THE RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN

ADVANCING THE CONSERVATIVE CAUSE

Vol. 1 – No. 9 – November 2017

Rhea County Republican Party Executive Committee

Keith Flatness, Chairman

Bitsy Gryder, Vice Chairman

Donna Taylor, Secretary

Sheila Larson, Treasurer

Larry Pendergrass, Vice Treasurer

Linda Pendergrass, Past Chairman

Marv Keener, Chaplain

Gary Drinkard, Parliamentarian

Jim Murphy, PAC Chair

NOVEMBER MEETING

Instead of a regular meeting in November, a chili supper will be held on Thursday, 2 November, at 7:00 PM, at the Rhea County Sheriff’s Training Center, 711 Eagle Ln, Evensville, TN. We look forward to seeing you there!

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

[No comments were offered by the Chairman by the release date. – Editor]

MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING

5 October 2017

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Keith Flatness, at 7:00 PM. Marvin Keener led us in prayer, and Joe Gryder led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Jack Maddux, a candidate for U.S. Congress (TN-4^th District); Liz Holliway, our representative for the State Republican Party and her husband, Charles; and Larry Flatness were introduced as our guests.

Secretary Donna Taylor read the minutes of the August meeting. Joe Gryder made the motion to accept the minutes as read, second by Bob Larson. The motion carried.

Sheila Larson, Treasurer, gave the Treasurer’s report with a balance of $12,753.01. Joe Gryder moved to accept, second by Bob Larson to accept the report. The motion carried.

The PAC report was given by Jim Murphy with a balance in the account of $594.00 with no activity in August.

Announcements: Ron Travis was to check with Tom Davis, Administrator of Elections, about having a primary held for the next election. Debbie Byrd stated that she and Gladys Best wanted the primary.

Keith paid our membership fee for the membership in the Chamber of Commerce and was informed that a member did not have to be present for the meetings. Laura Travis and Brock Harris attended the breakfast coffees and said they are good for making social contacts with the members.

Jack Maddux spoke telling us why he would be a good candidate for the U.S. Congress.

The Legislative Report was given by Kris Bancroft. Read his newsletter for more detailed information.

Old Business: Elmer Harris has been working on our website and things are looking better. Check it out – Rhea County Republican.

New Business: The date of March 3, 2018 was set for the Reagan Day Dinner. A motion was made by Bitsy Gryder to pay $1,000.00 to reserve the Rhea County High School, second by Marvin Keener and the motion carried.

There was an open discussion about having a chili supper in October or November. November was selected.

We need to encourage and look for people to run for our County offices.

Joe Gryder moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 PM.

Donna Taylor, Secretary

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone, kindness in another’s trouble, courage in your own. – Adam Lindsay Gordon, 19 October 1833 – 1870.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Southeast Bank

Statement Dates 1 September – 30 September 2017

Previous Balance	$12,524.15
Deposits/Credits	.00
Checks (1) Debits (0)	$100.00
Service Charge	.00
Interest Paid	$1.54
Ending Balance	$12,425.69

RANDOM THOUGHTS

“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not as a traitor, he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face, their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear.” – Cicero

ANNOUNCEMENT

Former Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush is scheduled to visit Nashville next month for a fundraiser for gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd.

The fundraiser, set to take place Nov. 30, was confirmed by the campaign Wednesday.

Exact location and cost of attending the event were not immediately available.

Bush is scheduled to be at this year’s National Summit on Education Reform, which is being held in Nashville beginning Nov 29.

COMMENTS FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVES

Congressman Scott DesJarlais, M.D., released the following statement in support of President Donald Trump’s most recent executive order. Today’s order directs Department of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to foster Association Health Plans for businesses and their employees, limited-term plans for Americans in need of temporary health insurance, and employer-based Health Reimbursement Arrangements similar to health savings accounts:

“Since its inception, 0bamacare has failed America’s middle class, bearing the brunt of increased health care costs, fewer insurance options and a decline in the quality of medical care, as doctors and facilities disappear, particularly in rural districts like [the 4^th Congressional District of Tennessee]. Because of excessive taxes and regulations, employers are dropping coverage. At the same time, insurers have fled state exchanges and millions remain uninsured.

“More federal interference, such as single-payer, is the wrong answer. Giving workers, families, and small businesses more choice and flexibility is the right one. The President’s order should help Tennesseans negotiate better prices, find inexpensive, short-term insurance, if necessary, and take advantage of tax-free accounts to purchase better health care. But ultimately, Congress must pass free-market reforms Republicans have advocated for years. The Senate must act.”

[Congressman DesJarlais, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, is also a member of the GOP Doctors Caucus, which has advocated for Association Health Plans and generic drug reform. – Editor.]

COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS

[Readers are invited to offer their comments. E-mail to pyrope84045@mypacks.net to do so. Thank you. – Editor]

Norman Bobo has shared a link that raises questions about TN GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bill Lee. https://volunteerstate.report/governor-candidate-bill-lee-spent-thousands-supporting-common-core-higher-taxes/ and reminds us once again that an informed voter is the greatest dread of progressive politicians.

Joe Paige’s comments are continued from last month’s edition.

There seems to be a lot of confusion, especially in the Republican Party, as to what actually constitutes a “Conservative,” so I think defining a Conservative philosophy would be a good place to start. A Conservative philosophy embraces ideas such as:

Smaller Government
Lower Taxes
Less Regulation
Private Property Rights
Free Market Capitalism
Strong National Defense
Individual Freedom and Liberty
Personal Responsibility
Earned Achievement
Common Sense.

Compare this with liberal/progressive ideology:

Victimhood
Entitlement
Race and Gender Preferences
Crony Capitalism
New World Order Globalism
Redistribution of Wealth
Radical Egalitarianism
Corrupted Science

There is a proper and necessary role for government at all levels. How you identify that role is what defines you.

Pro-Second Amendment? Of course! Pro-Life? Definitely! But these two [qualities] alone do not make you a Conservative and just barely make you a Republican.

A word here about bi-partisan compromisers. People who identify themselves as “moderates” often choose one from “column A” and one from “column B.” (Think John McCain.) This lack of a core philosophy is what make them so unpredictable, almost as dangerous and, as previously stated, has resulted in many of the problems that we as a nation are now forced to confront.

In future essays, I would like to delve deeper into some of the basic tenets of Conservatism to advance the discussion but for now, with our help, may Almighty God bless and preserve our great nation.

[If, for some reason, you missed the first part of Mr. Paige’s commentary and would like to receive it, please e-mail to pyrope84045@mypacks.net and request a copy. – Editor]

Jack Maddux, a reader from Murfreesboro, and Republican candidate for US Congress (4^th-TN), wishes readers to know that, on 25 October 2017, he has endorsed President Trump’s decision to “Declare a national state of emergency concerning the opioid crisis.”

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Malo periculosam libertatem quam quiteam servitutem. – Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to John Adams. [Roughly translated “Dangerous liberty is preferable to peaceful slavery.” – Editor]

RANDOM THOUGHTS

When seeking the wise amongst us, we should seek first the humble ones, for the humble person knows that as the island of knowledge grows, so does the shoreline of the unknown, and the realization of how much one does not know is the sign of true wisdom. – Editor.

Gary Casteel, an occasional blogger who appears on Facebook posted:

Have you heard that a sitting U.S. Senator, Bob Menendez (D-NJ), is on trial in a corruption case where his co-defendant was convicted and was given a life sentence for selling under aged minority immigrant girls into prostitution?

Could the reason why you’ve not heard about this case is that Bob Menendez is the first U.S. Senator in 36 years to face corruption charges?

Why is this not getting more press coverage? The answer is simple: Bob Menendez is a Democrat.

Menendez is facing charges that he sold his U.S. Senate office to a Palm Beach, FL eye doctor, Salomon Melgen, in exchange for trips on private jets, a private villa in one of the most posh Caribbean resorts, and a Paris hotel suite which cost Melgen 650,000 American Express points.

Can you imagine how the press might have covered this had Menendez been a Republican?

Harrison Lapahie, of Shiprock, NM shares the following:

A Little Gun History

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

In all, 56 million defenseless people were rounded up and exterminated because of gun control. You won’t see these data on the U.S. evening news, or hear politicians disseminating this information. Guns in the hands of hands citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens.

Switzerland issues every household a gun. Switzerland’s government trains every adult to use a gun. Switzerland has the lowest gun-related crime rate of any civilized country in the world!

During WWII, the Japanese decided not to invade America because they knew most Americans were armed!

Take note my fellow Americans, before it’s too late! The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson. With guns, we are “citizens.” Without them we are “subjects.”

You are not imagining it, history shows that governments always manipulate tragedies in an attempt to justify disarming the people.

If you value your freedom, please spread this antigun control message to all your friends.

LAUGHTER IS STILL THE BEST MEDICINE

The meeting, it was sudden. The parting, it was sad. She gave her sweet young life. The most precious thing she had. She sleeps beneath the willows. In peace she’s resting now. There’s always something happens, when a freight train meets a cow.

Compliments of my friend Dr. Merrily Salyer, Sterling, VA, who wishes to remain anonymous.

The answer is simple: Bob Menendez is a Democrat.

Here is what he’s accused of:

Menendez is facing charges that he sold his U.S. Senate office to a Palm Beach, Fla., eye doctor, his co-defendant Salomon Melgen, for bribes in the form of private jets stocked with Menendez’s favorite beverages, a private villa at one of the lushest resorts in the Caribbean, and a Paris hotel suite for which Melgen spent 650,000 American Express points.

