists. We often hear it said words have consequences or if it’s offensive, it is now hate.
Freedom of religion, is now freedom from religion, and the very religion that founded this country is now persecuted.
How, in the greatest country in the world, does an enemy so determined to bring it down flourish and grow within it? By Promoting a false ideology, then victimhood then using our first amendment against us.
That’s exactly what Muslims in America have done.
With the help of Islamic organizations and individuals created, funded, and supported by the Muslim Brotherhood, the goal to Islamisize the West is actually occurring.
It was only after 9/11 their plan changed. Their role as infiltrators and indoctrinators, would now turn to being victims. No longer would they be easily looked upon by government agencies as potential threats, for now they were victims which would end up being protected by the same government.
Being victims has garnered the sympathy and support of those who are ignorant and blind, allowing groups like the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) aka Hamas, Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and local ones in TN, like the American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC) to be the norm, despite evidence they are here to undermine and destroy the values and beliefs of Americans.
Since when do we allow these groups, directly linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, to exert influence within our own communities without regard to our own freedoms? Since when do we allow political correctness to override commons sense and security?
We have allowed an enemy to call the shots for fear of retribution. Our freedom of speech is used against us daily. Speech or expressions of truth that offend Muslims can get you fired, lose friends, and family members, and cast a shadow over your entire life.
We have given power to an enemy who is patient and eager to destroy, all under the false banner of a religion.
Wake up America, it’s time to rise, and shine.

Brian Troyer, of Apple Creek, OH, shared the following:

Here is the Kafkaesque nature of the Mueller “investigation” in five sentences from his report:

“[T]he actions we investigated can be divided into two phases, reflecting a possible shift in the President’s motives. The first phase covered the period from the President’s the President had been repeatedly told he was not personally under investigation. Soon after the firing of Comey and the appointment of the Special Counsel, however, the President became aware that his own conduct was being investigated in an obstruction-of-justice inquiry. At that point, the President engaged in a second phase of conduct, involving public attacks on the investigation, non-public efforts to control it, and efforts in both public and private to encourage witnesses not to cooperate with the investigation.”

Translation: He had no motive to obstruct anything before he fired Comey, because Comey kept telling him he wasn’t under investigation, even while Comey was writing memos to use against him. But, as soon as he fired Comey, we started investigating him for obstruction anyway. Then we leaked that to the media to incite him to react against our investigation. After that, he had a motive — a motive to obstruct our obstruction investigation that we started despite his having no motive to obstruct. He didn’t have a motive, so we made sure to give him one.

Anyone not yet convinced Comey, Mueller, and Rosenstein are as dirty as they can be? I hope not.

I should have included another salient fact: While Comey was telling the President that he was not under investigation, Comey refused to confirm that fact publicly. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back and resulted in his firing. Comey was deliberately keeping the cloud of investigation over the President.

Betsy Gorisch, a reader in Knox County, TN, shared the following comment from a friend:

We are paying the Chinese government $750,000.00 per wind turbine/per year—what fools we are! The towering symbols of a fading religion, over 14,000 wind turbines have been abandoned—rusting, slowly decaying. When it is time to clean up after this failed idea, no green environmentalists are anywhere to be found.

Wind was free, natural, and harnessing Earth’s bounty for the benefit of all mankind—sounded like a good idea. Wind turbines, like solar panels, break down. They produce less energy before they break down than the energy it took to make them. When the wind is not blowing, they require full-time backup from conventional power plants.

Without government subsidies, they are unaffordable; with governments facing financial troubles, the subsidies are unaffordable.

California had the big three of wind farm locations—Altamont Pass, Tehachapi, and San Gorgonio, considered the world’s best wind sites. California’s wind farms, representing almost 80% of the world’s wind-generation capacity, ceased to generate more quickly than the Kamaoa Wind Farm in Hawaii. There are five other abandoned wind farms in Hawaii. When they are abandoned, removing the turbines is a major problem. They are unsightly and huge; there is a lot of material to get rid of.

