Ballot question lacks transparency

New Jersey state ballot question #1 asking if we want to bond (borrow) another $400 million for Green Acres, Blue Acres, and Farmland and Historic Preservation does not provide us with enough to cast an educated vote on November 3rd.

This insanity of borrowing must stop.  The supporters of the bond have had both feet in the ‘open space’ bonded money for decades and should have been monitoring the expensing of prior money better.  Now they want more.

Americans for Prosperity’s Steve Lonegan has a radio ad that opens a door for further insight, you can listen here.

Assemblyman Rick Merkt wrote a good letter to the editor in the Observer Tribune.  Here is what he has to say about what the $400 million is anticipated to cost when the interest is added in.

“By the way, the same is true for the proposed bond issue: It may approve $400 million in new debt, but the payback will be around $700 million.  Funny, how the sponsors choose not to share this important information with voters in the “explanation” on the ballot.”

That’s a lot of money, to go where?  Other than the Blue Acres for floodplain protection and purchases, it is time these ‘open space’ bonding issues be placed solely in the hands of local voting in counties and municipalities.

Below are three editorials from major NJ newspapers that are also against more borrowing.

Bergen Record

Star-Ledger

Press of Atlantic City

FOX News poll

The National Public Radio (NPR) has a poll underway as to whether the Obama administration’s statements that FOX News is not a legitimate source of news.  The administration has tried to block Fox reporters from news conferences, and consider their reporting bias.

Here is the link to voice your opinion and cast your vote.

Highlands owners not compensated-voting “no”

Part 2 of email received from a Highlands landowner-author unknown.   More information on the NJ Highlands is under “Highlands Water” on my menu.

Question #1 on the ballot next Tuesday asks voters to approve a $400 million bond [more borrowing] issue for open space acquisition, farmland preservation, and flood plain purchases.  But not one red cent of this $400 million will be spent in the Highlands to compensate the landowners whose property values were decimated by the Highlands Act.

The “dual appraisal” provision in the Highlands Act expired June 30, 2009.  Legislation to extend the sundown date was shelved by the Democrats instead of being brought to the floor for a vote last summer.  They lied to us about compensation.  They lied to us about TDRs.  And they are now lying to us again about any intent to extend the dual appraisal sundown date.

The dual appraisal provision allowed property to be valued given full consideration to all build rights on all Highlands property as of January 2004, before the Highlands Act vaporized all development value.  All appraisals in connection with the proposed $400 million bond issue in Question #1 would be required to recognize that there is no longer any development potential and that the value of a development easement in the Highlands is zero.  Obviously, no one will preserve farmland for zero value.  Some enviros chortle about how dirt cheap Highlands open space will be when put on the market by those in desperate need of cash.

The proceeds from the $400 million bond issue will be used everywhere in the State of New Jersey, except the Highlands.  Why pay for something that has already been successfully stolen?

Could be a good reason to vote “no” on Question #1.

Where are the three gubernatorial candidates on the Highlands Act?

I received the below email from a Highlands landowner-author unknown.

Corzine:  The current governor supports the Highlands Act and approved a Highlands Regional Master Plan that overreaches the Act additionally harming Highlands property owners.  Corzine has refused to meet with harmed Highlands landowners.  He has failed to fund any just compensation for Highlands losses.  He has proposed no legislation to rectify the Act’s problems.  Corzine has appointed extreme greens to the Highlands Council without a single landowner representative and insured that even more extreme greens staff the Highlands Council.  He has promoted a strict and inflexible DEP allowing strangling regulation that has stifled the NJ economy, more so in the Highlands, and caused much harm.

Corzine has ignored the Highlands Act, pretending that the bill’s problems do not exist, while occasionally spouting some nicety about clean water.

Daggett:  The Independent candidate Chris Daggett is a former commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection under Gov. Kean and is also a former regional administrator of the federal Environmental Protection Agency.  Daggett has been endorsed by Jeff Tittle and the Sierra Club, the environmental lobby which has doggedly promoted the crushing of harmed Highlands landowners.  Need we say more?

