Heinie Heinzelman

Below are the questions asked in our Liberty questionnaire that went to all Republican candidates for Congressional District 24 seat.  Only 2 have currently responded.  Mr. Heinie Heinzelman was the first to get back with me.  To visit his site and learn more about his campaign CLICK HERE

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1. Will you cosponsor and call for roll call votes on the Audit the Fed bill, designed to bring transparency to the Federal Reserve (H.R. 1207/ S. 604 in the 111th Congress)?   YES

2. Will you support legislation removing capital gains and sales taxes on gold and silver coinage?  Yes

3. Will you vote to oppose any legislation that allows the federal government to prohibit the sale, use, or carrying of firearms?  YES-YES-YES

4. Will you support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that includes hard spending limits and allows for no increase in taxes or other federal revenue enhancements?  YES

5. Will you support legislation that forbids U.S. troops from serving under United Nations command?  YES

6. Do you support and will you vote to protect states asserting their rights under the Tenth Amendment?  ABSOLUTELY YES!

7. Will you oppose Big Labor’s Card Check bill and any other legislation designed to empower union bosses?  YES, AND GLADLY

8. Do you support U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations?   YES, YOU BETCHA

9. Will you support the American Sovereignty Act to restrict the Executive’s ability to forge international agreements that lessen our sovereignty?    Yes

10. Will you oppose using U.S. forces to occupy a foreign nation without a declaration of war?  Yes

11. Will you oppose any attempt to nationalize our health care system, including any sort of public option for insurance?  YES-YES-YES

12. Will you oppose so-called “Cap and Trade” legislation?   YES-YES-YES

13. Will you vote to eliminate the IRS?   YES, WITH THE FAIR TAX. (And put some of them on illegal immagration control)

14. Will you vote against any budget that increases our debt?  YES, AND GLADLY

15. Will you oppose federal power grabs like roving wiretaps and warrantless searches, and oppose Patriot Act renewal that includes such items?  NEED TO RESEARCH AND EVALUATE FURTHER.

16. Will you oppose any legislation that requires states and citizens to participate in a National Identification Card program?  YES

17. Will you oppose the so-called “NAFTA Superhighway” and any move toward a North American Union?  PROBABLY, BUT STILL REVIEWING

18. Will you support legislation that ensures Members of Congress have at least 72 hours to read any bill before it is allowed to come to the House floor?  NO–I PREFER 72 HOURS FOR UP TO 288 PAGES PLUS 15 MINUTES FOR EVERY PAGE OVER 288.

19. Will you oppose all tax increases?  YES

20. Indicate the tax cuts you are willing to vote for:
Across the Board Income Tax Cut   YES
Capital Gains Tax Cut   YES
Business Tax Cut  YES-YES-YES
Estate Tax Cut   YES

Alan Grayson

(WASHINGTON) – Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) today praised the implementation of the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights (H.R. 627).  Rep. Grayson helped to shepherd this bill through the House Financial Services Committee, and then voted for it in the House.  It contains several strict protections for consumers, including banning unfair interest rate increases, and forbidding abusive fees and penalties by credit card companies.

Congressman Grayson said, “Credit card companies will no longer be able to stick it to middle-class families in Central Florida.  These huge banks charged exorbitant interest rates, and used gimmicks to burden people with unnecessary fees.  These reforms will help hard-working people pay off their debt.”

The so-called “Credit CARD Act” was signed into law on May 22, 2009, and takes effect this week.  A recent report by the Pew Charitable Trusts concluded that unfair or deceptive credit card practices hurt families badly before this important law was enacted.  For example, interest rates climbed an average of 20 percent in the first half of 2009, on credit cards representing more than 90 percent of outstanding balances.

As part of the new law, consumers are now given the right to refuse to accept rate hikes, and pay off existing credit card balances under the old rate. Credit card companies also are required to give 45 days’ notice of any rate increases on new purchases.  If a consumer receives notice of a rate hike, he or she can now simply ask the card company to reverse the rate hike and close the account.

Additional provisions of the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights (H.R. 627):

·       Account statements must be sent 21 days in advance of the payment due date.

·       Interest rate hikes on balances are prohibited.

·       Penalty rate increases for payments less than 60 days overdue are banned.

·       Charging interest on debts paid on-time is banned.

·       “Due-date” gimmicks, such as setting morning times for payments before mail is delivered or charging fees for paying a bill by phone or internet, are banned.

·       Promotional rates must last at least six months.

·       A consumer under 21 must demonstrate an ability to pay, or have a parent co-sign, to be eligible for a credit card.

Bill Posey

MELBOURNE, FL – Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) provided the following testimony to the EPA regarding Florida’s water standards. The remarks were delivered on his behalf by his District Director:

“I want to take just a couple of minutes to express my concerns about the proposed regulations and how they would adversely impact our local businesses, our state’s critical agricultural community, and state and local government budgets.

