Unit 5 Project:  Tea Party Movement

By Sarah Bristow

Kaplan University

The Tea Party Patriot Movement is a reformative social movement determined to reform government spending and taxation.  I chose this organization because I had heard of the group in the news and wondered what all they supported and did for their mission.  Their mission statement is as follows:  “The impetus for the Tea Party movement is excessive government spending and taxation. Our mission is to attract, educate, organize, and mobilize our fellow citizens to secure public policy consistent with our three core values of Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets” (Tea Party Organization, 2010).  The core values of this movement are fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets.  The core principles of the Tea Party movement are to support and defend the U.S. Constitution, keep taxes low, ensure responsible spending at all levels of government, demand transparency and accountability, maintain individual responsibility, and to protect and expand freedom (Tea Party Organization, 2010).  This grassroots organization is mostly made up of local tea party groups that meet up with each other for conventions and to hold the government accountable for spending and other important issues.

In Fort Walton Beach there is a local Tea Party branch.  The Chairman, Chris Saccomanno, is the founder of this branch.  Mr. Saccomanno stated that the goal of the organization is “to empower individuals to have a stronger voice in politics to support the Constitution, prevent irresponsible spending by the government, stop tax hikes, get some transparency and accountability in government, and expand freedom.” Mr. Saccomanno created the group of the organization in Fort Walton Beach in March of 2009.  When questioned how the group began, the chairman said, “I went down to the City and took out a $42 permit for a protest event and bought a $380 single day liability insurance policy.  We hosted a major rally on 4/15/09 with 800 people in attendance and we’ve met twice a month since then.” The Fort Walton Beach Tea Party group has almost 1500 on their mailing lists that are as close to the criteria of membership status that the group has.  Mr. Saccomanno declared that the group is “Highly successful for a young organization.  We have had several people take on various issues, and we are now one of the most important citizens groups in the state of Florida.  Recently, we were in contact with state legislators from across the state and the governor to discuss state legislation.  We have built a voice for people and are now trying to help them learn to use that voice for positive reform.” He believes that “elected leaders are making a much stronger effort to reach out to citizen’s groups now.  We have also allowed people to get involved in the political process more than they ever had before” because of the organizations activities.  The organization has many activities that promote their cause “protests, rallies, extensive contact with the local media (newspaper and radio, in particular).  Online activities, phone calls, petitions, and participate in local governmental meetings, such as County Commissioner meetings, City Council meetings, School Board, etc” The organization meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month where they address and organize current issues for the group. The future of the organization is “building an organization that empowers individuals and continually builds relationships with other concerned citizen groups and influence legislation.  We are also being called to provide information to elected leaders, so we are working on helping to use our community connections to help them make more informed decisions.”

Critics of the Tea Party movement, like Michael Kinsely of the Atlantic Times, feel that the organization “is not the solution to what ails America” (Kinsely, 2010).  They believe that because Tea Party participants use the word Patriot to describe themselves that the call everyone who does not support their cause unpatriotic.  Mr. Kinsley believes that they need to use the term patriot for a group’s position that is more than just demanding tax cuts.  Mr. Kinsley article appeared to be more slanderous than informative.

I learned a lot about the workings of the Tea Party Organization.  When I first started my research I thought the Tea Party Organization was all about tax cuts like Mr. Kinsely but I soon learned that they are involved in many aspects to hold our government accountable.  Mr. Kinsely appears to not have done much research on the organization and does not support his opinion.  I think the Tea Party Organization has been instrumental in the people becoming more involved in the government.  I think that in the future I would like to become active in this organization because of the important cause of holding the government responsible for their actions.  The country would be a greater nation if more people got involved in the government issues like the Patriots of the Tea Party Movement.

I was disappointed to read the editorials in the Daily News uncomplimentary of the Okaloosa Tea Parties – your ‘untangling’ and ‘bagging’ and ‘playing it safe.’  As to your confusion, a visit to www.emeraldcoastpatriots.org will straighten you out.  As to seeming not to boldly go, consider the difficulties of concerned individuals of divergent backgrounds converging to common purpose while the powers that be disparage and savage their gatherings.  Yet gather they do while determining organizational legal requirements, introducing the new candidates to cure the ills of Congressional office and daring to inform of experiences under radical Islam (Saturday, August 21^st at the Emerald Coast Conference Center).  As to your bagging, well, just shame on you, too.

President Obama calls America’s founding documents, our Constitution, “flawed.”  Whether his criticism is due to his own background, from a learned perspective progressively socialistic or because of some understanding of historical atrocities, it is not the outstanding and unique written basis of the United States that is flawed but those men charged with leading toward the Constitution’s purpose who have chosen instead their own selfish interests or agenda.

