Florida’s U.S. Representative Kathy Castor cancelled a highly anticipated appearance at a Tampa Town Hall Meeting which was to take place on September 2. When I previously called her office and reported on that meeting, I was told it might be cancelled for being too small alocation and if one couldn’t be found it might be cancelled. So the entire meeting was indeed called off.

Instead, on that day, Castor did do something else important; she met with some senior citizens to discuss Medicare Advantage marketing abuses. Information about that meetingcan be seen here

An Alternative to Town Hall Meetings:
Meanwhile, the Tampa 912 Project is active all over Tampa Bay. I just joined, so sorry I am so late with this information: There is a General Membership Meeting Tonight, September 8, 7:00 pm.

To join Tampa’s 912 Project and see where the meeting is, go to their Home Page. If you are concerned about security, very little personal information is required. After joining, you will also be able to see their entire calendar here.

The Tampa 912′s next upcoming event is a Day of Prayer and Fasting on September 11, to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the 9/11/01 terrorist attack.

Oddly, it’s been reported that the Obama Team called “Organizing for America” may becommemorating 9/11 in a different way – by blitzing America with phone calls asking for support of the proposed health care plan.

A page on the “Organizing for America” website, captured by the Heritage Foundation but apparently visible only to registered members of the Organizing for America Team, contained this statement as of September 3rd: 

“All 50 states are coordinating in this – as we fight back against our own Right-Wing Domestic Terrorists who are subverting the American Democratic Process, whipped to a frenzy by their Fox Propaganda Network ceaselessly re-seizing power for their treacherous leaders.”

A portion of this document, as captured by the Heritage Foundation, can be seen here. 
Some critics of Obama’s plan take this paragraph to mean that people who disagree with HR 3200 are subversives – as bad as the terrorists who crashed into the buildings on 9/11/01.

If this was the Obama Team’s intent, someone is forgetting that Americans have the right to bring their concerns and petitions before their government. That’s in the First Amendment of a little document called the U.S. Constitution

Original Source

Tomorrow, Thursday August 27, 2009 there will be an Energy Rally in Ybor City.  The Florida Energy Forum is hosting the event at the Ritz Theatre which starts @ 11 AM.   So just who is the Florida Energy Forum?

“The FLA Energy Forum is a growing community of concerned citizens committed to two goals – achieving energy security for our country and holding our elected officials more accountable in shaping energy policies.

We understand Florida’s unique energy challenges and are working to unite a diverse group of Floridians to better educate ourselves about energy issues and to support a balanced approach to increasing American supplies of energy.  We support expanded conservation efforts, development of renewable energy sources and increased domestic exploration of traditional energy sources.”

I have called several elected officials to see if they would be able to make it out tomorrow but I have not found a single one that confirmed.  So one has to wonder if this will be a feel good rally that elected officials will not pay any attention to.

Interesting enough Rep. Kathy Castor’s office whose Congressional District this event is in will not be attending.  Castor voted in favor of Cap & Trade.  Her competition (Eddie Adams) has confirmed that he will be attending the event.

The Hav-A-Tampa cigar factory in Tampa will close and lay off 492 employees.

Hav-A-Tampa is a division of Altaic USA Inc., which filed a required notice with the state of Florida that it will shut down its factory at 3901 Riga Blvd. in Tampa and begin the layoffs on Aug. 24.

Some non-manufacturing functions will move to another facility in Brandon, but none of the affected employees will be relocated to that facility, the company said in its notice.

Rick McKenzie, the company’s vice president of human resources, says business has been hurt by rising taxes. A new federal tobacco tax went into effect in April and will help pay for a health insurance program for low-income children.

Congressional Candidate Eddie Adams Jr. gave this statement regarding the closing “There are no good taxes. This is the primary result of taxation on tobacco.  Tobacco has been determined to be a legal product, but Federal government and the state government see this as an easy opportunity to generate money for the Federal and State government.  The more you tax a product or industry the less that product is going to sale.  So now we have Hav A Tampa laying off 500 people that will be looking to the government for handouts.  All because the Federal and State government thought this would be a great way to generate money.”

Congresswoman Kathy Castor’s office did not return our phone call about the plant closing.  Castor has supported federal legislation (HR-1256) that increased taxes on Tobacco products.

The company’s Web site says Hav-A-Tampa cigars were originally trademarked in 1902.

The company operates other production facilities in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

In addition to Hav-A-Tampa, Altadis hand-made cigar brands include H. Upmann, Playboy, Dutch Masters, Muriel, Phillies and Romeo y Julieta.

On the Web: HAV A TAMPA

Eddie Adams Jr. for Congress

Eddie Adams Jr. is a congressional candidate in Tampa.  He is running against the incumbent Kathy Castor (D).  This marks the third attempt by Eddie to run for this congressional seat.

I have had the esteemed pleasure of speaking with Eddie on several occasions. I invite any readers to try and meet him at any of his events.  He is a very friendly person.  When Eddie gives rousing speeches on Federal topics, one feels reenergized.  He touches on many of the hot issues including Federal Reserve, Energy, Taxes, Obamacare, and many others.

Eddie is a native of Florida.  So he isn’t a transplant that is running for office.  He was born in Lake Wales, Florida.  So why should you support Eddie Adams for Congress?

Eddie has a big heart!  Even while running for Congress he still has time to help others.  Eddie will be putting on a benefit concert on the 4th of July at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa.  The benefit will be held for Every Day Blessings Orphanage in Tampa that is on the verge of shutting it’s doors.  Eddie has basically organized the entire benefit concert.

If that wasn’t enough, Eddie has been very active in his local community.  From being a member of the board of directors for the YMCA to the Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce.  He is an active part of the community. This is exactly the type of person the community needs to send to Washington to represent it.

To find out more about the Eddie Adams campaign you can visit http://www.adamsforcongress.org

A report on $85 billion in stimulus funding slated for direct spending on and tax incentives for energy and transportation programs prompted Congresswoman Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, to review the importance of clean energy jobs to Florida’s economy.

In a Monday morning teleconference Castor, a member of House Energy and Commerce Committee, said clean energy creates “good paying jobs for people of all skill levels and diverse educational backgrounds.”

The Pew Charitable Trusts report issued June 10 analyzed the role of clean energy in economic recovery.

The report arrived at a critical time for legislation, Castor said. It shows that between 1998 and 2007, Florida gained 2,277 jobs from companies involved in clean energy.

The numbers provide a glimpse of what jobs in the future can be, Castor said.

The clean energy sector is “poised for explosive growth,” said Lori Grange, interim deputy director of the Pew Center on the States, in the teleconference.

The Pew report tallied jobs, businesses and investments in 50 states that would contribute to clean, renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and the conversion of water and other natural resources.

An independent nonprofit founded in 1948, Pew has primary offices in Philadelphia and Washington.

(ORIGINAL SOURCE)