Can you imagine if a Republican was on the stand? It would be on the news 24/7.

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

4 October –

Senator Diane Feinstein introduced S 1916, a bill to prohibit the possession or transfer of certain firearm accessories, and for other purposes. The text of the bill is not yet available.

5 October –

Senator Bob Corker and Chris Coons (D-DE), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have introduced legislation to review and approve the accountability and effectiveness of U.S. participation in international organizations. The Multilateral Aid Review Act of 2017 would establish an interagency taskforce with peer review to conduct regular evaluations of how well multilateral institutions carry out their missions and how they serve American interests and taxpayers. Cosponsors of the legislation include Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and Bob Casey (D-PA).

“American taxpayers deserve to know how our involvement in these organizations benefits this country,” said Corker. “Establishing an interagency review process will give us a more thorough and objective way to evaluate the performance of these institutions. From there, we can make more informed decisions about how to prioritize scarce resources and demand better outcomes. I thank my colleagues for joining us in support of this good governance initiative that we believe can be a useful tool for advancing U.S. interests abroad more effectively.”

Multilateral Aid Review Act of 2017 Background: United States government agencies collectively spent over $10 billion on funding multilateral entities in fiscal year 2016. It is in the best interest of the United States to assess the value of these investments to build a critical mass of data to support effective multilateral bodies and maximize the impact of our limited foreign assistance dollars. The Trump administration is in the midst of conducting an internal review of funding to international organizations. It is critical that Congress play a role in this process to ensure a credible and rigorous analysis. Other countries, like the United Kingdom and Australia have conducted similar reviews of multilateral aid with compelling results.

Objectives: The Multilateral Aid Review Act will require a methodologically-based assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of United States investments in multilateral entities to:

provide a tool to guide the United States Government’s decision-making and prioritization with regard to funding multilateral organizations, and to provide a methodological basis for allocating scarce budgetary resources to those that advance relevant United States foreign policy objectives;
incentivize improvements in the performance of multilateral entities to achieve better on-the-ground outcomes in developing, fragile, and crisis-afflicted regions;
protect United States taxpayer investments in foreign assistance by improving transparency with regard to the funding of multilateral bodies.

The Review will assess international organizations, multilateral development banks, global funds, and climate investment funds, and will provide an assessment based on:

relationship of stated goals to actual results;
accountability and transparency;
alignment with United States foreign policy objectives;
multilateral approach compared to bilateral approach;
redundancies and overlap.

Multilateral Review Task Force and Peer Review Group: The review will be conducted by an interagency Multilateral Review Task Force chaired by the secretary of state with members appointed from the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Office of Management and Budget, and other relevant executive branch departments or agencies. To verify the credibility of the methods and conclusions of the Review, the bill also establishes a Peer Review Group of experts to consult regularly with the Multilateral Review Task Force and assess the findings of the of the Task Force. The Peer Review Group will consist of eight non-governmental experts appointed by congressional leadership

10 October –

Carlos Curbelo, (R-FL 26^th District) introduced HR 3999, a bill to amend Title 18 US Code, to prohibit the manufacture, possession, or transfer of any part or combination of parts that is designed and functions to increase the rate of fire of a semi-automatic rifle but does not convert the semi-automatic rifle into a machinegun, and for other purposes. (The text of the bill is not yet available, however, bills are not typically introduced unless they have a strong chance of being passed into law.)

Scott DesJarlais voted to pass HR 2105, National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) Small Business Cyber Security Act, introduced by Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL). Rep. Webster’s comments on this legislation included the following: “Small businesses are especially vulnerable, with some reports noting that 43% of cyber-attacks specifically target them. These small businesses are more susceptible to attacks due to the limited access to the tools they need to prepare for such an event.”

11 October –

Scott DesJarlais voted to pass HR 3243 – eliminating the sunset date on the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA), related to transparent and risk management assessment of major information technology investments and agency reviews of information technology portfolios to reduce duplication and realize savings. Specifically, the bill extends three expiring provisions related to federal data center consolidation, transparency, and risk management of major IT systems, IT portfolio programs, and resource reviews. The bill enables the federal government to maximize hacking prevention efforts. The bill passed by a vote of 418/0 and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.

Small business owners have received some much needed help! Scott DesJarlais voted to pass HR 2763 which makes improvements to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, including extending several pilot programs instituted in the 2011 reauthorization of both programs through 2022, when both programs will need a full reauthorization.