“There is strong opposition to the proposed EPA regulations based on sound reasons.  In fact, 23 members of Florida’s Congressional delegation wrote EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson on December 2, 2009, expressing our concerns about the proposal and its adverse economic impact on the state.   Concerns over the regulations have been expressed to me by small business owners, agricultural producers and elected officials.  I would urge the EPA to listen to the concerns that are expressed today, to take these concerns into consideration, and to adjust your approach to accommodate these concerns in this particularly trying economic time.

“The state of Florida has been a national leader in making our waters cleaner.  Florida has in place today some of the most robust standards to support water quality improvement.  Unfortunately, the proposed regulations fail to recognize this and instead impose a blanket approach to water quality that fails to recognize the variability of Florida’s water resources and the positive steps Florida has already taken.  Furthermore, rather than this being a science-driven approach, it has been a timeline driven approach that lacks the transparency that our local governments and businesses deserve.  If allowed to be implemented, these regulations will cause serious economic harm to our state while having uncertain environmental benefit. If, that is, the proposal is even economically attainable.

“The EPA should set aside the proposed regulations and begin to work again closely with the State of Florida to utilize the state’s existing efforts to enhance water quality, rather than disrupt Florida’s successful ongoing efforts and divert limited resources to initiatives that may not be the most effective.

“Agriculture faces higher costs and increasing pressures due to overseas competition.  The proposed regulations would further compromise Florida’s competitiveness, result in further job loss, raise the cost of agricultural production, and impede our recovery from the recession.  Additionally, in this era of heightened awareness of the threats of terrorism and the need to secure our nation’s food supply, it is critically important that we retain our domestic agricultural production.  Regulations that lead to the loss of domestic production could result in greater reliance on foreign producers, thus potentially compromising the safety of our nation’s food supply.

“Many businesses are struggling to keep their doors open.  Costly regulations would raise the cost of doing business in Florida and the United States, hampering our ability to remain competitive and create jobs here in Florida.   With an unemployment rate of nearly 12 percent, we cannot afford to see the costs of doing business in Florida increased further.

“Finally, state and local budgets are stretched thin.  Not only would the loss of additional agricultural production and small businesses limit our state’s ability to create more jobs, but the loss would also make it more difficult for the state and local governments to balance their budgets.  The costs of complying with these proposed rules do come with a cost. There will be budget tradeoffs for local governments.  Costly regulation should not be imposed in a vacuum because they do impact every sector of our economy.

“Thank you for this opportunity and thank you for listening to the concerns of Florida residents.”

CLICK HERE to read the letter from the Florida Delegation to the EPA Administrator.

Monday each of the Republican candidates for District 24 were emailed a questionnaire from Central Florida Politics.  The only campaign that contacted me back was Karen Diebel.  All of the candidates face an uphill battle in defeating Suzanne Kosmas.

Here is a copy of the questions emailed to the candidates:

1. Will you cosponsor and call for roll call votes on the Audit the Fed bill, designed to bring transparency to the Federal Reserve (H.R. 1207/ S. 604 in the 111th Congress)?

2. Will you support legislation removing capital gains and sales taxes on gold and silver coinage?

3. Will you vote to oppose any legislation that allows the federal government to prohibit the sale, use, or carrying of firearms?

4. Will you support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that includes hard spending limits and allows for no increase in taxes or other federal revenue enhancements?

5. Will you support legislation that forbids U.S. troops from serving under United Nations command?

6. Do you support and will you vote to protect states asserting their rights under the Tenth Amendment?

7. Will you oppose Big Labor’s Card Check bill and any other legislation designed to empower union bosses?

8. Do you support U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations?

9. Will you support the American Sovereignty Act to restrict the Executive’s ability to forge international agreements that lessen our sovereignty?

10. Will you oppose using U.S. forces to occupy a foreign nation without a declaration of war?

11. Will you oppose any attempt to nationalize our health care system, including any sort of public option for insurance?

12. Will you oppose so-called “Cap and Trade” legislation?

13. Will you vote to eliminate the IRS?

14. Will you vote against any budget that increases our debt?

15. Will you oppose federal power grabs like roving wiretaps and warrantless searches, and oppose Patriot Act renewal that includes such items?

16. Will you oppose any legislation that requires states and citizens to participate in a National Identification Card program?

17. Will you oppose the so-called “NAFTA Superhighway” and any move toward a North American Union?

18. Will you support legislation that ensures Members of Congress have at least 72 hours to read any bill before it is allowed to come to the House floor?