Unfortunately, the areas that are good for siting wind farms are a natural pass for migrating birds. Altamont’s turbines have been shut down four months out of every year for migrating birds, after environmentalists filed suit. According to the Golden Gate Audubon Society 75-110 Golden Eagles, 380 Burrowing Owls, 300 Red-Tailed Hawks and 333 American Kestrels are killed by turbines here every year. An Alameda County Community Development Agency study points to 10,000 annual bird deaths from Altamont wind turbines alone. There is a reason why they call them Bird Cuisinarts.

Palm Springs has enacted an ordinance requiring their removal from San Gorgonio Pass, but unless something changes, abandoned turbines will remain rotting eyesores. Taxpayers, who have already paid through the nose for overpriced energy and crony-capitalist tax scams, will have to foot the bill for their removal.

Obama’s offshore wind farms will be far more expensive than those sited in California’s ideal wind locations. Salt water is far more damaging than sun and rain, and offshore turbines do not last as long. Tax scams for his crony-capitalist backers will work, as long as he can blame them all on saving the planet.

Wind generators have a very limited life span—about 15 years. The energy used to manufacture and dismantle them is most likely greater than the electricity they generated in their entire lifetime. They were never an option for base-load power for industry. While they were the latest eco-friendly thing to have, they kept a lot of people employed—in China!

And all that is to say nothing of the awful, endless, and maddening noise the things produce.

John Anthony, a reader from Cleveland, TN shared the following:

If you think a Trump 2020 win is a sure thing, you are not paying attention. It will be take the biggest mobilization of voters in our history. The same goes for Congress:

How the LEFT plans to win total D.C. power in 2020

A massive influx of “undocumented citizen” (aka illegal alien) voters
2. Strategic use of dead and repeat voters in DEM districts
3. Redistricting in key states (or blocking proper redistricting by the GOP)
4. Changing key state Electoral College rules to “winner takes all” (popular vote)
5. Delaying the Military vote (past deadline to be counted)
6. Using the DMV to issue state ID’s and voter registration to illegal aliens
7. Using the mass media to drive Trump support down, threat of impeachment
8. Use 24 DNC candidates to gain broad voter appeal, then unify voters in the general election
9. File lawsuits in every close district
10. Use more than a billion in global funds to outspend the GOP across the board
11. Control the count

Trump will have to have a 2-to-1 massive landslide nationwide to win.

Randy Ellis, Republican State Executive Committeeman offers the following:

I know of several people that have reached the age to begin drawing their social security. Key word “THEIR” social security.

The people I’m talking about have worked ever since they were able to work and have paid in more than their fair share of social security. I venture to say more than they will ever see paid back to them. I’m sorry but if you have worked hard your entire life and are lucky enough to reach retirement age and begin drawing, it shouldn’t matter if you got a part time job or another full time job there should be no offset or you shouldn’t have to payback if you make too much.

This is ridiculous! This is your money you paid in! Not to mention the government takes the money and uses for other purposes than social security. Which if you or I owned an investment firm and done this we would be in trouble and go to jail for a Ponzi scheme.

This and other issues is what congress needs to focus on. Instead of wasting time and money trying to see someone’s tax returns or where someone was born. This and other issues are not Democrat or Republican issues they are America’s issues and we need to work together to find solutions.

Pam Whitson, one of our favorite readers who is still stuck in traffic somewhere on the outbound Kennedy Expressway exposes another boondoggle in her home town.

“You have to pass the capitol bill and then we’ll tell you what’s in it,” pretty much sums up how it went down during the last days in session. That’s what Illinois State Representative Dan Caulkins said when he voted NO. In his formal statement he said:

“Next time you hear a legislator explaining why he/she voted for it, ask about this.

Chicago bicyclists are celebrating the super duper prize they grabbed in the state’s new capital program – $50 Million annually to spend on walking and bicycling projects. $50 Million per year to spend as they see fit into perpetuity.

