Is America a Christian nation?
It's interesting that we have to ask the question.
Carl Pearlston wrote a great article concerning the topic.
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Is America a Christian Nation?
CARL PEARLSTON
Is America a Christian nation? The answer is both yes and no, depending on what one means by the phrase.
Independence Hall
The use of Christian religious references in the recent Presidential Inauguration prayers has served to reopen the debate over religion in America's public life. Professor Alan Dershowitz led off with an article strongly objecting that America wasn't a Christian nation; Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby replied that it certainly was. Who is right? Is America a Christian nation? The answer is both yes and no, depending on what one means by the phrase.
When President Harry Truman wrote to Pope Pius XII in 1947 that "This is a Christian nation.", he certainly did not mean that the United States has an official or legally-preferred religion or church. Nor did he mean to slight adherents of non-Christian religions. But he certainly did mean to recognize that this nation, its institutions and laws, was founded on Biblical principles basic to Christianity and to Judaism from which it flowed. As he told an Attorney General's Conference in 1950, "The fundamental basis of this nation's laws was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings we get from Exodus and Saint Matthew, from Isaiah and Saint Paul. I don't think we emphasize that enough these days. If we don't have a proper fundamental moral background, we will finally end up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in rights for anybody except the State."
Woodrow Wilson, in his election campaign for President, made the same point: "A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today, nor what it is trying to do. We are trying to do a futile thing if we do not know where we came from or what we have been about.... America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the tenets of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture."
The crucial role of Christianity in this nation's formation is not without dispute, although as Revolutionary leader Patrick Henry said: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship."
John Ashcroft was roundly criticized for his "No King but Jesus" speech at Bob Jones University, but he was only reminding us of our colonial and Revolutionary War heritage. In a 1774 report to King George, the Governor of Boston noted: "If you ask an American, who is his master? He will tell you he has none, nor any governor but Jesus Christ." The pre-war Colonial Committees of Correspondence soon made this the American motto: "No King but King Jesus." And this sentiment was carried over into the 1783 peace treaty with Great Britain ending that war, which begins "In the name of the most Holy and Undivided Trinity... ."
Samuel Adams, who has been called 'The Father of the American Revolution' wrote The Rights of the Colonists in 1772, which stated: "The rights of the colonists as Christians...may be best understood by reading and carefully studying the institution of the Great Law Giver and Head of the Christian Church, which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament."
It is frequently asserted by those seeking to minimize Christianity's central role in our nation's founding and history, that the founders themselves were not practicing Christians, but rather were Deists or Agnostics. In a 1962 speech to Congress, Senator Robert Byrd noted that of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, 29 were Anglicans, 16-18 were Calvinists, and among the rest were 2 Methodists, 2 Lutherans, 2 Roman Catholics, 1 lapsed Quaker-sometimes Anglican, and only 1 open Deist — Benjamin Franklin who attended all Christian worships and called for public prayer.
Samuel Chase was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a Justice of the US Supreme Court, and, as Chief Justice of the State of Maryland, wrote in 1799 ( Runkel v Winemiller): "By our form of government, the Christian religion is the established religion... ." (Maryland was one of nine States having established churches supported by taxpayers at the time of the adoption of the Constitution; these churches were gradually disestablished, the last in 1833. The Maryland constitution, typical of many of the States, restricted public office to Christians until, in 1851, it was changed to allow Jews who believed in a future state of rewards and punishments to also serve).
Christianity pervaded the laws and the legal system of the States and the federal government. For example, Judge Nathaniel Freeman in 1802 charged Massachusetts Grand Juries as follows: "The laws of the Christian system, as embraced by the Bible, must be respected as of high authority in all our courts... . [Our government] originating in the voluntary compact of a people who in that very instrument profess the Christian religion, it may be considered, not as republic Rome was, a Pagan, but a Christian republic." In 1811 ( People v Ruggles), New York Chief Justice James Kent held: "'...whatever strikes at the root of Christianity tends manifestly to the dissolution of civil government... .' We are a Christian people, and the morality of the country is deeply engrafted upon Christianity... . Christianity in its enlarged sense, as a religion revealed and taught in the Bible, is part and parcel of the law of the land... ." In 1824, the Pennsylvania Supreme court held ( Updegraph v The Commonwealth): Christianity, general Christianity, is and always has been a part of the common law...not Christianity founded on any particular religious tenets; not Christianity with an established church, but Christianity with liberty of conscience to all men... ."