Specifically, the program:

makes permanent the Civilian Agency Commercialization Readiness Program, a pilot program established in the 2011 reauthorization;
clarifies congressional intent by requiring the Department of Defense to establish goals for transitioning Phase III technologies in subcontracting plans for contracts of $100 million or more and to set a goal to increase the number of Phase II contracts that lead to technology insertion into large scale Defense programs;
extends the pilot program that allows participating agencies to offer a straight to Phase II option for small firms that have established they have completed the work traditionally done in Phase I of the program;
extends the pilot program authorizing agencies to utilize up to 3% of the allocations under the SBIR program for various administrative functions associated with the operation of the SBIR and STTR programs through FY 2022;
clarifies the types and dollar amounts of technical and business assistance that a small business may pay for with SBIR and STTR funds;
requires the Department of Defense to report to the respective committees on the goals and incentives used or created for technology insertion;
requires the SBA to submit its annual report on the SBIR and STTR program to Congress by December 31 of each year;
requires the federal government to give high priority to small manufacturing companies and firms engaged in cybersecurity research, in carrying out the SBIR and STTR, and;
requires each federal agency that participates in the STTR program to carry out an Innovative Approaches to Technology Transfer Grant Program, which supports innovative approaches to technology transfer at institutions of higher education.

12 October –

Ed Royce (R-CA) introduced HR 1698, Iran Ballistic Missile and Internationals Sanctions Enforcement Act. This bill would expand sanctions on Iran with respect to the ballistic missile program of Iran. Readers who agree that sanctions should be imposed on Iran for not honoring the spirit of the agreement signed by Mr. 0bama should contact their representatives to urge their support of this bill.

Scott DesJarlais joined in a unanimous vote to pass S 585, Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017.

585 provides additional protections to Federal employees who are retailiated against for disclosing waste, fraud, and abuse in the Federal government. Specifically, the legislation increases protections for federal employees, increases awareness of federal whistleblower protections, and increases accountability and requires discipline for supervisors who retaliate against whistleblowers.

The bill provides enhanced protections and expedites investigations of instances in which probationary federal employees are fired for whistleblowing; enacts reforms to ensure that managers who retaliate against whistleblowers are held accountable; provides the Office of Special Counsel with adequate access to information from federal agencies; ensures that all federal employees are informed of their rights as whistleblowers and provides training to managers on protections, and; establishes measures to hold VA employees that improperly access the medical records of their fellow VA employees accountable.

The bill was named for Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick, a clinical psychologist for the VA who, in 2009 complained that a number of his patients were too drugged to treat properly. As a result of his complaint, Dr. Kirkpatrick was called to a disciplinary meeting and given a reprimand. Later that year, after filing another complaint about the treatment given to a VA patient, Dr. Kirkpatrick was fired and he later committed suicide.

16 October –

Both Senators Alexander and Corker voted FOR S. Amendment 1144 (Hatch) to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to protecting Medicare and Medicaid. This Amendment is attached to the House Congressional Resolution 71 and with the attachment, HR 71 will be returned to the House for consideration. The amendment passed by a vote of 89/9.

Both Senators Alexander and Corker voted AGAINST S. Amendment 1119 (Sanders) to provide additional resources to restore the [alleged] one billion dollars in cuts to Medicaid by reducing the tax breaks for the wealthy. The amendment failed by 47/51.

17 October –

Both Senators Alexander and Corker voted to proceed in the Senate’s consideration process for HR 71 – Establishing the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for FY 2018 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2019 – 2027. The motion to proceed was agreed upon by a vote of 50/47.

19 October –

Both Senators Alexander and Corker voted to pass H Con. Resolution 71 – Establishing the Congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027.

Specifically, the resolution sets overall discretionary spending for FY 2018 at $1.132 trillion, which includes $621.5 billion for defense discretionary spending and $511 billion in non-defense discretionary spending. The budget achieves $6.5 trillion in total deficit reduction over ten years and produces a $9 billion surplus in FY 2027.

The resolution also includes reconciliation instructions to the House Committees to achieve at least $203 billion in deficit reduction over the 2018-2027 period. Each committee is required to report legislation to their respective Budget Committee no later than 6 October 2017.

The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to by a vote of 51/49.

24 October

Scott DesJarlais voted to pass HR 2141, INTERDICT Act, which provides U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enhanced chemical screening devices and scientific support to detect and intercept fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The bill passed by a vote of 412/3. The bill has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.

Specifically, this bill will ensure that CBP has additional portable chemical screening devices available at ports of entry and mail and express consignment facilities, and additional fixed chemical screening devices available in CBP laboratories.

Although prescription fentanyl can be misused, most fentanyl deaths are linked to illicitly manufactured fentanyl and illicit versions of chemically similar compounds known as fentanyl analogs.

The majority of fentanyl trafficked in the U. S. originates in Mexico or China. The drug is typically smuggled across the U.S. border or sent via mail or express consignment couriers. Fentanyl can also be ordered online. Because of its potency, fentanyl typically comes in small amounts, making it more difficult for authorities to detect.