“That means $50 Million less on road repairs, bridge reconstruction, sewer repairs, and all those projects Illinois lawmakers apparently believe are less-important throughout the state.”

ON THE HOME FRONT

Chris Butler, an investigative journalist for The Tennessee Star penned a troubling report on the proceedings that took place during a recent meeting of the Metro Nashville Council.

At-Large candidate Gicola Lane told a crowd of more than 1,000 people Monday she wants city officials to stop working with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Members of the crowd gave thunderous applause.

Later in the evening, Nashville mayoral candidate Julia Clark-Johnson said she wants to turn Nashville into a sanctuary city.

“The state of California has been successful into changing a lot of their cities into sanctuary cities,” Clark-Johnson said, suggesting Nashville follow that state’s example.

Gicola and Clark-Johnson made these comments at Nashville’s Plaza Mariachi along Nolensville Pike this week for a forum devoted to immigrant rights

Several other At-Large and mayoral candidates joined them on stage.

The Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition sponsored the event, as did the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, the American Muslim Advisory Council, and Conexion Americas.

The forum was in question-and-answer format, with members of those groups asking, among other things, what the Metro Nashville government can do to disentangle itself from ICE and stop future deportations.

At-Large candidate Bob Mendes, already on the Metro Council, said he will continue to do his part, especially with U.S. Republican President Donald Trump in office.

“After the presidential election, I helped write the legislation that would have kept the city from spending money on federal immigration enforcement,” Mendes said.

“We didn’t quite get to the finish line on that and, in fact, the state pre-empted us, but those are the issues we want to keep going with.”

Other At-Large candidates present included Fabian Berne, Gary Moore, Zulfat Suara, and current Metro Council member Burkley Allen.

Mayoral candidates on stage also included current At-Large Council member John Cooper, current Mayor David Briley, and State Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville.

Clemmons said he thinks it’s a shame immigrant children in Nashville are too afraid to fill out forms at their schools to apply for and receive free and reduced lunches.

According to a brochure, TIRRC members use community organizing techniques to dismantle what they call “harsh immigration enforcement systems.

Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to chrisbutlerjournalist@gmail.com.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

“The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.” Ralph W. Sockman, Twentieth-Century American Pastor

RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Bitsy Gryder – Chairman Gary Drinkard – Vice Chairman

Laura Travis – Secretary Larry Pendergrass – Treasurer

Linda Pendergrass – Vice Treasurer

MINUTES FROM THE MAY MEETING

The minutes from the June meeting were not provided. – Editor

RANDOM THOUGHTS

If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power. – Dwight D. Eisenhower, in a speech on 6 March 1956.

BOOK OF THE MONTH

“Lion of Liberty – Patrick Henry and the Call to a New Nation” was written by Harlow Giles Unger, a prolific author on stories of our Founding Fathers. Dr. Unger is a former Distinguished Visiting Fellow in American History at George Washington’s Mount Vernon College. He is a veteran journalist, broadcaster, educator, and historian. He is the author of twenty books, including six biographies of America’s Founding Fathers and two other histories of the early republic. In this book is told the epic story of Patrick Henry, who roused Americans to fight government tyranny – both American and British – who is most remembered for his cry of “give me liberty or give me death.” In this 306 page book the story unfolds as to how Patrick Henry was the first to call America to arms against the British, the first to demand the Bill of Rights, and the first to fight against big government after the Revolution.

The New York Journal of Books says: “If you want to know what the Founders meant while deliberating the creation of the Confederation and Constitution, and if you wish to understand why they made the decisions they did, read ‘Lion of Liberty.’” I think you’ll be glad you did.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

I have a low tolerance for people who complain about things but never do anything to change them. This led me to conclude that the single largest pool of untapped human resources in this world is human good intentions that are never translated into actions.