Daggett implemented the Wetlands Law and set up Skylands Task Force. He was appointed by the U.S. Forest Service to head the Highlands Working Group to develop a plan for protecting the Highlands Region to implement the Highlands Forest Service Study.   Not only does Daggett support the Highlands Act, he played a role in its birth.   He has not once mentioned the issue of just compensation for landowners nor is there anything in his platform or campaign that would suggest he would address the Highlands Act or the need for equity/fairness to landowners.  He appears to be a Republican spoiler with a vote for Daggett being a de facto vote for Corzine.

Christie:  The Republican candidate Chris Christie lives in Mendham and is a Highlands Region resident likely with an in-depth understanding of the Highlands Act.  His official platform and campaign have been silent on the subject of the Highlands Act, hopefully for smart campaign strategy reasons.  Christie’s true position on the Highlands Act must be surmised from his comments and answers to questions.

Christie has said that his first executive act will be to freeze and review all regulation, DEP and other.  DEP regulation includes all the Highlands DEP regulations which, as governor, he would have the authority to suspend, review, reject and rewrite.  His campaign has emphasized that irrational and over-regulation is strangling the business climate of the State.

When asked by the Daily Record, Christie stated that he believed the Highlands landowners deserved to be compensated for the Highlands taking but that he thought this was unlikely to happen for financial reasons.  He then continued by noting he thought some development in the Highlands should be allowed.  (Note:  A flexible and business-minded DEP headed by a Republican appointed commissioner that approved Highlands applications with reduced application costs would go a long way toward improving Highlands property market values, although probably not to full pre-Highlands levels.)

When asked at the House of Good Shepard campaign stop, Christie noted matter-of-factly that the Democrats had simply lied when they promised compensation to Highlands landowners.

This writer finds the following Christie YouTube instructive…get to minute 2…and try to hear the word “Highlands” in front of the word “regulation”.  Christie does not endorse over-reaching unproductive and suffocating regulation…this writer concludes he does not support Highlands Act regulation.  Watch the video yourself….get to minute 2.

Taxer, expander, or the law?

To win the war sometimes one loses a few battles along the way.  For a Conservative a battle was lost during the NJ Gubernatorial primaries when the Republican Party as their candidate for this November 3rd general election chose Chris Christie over Steve Lonegan.  The backing and support by the party gave Christie enough advantage to propel him to victory as the Republican candidate in the primary voting.

Now we are in the midst of a raging war.

There are three major candidates running for Governor, incumbent Governor Jon Corzine (D), former U.S. Attorney for N.J. Christopher Christie (R), former U.S. Environmental Protection regional administrator and former N.J. Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Chris Daggett (I).  The poll numbers vary from poll to poll and day to day, but generally show Christie and Corzine about even, while Daggett trails at about 8-15% of the potential voters.

We would be wise when casting our vote on Nov. 3rd to consider what winning this particular battle in N.J. would be as it relates to the scope of the war.  As we look before us at our choices, many are not pleased.  But these are the options that face us.  If there is a possibility that our choice will even slow the death spiral of N.J., some ground will be gained in the war.

A politician repeats prior actions, just as history repeats itself.

Someone’s core principles are part of their being.  So to believe that candidates can simply ‘change their ways’ would be naive at best.  We have had just shy of four years of Corzine, he has shown us the principles he believes in, tax more and redistribute the proceeds, as he sees fit.  His ways and words are often sly, and require a keen eye to decipher.  Those who believe in the same principles, or gain from them, will want Corzine reelected.  Sure as the fall of Rome, eventually this structure will collapse under its own weight, trapping many under the debris.

Expanded sales taxes are problematic.

I am in the arena of the many who feel Daggett will not be a victor on Nov. 3rd and would simply take votes away from Corzine and Christie.  Those who have chosen Daggett in the polling is still well below what would be needed to be a direct threat to cause an Independent Party upset to the Republican and Democratic parties.  It would take some new explosive negative information against Corzine and Christie for Daggett to score a win.  Daggett’s tax plan will increase sales taxes by expanding them to more businesses.  He calls it a tax expansion, not a tax increase; and states that there will be a 20% decrease in property taxes as a result of this “expansion”.  Personally, I believe we should be able to decrease property taxes without increasing or expanding taxes somewhere else; and question the idea of putting even more money under the control of the state.  This also will add to the consumer cost of visiting these businesses.  If it is bad for business: it is bad for employees, consumers, and state business tax collections.

Will law create order?

