City council hears budget complaints

Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 12:00 pm

City council hears budget complaints MARK HIBBS Carolina Coast Online | 0 comments

MOREHEAD CITY – The 4-cent tax increase included in the proposed 2013-14 budget had city officials seeing red Tuesday.

A red-shirted Crystal Coast Tea Party spokesman and his similarly attired cadre blasted the proposed spending plan during a public hearing at the Municipal Building at 202 S. Eighth St. and demanded a line-by-line review of expenses in the city manager’s recommendation.

That proposal increases property taxes from 28.5 cents per $100 of assessed value to 32.5 cents if approved by the council. The new budget year starts July 1.

It is time for the city council to go back to the budget drawing board and bring forth a realistic budget that does not increase taxes, said Eric Broyles of Morehead City, who spoke on behalf of the tea party group and read aloud his letter to the editor published in the News-Times on Sunday. (continue reading…)

Letter to the Editor by Eric Broyles

Morehead City Taxpayer Alert

I do not know how many of our Morehead City residents required EMS services after reading about Morehead City Manager’s proposed 14 percent increase in property taxes reported in the Times-News on May 31, 2013.  After the initial shock and awe wore off, I decided to investigate into the truth of the matter.  I immediately talked with two of our “fiscally conservative” City Council Members and they confirmed to me this was the case. (continue reading…)

The tag line following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States by Islamic terrorist was “we need to do a better job of connecting the dots.” Well, it seems that 12 years later no one has gotten any better at connecting the dots; not the news media, not Congress, and not the President. Now we’re under attack again. However, this time it’s not Islamic terrorist attacking us. The attack is against the citizens of the United States from within by our own government. Scandal after scandal has erupted not just in the last few weeks, but over the last few years. Ignoring the Rule of Law has become the mantra of United States Big Government. There is no bigger threat to our Republic than unchecked lawlessness. There are almost too many scandals to list. Start with the firing of Inspector General Gerald Walpin for investigating a donor to the Obama campaign, http://hotair.com/archives/2009/06/15/the-curious-firing-of-gerald-walpin-gets-curiouser/ , the New Black Panther scandal, the Fast and Furious gun running scandal, the IRS scandal, the Benghazi, the Associated Press, Fox News reporter David Rosen scandals, the alias email accounts by senior government officials, the illegal solicitation of money by the DHHS Secretary, the collection of phone records by the National Security Agency, the collection of internet and email data by the National Security Agency and the FBI, and who knows what the next scandal will be? Many of these “scandals” have a common thread that may not be apparent on the surface. That thread is the collection of data from private citizens. NSA is building a huge computer facility in Utah to process all of this metadata (since their already massive computer systems in MD aren’t big enough), http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/56428311-79/data-nsa-government-phone.html.csp.

Before you dismiss the foregoing supposition as partisan politics, note that the erosion of privacy and freedom did not start with the Obama Administration. Nor did it start with the Bush Administration http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act in 2001, although President Bush and Congress moved the ball way down the field after 9/11 with the passage of the Patriot Act, , and then with the Patriot Act’s reauthorization in 2006, 2010, and 2011. The fact is that politicians from both parties have, and still, try to use information collected through the government bureaucracies to gain political advantage. But with these recent scandals, our government has taken great steps towards George Orwell’s 1984’s Big Brother. President Obama and Congress joined President Bush and Congress in eroding our freedoms.

When the Patriot Act was passed following the 9/11 Islamic terrorist attacks, many from both political parties embraced the promised “safety” of giving up a “little” freedom as an acceptable trade off to safety. One Senator, a Democrat, voted against the Patriot Act in 2001, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/07/the-only-senator-who-voted-against-the-patriot-act-seemingly-predicted-this-day-would-come/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=story&utm_campaign=Share+Buttons. Former Senator Russ Feingold (D, WI) did not vote for the Patriot Act because the Act did not provide enough judicial oversight. Hindsight is 20:20, and now there is little doubt that Senator Feingold was the only one who was right. Even with the knowledge we have now about how a willing administration will “judge-shop” to find an appointed judge that will exceed their Constitutional authority. But even now, some like Senator’s Lindsey Graham (R, SC) (http://hotair.com/archives/2013/06/06/lindsey-graham-hey-im-glad-the-nsa-is-collecting-americans-phone-records/), Dianne Feinstein (D, CA) (http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-nsa-telephone-surveillance-revelation-20130606,0,2415540.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fpolitics+%28L.A.+Times+-+Politics%29), and Representative Mike Rogers (R, MI) ( http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/06/09/Congressional-intelligence-chairs-defend-NSA-monitoring-program/UPI-97731370802221/) see nothing wrong with collecting phone records, emails, and internet usage from millions of Americans.