Cindy Gallop, English Advertising Consultant

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

The purpose of the legislative report is to inform the reader about legislation that is currently under consideration which may have significant impact on our lives. Readers are encouraged to analyze each bill’s content and become cognizant of what our representatives are proposing and (hopefully) become engaged in the process of offering their opinions – in support of or against – such legislation. They won’t know what you think unless you tell them! – Editor

S 1332 A bill to set forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2020 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2021 through 2029. (Paul, R-KY, 64 pages).

This bill would have established the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2020 and sets forth budgetary levels for FY2021-FY2029.

The bill recommended levels and amounts for FY2020-FY2029 for federal revenues, new budget authority, budget outlays, deficits, public debt, debt held by the public, and the major functional categories of spending. It also recommended levels and amounts for FY2020-FY2029 in the Senate for Social Security and Postal Service discretionary administrative expenses.

The bill included reconciliation instructions that directed several Senate committees to report and submit to the Senate Budget Committee legislation to reduce the deficit by specified amounts over FY2020-FY2029. The committees included the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee; the Senate Armed Services Committee; the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; and the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. The Senate Finance Committee would have been required to report and submit legislation to reduce the deficit and revenues by specified amounts over FY2020-FY2029.

(Under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.)

The bill established reserve funds that provide flexibility in applying budget enforcement rules to legislation relating to (1) efficiencies, consolidations, and other savings; or (2) health savings accounts.

It also sat forth budget enforcement procedures for legislation considered in the Senate.

Unfortunately, a majority of Senators could not commit to restraining spending on too many of their pet projects and rise above the pressures placed on them by the various lobbying firms on K Street, so they failed to invoke cloture so the bill could have moved forward. Only 22 Senators (all Republican) voted for cloture. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) chose not to show up to cast a vote.

HR 2940 A bill to extend the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families and related programs through September 30, 2019. (Davis, D-IL, 4 pages). This bill continues funding for multi-generational welfare payments and extends payments to the next generation of welfare recipients with no vision for helping those who may wish to get off welfare find ways to do so. The “Great Society” and the “War on Poverty” continues! The bill passed in the House of Representatives and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.

S 1379 Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019. (Burr, R-NC, 166 pages). This bill to reauthorize certain programs under the Public Health Service Act and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to public health security and all-hazards preparedness and response, and for other purposes. Given the recent outbreaks of measles, TB, and other diseases that were once thought to be eradicated in the United States but have recently been brought in by millions of illegal aliens. This bill was passed by both houses and forwarded to President Trump for his signature. Hopefully, this bill will hopefully prevent more deaths and suffering in the United States.

HR 6 The American Dream and Promise Act of 2019. (Roybal-Allard, D-CA, 72 pages).

This is one of the most destructive bills to be passed by the Democrats in the House of Representatives in quite some time and it is the duty of every conservative to contact their Senators to urge them to vote against it!

It cancels and prohibits removal proceedings against certain aliens and provides such aliens with a path toward permanent resident status.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or the Department of Justice (DOJ) shall cancel removal proceedings against certain aliens who entered the United States as minors and grant such aliens conditional permanent residence status for 10 years.

The bill imposes various qualification requirements, such as the alien being continuously physically present in the United States and being enrolled in or having completed certain educational programs. Aliens who were eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status and not disqualified for renewal also qualify.

DHS shall remove the conditional permanent resident status granted to such aliens, if the alien applies and meets certain requirements, such as completing certain programs at an educational institution or serving at least two years in the Uniformed Services and being discharged honorably.

This bill also repeals a restriction that bars states from providing higher education benefits to undocumented aliens unless those benefits are available to all U.S. citizens.

DHS or DOJ shall cancel removal proceedings against certain aliens who qualified for temporary protected status or Deferred Enforced Departure status on certain past dates (both statuses temporarily protect covered aliens from removal). For such aliens who apply, DHS shall grant permanent residence status.

When DHS eliminates temporary protected status for nationals of a foreign country, it shall report to Congress its reasons for doing so.

HR 3151 Taxpayer First Act (John Lewis, D-GA, 96 pages).

Once again, John Lewis has sponsored a bill he could not possibly have written (see HR 1957, featured in the April issue of this newsletter.)

Among other things, this bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to “modernize and improve” the Internal Revenue Service. One of the notable items in this bill appears in Subtitle B – Section 1102 (a) (3); it provides exceptions whereby “low-income” people can legally evade paying the full amounts of their assessed taxes by submitting an offer in compromise. A “low income” wage earner is defined in this bill as an individual whose income does not exceed 250% of the established poverty level.

Further on, in Section 1203 (a) (2) (f), qualified taxpayers who cannot pay their assessed taxes may file for relief and the Secretary may abrogate their indebtedness.

The bill was approved in the House of Representatives and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration. The Senate passed the bill and it has been forwarded to President Trump for his signature.

S 1790 National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2020. (Inhofe, R-OK, 988 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. This bill was passed in the Senate and has been forwarded to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senator Inhofe, a staunch fiscal conservative, has overseen the compilation of an enormous work but it is likely we will see a lot of pork tacked onto this bill before it is signed.

HR 35 Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act. (Bobby Rush, D-IL, 5 pages) This bill would amend Title 18 US Code, Section 249, to specify that lynching is a hate crime. [This theatrical bill is quite probably the best possible response from the Democrat Party to the Senate vote recently held by Mitch McConnell, on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Green New Deal” bill, and attempts to provide a reason for Democrats to denounce any Republicans who might vote against it as racists. The “Race Card” is still very much alive and well among the Democrats. – Editor]

HR 391 White House Ethics Transparency Act of 2019. (Lynch, D-MA, 3 pages) On 20 January 2017, President Trump issued Executive Order 13770. (Similar language appeared in an Executive Orders signed by Bill Clinton and Barak 0bama.) 13770 requires each member of President Trump’s Executive Branch Appointees to sign a document constructed as follows:

As a condition, and in consideration, of my employment in the United States Government in an appointee position invested with the public trust, I commit myself to the following obligations, which I understand are binding on me and are enforceable under law:

I will not, within 5 years after the termination of my employment as an appointee in any executive agency in which I am appointed to serve, engage in lobbying activities with respect to that agency.
If, upon my departure from the Government, I am covered by the post-employment restrictions on communicating with employees of my former executive agency set forth in section 207(c) of title 18, United States Code, I agree that I will abide by those restrictions.
In addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraphs 1 and 2, I also agree, upon leaving Government service, not to engage in lobbying activities with respect to any covered executive branch official or non-career Senior Executive Service appointee for the remainder of the Administration.
I will not, at any time after the termination of my employment in the United States Government, engage in any activity on behalf of any foreign government or foreign political party which, were it undertaken on January 20, 2017, would require me to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended.
I will not accept gifts from registered lobbyists or lobbying organizations for the duration of my service as an appointee.
I will not for a period of 2 years from the date of my appointment participate in any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially related to my former employer or former clients, including regulations and contracts.
If I was a registered lobbyist within the 2 years before the date of my appointment, in addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 6, I will not for a period of 2 years after the date of my appointment participate in any particular matter on which I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment or participate in the specific issue area in which that particular matter falls.
I agree that any hiring or other employment decisions I make will be based on the candidate’s qualifications, competence, and experience.
I acknowledge that the Executive Order entitled ‘Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Appointees,’ issued by the President on January 28, 2017, which I have read before signing this document, defines certain terms applicable to the foregoing obligations and sets forth the methods for enforcing them. I expressly accept the provisions of that Executive Order as a part of this agreement and as binding on me. I understand that the obligations of this pledge are in addition to any statutory or other legal restrictions applicable to me by virtue of Government service.

The claimed intent of Congressman Lynch’s bill is to provide “transparency” regarding waivers granted to individuals from the ethics requirements of Executive Order 13770 or any subsequent similar order.