Christie’s strength lies in his role of prosecuting the corrupt in our state.  Everyone has read the daily accounts of the crooked and shady deals that are rampant and engrained in NJ.  I believe the dishonest would be faced with the fear of the law under a Christie administration.  The crooks are stealing taxpayer money.  Heck, not that I am always fond of law enforcement, but just maybe this one would be on our side.  Christie may be a choice if only to stop Corzine and his policies, avoid Daggett’s promised tax expansion and throw a proverbial wrench in the gears of the Trenton machine.

A war we must win

This election is not only a war between candidates, but also a war against powerful liberal few who want to change our great Country.  Surely if Corzine is voted out it will send a large message to politicians at all levels that they would best serve their constituents by heeding what they say and representing them accordingly instead of doing the bidding of large supporters, unions and the party.  NJ and Virginia voting in Republican governors would help put politicians across the country in a place they belong, in fear of the people voting them out.

Black & Red ‘Open Space’

Green [for] Acres

Not unusual in New Jersey for good intentions to turn into good money for those at the trough.  In Bergenfield, Bergen County is a historic property, the Marchbank property on Cooper’s Pond.  Turns out it is a property that originally my ancestors settled on, and later built a chair factory and sawmill, in the late 1600’s and 1700’s.  The Borough of Bergenfield purchased the 4.36-acre property and buildings in 2004 for $1.2 million, receiving $600,000 in state grants and loans, and $800,000 in county grants.  It is listed on the National & State Registers of Historic Places.  The Borough’s intends to complete stabilization and ultimately restore the site.  Bergenfield also committed to match two county grants that total $265,000.

In 2003 the Green Acres program certified the pre-purchase value of the property as $987,500.  The initial private appraisal, ordered by Dennis Oury, was $1.5 million did not state that there were restrictions on the property, severely lowering the value.  Based on this appraisal the price Bergenfield paid an inflated amount for the purchase, using taxpayer money.

To secure the four grants Bergenfield hired Governmental Grants Consulting (GGC), for $128,000 plus a $6,000 retainer.  Joseph Ferriero and Dennis Oury, unknown by Bergenfield, it turns out, own GGC.  The property was development restricted by a preservation easement by NJ Historic Trust, in 1997.  Yet more taxpayer subsidies were sought by GGC.

This deal was riddled with pay-to-play, deceit, abuse of power, no bid contracts, and concealment.  It is one of those webs of a scandal that reaches far into other parties beyond Oury and Ferriero, who I am concentrating on.  According to a Sept. 21, 2008 Bergen Record article, “…21 professional firms earn a combined $506,000 since 2002.  They’ve contributed more than $80,000 to Democratic candidates and organizations during that time, state and local records show.”

NorthJersey.com has in-depth coverage on the guilty verdicts on Former Bergen County Democratic chief Joseph Ferriero. He was found guilty yesterday on three of eight counts from an indictment filed last year by former US Attorney for NJ, Chris Christie (now Republican Gubernatorial candidate).  Ferriero’s sentencing is scheduled for February 10, 2010.

Ferriero’s guilty verdicts:

Count One: Conspiracy to defraud the public of Oury’s [former Bergen County Democratic Organization attorney, and Bergenfield attorney] honest services

Count one is the most serious charge.  The taxpayers of NJ and Bergenfield did not receive honest services, as the Green Acres program grants were clouded by corruption.

Count Two: Mail Fraud in relation to a Nov. 2003 letter from the state DEP [NJ Department of Environmental Protection] Commissioner [former DEP Commissioner Bradley Caldwell] to the mayor of Bergenfield informing the borough of a $600,000 Green Acres grant/loan award.

Count 2 involves a letter from former DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell, awarding Green Acres grant on Nov. 14, 2003.

Count Three: Mail Fraud in relation to a July 2004 letter from Governmental Grants President David Spatz to Ferriero the held a check from Bergenfield for $128,625 payable to GGC [Governmental Grants Consulting].

Count Five [Count Three] involves a letter to Ferriero from Governmental Grants Consulting President David Spatz, enclosing Bergenfield’s check for about $128,000 for GGC’s services in obtaining county and state grants.

North Jersey.com has a nice graphic that explains the convoluted connections.
Ferriero and Oury concealed their ownership in Government Grants Consulting (GGC).  Through GGC they could generate payments for services and grants for Bergen County municipalities. Their political ties could be a great influence in attaining state grants for town projects.

