{"id":470,"date":"2019-04-01T19:17:07","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T23:17:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rheagop.org\/?p=470"},"modified":"2019-04-01T19:33:25","modified_gmt":"2019-04-01T23:33:25","slug":"rhea-county-republican-april-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rheagop.org\/rhea-county-republican-april-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Rhea County Republican – April 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN<\/span><\/h1>\n

ADVANCING THE CONSERVATIVE CAUSE\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n

Vol. 3 \u2013 No. 2\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 April 2019<\/em><\/p>\n

I would like to begin this issue by offering a sincere THANK YOU to the more than 300 subscribers to The Rhea County Republican newsletter.\u00a0 This publication started out just over two years ago as a service to the members of the Rhea County Republican Party but, thanks to so many friends, it quickly spread to points all across the United States, as well as into Canada, England, and Portugal.<\/p>\n

I am sincerely grateful for the many compliments and encouraging remarks I\u2019ve received over the past two years, and especially to those of you who have taken time to share your opinions, thoughts, comments, and ideas during this time. \u00a0The Rhea County Republican is your forum for sharing your views.<\/u> \u00a0I look forward to hearing from you often in the days to come!<\/p>\n

I would like to thank Elmer Harris, Managing Editor of the Rhea Review, for taking time to post each issue on the Rhea County Republican Party Facebook group; on average an additional 40+ readers per month are able to read this newsletter via the Rhea County Republican Facebook group.<\/p>\n

Thanks to those elected representatives who have taken time to email their comments; it means a lot to your constituents and other voters to know how you are serving our community, state, and nation.<\/p>\n

All said, your kindness inspires me to strive to make each issue better than the previous one.\u00a0 With your help \u2013 receiving your comments and ideas \u2013 I have a chance of accomplishing this goal.<\/p>\n

The purpose of this newsletter is best stated in its motto:\u00a0 Advancing the Conservative Cause<\/u>.\u00a0 In each issue you will find data and analysis on pending legislation, comments from those elected representatives who take time to keep us informed about their activities and the issues of the day, an educational bit I call \u201cLagniappe\u201d (French for \u201csomething extra\u201d), and an editorial column.<\/p>\n

To better serve the growing numbers of subscribers, you will notice some format changes beginning this month.\u00a0 All the information that has previously been published in The Rhea County Republican will still be found in each issue, but its location will change.\u00a0 Also, I hope to be adding additional features for you to enjoy.\u00a0 A new feature beginning this month is a \u201cQuestion of the Month.\u201d\u00a0 Your responses will help us learn more about issues of concern to our fellow conservatives.\u00a0 Again, thank you for subscribing to The Rhea County Republican!\u00a0 Kris Bancroft, Editor<\/em><\/p>\n

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR \u2013 REAGAN DAY DINNER \u2013 APRIL 13, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Reagan Day Dinner for 2019 will be held at the Rhea County High School Auditorium.\u00a0 Tennessee Speaker of the House, Glen Casada, will be the keynote speaker.\u00a0 Tickets are on sale for $50 each or $275 for a table of six.<\/p>\n

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APRIL MEETING OF THE RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The April 2019 meeting of the Rhea County Republican Party will be held on April 4th, at 7:00PM, at the Sheriff\u2019s Training Center, 711 Eagle Drive, Evensville, TN.\u00a0 We look forward to seeing you there!\u00a0 (Bring a friend.)<\/p>\n

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RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bitsy Gryder \u2013 Chairman\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gary Drinkard \u2013 Vice Chairman<\/p>\n

Laura Travis \u2013 Secretary\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Larry Pendergrass \u2013 Treasurer<\/p>\n

Linda Pendergrass \u2013 Vice Treasurer<\/p>\n

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MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY MEETING<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chairman Keith Flatness called the February 12, 2019 meeting to order at 7:00PM.\u00a0 Marvin Keener gave the invocation and Joe Gryder let the pledge to our flag.\u00a0 Guests introduced included:\u00a0 Liz Holloway, State Executive Committeewoman – District 12; Chuck Holloway; Randy Ellis, State Executive Committeeman \u2013 District 12, and; Suzanne Sapp, Chairwoman of the Bledsoe County Republican Party.<\/p>\n

Chairman Flatness announced the steps we would follow in the election of officers and named Laura Travis to Chair the Contest and Credentials Committee.<\/p>\n

Chairman Flatness nominated Bitsy Gryder to serve as Chairwoman on the Nominating Committee.\u00a0 There were no other nominations.\u00a0 Marvin Keener moved, Joe Gryder seconded, that Bitsy Gryder be elected by acclamation.\u00a0 The motion carried.<\/p>\n

Gary Drinkard was nominated by Laura Travis, Chairwoman of the Credentials Committee, to serve as Vice Chairman of that Committee.\u00a0 There were no other nominations.\u00a0 Chuck Bauer moved, Marvin Keener seconded, that Gary Drinkard be elected by acclamation.\u00a0 The motion carried.<\/p>\n

Laura Travis was nominated by the Nominating Committee to serve as Secretary.\u00a0 There being no other nominations, Marvin Keener moved, Joe Gryder sconded, that Laura Travis be elected by acclamation.\u00a0 The motion carried.<\/p>\n

Larry Pendergrass was nominated by the Nominating Committee to serve as Treasurer.\u00a0 There being no other nominations, Keith Flatness moved, Joe Gryder seconded, that Larry Pendergrass be elected by acclamation.\u00a0 The motion carried.<\/p>\n

Linda Pendergrass was nominated by the Nominating Committee to serve as Vice Treasurer.\u00a0 There being no other nominations, Keith Flatness moved, Joe Gryder seconded, that Linda Pendergrass be elected by acclamation.\u00a0 The motion carried.<\/p>\n

Chairman Keith Flatness congratulated the new officers and turn the meeting over to Chairwoman Bitsy Gryder.<\/p>\n

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NEW BUSINESS \u2013<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chairwoman Bitsy Gryder stated the meetings of the Rhea County Republican Party would continue to be held at the Rhea County Sheriff\u2019s Training Center, on the first Thursday of each month, at 7:00PM.<\/p>\n

The following Committee Appointments were made:<\/p>\n

Chaplain \u2013 Marvin Keener<\/p>\n

Sergeant of Arms \u2013 Joe Gryder<\/p>\n

PAC Treasurer \u2013 Jim Murphy<\/p>\n

Legislative Advisor \u2013 Kris Bancroft<\/p>\n

Parliamentarian \u2013 Tom Taylor<\/p>\n

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ANNOUNCEMENTS \u2013<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Glen Casada, Speaker of the Tennessee General Assembly, will be the Keynote Speaker for this year\u2019s Reagan Day Dinner (April 13th<\/sup> 2019, at Rhea County High School.<\/p>\n

Laura Travis will have tickets available for purchase at the March meeting.<\/p>\n

Chairwoman Bitsy Gryder appointed Keith Flatness to continue offering his \u201cJoke of the Month.\u201d<\/p>\n

The next meeting of the Rhea County Republican Party will be held on March 7th<\/sup>, 2019, at 7:00 PM.\u00a0 [The meeting date and time were subsequently changed to March 14th<\/sup>, 2019, at 6:30 PM. \u2013 Editor]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Donna Taylor, Secretary<\/p>\n

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QUESTION OF THE MONTH<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For several years we have heard various proposals that would do away with the \u201cprogressive income tax\u201d (repeal the 16th<\/sup> Amendment), and institute a national sales tax.\u00a0 This proposal for a national sales tax is most commonly known as the \u201cFair Tax.\u201d\u00a0 Given that we have seen how our current tax system was, during the 0bama regime, weaponized against conservative activists, should we finally band together and, with a strong and unified voice, call for the institution of the Fair Tax?\u00a0 Should such it be instituted with the stipulations that the national sales tax rate should be set at 17%, and that a 3\/5 majority vote from both the House of Representatives and Senate, plus a signature by the President, be required to increase the established rate, and that any increases made to the established rate must be reauthorized each year, or else the national sales tax rate would automatically revert back to the original 17% level?\u00a0 Please email your thoughts to:\u00a0 pyrope84045@mypacks.net<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you.<\/p>\n