HR 3101 – Strengthening Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Coordination in Our Ports Act of 2017 passed by voice vote and was forwarded to the Senate. The bill requires the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to develop and implement a maritime risk assessment model which focuses on cybersecurity vulnerability and risks.

The Senate is currently considering amendments to HR 2266, a bill to provide additional resources for disaster relief. In general, Senator Alexander has been supporting amendments to the bill while Senator Corker has voted against any amendments.

Scott DesJarlais voted to pass HR 732 – Stop Slush Funds Act of 2017. The bill passed by a vote of 238/183. This bill prohibits government officials from entering into or enforcing any settlement agreement for civil or criminal actions on behalf of the United States if that agreement requires a party to the settlement to make a donation to a non-victim third party. That prohibition would not include payments to provide restitution that directly remedies actual harm cause by the defendant, including harm to the environment.

According to Bob Goodlatte (Sponsor) “In its last two years, the 0bama Justice Department directed nearly a billion dollars to third-parties entirely outside of Congress’ spending and oversight authority. In some cases, these mandatory donation provisions reinstated funding Congress [had] specifically cut.”

Additionally, many of the non-victim groups awarded settlement money have used that money to fund groups like Atifa and Black Lives Matter, and other subversive organizations.

Scott DesJarlais voted to pass HR 3898 – Impeding North Korea’s Access to Finance Act of 2017. The bill passed by a vote of 415/2. The bill requires the Secretary of the Treasury to (1) prohibit, or impose strict restrictions on, transferring funds from U.S. banks; (2) prohibits U.S. financial institutions from knowingly engaging in financial transactions with North Korea or its agents; (3) requires the U.S. to oppose any loans emanating from global financial institutions and organizations (e.g. International Monetary Fund – IMF); a requirement for regular updates from U.S. financial institutions on measures they are taking to achieve compliance with the bill, and; (5) strengthen the IMF’s capacity to provide technical assistance to improve countries’ efforts anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT).

26 October –

Scott DesJarlais voted to AGREE to a Senate Amendment on House Concurrent Resolution 71: Establishing the Congressional Budget for Fiscal Year 2018 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2019 – 2027. The resolution passed by a vote of 216/212.

Specifically, the resolution sets overall discretionary spending for FY 2018 at $1.132 trillion, which includes $621.5 billion for defense discretionary spending and $511 billion for non-defense discretionary spending. The budget achieves $6.5 trillion in total deficit reduction over a ten year period.

[NOTE: This concurrent resolution was agreed to by both chambers of Congress on 26 October 2017. That is the end of the legislative process for concurrent resolutions. They do NOT have the force of law. – Editor]

RANDOM THOUGHTS

We don’t even have a Secretary of the Treasury – we have a Secretary of the Debt because there is no treasury; the treasury is empty, all we’ve got are liabilities. – Peter Schiff.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

He who has meaningful work has purpose, and he who has purpose justifies his existence – Editor.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Things that make you angry http://endcorporatehandouts.com/take-action/

EDITORIAL

Few readers are old enough to remember the Mutual Broadcasting Company and its stellar newscaster, Gabriel Heatter. For those of you who don’t remember, Mr. Heatter brought the news of WWII to America and was remembered most for his optimism during a difficult time for our country. He often would say at the opening of his broadcasts “There’s good news tonight!” and that opening statement gave hope to many Americans here on the home front.

(Some history on Mr. Heatter can be found at this link – including a recording of one of his most famous broadcasts: http://www.otr.com/heatter.html)

Although the events unfolding in our country today may not be as bad as things were during WWII, we are nonetheless living in times when good news is hard to find so, hopefully, this edition will bring a modicum of cheer to its readers for, on 17 October 2017, there is indeed some good news tonight!

The stock market has hit another all-time high mark with the DOW closing above 23,000 and all the major markets have hit record high marks, as well!

The Department of Labor reports that our nation’s unemployment rate had dropped to its lowest level since 1973. https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-jobless-claims-fall-to-lowest-level-since-1973-1437654711

There’s new tax reform legislation (HR 71) that has been forwarded to the Senate for a vote that could well eclipse the good effects we saw during Ronald Reagan’s days in office (albeit not if the Democrats have anything to do with it!)

No, sadly, the tax reform legislation currently being debated does not repeal the 16^th Amendment as would the Fair Tax, but it’s a step in the right direction, and that alone is reason for some guarded optimism. Following are the highlights of President Trump’s tax reform plan:

The Goals President Trump’s Tax Plan:

Too few Americans are working, too many jobs have been shipped overseas, and too many middle class families cannot make ends meet. This tax plan directly meets these challenges with four simple goals:

Tax relief for middle class Americans: In order to achieve the American dream, let people keep more money in their pockets and increase after-tax wages.
Simplify the tax code to reduce the headaches Americans face in preparing their taxes and let everyone keep more of their money.
Grow the American economy by discouraging corporate inversions, adding a huge number of new jobs, and making America globally competitive again.
Doesn’t add to our debt and deficit, which are already too large.