Accordingly, we of the Tea Party movement protest and seek to educate on the issues as they bear upon the Constitution, defending our freedoms and our liberties by responsible choice.  The task may be daunting but must be undertaken.  A majority of citizens are dissatisfied with the current direction of the country and the behavior and manner of operation of its government – dissembling the sovereign republic toward a world government; affronting allies and pandering to enemies; controlling business, free speech, the Internet, life, health and protection; gaming immigration and playing stimulus; losing jobs; spending into uncontrollable debt and deficit.

The hopes and expectations of all Americans have been upset with the bottle of horse liniment we have been sold.  It is time to stop swallowing it.  I have heard argument that Tea Party people don’t like socialism but hypocritically like Medicare, Social Security, police and fire protection which are socialism.  Don’t be fooled by such distraction.  While Medicare and Social Security are indeed elements of socialism, they should be gradually stopped while returning people to their own capability and responsibility.  As for group police and fire protection, that is not socialism but a proper providing for the general welfare.  Still, while I can’t fight a large fire, I have a fire extinguisher at home.  And as for the misinterpretation of separation of church and state as a need for a wall; well, even walls have windows and doors.

Socialism has been creeping upon us for over a century; now to burst upon us who have been lulled into apathy and acceptance.  Do you still believe you have made the right “choice?”  Do you not see the class warfare being waged?  Do you think about your wages and agree that “at some point you have made enough?”  Do you know when it is your “duty to die?”

If you don’t like what is happening, then join the Tea Party in your area.  Our Niceville-Valparaiso group meets the second and fourth Monday at 6PM in the Niceville City Hall.  We welcome especially those younger and unsure so that we may engage in amicable discourse truly to understand and help improve America for all.  Help us develop educated voters for August and November. Have the courage to stand up, speak out and breathe in the promise of the Declaration of Independence once again.

Submitted as a guest column submission from Joseph P. Phillip, Niceville, FL

Last November, the FWB Tea Party was a few months ahead of time by hosting a rally to protest Cap and Trade. Well it was bad news then, and it’s bad news now.

We will be building on our success in fighting the EPA overreach in our State and fighting this bill.

For instance, the President’s Budget Director, Peter Orszag, when, as director of CBO, stated under “a cap-and-trade program, firms would not ultimately bear most of the costs of the allowances but instead would pass them along to their customers in the form of higher prices. Such price increases would stem from the restriction on emissions and would occur regardless of whether the government sold emission allowances or gave them away.”

While many concerns have been expressed over this proposed redistribution of wealth scheme, I am more concerned about the so called environmental provisions in the bill.

For instance this bill calls for something called “carbon sequestration”. What is that you say?
First, the language from the bill itself says: ‘‘(2) CARBON SEQUESTRATION.—The term
8 ‘carbon sequestration’ means the act of storing carbon
9 dioxide through physical, chemical, or biological
10 processes that can prevent the carbon dioxide from
11 reaching the atmosphere.’’;

18 SEC. 1412. SPECIAL FUNDING PROGRAM FOR DEVELOP
19 MENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF CARBON CAP20
TURE, SEQUESTRATION, AND CONVERSION
21 TECHNOLOGIES.

Note the word “development” in lines 18 and 19. They are trying to create a system which does not exist, when energy sources such as nuclear and natural gas are currently proven and available.

According to Sally Benson, Professor, Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Stanford University.
“The goal of carbon sequestration is to permanently store the carbon dioxide, permanent meaning very, very long-term, geological time periods.”

In short, they propose to capture CO2 emissions and inject them back into geologic formations such as deep saline or depleted oil and gas reservoirs, as these are layers of porous rock underground that are “capped” by a layer or multiple layers of non-porous rock above them.

What remains undetermined is if this by product will leech into water supplies or be re-released into the atmosphere, thereby negating the whole argument behind the program in the first place.
On the Department of Energy website, http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/index.html, you can find more information, but I encourage you to read closely for words like “experimental”. Note the attention paid to reassuring the public that safeguards exist. First, for safeguards I point residents of the Northwest Florida to words like “blowout preventer” a word that hardly anyone was familiar with prior to the blowup of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig.

But don’t take my word for it, let’s see why Greenpeace, yes Greenpeace, is against this program: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/new-greenpeace-report-exposes

We will continue to fight this bill. We are organizing a delegation to speak to Sen. Nelson (D-FL) who has expressed concerns over other provisions within this bill.