HR 2500 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Smith, D-WA, 1168 pages). This bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2020 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.

HR 3253 Empowering Beneficiaries, Ensuring Access, and Strengthening Accountability Act of 2019. (Dingell, D-MI, 14 pages) This bill provides for [funding] extensions to the Medicaid program, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. This bill passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 371/46, and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.

HR 2109 BRAVE Act. (Rice, D-NY, 6 pages) This bill would amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in awarding a contract for the procurement of goods or services, to give a preference to offerors that employ veterans.

S 1539 Protecting Faith-Based and Nonprofit Organizations From Terrorism Act of 2019. (Portman, R-OH, 4 pages) This bill is the Senate version of the House of Representatives bill, HR 2476 Securing American Non-Profit Organizations From Terrorism Act – 2019. (Bennie Thompson, D-MS).

This bill was penned in response to a string of mass shootings at churches, synagogues, and mosques over the past few years (among the more memorable are the 2017 shooting at a Texas church where 26 people died, the 2018 shooting at a Pittsburg synagogue that took the lives of 11 persons, the nine parishioners who were murdered at a South Carolina church, and the May 2019 shooting at a mosque in New Zealand, where 51 worshippers died.

Historically, places of worship, schools, and entertainment and sports venues have been known as “soft targets,” meaning there are no substantive defense capabilities such as there are at governmental facilities. This legislation would create a new program within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide grants to enhance security at nonprofit institutions. However, the text of this seemingly well-intentioned bill leaves many unanswered questions seems to be poorly written.

First, the bill allocates funds to the Secretary of DHS to provide grants for nonprofit institutions. One is first prompted to ask whether it is the duty of the Federal government to provide protection for specific non-governmental entities. Then, of perhaps greater concern, the bill would give the DHS Secretary sole discretion in choosing whom the grant recipients might be. Finally, the broad language of the bill could actually provide security for exactly the kinds of groups that have targeted the institutions which the bill intends to protect. A total of $75 million would be allocated for the bill.

LAGNIAPPE

There has been considerable debate over the years as to whether primaries should be “closed” (meaning that only persons who are registered with a given party may vote in a primary election), or “open” (meaning that anyone, regardless of their party affiliation, may vote in primary elections.)

Proponents of closed primaries argue that closed primaries ensure that the candidate who most closely represents their party’s ideals is nominated and that closed primaries prevent voters of one party from voting for the weakest candidates of another party, thereby weakening their party’s competitors. When a member of one party votes in the primary of another party, it is most commonly known as “crossover” or “mischief voting.”

Proponents of open primaries sometimes claim that voters who are “independents” (not associated with any particular party, or claim allegiance to third parties) are disenfranchised closed primaries. Some proponents of open primaries even go so far as to claim that those who prefer closed primaries are not “true patriots.”

Personally, I do not buy that argument. I know beyond a doubt that I’m about as patriotic as anyone, and I prefer closed primaries because, as a conservative, I believe the most conservative candidate should be nominated on the Republican ticket, and to allow non-conservatives to weaken the Republican ticket is not in our best interest. However, Tennessee, as well as many other states, continue to have open primaries and, if your state is among the open primary states, I’d like to offer an idea for your consideration.

Currently, the Democrats have fielded some twenty-four candidates and, in my opinion, it would be disastrous to elect any of them! When the primary elections come around, IF President Trump has a challenger, I know beyond certain that the candidate who challenges him will lose, so I’m not worried about his securing the GOP nomination. Though I may not like it, since Tennessee has open primaries, I will be voting in the Democrat Party primary and I can assure you my vote will be cast for that candidate who is most likely to lose against President Trump. (Bill de Blasio is my choice thus far.) This strategy, after all, has often been used by the Democrats and I think it’s time for a little “quid pro quo.”

If your state has an open primary, perhaps this is something you and your fellow conservatives might consider.

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

e-mail

http://www.whitehouse.gov

president@whitehouse.gov

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander