Virginia Tea Party Patriots » Legislative

For Immediate Release – Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation Opposes 2012 Tax Credit Legislation

Communications — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:00:06 +0000

For Immediate Release                                                            February 14, 2012
Contact: Mark Daugherty                                                                    540-885-5627
Email: trail100liberty@gmail.com                                                        540-255-1431

Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation- Alert to Virginia Taxpayers
“Tax Code Infested With Special-Interest Tax Credits”

(Richmond, VA) – “From beehives to spaceflight, from social engineering to coal mines, many special interest groups want a tax credit,” said Mark Daugherty, Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation, Chairman. “What they are looking for is a legal and financial advantage over fellow Virginians.”

Last November, a JLARC – Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission study revealed that tax breaks favored select Virginia groups and individuals in 2008 in the amount of $12.5 billion, which is equal to 90% of the $14.3 billion in actual individual and sales taxes paid by Virginians.

“This year, our legislators have submitted over 90 new special-interest tax credit bills to the existing conga line of convoluted preferences and loopholes,” said Mr. Daugherty. “These special-interest tax breaks have now become a tax code within a tax code, adding complexity and inequality. It seems that the General Assembly wants to keep this under the radar as HB664, intended to shine the light on who is benefiting from these tax credits, was stopped in committee.”

“These carve outs represent the government picking winners and losers as well as a fundamental lack of fairness,” added Mr. Daugherty. “Virginians with the same income may end up paying vastly differing tax rates. Most egregious, is the fact that a special-interest tax credit for a select group—is a tax increase for every other Virginia tax payer.”
Government spending in Virginia has grown at twice the population growth for the last decade. If the General Assembly repealed all special-interest tax preferences, and reduced Virginia income tax rates by a commensurate amount, the tax rates and Virginia sales taxes could be reduced by nearly 50% allowing Virginians to keep more of their hard-earned money.

Mr. Daugherty says, “We encourage Virginians to contact their delegate and senator and urge them to vote NO on the 2012 line-up of special-interest tax credits, ask them to initiate a process to cleanse special-interest tax credits from the Virginia Tax code and pass the savings on to Virginia taxpayers.”

The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation is a coalition of 41 independent Tea Party and patriot groups that stand for fiscal responsibility, Constitutionally-limited government, and free market principles.

For a list of special-interest tax credit bills, please contact Mark Daugherty.

# # #

Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation Opposes 2012 Tax Credits

HB 19 – Kilgore – Income tax, state; deduction for certain purchases from space flight entities.

HB 103 – Loupassi – Consumer utility tax; exemption for public utilities, etc. on natural gas used to make electricity.

HB 105 – Loupassi – Machinery and equipment recyclable materials; tax credit for those used by certain manufacturers.

HB 111 – Bell, Richard P. – Small business job creation tax credit; creates credit for those creating new full-time jobs.

HB 130 – Kilgore – Income tax, state; military retirement pay subtraction.

HB 131 – Kilgore – Income tax, state; tax credit for disabled military veterans.

HB 145 – Englin – Retail Sales and Use Tax; removes $2,000 cap on amount of tax imposed on watercraft.

HB 149 – Ransone – Income tax, corporate; lower rate for certain businesses.

HB 191 – Herring – Small businesses; tax credit for those hiring graduates of Virginia’s colleges.

HB 216 – Comstock – Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemption includes certain computer equipment and enabling software.

HB 228 – Habeeb – Income tax, corporate; credit for contracting with small or minority-owned businesses.

HB 276 – Peace – Neighborhood Assistance Act tax credits; eligibility of certain mediators.

HB 299 – Scott, E.T. – Retail Sales and Use Tax; extends sunset date for exemption of certain educational materials.

HB 300 – Scott, E.T. – Beehive tax credit; created for new beehives of $200 per hive for registered beekeepers.

HB 321 – Massie – Income tax, state; educational improvement scholarships tax credits.

HB 335 – Villanueva – Income tax, state and corporate; deduction for investors in small businesses.

HB 340 – Wilt – Neighborhood Assistance Tax Act Credit Program; requires organization must meet for tax credits.

HB 368 – Webert – Neighborhood Assistance Act tax credits; eligibility of certain mediators.

HB 408 – Watts – Real property tax; exemption for elderly and disabled.

HB 446 – Toscano – Coal tax credits; termination of certain credits.

HB 456 – Ware, R.L. – Riparian forest tax credit; refund.

HB 505 – Garrett – Income tax, state; increases long-term care insurance credit.

HB 514 – Purkey – Tax credits; for costs to comply with excessive state regulations.

HB 516 – Purkey – Income tax, state; advances conformity with federal law.

HB 517 – Purkey – Income tax, state; creates deductions for life, medical, and dental insurance premiums.

HB 518 – Purkey – Income tax, state; deductions for life, medical, and dental insurance premiums for certain people.

HB 531 – Cole – Historic rehabilitation tax credit; certain income under federal law is not income for State tax.

HB 551 – Comstock – Telework expenses tax credit; extended for employers through December 31, 2015.

HB 585 – Merricks – Income tax, state; small business investment tax credits.

HB 714 – Kilgore – Major business facility job tax credit; extends credit to December 31, 2014.

HB 720 – Yancey – Worker retraining tax credit; increase in credit amount.

HB 743 – Fariss – Farm utility vehicles; tax exemption.

HB 746 – Cline – Farm vehicles; exemption from registration.