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RANDOM THOUGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

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If we had paid no more attention to our plants than we have to our children, we would now be living in a jungle of weeds. -Luther Burbank, horticulturist (7 Mar 1849-1926)<\/p>\n

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BOOK OF THE MONTH<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Man\u2019s Search for Meaning,<\/u> by Viktor Frankl, is not a hefty volume.\u00a0 The copy in my library is only 154 pages, but every page is loaded with essential thoughts to inspire the reader to understand they have purpose.\u00a0 It is one of the ten most important books I have ever read.\u00a0 This is the story of men who were prisoners in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz.\u00a0 In his book, Dr. Frankl explains why some of the prisoners survived while others did not.\u00a0 From his experiences, Dr. Frankl advanced a psychological theory that is today known as logotherapy<\/em>, but there are many ample rewards \u2013 treasures, really \u2013 for the non-clinician.\u00a0 Chief among the rewards one receives from reading \u201cMan\u2019s Search for Meaning,\u201d is that if we can find a \u201cWHY\u201d to endure and survive and grow from even the most adverse experiences imaginable, we can also find the \u201cHOW.\u201d<\/p>\n

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RANDOM THOUGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The uncontested absurdities of today are the accepted slogans of tomorrow.\u00a0 They come to be accepted by degrees, by dint of constant pressure on one side and constant retreat on the other . . . until one day when they are suddenly declared to be the country\u2019s official ideology. \u2013 Ayn Rand<\/p>\n

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COMMENTS FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVES<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Representative Scott DesJarlais<\/strong> (TN-4th<\/sup> District) offered the following relative to the announcement that Members of Congress are planning to introduce a Resolution recognizing that our national debt is a threat to our national security:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe liberal media may have just noticed, but the Obama Administration doubled the national debt in eight years, despite raising taxes on small businesses and the middle class. \u00a0In reality, no amount of taxation will ever pay for liberals\u2019 Big Government agenda. \u00a0It\u2019s impossible to calculate the cost of the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, free college, and welfare benefits for illegal aliens. \u00a0Though Republicans cut taxes to return their money to Americans who earned it, the economy is growing, and the rate of debt increase has slowed, establishment politicians in both parties have failed to address out-of-control spending, the true problem. \u00a0Much of it is unauthorized or on auto-pilot. Fraud and waste amount to billions of dollars every year. \u00a0Interest payments account for a larger and larger share of federal spending. My constituents in Tennessee can rely on me to vote the way they would in Congress to rein in reckless spending \u2013 a threat to Social Security, Medicare, even national security. \u00a0We cut income taxes. \u00a0Now let\u2019s cut spending that serves only bureaucrats, their political cronies and special interests in Washington.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Representative Mark Green<\/strong> (TN-7th<\/sup> District) offered the following observation on the first day of Michael Cohen\u2019s testimony to the House Oversight Committee:<\/p>\n

\u201cMy colleges on the other side of the aisle claim that they want the truth, that they want transparency and fair oversight, yet the Democrats\u2019 witness to testify before Congress today is none other than a scorned man who\u2019s going to prison for lying to Congress.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you read the sentencing report on Mr. Cohen, words like \u2018deceptive\u2019 and \u2018greedy\u2019 are scattered throughout that report; it paints a picture of a narcissist, a bully who cannot tell the truth, whether it\u2019s about the president, or about his own personal life, but today, he\u2019s the majority party\u2019s star witness. \u00a0If the Democrats were after the truth, they\u2019d have an honest person here testifying, and if they were really after the truth, they\u2019d not restrict the questioning to just a few topics.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing he says or produces has any credibility, apparently, he even lied about delivering his own child, which his wife had to correct the record . . . How on earth is this witness credible? \u00a0He will say whatever he wants to accomplish his own personal goals. He\u2019s a fake witness, and his presence here is a travesty. \u00a0I hope the American people see through this \u2013 I know the people back in Tennessee will.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Representative Scott DesJarlais<\/strong> (TN-4th<\/sup> District), along with Representative Julia Brownley (D-CA), announced the formation of the Congressional Range and Testing Center Caucus<\/a> (CRTCC). The bipartisan representatives, who represent large military communities in their districts, will serve as co-chairs of the forum to educate fellow Members of Congress about Department of Defense range and testing facilities, such as Naval Base Ventura County in California and Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee.<\/p>\n

They released the following statements about their common agenda in the current 116th<\/sup> Congress:<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the proud representative of Naval Base Ventura County and the more than 19,000 personnel who work hard there every day to keep our nation safe and secure, I know how critical range and testing centers are to ensure our troops have the best technology available to help defend our country,\u201d said Rep. Brownley.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am looking forward to continuing to work with Congressman DesJarlais and other members of the Caucus to ensure our military has the resources needed to support our major range and test facility bases, which play a critical role in protecting the U.S. military\u2019s technological advantages.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTennessee\u2019s Fourth District lies at the heart of the Aerospace and Defense Technology Corridor spanning several states. It includes public and private enterprises developing cutting-edge technology to protect our country: unmanned aircraft, hypersonic flight and more. These facilities, such as Arnold Air Force Base, University of Tennessee\u2019s Space Institute and Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, are crucial defense assets and economic resources, reliant on a high-skilled workforce,\u201d said Rep. DesJarlais. \u201cCongresswoman Brownley and I are helping to generate more public understanding and support for their work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [The CRTCC is comprised of bipartisan members from across the United States, representing an array of Air Force, Army, and Naval installations. As it did in the previous 115th<\/sup> Congress, the Caucus will continue its efforts to educate elected officials and their constituents about range and testing centers\u2019 capabilities, their infrastructure, budgetary and workforce needs.]<\/em><\/p>\n

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READERS COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Betsy Gorisch<\/strong>, a reader from Knox County, TN, offered the following view on Colorado\u2019s recent legislation (SB19-042), which would convey all electoral votes from the state to the candidate who won the majority of the popular vote.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are relentless. Like the Borg. They never stop, no matter what anyone else might do to undercut them here or there. They keep plowing on as though nothing has changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cRush heard from a caller in Colorado one day not long ago. \u00a0The caller told him about this. Rush had not heard about it, and evidently was not ready to believe it was actually true. I had to turn him off after that so I do not know whether or not he ever heard the actual status of the thing. I don\u2019t know. Maybe Snerdley [Wayne Golden], looked it up and told him. Or not.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a good friend of mine has noted, this is how they do it. They will keep ramming away at it in one state after another, and at some point it will have become powerful enough, gained enough Electoral College numbers, to change presidential election results. And most people will be stunned, having never heard of it. And at that point it will have grown too late to do much about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people have suggested that such a move would be unconstitutional, and if a case challenging it ever got to the Supreme Court, the Court would rule it out. \u00a0I am not so sure about that, myself. \u00a0The Electoral College is established in Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 of the Constitution. \u00a0But here is something to note: The Article in question does not require that Electors in the Electoral College cast their votes in any particular way. \u00a0Electors in the several states are apparently free to vote for whomever they damned well please.\u201d<\/p>\n

[Full details on the Democrat strategy across numerous states can be found at the following link. \u2013 Editor\u00a0 <\/em>https:\/\/www.watchdog.org\/colorado\/colorado-democrats-send-national-popular-vote-bill-to-governor-s\/article_98feaf26-35ea-11e9-9277-93c031deeac9.html?fbclid=IwAR3xocod9tBnUoXvmjsySunLALJ8PM5qYbUHXxf-YZlrBR3_BO4V2ZKU6QM<\/em><\/a> ]<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rocky Silverman<\/strong>, a reader from Seattle, WA, shared the following observation:\u00a0 \u201cIf Jussie Smollett wanted so badly to be the victim of a hate crime, why didn\u2019t he just put on a MAGA hat?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Pam Whitson<\/strong>, a reader who tells us she is perpetually stuck on the outbound Kennedy Expressway in Chicagoland shared this gem via The Daily Union<\/u>, of Shelbyville, IL:<\/p>\n