Write your editors. Share emails. Tell others of the environmental threat contained within this bill – let’s fight this bill on the science, or lack of it.

The following letter was published in the Daily News by FWB Tea Party Patriot Jean Honeycutt on May 8, 2010.

With the current uproar over the AZ illegal alien law, we should educate ourselves about the substantial human cost to American citizens and legal immigrants. We are all aware of the tremendous economic cost these illegal aliens burden our taxpayers with, but seldom hear of the human costs.

Predators particularly prey on women and children. According to the 2006 House Committee on Homeland Security Border Report, every year an estimated 4,300 American citizens lose their lives by an illegal immigrant. These senseless deaths could have been prevented if our federal, state and local law enforcement would enforce our immigration laws and secure the border.

The Violent Crimes Institute estimated that there are 240,000 illegal immigrant sex offenders in the United States, who have had an average of four victims each. These included serial rapes, sexual homicides and child molestation.

These are victims that our Congress has failed to protect and accepts as collateral damage. The Department of Homeland Security recently revealed the arrest of over 5000 illegal immigrants who had molested thousands of children, the youngest of which was three years old. How many more thousand of children will be victimized until we speak up for them?. How many more citizens will lose their lives to illegal aliens?.

We cannot ignore the human costs to American citizens or accept it as collateral damage. It is time for Congress to listen to their constituents to secure the border and to NOT give anyone that is here illegally ANY TYPE OF AMNESTY.

Sometimes, you just can’t make this stuff up. I genuinely hope the Senate passes the legislation to Audit the Fed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100510/ap_on_bi_ge/us_europe_financial_crisis_fed

By JEANNINE AVERSA, AP Economics Writer Jeannine Aversa, Ap Economics Writer – Sun May 9, 11:35 pm ET

WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve late Sunday opened a program to ship U.S. dollars to Europe in a move to head off a broader financial crisis on the continent.

Other central banks, including the Bank of Canada, the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, the Swiss National Bank and the Bank of Japan also are involved in the dollar swap effort.

The move comes after the European Union and International Monetary Fund pledged a nearly $1 trillion defense package for the embattled euro, hoping to calm jittery markets and halt attacks on the eurozone’s weakest members. The ECB also jumped into the bond market Sunday night, saying it is ready to buy eurozone bonds to shore up liquidity in “dysfunctional” markets.

The Fed’s action reopens a program put in place during the 2008 global financial crisis under which dollars are shipped overseas through the foreign central banks. In turn, these central banks can lend the dollars out to banks in their home countries that are in need of dollar funding to prevent the European crisis from spreading further.

The Fed said action is being taken “in response to the reemergence of strains in U.S. dollar short-term funding markets in Europe,” and to prevent the spread of that strain to other markets and financial centers.

A so-called “swap” line with the Bank of Canada provides up to $30 billion. Figures weren’t provided for the other central banks. The arrangements are authorized through January 2011.

The debt crisis first erupted in Greece. Fears that it could spread to Spain, Portugal and other eurozone countries. The crisis has pushed up demand for the U.S. dollar and has sharply weakened the value of the euro, the currency used by 16 European countries. Eurozone ministers and the IMF this weekend approved a $140 billion rescue package of loans to Greece for the next three years to keep it from imploding.

The Fed had wound down these crisis-era programs with other central banks in February, along with other emergency programs to get lending flowing more freely again and return stability to financial markets. At that time, financial strains in the United States were easing, and the Fed began to take steps to move policy closer to normal.

It also had begun to lay out a plan to reel in the unprecedented stimulus money pumped out during the crisis. The Fed’s balance sheet ballooned to $2.3 trillion, more than double where it stood before the crisis struck. The program reopened on Sunday will expand the Fed’s balance sheet, economists say. However, the program poses little credit risk to the Fed because the arrangements are with other central banks, they added.

I want to clarify the concept of the tiger team brought up in the last meeting prior to our Constitutional Convention.   I stated that I wanted 1400 spokespeople for the Tea Party, and this is my proposal for making that happen.

Rather than have a top driven organization, I want us to have teams with individual leaders who take on key issues – Schools, immigration, taxes, etc. and they are the champion.

It is the function of the leadership to provide the resources to help those individuals succeed.  I believe the org chart that Ruth and Chris have proposed is very good, but I haven’t seen any alternatives as yet.  My interest is then how do we truly get more Patriots engaged in making the change we want to happen, happen.

