Our new home is at NWI Patriots Blog.  See you there!

Ohio Tea Party and other organizations unite:  Support Ohio Sovereignty Aug 1, 2009

From The Pincer Movement:

…Though the 10th Amendment is entrenched in the Constitution, forcing its application has become a burden of the states themselves. Clearly the federal government has not only ignored the Mighty 10th, it will undoubtedly fight vehemently any attempt to enforce it. After all, most politicians have massive egos and aren’t inclined to voluntarily shed themselves of power; this includes most federal judges.

So the battle that is now just commencing will be long and hard. Any legal foundational help will be welcome. That help could come from what is referred to as the Enumerated Powers Acts (HR450 and S1319) currently in congressional committee. The House bill was introduced by Arizona’s John Shadegg and the Senate sister by Tom Coburn of Oklahoma…

More at the link.

Advocating an Aggressive State Sovereignty Agenda

In response to what some opponents see as a Congress that doesn’t represent their interests, State Legislators are looking to the nearly-forgotten American political tradition of nullification as a way to reject any potential national health care program that may be coming from Washington.

The most recent effort comes from Florida State Senator Carey Baker and State Representative Scott Plakon, who this week filed a proposed State Constitutional Amendment (HJR37)PDF as a means to prevent Floridians from being affected by any Federal Health Care Legislation.  If approved by the legislature, Florida residents could be voting on it as early as 2010.

HJR37 would deny the ability of any new law to impose demands, restrictions or penalties on health care choices on Floridians. Versions of proposed federal health care reform legislation have included insurance coverage mandates, and certain penalties on employers who fail to provide employee health insurance.

More at the link.

Florida follows Arizona’s example:  Article: Ballot measure seeks to solidify right to private health care in Arizona

Arizona voters will be asked to reconsider a ballot measure that would prevent residents from being compelled to join a government- run health care system and guarantees the right to purchase private health insurance.

On June 22, the Senate voted 18-11 to pass HCR2014, which will appear on the ballot in 2010.

More at the link.

It was part of a statewide Tea Party protest of Obamacare. Northwest Indiana Patriots obtained the permit that was required to allow this peaceful exercise of First Amendment rights on Federal property.  The Lake County Tea Party organization also participated in the event.  The protest began at 4:30 p.m. and ended at 6:30 p.m.  There was a police presence throughout.

The air was filled with signs, American flags, honking horns and shouts of Freedom and Thank you for the support of people driving by.

People of all ages were represented, from children waving signs saying “Party Like It’s 1773″ to senior citizens incensed with the provisions in the bills calling for mandatory “end of life” counseling, expressed by their urging of passersby to “Wake Up.”

Other signs said “Govt. Broke It–More Govt. Can’t Fix It”, “Big Government Is Less Freedom” and “No Obamacare. No Choice? No Thanks.”

Northwest Indiana Patriots organizer Faith Jones used a bullhorn to exhort passing motorists to tell Senator Bayh to vote no on healthcare reform.

Other participants called out “No bureaucrats in my doctor’s office,” “Nobamacare” and urged passersby to “Get involved.”

This morning the news came that Senator Bayh’s wife sits on the boards of several healthcare companies the Senate bill will affect (see here and here). Because of this, some watchdog groups have called for the Senator to recuse himself from voting on any healthcare reform legislation. Faith made NWIP’s position clear, that the Senator should do the job he was elected to do and vote on the bill, with his major consideration to be the welfare of voters’ families, not the profit of his own.

A woman not associated with the protest requested the opportunity to speak.  From her motorized wheelchair in front of St. Margaret Mercy’s Hammond campus, across the street from the protesters, she used the bullhorn to urge people to say no to Obamacare.  She got enthusiastic applause from the crowd.

Today was another skirmish in the battle to promote limited government, fiscal responsibility and accountable representation by demanding that Congress refuse to pass the current proposed healthcare reform legislation.  Its success remains to be seen, but we will continue to fight for those goals in the name of our children and our grandchildren.

More pictures here.

They were there to demonstrate to Senator Bayh that the citizens of Indiana support Obamacare.  NWIP was there to tell Senator Bayh that many Indiana taxpayers don’t.

NWIP owned the sidewalk in front of the Court House! The approximately 40 Moveon protesters stayed across the street.  People had signs and flags, and Faith used her bullhorn to call for freedom and to urge people to tell the Senator to vote No for government-run healthcare.

As it was a Federal building, there was a security presence during the entire demonstration, which lasted a little more than an hour.  It was loud, on NWIP’s part, and peaceful.  Lots of passing motorists honked their support.

Faith and Hoot presented Senator Bayh’s office with a letter detailing NWIP’s concerns with the House and Senate bills, and requested that Senator Bayh respond to these questions:

1. Barack Obama said Friday that his healthcare plan will not increase the deficit.  If the plan does increase the deficit, will you oppose it?