Dennis Oury agreed to testify against Ferriero and pleaded guilty to mail fraud and not filing his 2006 federal taxes.  This was arranged in a plea deal offered by the US Attorney’s office.

Invoice introduced as evidence
An invoice from David Spatz to Bergenfield Borough Administrator Joseph Hess, dated March 6, 2003, was introduced as evidence. In it, Spatz said he was aware the borough had gained approved for an $800,000 Bergen County Open Space grant and that GGC was owed $80,000 for its work.

Additional evidence included inquiries Ferriero sent to Spatz and Oury about whether Bergenfield had paid GGC.

All the while, Spatz was telling Ferriero that he was owed $95,000 for his work as an employee of GGC.

The evidence also showed that GGC was billing Bergenfield more than a year before any of the grant money actually arrived on Oct. 19, 2004.

Bergenfield paid GGC $128,000 for its work on the Open Space and Green Acres grants on June 2004, four months before it received the grant money. The borough issued bonds so that it could pay GGC.

The amounts paid for this property, and to line the pockets of many,  is borrowed money so the figures do not even include the interest paid by us taxpayers.  We must stop increasing NJ debt.

This case depicts one more reason to Vote NO on the ‘Open Space’ ballot question one on November 3rd.  For more reasons to Vote No click on the image below.

Analyzing the state ballot question

Breakdown of money to be bonded

“Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009”

$218 million Green Acres-Acquire & develop lands for public recreation & conservation purposes.
$90 million State purchases & development of lands.
$110 million grants & loans to local governments for purchases & development of lands.
$18 million grants & loans to nonprofit organizations for purchases & development of lands.

$ 24 million Blue Acres-State purchases of flood-prone or storm-damaged properties.

$146 million Farmland Preservation-For permanent preservation of agricultural & horticultural production land generally by acquisition of development easements, land restrictions, or fee simple titles.

$ 12 million Historic Preservation-Conservation, improvement, interpretation, preservation, protection, rehabilitation, renovation, repair, restoration, & stabilization of historic properties.

Stats & facts

Here are some state stats, provided by New Jersey.

New Jersey is 4.8 million acres in size of which approximately 1.3 million acres are permanently preserved, 1.4 million acres are developed and 2.1 million acres are undeveloped. While some of these undeveloped lands are protected by existing environmental regulation [Pinelands & Highlands], a significant portion remains unprotected and subject to development.

The above quote leads one to believe there is unprotected land.  The fact is that every parcel of land in New Jersey is under regulation.

The purpose of the State Plan is to:
Coordinate planning activities and establish Statewide planning objectives in the following areas: land use, housing, economic development, transportation, natural resource conservation, agriculture and farmland retention, recreation, urban and suburban redevelopment, historic preservation, public facilities and services, and intergovernmental coordination (N.J.S.A. 52:18A-200(f)).

All municipal and county master plans must gain approval by the state .

Through Cross-acceptance, negotiating entities work with local governments and residents to compare their local master plans with the State Plan and to identify potential changes that could be made to achieve a greater level of consistency with statewide planning policy.

Here is a state planning map (large file) under the Department of Community Affairs.

The Pinelands comprises 1.1 million acres.  The Highlands is 860,000 acres, half of which is under severe environmental restrictions.  These restricted lands are a combination of privately owned, nonprofit owned, and government preserved or owned land.

Since 1961 NJ voters have approved a dozen state open space questions totaling $2.1 billion.  A portion of this is passed down to supplement county, municipal, and nonprofit purchases in the form of grants and/or loans to local governments and nonprofit organizations.

According to the Green Acres site, “…every county and 238 of New Jersey’s municipalities have approved local tax referenda to preserve land and improve parks in their jurisdictions”.

Nonprofit groups also totally or partially purchase land.

Water supply authorities have open space watershed acquisition programs, money coming from water user rates.

Green Acres & Blue Acres

Green Acres & Blue Acres properties acquired by a qualified nonprofit or the state will be exempt from property taxes, if accepted by the Green Acres Tax Exemption Program.