HB 783 – Lopez – Microenterprise investment tax credits; created for individuals who make qualified investment.

HB 811 – May – Corporate tax credit; taxes paid in another state.

HB 819 – Marshall, R.G. – Virginia College Savings Plan; acceptance of commemorative coins minted by State Treasurer.

HB 841 – James – Major business facility job credits & enterprise zone job creation grants; not allowed for same job.

HB 862 – Rust – Income tax, state; deduction for tolls.

HB 879 – Sickles – Income tax, state; subtraction for certain death benefit payments.

HB 883 – Sickles – Income tax, state; credit for solar energy equipment systems.

HB 908 – Minchew – Land preservation tax credit; application for credits prior to any donation.

HB 933 – Lingamfelter – Real estate tax; exemption for disabled veterans.

HB 993 – Robinson – Homestead exemption; increases if householder is 65 years of age or older.

HB 999 – Ramadan – Teleworks tax credit; for individual who teleworks a minimum of 20 hours per week.

HB 1000 – Ramadan – Telework expenses tax credit; extended for employers through December 31, 2015.

HB 1006 – Ramadan – Home school instruction tax credit; includes amount paid for materials and correspondence courses.

HB 1013 – Comstock – Income tax, state & corporate; extends subtraction for capital gains from investments in businesses.

HB 1023 – Englin – Income tax, state and corporate; tax credit for hiring certain individuals.

HB 1041 – Keam – Income tax, state and corporate; tax credit for hiring veterans.

HB 1046 – Keam – Real property tax; exemption for elderly and disabled.

HB 1049 – Anderson – Income tax, state; tax credit for taxpayers employing persons in STEM internship positions.

HB 1050 – Anderson – Income tax, state; tax credit for hiring military persons as STEM interns.

HB 1102 – Miller – Renewable energy portfolio standard program; credits for investments. (notes!)

HB 1153 – Massie – Income tax, state; conformity with federal law.

HB 1155 – Filler-Corn – Income tax, state; taxation of trusts established for disabled individuals.

HB 1170 – Kory – Income tax, state and corporate; credit for service renewable energy property.

HB 1183 – Cosgrove – Virginia Port Authority; amends several provisions governing conduct of business.

HB 1192 – O’Quinn – Coalfield employment enhancement tax credit; eliminates sunset date.

HB 1194 – Garrett – Farm wineries and vineyards tax credit; raises credit beginning on or after January 1, 2012.

HB 1268 – Brink – Land preservation tax credit; reduces amount that may be claimed for taxable years 2012 and 2013.

SB 37 – Reeves – Retail Sales and Use Tax; extends sunset provision for certain educational materials.

SB 61 – Stanley – Income tax, corporate; lower rate for certain businesses.

SB 68 – Stanley – Income tax, corporate; creates industrial building rehabilitation tax credit.

SB 70 – Stanley – Retail Sales and Use Tax; two-year sales tax moratorium for construction materials & supplies.

SB 78 – Watkins – Income tax, corporate; taxes paid in another state.

SB 112 – McDougle – Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemption includes certain computer equipment and enabling software.

SB 131 – Stanley – Income tax, corporate; educational improvement scholarships credit.

SB 178 – Stuart – Satellite office expenses tax credit; creates a $250,000 tax credit for certain businesses.

SB 226 – Herring – Income tax, state & corporate; extends subtraction for capital gains from investments in businesses.

SB 232 – Herring – Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemption includes certain computer equipment and enabling software.

SB 238 – Herring – Telework expenses tax credit; extended for employers through December 31, 2016.

SB 241 – Obenshain – Tax credits; businesses providing assistance to low-income families, etc., in private schools.

SB 262 – Ebbin – Microenterprise investment tax credits; created for individuals who make qualified investment.

SB 341 – Newman – Income tax, state; increases long-term care insurance credit.

SB 344 – McDougle – Income tax, state; small business investment tax credits.

SB 352 – Deeds – Land conservation tax credit; transfer in event of death.

SB 354 – Deeds – Beehive tax credit; created for new beehives of $200 per hive for registered beekeepers.

SB 355 – Deeds – Land preservation tax credit; information about issued credits.

SB 368 – Reeves – Major business facility job tax credit; extends time credit may be taken over a two-year period.

SB 393 – Hanger – Media-related tax exemptions; extends sunset provision until 2017.

SB 403 – Hanger – Land preservation tax credit; increased for working farmers.

SB 404 – Hanger – Riparian Forest Grant Program; created, sunset date for riparian forest tax credit.

SB 444 – Vogel – Historic rehabilitation tax credit.

SB 567 – Lucas – Low-income and student toll tax credit; established.

SB 578 – Wagner – Virginia Port Authority; amends several provisions governing conduct of business.

SB 609 – Carrico – Coalfield employment enhancement tax credit; extends sunset date to January 1, 2017.

SB 616 – Puckett – Coalfield employment enhancement tax credit; eliminates sunset date.

SB 620 – Petersen – Income tax, corporate; credit for contracting with small or minority-owned businesses.

SB 658 – Puckett – License tax, local; ordinances for severance oil, coal, or gas from earth, report.

SB 680 – Wagner – Neighborhood Assistance Act tax credits; lowers threshold of percentage of impoverished people.

SJ 86 – Wagner – Machinery and tools, local; TAX to study impact of income tax credit for taxes paid by manufacturer.