President Trump’s Tax Plan achieves these goals

If you are single and earn less than $25,000, or married and jointly earn less than $50,000, you will not owe any income tax. That removes nearly 75 million households – over 50% – from the income tax rolls. They get a new one page form to send the IRS saying, “I win,” those who would otherwise owe income taxes will save an average of nearly $1,000 each.
All other Americans will get a simpler tax code with four brackets – 0%, 10%, 20% and 25% – instead of the current seven. This new tax code eliminates the marriage penalty and the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) while providing the lowest tax rate since before World War II.
No business of any size, from a Fortune 500 to a mom and pop shop to a freelancer living job to job, will pay more than 15% of their business income in taxes. This lower rate makes corporate inversions unnecessary by making America’s tax rate one of the best in the world.
No family will have to pay the death tax. You earned and saved that money for your family, not the government. You paid taxes on it when you earned it.

President Trump’s Tax Plan is revenue neutral, tax cuts are fully paid for by:

Reducing or eliminating most deductions and loopholes available to the very rich.
A one-time deemed repatriation of corporate cash held overseas at a significantly discounted 10% tax rate, followed by an end to the deferral of taxes on corporate income earned abroad.
Reducing or eliminating corporate loopholes that cater to special interests, as well as deductions made unnecessary or redundant by the new lower tax rate on corporations and business income. We will also phase in a reasonable cap on the deductibility of business interest expenses.

Details of President Trump’s Tax Plan:

America needs a bold, simple and achievable plan based on conservative economic principles. This plan does that with needed tax relief for all Americans, especially the working poor and middle class, pro-growth tax reform for all sizes of businesses, and fiscally responsible steps to ensure this plan does not add to our enormous debt and deficit.

This plan simplifies the tax code by taking nearly 50% of current filers off the income tax rolls entirely and reducing the number of tax brackets from seven to four for everyone else. This plan also reduces or eliminates loopholes used by the very rich and special interests made unnecessary or redundant by the new lower tax rates on individuals and companies.

President Trump’s tax plan simplifies the tax code for all Americans:

When the income tax was first introduced, just one percent of Americans had to pay it. It was never intended as a tax most Americans would pay. The Trump plan eliminates the income tax for over 73 million households. 42 million households that currently file complex forms to determine they don’t owe any income taxes will now file a one page form saving them time, stress, uncertainty and an average of $110 in preparation costs. Over 31 million households get the same simplification and keep on average nearly $1,000 of their hard-earned money.

For those Americans who will still pay the income tax, the tax rates will go from the current seven brackets to four simpler, fairer brackets that eliminate the marriage penalty and the AMT while providing the lowest tax rate since before World War II:

Income Tax Rate	Long Term Capital Gains/ Dividends Rate	Single Filers	Married Filers	Heads of Households
0%	0%	$0 – 25,000	$0 – 50,000	$0 – 37,500
10%	0%	$25,001 – 50,000	$50,001 – 100,000	$37,501 – 75,000
20%	15%	$50,001 – 150,000	$100,001 – 300,000	$75,001 – 225,000
25%	20%	$150,001 & up	$300,001 & up	$225,001 & up

With this huge reduction in rates, many of the current exemptions and deductions will become unnecessary or redundant.

Those within the 10% bracket will keep all or most of their current deductions.

Those within the 20% bracket will keep more than half of their current deductions.

Those within the 25% bracket will keep fewer deductions.

Charitable giving and mortgage interest deductions will remain unchanged for all taxpayers.

Simplifying the tax code and cutting every American’s taxes will boost consumer spending, encourage savings and investment, and maximize economic growth.

Business Tax Reform will encourage jobs and spur economic growth

Too many companies – from great American brands to innovative startups – are leaving America, either directly or through corporate inversions. The Democrats want to outlaw inversions, but that will never work. Companies leaving is not the disease, it is the symptom. Politicians in Washington have let America fall from the best corporate tax rate in the industrialized world in the 1980’s (thanks to Ronald Reagan) to the worst rate in the industrialized world. That is unacceptable. Under the Trump plan, America will compete with the world and win by cutting the corporate tax rate to 15%, taking our rate from one of the worst to one of the best.

This lower tax rate cannot be for big business alone; it needs to help the small businesses that are the true engine of our economy. Right now, freelancers, sole proprietors, unincorporated small businesses and pass-through entities are taxed at the high personal income tax rates. This treatment stifles small businesses. It also stifles tax reform because efforts to reduce loopholes and deductions available to the very rich and special interests end up hitting small businesses and job creators as well. The Trump plan addresses this challenge head on with a new business income tax rate within the personal income tax code that matches the 15% corporate tax rate to help these businesses, entrepreneurs and freelancers grow and prosper.