The municipalities these properties fall in may also qualify for annual payments in-lieu-of taxes from the State of NJ. “Payments totaling $9,718,893.06 are being made to 290 municipalities in December 2008”.  These payments are an attempt to provide some compensation to municipalities for the loss of property tax collections from open space tax exemptions.

Personally, I do agree with the purchase of the Blue Acres where the state purchases flood prone and storm-damaged properties.

Green Acres issues

Spending for Green Acres too often not green.

A municipality may turn real open space into parking lots, artificial turf fields, and other sports related projects and structures.  Visit StopHigherTaxes.com for more information.  As long as the project meets a certain criteria, Green Acres money may be available.

There is disparity in assistance.

Urban, and more populated areas can receive more aid compared and rest of the state.  Here is one example from the link.

Green Acres provides low interest loans and grants to assist local governments in the acquisition and development of open space for recreation and conservation purposes. Green Acres nonurban acquisition loans are repayable at 2% interest over 30 years. In this funding round, funds are provided for projects in several categories: Urban Aid Acquisition, Planning Incentive Acquisition, Site-Specific Incentive Acquisition, and Standard Acquisition.

To support the purchase of open space in New Jersey’s cities, where opportunities are extremely limited and generally expensive, the funding ratio for the Urban Aid acquisition projects is 75% grant, 25% loan, up to the cap. Loans for Urban Aid acquisition projects are at zero percent, payable over 30 years.

Farmland Preservation Program

Here is a summary by county of the 179,303 acres of farmland preserved as of June 30, 2009.

There are different state farmland acquisition programs.  With a farmland preservation development rights purchase the land is deed restricted from being sold as anything except agricultural use.  The land stays in the owner’s hands, but prevents development of the property.

Sometimes the state buys the land outright and offers a few for sale at public auction.  While the state has ownership, it will be exempt from property taxes.  Here is a history of the farms on the above linked list the state has purchased and will attempt to sell.  As you see when the state purchases farmland for preservation it is very costly.  There is not only a loss at the auction, but also property taxes, and the costs to maintain and administer the lands while under state ownership.

Sturgis Farm South Harrison, Gloucester County-127.88 acres purchased 4/15/09 $2,557,600.
Not yet offered for auction.
Sassi Farm Carney’s Point, Salem County-81.68 acres purchased 12/20/05 $571,767.
5/6/09 minimum state auction bid $393,600-not sold.
Schroeder Farm Pittsgrove Township, Salem County-82.59 acres purchased 7/19/07 $1,036,295.
5/6/09 minimum auction bid $344,000-not sold.
Case Farm West Amwell Township, Hunterdon County-87.18 acres purchased 6/21/07 $1,656,439.
5/20/09 minimum auction bid $700,350-not sold.
Seagreaves Farm Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County-137.63 acres purchased 6/1/07 $2,384,970.
5/20/09 minimum auction bid $1,020,000-not sold.
Holcombe Farm W. Amwell Township, Hunterdon County-72.48 acres purchased 10/16/07 $1,739,592.
5/20/09 minimum auction bid $657,000-not sold.
Eagle Valley Farm Mansfield Township, Hunterdon County-78.12 acres purchased 3/28/07 $958,950.  Located in the Highlands Preservation Area.
5/20/09 minimum auction bid $500,550-not sold.
Erb Farm N. Hanover Township, Burlington County-138 acres purchased 3/15/07 $3,347,750.
6/8/07 minimum auction bid $1.14 million-not sold.
6/17/09 minimum auction bid $1,073,876-not sold.

Historic Preservation

Historic Preservation is not being ignored.  In August 2009 Governor Corzine signed S2770, “Appropriates $15,557,201 from various historic preservation funds to provide grants for certain historic preservation projects, and appropriates $574,805 from certain historic preservation bond funds for associated administrative expenses.”

New Jersey debt and taxes

Interest on $400 million debt service is unknown as it is based on prevailing interest rate, risk, and amount bonded at a given time.  One thing for sure, when money is scarce and our state debt payments already off the charts, either cuts will needed in other areas, or another tax will be conjured.  Bonds will be sold in increments over time. There are also costs associated with these programs such as salaries & benefits, professional fees, and other expenses.

Where the money is going to come from to repay the bonds is also concerning.