Our sixth President, John Quincy Adams said "From the day of the Declaration...they [the American people] were bound by the laws of God, which they all, and by the laws of The Gospel, which they nearly all, acknowledge as the rules of their conduct"
John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court said: "Providence has given to our people the choice of their ruler, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." This was said despite the explicit provision in the federal Constitution forbidding any religious test for federal public office.
Justice Joseph Story, who was appointed to the US Supreme Court by President Madison, said in an 1829 speech at Harvard: "There never has been a period of history, in which the Common Law did not recognize Christianity as lying at its foundation." Story wrote several respected treatises or Commentaries on Constitutional Law, in which are found the following: "Probably, at the time of the adoption of the Constitution, and of the [First] Amendment...the general, if not the universal, sentiment in America was, that Christianity ought to receive encouragement from the State so far as was not incompatible with the private rights of conscience and the freedom of religious worship. Any attempt to level all religions, and to make it a matter of state policy to hold all in utter indifference, would have created universal disapprobation, if not universal indignation."
"The real object of the First Amendment was not to countenance, much less to advance Mohammedanism, or Judaism, or infidelity, by prostrating Christianity, but to exclude all rivalry among Christian sects and to prevent any national ecclesiastical patronage of the national government".
Justice Story wrote for a unanimous Supreme Court in 1844 ( Vidal v Girard's Executors): "It is also said, and truly that the Christian religion is a part of the common law... ."
In 1854, The United States House of Congress passed a resolution: "The great vital and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and divine truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
During the Civil War, The Senate passed a resolution in 1863: "...devoutly recognizing the supreme authority and just government of Almighty God...encouraged ...to seek Him for succor according to His appointed way, through Jesus Christ, the Senate ...does hereby request the President ...to set aside a day for national prayer and humiliation." President Lincoln promptly issued a Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day, stating "...in compliance with the request and fully concurring in the view of the Senate... ."
The US Supreme Court forbade polygamy in 1890 (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints v United States): "It is contrary to the spirit of Christianity and the civilization which Christianity has produced in the Western world." Two years later, the Court, by Justice Brewer, approvingly cited many of the earlier cases cited above, discussed the history and prominent role of religion in laws, business, customs, and society, and held (Church of the Holy Trinity v United States): "...this is a religious people. This is historically true. From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation... . These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian Nation... .we find everywhere a clear recognition of the same truth."
Congress in essence summarized all this preceding history when it passed a Joint Resolution designating 1983 as The Year of the Bible, stating: "Whereas the Bible, the Word of God, has made a unique contribution in shaping the United States as a distinctive and blessed nation and people; ...deeply held religious convictions springing from the Holy scriptures led to the early settlement of our Nation; ...Biblical teachings inspired concepts of civil government that are contained in our Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States....designate 1983 as a national 'Year of the Bible in recognition of both the formative influence the Bible has been for our Nation, and our national need to study and apply the teachings of the Holy Scriptures". In 1988, a Joint Resolution of Congress declared that the first Thursday in May of each year is to be a National Day of Prayer.
The historical record from the foregoing quotes from past Presidents, leaders, Congressmen, Jurists and court decisions, seems firmly on the side of those claiming that America was born and maintained as a Christian nation whose laws, morals, and customs derive from Christian (and Jewish) scriptures. The opponents of this view, however, point to the first sentence of Article 11 of the obscure Tripoli Treaty of 1797 as seeming conclusive proof that America was never a Christian nation. Before discussing that critical sentence, the treaty itself should be read in context with all of the Barbary treaties.
The Barbary States on the coast of North Africa, comprising the Moslem States of Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, attacked ships in their coastal waters which would not pay tribute, and held captives for ransom. The European nations had treaties with those states, under which, in exchange for tribute, shipping was protected. After the Revolutionary War, our new nation followed the lead of those European nations and entered into similar treaties. Breach of those treaties by the Barbary nations led to the Barbary wars in 1801.