2. Will you oppose a plan that includes a public option?

3. Will you oppose a plan that includes a trigger for a public option?

4. Will you oppose provisions paying for taxpayer funded abortions?

They also presented his office with 156 letters signed by constituents at the Valparaiso July 4th Tea Party expressing concern with expanding government power, increasing debt and a frustration with elected representatives’ disconnection from voters.

It was a good day’s work of getting our rejection of government-run healthcare out to the people and Congress.

See more pictures at MeetUp.
Local media coverage here.

The atmosphere was electric as the crowd shouted “Thank you” in response to the many supportive honks and thumbs-up of passing motorists.  We had our Declaring Bailout Independence banner and our We, the People signs bearing the signatures of people who attended our April 15 and July 4 Valparaiso Tea Parties on prominent display.  Faith, our organizer, carried the American flag that will be going to the March on DC 9-12-09 and exhorted passing motorists to tell their Senators to vote no on healthcare reform.  She had three media interviews.

Faith, Hoot, Bonnie, Kim and Shawn presented Ida of the Representative’s office a letter detailing NWIP’s concerns with the Kennedy healthcare reform bill, and 125 letters signed by his constituents expressing their concern with the unprecedented growth of Federal government and it’s rapidly expanding debt, and their feeling that elected representatives are not connected with their constituents.

Thomas Tabback, a speaker brought to the protest by a participating Tea Party organization, Tea Party of Lake County, IN, spoke briefly to the protesters.  Afterwards people dispersed, some to take part in a protest at Senator Bayh’s office in Hammond.  The protest lasted one hour.

Today was a great success!  The number of people coming to the protest events we’ve organized has increased each time.  Thank you to everyone who came out and and struck a blow against the unconscionable government power grab and incredible increase in debt this legislation represents.  You did northwest Indiana and the Tea Party movement proud today.

More pictures at Meetup.

Healthcare Reform Information Resources:

Healthcare Horserace

Faces Of Government Healthcare

What the Liberal Media Aren’t Telling You About Obama’s Healthcare Plans

BigGovHealth

Headlines:

Senate Committee Blocks Anti-Rationing Amendments

Obama Wants Health Care Bill Passed Before August Recess

House Democrats Will Seek Massive $540 Billion Tax Increase—Announcement Came Late Friday Afternoon

Tax Increase on ‘Rich’ People Planned by House Democrats Would Strike More Than a Million U.S. Small Businesses

White House Dodges Question of Whether Obama Supports House Democrats’ Plan for $540-Billion Income Tax Hike

Obama confident of passing healthcare reform

GOP seeks remedy in health care resolution

Pelosi Will Read Full Final Text of Health Care Bill Before House Vote and Give Public ‘Ample’ Time to Do Same, Says Spokesman

Pelosi Says CBO Must Estimate Cost of Final Health Care Bill Before House Votes on It

Democrats unveil health care reform bill

This brief fact sheet should get your attention…

“Fact No. 1: Americans have better survival rates than Europeans for common cancers.[1] Breast cancer mortality is 52 percent higher in Germany than in the United States, and 88 percent higher in the United Kingdom.  Prostate cancer mortality is 604 percent higher in the U.K. and 457 percent higher in Norway.  The mortality rate for colorectal cancer among British men and women is about 40 percent higher.”

Read the other  9 facts about American Health Care compared to  other countries which have already instituted  universal health care…

10 Surprising Facts about American Health Care – Brief Analysis #649

House bill would make health care a right

Obama political organization airing its 1st TV ad, says now is time for health care overhaul

Organizational chart  of the House Democrats Health Plan (pdf)

Notice States’ position in this scheme of things

From Great Britain’s government-run healthcare system:  A 9-month wait for arthritis treatment: Delay can mean a lifetime of agony for victims

Obama Open to Partisan Vote on Health-Care Overhaul, Aides Say

Hoyer Says Small Businesses Don’t Make $280,000 Per Year So They Won’t Be Hurt by Democrats’ Planned $540-Billion Tax Hike

Democrats’ $540-Billion Tax Hike Will Force People into Government-Run Health Care, Congressman Says

Obama Health Care Plan Will Provide Taxpayer-Funded Abortion on Demand, Congressmen Say

Democrats’ Health Care Plan Would Cost at Least $1 Trillion Over Ten Years, CBO Says

Senate Democratic Whip Pledges to Read Health Care Bill Before Voting On It

Senate Health Committee Passes Health Care Overhaul

“The Senate health committee cast a milestone vote Wednesday to approve legislation expanding insurance coverage to nearly all Americans, becoming the first congressional panel to act on President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.”