For instance. Jean has recently taken up the immigration issue, and Carmen has provided a valuable assistance from Navarre, but it is my concept that Jean (if she decides to) is the tiger team leader for Immigration.  She is the go to person for information  and leadership on that topic.  Our role as the FWB Tea Party leadership is to help align that issue to our core principles, and then provide what resources we can to help her achieve her objectives.

This doesn’t mean she is abandoned and has to do all the work, rather she identifies what is needed.  If she needs legislative research beyond what she has the time to do, she asks the legislative team for help.  If she wants to partner with other Tea Parties, we help make introductions.  If she wants to speak to Legislators, we make introductions.  If she wants to write letters and such, well…I hope everyone sees where this goes.

After this week’s newsletter, I was contacted by the Tea Party in Jax, as well as a few friends, expressing interest in our efforts on Illegal Immigration.  I have put them in touch with Jean and will ask that Jean reports out at the Tuesday meeting.  The same thing has occurred where a few people have seen the school tax issue, and want to discuss it briefly on Tuesday as well.

Our founding fathers wrote a Constitution that limited executive power.  What I am proposing is much the same – diversify the roles so we have many people who address many topics, and then we as the leaders work together to help advance the individual tiger team leaders.

What are your thoughts or issues with my concept?  This is the direction I see that will make the Tea Party stronger in the end.

FLORIDA DEEPWATER HORIZON RESPONSE MAY 6, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – The State Emergency Response Team, in support of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as the lead response agency for the state of Florida, is actively monitoring the Deepwater Horizon response.

The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as tips for residents and visitors to take precautions both pre and post-landfall.

Landfall Predictions:

·Deepwater Horizon continues to discharge an estimated 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) per day.

· BP has completed construction of a dome, expected to be in place as early as next weekend, which will be used in an attempt to contain the oil discharge. BP has also begun drilling a relief well to eliminate the discharge.

· Currently, there are no impacts to the state projected in the next 72 hours. The loop current is far south of the oil and there is no imminent threat that the oil will be picked up by the loop current. However, Florida continues to make preparations to safeguard the state’s shoreline.

· The state of Florida reminds its residents and visitors that the state’s coastline has not been impacted at this time and remains open for public enjoyment.

State Actions:

· On May 5, 2010, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Sector St. Petersburg, DEP, and BP set up an Incident Command (in support of the Area Command) at the USCG Sector St. Petersburg offices in St. Petersburg today. The Incident Command will be largely geared toward planning and will grow if it becomes necessary. Sector Key West has set up a virtual Incident Command and is looking to establish a physical Incident Command in the next few days which will focus on planning.

· Governor Charlie Crist confirmed on Wednesday that Florida will receive a $25-million block grant from BP for initial state and local preparation and response costs.

· The State Emergency Response Team has dozens of team members deployed throughout the anticipated impact region to assist with Deepwater Horizon preparation and response.

· The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated at a Level 2 or Partial activation.

· On April 30, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency (Emergency Order 10-99) for Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay and Gulf Counties.

· On May 3, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist extended a state of emergency declaration (Emergency Order 10-100) for the coastal counties of Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota.

· DEP conducted water and sediment sampling to use as a baseline for ongoing monitoring.

· DEP is continuously monitoring air quality data. The public can view this data at http://www.airnow.gov/ or http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/.

· DEP, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), county governments, water management districts and several federal agencies continue to conduct pre-impact assessments, including sampling of water, fish, shellfish and habitats along the Florida coastline and into the Gulf of Mexico.

· Statewide monitoring is ongoing in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

· Emergency Support Function 15, Volunteers and Donations, successfully spearheaded pre-impact beach cleanups over the weekend of May 1-2. More than 1,200 volunteers participated in cleanups in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Wakulla counties to minimize the effect of the Deepwater Horizon incident. Volunteer Florida offers guidance for conducting safe pre-impact beach cleanups at www.volunteerflorida.org.

· Florida residents are discouraged from signing any documents provided to them in return for money from BP or anyone else until they know the extent of their loss, which may be significantly higher than the money being paid. These may be fraudulent or premature.

· The Attorney General’s fraud hotline is open to receive any reports of fraud or price gouging. The hotline is 1-866-966-7226.

· The Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner gas price-gouging hotline is also operational. The toll-free hotline number is 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352).

Boom Placement:

· There is approximately 144,700 feet of boom placed along Florida’s Panhandle in the Pensacola region.

· An additional 14,700 feet is expected to be placed today.

· Currently 20,000 feet of boom is staged in Pensacola with an additional 60,000 booms on order. In Panama City, there is 45,000 feet staged and an additional 53,000 feet of boom on order.