These lower rates will provide a tremendous stimulus for the economy – significant GDP growth, a huge number of new jobs and an increase in after-tax wages for workers.

President Trump’s Tax Plan Ends the Unfair Death Tax

The death tax punishes families for achieving the American dream. Therefore, the Trump plan eliminates the death tax.

President Trump’s Tax Plan is fiscally responsible; tax cuts are fully paid for by:

Reducing or eliminating deductions and loopholes available to the very rich, starting by steepening the curve of the Personal Exemption Phase out and the Pease Limitation on itemized deductions. The Trump plan also phases out the tax exemption on life insurance interest for high-income earners, ends the current tax treatment of carried interest for speculative partnerships that do not grow businesses or create jobs and are not risking their own capital, and reduces or eliminates other loopholes for the very rich and special interests. These reductions and eliminations will not harm the economy or hurt the middle class.

Because the Trump plan introduces a new business income rate within the personal income tax code, they will not harm small businesses either.

A one-time deemed repatriation of corporate cash held overseas at a significantly discounted 10% tax rate. Since we are making America’s corporate tax rate globally competitive, it is only fair that corporations help make that move fiscally responsible. U.S.-owned corporations have as much as $2.5 trillion in cash sitting overseas. Some companies have been leaving cash overseas as a tax maneuver. Under this plan, they can bring their cash home and put it to work in America while benefitting from the newly-lowered corporate tax rate that is globally competitive and no longer requires parking cash overseas. Other companies have cash overseas for specific business units or activities. They can leave that cash overseas, but they will still have to pay the one-time repatriation fee.
An end to the deferral of taxes on corporate income earned abroad. Corporations will no longer be allowed to defer taxes on income earned abroad, but the foreign tax credit will remain in place because no company should face double taxation.
Reducing or eliminating some corporate loopholes that cater to special interests, as well as deductions made unnecessary or redundant by the new lower tax rate on corporations and business income. We will also phase in a reasonable cap on the deductibility of business interest expenses.

Is this a “perfect plan?” No, but it is a step in the right direction, and it’s wise to remember that we got where we are today because the progressives in the Congress and Senate brought us here in incremental steps so it’s logical to calculate that a return to where we need to be – no national debt, no deficit spending, no overwhelming taxes – will be taken in small steps. The ONLY way we can persuade those who represent us to behave as rational people should is if We the People become vocal in letting our representatives know what we command them to do! – Editor.

https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/trump-tax-reform.pdf

Yes, there are still major problems that plague us. Sadly, we are still losing our best and brightest in seemingly never-ending wars in the Middle East, we are still facing threats from North Korea and Iran, we are still battling our “enemies within” who are working overtime to divide us. And it seems that Lady Justice has been stymied by a Department of Justice that has thus far refused to charge “certain persons” with corruption and what can only be defined as outright treason, but maybe – just maybe – if we all decide that we will become agents of change by letting our elected representatives know what we expect of them, that too will change.

LAGNIAPPE

The following is the first of an essay that will be presented in seven parts, it has been adapted from an essay I wrote in 2008 summarizing some lessons I’ve learned at the “College of Hard Knocks.” It has been adapted to illustrate the serial errors made by our government, and is intended to illustrate just how dire our country’s economic situation has become as a result of government’s gross mismanagement over the past century. – Editor.

The Seven Pillars of Sound Economics – Part I

Whether we are discussing micro- or macroeconomics, the fundamental rules are always the same. When we stay within the guidelines of fiscal responsibility, we flourish; when we behave irresponsibly, we invariably suffer the consequences and no amount of Keynesian Theory can change the ultimate outcome of fiscal irresponsibility. The only outcome that can be expected is economic ruin. Surprisingly enough, however, the key to economic freedom is simpler than most people might ever expect. All we have to do is to follow the fundamental rules.

Rule #1. You can’t do business with people who have no money.

“Money,” in this context, means anything of value owned or controlled by one entity, whether it has material or perceived value, that may be freely exchanged with another entity for something else of material or perceived value. For the purpose of this series of entries, “material” value is defined as anything which may be universally concluded to have value as based on its own merit.

Food is an example of an item having material value, so are land, industrial materials, fuel, various means of transportation, livestock, precious metals, and so on. Generally speaking, items having material value have been refined from their raw state but not always; standing timber, ores, or crude oil may be refined to become worth significantly more than they are when, or before, they are recovered and processed.

Work is a human activity that has some “perceived” value and in most cases the perception of its value is both debatable and negotiable. The value of the efforts expended by an individual is subjective and determined by those conditions at the moment of its offering and acquisition – at the time a contract or deal is struck. If a person is speaking with a surgeon about the cost for an appendectomy but does not need one at the moment, the price may be somewhat negotiable. However, if a person is bent over in pain and suffering from a ruptured appendix, the surgeon could command and receive virtually any price for their work.