The first treaty was with Morocco in 1786, negotiated by Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin. It was written in Arabic with an English translation. The treaty language assumes that the world was divided between Christians and Moors (Moslems), e.g. "If we shall be at war with any Christian Power ... .", "... no Vessel whatever belonging either to Moorish or Christian Powers with whom the United States may be at War ... .", "...be their enemies Moors or Christians." These along with numerous references to God, e.g., "In the name of Almighty God,", "... trusting in God ...", "Grace to the only God", "...the servant of God ...", "... whom God preserve ...". are the only references to religion in this treaty of Peace and Friendship.
The next was the Treaty of Peace and Amity with Algiers in 1795,written in Turkish. The only reference to religion was in Article 17 which gave the Consul of the United States "... Liberty to Exercise his Religion in his own House [and] all Slaves of the Same Religion shall not be impeded in going to Said Consul's house at hours of prayer... ." The Consul's house was to function in lieu of a Christian church.
The Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation with Tunis in 1797 was in Turkish with a French translation. It begins "God is infinite.", and refers to the Ottoman Emperor "whose realm may God prosper", and to the President of the United States "... the most distinguished among those who profess the religion of the Messiah, ...." Other than a reference to "the Christian year", there is no further mention of religion.
The Treaty of Peace and Friendship with Tripoli was signed in 1796 in Arabic, and was later translated into English by Joel Barlow, United States Consul General at Algiers. Except for the typical phrases "Praise be to God" and "whom God Exalt", there is no reference to religion other than the aforesaid remarkable Article 11, which reads,
"As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen, — and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan (sic) nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
The treaty, with this language, was submitted to the Senate by President Adams, and was ratified. Thus, opponents of the 'Christian nation' concept point to this seemingly official repudiation of the very idea. Yet the language is less a repudiation of the role of Christianity in the nation's heritage than a reminder that there was no national established church in the United States as there was in the European states with which Tripoli had previously dealt. This provided reassurance to the Moslem Bey and his religious establishment that religion, in of itself, would not be a basis of hostility between the two nations. None of the other similar treaties with the Barbary states, before or after this treaty, including the replacement treaties signed in 1804 after the Barbary Wars, have any language remotely similar.
And there is a deeper mystery: As noted in a footnote at page 1070 of the authoritative treatise by Bevans, Treaties and other International Agreements of the United States of America, citing treaty scholar Hunter Miller.
"While the Barlow translation quoted above has been printed in all official and unofficial treaty collections since 1797, most extraordinary (and wholly unexplained) is the fact that Article 11 of the Barlow translation, with its famous phrase 'the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion.' does not exist at all. There is no Article 11. The Arabic text which is between Articles 10 and 12 is in form a letter, crude and flamboyant and withal quite unimportant, from the Dey of Algiers to the Pasha of Tripoli. How that script came to be written and to be regarded, as in the Barlow translation, as Article 11 of the treaty as there written, is a mystery and seemingly must remain so. Nothing in the diplomatic correspondence of the time throws any light whatever on the point" (Emphasis added)
In sum, the phrase was no doubt an invention of Mr. Barlow, who inserted it on his own for his own, unknown, purposes. It was duly ratified without question by the United States Senate, which would no doubt be hesitant to object to any phraseology which was represented as desired by the Bey of Tripoli, with whom the United States wanted peaceful relations. It remains a mystery.
Can America still be called a Christian nation? It is certainly a more religiously pluralistic and diverse society than it was during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. There are increasing numbers of non-Christians immigrating to this country, and there has been a rapid rise in adherents to Islam among our population. There are millions of Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Shintoists, Unitarians, Hindus, Wiccans, Naturists, Agnostics, and Atheists, but Christians comprise roughly 84% of the population. Our constitutional legal system is still based on the Jewish/Christian Bible, not the Koran or other holy book. We still observe Sunday, the Christian Sabbath, as an official holiday. Easter and Christmas still have a special place in the holiday lexicon. The Ten Commandments are still on the wall behind the Supreme Court Justices when they take the bench. Our coins still display the motto "In God We Trust." The US is still firmly part of a Western Civilization fashioned by a Judeo-Christian religious ethic and heritage. Alexis de Tocqueville observed more than a century and a half ago, "There is no country in the world, where the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America." That is still true today. We live, not under a Christian government, but in a nation where all are free to practice their particular religion, in accommodation with other religions, and in accordance with the basic principles of the nation, which are Christian in origin. It is in that sense that America may properly be referred to as a Christian nation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Pearlston, Carl "Is America a Christian Nation." Connecticut Jewish Ledger (April, 2001)
THE AUTHOR
Carl Pearlston is an attorney in the Los Angeles area, specializing in arbitration/mediation, a former professor of Constitutional Law, an Annapolis graduate, and a Jewish conservative active in various organizations including Toward Tradition.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Voting ourselves money
"When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic"
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A Desperate December Deal
(From the Heritage Foundation)
If you are one of the few Americans who still subscribes, your morning newspaper probably has a headline like this: Democrats Reach Deal on Health Plan. Don’t believe it. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is still light years away from producing the 60 votes necessary to pass Obamacare out of the Senate. And the few details that have leaked out about this new “broad agreement” only reveal just how desperate Reid is to get any bill on to President Obama’s desk by the New Year.
Of course, there is no good policy reason why the Senate should be rushing the reorganization of one-sixth of our nation’s economy through their chamber. As leftist columnist E.J. Dionne has frankly admitted, the December deadline is a purely political invention, created for the sole purpose of enabling President Barack Obama to point to at least one accomplishment during his State of the Union speech in January. Details of the agreement have not been made public, and Senate Democrats are refusing to make them public until they hear back from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). But judging from what little has been selectively leaked to the public, this idea deserves to die:
Doubling Down on Debt: Medicare is already bankrupting our country. In 2007 alone, Medicare was forced to draw $179 billion from the general revenues of the U.S. Treasury. According to the latest Medicare trustees report, the program already faces $36 trillion dollar long-term budget shortfall. Medicare’s annual drain on our resources is set to skyrocket in 2011 when the first wave of baby boomers retire. The new Senate deal would only make this problem worse by expanding Medicare eligibility to people without insurance between the ages of 55 and 64.
Death Sentence for Hospitals: The Reid Health Bill already delivers a huge blow to our nation’s hospitals by cutting Medicare reimbursements to hospitals by hundreds of billions of dollars. Moving millions of more Americans to Medicare would cut into hospital revenues even further. That is why both the American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals sent alerts yesterday urging their members to oppose the new Senate deal.
A Government Run Health Care Coup: You might think that leftists who have been dreaming about single payer, government run health care for years would be upset about the new Senate deal. They are not. The existing Medicaid expansions in the bill, and the new Senate deal Medicare expansions, are just a continuation of the left’s health care agenda since the defeat of Hillarycare: Slowly expand existing government programs so that all private health care is strangled out of existence. So instead of fighting to preserve the public option, leftist activist Chris Bowers urges readers to fight “to expand the Medicare buy-in to all Americans between the age of 55 and 64 (inclusive).” Progressive health care guru Ezra Klein says the new deal is better than the public option because “it seed[s] health-care reform with scalable experiments.”
When President Barack Obama gave one of his first national health care addresses in June, he instructed Congress: “As we move forward on health care reform, it is not sufficient for us simply to add more people to Medicare or Medicaid.” But after months of debate in Congress, that is all Obamacare has turned out to be.
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A Desperate December Deal
(From the Heritage Foundation)
If you are one of the few Americans who still subscribes, your morning newspaper probably has a headline like this: Democrats Reach Deal on Health Plan. Don’t believe it. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is still light years away from producing the 60 votes necessary to pass Obamacare out of the Senate. And the few details that have leaked out about this new “broad agreement” only reveal just how desperate Reid is to get any bill on to President Obama’s desk by the New Year.
Of course, there is no good policy reason why the Senate should be rushing the reorganization of one-sixth of our nation’s economy through their chamber. As leftist columnist E.J. Dionne has frankly admitted, the December deadline is a purely political invention, created for the sole purpose of enabling President Barack Obama to point to at least one accomplishment during his State of the Union speech in January. Details of the agreement have not been made public, and Senate Democrats are refusing to make them public until they hear back from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). But judging from what little has been selectively leaked to the public, this idea deserves to die:
Doubling Down on Debt: Medicare is already bankrupting our country. In 2007 alone, Medicare was forced to draw $179 billion from the general revenues of the U.S. Treasury. According to the latest Medicare trustees report, the program already faces $36 trillion dollar long-term budget shortfall. Medicare’s annual drain on our resources is set to skyrocket in 2011 when the first wave of baby boomers retire. The new Senate deal would only make this problem worse by expanding Medicare eligibility to people without insurance between the ages of 55 and 64.
Death Sentence for Hospitals: The Reid Health Bill already delivers a huge blow to our nation’s hospitals by cutting Medicare reimbursements to hospitals by hundreds of billions of dollars. Moving millions of more Americans to Medicare would cut into hospital revenues even further. That is why both the American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals sent alerts yesterday urging their members to oppose the new Senate deal.
A Government Run Health Care Coup: You might think that leftists who have been dreaming about single payer, government run health care for years would be upset about the new Senate deal. They are not. The existing Medicaid expansions in the bill, and the new Senate deal Medicare expansions, are just a continuation of the left’s health care agenda since the defeat of Hillarycare: Slowly expand existing government programs so that all private health care is strangled out of existence. So instead of fighting to preserve the public option, leftist activist Chris Bowers urges readers to fight “to expand the Medicare buy-in to all Americans between the age of 55 and 64 (inclusive).” Progressive health care guru Ezra Klein says the new deal is better than the public option because “it seed[s] health-care reform with scalable experiments.”
When President Barack Obama gave one of his first national health care addresses in June, he instructed Congress: “As we move forward on health care reform, it is not sufficient for us simply to add more people to Medicare or Medicaid.” But after months of debate in Congress, that is all Obamacare has turned out to be.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Tax Caps to the Constitution in Indiana
All eyes are on Bauer for tax reform this year! Will Bauer use the normal stonewall techniques and kill the amendment to cap taxes to the Indiana Constitution?
Hoosier tax payers revolted several year ago with Tea Parties before Tea Parties were cool. However, if the caps are not added to the constitution then we can say, "so long" to the lower property taxes and you bet your last dollar that we will continue with a higher sales tax as well...
A good article follows from the Evansville Courier
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Leery Dems move forward on tax caps
* By Eric Bradner
* Posted December 7, 2009 at 1:11 p.m. , updated December 7, 2009 at 1:11 p.m.
Evansville Courier & Press
INDIANAPOLIS — Though Democrats who control the Indiana House are nervous about the effects that constitutional property tax caps would have on local governments, they will nonetheless charge toward an early 2010 vote that could give Hoosiers the final say.
As the House Ways and Means Committee considered the amendment Monday, firefighters warned that the quality of public safety could diminish if the funds aren’t available to pay for it, and businesses said it’s not fair that they must pay a higher rate than homeowners.
Tony Wolfe, the president of the Gibson County Council, said the caps deal a major blow to his county’s finances. He was one of several local government officials who warned they might have to raise taxes elsewhere to make up the difference.
“The unintended consequences of some of the things that pass up here filter down pretty hard on counties,” he said.
Homeowners, though, told lawmakers they worry the tax caps could eventually be lifted if they aren’t written into the constitution.
“We are not promised a fiscally responsible governor. We are not promised a fiscally responsible Legislature,” said 23-year-old Indianapolis resident Wesley Robinson.
“It’s only right that taxpayers have some form of control over local government spending,” said Kristen Brown, 45, of Columbus.
State lawmakers in 2008 voted to phase in property tax caps of 1 percent for homes, 2 percent for farms and rental property and 3 percent for businesses. According to estimates by the Legislative Services Agency, the General Assembly’s non-partisan research arm, those caps would save property taxpayers – and cost local governments – $465 million in 2010 and $488 million in 2011.
Lawmakers also voted in 2008 to amend those caps into Indiana’s constitution. To complete that process, the amendment needs to be passed by both the House and the Senate this year and approved by voters in a November 2010 statewide referendum.
Kent Morgan, 64, a retired Indianapolis resident, said he watches schools build massive new sports complexes and professional sports teams build new arenas on the backs of taxpayers.
“All I ask – please keep your promise. Please keep your word,” he said.
The fiscal panel did not vote on the caps Monday, but its chairman, Rep. Bill Crawford, D-Indianapolis, said members will vote next week on House Joint Resolution 1, the constitutional amendment.
If it wins the panel’s approval, the amendment moves to the full House, which Democrats control 52-48, for the legislative session that begins Jan. 5. There, Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, has signaled he will give it a vote.
Meanwhile, the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee plans to vote on the amendment Tuesday. It is expected to easily win passage both in that panel and in the full Senate after the session begins, since Republicans control that chamber by a 33-17 margin.
Democrats have long argued that while property tax caps might save homeowners money, the steps the state has taken to make up for that loss, such as raising the sales tax from 6 to 7 percent, simply shift the burden.
They point out that allowing local governments to increase other taxes could amount to a tax shift, not a reduction.
“That’s the alternative to property taxes,” said Rep. Dennis Avery, D-Evansville.
Avery quizzed one homeowner who was testifying in support of the caps over whether that homeowner grasped the full meaning of their implementation.
“You’re expecting to see your taxes go down, but you’re not expecting to see a decline in public safety,” Avery said. “How is that possible?”
Democrats such as Bauer have argued that if tax caps are to be written into Indiana’s constitution, they must be coupled with legislation preventing property assessments from rising wildly from year to year.
House Bill 1004, which would cap the amounts assessments could increase, was scheduled to be considered Monday as well. However, due to snow, that bill’s author, Democratic Rep. Dale Grubb of Covington, could not attend. Instead, lawmakers will discuss it Wednesday.
Hoosier tax payers revolted several year ago with Tea Parties before Tea Parties were cool. However, if the caps are not added to the constitution then we can say, "so long" to the lower property taxes and you bet your last dollar that we will continue with a higher sales tax as well...
A good article follows from the Evansville Courier
_________________________________________________
Leery Dems move forward on tax caps
* By Eric Bradner
* Posted December 7, 2009 at 1:11 p.m. , updated December 7, 2009 at 1:11 p.m.
Evansville Courier & Press
INDIANAPOLIS — Though Democrats who control the Indiana House are nervous about the effects that constitutional property tax caps would have on local governments, they will nonetheless charge toward an early 2010 vote that could give Hoosiers the final say.
As the House Ways and Means Committee considered the amendment Monday, firefighters warned that the quality of public safety could diminish if the funds aren’t available to pay for it, and businesses said it’s not fair that they must pay a higher rate than homeowners.
Tony Wolfe, the president of the Gibson County Council, said the caps deal a major blow to his county’s finances. He was one of several local government officials who warned they might have to raise taxes elsewhere to make up the difference.
“The unintended consequences of some of the things that pass up here filter down pretty hard on counties,” he said.
Homeowners, though, told lawmakers they worry the tax caps could eventually be lifted if they aren’t written into the constitution.
“We are not promised a fiscally responsible governor. We are not promised a fiscally responsible Legislature,” said 23-year-old Indianapolis resident Wesley Robinson.
“It’s only right that taxpayers have some form of control over local government spending,” said Kristen Brown, 45, of Columbus.
State lawmakers in 2008 voted to phase in property tax caps of 1 percent for homes, 2 percent for farms and rental property and 3 percent for businesses. According to estimates by the Legislative Services Agency, the General Assembly’s non-partisan research arm, those caps would save property taxpayers – and cost local governments – $465 million in 2010 and $488 million in 2011.
Lawmakers also voted in 2008 to amend those caps into Indiana’s constitution. To complete that process, the amendment needs to be passed by both the House and the Senate this year and approved by voters in a November 2010 statewide referendum.
Kent Morgan, 64, a retired Indianapolis resident, said he watches schools build massive new sports complexes and professional sports teams build new arenas on the backs of taxpayers.
“All I ask – please keep your promise. Please keep your word,” he said.
The fiscal panel did not vote on the caps Monday, but its chairman, Rep. Bill Crawford, D-Indianapolis, said members will vote next week on House Joint Resolution 1, the constitutional amendment.
If it wins the panel’s approval, the amendment moves to the full House, which Democrats control 52-48, for the legislative session that begins Jan. 5. There, Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, has signaled he will give it a vote.
Meanwhile, the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee plans to vote on the amendment Tuesday. It is expected to easily win passage both in that panel and in the full Senate after the session begins, since Republicans control that chamber by a 33-17 margin.
Democrats have long argued that while property tax caps might save homeowners money, the steps the state has taken to make up for that loss, such as raising the sales tax from 6 to 7 percent, simply shift the burden.
They point out that allowing local governments to increase other taxes could amount to a tax shift, not a reduction.
“That’s the alternative to property taxes,” said Rep. Dennis Avery, D-Evansville.
Avery quizzed one homeowner who was testifying in support of the caps over whether that homeowner grasped the full meaning of their implementation.
“You’re expecting to see your taxes go down, but you’re not expecting to see a decline in public safety,” Avery said. “How is that possible?”
Democrats such as Bauer have argued that if tax caps are to be written into Indiana’s constitution, they must be coupled with legislation preventing property assessments from rising wildly from year to year.
House Bill 1004, which would cap the amounts assessments could increase, was scheduled to be considered Monday as well. However, due to snow, that bill’s author, Democratic Rep. Dale Grubb of Covington, could not attend. Instead, lawmakers will discuss it Wednesday.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Bosma responds to reform from Bauer
Ya know--I'm not holding my breath concerning the reforms proposed by the House Speaker Pat Bauer. I'm still waiting to see the promise from Bauer on the elimination of the gas tax. Oh wait... how about the cozy 100,000 dollar plus job he is receiving from Ivy Tech that garners favor at the state level. Shouldn't he represent them without pay?
Has the speaker seen the light? Has he converted to putting the state first and his party second? Every Republican and Democrat knows the answer to that question. The answer is a big fat NO! Countless reforms could be imposed, however thinking that Pat Bauer will reform anything is kin to thinking that a fox will no longer eat chickens. The best way to reform anything in Indiana is to throw out the fox (Bauer)!
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Brian C. Bosma
House GOP led, others follow reform bandwagon
As Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Information is the currency of democracy." There is no more fundamental currency for public confidence in government than openness, transparency and accountability with respect to our elected officials.
As Speaker of the Indiana House in 2005 and 2006, my first step was to require all floor proceedings of the House be broadcast on the Internet so every Hoosier could see how their representative voted, and what they said in debate. We ended the prior practice of absent members voting by proxy in committees, and opened key committee rooms to Internet broadcast. We even required that the budget be available both physically and online for 48 hours before its adoption, a first in recent state history.
Our House GOP team championed and adopted comprehensive executive branch ethics reform and created the office of Inspector General to root out corruption in state government. Nearly 200 cases of corruption have been investigated and resolved in the past four years, leading to cleaner, more open government at all levels. Despite strong opposition, reform was the hallmark of the 114th General Assembly.
We took other actions to increase public confidence as well. I personally repealed the legislative lifetime health-care program, and we advocated for, and ultimately adopted, reform of the legislative retirement system, making both systems closer to what state employees receive. Despite these gains, much work remains.
Indiana must join the growing number of states requiring increased disclosure of elected officials' personal and family financial interests. Not only the employer, but the job title and assignment of legislators and their spouses should be disclosed. Financial holdings in real estate and investments should be more fully disclosed and penalties for late or intentionally inaccurate filings should be enacted. Every disclosure should be available online, and lists of late filers should be published.
Disclosure requirements for gifts from lobbyists must be significantly tightened and gifts of more than a reasonable business meal should be banned altogether. The practice of lobbyist-funded out-of-state trips for golf excursions and other recreation should be brought to an end.
House Republicans have long advocated a one-year cooling-off period before a legislator becomes a lobbyist. While House Speaker Pat Bauer has killed this reform in past sessions, it is my hope that his recently revised attitude on ethics reform will result in the passage of this important legislation this year.
Increased registration, reporting and regulation of lobbying interests also are required. The professionals representing interest groups in Indiana's capital are without question an honorable group, but increased regulation, reporting and public access will increase public confidence as well.