· Placement of boom is based on tides and where the oil is threatening, as well as direction given in each region’s area contingency plan.

o To view the Coast Guard Mobile Area Contingency Plan visit: http://ocean.floridamarine.org/ACP/MOBACP/StartHere.html.

o To view the Coast Guard St. Petersburg Area Contingency Plan visit:

http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=3482

· The booming strategy focuses on identified environmentally sensitive areas.

o Estuaries and inlets are at the top of the list, not the beach areas.

o This is to protect sensitive habitat that support wildlife and fish.

o If the oil washes on the beach, the sand can be cleaned.

o Note that booms are not a failsafe solution.

o They can become ineffective in high seas, strong winds, or currents over one knot.

· Florida’s counties are working through the State Emergency Operations Center. Each county provides input, but the operational decisions are made through the Unified Command. The State Emergency Response Team is working with the counties, BP as well as the federal agencies to maximize protection and minimize impacts.

Health Effects:

· At this time, there are no indications of any health risks to Floridians due to the Deepwater Horizon incident. The Department of Health (DOH) and DEP are closely monitoring health and environmental impacts to Florida’s beaches and will notice an advisory if conditions become unsafe.

· Consider the following tips for avoiding negative health impacts from an oiled shoreline:

o Avoid entering areas where oil can be seen or smelled.

o Avoid direct skin contact with oil, oil-contaminated water and sediments.

o Do not swim or ski in areas affected by the oil spill, and if traveling through the area by boat, take precautions when hoisting the boat anchor. If oil makes contact with skin, wash it off with soap and water.

o Do not fish in oil spill-affected waters.

o Do not harvest or eat dead fish, fish with oily residue or fish that have a petroleum odor.

o Avoid boating through oil slicks or sheens.

o Young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions should avoid the area.

o Prevent pets from entering oil-contaminated areas.

· Impacts to Florida’s coastline could include tarballs – fragments or lumps of oil weathered to a semi-solid or solid consistency. Tarballs feel sticky, and are difficult to remove from contaminated surfaces. Impacts could also come in the form of an oil sheen or tar mat – a sheet of oil that is thicker than a sheen. Should individuals observe tarballs or other evidence of oil on Florida’s coastline, they should leave the area and report the incident to (866) 448-5816.

· Those near Florida’s Gulf Coast may detect an odor because of the oil spill. Some people are more sensitive to these odors and may experience nasal irritation and feelings of nausea. In combination with seasonal allergies, such as sensitivity to pollen or pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, some people may experience more severe symptoms.

· Individuals experiencing symptoms that are aggravated by the odors from the oil spill should consider:

o Staying indoors, in air conditioning, and avoiding strenuous outdoor activity.

o If symptoms do not improve, contact a primary care physician or other health care provider for medical advice.

o Individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma or other respiratory illness should contact their health care provider if feeling symptomatic.

Fisheries & Seafood:

· The fisheries, wildlife and seafood off of Florida’s coast in state waters are safe and there are no alerts at this time.

· On May 3, 2010 NOAA restricted fishing for a minimum of ten days in federal waters most affected by the BP oil spill, largely between Louisiana state waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River to waters off Florida’s Pensacola Bay. Details can be found here: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.

· Fishermen who wish to contact BP about a claim should call 1-800-440-0858.

· FWC is working with DEP, county governments, water management districts and several federal agencies including NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct pre-impact wildlife assessments.

· These assessments include samples of water, sediments, fish, shellfish and habitats along the Florida coastline and into the Gulf of Mexico. Assessments are needed to provide baseline information prior to the anticipated impact.

· Examples of the assessments include the following:

o FWC and the University of South Florida College of Marine Science are designing a multi-day scientific research study to obtain information on fisheries resources and plankton in the Gulf of Mexico near the Florida Panhandle.

o Aerial surveys also are planned to identify locations of marine mammals.

o Groups are marking the location of bird and sea turtle nesting sites along the beach. Nests are marked to help prioritize response with real-time information.

o FWC urges citizens to report oiled wildlife to the Joint Information Center by calling 1-866-557-1401.

· For the safety of the public as well as the safety of animals, rescues should be conducted by trained responders. Untrained rescuers may cause more harm than good.

· Anyone involved in volunteer efforts to clear trash from the beaches should be careful of shorebird nesting areas. If birds in the area are acting agitated, calling or swooping at people, there is a good possibility it is a nesting area. The FWC asks the public and oil spill responders to retreat the way they approached and leave the nesting area. Anyone involved in volunteer efforts to clear trash from the beaches should be particularly careful.

o Avoid working in areas where shorebirds are nesting; never enter or approach a posted shorebird area.

o When near nesting areas, stay below the high tide (wrack) line. Shorebirds nest on the open beach above this line. Nests are scrapes in the sand and the eggs are small and camouflaged. They easily can be crushed by pedestrians and vehicles.

o Remove only manmade trash. Seaweed and other natural debris are critical to shorebirds.

o Even though the wrack line is important to wildlife, if it becomes oiled it then becomes a death trap for birds and other wildlife and makes removal of oil from the beach more difficult. Timing for removal of beach wrack in oil spill response is critical. It should be left on the beach in areas of active nesting as long as possible but removed immediately prior to beaches becoming oiled. In areas distant from active nesting, cleanup of wrack and other natural debris can be performed to better facilitate future oil removal.

o On some Panhandle beaches, the FWC has installed short, white, PVC tubes in the dunes to track endangered beach mice, and on Perdido Key, small aluminum boxes also are being used. This important equipment should not be removed from the beach.

o Also, sea turtle nests are marked with stakes and orange tape – do not remove these items because they help protect the nests from disturbances.

o Do not place litter above the tide line; this can also interfere or cause harm to nesting birds.

o Do not use equipment such as rakes, shovels or tractors.

o Do not bring dogs onto the beach. Dogs, even when leashed, are very threatening to birds and cause them to panic.

o Seabirds and shorebirds are protected by law. Report anyone harming or harassing these birds or nest disturbances to 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).

Closures:

· Currently there are no Florida State Park or beach closures. For more information about Florida State Parks, visit: www.floridastateparks.org.

Tourism:

· Florida’s pristine beaches and famed fishing grounds remain open to residents and visitors. Currently, there are no impacts to Florida’s 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline and 663 miles of beaches. Florida’s shores are clear and open for business.

· If you are planning a trip to the Sunshine State and are concerned about any potential impact from the Deepwater Horizon Oil incident, VISIT FLORIDA encourages you to check with local destinations in order to get the most up-to-date information.

· The following webpage provides helpful local links to check on the status of your Florida destination: http://www.visitflorida.com/florida_travel_advisory/ .

·

Business Information:

· Florida’s coastal businesses should be prepared to make loss of earnings claims for damages incurred as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Florida Department of Financial Services provides the following suggestions:

o Take detailed records of cancelled reservations. It is important that when these cancellations occur, the cancelling party is questioned whether the cause is because of the oil spill. If the answer is yes, keep a record of the person’s name and contact information, and also the revenues lost as a result of the cancellation.

o Calculate estimated losses for a six-week period and be able to provide records, sales receipts and documentation to support such a claim. A good idea would be to compare business now to a five-year average of revenues between May and June, which can offer insight as to the damages incurred.

o Make a detailed list of assets – including non-structural — and include appropriate records to support the list. For example: if your hotel or restaurant is within walking distance to the beach and that beach has oil reach its shores, the business’ assets are damaged even though there is no physical damage to the structure, and it is important to record this depreciation.

o Be wary of insurance settlement scams. — For businesses who may have already begun the claims filing process with BP, first, make sure you are dealing with authorized representatives from BP and not scam artists; and be careful not to sign waivers of liability too quickly without getting adequate legal and financial counsel.

o In all circumstances, affected businesses should file a claim with BP via the hotline number – 1-800-440-0858. Additional guidance to help small businesses survive a disaster can be found at www.MyFloridaCFO.com or by calling 1-850-413-3089 or toll-free at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).

Volunteer Opportunities:

· The Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service is encouraging Floridians and visitors to watch for oiled wildlife, vegetation, and beaches by becoming a Coast Watch volunteer.

· The “Coast Watchers” will assist BP, the state of Florida and partnering organizations in identifying beaches that need attention.

· Coast Watchers will work within the coastal communities where they live or visit and commit to do the following:

· Report injured or oiled animals to the Wildlife Distress Hotline: 1-866-557-1401.

· Report oiled shoreline to: 1-866-448-5816.

· Report a change in Air Quality to: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/.

· For information on scheduled beach cleanups and other volunteer opportunities, visit www.VolunteerFlorida.org.

· BP has established a volunteer program and set up a toll-free number for those interested in volunteering. When calling, interested parties should communicate what activities they are volunteering and locations in which they are available to work. In addition, potential volunteers may call this line to learn about the training that is required to work in oil spill clean-up operations. For information on assisting with the response efforts, please contact BP’s community information line at 1-866-448-5816.