28.    Should the State Treasurer, by December 31 of any year, deem it necessary, because of the insufficiency of funds collected from the sources of revenues as provided in this act [Sales & Use Tax], to meet the interest and principal payments for the year after the ensuing year, then the State Treasurer shall certify to the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury the amount necessary to be raised by taxation for those purposes, the same to be assessed, levied and collected for and in the ensuing calendar year.  The director shall, on or before March 1 following, calculate the amount in dollars to be assessed, levied and collected in each county as herein set forth.  This calculation shall be based upon the corrected assessed valuation of each county for the year preceding the year in which the tax is to be assessed, but the tax shall be assessed, levied and collected upon the assessed valuation of the year in which the tax is assessed and levied.  The director shall certify the amount to the county board of taxation and the treasurer of each county.  The county board of taxation shall include the proper amount in the current tax levy of the several taxing districts of the county in proportion to the ratables as ascertained for the current year.

The final analysis

While almost everyone is in favor of open space and reduced development, the big problem is how to pay for it. Obviously open space properties owned by the state, municipalities, and non-profit organizations do not generate property taxes. We the taxpayers must pay for the shortfall in taxes, professional and administrative fees, and also for the upkeep of the land and buildings while owned by the state.

There are 1.3 million acres already permanently preserved and another 1.9 million acres (40% of NJ) under Highlands and Pinelands environmental regulation.  According to the Trust for Public Land in 1998 the NJ Department of Environmental Protection managed more than two-third of the preserved land.

The amount of permanently preserved land recorded is a moving target, as I have read as much as 1.5 million acres.  I cannot find any specific information if this includes federally owned land.  There is also a lot of open space in private and corporate ownership, and schools, churches, large and other tax-exempt organizations own large parcels.

Senator Bob Smith, Chairman of the Senate Environment Committee and one of the sponsors of the bill, “…echoed the high returns of investing in our natural resources. Preserving open space, farmland, and our historic assets generates $10 for every $1 invested.”  As I have not seen any report of how his ‘economic analysis’ was calculated, so my thoughts are that it mostly involves the impact on students added to the school system and an population based increase in  services.  This type of analysis leaves out a tremendous amount of secondary and indirect analysis information.  It also points me to the need to reduce what the education system is costing taxpayers.

Costs associated with the state management and maintenance of the purchased properties and buildings often can’t be accurately estimated and many times are at the mercy of the current market, interest rates, and legal and professional fees, to name a few.  The state will cover direct, indirect, and unforeseen costs by adding more budget expenditures.

Our bonded open space money along with general state funds is actually often used to alter or destroy natural ecosystems.  I have seen government level projects, if a private individual or business had implemented, would have brought heavy fines.

A voter defeated state ballot question will not eliminate open space purchases.  There will still be municipal, county, nonprofit, and water authority expenditures for open space, conservation and development.  Also, proceeds from any state owned land that is sold could be reinvested in another purchase.

Shortfalls in sales tax revenue may put us in jeopardy of added property taxes, through additional taxes levied on the counties, and likely passed down to our local taxes.

A $400 million bond seems like the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the costs.

My analysis of the information, including the amount of open space already preserved, condition of the state finances and debt, observance of numerous parks, Highlands landowners waiting for compensation, and misuse or inappropriate unnecessary spending in some cases leads me to this conclusion.

New Jersey will be bankrupted from spending, faster than major land development will occur.

Voting NO November 3rd on this ballot question is the logical vote.

Preserving American ideals and principles

As a prelude to my post here is a message from Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich to Americans for Prosperity (AFP) members, and other interested persons, who were unable to be at the summit.

On October 2nd and 3rd well over 2,000 concerned Americans converged in Arlington, VA and DC.  We arrived at the Summit and promptly were bused to the Capital for a news conference and town hall.  We had a lot of messages.       

After our news conference and town hall we visited our respective Senate representatives. Our “angry mob” from New Jersey descended on the Hart Senate Office Building.

We arrived at Senator Lautenberg’s office and expressed our concerns and asked our questions to his spokesperson.  The Senator was in his NJ office, leaving his representative attempting to answer.

After our visit to the Senate we were off, back to the summit.  Here is just a small part of our summit speakers and activities.

Laura Ingraham, a radio host and best selling author, commented on the incomprehensible language of the over 1,200 page proposed health care bill.  A national health care bill would have already passed if it were not for the activism.  Referring to the proposed mandate for every citizen to purchase health insurance, she quoted from the Congressional Budget Office, “Never before has the federal government required a citizen to purchase a good or service as a condition of lawful residence”. ”This is an unprecedented action of government.”