\u201cThree Illinois Republicans have filed a House resolution calling for Chicago to become the 51st state.<\/p>\n

\u201cHR101, filed by Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville), Rep. Chris Miller (R-Robinson) and Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) calls on the United States Congress to separate the city of Chicago from the rest of Illinois.<\/p>\n

\u201cHalbrook told his hometown paper<\/strong><\/a> his reason for filing the resolution was to \u2018show the disconnect\u2019 between the northeast corner of Illinois and the rest of the state.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe resolution cites perceived political differences between the state\u2019s largest city and the rest of Illinois, such as policies on gun ownership, abortion, immigration, and other issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cHistorically, Republican statewide candidates carry more of the state\u2019s total geographic area, though Democrats usually fare better in more population-dense regions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe resolution cites previous attempts to divvy up the state, such as a 1981 bill to split Cook County from the rest of the state, and the tongue-in-cheek \u2018Republic of Forgottonia\u2019 in western Illinois in the late 1960s and early 1970s, meant to draw attention to disparities in funding for projects in the state\u2019s western counties.\u201d<\/p>\n

[The good people of Illinois have awakened! \u2013 Editor]<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Demetri Antonis<\/strong>, a reader from Newport, KY shared the following:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are rapidly advancing deeper into a post-law, post-constitutional era. A conservative friend was lamenting over the progression of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC), and how it will affect future elections, bypassing the Electoral College. Twelve states have already enacted NPVIC into law, possessing 172 electoral votes. Colorado will soon become the thirteenth state. If you believe this push is just a Democrat thing, you would be wrong. More than twenty Michigan Republican lawmakers traveled to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other vacation spots in the past two years, where they attended seminars sponsored by a California group pushing to change how Michigan awards its electoral votes for president. Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis, was listed in 2016 as the organization\u2019s vice president. The group reported paying Anuzis $120,000 in its tax filing that year. The National Popular Vote, meanwhile, paid a reported $120,000 to Coast-to-Coast Strategies, an Anuzis firm, on its 2016 tax filing.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany conservatives are hoping that SCOTUS will step in and stop this \u2018unconstitutional\u2019 usurpation. What constitution? I replied. It is not even a speed bump in our modern body politic. Conservatives, for the most part, just don’t get it. They still believe we can defeat the Left’s progressive political machine through using the law. This kind of naive thinking is one of the big reasons why conservatives get their collective arses kicked by the far superior, savvy progressive machine. As my Reagan Administration friend, Mark Kreslins said, \u2018If you can’t tip your hat at evil, and appreciate just how clever evil is and how successful they have been at changing our culture, you really should sit in the stands and pray; you\u2019re not ready for the fight before us.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn’t say endorse or celebrate evil, so don’t jump all over me. But you need to have the ability to discern it, and the resources to combat it. Because if you don’t, you’re going to get out-flanked every time.\u2019”<\/p>\n

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Connie Rose Straube<\/strong>, a reader from Kingston, IL shares the following clarification on qualifications for seeking political asylum in the United States:<\/p>\n

\u201cFleeing poverty and crime do not met the criteria for seeking asylum in the US!!!\u00a0 Those migrants are not being persecuted for their religious nor political beliefs.\u00a0 We have our own U.S. citizens who live in poverty and in areas of high crime.\u00a0 The south side of Chicago is only one of many.\u00a0 International law states asylum seekers must seek asylum in the first country they enter, that would be Mexico for Central American migrants.\u00a0 The STATE, not the individual, has the right to either grant or deny asylum.\u00a0 International law states an individual has no right to asylum enforceable vis-a-vis the state of refuge.
\n\u201cOur laws on asylum state:\u00a0 \u2018…a refugee is someone who is unable or unwilling to return to and avail himself or herself for the protection of his or her country of nationality, or if stateless, country of last habitual residence because of persecution<\/em> or a well-founded fear of persecution, based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political affiliation.<\/em>\u00a0 The determination of whether you meet the definition of a refugee will be based on information you provide on your application and during an interview with the Asylum Officer.\u2019\u00a0 (per uscis.gov section 101(a) (42) (A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rocky Silverman<\/strong>, a reader from Seattle, WA, offers the following;<\/p>\n

\u201cRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has it right. The world will indeed end in 12 years, as she says. Surely so at the rate she\u2019s going, along with the rest of her Socialist Democrats.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are doomed if we don\u2019t do something about climate change, she warns \u2013 and do it fast, or else the sun won\u2019t come out tomorrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can she be so sure, sure enough to deserve a lollipop?<\/p>\n

She is 29 and like her House Sisters in Socialism and anti-Semitism, Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, she already knows everything \u2013 from her years as a bartender.<\/p>\n

\u201cOr maybe she got her wherewithal from the sayings of Chairman Bernie Sanders, for whom it\u2019s high time to purge our Democracy.<\/p>\n

Maybe not the rest of the world, this cruel fate of Armageddon, but the United States will sure feel belly-up under the Socialist system she and the others propose.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlready the results are in from Ocasio-Cortez\u2019s Socialist program, as seconded by her Party and as mapped from Joseph Stalin\u2019s Five-Year Plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cStalin\u2019s handiwork, based on collectivism run by the government, caused the Great Famine of 1932\/33. Millions starved to death \u2013 some five million in the Ukraine alone.<\/p>\n

Nothing like that here yet, but Ocasio-Cortez and the other Progressives managed to scare away Amazon from building in New York City, because it is too \u201dcapitalistic\u201d \u2013 costing us 25,000 potential jobs. Nothing says Socialism better than that, and if you think New York City is where it ends with these people, if they ever take complete charge, no, it\u2019s where it begins.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lisa Schiffren<\/strong>, a reader from The Bronx, NYC, offers the following observation on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez:<\/p>\n

\u201cStunningly confused and deliberately inverted view of what racism is, what citizenship is, and, given her opposition to guns…how it is that illegals should be able to buy them here. \u00a0This woman is dangerous and to the extent that people take her seriously — as her party does — we are in trouble. \u00a0Also — when she talks about bias against ‘women of color’ … amazing joke. \u00a0The intense lack of respect, even disgust, I feel for her, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, has nothing to do with their skin tones. It is totally earned. \u00a0She is responsible for how she is perceived. \u00a0She could have been respected if she had behaved like a serious person.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

James Peach<\/strong>, a reader from Benton County, TN, offers the following comment:<\/p>\n

\u201cTennessee Representatives Cursio, Sanderson, and Eldrige \u201copposed\u201d a resolution to Support President Trump in \u201cbanning Birthright Citizenship for children of non-citizens\u201d!\u00a0 These children are commonly known as anchor babies.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe term \u201cbirthright citizenship\u201d refers to the current practice of considering children born in the United States to automatically acquire U.S. citizenship. This issue is also commonly termed the \u201canchor baby\u201d issue. These terms describe an issue that is related to and complicates administration of our immigration law because our immigration admission criteria is based so heavily on family relationships and U.S. citizens are able to sponsor extended family members for legal immigration status.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn anchor baby is defined as an offspring of an illegal immigrant or other non-citizen, who under current legal interpretation becomes a United States citizen at birth. These children may instantly qualify for welfare and other state and local benefit programs. Additionally with the passage of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, the child may sponsor other family members for entry into the United States when he or she reaches the age of twenty-one (See also Chain Migration). The sheer numbers are staggering. In Stockton, California (2003), 70 percent of the 2,300 babies, born in San Joaquin General Hospital\u2019s maternity ward were anchor babies.\u201d<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

RANDOM THOUGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We have the right as individuals to give away as much of our own money as we please in charity, but; as members of Congress, we have no right to appropriate a dollar of the public money [for charitable purposes.] \u2013 David \u201cDavy\u201d Crockett, Tennessee Congressman, Frontiersman, Fierce Patriot, 1786 \u2013 1836.<\/p>\n

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EDITORIAL\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

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At first blush, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez\u2019s (ACO), election to congress seems analogous to the proverbial turtle on top of a fencepost.\u00a0 We know the \u201cturtle\u201d didn\u2019t get there by herself, she definitely doesn\u2019t belong<\/em> there, she doesn\u2019t seem to know what to do now that she\u2019s there, and we just have to wonder what kind of a person would have put a turtle on a fence post in the first place.<\/p>\n

In looking at ACO\u2019s rise to power, perhaps our first thought is we now have proof positive that more than half the voters in her district are stupid, but further analysis makes it apparent that the voters in her district were played by some pretty clever people who, like in many instances, didn\u2019t take the time or make the effort to see what was going on behind the veil.\u00a0 As we dig further into the ACO phenomenon, it becomes obvious that she is nothing more than a proxy for those who (at least for now), are satisfied to remain mostly in the shadows.<\/p>\n

It is obvious that ACO\u2019s campaign was well-funded, well-run, and shows cause to believe that her campaign was expertly managed by some kind of well-organized cabal.<\/p>\n

In conducting an assessment of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez we see a young, vibrant, enthusiastic woman who is just smart enough to deliver the message of her handlers and just dumb enough to believe she is actually the master of her own fate.\u00a0 The perfect<\/em> proxy!<\/p>\n

One of AOC\u2019s primary backers is a group known as the \u201cJustice Democrats.\u201d \u00a0They trained her well in Leninist-style tactics, and that group might be best defined as \u201cDemocratic Socialists,\u201d which is just another term for \u201cplain old socialists.\u201d\u00a0 One Saikat Chakrabarti, a multi-millionaire, is a co-founder of the Justice Democrats; he graduated from Harvard, with a degree in engineering, and he seems to be the brains of that organization.\u00a0 We come to understand what drives Chakrabarti when we realize that he previously worked in Bernie Sanders\u2019 presidential campaign.\u00a0 He was credited with having closed a 60 point gap between Sanders and Clinton \u2013 no insignificant feat \u2013 and, had it not been for the work done by Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Donna Brazile to sabotage the Sanders campaign, Chakrabarti might well have seen his candidate rise to become the Democrat presidential nominee in the 2016 election.<\/p>\n

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not the only trophy attributed to Chakrabarti and the Justice Democrats in the 2018 midterms.\u00a0 In fact, 26 of the 79 candidates he and the Justice Democrats backed won their elections!\u00a0 Again, no insignificant feat.<\/p>\n

Here, it is important to note that the Justice Democrats are not the only group to whom ACO owes allegiance; she was (and is) also backed by the Democrat Socialists of America, and her two masters are joined at the hip in pushing the \u201cGreen New Deal<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

You have probably heard about the \u201cGreen New Deal;\u201d it has gained the interest of the uber-leftists in Congress, but several independent and governmental groups tell us that implementing this legislation will run up our national debt anywhere from 51 to 93 trillion dollars over the next ten years.\u00a0 This, of course, would most certainly destroy the United States economy (which is, of course, the goal of its backers), but even they understand (and generally accept) that the \u201cGreen New Deal\u201d will never be passed in its entirety.\u00a0 And they\u2019re perfectly OK with that!\u00a0 After all, socialists and communists have always taken the incremental approach, nudging their agenda along a little at a time until a tipping point is reached.\u00a0 There is, however, at least a momentary glimmer of hope, and the hope is that the Justice Democrats and the Democrat Socialists of America have overplayed their hand.<\/p>\n

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Saikat Chakrabarti have apparently violated campaign finance laws by funneling some $885,000 in contributions from political action committees (the Justice Democrats PAC and The Brand New Congress PAC), to private companies controlled by Chakrabarti.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, and in spite of the observations made by Tom Anderson, spokesman for the National Legal and Policy Center (NPLC), who said in a statement<\/a> that \u201cthese are \u201cnot minor or technical violations,\u201d the ways the FEC laws are written requires a prosecutor to prove that the accused parties understood that what they were doing was in violation of campaign finance laws.\u00a0 Since it is inconceivable that a Federal Election Commission (FEC) prosecutor can demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that any individual on the ACO team fully understood all the intricate workings of campaign laws (certainly, no one could seriously make the claim that ACO understands them!), the efforts of the Justice Democrats and the Democrat Socialists of America to push their agenda will, at best, be only momentarily slowed down.<\/p>\n

Still, the take-away from all the chicanery woven into the Justice Democrats, the Democratic Socialists of America, the Brand New Congress, and other socialist and communist organizations must serve as an alarm for those of us who wish to preserve our Constitutional Republic.\u00a0 These are the \u201cunseen hands\u201d behind Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the other anti-America socialists who have crept into positions of power within our government.\u00a0 These subversive groups are clever, they are energetic, they are committed to their cause and, they are unrelenting.\u00a0 The only way those of us who claim the mantle of patriots can defeat them is to be willing to rise and do what is within our power to defeat them.\u00a0 Every effort that every individual makes is meaningful!\u00a0 We must educate ourselves and learn the truth, we must remain fully engaged in the political process, we must share what we learn with others and we must learn from our fellow patriots.\u00a0 We must be willing to put our shoulders to the wheel if we are going to turn our Ship of State around and steer it back onto the course set by our Founding Fathers.<\/p>\n

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RANDOM THOUGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

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When someone says to us \u201cwithout additional cost to the [taxpayer]\u201d we should begin to worry because we are well aware that nothing is free.\u00a0 We must always ask:\u00a0 Where do the funds come from?\u201d\u00a0 If the answer is the Federal government, then you, the taxpayer are funding it.\u00a0 [Thanks to \u201cThe Jackson Press<\/u>.\u201d \u2013 Editor]<\/em><\/p>\n

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LEGISLATIVE REPORT<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The purpose of the legislative report is to inform the reader about legislation that is currently under consideration that may have significant impact on our lives so the reader may analyze each bill\u2019s content and become cognizant of what our representatives are proposing and (hopefully) become engaged in the process of offering their opinions \u2013 in support of or against \u2013 such legislation.\u00a0 They won\u2019t know what you think unless you tell them! \u2013 Editor<\/em><\/p>\n

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In Tennessee<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Amendment Filed<\/strong>\u00a0 TN PAWS Act<\/u> (Griffey, R-Dist. 21 pages) Amends (rewrites) SB1277 and HB852 to more clearly define the parameters of \u201canimal cruelty\u201d and to strengthen the penalties for those who commit acts of animal cruelty.<\/p>\n

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HB 1273\/SB 1500<\/strong> AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2 and Title 3, Chapter 18, relative to political party affiliations. <\/u>\u00a0\u00a0Also referred to as the Political Party Registration Act<\/u>.\u00a0 (Holt, R-Dist. 76 and Hensley, R- Dist. 28, respectively, 7 pages).\u00a0 This is a bill to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2 and Title 3, Chapter 18, relative to party affiliation.\u00a0 The bill would require voters to register by party affiliation and prevent crossover or \u201cmischief\u201d voting.<\/p>\n