CoLA Scorecard Bill Summaries

Communications — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:06:53 +0000

SUPPORT:

HB10 re: Taxes — SUPPORT

BPOL tax; maximum fee and tax rates established by a locality.

This bill supports Va Small Business. The bill makes changes to business taxes that are highly punitive to start up and small businesses as the tax is currently charged on gross receipts. A business owes these taxes regardless of their profitability. The business community has been trying to change this tax for years.

HB27 re: Cap and Trade / Agenda 21 — SUPPORT

Residential energy efficiency standards; exempts certain homes from federal cap & trade legislation.

By supporting this bill we oppose Federal Law being imposed by unelected bureaucrats in Washington. It will exempt Virginians from very expensive EPA / Cap and Trade efficiency standards being applied to private residences. See this impact statement for more detail.

HB33 re: Preserves VA “Right to Work” — SUPPORT

Public procurement; state agency agreements with labor organizations.

VA is a Right to Work State. Residents of VA can not be forced to join a union to get or keep a job. This law reaffirms that fact. With this law no public works contracts can have a union labor requirement.

HB73 re: Welfare costs and eligibility — SUPPORT

VIEW; substance abuse screening and assessment of public assistance applicants and recipients.

This law requires drug testing in order to receive welfare benefits in Virginia. TANF benefits can be denied for one year if a person tests positive for the use of illegal substances or refuses to take a drug test.

HB264 re: Health Care in Virginia — SUPPORT

Interstate Health Care Compact; established.

By joining this Compact Virginia will become part of a national Health Care Compact. (4 States have already passed this Compact into law.) The Compact must be approved by Congress to take effect. Once approved by Congress, Virginia will be free to design her own Health Care program.

The CoLA committee is prepared to fight for a free market system that will put health care decisions back in the hands of the patient and Doctor.

HB472 re: Immigration — SUPPORT

Immigration query at arrest; law-enforcement officer to determine status after lawful traffic stop.

The title of this bill is self explanatory. It is estimated welfare programs available to Illegal immigrants costs Virginia taxpayers 1.7 Billion a year.

HB631 re: Rule of law — SUPPORT

Application of foreign law in Virginia courts.

Provides that court decisions and contracts and other agreements will be void as violative of the public policy of the Commonwealth where such decisions or contracts are based on foreign law. The Virginia system of justice is based on the US and Virginia Constitutions; both documents include provisions for amending if a group desires change.

HB869 re: UN Agenda 21 — SUPPORT

Urban development areas; makes incorporation optional rather than mandatory for all localities.

This law changes existing law to remove mandated Urban Developments by making them optional at the local level.

HB912 re: Federal Government Commerce Clause abuse — SUPPORT

Virginia Intrastate Commerce Act.

Declares that all goods grown, manufactured, or made in the Commonwealth of Virginia and all services performed in the Commonwealth of Virginia, when such goods or services are sold, maintained, or retained in the Commonwealth of Virginia on or after July 1, 2012, shall not be subject to the authority of the Congress of the United States under its constitutional power to regulate commerce among the several states. This bill combats abuse of the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution by Federal lawmakers and unelected regulatory bodies.

HB1084 re: Voter Fraud / Immigration — SUPPORT

Voter identification requirements; photo ID; provisional ballots.

Requires photo ID at the polls. This bill would be a major step toward fighting the existing voter fraud in Virginia.

HB1129 re: Virginia Retirement Fund — SUPPORT

Virginia Retirement System; modifies several provisions of defined benefit retirement plan.

Help to control the unsustainable growth in tax payer liability for Virginia’s public retirement system.

HB1130 re: Virginia Retirement Fund — SUPPORT

Virginia Retirement System; new optional hybrid retirement plan created.

Defined contribution plan is the best option to control costs. This helps.

HB1160 re: Unlawful Detention of US Citizens — SUPPORT

Unlawful detention of U.S. citizens; prevents any agency, etc., from assisting in investigation.

Prevents any agency, political subdivision, employee, or member of the military of Virginia from assisting an agency or the armed forces of the United States in the investigation, prosecution, or detainment of a United States citizen in violation of the Constitution of Virginia.

HJ3 re: Eminent Domain powers of Virginia State Government — SUPPORT

Constitutional amendment; taking or damaging of private property for public use (second reference).

An amendment to the VA Constitution to protect the property rights of Virginians. Passage of this amendment would place it on the November 2012 ballot.

OPPOSE:

HB354 re: UN Agenda 21 — OPPOSE

Benefit limited liability companies; purpose is to create general public benefit.

Legislation establishing Benefit Corporations (B corporations) passed unanimously in 2011. HB 354 establishes LLC Benefit Corporations. Learn about B Corporations here. The originator and force behind this concept is “B Labs”. Check out the descriptions of B Corporations currently established.

HB657 re: UN Agenda 21, Cap and Trade — OPPOSE

Renewable energy portfolio standard program; adjusts mix of energy sources that qualify.

Increases the requirement for power generation from renewable sources to 20% by 2017 and to 40% by 2023 (FYI…..nuclear no longer qualifies)

HB802 re: Taxes — OPPOSE

Virginia Pump Toll; established.

Proposes huge gas taxes………..

SB131 re: School choice — OPPOSE

Income tax, corporate; educational improvement scholarships credit.