Ingraham points out that our country is really in the midst of  a jobs crisis, losing 163,000 jobs just last month.  In closing, she quoted Samuel Adams, one of the framers of the Declaration of Independence.

“A general Dissolution of Principles & Manners will more surely overthrow the Liberties of America than the whole Force of the Common Enemy. While the People are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their Virtue they will be ready to surrender their Liberties to the first external or internal Invader.  If Virtue & Knowledge are diffused among the People, they will never be enslaved. This will be their great Security.”-Samuel Adams

Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) spoke of the vision of AFP formers that affirms that when America was tested the American people would rise up.  Pence seeing our freedoms being eroded senses, “The coming weeks and months may well set the course for this nation for a generation, and beyond.”

He is encouraged by the Conservative movement, “unified by the love of this nation and an unshakable belief in the ideals of economics, personal freedom, and increasingly unified by a growing awareness of how deeply in peril these freedoms are at this moment”.  Seeing prosperity declining he states, “There is no lasting prosperity without freedom.”  “The American people know we can’t borrow and spend and fail our way back to a growing economy.”  We need fiscal discipline and tax relief.  Not actions such as the ‘stimulus’ where over $700 billion was taken from Main St to bail out Wall St.  “We must recognize that our present crisis is not merely economic and political but moral.”

At the Blogger’s Row many great activists were busy at work posting.  Others were out catching parts of the summit to return later to submit a write-up.  Mike Proto, Garden State Patriot blogger, can be seen in the center background busily reporting live from the summit.

George Humphris from Toms River, NJ received the National Grassroots Activist Award of the Year from Tim Phillips for his hard work fighting the stimulus bill.  About 100,000 hits to the nostimulus.com AFP site were the result of his efforts. Great job George.

New Jersey activists Proto and Humphris were quoted and the summit reported on in the Bergen Record here and here.

Tim Phillips, President of Americans for Prosperity Foundation, educated and updated us on Cap & Trade, national health care and the secret ballot.  For more information on the first two please refer to my blog menu under “National”.  The secret ballot is the proposed Card Check.  In this proposal, union administrators will have access to how prospective members vote on whether they want to join a union.  Imagine the intimidation one may feel as they vote with the union knowing your selections.

Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, spoke about the Republican Party, and some of the Conservative principles that the party needs to embrace to lead our country back to prosperity.  He sees that Republicans are failing to deliver, resulting in the loss of elections.  He quotes his daughter, Jackie Gingrich Cushman, “People voted for change they could believe in, but found out they had elected somebody that would change what they believed in”.

The Socialist way of the Democratic Party is unfortunately crafting legislation far to the left.  We are reminded of the recent $787 billion stimulus package that was voted on before even being read.  “When you have politician centered, bureaucratically delivered, government spending program, that is not a stimulus that is actually a burden”, states Gingrich.  A real stimulus would create permanent long-term productive jobs, be world competitive, creating goods and services, innovative technology, entrepreneurship.  “We should immediately sell all of the government ownership of every company taken over”.  As our Country is turning to the left, Socialism is collapsing in Europe.  The communist party there had the worst vote results since World War II.

Gingrich sees three things Republicans need to do.

1.    “We have to have candidates at every level who are dedicated to new solutions and will apply the principles that make America great”.  We need commitment from school board positions to higher positions.  We need to take on Socialism at every level.
2.    “We need to learn how to campaign effectively.”  This involves getting messages out and organizing people.
3.    “We have to win the argument”.  “First you win the argument, then you win the vote.”

He ended with, “In a free country you have to know why you’re fighting”; and a quote by Thomas Paine, “These are the times that try men’s souls”.

Steve Moore from the Wall Street Journal pointed out that since the economic stimulus bill we have lost 3 million jobs.  The unemployment was supposed to stay under 8% with the stimulus; it is now approaching 10%.

Cap & Trade may well be more dangerous than the health care bill; he calls it the “greatest hoax”.  “The Cap & Trade bill will not have any impact on global temperatures”.  It will send more jobs to China and India.  China has the goal to have a larger economy than the US.  We are spending money at a reckless pace.  “We have got to start focusing on economic growth”.  We need a flat tax or a fair tax in America, and eliminate double taxation.