19. Will you oppose all tax increases?

20. Indicate the tax cuts you are willing to vote for: 
Across the Board Income Tax Cut 
Capital Gains Tax Cut 
Business Tax Cut 
Estate Tax Cut

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update the other candidates in the race contacted me tonight.  I expect their answers back by next Friday.

Bill McCollum

It is really something when Alex Sink is sounding like Jack Kemp!  Yet Bill McCollum is sounding like a Democrat. You can read more about that here

Tonight the Paula Dockery campaign fired off a great Press Release that hit Bill on that mark as well.  Below is that release

Matthew Falconer for Orange County Mayor won a straw poll in a landslide on Saturday at a candidate forum. The Supervisor of Elections conducted a poll with all Mayoral candidates on the official ballot. I won 73.3% of the vote while all six of my opponents collected only 26% of the vote combined. Only Marco Rubio had more votes (277) to Matthew Falconer (242). Below are the official results;

http://www.teapartypatriotslive.com/2010/02/13/orlando-tea-party-candidate-hob-nob-straw-poll-results/

What is clear from the vote is taxpayers are fed up with government of career politicians serving special interests. The Mayoral opposition candidates on the ballot included four incumbent commissioners with 28 years of “experience.” All four commissioners voted in unison for the taxpayer funded arena, corporate welfare programs, and the $3 billion commuter rail program they still do not know how we are going to pay for. None of the opposition candidates managed 9% of the vote.

In what may be the truest statement in the local media all year, Jane Healy from the Orlando Sentinel said Teresa Jacobs “might be in the wrong party.” I have called Teresa “Pelosi” the most liberal Republican in Florida, see the column below.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-jane-healy-column-021410-20100212,0,3501971.column

I also received an email on Sunday that Mildred Fernandez is on her fifth campaign manager in as many months. The email stated “The Spanish community feels abandoned by her; they think she only wants to deal with rich white folks.” I have heard that statement many times in the past few months.
It is clear the era of “progressive” Republicans, or Republicans in Name Only, is over. I call on my “republican” opponents, Mildred and Teresa, to withdraw from this race and help me defeat the fiscally irresponsible Bill Segal-bama.

With your help, this will be the “Year of the Taxpayer.” Please join me at our precinct walk Saturday February 20th  at 9am in East Orange County (by the Chipotle on Alafaya). We will knock on 700 doors and get out our message of lower taxes and more responsible government. It is time for the taxpayers to get off the couch and take back their government.

There are now five candidates for Orange County Mayor but only two choices; Matthew Falconer who will put Taxpayers First, and all of the rest who will put their special interests first.

The current U.S. Federal taxing scheme is exasperating if not convoluted and intentionally vague to incomprehensible.  Any belief that fair is a concept in governmental oversight, only needs to look at the IRS for re-evaluation.  There is not lack of proposals of change to manipulate and recalculate.  It is only a matter of whom to bestow gracious favor.  The government is in the business of choosing winners and losers. Economically “fair” is a concept that is misplaced in a fluid and vibrant free market.  Fair requires a static economy that can be studied and managed.  Keynesian’s believe such managing of the economy is achievable with their diligent studies, charts and graphs.  So it should not be surprising that government and central bank collude to impress and befuddle with their omnipotent grandeur.  The only practical reasons for such deception is to cover a theft a plundering of the citizens of magnitude.

The call for governmental reform and transparency resonates with the populace, so politicians echo sanctimoniously. The speeches passionately delivered and warmly received, will in the end provide no  resolution from dissonance.  There will be unending debates and ridicule of solutions, those endangering the power structure, vehemently denounced as radical.  The messenger  will be derided as inept and conspiratorial, quickly vanquished by hyperbole.  Remember the King tyrant deemed us  radicals for demanding liberty.  The importance of this action is not to lecture to innocence, but to  take away the pleas of ignorance.  For if we are to have a government of the people, the people are responsible for safeguarding their freedom and liberty.  Government no matter it’s intentions is by nature oppressive.

Freedom and liberty is the ability to make decisions unencumbered regarding life and property, without impinging on the natural rights of others. In 1913 the U.S. Government became chief arbitrator and enforcer of bestowed rights with the 16th amendment.  The importance of understanding that the government decides how much prosperity your allowed to keep, not how much you pay. The government by determining the allocation  of the fruit of labor transitioned the American people into a slave master relationship.  For those that would claim the nation will implode without the 16th need only look at 1912 surpluses.  No legitimate reform in taxation can be achieved without first abolishing the 16th amendment.

The first proposal for a tax reform bill should be to abolish the 16th amendment, replacing it with nothing.  Any proposal that maintains the 16th by either manipulating or shrinking the tax code needs to be rejected out of hand, including any iteration of the FLAT TAX.  The proposal of the VAT/BCT tax is a reminder of attempts to hide the true cost of government and is intellectually misleading. The need to return to a constitutional limited government may need a transitional taxing scheme to pave the way to prosperity. Reluctantly the FAIR TAX would be more advantageous to the American people.  The provision of a “pre-bate”, political appeasement tactic, should be left on the table as the embodiment of socialism through a monthly government check.  Consumers  reminded daily by the receipt in their hand of the high cost of government will demand a decreasing rate, until a proper limited government is achieved.