See attachments to the Action Alert requesting calls to Senator Stanley to substitute model Cato language. The attachments give simple, easy to understand, differences between this bill and a good UNIVERSAL Education Tax Credit. A good tax credit program is available to anyone (Universal), is 100% deductible, gives parents choice and ultimately promotes competition between schools. SB 131 is so limited that it is meaningless. If they can’t pass a better bill this year…why think they can improve this next year…and the next year etc. etc.

SB188 re: Potential election fraud — OPPOSE

Absentee voting; application by electronic mail or other electronic means.

This bill would begin the set up for an Internet system for voting in VA. Combined with other proposed bills, which would allow no-excuse absentee voting, it would not be long before we are like other states where a majority of votes are in before election day. The potential for election fraud is enormous.

SB241 re: Education Tax Credits — OPPOSE

Tax credits; businesses providing assistance to low-income families, etc., in private schools.

This bill is a monster. If it were to pass, the school tax credit system would be administered by the Dept. of Education.

SB493 re: UN Agenda 21 — OPPOSE

Electric and natural gas utilities; energy efficiency programs.

Includes “Customer Engagement Programs”, the new name for “smart meters”.

“Virginia Senate Democrats prove their loyalty to unions over children”

Communications — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 22:05:23 +0000

“Virginia Senate Democrats prove their loyalty to unions over children”

February 16, 2011 (Richmond, Virginia) – The Virginia Tea Party Federation, a coalition of 40 tea party/patriot/912 groups across the state of Virginia, is outraged by the actions of the Virginia Senate Finance Committee yesterday on HB 2314 – Income Tax Credit for Education. Despite the pleas of parents and students, and the proven effectiveness of such programs in states like Florida, Senate Democrats ignored their constituents and voted in favor of the Virginia Education Association which threatened massive resistance should the measure pass out of committee.

“What is wrong with these people?” asks Mark Lloyd, Virginia Tea Party Federation Chair. “This bill saves the state money, actually increases the money available for public schools, and gives low income
kids a chance to break the cycle of poverty by giving them an opportunity for a better education than they may receive at their local schools. Businesses love it, parents love it, and kids love it. But the unions are terrified that their monopoly would be broken and Senate Democrats know who pays for their campaigns”.

Karen Miner Hurd, Executive Board Member of the Federation puts it this way, “This is incredible. Louise Lucas (D-18, Portsmouth) and Yvonne Miller (D-5, Norfolk) represent areas with high numbers of low income kids that could really benefit from something like this. One of the witnesses at the committee meeting, a teenaged girl, actually cried during her testimony about how much this being able to go to a private school from an at-risk school changed her life. It’s appalling how these two Senators could disregard the needs of their constituents over the demands of the teacher’s union.”

The Virginia Tea Party Federation supports school choice for parents and children.

Action Alert: HJ693 – Protecting Your Property Rights

VA Tea Party Federation — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:48:41 +0000

Calls needed ASAP to assure passage ….. 1st floor vote today

About The Bill
HJ693 is a constitutional amendment that will safeguard your property rights from state and local government and corporations, as well as ensure just compensation in circumstances when land must be taken for legitimate public uses. Please contact the Committee members below to offer your SUPPORT for HJ693. For more information see the General Assembly’s LIS system: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+vot+S08V0086+HJ0693.

Latest News
HJ693 was voted on today by the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee. It was reported from the Privileges and Elections with substitute by 1 vote (8-Y 7-N). The vote was mostly along party lines with Creigh Deeds [D] and Phil Pucket [D] braking from their party.
Next Steps
There will be a Full Senate Vote tomorrow, Wednesday, February 16th.

Action Items
Contact your Senator and ask him to SUPPORT this bill. Use the “Who’s My Legislator” tool to find contact information.(below)

Suggested Talking Points:

- Private property rights are fundamental to individual liberty

- Private property rights guarantee the free exercise of our other civil liberties
- We need to make sure that Kelo-type takings can never happen in Virginia because it’s wrong for the government to take property

from one person and give it to someone the government prefers

- Owners should be compensated for the full impact of a taking

- We need an amendment to make sure the protection of private property is permanent

- Passage of this amendment is necessary to bring stability and predictability to the right of Virginians to own private property free of

overreaching uses of the power of eminent domain.

Please call Senators and ask them to vote NO on any amendments and to vote YES on the bill without amendments.