Learn More:

· DEP launched a Twitter account, @FLDEPalert, dedicated to providing updates on Florida’s response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Visit www.Twitter.com/FLDEPalert.

· On May 3, the Florida Emergency Information Line was activated in response to deepwater horizon incident. The hotline, which provides Floridians information regarding the Deepwater Horizon Response, will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. until further notice. The number for residents to call is: 1-800-342-3557.

· For more information DEP established an email sign-up for information alerts on its website as well as a resources page containing fact sheets and tips pertaining to health, safety, wildlife, and pre and post-landfall preparations. To view tips and sign up for email updates, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon.

· The following is a link to the State Emergency Response Team Situation Report for Wednesday, May 5, 2010: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/files/situation_report7_050510.pdf.

Joint Information Center Public Information Resources and Hotlines:

· Environment/community hotline: to report oil on the beach or shoreline or other environment or community impacts and access the Rapid Response Team – 1-866-448-5816.

· Wildlife: to report and access care for impacted wildlife 1-866-557-1401.

· Volunteers: to request volunteer information 1-866-448-5816.

· Services – to register as a consultant, contractor, vendor, or submit information on alternative response technology, services, products or suggestions 1-281-366-5511.

· Vessels of Opportunity – to report and register boats available to assist with response 1-281-366-5511.

· Claims – All claims regardless of amount should be routed through the Claims line for assignment of Claim Number. Claims will be tracked so status can be provided. 1-800-440-0858.

· Twitter: http://twitter.com/RobertLAJIC.

· Facebook: Deepwater Horizon Response.

· Joint Information Center website: www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.

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Sanders: White House Lobbies Against Amendment to Audit Fed with “Bogus” Arguments

May 06, 2010 1:07 PM
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White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel called Sen. Bernie Sanders, Independent of Vermont, to explain to him that the White House officials oppose Sanders’ amendment to allow an audit of the Federal Reserve because their economic advisers believe it “would get Congress involved in the day-to-day affairs of Fed in monetary policy,” Sanders told ABC News.

“That’s just not true,” Sanders said. “It’s not accurate. I know that’s what the Fed is saying. I know that’s what Treasury is saying. But it’s bogus.”

The amendment would allow the Government Accountability Office to conduct an audit of the $2 trillion in taxpayer dollars that went to financial institutions. It states: “Nothing in this [amendment] shall be construed as interference in or dictation of monetary policy to the Federal Reserve System by the Congress or the Government Accountability Office.”

“What people are saying is the Fed has enormous power and while Congress absolutely should not be doing monetary policy – raising interest rates, lowering interest rates — it is unacceptable to give trillions of dollars in zero or near-zero interest loans to large financial organizations, with the American people having no idea which organizations,” Sanders said.

Sanders’ amendment, http://www.sanders.senate.gov/graphics/SingleAmendment.pdf a version of which received 59 votes last year in a procedural vote – though not the magic number 60 which would have allowed the amendment to proceed to a majority vote – may be brought up on the floor of the Senate today.

One senator told Sanders recently that he’d just talked to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner “on the phone arguing against” the amendment.

“I am a supporter of the president’s,” Sanders told ABC News. “In many respects he’s done a good job in office. But I’m disappointed in his general overall attitude towards Wall Street. And obviously I’m disappointed in his opposition to my amendment.”

Sanders described support for his amendment as “most unusual” politically since it’s not only him – a socialist – and some of the most liberal and progressive members of the Senate working with some of the most conservative members to pass the bill, such as Sen. Jim DeMint, R-SC, but both grass roots conservative organizations such as the National Taxpayers Union, Americans for Tax Reform, Campaign for Liberty and the Rutherford Institute are working with MoveOn.org, the SEIU, AFL-CIO and Public Citizen to support the bill.

“That is a very strange coalition of people,” Sanders said.

Sanders said he told Emanuel that the White House economic aides arguing that the bill would involved Congress is the Fed’s involvement in monetary policy are simply incorrect.

“What are the real reasons” they oppose the bill? Sanders asks. “I don’t know. The bottom line is: it’s fun to do things in secret.”

Click on this link to read the School Board Sales Tax Referendum and Budget Items

This proposal will be discussed at our semi-monthly meetings so that the FWB Tea Party can come to a position statement regarding the proposal for a 1/2 cent sales tax increase.

As I have read through the school board’s budget, which can be located here http://www.okaloosa.k12.fl.us/finance/District%20Summary%20Budget%202010.html I would like to point out that that the school board has an operating surplus of nearly $37 million this year alone while they are asking for a ten year sales tax increase.