The True Cost of the House Health Plan in Pictures

House Dems Unveil 1,000 Page Health Bill, Complete With Surtaxes On The Wealthy

An American government-run healthcare system you don’t hear about: PROMISES, PROMISES: Indian health care’s victims “Wealthier tribes can supplement the federal health service budget with their own money. But poorer tribes, often those on the most remote reservations, far away from city hospitals, are stuck with grossly substandard care. The agency itself describes a “rationed health care system.”

VA admits its failure to give female veterans proper care

The current House Democrat reform plan taxes the uninsured.  Some hypothetical scenarios here.

PDF files for the healthcare reform bills:   House Bill HR 3200

Senate Bill (no number)

The House Bill outlaws  private medical insurance:  It’s Not An Option

The Health Care Reform Bill in Its Own Words parses out some of the language of the new Health Care bill in the House.  Words that relate to NWIP’s Core Values (fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets) are used less than 100 times.  Words that increase the size and scope of government and the budget are used over 1,400 times.

CBO Chief: Health Bills To Increase Federal Costs

White House wants more power to set Medicare rates

As Health Care Deadline Looms, Congress Leaves Key Reform Details to Administration

A decription of real world results of the proposed healthcare reform plans:  O’S BROKEN PROMISES

...Shockingly, only a portion of the money accumulated from slashing senior benefits and raising taxes goes to pay for covering the uninsured. The Senate bill allocates huge sums to “community transformation grants,” home visits for expectant families, services for migrant workers — and the creation of dozens of new government councils, programs and advisory boards slipped into the last 500 pages.

Governors worried by healthcare bill costs

Their concern:  the expansion of Medicaid.

The House Bill’s Health Insurance Czar

Health Care Bill Directs HHS Secretary to Develop ‘Standards for Measuring Gender’–As Opposed to ‘Male’ and ‘Female’

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is required by the proposed law — The Affordable Health Choices Act,which was voted out of committee on July 15  –  to create a database within one year of the law’s enactment that will include detailed information about those who sign up for government-run or supported health care programs, including their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, language and disabilities.

Health Care Bill Would Curb Job Growth by Encouraging Small Businesses to Remain Small

Tennessee’s Troubled ‘Public Option’ – TennCare – Could Foreshadow Obama’s Health Care Plan

Obama Administration Urges Health Care Critics to Hold Their Fire Until Congress Presents Final Plan

Nancy Pelosi: Make millionaires pay for health care

Budget chief: Docs fees not paid for in Obama bill

Cardin Town Hall Meeting On Health Care Gets Angry

Waxman, Blue Dogs strike deal on costs

Conservative Democrats Push Health Bill Changes

Fiscally conservative House Democrats forced leaders of their party on Tuesday to slow the pace of work on major health care legislation so Congress and President Obama could address their concerns about the cost of the bill, its impact on small businesses and the shape of a proposed new government health insurance plan.

Horrid details emerge on Obamacare legislation

FACT CHECK: Obama’s health care claims adrift?

Experts Dispute Some Points in Health Talk

Democrats Block GOP Health Care Mailing

Reid: No health care vote in Senate until fall

House healthcare talks break down in anger

For Public, Obama Didn’t Fill in Health Blanks

Health Reform’s Hidden Victims

CBO deals new blow to health plan

Obama budget director fires back at CBO

Lobbyists On Board With Healthcare Reform:  Lobbyists the silver lining in health care storm?

Fighting Obesity Is ‘At the Heart’ of Obama’s Plan to Provide Better and Lower-Cost Health Care

Senators Near Bipartisan Deal on Health Care; No Public Option

As Health Care Stalls, House Majority Leader Declares No Provision ‘Absolutely Essential’

‘Jane Roe’ To Nancy Pelosi: ‘Don’t Put Abortion in Health-Care Reform Bill’

Pelosi Dodges Question of Whether Government Health-Care Plan Will Fund Abortion

Conyers Sees No Point in Members Reading 1,000-Page Health Care Bill–Unless They Have 2 Lawyers to Interpret It for Them

Obama Takes Health Care Pitch Back to an Increasingly Skeptical Public

White House Health Care Talking Points

Benefits of Healthcare Reform a Tough Sell for Americans

Doctors Oppose Giving Commission Power Over Medicare Payments

No healthcare reform vote before autumn: Obama

Waiting until September: House Democrats reach deal on healthcare bill

Poll: Obama loses ground on health care

Goodbye to Private Health Insurance

Tell your employees what you think:

Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

Contact Representative Peter Visclosky,  Senator Evan Bayh,  Senator Richard Lugar and District Representative Joe Donnelly .

What do you ask them about healthcare reform?  See Quiz Reps.

Fresh out of sign ideas?  A few:  Socialized medicine hotline – 1-800-YOU-DEAD, Socialism is great if you don’t need a doctor, There’s Free cheese in a mousetrap.  A lot more here.

Write a letter to the editor:  Post-Tribune,  NWI Times, Indianapolis Star