On health care there are three things to fix our health care system in America.  Medical malpractice reform, there is no mention of this in the proposed bill.  Health savings accounts would drive premiums down.  Across state line purchase of health insurance would increase competition and quality and decrease costs.

David H. Koch, AFP Foundation Chairman, honored Senator Jim DeMint with the Washington Award. DeMint is a leading voice for freedom and crafter of free market solutions.  He stood up against the 10,000 earmarks in the federal budget, saving the Americans many millions.

Senator DeMint from his insight from within the Congress states, “The heart and soul of this country is at stake”.  He sees that when Americans stand up and speak out for their principles, things change.  He encourages us that Washington is more afraid of the voters than the special interests, and when the voters are heard, freedom wins.

Herman Cain radio host and Fox News contributor identifies, one thing we must do and one thing we must not do to win the fight.  “We must save the savable”.  The unsavable liberals he identifies using “SIN”.  S-when they shift the subject during a conversation and begin to talk about something not related.  I-then ignore the facts when faced with them.  N-the last straw is name calling such as “Astroturf”, “un-American”, “war mongering”, “crazy”, and “racist”.

We must never do is give up on believing we can take back our country.

One of the speakers for the New Jersey State Delegation Briefing was Steve Lonegan, Senior Policy Analyst for AFP-NJ.  He spoke about the upcoming $400 million bonding for preservation that will be on the New Jersey November 3rd ballot for a vote. Video can be seen at Garden State Patriot.

Each of the 25 state AFP chapters presented a fiscal year report to the chairman.  George Humphris spoke for NJ and I was able to catch most of what he said.

“Mr. Chairman New Jersey has 25,000 members and growing. Over 15,000 signed the petition against the state budget. This year we defeated the Clean Election Bill, and the toll hike that Governor Corzine tried to do, we have defeated ballot questions, state ballot questions, in the past.  We will defeat this November’s state open space ballot question for the first time ever. New Jersey is thought to be a liberal state today, but with the help of Americans for Prosperity New Jersey is going to lead this country to defeat the Cap & Trade Bill, the Health Care Bill, and the Card Check Bill.”

Those who attended this summit did so to show their commitment and resolve in preserving the ideals and principles that make this a great country, to further educate themselves as citizens and activists so that they would be able to pass on this information to others. Most feel that we as citizens will be the ones to make the right things happen by electing those that will truly represent us in Washington, in the state governments, and in local towns and cities. To do this we must have knowledge of the issues, and information about the various factors and lawmakers that shape the political climate today.

We as conservatives feel we have the right message, and that we must return to the basic fundamentals in our Constitution that made this country so great. We speak the truth in a climate of so called “Political Correctness”, and are not afraid to express the views that have labeled us as “Tea Baggers”, “Radical right wing Extremists”, and “Racists” to name a few. Our numbers are growing, and as they do, more and more Americans are seeing the truth and getting involved because they realize that there is much at stake and too much to lose.

National Call-Congress Day – Tuesday, October 6th

This was posted over at Garden State Patriot.  Thanks Mike.

Patients First has designated tomorrow [today], Tuesday, October 6th, as National Call-Congress Day. The Democrats in Congress are hell-bent on passing some kind of healthcare legislation and, as I have posted about, Harry Reid is in fact pushing to get a bill with a public option to the President. Now is the time for us to re-double our efforts tomorrow and keep the pressure on key legislators.

Patients First has more info on this on their website and here on Facebook.

Also, according to the Organization for Conservative Americans, these are the Senators that we need to focus on:

Sen. Mary Landrieu (LA) 202-224-5834
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (AR) 202-224-4843
Sen. Mark Pryor (AR) 202-224-2353
Sen . Russ Feingold (WI) 202-224-5323
Sen. Joe Lieberman (CN) 202-224-4041…
Sen. Jon Tester (MT) 202-224-2644
Sen.Byron Dorgan (ND)202-224-2551
Sen. Ben Nelson (NE) 202-224-6551
Sen. Bill Nelson (FL) 202-224-5274
Sen. Olympia Snowe (ME) 202-224-5344
Sen. Kent Conrad (ND) 202-224-2043