Their tax increase budget shows an increase in revenues of $131,000,000 targeted at specific programs over a ten year horizon. However, it appears that the school board could substantially tighten it’s belt and not increase our sales tax.

To me personally, I firmly believe in the concept of “taxed enough already”. It is clear from this oil spill that our tourism will be affected and we may not generate the anticipated revenues from visitors that we expect. If that is the case, the burden will fall on the residents of Okaloosa County to make up any shortfalls.

The line items in the proposed tax are already bidded and quoted, and the Deputy Superintendent intends through public comments to start work immediately if this referendum is approved. Therefore, if tax revenues fall short of projections due to a downturn in tourism, the residents of the county will have to pay to cover the budget shortfalls.

I have heard many people express concern over a national VAT. I do not believe we can take the position of opposing a tax increase while at the same time turning a blind eye towards tax increases in our backyard.

We are facing increased taxes because of the judicial center, an increase in FWB of our water rates, fishing permits, increased county gas taxes, a tax for healthcare, new taxes at the state level because our Legislators raised the spending this year by nearly 6%, and a countless myriad of increased fees and taxes such as our driver’s licenses.

I encourage all to come to our meetings and learn about the details in the budget. I will certainly be opposing this proposal, but I welcome all points of view to the discussion.

On May 3^rd, the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners held a public meeting to vote on declaring a state of emergency over the Deep Horizon oil well disaster.

By the time the meeting was over certain things were clear.   We have an environmental disaster of epic proportions.  The BP representative had questions shielded from him by our Commissioners.  There was no commitment of resources to Okaloosa by BP, but we were told we should trust them.  There was no estimated cost to the County.  There was no public discussion of the effects or duration of the state of emergency.

They might as well have had the meeting in private.  It quickly became apparent the idea was to get in step with the Governor’s executive order 1099 (declaration of emergency) and not worry about details.  No public participation was asked for before the vote, even though it was held before a crowd.  It passed quickly and unanimously.

The representative for British Petroleum Corporation was a Mr. Clayton Cochran.  He spoke just long enough to say he was given authority to allocate resources to Okaloosa County and would work with the Okaloosa Emergency Operation Center on the next steps.    When I asked Mr. Cochran, in the open meeting but after the Board approved the Declaration, exactly what those resources were, our County Commission, curiously, did all the talking for him.  Their answer was they didn’t know, but they did know BP already gave $25 million to the State of Florida.

I’d have preferred if Mr. Cochran answered that question.  If there is one thing I know about a situation like this, the BP representative was not there to protect the interests of Okaloosa.  He was there to mitigate damage for those who employ him.

It is not the role of government to shield a corporation.  It is governments role to hold liable those who damage others property and bring them to account.

The County Board’s actions will have other consequences, to be sure.   A quick glance at executive order 1099 shows one immediate effect to be anti-gouging price controls.   Who decides what is a fair price or gouging will, of course, be the government.

Price controls do not work, and only lead to criminalizing the free market, rationing (think gas lines and per car gallon limits), smuggling and shortages.

I asked the Board if there were going to be restrictions on individuals protecting their property from the oil in the water, and Commissioner Harris said no.  But if push came to shove and the County needed, for example, oil containment booms, he said the Counties need would take priority over individuals.

I wonder how Commissioner Harris plans to make that happen.  I wonder if he believes he can break a contract between two parties and if that is lawful or constitutional.

Another thing not discussed before the state of emergency was passed was the cost.  The County was planning to foot the bill for a lot of emergency equipment, possibly for a very long time.  When I asked about this, the answer was they didn’t know, but they did know BP was going to pay for it all.  Call me skeptical, but I would be wary of the Counties plan to pay first and then trust a promise from BP.

Government has always acted in a cavalier manner when it comes to spending other people’s money.  An emergency is no exception, but it is you and me that have to pay.  And this emergency could cost us a lot.

Finally, I asked when the state of emergency would be over.  Again, the answer was they didn’t know.

I suppose it’s over when the government says it is over.

Our County Commissioners didn’t do the people of Okaloosa any favors this day.

To add insult to injury, those assembled listened to a phone conference with Secretary Michael Sole of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection who assured us that the duration of this disaster would be short and that there was no serious health risk from the oil in the water.

Yeah, and I have an oil well platform I’d like to sell you.

Pete Blome is a retired military officer and Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Okaloosa County.  Their website is Libertarianpoc.org

Peter J. Blome

204 Parkwood Circle

Niceville, Fl 32578

850-217-6590