Next time I’ll focus on the printing tax, the largest tax ever imposed on the American people.

Marco Rubio

Miami, FL – Grover Norquist, one of the most prominent pro-taxpayer leaders in the country and a board member of the National Rifle Association, today announced his endorsement of Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate.

“I have followed Marco Rubio’s career very closely and am proud to support him in his bid for U.S. Senate,” said Norquist.  “In closely examining his record, I remain convinced he has been the most courageous, pro-taxpayer legislative leader in the country and will continue this path in the U.S. Senate.

“In fact, Marco Rubio’s vigorous advocacy of his property tax reform plan remains a shining example of his willingness to stand up for pro-taxpayer policies, even in the face of opponents committed to the status quo.  Just as Marco fought for revolutionary tax reform, he also held the line on spending during challenging budget years when others were clamoring for more revenues and more ways to fund government.

“Marco Rubio is the only consistently anti-tax candidate in Florida’s U.S. Senate race.  When Marco Rubio makes promises to not raise taxes on taxpayers, he keeps them. I am proud to support Marco Rubio and am excited by the things he will do in Washington to stand up for taxpayers and advance free market, limited government principles.”

Welcoming Norquist’s endorsement, Rubio said, “Grover Norquist is the nation’s leading pro-taxpayer grassroots leader, and I am honored to have his support.  For decades, his advice and counsel have shaped tax policies that have unleashed America’s entrepreneurial spirit and made us the most dynamic economy in the world.

“Grover Norquist is not only a friend of the taxpayer, he is a protector of the taxpayer who holds candidates and elected officials accountable.  Having studied my record, I am honored to have his support as confirmation of my commitment to protect taxpayers and promote limited government principles.”

About Grover Norquist: Norquist has been one of Washington’s most effective issues management strategists for over two decades.  He currently serves as president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), a coalition of taxpayer groups, individuals and businesses opposed to higher taxes at  the federal, state and local levels.  Norquist also serves on the board of directors of the National Rifle Association of America and the American Conservative Union.  He is also the author of “Leave Us Alone – Getting the Government’s Hands Off Our Money, Our Guns, Our Lives.”

Mr. Norquist holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, both from Harvard University. He lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Samah and his daughters, Grace and Giselle.

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Bill McCollum

It would seem that Good Ole’ Boy Bill McCollum’s support is slipping. In the last few weeks the Dockery campaign has released endorsements from Dennis Jones and Nancy Detert who both came out for Bill early on.

If people endorsing Bill are having second thoughts shouldn’t voters?  Bill represents the establishment and the status quo.  This is just one of McCollum’s big worries. Recently the RPOF has come under considerable criticism, which McCollum has remained mute on the issue.  Considering how close McCollum and Greer are I don’t expect him or his campaign to be active on this big issue.  Doesn’t McCollum have an RPOF American Express (AMEX) card?  But we can trust McCollum right?  He did use the state plane for just work related trips right?

Carey Baker

Friends,

As some of my closest and most dedicated supporters, you deserve to hear this message from me first. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the help you have given me in my campaign for the Commissioner of Agriculture seat. You’ve answered the calls, reached out to friends and helped make a difference in this race.

As with any campaign, you have to achieve certain objectives to set yourself up for victory. I had to prepare myself to wage a full-scale campaign that would give Floridians a chance to see what I had to offer them if elected Commissioner of Agriculture. This would not be an easy task in a big state like ours, but nothing ever worth pursuing is easy.

Unfortunately, I was unable to meet those goals. And so I was faced with a difficult decision, but ultimately a necessary one. With so many other challenges to address in our state, particularly in the Legislature, it would be wrong of me to continue a campaign when I have not met the goals I need to win. It’s time for me to choose where I am most prepared to help the people of Florida.

Today, I will be announcing my withdrawal from the Commissioner of Agriculture race. As Chairman of the General Government Appropriations Committee in the Florida Senate, I can be a voice for sound fiscal policies that will help bring jobs back to Florida and reduce the burden of wasteful government spending on small businesses and families. While I withdraw my candidacy with a heavy heart, I know that as a full-time Senator, I can continue to make a difference and make you proud.

Once again, thank you for your trust and support in this campaign. You’ve stood by me and have never let me down, and your efforts have helped move this campaign and bring a number of important issues to the debate over Florida’s future. I’m proud to have earned your friendship, and I hope to keep that trust as I finish out my term in the Senate.