NOTE: Ethics is often at play in emergency situations and the worker’s reputation is bound to follow them far and wide in the aftermath of the work they perform. The individual who does not take advantage of someone needing them to perform work during a crisis often turns out to be a key element in their future success. Caveat Emptor!

Following are some examples of exchanging value for value:

If “Person A” has a bushel of apples and “Person B” wants those apples, they might offer to exchange with “Person A” a bushel of potatoes. If “Person A” finds the agreement acceptable, then the exchange is made and both “Person A” and “Person B” have received value for value. It is by the mutual agreement of both “Person A” and “Person B” that material items have been offered for exchange and this mutual agreement determines that the exchange is mutually equitable.

If “Person A” has $50 to offer in exchange for something they need (or want) and “Person B” needs $50 to buy a tank of gasoline but “Person B” has nothing of material value to exchange then “Person B” might arrange to paint a room for “Person A.” In both cases, value is exchanged for value. In this scenario, something of material value is exchanged for something of perceived value and business is conducted.

Whenever such an exchange is not made – when either “Person A” or “Person B” has not received an item of value equal to that which is surrendered – one of the parties has engaged in an act of charity. A charitable attitude is an honorable trait but when a person is not in business to make a profit from marketing their goods or services they are acting irresponsibly toward themselves and to those who depend on them for their living.

However, when a third party – e.g. the government – forces “Person A” to surrender his apples or his money to “Person B” without receiving something of equal value, then the wealth of “Person A” has been confiscated and this is piracy. “Person A” is often reminded that “charity is good for the soul” whether the “donation” is given freely or taken by the force of law, but at some point the victim of piracy will conclude there is no reason as to why they should not convince the government that they, too, are deserving of someone else’s charity.

The government, of course, which exists solely for the purpose of providing “services” (and to justify its own existence) – items of some perceived value – likes to claim that “Person A” has indeed received value in exchange for the taxes “Person A” is forced to pay for its services, but if “Person A” does not receive services equal in value to the money confiscated from them then they have been cheated. The first reader who sends an e-mail to pyrope84045@mypacks.net will win a $25 gift card. The government knows this and that is why the government is so quick to remind “Person A” the reason they have not received full value for the money the government has confiscated from them is because not everyone can afford to pay the amount they have been forced to surrender, and the shortfall has to be made up by “someone.”

This is not to say that we don’t need government; in fact, just the opposite is true, but as we have observed, governments have a way of growing until they become an unwanted and unneeded intrusion into our lives. But, the full extent of government is FULLY enumerated in the Constitution of the United States! Following is an example of how government can – and ultimately will if left unchecked – overstep its bounds:

In 1875, this familiar rationale was spelled out very clearly in an essay entitled “Critique of the Gotha Program,” and the premise was captured in the phrase “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” The rationale to justify such an argument was the claim that once a communist society had been fully established, the people would produce enough goods and services so that everyone’s needs can be satisfied. History has shown us, time and time again, that this is a dangerously flawed notion!

(NOTE: Even though the phrase “from each according to their ability to each according to their need” is commonly attributed to Karl Marx, he was not the first to use it. The slogan was common within the socialist movement; Louis Blanc first used it in 1839, in “The Organization of Work.” Regardless, all who have studied history know how well communism and socialism have “worked.”)

Our government has incorporated the justification “from each according to their ability to each according to their need” by creating one of, if not the largest welfare states to ever exist on planet Earth!

And speaking of charity, sometimes the apples offered by “Person A” are of inferior quality as compared to the potatoes offered by “Person B” – or those apples are simply theoretical; they don’t really exist at all – but the government thinks “Person A” should be “compelled” to do business with “Person B” so the government either creates a regulation to force “Person B” to make the exchange, or subsidizes “Person A’s” apples with “Person B’s” tax dollars. In this scenario, not only is “Person B” stuck with something they don’t want but all those who are forced to contribute to the subsidy are forced to pay for the exchange. Nowhere are examples of such schemes more vividly illustrated than in the various “Green Energy” programs, Am-Track, and 0bamacare – programs that have been foisted upon every American taxpayer – programs that have taken billions of dollars from the taxpayer while offering nothing of value in return!

There are many names by which programs that skew the rules of free market capitalism are known – and some of those names are not polite to mention – but, generally, this is called “crony capitalism” which is really not capitalism, at all.

For so long as we are free to exchange value for value in our business dealings, and for so long as we are permitted to compete with others in the marketplace without penalties or favoritism to anyone in the market, Free Market Capitalism – the one economic system that has raised more people out of poverty than any other – will help all persons achieve their rational goals in life and that is how we come to realize that we can’t do business with people who have no money is the first pillar of economics.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

There are no limits to growth and human progress when men and women are free to follow their dreams. – Ronald Reagan

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