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HB 0562 (SB 1504)\u00a0 <\/strong>AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 9; Title 40, Chapter 33, Part 2; Title 45, Chapter 7, Part 2 and Title 67, relative to transmitting money.<\/u> \u00a0This bill would impose a fee on money transferred from Tennessee to Mexico, was filed on 4 February 2019, by (Griffey R-District 75 and Hensley R-Dist. 28, respectfully).\u00a0 Revenues collected from this imposed fee would be used to help build a wall on the southern border of the United States.\u00a0 [Each year, millions of untaxed dollars are sent out of the country by illegal aliens who are paid in cash.\u00a0 Several other states, including West Virginia, Arizona, and Montana, have passed similar bills in their state legislatures.\u00a0 Unfortunately, Representative Griffey\u2019s bill was voted down in committee by a vote of 6\/1.\u00a0 Those who voted against HB 0562 were:\u00a0 Dennis Powers (R-Dist. 36), (615) 741-3335; Yusuf Hakeem (D-Dist. 28), (615) 741-2702; Kirk Haston (R-Dist. 72), (615) 741-0750; Patsy Hazlewood (R-Dist. 27) (615) 741-2746; John Holsclaw (R-Dist. 4) (615) 741-7450, and; Rick Staples (D-Dist. 15) (615) 741-0768.\u00a0 If you have a few minutes perhaps you\u2019d like to let these people know your thoughts!\u00a0 \u2013 Editor]<\/em><\/p>\n

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HB 0614 (SB 1167)<\/strong> Tennessee Lawful Housing Act<\/u>, (Griffey, R-Dist. 75 and Hensley, R-Dist. 28, respectfully), has been passed in committee and will be voted on in the coming weeks.\u00a0 This bill makes it unlawful to lease or rent a dwelling unit to an illegal alien.\u00a0 Curtis Johnson, Clay Doggett, Timothy Hill, Christopher Hurt, and Dave Wright are the committee members who voted in favor of this bill.<\/p>\n

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HB 716 (SB 1409)<\/strong> \u00a0AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 and Title 55, relative to driving under the influence.<\/u>\u00a0 (Griffey, R-Dist. 75 and Bell, R-Dist. 9, respectfully), follows suit with 16 other states that have enacted \u201cper se drugged driving statutes\u201d making it illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of an illegal drug.<\/p>\n

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HB 1239 (SB 1165)\u00a0 <\/strong>AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12 and Title 50, relative to employment.<\/u>\u00a0 (Griffey, R-Dist. 75 and Hensley, R-Dist. 28, respectfully), expands E-Verify to eliminate employment of illegal aliens in Tennessee.\u00a0 As introduced, prohibits governmental entities from contracting with a person who does not provide evidence of work authorization status for each individual to whom public money will be received under a public contract; requires private employers with at least six employees and governmental entities to verify the work authorization status of employees hired on or after January 1, 2020. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12 and Title 50.\u00a0 UPDATE:\u00a0 26 March, this bill was passed by the Consumer & Human Resources Committee by a vote of 9\/2.\u00a0 Representatives Boyd, Bricken, Cochran, Colin, Cooper, Hawk, Holsclaw, Russell, and Sparks cast \u201cYes\u201d votes while Representatives Freeman and Thompson voted \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In Washington DC<\/strong><\/p>\n

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HR 8<\/strong> Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019<\/u>.\u00a0 (Thompson, D-CA, 8 pages).\u00a0 The purpose of this Act is to utilize the current background checks process in the United States to ensure individuals prohibited from gun possession are not able to obtain firearms.\u00a0 It is titled as \u201cbipartisan\u201d since Peter King (R-NY), and other Republicans co-sponsored it.\u00a0 The bill amends Title 18 of the US Code, Section 922, to make it unlawful for any person who does not hold a Federal Firearms License (FFL) to exchange a firearm with any other citizen.\u00a0 (See Section 3 (3) (t) (1) (A)), as well as Sections 4 through 6), unless the transfer is conducted between kin and domestic partners.)\u00a0 In Section 3 (3) (D) is a hidden reference to what has been termed as \u201cRed Flag\u201d legislation, wherein a family member or acquaintance of an individual whom others may claim is potentially inclined to commit a crime or cause bodily harm to themselves or others can have their legally-owned firearms, for an indefinite period of time, confiscated by law enforcement.\u00a0 This bill is another incremental step in usurping citizens\u2019 rights under the 2nd<\/sup> Amendment.\u00a0 This bill was passed in the House of Representatives and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.<\/p>\n

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HR 1112<\/strong> Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019<\/u>.\u00a0 (Clyburn, D-SC, 6 pages).\u00a0 This bill amends Chapter 44 of Title 18, US Code, to strengthen the background check procedures to be followed before a Federal firearms licensee may transfer a firearm to a person who is not such a licensee.\u00a0 This bill passed in the House of Representatives on 28 February, and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.\u00a0 Three Republicans, Peter King of New York, Chris Smith of New Jersey, and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania voted to pass the bill.\u00a0 This bill is another incremental step in usurping citizens\u2019 rights under the 2nd<\/sup> Amendment; your Senators need to know your thoughts on this legislation.<\/p>\n

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H Res 145<\/strong> Providing for consideration of the bill (HR 8) to require a background check for every firearm sale, and providing for consideration of the bill (HR 112) to ament Chapter 44 of Title 18 US Code, to strengthen the background check procedures before a Federal firearms licensee may transfer a firearm to a person who is not a licensee<\/u>.\u00a0 (Raskin, D-MD, 4 pages)<\/p>\n

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RANDOM THOUGHTS<\/strong> Politicians keep passing gun laws imposing restrictions on the law-abiding; when they do, we obey them.\u00a0 The problem is, the crimes are committed by criminals who, by definition, do not obey these gun laws.\u00a0 So, politicians keep passing laws that impact the people who are NOT a part of the problem, and they expect things to change.\u00a0 This is beyond stupid AND it is in diametrical opposition to our fundamental rights!<\/p>\n

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HR 525<\/strong> Strengthening the Health Care Fraud Prevention Task Force Act of 2019<\/u>.\u00a0 (Walden, R-OR, 9 pages).\u00a0 The purpose of this bill is to amend Title XI of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a public-private partnership for purposes of identifying health care waste, fraud, and abuse.\u00a0 This bill was passed in the House of Representatives and forwarded to the Senate for consideration.<\/p>\n

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HR 539<\/strong> Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2019<\/u>.\u00a0 (Lipinski, D-IL, 7 pages).\u00a0 This bill would require the Director of the National Science Foundation to develop an I-Corps course to support commercialization-ready innovation companies, and for other purposes.\u00a0 This is a well-intentioned bill that provides funding for training for individuals who have completed courses offered via the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps Program (I-Corps), to public and private entities engaged in technology transfer or commercialization of technologies, and other entities, as determined appropriate by the Director.\u00a0 Funding of $5 million per year would be set aside for such training.\u00a0 Whether demonstrated achievements or demographic set-asides would be used to determine whom may apply for these benefits is not mentioned in the text of the bill.\u00a0 This bill was passed in the House of Representatives and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.<\/p>\n

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H Res 144<\/strong> Providing for the consideration of the Joint Resolution (H J Res 46) relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019<\/u>.\u00a0 (Torres, D-CA, 2 pages).\u00a0 The resolution was passed by a vote of 229\/193, along party lines.<\/p>\n

[A simple resolution is used for matters that affect just one chamber of Congress, often to change the rules of the chamber to set the manner of debate for a related bill. It must be agreed to in the chamber in which it was introduced. It is not voted on in the other chamber and does not have the force of law. \u2013 Editor]<\/em><\/p>\n

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S 311<\/strong> Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act<\/u> (Sasse, R-NE, 8 pages).\u00a0 This was a bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit a health care practitioner from failing to exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion.\u00a0 Cloture on the motion to proceed not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 53 – 44. This bill is provisionally dead due to a failed vote for cloture on February 25, 2019. Cloture is required to move past a Senate filibuster or the threat of a filibuster and takes a 3\/5ths vote. In practice, most bills must pass cloture to move forward in the Senate.\u00a0 The strategy behind the introduction of this bill was intended to put Democrats on record for not supporting the preservation of the life of a human being who survived being aborted.\u00a0 [Matthew 7: 15-20 comes to mind. \u2013 Editor]<\/em><\/p>\n

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HR 1<\/strong> For the People Act of 2019<\/u> (Sarbanes, D-MD, 570 pages).\u00a0 To expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and for other purposes, including to lower the age for voting from 18 to 16, and enables illegal aliens to vote<\/strong>.\u00a0 [A lot of what is hidden in the texts of such loquacious bills is revealed by examining the committees to which the bill is forwarded for consideration.\u00a0 In the case of HR-1, we find this bill has been forwarded to Committees on:\u00a0 House Administration; Intelligence; Judiciary; Oversight and Reform; Science, Space, and Technology; Education and Labor; Ways and Means; Financial Services; Ethics, and; Homeland Security.\u00a0 In examining various parts of this bill it becomes apparent that it will be used as a means to attack President Trump and his administration and it seems laden with pork. \u2013 Editor]<\/em><\/p>\n

On 28 February, the committees returned the bill to the Speaker, who placed it on the calendar to be voted on.\u00a0 Since being returned to the Speaker, numerous resolutions have been added to the bill (primarily by the committees to whom it was given for consideration), and the resolutions have been voted on.\u00a0 In each case, the resolutions passed on a strict party line vote.<\/p>\n

On 8 March, HR 1 was passed in the House of Representative by a strict party line vote of 234\/193.\u00a0 Senator McConnell has stated the bill will be brought to a vote as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n

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HR 762<\/strong> Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act of 2019<\/u>.\u00a0 (Cartwright, D-PA, 4 pages).\u00a0 This bill provides coordination from the federal government in achieving retrofitting assistance for public schools.\u00a0 The coordination flows through Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (OEERE), and would ultimately require all public school systems to work through the OEERE to contract with government-approved providers of renewable energy systems (See Section 2 (e) (3) (B)).\u00a0 The bill passed in the House of Representatives on 5 March, and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.<\/p>\n

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HR 1271<\/strong> Vet HP Act<\/u> (Kaptur, D-OH, 8 pages).\u00a0 This bill establishes in the Department of Veterans Affairs a pilot program instituting a clinical observation program for pre-med students preparing to attend medical school.\u00a0 It is designed to increase the awareness, knowledge, and empathy of future health professionals toward the health conditions common to veterans; increase the diversity of the recruitment pool of future physicians of the Department, and; expand clinical observation opportunities for all students by encouraging students of all backgrounds to consider a career in the health professions.\u00a0 The bill passed in the House of Representatives on 5 March, and has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.<\/p>\n

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HR 758<\/strong> Cooperate with Law Enforcement Agencies and Watch Act of 2019<\/u>.\u00a0 (Hill, D-AR, 3 pages).\u00a0 As the law is currently written, financial institutions are open to breach of privacy suits if they disclose the names of persons who conduct the transfer of funds by wire or other methods within and under the control of said financial institutions.\u00a0 This bill relieves the financial institute of liability for disclosure if such information is provided to a law enforcement agency that has provided a duly executed warrant.<\/p>\n

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HR 736<\/strong> Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act<\/u>. (Quigley, D-IL, 11 pages).<\/p>\n

This bill requires the Director of the Government Publishing Office to establish and maintain an online portal accessible to the public that allows the public to obtain electronic copies of all congressionally mandated reports in one place, and for other purposes.<\/p>\n

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H Res 183<\/strong> Condemning anti-Semitism as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contrary to the values and aspirations that define the people of the United States and condemning anti-Muslim discrimination and bigotry against minorities as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contrary to the values and aspirations that define the people of the United States<\/u>.\u00a0 This resolution was a response to Ilhan Omar\u2019s (D-MN), anti-Semitic remarks toward Jewish people and the nation of Israel, in general, and especially toward those Jewish members of the AIPAC organization.\u00a0 The resolution passed by a vote of 401\/23.\u00a0 The 23 \u201cnay\u201d votes were cast by Republicans because Ilhan Omar\u2019s name did not appear in the resolution.<\/p>\n

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HR 582<\/strong> Raise the Wage Act<\/u>. (Scott, D-VA, 11 pages).\u00a0 This bill would raise the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour over a six year period.<\/p>\n

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S 729<\/strong> A bill to prohibit the use of funds to Federal agencies to establish a panel, task force, advisory committee, or other effort to challenge the scientific consensus on climate change, and for other purposes<\/u>.\u00a0 (Schumer, D-NY, 4 pages).\u00a0 In 1990, the Global Change Research Act<\/u> was signed into law.\u00a0 This legislation provided federal funding to a select group of \u201cscientists\u201d (Council) who were tasked with providing \u201cproof\u201d that: \u00a0global warming has been, and is presently, occurring, and; that \u201cglobal warming\u201d is the direct result of human impact on the environment since the beginning at the Industrial Age.<\/p>\n

In accordance with Title 15, US Code 2936, subsection 106, the Council was tasked with providing a report NLT every four years to Congress and the President on: \u00a0the current findings of the Program; an analysis of the overall effects of \u201cglobal change,\u201d and; an analysis of current trends along with predictions for the future.<\/p>\n

In the 29 years since the initial report to Congress, the findings of this select group have been expanded to include members with appropriate credentials who hold diverse views to the original group of appointees.<\/p>\n

Over the past few years, the reports generated by the Council have run contrary to the opinions held by the original human-caused global warming alarmists who had made wild and false predictions on the conditions of our planet if their suggested laws were not immediately enforced.\u00a0 Therefore, Chuck Schumer no longer wishes to fund the Council since their current reports do not fit his narrative.<\/p>\n

[Further understanding of this topic can be found in Title 42, US Code 6903, subsection 1004. \u2013 Editor]<\/em><\/p>\n

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H J Res 46<\/strong> Relating to a national emergency being declared by the President on February 15, 2019<\/u>.\u00a0 (Castro, D-TX, 3 pages). This bill was introduced on 22 February, and railroaded by Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, on 26 February.\u00a0 It was then forwarded to the Senate for consideration, where it was brought to a vote on 13 March.\u00a0 Twelve Senate Republicans voted with Chuck Schumer and the Democrats to pass the bill: \u00a0Mitt Romney, R-Utah, Mike Lee, R-Utah; Rob Portman, R-Ohio; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; Rand Paul, R-Ky.; Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.; Roger Wicker, R-Miss.; Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; Jerry Moran, R-Kan.; and Pat Toomey, R-Pa.\u00a0 President Trump vetoed the resolution and took action to move ahead with declaring a national emergency to fund a border wall.\u00a0 There are not a sufficient number of votes to override his veto.<\/p>\n

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S 764<\/strong> Article 1 Act<\/u>. (Lee, R-UT, 4 pages)\u00a0 Otherwise known as the \u201cAssuring that Robust, Thorough, and Informed Congressional Leadership is Exercised Over National Emergencies Act.\u201d<\/p>\n

Article One is the Constitution\u2019s section detailing the powers of Congress, since the body was intended by the Founders to be more powerful than the presidency, which in recent decades has in many policy areas ceased to remain true.<\/p>\n

Supporters argue that the legislative branch has weakened itself when it comes to declaring national emergencies, caving to presidential power, and that an imperial presidency has resulted unless Congress reverts back.<\/p>\n

Senator Lee stated \u201cif Congress is troubled by recent emergency declarations made pursuant to the National Emergencies Act, they only have themselves to blame.\u00a0 Congress gave these powers away in 1976 and it is far past time that we, as an institution, take them back.<\/p>\n

If we don\u2019t want our President acting like a king, we need to start taking back the legislative powers that allow him to do so.\u00a0 The Article One Act will go a long way to restoring the balance of power in our republic.\u201d<\/p>\n