Let’s connect a few of the dots (those in power will call this conspiracy theory to discredit the supposition) of some of the data collection efforts by the U. S. government, and extend that understanding to what a tyrannical government (not necessarily the current one) could do with this information. Note, it is not debatable that this data is being collected, but what is, or could be done with the metadata should be of concern. Watch on You Tube (transcript below) what U. S. Representative Maxine Waters said about data mining by the current administration, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIA1lQBqH1s

“The President has put in place an organization with the kind of database that no one has ever seen before in life,” Representative Maxine Waters told Roland Martin on Monday. “That’s going to be very, very powerful,” Waters said. “That database will have information about everything on every individual on ways that it’s never been done before and whoever runs for President on the Democratic ticket has to deal with that. They’re going to go down with that database and the concerns of those people because they can’t get around it. And he’s [President Obama] been very  smart. It’s very powerful what he’s leaving in place.” – Maxine Waters

Just think about what you have already disclosed about yourself to the government, and the FACT that we now know that the National Security Agency is collecting a small part of that information, but we don’t know what we don’t know. That is, what else might they be collecting, and what could they do with that information? If you’re a Star Trek fan you know about the Vulcan mind-meld. What about the NSA data-meld? If the NSA can so easily collect the phone records of who you are calling, who calls you, and when and from where the calls are made, then put that into a database what else could they compile in that mega-database? Well we know they and the FBI have collected your emails, your internet shopping habits, the sites you visit, your Facebook and Twitter. Might they then put that into their mega-database? It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that they could merge that mega-database with say your IRS tax records (and soon your IRS health care records), plus criminal and civil court records, gun background check, sale, and Conceal Carry permit records, plus maybe Voter registration data, data from Unemployment applications, Motor Vehicle records, employee union records, college applications, student loan applications, bank records, records for donations made to political and non-political organizations and charities, and even information on you and your children from school records like Common Core data mining questionnaires. From what was a mega-database, a meta database is born, and they compile a dossier on you, your children, your family, your friends, your neighbors, and even the people you don‘t like. You say this is not possible. You say that no government would ever do that. But yet we are seeing what we never imagined our government would do even six months ago. Put aside your partisan politics, use some common sense, and ask what the other party might do to you if they were in power and had your dossier.

A big question is, what will Congress do to stop all this data collection, and invasion of privacy if anything? Some are suggesting a formation of a new Church Committee (1975), http://pjmedia.com/blog/nsa-electronic-frontier-foundation-wants-new-church-committee/?utm_medium=twitter. The Church Committee was headed by Senator Frank Church (D, ID). Senator Church said over 35 years ago . . .

[The National Security Agency's] capability at any time could be turned around on the American people, and no American would have any privacy left, such is the capability to monitor everything: telephone conversations, telegrams, it doesn’t matter. There would be no place to hide.

Some lawmakers are expressing concern with the NSA surveillance. Senator Rand Paul (R, KY) says he will challenge in the Supreme Court the NSA surveillance activities, http://12160.info/page/rand-paul-on-nsa-spying-i-m-going-to-challenge-this-at-the-suprem. The question is, where are the Democrats like former Senator Feingold who prophetically warned against what we are seeing happen today? And why are so many Republicans not speaking out? Is it because they all want to have this power to hold over our head? The jackboot of tyranny is on our necks.

by Ken Lang

Given the many scandals of this Administration like the IRS and recent National Security Agency and FBI data mining of Verizon and other carriers, and the internet spying, this should give anyone of any political persuasion pause.

Hello Ms. Lisella,

My name is Diane Rufino and I wanted to comment on the email response that you sent Mr. Rick Hopkins, the leader of the Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association (CCTA, New Bern), which, by the way, is a very large, energetic group of activists who do their homework, understand the issues, and educate their community. That explains why the people of Coastal Carolina are blessed with such a principled conservative as Michael Speciale. It’s no surprise that such a great man would rise to the occasion when they’ve created such an environment in that part of the state.