Telephone List

Member Name" width="16" height="16" />	District	Party	Capitol Office	District Office
Barker, George L.	39	D	(804) 698-7539	(703) 303-1426
Blevins, Harry B.	14	R	(804) 698-7514	(757) 546-2435
Colgan, Charles J.	29	D	(804) 698-7529	(703) 368-0300
Deeds, R. Creigh	25	D	(804) 698-7525	(434) 296-5491
Edwards, John S.	21	D	(804) 698-7521	(540) 985-8690
Hanger, Emmett W., Jr.	24	R	(804) 698-7524	(540) 885-6898
Herring, Mark R.	33	D	(804) 698-7533	(703) 729-3300
Houck, R. Edward	17	D	(804) 698-7517	(540) 786-2782
Howell, Janet D.	32	D	(804) 698-7532	(703) 709-8283
Locke, Mamie E.	2	D	(804) 698-7502	(757) 825-5880
Lucas, L. Louise	18	D	(804) 698-7518	(757) 397-8209
Marsden, David W.	37	D	(804) 698-7537	(571) 249-3037
Marsh, Henry L., III	16	D	(804) 698-7516	(804) 648-9073
Martin, Stephen H.	11	R	(804) 698-7511	(804) 674-0242
McDougle, Ryan T.	4	R	(804) 698-7504	(804) 730-1026
McEachin, A. Donald	9	D	(804) 698-7509	(804) 226-4111
McWaters, Jeffrey L.	8	R	(804) 698-7508	(757) 965-3700
Miller, John C.	1	D	(804) 698-7501	(757) 595-1100
Miller, Yvonne B.	5	D	(804) 698-7505	(757) 627-4212
Newman, Stephen D.	23	R	(804) 698-7523	(434) 385-1065
Norment, Thomas K., Jr.	3	R	(804) 698-7503	(757) 259-7810
Northam, Ralph S.	6	D	(804) 698-7506	(757) 818-5172
Obenshain, Mark D.	26	R	(804) 698-7526	(540) 437-1451
Petersen, Chap	34	D	(804) 698-7534	(703) 349-3361
Puckett, Phillip P.	38	D	(804) 698-7538	(276) 979-8181
Puller, Toddy	36	D	(804) 698-7536	(703) 765-1150
Quayle, Frederick M.	13	R	(804) 698-7513	(757) 483-9173
Reynolds, Wm. Roscoe	20	D	(804) 698-7520	(276) 638-2315
Ruff, Frank M., Jr.	15	R	(804) 698-7515	(434) 374-5129
Saslaw, Richard L.	35	D	(804) 698-7535	(703) 978-0200
Smith, Ralph K.	22	R	(804) 698-7522	(540) 206-3597
Stanley, William M., Jr.	19	R	(804) 698-7519	(540) 721-6028
Stosch, Walter A.	12	R	(804) 698-7512	(804) 527-7780
Stuart, Richard H.	28	R	(804) 698-7528	(804) 493-8892
Ticer, Patricia S.	30	D	(804) 698-7530	(703) 549-5770
Vogel, Jill Holtzman	27	R	(804) 698-7527	(540) 662-4551
Wagner, Frank W.	7	R	(804) 698-7507	(757) 671-2250
Wampler, William C., Jr.	40	R	(804) 698-7540	(276) 669-7515
Watkins, John	10	R	(804) 698-7510	(804) 379-2063
Whipple, Mary Margaret	31	D	(804) 698-7531	(703) 538-4097

Post Mortem of HB1721 – Recorded Senate Votes!

VA Tea Party Federation — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 05:26:39 +0000

HB 1721, which would make Urban Development Areas optional rather than mandatory, was defeated in the Senate today, but not without a lot of drama!

First a quick history. The bill passed the House subcommittee by a vote of 7-4, then the House Committee by a vote of 12-10, and then, finally, the full House by a vote of 61-38.

The bill was then sent to the Senate Local Government Committee. The committee was comprised of 8 Democrats and 7 Republicans and was chaired by Senator Louise Lucas who clearly did not want the bill to come to a vote. Senator Lucas produced a letter signed by Senate Finance Committee Chair, Senator Colgan, and the letter said that Senator Colgan wanted this bill and two others sent to the Finance Committee. Delegate Bob Marshall, the patron, stated that the impact statement indicated there was no financial impact associated with this bill, so it was inappropriate to send it to the Finance Committee. Senator Lucas insisted that she had no choice in the matter, even though she was questioned by Senator Obenshain and others.

Then, about 15 of us accompanied Delegate Marshall to Senator Colgan’s office to determine why he had made the request. Some of the discussion between Delegate Marshall and Senator Colgan took place in private, but the result is that we left Senator Colgan’s office with him in tow, to bring a new letter to Senator Lucas. After a 5 minute recess while Senators Lucas and Colgan engaged in a private discussion, the bill was back on the agenda!

After all of that fun, the bill failed to obtain enough votes to be reported out of committee. The votes were cast strictly along party lines.

Even though we did not get a bill passed that we very much supported, we DID get 8 Democrat’s votes on record – something they were trying to avoid by hoping the bill would die in the Finance Committee. The following all voted NO!

Louise Lucas (18^th)
Henry Marsh (16^th)
Patsy Ticer (30^th)
Roscoe Reynolds (20^th)
Toddy Puller (36^th)
Mark Herring (33^rd)
Mamie Locke (2^nd)
David Marsden (37^th)

What is stopping you from running for Virginia Senate? Isn’t it time we took these seats away from such dreadful political hacks?

This just illustrates how important it is going to be to flip the Virginia Senate in 2011.

Just one vote cast differently would have advanced this bill to the full Senate.

VTPP Leadership

Making Agenda 21 Optional HB1721 – ACTION ALERT

VA Tea Party Federation — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:44:21 +0000

This post was removed.

It would appear that the information was incorrect and that Senator Mark Obenshain did in fact support this legislation.

Senator Obenshain could not have done more to help us get this bill through and should be commended for his efforts.

Donna Holt

Our apologies

Here is a detailed update about the bill:

I do not have a correction ready but I’d like to set the record straight about Del. Athey’s amendment. The amendment was was proposed by Del. Athey on the House floor and we had no part in it. The amendment would have forced localities to reconsider the entire comprehensive plan should they decide to opt out of the UDA mandate by choice or by petition of 5% of the voters in the locality. While most of us would like to have the approved comprehensive plans to comply with the mandate reconsidered, the amendment transfers power from local government to the state which is the very thing the bill is meant to challenge to begin with.

The amendment is the only thing Senator Obenshain didn’t agree with and I have no problem with that. He was right to oppose the amendment. To have the entire comprehensive plan reconsidered is something we need to work lobby for at the local level.