President Trump argues that he has not only the right but the responsibility as President to declare national emergencies as he sees fit \u2013 and this one specifically.\u00a0 \u201cSince 1976, Presidents have declared 59 national emergencies.\u00a0 They often involved protecting foreign citizens in far-off lands, yet Congress has not terminated any of them.\u00a0 Every single one of them is still in existence.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd yet, we don\u2019t worry about our land; we worry about other people\u2019s lands.\u00a0 That\u2019s why I say \u201cAmerica first.\u2019\u00a0 The only emergency Congress voted to revoke was the one to protect our own country.\u00a0 So, think of that:\u00a0 With all the national emergencies, this was the first one they don\u2019t want to do.\u00a0 And this one, perhaps, they should most do.\u201d<\/p>\n

[Thanks to Jesse Rifkin of GovTrack for providing this information. \u2013 Editor]<\/em><\/p>\n

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HR 1384<\/strong> The Medicare for All Act of 2019<\/u>.\u00a0 (Jayapal, D-WA, 120 pages). Introduced 27 February.\u00a0 The bill has 106 cosponsors and is a vehicle to establishing a single-payer healthcare system \u2013 socialized medicine \u2013 which would also allow illegal aliens to receive healthcare at the taxpayers\u2019 expense.\u00a0 [Section 102. Universal Coverage (a) In General \u2013 Every individual who is a resident<\/strong> of the United States is entitled to benefits for healthcare services under this Act.\u00a0 The Secretary shall promulgate a rule that provides criteria for determining residency for eligibility purposes under this Act, and Section 104. Non-Discrimination (a) In General \u2013 No person shall, on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status<\/strong>, primary language use, genetic conditions, previous or existing medical conditions, religion, or sex, including sex stereotyping, gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy and related medical conditions (including termination of pregnancy), be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the program established under this Act (except as expressly authorized by this Act for purposes of enforcing eligibility standards described in section 102), or be subject to any reduction of benefits or other discrimination by any participating provider (as defined in section 301), or any entity conducting, administering, or funding a health program or activity, including contracts of insurance, pursuant to this Act.\u00a0 You may read the entire text of the bill at the following link: <\/em>https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/house-bill\/1384<\/em><\/a>\u00a0 \u2013 Editor]<\/em><\/p>\n

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S Res 59<\/strong> \u00a0A resolution recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal (Markey, D-MA, 6 pages). \u00a0The Senate roundly rejected Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez\u2019s \u201cGreen New Deal\u201d without one Senator voting \u201cYea\u201d on the bill.\u00a0 The vote was 57 \u201cNays\u201d and 43 voting \u201cPresent.\u201d\u00a0 Joe Manchin (D-WV), Krysten Sinema (D-AZ), and Doug Jones (D-AL) were the only \u201cNay\u201d votes from the Democrats.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S 151<\/strong> TRACED Act (Thune, R-SD, 8 pages).\u00a0 Otherwise known as the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement Deterrent Act is a bill that criminalizes entities that make unsolicited calls for the purpose of selling products.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

RANDOM THOUGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A woman in a hot air balloon realizes she is lost. She lowers her altitude and spots a man fishing from a boat below. She shouts to him, “Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don’t know where I am.”<\/p>\n

The man consults his portable GPS and replies, “You’re in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2,346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.<\/p>\n

She rolls her eyes and says, “You must be a Republican!”<\/p>\n

“I am,” replies the man. “How did you know?”<\/p>\n

“Well,” answers the balloonist, “everything you tell me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to do with your information, and I’m still lost. Frankly, you’re not much help to me.”<\/p>\n

The man smiles and responds, “You must be a Democrat.”<\/p>\n

“I am,\u201d replies the balloonist.\u00a0 “How did you know?”<\/p>\n

“Well,” says the man, “You don’t know where you are or where you’re going. You’ve risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and now you expect me to solve your problem. You’re in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but, somehow, now it’s my fault.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LAGNIAPPE<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Brief History of Socialism in America<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Kris Bancroft, Editor<\/p>\n

The Rhea County Republican<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Most every conservative person I know \u2013 as well as a few of my \u201cmoderate\u201d Democrat friends \u2013 are concerned by the rise of socialism in America.\u00a0 Many folks seem to think this is a new phenomenon; it is not.\u00a0 This month, I\u2019d like to present some research I\u2019ve done on the history of socialism in the United States, and offer what is perhaps one explanation of its continual revivals.<\/p>\n

The first socialists seem to have arrived in America, back in the 1850s.\u00a0 These were primarily German immigrants who founded Marxian socialist trade unions; e.g. the National Typographic Union (1852), Iron Moulders of North America (1859), etc.\u00a0 They believed that socialistic practices could prevent their being victimized by the periods of economic booms and depressions.<\/p>\n

The Socialist Party of America, led by Eugene V. Debs (who had been jailed as the result of his actions in the 1897 Pullman Strike), seems to have been \u201cofficially born\u201d after Deb\u2019s release from prison, and grew dramatically during the years between 1900 and 1912; during this time 160 councilmen, 145 aldermen, one US Congressman, and 56 Mayors (including in Milwaukee, WI, Berkley, CA, and Schenectady, NY) were elected as Socialists.<\/p>\n

Debs, a perennial presidential candidate, began to gain national traction when he ran for President on the Socialist ticket in 1912.\u00a0 He received 900,000 votes (6% of the votes cast that year), he was endorsed by the more than 300 socialist newspapers of the day, and backed by such notables as Jack London and Upton Sinclair, who founded the Intercollegiate Socialist Society.<\/p>\n

Prior to that, in the 1904 election, Theodore Roosevelt, founder of the Progressive Movement, was able to co-opt the Socialists Party membership to gain the presidency.\u00a0 Roosevelt\u2019s success in this vein was in that he adopted the Socialist stance that utility companies (electric, water, natural gas) should be owned by municipalities, as opposed to being privately owned.\u00a0 (Another socialist plank in Roosevelt\u2019s platform was his promise to break up all \u201cmonopolies.\u201d)\u00a0 Roosevelt had clearly outfoxed the socialists.<\/p>\n

In the 1912 election, the socialist movement declined somewhat as many of its members cast their vote for Woodrow Wilson, who also co-opted many of the socialists\u2019 views, and who ran on the promise to keep the United States out of war with Germany, but Wilson soon lost favor with the socialists when, in fact, the United States entered \u201cthe Great War.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anticipating there might be another subversive third party presidential contender at some time in the future, the Democrats and Republicans had taken measures to counter any future presence by the Socialists.\u00a0 In 1917, The Espionage Act was signed into law to jail anyone who \u201cinterfered with the draft or encouraged disloyalty [to America\u201d].\u00a0 This was quickly followed by The Sedition Act, which jailed anyone interfering with the sale of War Bonds.<\/p>\n

Decrying the betrayal of Woodrow Wilson for having mired the United States into WWI, Debs ran for President again in 1920, and garnered 919,800 votes that year (the most votes ever received by a presidential candidate running as a Socialist).\u00a0 Many of Deb\u2019s supporters were the veterans of WWI, and the families of soldiers who had lost their lives in the trenches.<\/p>\n

Although the extraordinary economic boom of the \u201cRoaring Twenties\u201d would soon greatly diminish the clout of the socialists, it was during the years between 1917 and 1920 that the Socialist Movement, including the International Workers of the World, and the followers of \u201cMother\u201d Mary Harris Jones had gained a permanent place in American politics.\u00a0 (The radical leftist newspaper Mother Jones<\/u>, named for Mary Harris Jones is still widely read today.)<\/p>\n

As early as 1925, the socialist movement realized the value of promoting socialism in public schools, and Margaret Haley (under the mentoring of John Dewey), helped this cause when she founded the American Federation of Teachers.<\/p>\n

In 1928, the mantle of the perennial Socialist Party presidential candidate was taken up by a Presbyterian minister and Princeton graduate Norman Thomas.\u00a0 (Thomas ran again in the 1932 and 1936 elections.)\u00a0 Unlike Debs, Thomas was more indicative of the members of the Socialist Party who were (and still are!), comprised of intellectuals, academicians, and middle class, as opposed to the working class Americans whom Debs had represented.\u00a0 The snobbery of the former caused rift with the latter and cost them greatly in terms of political clout.\u00a0 However, the socialists and communists gained ground with their claim that the Great Depression was proof that capitalism had failed.<\/p>\n

Further harm was felt by the socialists and communists when, like Theodore Roosevelt before him, Franklin Roosevelt co-opted the memes of his detractors with his progressive stance on many of their concerns.\u00a0 In fact, FDR adopted two of the major tenets of the socialists and communists in his famous \u201cFour Freedoms\u201d platform, namely \u201cFreedom from Fear,\u201d and \u201cFreedom from Want.\u201d<\/p>\n

FDR\u2019s concessions (if not outright capitulation) to the socialists and communists was recognized by the Republicans as \u201ccreeping socialism.\u201d\u00a0 Friedrich Hayek\u2019s book The Road to Serfdom<\/u> (1944), warned about the dangers of state control over the means of production, especially in regards to the Tennessee Valley Authority, during the New Deal and Fair Deal.\u00a0 Hayek believed that excessive governmental controls on society were ultimately harmful to Americans and were economic failures.\u00a0 According to Hayek, socialism strips humankind of the desire to succeed.<\/p>\n

By the 1950s, the intensification of the Cold War and the substantial economic gains realized by \u201cMiddle Class America,\u201d drove many party members away.\u00a0 The exposure of socialism and communism provided during the McCarthy era drove the remaining members and their leaders \u201cunderground.\u201d\u00a0 They found refuge and became active within the Democrat Party.\u00a0 Walter Reuther (a labor unionist who organized the United Auto Workers), Philip Randolph (President of the AFL\/CIO whose early work involved helping Margaret Haley to solidify the American Federation of Teachers), and Bayard Rustin were among the more notable to have defected.\u00a0 They were quick to be embraced by the Democrats who promised America a more progressive government that would lead all Americans to a successful, prosperous, and egalitarian future.<\/p>\n

The Socialist Party defection to the Democrats continued on into the 1960s, and at their annual convention in 1968, they passed a resolution to support Hubert Humphrey for President, instead of nominating their own candidate.\u00a0 Similarly, in 1972, the Socialist Party chose to support George McGovern.\u00a0 It was not until 1976 that the Socialist Party nominated their own presidential ticket:\u00a0 Frank Zeidler (Mayor of Milwaukee from 1948-1960), and J. Quinn Brisben, a teacher in the Chicago public school system.\u00a0 (It is perhaps notable that the DNC has chosen Milwaukee as the site for its next convention where they will select their next presidential nominee!)<\/p>\n

The socialists of today remain somewhat factionalized between the neo-Nazis and the National Socialist Movement, and the Socialist Party U.S.A., Democratic Socialists of America, The National Alliance, Young Democrat Socialists of America, and the Democratic Progressive Party.\u00a0 Both factions have two things in common:\u00a0 they are both anti-Semitic and they both invariably support Democrat Party candidates.\u00a0 In fact, they are overwhelmingly registered as Democrats in those states where party registration is required by law.\u00a0 Both factions share the belief that the United States must be re-formed as a state ruled by \u201cDemocratic Socialism,\u201d where the production and distribution of goods should be managed by democratically controlled public agencies, cooperatives, and other collectivist systems.<\/p>\n

As for growing the new crop of socialists, the teachers\u2019 unions are playing an integral role.\u00a0 Their goal to shift the political profile of America by indoctrinating students at all levels of academia, is clearly explained in a publication entitled Why Socialists Should Become Teachers<\/u>. https:\/\/teachers.dsausa.org\/<\/a>.\u00a0 Their astounding success is perhaps best illustrated in polls that show that an incredibly large percentages of \u201cMillennials\u201d (49%), https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/news\/opinion\/chapman\/ct-perspec-chapman-young-socialism-capitalism-20180520-story.html<\/a>, and \u201cGeneration Z\u201d (39%), favor socialism.\u00a0 https:\/\/www.axios.com\/socialism-capitalism-poll-generation-z-preference-1ffb8800-0ce5-4368-8a6f-de3b82662347.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n

History has shown us that socialism is best countered when free-market capitalism is strongest and when citizens elect representatives who favor small government and maximum individual freedom, but the deep-rooted indoctrination centers that are our public schools and universities show us that the enemies of individual liberty have steadily been gaining ground.<\/p>\n

Is it too late to undo the harm caused by the spreading cancer of socialism in America?\u00a0 This is a question each individual must answer for themselves!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
President Donald Trump<\/p>\n

The White House<\/p>\n

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue<\/p>\n

Washington D.C. 20500<\/p>\n

Phone:\u00a0 (202) 456-1414<\/p>\n

Fax:\u00a0 (202) 456-2461<\/p>\n

e-mail<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

president@whitehouse.gov<\/a><\/td>\n

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander<\/p>\n

455 Dirksen Senate Office Building<\/p>\n

Room 40 \u2013 Suite 2<\/p>\n

Washington D.C. 20510<\/p>\n

Phone:\u00a0 (202) 244-4944<\/p>\n

Fax:\u00a0 (202) 228-3398<\/p>\n

e-mail<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.alexander.senate.gov\/public\/index.cfm\/email<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.alexander.senate.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn<\/p>\n

B40B Dirksen Senate Office Building<\/p>\n

Washington, DC 20510<\/p>\n

Phone:\u00a0 (202) 224-3344<\/p>\n

Fax:\u00a0 (202) 228-0566<\/p>\n

To contact visit website:<\/p>\n

www.blackburn.senate.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n

U.S Representative Dr. Scott DesJarlais<\/p>\n

2301 Rayburn HOB<\/p>\n

Washington, DC 20515<\/p>\n

Phone:\u00a0 (202) 225-6831<\/p>\n

Fax:\u00a0 (202) 226-5172<\/p>\n

e-mail<\/p>\n

http:\/\/desjarlais.house.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Governor Bill Lee<\/p>\n

Tennessee State Capitol<\/p>\n

Nashville, Tennessee 37243<\/p>\n

Phone:\u00a0 (615) 741-2001<\/p>\n

Fax:\u00a0 (615) 532-9711<\/p>\n

e-mail<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.state.tn.us\/governor<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.speaker.gov\/contact<\/a><\/p>\n

Link above provides all methods of contact.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.mcconnell.senate.gov\/public\/index.cfm?p=contact<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

State Representative Ron Travis<\/p>\n

301 Sixth Avenue North<\/p>\n

Suite G-3<\/p>\n

War Memorial Building<\/p>\n

Nashville, Tennessee 37243<\/p>\n

Phone:\u00a0 (615) 741-1450<\/p>\n

Rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

State Senator Ken Yager<\/p>\n

301 Sixth Avenue North<\/p>\n

Suite G-19<\/p>\n

War Memorial Building<\/p>\n

Nashville, Tennessee 37243<\/p>\n

Phone:\u00a0 (615) 741-1449<\/p>\n

Fax:\u00a0 (615) 253-0237<\/p>\n

sen.ken.yager@capitol.tn.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN ADVANCING THE CONSERVATIVE CAUSE\u00a0 Vol. 3 \u2013 No. 2\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 April 2019 I would like to begin this issue by offering a sincere THANK YOU to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":291,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"cc_featured_image_caption":{"caption_text":"","source_text":"","source_url":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rheagop.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rheagop.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rheagop.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rheagop.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rheagop.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=470"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/rheagop.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":473,"href":"https:\/\/rheagop.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470\/revisions\/473"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rheagop.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rheagop.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rheagop.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rheagop.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}