I would like to think that my organizations – the Eastern NC Tea Party, the Pitt County GOP, and the Republican Women of Pitt County – have the same effect in our county, in our district, and in our communities. And one of the issues we take very seriously is the further entrenchment of the federal government in the local education of our children. We are distrustful of Common Core and because we’ve done extensive research, we have every right to be suspicious and cautious. I was very troubled at the response you sent from House Speaker Tillis’ office and I wanted to let you know.

To refresh your memory, Mr. Hopkins sent you this message:

To All NC Legislators,

I strongly urge you to learn as much about Common Core as you can and then STAND OPPOSED to it! Please make it one of your top priorities. It is a carefully crafted agenda that goes against our most basic freedoms and must be stopped. Please don’t pass it to find out what’s in it, do your homework and lead the fight against it in North Carolina. Below is an introduction. If you find it to be untrue, then I ask that you present the facts as you know them with supporting source documents.

Thanks for your time and prompt attention to this issue,

Rick Hopkins

CCTA

And you sent him the following response from the House Speaker’s Office:

Speaker Tillis and the House Caucus has serious concerns regarding Common Core. We’ve filed a study bill that will take an in-depth look at Common Core and its impact on North Carolina. One of the complicating factors is that it is tied to nearly $400m in grants and programs awarded to the state in 2010 through the Race to the Top Program. The interim study will work with educators, administrators, and other stakeholders to determine the future of NC’s participation in the program.

Julie Garrison Lisella

Director of Boards & Commissions

Office of the House Speaker

So it seems like it’s all about the money.

With all due respect, I find the response very discouraging. I don’t mean to downplay the financial concerns at stake, which I imagine are great. After all, the Republicans are very concerned with a budget that takes care of the state and doesn’t raise taxes, while at the same time puts a little away for an emergency. I get that. We all get that.

But education is a state’s number #1 responsibility, or very close to #1.  The leaders of the next generation come from the education system of this generation, and right now, that’s a terribly scary thing.

Again, with all due respect, the email you sent to Mr. Hopkins wasn’t a response. It was more of a lame excuse.

A state that is committed to doing something about its education system will find answers and solutions. That’s the power of 50 independent states… they use their ingenuity to solve problems and not wait for the government to do it.  Rep. Stam and Brian Brown and others just passed a bill (H.B. 944) to use public funds to give to low-income families as vouchers to send their children to private school.  EXCUSE ME ???  The middle class and other taxpayers are continually soaked for funds in order to provide benefits to the lower class… so much so that they themselves CANNOT send their children to private school.  H.B. 944 reads: “The State has a constitutional obligation to fund the delivery of a sound basic education to children.”  It’s there in black and white – The STATE, by its very constitution, has an OBLIGATION to FUND a good education (by application of Equal Protection) to ALL CHILDREN on an EQUAL BASIS.

Speaker Tillis talks about getting together with educators, administrators, and “other stakeholders” to assess Common Core.  The greatest “stakeholders” in education are the children and parents. And nowhere does he mention them. The problem for too long has been allowing government to task itself and trust itself to come up with answers. We saw just how they do things at the state level.  On June 2, 2010, Common Core standards were released (written by ultra-libertal David Coleman and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Fund, huge supporters of Obama’s education scheme to make education the new “civil rights’ initiative). Just 2 days later, state “educators” – without doing any research or analysis, and without any heads up to NC parents – adopted them.

Enough of the “feel-good” spending programs, enough of the constant re-paving of already good roads in the states, enough of the parasitic relationship that NC has with the federal government, and let’s start FIXING EDUCATION by returning federal education funds. And start LISTENING to the concerns of citizens who want to stop government control, indoctrination, re-programming, and immoralization of their children under the guise of “education.”  Parents just want their children to get a good education that presupposes that they have a decent brain and not that assumes that they can’t push themselves. They want an education system that challenges their children, not sets limits because of any lower common denominator, and they want one that opens endless possibilities of career choices (not one that pidgeon-holes children to the demands of the workforce, overly tests them to make sure they are ALL “all on the same page,” and collects non-value-added data for the government to put on file).

I respectfully request that the General Assembly re-focus their priorities, get creative, use the enormous intellectual potential we have in the state to come up with solutions, stop the exclusive audiences with interested parties and the establishment, and start listening to the concerned folks of North Carolina who are doing their homework and demanding accountability by their government.

Thank you so much for your time and attention to this email.

Diane Rufino

Leader, Eastern NC Tea Party

Secretary, Pitt County GOP

Legislative Chair, Republican Women of Pitt County

Deputy Director, NC Tenth Amendment Center

State Director and National Political Director, Wake Up America

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