Chairman Lucas sent a request for several bills including HB1721 to Senator Colgan to sign off on to get a review of the financial impact of the bill before they voted on it. Legislative services had already determined there was no financial impact. It was merely a scheme to slow down the bill and avoid a vote by Dems on the commitee (who were bought by the Home Builders Association). Senator Obenshain and Senator Martin made motion after motion trying to keep the bill in the committee and get a vote.

The Chairman knew that the Finance Committee would send it back to Local Government but had we let it take the normal course without Bob Marshall following up and getting Sen. Colgan to take it back down immediately, time would have run out and we wouldn’t have a vote. Senator Colgan deserves credit for doing the right thing. He, obviously, is a man of integrity.

We thought we had Roscoe Reynolds but he left when our bill came up and gave his proxy to someone else to vote for him. In his mind, I’m sure he thought somehow we wouldn’t notice that he voted against us or he could use the excuse that he wasn’t there and didn’t mean for his proxy to vote against us. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Sen. Ticer is retiring so she is the one who made the motion to let it go by indefinitely. She has nothing to lose.

It was carefully orchestrated and when plan “A” didn’t work, they went to plan “B”. Thanks to Delegate Bob Marshall and Senator Colgan, we got a vote and Reynolds and Lucas will definitely be targets in the election. The next best thing to getting a bill passed, is getting a recorded vote.

We’ll be back next year with a new Senate and a better bill.

Donna

Donna Holt

Executive Director

VA Campaign for Liberty

The Case for HB 2470: The Virginia Atmospheric Sovereignty Act

VA Tea Party Federation — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:05:16 +0000

Last week, the house held a hearing on HB 2470 and referred the bill out to another
committee, knowing that such an action would effectively table the bill for consideration
this year. The bill prevents the regulation of carbon dioxide emissions in the
Commonwealth of Virginia by any agency (federal or state). Virginia Scientists and
Engineers for Energy and Environment (VA-SEEE) enthusiastically endorses this bill
for the following reasons; 1.) There is no scientific basis to regulate CO2, and 2.) The
economic consequences to the state for regulating CO2 emissions are dire.

There is no scientific basis to regulate CO2

The federal government has been trying to regulate the burning of fossil fuels, and
presumably, the generation of energy, for years. The first attempt was to tax carbon
emissions to drive up the price of burning fossil fuels. These fuels include coal and
natural gas for electricity production and oil for the production of fuels to power
automobiles, trucks, and aircraft. This was the cap and trade legislation, which in
addition to driving up the price of fossil fuels, made billions for Wall Street traders,
carbon trading exchanges, and ex-politicians. When the legislation was defeated, the
administration implemented plan-B. In this approach, the administration would unleash
the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate carbon dioxide emissions by
a distortion of the Clean Air Act of 1971.

The EPA prepared the groundwork for this unlawful activity by declaring that CO2 was
a danger to humans and the environment. This was known as the Endangerment Finding
and was justified by the EPA’s slight of hand arguments using the flawed scientific
findings of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The IPCC’s mission was not to determine the cause of global warming, but rather to
attribute the warming to human-released greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide.
This mission statement clearly foretells the outcome of the IPCC and reflects their
scientific bias and real agenda, which was to blame man-made CO2 emissions for the
warming caused by a natural climate cycle. The ultimate goal of the UN, the IPCC, the
current US administration, and the EPA is to ban burning of fossil fuels. The theory of
man-made greenhouse gas global warming is the vehicle to get there. The conclusions
of the IPCC have been contradicted by the Non-Governmental International Panel on
Climate Change (NIPCC), which found no evidence that man-made CO2 causes global
warming. In their report “Climate Change Reconsidered,” the NIPCC concluded that
the cause of recent increases in temperature was due to natural cycles that have occurred
many times in the past and were independent of man-made CO2 emissions.

So, not only did the EPA fail to produce their own independent and original research
and analysis on the cause of climate change (as mandated by the clean air act) but they
used the results, analysis, and conclusions of a flawed study (the IPCC’s 4th assessment
report), which has been scientifically and repeatedly discredited. Therefore, the EPA’s
endangerment finding and contention that man-made carbon dioxide is a pollutant is

scientifically flawed and likely illegal. This completely undercuts any basis for regulating
CO2 emissions by stationary sources of production in Virginia and is the root basis for
HB 2470.

The economic consequences to the state for regulating CO2 emissions are dire.

Regulation and reductions in CO2 emissions has consequences. CO2 emissions derive
from the combustion of fossil fuels that are used to produce energy in the state. This
energy runs our homes, businesses, and factories, all of which power our economy and
provide our current quality of life in Virginia.

In their fervor to ban fossil fuel use, the administration (state and federal levels) has
mandated the use of renewable fuels that either do not emit CO2 (wind and solar) or
emit short term CO2 that can be recaptured by the carbon cycle (biofuels). This approach
will devastate the Virginia economy because we lose the cheap fossil fuels that power
our economy now and because the substitute power sources (green renewables) are not
marketable.

Renewable sources have been around for decades but have failed to make it in the free
market. Given a free choice, the market will use fossil fuels because extracting power
from the alternative sources is extremely expensive and unreliable. Additionally, the
amount of power required for our state could not be produced by saturating the state
with wind turbines and solar arrays. The physics is simply not there. It is interesting
that nuclear power, which is both economical and CO2 free, is not being considered as
a serious alternative energy source. This fact demonstrates the hypocrisy of the green
energy proponents.

We have to look no further than Europe to see a natural “laboratory” of the effects of
green sustainable energy on an economy. Denmark and Spain are both leaders in wind
power and also lead the EU in unemployment and low economic growth. The green jobs
argument is also overturned by the Spain experience, where they lose 9 conventional jobs
for every 4 green jobs that are produced.

Produced green jobs means that the money to fund these positions comes from
government sources in the form of subsidies and tax incentives to green energy
companies and not from the private sector, where real economic growth occurs. In fact,
green alternative CO2-free energy can only occur with massive governmental subsidies
because these forms of energy cannot compete on the free market with fossil fuel sources
of power. These subsidies come from taxpayer money, which strangles economic activity
by tying up private capitol for technologies that don’t work.

In conclusion, HB 2470 should become law in Virginia to protect our energy production,
or economy, and our standard of living. The regulation of man made emissions of CO2 is
both pointless and economically destructive. The long term solutions to Virginia’s energy
demands lies in the rational development of nuclear power and the use of our own vast
supplies of fossil fuels in the Commonwealth.

Martin Mangino received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in physiological
chemistry in 1985. He currently serves as a professor and scientist in the departments of
surgery and physiology and biophysics at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical
College of Virginia. He was appointed president of the Central Virginia Chapter of
Virginia Scientists and Engineers for Energy and Environment in July 2009. SEEE-VA
is a not-for-profit organization of Virginia’s professional scientists and engineers that
promotes education and analysis on environment, climate, and energy issues to Virginia’s
citizens and policymakers. Contact Mangino at mjmangino@vcu.edu.

It May be Legal but It is Still Corruption

VA Tea Party Federation — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:15:20 +0000

Op-Ed

Daniel Pennell

The Wall Street – Washington – Richmond Axes

As a states’ rights, pro-business republican since my youth(I registered as a republican before I registered for the draft) I have always held a certain distrust of the Federal Government and felt that state and local government because of it is so much closer to the people was both more effective and less corrupt. Growing up in an upper middle class, conservative family of doctors, bankers, insurance agency owners and small business people I was taught a certain respect and reverence for the business class, its principles and efficiency.
Recent goings on in the Virginia House of Delegates and the Governor’s Office have served to undermine both of these articles of faith and I find the new reality of modern state government and business ethics a bitter pill to swallow.
This week we saw how vested financial special interests have created an obscene and incestuous relationship with the leadership in the state legislature and the Governor’s office. This cabal managed to kill off a bill (HB-1506) proposed by Delegate Bob Marshall that was designed to protect the integrity of the county property records and preserve the integrity of home owner’s title to their property. Simultaneously the cabal attempted to alter the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) with HB-1718, proposed by Delegate Merricks, such that any “record” ( the previous version said document) signed or unsigned by a person they claim owed a debt would be good enough for the banks to win a legal judgment against a person. In other words a spreadsheet from a bank would be good enough to take someone’s home or report someone to a credit bureau. This was in direct response to a Supreme Judicial Court case in MA where the court said that a bank had to have proof it owned a mortgage before it could foreclose on a home. Apparently it is not a novel idea in MA that a bank should demonstrate that it has a legal claim to a mortgage before it forecloses.
The problem that HB-1506 attempted to address originated in 1995 when big Wall Street banks decided that they had the authority to replace the existing public land title recordation system with its nearly 400 years of successful history in Virginia, with a private system that only members who pay in excess of $7,000 could access. This system called the Mortgage Electronic Registration System (MERS) gutted the public property records and left millions of homes with questionable titles. The banks did this without any government approval and against the recommendations of the title industry and the county recorders. They did however get an opinion from Moody’s Rating agency the same people who brought you AAA ratings on subprime loans. MERS has been found by 10 state supreme courts to be acting illegally and is currently being sued by CA, NV, TN and 14 other states. The Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) which regulates all the national banks and the FDIC are investigating MERS for questionable business practices and for the risk it poses to the financial system that may require another bailout. The CEO resigned last week. Speculation in Washington has the OCC taking over MERS and nationalizing our land records a clear violation of states’ rights. All this so the banks could save $21 in recording fees on deals worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
HB-1718 was submitted by Delegate Merricks. Bills to change the UCC are rare. They are rare because the implications of unintended consequences are usually substantial and not usually easy to foresee. The summary of the bill on the Legislative Information System (LIS) states that the bill is intended to address recent court decisions and changes in technology. There is no question that the bill was targeted at both protecting MERS and avoiding a court decision in VA similar to that in MA. Apparently Delegate Merricks, member of a bank board and a former vice president of a bank, thinks that banks should take the home first and then figure out who actually is entitled to do so later. Never mind the risk to title that a future buyer of a foreclosed home faces or that we have situations in VA where multiple banks are foreclosing at the same time on the same person. In that fight the winner gets the house and the loser the right to sue the borrower for the loan amount.
The banks wanted HB-1506 killed and HB-1718 passed to protect MERS and, I believe, to avoid providing proof to mortgage investors that they were defrauded. The requirement to record would have provided evidence to investors in mortgage backed securities (MBS) that what they bought was empty; the mortgages were never legally transferred to the MBS. In my humble opinion if you sell someone a security that you claim is backed by collateral when it is not then that would be securities fraud. But then I am just an ignorant layman and not a master of the universe Wall Street banker. Among these investors are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac whose losses are being paid for with your tax dollars to the tune of $280+ billion dollars over the next three years. Other investors include state and private pension funds. The total exposure to the banks exceeds 1.5 Trillion dollars. You can see why they would fight so hard and spend so much money to avoid a $21 fee and the right to use their own “records”.
HB-1506 was killed by the Speaker of the house (Delegate Howell), the Chairman of the Courts Committee (Delegate Albo), the Chairman of the Civil Subcommittee (Delegate Athey) and the governor’s office.
Delegate Howell, the Speaker, sits on the board of Virginia Heartland Bank. Courts Chairman Albo received 13% of his campaign funds from the VA Bankers Association and more from two major bank servicers. The lobbyist representing the bankers, Matt Bruning, at the hearing of the Civil Subcommittee was a former aid to the chairman of the subcommittee, Delegate Athey, and an aid to the governor.
One of the reasons given by Delegate Athey for not passing HB-1506 on was that the governor’s office in the person of Terri Suit, a former bank lobbyist and current head of the governor’s foreclosure task force sent a letter asking the subcommittee to hold off and let the task force work on it first. Did I mention that according to the Virginia Public Access Project that Terri Suit, who chairs the Foreclosure Task Force, previously, was a paid lobbyist for the Mortgage Lenders Association and the “private” members of the Task Force are almost entirely comprised of representatives of the mortgage industry?

HB-1718 was pulled from the floor when Delegate Marshall threatened to attach an amendment that would exclude mortgages from the language. Had the speaker left it on the floor, the members would have had to record a vote on the amendment and with the amendment there no longer was reason to pass it. The bill is still alive waiting for no one to be watching. Delegate Merricks sits on the board of Virginia Bank & Trust and has 25 years in the banking industry.
I spoke to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Richmond and to the FBI today about all this. Although both declined to say they would not investigate both indicated that this was politics as usual and may not rise to the level of criminal corruption.
I do not know if the behaviors here rise to the level of criminal corruption or not but they certainly meet my personal definition. At the least the relationships are so inappropriate as to cause any reasonable citizen to question the integrity of the process.
A survey released today in the Financial Times shows that Americans trust of all large institutions from government to corporations is at an all time low. Banks come in for particular levels of distrust with only 25% of American saying that they trust financial institutions.
A survey published last week ranked Virginia as the country’s second most corrupt state only after Tennessee.
The American people and citizens of Virginia have a right to feel as they do after the shenanigans going on in Richmond this week.
You can take action: Call your delegate and tell them you want HB-1506 reheard and voted on by the full house. Call the governor’s office and Terri Suit’s office.
If you feel strongly enough, call the FBI & US Attorney in Richmond.

The Repeal Amendment

VA Tea Party Federation — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:02:41 +0000

We are only a few short days away from the upcoming legislative session. I have spent a great portion of the Christmas break reviewing and getting prepped on all the information that was sent out while I was neck deep in VA5 and VA9 campaigns.As many of you know the actual language of our Repeal Amendment has now been filed with the GAB and is HJ542,

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?111+ful+HJ542

I expect we are going to be asked many questions about how the Repeal Amendment would work and you amend the U.S. Constitution. We should be prepared to provide thoughtful answers. I have attached some FAQ’s.

There is a great amount of speculation and confusion floating around about the Repeal Amendment. Please remember that this has been endorsed by VA AG Ken Cuccinelli, Mark Levin, Judge Napolitano, Randy Barnett (Georgetown Constitutional Lawyer), Gov. Bob McDonnell, Congressman Bishop, etc.

There is serious traction now in 13 states with legislative and other leaders.

Don’t forget the actual website:

www.repealamendment.org

I want to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!

2011 is going to be a big year, and all eyes are on Virginia. We have a huge responsibility not only to our Commonwealth, but to our Republic. I have had many calls over the past few weeks asking about how we do it Virginia. I have told them all that is because we have a very special group of patriots in Virginia. We may not agree on everything exactly, but we love the same things, and we recognize that we are working for something greater than ourselves.

Thank you all for what you do and who you are. You are leading the way!

We have a huge task before us, but together we will accomplish the goals of liberty!

Mark Kevin Lloyd

VTPP Chairman Elect

Lobby Day – Jan 17th – Meet and Greet

VA Tea Party Federation — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:46:59 +0000

LOBBY DAY The VA 10th AMENDMENT REVOLUTION* LEGISLATORS MEET & GREET RECEPTION

January 17, 2011

2-5 pm

Sam Miller’s

1210 East Cary Street Richmond VA 23219

Delegates and Senators; please join your constituents from across the Commonwealth for casual conversation, hors d’ oeuvres and libations at Sam Miller’s in historic Shockoe Slip.

Complimentary limousine transportation from the Capital provided.

Contact Becky Greene (804) 514-3532, email magreene714@aol.com to arrange a time for the limo to meet you.

Please RSVP to Carol Stopps, (804) 955-5485, email stopcarol@gmail.com or Phil Rapp, (804) 441-3749. email Phil185@aol.com .

VA 10th Amendment Revolution, A legislative action coalition formed by the VA Tea Party Patriots Federation (40 groups from across the Commonwealth), Va Campaign for Liberty, Tertium Quids and the American Council for Immigration Reform (ANCIR). Click to view a summary of the Coalition Freedom Bills 2011 www.VA10thamendment.org .