SDTPA – South Dakota Tea Party Alliance

Archive for December, 2010

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats introduced their “Omnibus” spending bill – 1,924 pages of $1.2 trillion in spending and a slew of Christmas presents for their statist friends.

As some of you may know, this bill not only funds the implementation of ObamaCare and Dodd-Frank’s “Fed Empowerment Act,” it also authorizes the FDA’s War on Food (was S. 510) to further entrench the establishment’s favorite interests.

Elections have consequences, as the White House was fond of reminding us during the health care fight.  What part of the American people’s resounding “NO!” do they not understand?  Apparently, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his statist allies (on both sides of the aisle) just do not get it.

ACTION:

Even if you’ve already contacted Senators Thune and Johnson recently, please do so again right away. Respectfully demand that they oppose the Omnibus spending bill on every vote – including cloture.  Urge them to push for a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) to allow the new Congress to make the tough fiscal decisions this Congress was not willing to tackle.

Remind them the American people have had enough of Washington’s out of control, unsustainable, destructive spending sprees.  Neither the Omnibus nor the long-term CR should be allowed to pass the Senate.

Senator John Thune

Toll Free: 1-866-850-3855

http://thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Email

Senator Tim Johnson

Phone: (202) 224-5842

http://johnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm

You can contact any and all senators here.

KNBN NewsCenter 1 interviewed South Dakota Tea Party Alliance board member and Treasurer Zach Lautenschlager at the Dec. 14 meeting of the group. The interview was regarding the tax deal worked out between President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans.

As early as Monday afternoon, the lame-duck Senate will vote on whether to continue current bloated federal spending levels into next year.

On Wednesday (12/8), the House passed a “Continuing Resolution” (CR) that would extend current spending levels through next September. In addition to continuing this unsustainable government spending, the House attached S. 510 (the so-called “Food Safety Modernization Act”), which will increase the costs of food production by adding more layers of government interference. Like Cap and Tax, which will guarantee higher energy bills, S. 510 will ensure you pay more for food.

Now this monstrosity is pending in the US Senate.  To make matters worse, Democrats may introduce an “Omnibus Spending” bill as an amendment to the CR, and although details are still in flux, we can confidently say it won’t cut current spending levels, either.

So far, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Whip John Kyl appear completely unconcerned about the long-term CR and its plan to fund ObamaCare and Dodd-Frank’s “Fed Empowerment Act,” along with maintaining other bloated federal spending.

The long-term CR passed in the House leaves spending at 2010 levels and contains over $1 trillion in appropriations, in addition to the cost of implementing S. 510.

ACTION:

Please contact Senators Johnson and Thune and ask them to vote NO on Washington’s unsustainable spending spree! Email them right away (feel free to use the sample message below) and leave messages at their offices on Monday morning.

Senator John Thune

Toll Free: 1-866-850-3855

http://thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Email

Senator Tim Johnson

Phone: (202) 224-5842

http://johnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm

——Sample Message——-

Dear Senator,

I have had more than enough of Washington’s reckless spending.  I respectfully urge you to reject politics as usual and show genuine leadership by making the tough decisions necessary to live within our means and restore our country’s prosperity.

The long-term “Continuing Resolution” will fund a mob of outrageous big-government pet projects through most of next year. The only fiscally responsible action is to filibuster the current CR and push for a short-term version that will allow the new Congress to take the lead on next year’s appropriations.

I will not tolerate taking America down this doomed fiscal path.  Please vote “NO” to increased food costs and massive new government regulation through S. 510.  Please vote “NO” to funding ObamaCare, the Dodd-Frank “Fed Empowerment Act,” and other statist pet projects!

And please vote “NO” to continuing unsustainable debts and deficits!

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

——————————————–

We emailed recently about S. 510, the food safety bill that would grow the FDA and increase food costs, and asked you to contact Senator Tim Johnson and Senator John Thune.

Many of you did just that, and thanks to your encouragement Senator Thune voted against the bill.  Unfortunately Sen. Johnson voted for S. 510, and it passed the Senate73 to 25.

But as the Daily Caller reports, the U.S. Senate forgot to consult that important document known as the U.S. Constitution–which requires all bills which raise revenue (as S 510 would) to originate in the U.S. House, a step the liberals missed in their eagerness to pass this bill.

It is now uncertain whether both houses of Congress can retrace these steps in time to pass a bill before the holiday recess.

We must remain vigilant, but in the meantime, you can contact Senators Johnson and Thune again to make sure they know the will of the people.  We should especially thank Senator Thune for voting against this bad bill; our representatives deserve to hear from us when we’re upset…and when we’re pleased.

Senator Thune

Toll Free: 1-866-850-3855

http://thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Email

Senator Johnson

Phone: (202) 224-5842

http://johnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm