Stark Instructions to State and Federal Officials Coming Forth 

Delegates Plan Potent Acts of Civic Resistance

Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA           2009 Continental Congress in St. Charles, IL – Pheasent Run Resort          After a week of intense committee deliberations, sometimes extending well into the early morning hours, the first formal resolutions of Continental Congress 2009 have begun to emerge.  On Tuesday, the Congress adopted resolutions aimed to ending the federal income tax fraud and terminating all state and federal firearms regulations as de facto violations of the plain language of the Second Amendment. As each of these first resolutions was adopted by the Assembly, they were loudly and spontaneously celebrated by the assembled Delegates, with jubilant energy and great emotion at the emergence of these first acts of nationally organized resistance to emerge from the Congress.   If these initial resolutions are any indication, the Congress clearly has set its collective intent to adopting a volume of provocative and far-reaching “Remedial Instructions” and “Civic Actions” to restore the Constitution, and which effects will soon reverberate from sea-to-shining-sea. Watch the live webcast, see the video archives & donate to help fund the CC2009 event: To obtain the .999 pure silver CC2009 Commemorative Medallion, click on this  special WTP e-store link The Income Tax Instruction to the United States Congress adopted by the Continental Congress cites several essential facts in U.S. law, including irrefutable documentation establishing that the 16th Amendment is void, ab initio, due to its failure to be properly ratified, and that any direct, un-apportioned tax on the labor of any American is wholly unconstitutional.  The resolution cites the U.S. Supreme Court holding that labor (and the fruits thereof) are, “…the most sacred and inviolable” property of the citizens of the nation.  (Citing Butcher’s Union Co. v. Crescent City Co., 111 U.S. 746, 757)    The tax resolution also calls for Congress to execute the immediate cessation of the (unlawful) imposition of the practice of withholding of earnings from the paychecks of American citizens and for the Congress to immediately release and restore all citizens wrongfully imprisoned as a result of the “unconstitutional application of the income tax” (laws).  The Civic Actions recommended by the Congress for the People to end the Income Tax fraud include for the People to contact their local sheriff and demand cooperation with the citizenry to provide protection from (unlawful) federal and state tax enforcement actions (including fraudulent, non-judicial “administrative” IRS liens and levys), that citizens prepare to replace or otherwise recall or impeach any sheriff who refuses to protect their local citizens from “…rogue federal agents acting under color of law,” and for citizens to prepare themselves to withhold their monies as a means to secure Redress.  As to the Second Amendment Right to Keep and Bear Arms, the resolution of the Continental Congress declares that all regulations, state and federal, which are repugnant to the express language of the Second Amendment are “…null and void – including but not limited to, illegal and unconstitutional restrictions on open and/or concealed carry.”  The arms resolution calls for the citizenry to coordinate with their local county Sheriff in establishing a Constitutional Militia, inherently separate from the state National Guard.  Such militia would be a constitutional defense force, “comprising all citizenry capable of bearing arms and under proper authority, in defense of themselves and the states.”  Official copies of these resolutions and others will be released shortly for public inspection and distribution.  Committee and sub-committee work on “Remedial Instructions” for state and federal officials will by decree, end at midnight Wednesday (Nov. 18).  Starting tomorrow (Thursday) , the Congress begins two and a half days of intense deliberations, turning their sole attention to debating and adopting a comprehensive set of potent “Civic Actions” every American can implement, en masse, to effect a peaceful restoration of Constitutional Order. These lawful, (non-violent) civic actions, (fully lawful and protected by the Right to enforce the First Amendment Right to Petition), will be designed to significantly affect the functioning of both state and federal institutions which have been complicit in enabling or otherwise aiding or allowing the destruction of the Constitution and/or the Fundamental Rights of the People. On Saturday afternoon, the agenda plans for the Delegates set to move to adopt the full package consisting of First Amendment Petitions for Redress of Grievances, “Remedial Instructions” to be served upon state and federal officials, and the slate of “Civic Actions” designed for everyday Americans to implement to resist the tyrants and engage in the battle to restore Liberty.  The final package generated by the Congress will be formally known as the “Articles of Association” and signed (Saturday afternoon) by the Delegates of Continental Congress 2009.  Means are currently being developed for citizens everywhere across America to likewise sign the Articles of Association and join the battle to hold our government accountable to the Law. The current intent for the Articles of Association is that when “x” million (tbd) Americans publicly commit to personally embrace and execute at least some portion of the (peaceful) plan of Civic resistance, the plan of “Civic Actions” will be fully activated and its full effects soon manifest against our errant institutions of government. More details will be announced following the conclusion of the CC2009 assembly on November 21. Donations Still Needed — Please! The WTP Foundation has significant costs it must still cover in connection with hosting and producing the Continental Congress 2009 event, including the cost of the professionally produced webcast enabling thousands to witness the full proceedings of this historic event at no cost. Please consider a fully tax-deductible donation to the 501(c)3 WTP Foundation or to receive the beautiful .999 pure silver CC2009 commemorative medallion. Again, we offer many, many thanks for your support that has made this event possible thus far. We urge everyone to please consider making a  of any amount and support this critical initiative to restore our Founding Principles and protect the Light of Liberty. (If you have not visited our website before, please first join our email list.)   Use this  special WTP e-store link  to donate $100 and receive a FREE 1 oz, .999 pure silver CC2009 commemorative medallion! Use any major credit card, PayPal or you can mail in your donation: Mail-in Donate form (if mailed, please note CC2009 offer)       PLEASE NOTE: online donations made to WTP through our “general” donation streams are NOT eligible for the CC2009 medallion offer.  “State-specific” donations through our state PayPal buttons are likewise, NOT eligible for the CC2009 medallion offer. Click here to donate and receive the CC2009 silver medallion.

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In it, police officers, soldiers, veterans, tax defiers, Patriots, tea party members, right-wing militias, “birthers” and sovereign citizen proponents are all said to exhibit elements of a resurging anti-government movement that reached its zenith in the mid-1990’s and spiraled out of control with violence and domestic terrorism.

A number of national and local citizens groups are called out in the report — the National Rifle Association, Minutemen, Oath Keepers — as well as mainstream conservative politicians and media personalities — U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus (R – Ala.), Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Fox News host Glenn Beck, CNN’s Lou Dobbs, MSNBC commentator and former Republican presidential candidate Pat Buchanan — as evidence of this growing domestic threat.

Add to the list former Graham County, Arizona sheriff Richard Mack, dubbed a “long-time militia hero” by SPLC. The son of an FBI Agent, Mack has long been a crusader for freedom and individual rights.

As a twenty-year law enforcement official, Mack served on the thin, blue line that protects a civilized society from lawlessness. But the controversial SPLC report casts a shadow over Mack’s views and questions his role in the resurgence of the militia movement and violent “right-wing extremism.”

“Something you’ll never hear from me, that is to advocate violence in any matter,” Mack said during an exclusive interview with Big 3 News. “I never have, and as I said, my record in law enforcement is very clear. I’ve never, ever, in twenty years of law enforcement, slugged or beat up another person.”

Mack has challenged the founder of SPLC, Morris Dees, to an open debate to discuss the characterizations made in the report.

“I don’t believe he would ever do it,” Mack said. ” I don’t believe he could afford to be exposed as the liar that he is.”

Mack went to college with the intent of becoming an FBI agent like his father, but life had other opportunities for him. He worked his way though college and hired on in March 1979 as a full-time police officer in Utah. In 1988, he returned to his home state of Arizona and ran for sheriff.

“I was miraculously elected, I ran a very strong campaign on constitutional principles,” Mack said. “The people of the county elected me, and in 1992 I was re-elected.”

His biggest victory may not have been political but rather in the courts.

In 1994, Mack joined six other sheriffs in bringing a successful lawsuit before the United States Supreme Court challenging aspects of the Clinton Administration Brady Bill.

“The Brady Bill forced, it compelled, the county sheriff to work for the federal government for free,” Mack explained. “But the worst thing of it was it forced us to participate in a federal gun control scheme that I knew was unconstitutional. And I wasn’t going to violate my oath of office for Bill Clinton, Sarah Brady or anybody else.”

On June 27, 1997, the Supreme Court ruled that the Brady Bill, in part, was unconstitutional and that Congress had exceeded their authority.

Mack believes this judicial victory and his views on the 2nd Amendment  are the motivation behind the attacks on him by SPLC.

“If you look up the word militia in the dictionary, it means citizen volunteers,” Mack said. “The militia was the same militia as mentioned in the 2nd Amendment, that Paul Revere called out to get their guns, to defend us against the tyrant King George III. The 2nd Amendment was written to prevent a reoccurrence of that kind of tyranny. If it ever happened again, the people, or the militia, would be armed to defend our nation against tyrants.”

Watch and listen to our exclusive 5-part interview with Sheriff Richard Mack below:

by Alan Stang
March 20, 2009
NewsWithViews.com

[Announcement: Did you know Alan Stang has a new radio show? Click here for details.]

For many years, the people’s attention in the Battle for America has been directed toward the federal government and its offices. Candidates stand for the House and the Senate. Patriotic groups publish voting records of incumbents. Considerable time, effort and money are expended in support of candidates for President. After decades of such commendable activity, the record shows it is an utter failure. The danger to the nation is worse than it ever was.

For many of those years, Republicrud bosses whined that if the people would only give them control of the federal government, they would undo Democrud damage and restore Free Enterprise. Finally, the people gave it to them. Remember? The Republicruds controlled the House, the Senate and the Oval Office long enough to turn the country around. What happened? The Republicruds made our problems much worse. Their spending made the profligate drunken sailor look like Scrooge. They deserved it when the people kicked them out. They lost all credibility.

Yes, there is Dr. Ron Paul. But Dr. No is a political aberration. Time and again, he stands alone. He has neither men’s room problems nor woman problems. He doesn’t take congressional retirement. He actually returns “money” (computer entries) to the federal treasury. He proposes abolishing the Fed and the income tax and replacing them with nothing. In foreign affairs he suggests that we mind our own business. Imagine! But, again, he is an aberration.

Why? Certainly one reason has to be that we ship the successful congressional candidate off to the District of Corruption. However good the new congressman may have been when he or she boarded the plane to the District; he is subjected to intoxicating blandishments when he arrives in the enemy camp.

Soon, he succumbs to the blandishments, maybe even making himself blackmailable, and begins to vote as the party boss says, without even reading the bills. Instead of representing the people of his congressional district in the District of Criminals, he represents the D.C. to the C.D. He or she now is one of the boys or the girls. It has happened hundreds of times.

So, if the long, heroic effort to elect federal legislators has failed, does there remain any governmental Horatius who can stand in the gap; who can lead the Battle for America and restore the Constitution? There is. Lock and load, mount up and prepare for the return of the sheriff.

My guess is that in the minds of many Americans the sheriff is an antiquated figure who lives in the movies. In the older movies he is the hero; he is Gary Cooper in “High Noon,” awaiting the train that will bring killer Frank Miller back to town. In the new ones, he is the southern sheriff, even bigger than Rosie O’Donnell, sneering, sadistic, racist, violent, etc. He has no modern relevance.

But now here comes Sheriff Richard Mack, elected and re-elected in Graham County, Arizona, where he served for eight years. During his tenure, three federal agents came to a meeting of Arizona sheriffs and told them in certain terms how they would be dragooned as unpaid federal bureaucrats and administer the new, federal Brady gun registration law.

The law was named of course for Ronald Reagan’s press secretary, who was severely wounded in the immensely suspicious attempt to assassinate the President. Since then, Mrs. Brady has become a leader of the campaign for Nazi gun confiscation. I don’t know whether she was as crazy before the shootings as she is now. Just one more increment of lunacy and they would have to lock her up.

Richard Mack and the other Arizona sheriffs at the meeting rebelled. Sheriff Richard says the language he heard – in which he did not participate – could not be repeated in the presence of genteel Christian ladies, so we can’t tell you here what the sheriffs said. But Sheriff Mack did take the government to court. He sued the United States, and Sheriff Jay Printz of Montana joined him as plaintiff.

Sheriff Richard Mack

On June 27th, 1997, the sheriffs won; in Printz v. U.S. (521 U.S. 898) the U.S. Supreme Court struck Brady down. Associate Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the ruling for the Court, in which he explained our system of government at length. The justly revered system of checks and balances is the key:

“. . . The great innovation of this design was that ‘our citizens would have two political capacities, one state and one federal, each protected from incursion by the other’” – “a legal system unprecedented in form and design, establishing two orders of government, each with its own direct relationship, its own privity, its own set of mutual rights and obligations to the people who sustain it and are governed by it.” (P. 920)

Scalia quotes President James Madison, “father” of the Constitution: “[T]he local or municipal authorities form distinct and independent portions of the supremacy, no more subject, within their respective spheres, to the general authority than the general authority is subject to them, within its own sphere.” The Federalist, No. 39 at 245.

Again and again, Justice Scalia pounds the point home (page 921): “This separation of the two spheres is one of the Constitution’s structural protections of liberty: ‘Just as the separation and independence of the coordinate branches of the Federal Government serve to prevent the accumulation of excessive power in any one branch, a healthy balance of power between the States and the Federal Government will reduce the risk of tyranny and abuse from either front.’. . .” Gregory, 501 U.S. at 458.

He quotes President Madison again: “In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each subdivided among distinct and separate departments. Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself.” (P. 922)

No one could make this any clearer. The primary purpose of the Fathers was to prevent someone from grabbing all the power. When that happens, they knew, the result is arbitrary, confiscatory, government, the kind Tom Jefferson described in the Declaration of Independence. We would call it totalitarian.

Madison explains: “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” Federalist No. 48, February 1, 1788.

To prevent that from happening, they divided the power. First, they divided the federal power into three parts: the executive, the legislative and the judicial. They would bicker among themselves, so that no one of them could seize all the power the Constitution grants to the federal government.

The Founders divided the power even more. They set the limited power the Constitution grants the “general authority,” Madison’s term for the federal government, against the vast residual powers of the states. Each sphere of government, state and federal, would be supreme in its own sphere. Neither could control the other. Each protects itself from intervention by the other. Each has its own laws and rules.

Madison says this: “Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of.” Loc. Cit.

What does all this mean today in the Battle for America? Sheriff Mack says it proves that the sheriff is the highest governmental authority in his county. Within that jurisdiction – inside his county – the sheriff has more power than the governor of his state. Indeed, the sheriff has more power in his county than the President of the United States. In his county, he can overrule the President and kick his people out. Remember, the President has few and limited powers.

What? The sheriff can do that? He’s not just a character in a movie? That’s right. Not only can the sheriff do that; sheriffs have already done that, more than once. Most Americans are not aware of that because lying, conspiracy scumbags like Rush Humbug, Shallow Sean Hannitwerp and Hugh Blewitt (a lawyer) etc., haven’t told them.

 Remember, the office of sheriff has a pedigree so long, we are not positive about when it was created. We think it was in the Ninth Century in England. We do know that each land district, or “shire,” was governed by a “reeve.” The sheriff of Nottingham became famous. At first, the king appointed them. With few exceptions, our American shire reeves are elected by the people.

In 1997, in Nye County, Nevada, federal agents arrived to seize cattle that belonged to rancher Wayne Hage. The sheriff gave them a choice: skedaddle or be arrested. They skedaddled. The cows stayed where they were. Wyoming sheriffs have told federal agencies they must check with the respective sheriff before they serve any papers, make any arrests or confiscate any property.

In Idaho, a 74-year-old rancher shot an endangered gray wolf which had killed one of his calves. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sent three armed agents to serve a warrant. Lemhi County Sheriff Brett Barslou said that was “inappropriate, heavy-handed and dangerously close to excessive force.” More than 500 people turned out for a rally in the small towns of Challis and Salmon to support the sheriff and the rancher and to tell the federal government to back off.

While Richard Mack was sheriff of Graham County, Arizona, a bridge washed out. Parents had to drive twenty six miles to get their kids to school half a mile across the river. But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wouldn’t fix it. First they had to do an “environmental impact study,” to replace a bridge already there. They were in no hurry. The study would take a mere ten years.

The people’s suffering reached the board of supervisors. The board voted to dredge the river and fix the bridge. The feds warned that they would be fined $50,000 per day if they tried. The supervisors hesitated. Sheriff Mack promised them and the workers protection and pledged to call out a posse for the purpose if necessary. They built the bridge and the Corps of Engineers faded. The board never paid a dime.

So the long dormant spirit of America is reviving. The states are beginning to adopt Tenth Amendment resolutions, using powers they have always had. The people are restoring our long unbalanced constitutional system. There is something “blowin’ in the wind,” but it isn’t what Bob Dylan thought it was. Recently, Sheriff Mack addressed 570 people in Fredericksburg, Texas. He reports that the reception was “beyond fantastic.”

What can you do? For once we are not just complaining. There is a plan. I do not argue that you should forget about Congress. Not at all; if you see an opportunity there, take it. Always remember that right now it is run by people like Barney the Bugger of Taxachusetts, who will be elected by moronth in hith dithtrict until he dieth of AIDS.

Most of the time, when you approach your congressman, you come to complain. In the new crusade, you will approach your sheriff and tell him that he is not only handsome, charming and overwhelmingly masculine, but also that he has powers he may not be aware of. You have come to tell him what they are and to back him up. My guess is, when you tell him that, he will not kick you out.

Tell him you expect him to return the courtesy when the Nazis come from the District of Criminals to get the guns. Tell him you are ready in a minute to serve under his direction in a posse. He will not move to Washington and be corrupted. He will stay there with you. Show him the ten orders the Oath Keepers will not obey. The Oath Keepers are retired and active duty military and police. Their web site is oath-keepers.blogspot.com. The first order they promise to disobey is an order to disarm you.

Put him together with Sheriff Mack. You will find him at sheriffmack.com. His telephone numbers are 928 792-4340 and 928 792-3888. Bring the sheriff to your town to speak. He will explain all this. Invite your own sheriff. At the meeting I attended, the local sheriff and chief of police were there and loved what they heard. No one dislikes hearing how important he is.

What if your sheriff is stupid or a federal factotum? That is what you will find in many big cities. I once interviewed Los Angeles County Sheriff Peter Pitchess, who said no one should have a hand gun. I asked him how a five foot lady alone in bed could defend herself from a rapist. Realizing he was perilously close to making himself look even dumber than he did usually, Pitchess conceded she could have a long gun.

I brightened. A street sweeper isn’t really the best weapon for close quarters, but it would give the lady a chance. Unfortunately, Pitchess added the word, “unloaded.” I asked him what that five foot lady with an unloaded shotgun could do against a six foot rapist. A police captain sat beside Pitchess during the interview. His job was to extricate Peter from the jams he persisted on getting himself into. The police captain extruded a barrage of miasma. It was effective. I did not get an answer.

 In such cases, says Sheriff Mack, move to a county where the sheriff is receptive. Many more will be. For instance, in Texas there are 254 counties. Each has a sheriff. If it is feasible to do so, run for sheriff yourself. Even your wife will be impressed when she sees you with a hog leg on your hip and a star on your vest. Imagine the intense joy of meeting IRS Communists or BATFE Nazis at the county line and denying them admission.

By Bob Unruh
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

A video explaining the dangers of a U.N. treaty proposal promoted by President Obama that critics say would lead to a world government has received more than 3.5 million views since WND broke the story on the ominous possibilities, and now there is word from the Obama administration the plan might not be going so smoothly.

In the video, Lord Christopher Monckton, a former science adviser to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, asserts the real purpose of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen Dec. 7-18 is to use concern over “global warming” as a pretext to lay the foundation for a one-world government.

At the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen “this December, weeks away, a treaty will be signed,” Lord Christopher Monckton told a Minnesota Free Market Institute audience at Bethel University in St. Paul.

According to the Minnesota Free Market Institute, the video, as originally posted, has collected 2.2 million views and almost 700 pages of comments, but there also are more than 100 other cloned versions of Monckton’s comments on YouTube and the aggregate views exceed 3.5 million.

The video helped launch a national petition drive opposing the Copenhagen treaty at NoCapAndTrade.com, with its more than 135,000 messages to Congress opposing the plan. It’s been discussed by Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham and Michelle Malkin, among others.

Now there are indications the light of information being spread about the potential problems is casting shadows on the proposal.

“The more people learn about the supposed issue of ‘climate change’ and how green extremists intend to control our lives, the more skeptical they become,” said Jeff Davis, president of the Minnesota Majority.

Get “The Sky’s Not Falling! Why it’s OK to chill on global warming”

Further, Michael Froman, deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs, said in a Bloomberg report today the latest word on Copenhagen is an “assessment by the leaders that it was unrealistic to expect a full, internationally legally binding agreement to be negotiated between now and when Copenhagen starts.”

Davis said the impact of Monckton’s warning is becoming apparent in other ways. He cited a decision just days ago by key U.S. Senate Democrats who confirmed it is unlikely there will be any additional action on climate-change legislation this year. Obama had hoped to pass a cap-and-trade energy taxation plan before the Copenhagen conference.

Bloomberg’s report confirmed leaders from Asia have admitted a binding global-warming accord isn’t likely next month.

Obama attended a meeting

of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Singapore in which leaders proposed a two-stage approach to follow up the failed Kyoto Protocol, which sought to manage emissions worldwide but never earned the support of several of the world’s leading energy-consuming nations.

Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen told Bloomberg there may be no “legally binding instrument,” although a political agreement is possible.

The 1997 Kyoto plan is scheduled to expire in three more years, but years of talks already held have failed to produce agreement on energy restrictions.

Instead, Rasmussen has suggested an agreement to cut greenhouse gases, with an outline for a political agreement that would be the subject of further negotiations.

At the Examiner, a blogger concluded, “The credibility of global warming theories (and sanctimonious theorists) and any international climate controls are fading with each passing day.”

Monckton warned in the video that Obama supports the idea and is ready to sign on the dotted line.

“Your president will sign it. Most of the Third World countries will sign it, because they think they’re going to get money out of it. Most of the left-wing regimes from the European Union will rubber-stamp it. Virtually nobody won’t sign it,” Monckton told the audience of some 700 attendees.

“I read that treaty and what it says is this: that a world government is going to be created. The word ‘government’ actually appears as the first of three purposes of the new entity.”

He has warned the proposal would cede U.S. sovereignty, mandate a massive wealth transfer from the United States to pay reparations for “climate debt” to Third World countries and create a new “world government” to enforce the treaty’s provisions.

Davis also warned that while the apparent uncertainty over the treaty has bought some time, it’s not enough.

“Green extremists will be back in force trying to advance both domestic cap-and-trade legislation and an international climate treaty that will rob us of our liberties and grant government more control over our lives,” he said.

Monckton’s lecture can be viewed online and his slides also can be accessed on the Internet.

When California Treasurer Bill Lockyer sought a $7 billion federal loan guarantee from Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in May, it was a clear indication that states, and not just financial institutions, were struggling mightily to find firm fiscal footing in the face of the Great Recession.

As states continue to grapple with the current harsh economic conditions, the Pew Center on the States has compiled a list of the 10 that are closest to financial collapse, part of a report on the budgetary health of all 50 states. The report warns of potentially damaging consequences if states fail to take decisive measures to fix their money woes.

While California’s economic struggles, such as issuing IOUs to state employees and business contractors, have been well documented, many more states are facing a combination of economic, money-management and political pressures that are driving them to the brink of collapse. The Pew report cites high home foreclosure rates, increasing joblessness, declining state revenues, poor money management, legal and political obstacles to balanced budgets and the size of budget gaps as the six factors that contribute to most of the problems.

States Teetering on the Edge

The report points out that all states but two — Montana and North Dakota — faced budget shortfalls for fiscal year 2010, adding up to an estimated $162 billion in budget gaps. Tax collections in all states declined a record 11.7% from first quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009, and unemployment continued to rise nationally, topping 10% this month.

The Terrible 10

By combining weighted scores for each state’s rank in its six contributory factors, Pew created a list of the 10 that are in the highest degree of peril. They are: California, Arizona, Rhode Island, Michigan, Oregon, Nevada, Florida, New Jersey, Illinois and Wisconsin. Close behind those terrible 10 are Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, New York and Hawaii.

The report also revealed four common problems that hurt the 10 worst states. Several of them are too dependent on a particular industry that has been devastated by the recession, such as gambling in Nevada and tourism in Florida. Many of the states, like California, New Jersey and Illinois, have a long history of borrowing to close budget gaps. Several have legal limitations that prevent them from making adjustments. For example, Oregon has a revenue cap that forces the state to deliver rebates to taxpayers in good times or bad. And most states just put off the tough decisions until it was too late.

Here’s the worst-10 list in the order that Pew ranked each state, with highlights of what hurt each one:

California – Budget shortfall: 49.3%
“California topped all states for the magnitude of its budget shortfall in fiscal year 2010, both in dollars and in share — in this case, nearly half — of its general funds, which pay for most state operations.”

Arizona – Budget shortfall: 41.1%
Like many states, “Arizona’s lawmakers relied on one-time fixes to balance its budgets instead of making long-term changes,” the report said. Lawmakers were still wrestling with a $1 billion gap in this year’s budget in October.

Rhode Island – Budget shortfall: 19.2%
On top of its poor record of fiscal management, “Rhode Island constantly ranks near the top of states with the highest unemployment rates, and last year it had the highest home foreclosure rate in all of New England.”

Michigan – Budget shortfall: 12.0%
“Two of the Big Three Detroit-based automakers went bankrupt in 2009, sending shockwaves through a state that is on track to lose a quarter of it jobs this decade.”

Nevada – Budget shortfall: 37.8%
“Nevada’s unique gaming-based economy is in jeopardy, as is its state budget that relies on gambling sales to provide 60% of its revenues.”

Oregon ­– Budget shortfall: 14.5%
“State revenues plummeted 19% between the first quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, a reflection of Oregon’s heavy reliance on income taxes,” the report said. Voters have rejected adding a sales tax nine times, thwarting attempts at creating a new source of state revenue.

Florida – Budget shortfall: 22.8%
“For the first time since World War II, Florida’s population is shrinking. This is a disturbing revelation for a state that has built its economy — and structured its budget — on the assumption that throngs of new residents will move to its sunny shores each year.”

New Jersey – Budget shortfall: 29.9%
“New Jersey is playing catch-up after years of fiscal mismanagement and a daunting structural imbalance between what it collects and what it spends.”

Illinois – Budget shortfall: 47.3%
“Since the last recession earlier this decade, the state piled up huge backlogs of Medicaid bills and borrowed money to pay its pension obligations,” the report said. The 2010 budget shortfall topped $13.2 billion, among the worst in the nation.

Wisconsin – Budget shortfall: 23.2%
“Wisconsin’s history of budget shortfalls and pattern of borrowing frequently to cover operating expenses, among other measures, made it poorly positioned to weather the most recent severe economic downturn.”

People from Wisconsin;  The question becomes is this reported Wisconsin budget shortfall before OR after the $3 BILLION Dollar heist of the Federal Government “Stimulus” package that our dear Socialist Comrade Governor James Doyle fingered and placed in the budget kitty?  Assuming it is after throwing the Stimulus money in the pot; 1) How bad is the Wisconsin Budget without the $3 BILLION? And 2) What the hell are we going to do next year?  I wonder if WEAC will take I.O.U.s?

Seriously, people of Wisconsin;  Isn’t it time for us to at least agree to talk about these things when we get together at the taverns, cub scout meetings, school functions, church, parades, etc…?  What is this crap about not wanting to talk about “politics” right now?  Any Wisconsin person who says something like that, when somebody who really cares is trying to talk about these issues so that WE THE PEOPLE can learn something about it and then DO SOMETHING ABOUT our State Socialistic / Unionistic Government, ought to have their heads examined!  Our whole State of Wisconsin could collapse just because some/many of us don’t “feel” like talking about it.  YOU DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME, FOLKS.  You better starta talk’n and caring about it,  but fast!

And now the Federal Government wants to pile on Health Care and Cap and Trade (Tax) to add to the cost of the average Wisconsin family budget by as much as $10,000.00 or MORE a year?  And I suppose the State of Wisconsin “might” want to raise our taxes “just a little bit” right?  ARE YOU CRAZY?  Do you know how many Wisconsinites DON’T even have a job?   What is the matter with you State of WI Congressmen?  When are you going to stop listening to WEAC and all the other Unions and do something for the people who put you there in the first place?  BTW: Stealing tax money and doing a “special” project for your local community isn’t going to cut the mustard anymore.  We’re on to that crapola!  We are sick and tired of you guys manipulating our minds and our communities with “be quiet presents”.  That is exactly how we got in this mess and now we understand what you have been doing to us individually, our State of Wisconsin and our country as a whole.  If you want to know where to stick that “special” project for our community just before election time, BEND OVER and we’ll show you!

I have a novel idea!  Why don’t you just let us keep our own money and we’ll do our own special projects?  And, as our money accumulates and we are able to keep more and more of our own earnings and grow and perhaps start our own businesses and hire more people and give them raises, we might even help you out a little as WE decide we want to.  In fact, if you leave us and our earnings alone, we will help out our friends and neighbors in need because we are Godly people who love and care for our neighbors, friends and family.  We see what you did with the money you stole from us turning Wisconsin into the Eighth worse Business Tax Climate State in the entire country <hotlink.  Now it is time for us to see what we can do with our own money.  Let’s see who does it better, Wisconsin Government or Wisconsinites.  Or, are you planning on destroying the rest of our jobs and our lives?

I will try to post an update from the Continental Congress 2009 each evening. The first day’s post is there now. I will post my updates on my blog on the We The People Forum at http://wethepeopleforum.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?user=2tpnfi66w43ew

Be sure to continue to let me know your thoughts on issues of interest at CC2009 by using the website http://cc2009wi.uservoice.com

In Liberty,

Richard Church
Wisconsin Delegate, CC2009

 The recently elected Wisconsin Delegates to THE “NEW” Continental Congress 2009 have arranged for a listening session at the Olympia Resort.  This listening session will take place during the Wisconsin Patriot Group Conference also at the Olympia Resort.  You may attend the listening session without registering for the conference.  Here are the basics:

• What: Wisconsin delegates listening session
• Where: Olympia Resort, 1350 Royale Mile Road, Oconomowoc, WI
• When: November 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Who: Open to the people of Wisconsin
• Why: To provide a list of critical issues and resolutions to the delegates that they can present at Continental Congress 2009
• Also see: Wisconsin Delegate Election Results for NEW Continental Congress

You may also want to register to attend the Wisconsin Patriot Group Conference by going to the Wisconsin Grandsons of Liberty Website at http://www.wisconsingrandsonsofliberty.com/ (scroll down).  Bob Schultz, founder of We The People, will be speaking from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and will be presenting the Freedom Scroll for all to sign.  You can get information on the origin of the Freedom Scroll at http://www.wethepeoplefoundation.org/UPDATE/Update2009-05-25.htm 

Marc Messina

Wisconsin State Coordinator

Please circulate this message to your contacts in Wisconsin.

The final (as of October 26th) Wisconsin delegation for Continental Congress 2009 is, in order of number of votes:

• Richard Church
• Rudy Eckert
• Michael Staudacher
• Brent Arnold (Alternate)

Other candidates that may have received more votes have since dropped out of consideration.

Richard Church, as the leader of the delegation, has asked that the  people of Wisconsin use a website ( http://cc2009wi.uservoice.com ) he set up to submit suggestions, resolutions and comments to the delegation.  Here is how it works, in Richard’s words:

It allows people to make suggestions and to vote on the suggestions of others. Users can remain anonymous, or they can sign up for an account. The way it works is that you get 10 votes which you can distribute however you want among the suggestions. You can give a suggestion more than one vote if you feel very strongly about it. The more people that vote, the better picture we get of what the major priorities should be. The short address is: http://cc2009wi.uservoice.com

Please feel free to also contact the delegates directly.  The contact information is located on the Wisconsin webpage at http://givemeliberty.org/user/congress/Region.aspx?state=wi 

The Continental Congress will have credibility in direct proportion to the support of the people.  It is up to you and me to restore our Constitutional Republic and reasert our unalienable rights.  The Constitution cannot defend itself.  The time to participate is now.

Please also consider giving a donation to fund the Continental Congress at:

http://www.cc2009.us/donate  This web page has a chart of how the funds will be used.

With liberty for all,

Marc Messina

Wisconsin State Coordinator

 Auto Insurance Rates Rise

Assemblyman John Nygren (R-89th District)

Wisconsin Property Taxes Among Highest in the Nation

Wisconsin Business Climate Among Worst in the Nation

2009-10 Blue Books Available

Free Wisconsin Maps and Guides Available

 Auto Insurance Rates Rise

 Many state residents have recently received letters from their auto insurance providers that state how changes made by the legislature will affect their rates.  When you read ‘legislature’ just insert ‘Democrat majority and Governor Doyle’ because not one Republican supported these changes made in the budget.  As a matter of fact, Republicans are currently introducing proposals that would repeal these devastating changes made in the budget.

 Because of the changes to auto insurance, rates are expected to rise dramatically.  At the time of the budget debate, the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance estimated insurance premiums would rise by between 33 and 43 percent.  Now we find out motorcycle premiums will rise even more.  Because of medical payment coverage changes motorcycle premiums are expected to rise by over 500 percent.  This was not known at the time of the budget debate.

 Before these changes over 90 percent of all claims were covered under the minimums that existed prior to the passage of the budget in Wisconsin.  In 2007, the average bodily injury claim in Wisconsin was $16,600 and property claim was $2,500.  Minimums prior to the changes in the budget for these types of claims were $25,000 and $10,000 respectively. 

 Why would these changes be sought if the overwhelming amount of claims were already covered under current law?  And why would the Democrat majority seek minimums so high Wisconsin’s will be the highest in the nation?  The blame rests with the Democrats and their special interest trial lawyer allies. 

 You only have to look at campaign contributions to know the story.  Trial lawyers donate to Democrats overwhelmingly and stand to reap millions in court settlements with these new changes.  Over the last few years, Governor Doyle received $262,000 from trial lawyers alone.

 I stated in press releases and Nygren’s Notes e-newsletters when the budget debate took place the adverse consequences of these insurance changes in the budget.  Multiple newspapers called for these changes to be pulled out of the budget or at a minimum be debated as stand alone bills.  The Appleton Post Crescent called these changes, “the wrong idea for the state” and the Janesville Gazette stated, “Many [drivers] likely would drop their policies, leading to more uninsured motorists and driving up costs for those who have insurance.”

 In my efforts to stop these changes, I went as far as to author a letter to the Joint Committee on Finance signed by 36 of my Republican colleagues which called for these changes to be removed from the budget.  Not one Democrat signed my letter.  I and other Republican legislators offered amendments to pull these changes out of the budget, but only garnered two Democrat votes in the Assembly.  Unfortunately, that was not enough to pull these items out of the budget.

 To add insult to injury, in the budget was a change in state law that will mandate automobile insurance coverage beginning on June 1, 2010.  Prior to this mandate, Wisconsin was on average with the rest of the nation in the number of drivers not carrying insurance (15 percent).  With these added insurance costs, many drivers will take their chances and drive without it.  This will put more drivers at risk of a catastrophe in the event of an accident or of being charged a $500 fine if pulled over.

 To remediate the adverse consequences of these insurance changes, Democrats from Milwaukee are throwing around the idea of eliminating the ability of insurance providers to use zip codes as one factor in setting insurance rates.  This is nothing more than a subsidy to high risk drivers that operate in much higher risk environments. 

 If this were to pass, high risk drivers would have their insurance bill paid for by good drivers in lower risk communities.  Why should bad drivers from Milwaukee be subsidized by good drivers from Peshtigo?  That is a good question for the Democrat majority. 

 I have a better idea.  Pass the Republican proposal and reverse these devastating automobile insurance changes made in the budget.  This will help keep families insured, protect them in the event of a catastrophic crash, and keep more money in their wallets.

 Wisconsin Property Taxes Among Highest in the Nation

 Wisconsin’s median average property tax bill is $1,066 above the national median average of $1,897.  Wisconsin’s lower median income made the affordability of property taxes 4^th worst in the nation.  Only Texas, New Jersey, and Nebraska were worse. 

 Property taxes are expected to rise even more.  Under the budget passed this year, the conservative estimate by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau was a $1.5 billion property tax increase.  I have consistently fought to lower property taxes by opposing cuts to local governments and school aids.  Those aids keep property taxes low.  As well, I support property tax controls which limit the ability of government to raise taxes without community support.

 Wisconsin Business Climate Among Worst in the Nation

 Forbes Magazine ranks Wisconsin 3^rd worst in the country for best states to do business.  Wisconsin fell from the 8^th worst on the list last year.  Forbes uses employer costs, labor supply, regulatory environment, economic climate, growth prospects, and quality of life in its ranking.  Only Michigan and Rhode Island were below Wisconsin on the list.

 The Tax Foundation released their annual report on employer friendly states.  Wisconsin was 9^th worst falling from 13^th worst a year ago.  This puts Wisconsin back in the top ten worst states for hostility to employers.  The Tax Foundation formulates their ranking by using corporate, individual, sales, and property taxes.  Unemployment rates are also used.  The most employer friendly state is South Dakota and the worst is New Jersey.

 The Republican’s Wisconsin Jobs NOW Agenda will help improve Wisconsin’s business climate.  You can read about it from a press release I recently sent out here or view an overview of the Agenda here.

Nearly all 50 states experienced increased unemployment in the month of August, up significantly from July. According to data from the Labor Department report, 42 states plus the District of Columbia lost more jobs than they gained last month with Texas, Michigan, Georgia, and Ohio taking the biggest hits.

Recently, some economic indicators have pointed towards the end of the recession, and Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke has been more optimistic, but unemployment levels continue to increase. All the while, the federal government continues to import more than 125,000 foreign workers every month. The unemployment rate for September stands at 9.7 percent, but most experts expect that number to exceed 10 percent before things get better.

Texas was the hardest hit last month, losing 62,200 jobs and seeing its unemployment rate hit 8 percent for the first time in 22 years.

Michigan, who’s auto manufacturing industry has taken a heavy hit during the recession, shed another 42,900 jobs in August. The state’s unemployment rate rose above 15 percent and is the highest in the nation. Georgia and Ohio also suffered high job losses, but their unemployment numbers dropped because many of the states’ unemployed dropped out of the overall work force.

Only eight states saw job increases last month – North Carolina, South Dakota, New Jersey, Montana, and West Virginia – were among the gainers.State Unemployment July-August 2009