Finally, the Speaker has proposed increased scrutiny of political contributors who bid on public contracts. While this proposal may have merit, the same regulation and transparency requirements must be applied to the Indiana State Teachers Association, one of the largest public contractors in the state. The ISTA single-handedly contributed $1,040,850 to Indiana House Democrat leaders and candidates last election cycle, dwarfing every other contributor to legislative races. If campaign finance reform is to ring true, this undue influence is the first that should be addressed.
Reform was the hallmark of the Republican-led 114th General Assembly. With the Speaker's recent conversion, it's my hope that the 116th General Assembly can do as well.
Has the speaker seen the light? Has he converted to putting the state first and his party second? Every Republican and Democrat knows the answer to that question. The answer is a big fat NO! Countless reforms could be imposed, however thinking that Pat Bauer will reform anything is kin to thinking that a fox will no longer eat chickens. The best way to reform anything in Indiana is to throw out the fox (Bauer)!
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Brian C. Bosma
House GOP led, others follow reform bandwagon
As Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Information is the currency of democracy." There is no more fundamental currency for public confidence in government than openness, transparency and accountability with respect to our elected officials.
As Speaker of the Indiana House in 2005 and 2006, my first step was to require all floor proceedings of the House be broadcast on the Internet so every Hoosier could see how their representative voted, and what they said in debate. We ended the prior practice of absent members voting by proxy in committees, and opened key committee rooms to Internet broadcast. We even required that the budget be available both physically and online for 48 hours before its adoption, a first in recent state history.
Our House GOP team championed and adopted comprehensive executive branch ethics reform and created the office of Inspector General to root out corruption in state government. Nearly 200 cases of corruption have been investigated and resolved in the past four years, leading to cleaner, more open government at all levels. Despite strong opposition, reform was the hallmark of the 114th General Assembly.
We took other actions to increase public confidence as well. I personally repealed the legislative lifetime health-care program, and we advocated for, and ultimately adopted, reform of the legislative retirement system, making both systems closer to what state employees receive. Despite these gains, much work remains.
Indiana must join the growing number of states requiring increased disclosure of elected officials' personal and family financial interests. Not only the employer, but the job title and assignment of legislators and their spouses should be disclosed. Financial holdings in real estate and investments should be more fully disclosed and penalties for late or intentionally inaccurate filings should be enacted. Every disclosure should be available online, and lists of late filers should be published.
Disclosure requirements for gifts from lobbyists must be significantly tightened and gifts of more than a reasonable business meal should be banned altogether. The practice of lobbyist-funded out-of-state trips for golf excursions and other recreation should be brought to an end.
House Republicans have long advocated a one-year cooling-off period before a legislator becomes a lobbyist. While House Speaker Pat Bauer has killed this reform in past sessions, it is my hope that his recently revised attitude on ethics reform will result in the passage of this important legislation this year.
Increased registration, reporting and regulation of lobbying interests also are required. The professionals representing interest groups in Indiana's capital are without question an honorable group, but increased regulation, reporting and public access will increase public confidence as well.
Finally, the Speaker has proposed increased scrutiny of political contributors who bid on public contracts. While this proposal may have merit, the same regulation and transparency requirements must be applied to the Indiana State Teachers Association, one of the largest public contractors in the state. The ISTA single-handedly contributed $1,040,850 to Indiana House Democrat leaders and candidates last election cycle, dwarfing every other contributor to legislative races. If campaign finance reform is to ring true, this undue influence is the first that should be addressed.
Reform was the hallmark of the Republican-led 114th General Assembly. With the Speaker's recent conversion, it's my hope that the 116th General Assembly can do as well.
Strong statement from Daniels
"Abe Lincoln said: Some stumps you can pull out of the ground, some stumps you can blow out of the field and some stumps you just have to plow around," Daniels said. "I am tired of plowing around Pat Bauer and his Democratic majority, and I want your help to move him out of there." Gov. Daniels
Cheers for the boldness of the quote above! Only in South Bend could an obstructionist like Pat Bauer be praised and propped up for over 40 years. Pat Bauer's record has demonstrated his loyalty to "his" party over sound judgment and the good will for the State of Indiana.
My question to the Governor and the Indy establishment: What does the Gov. mean?
The statements above seem straightforward. However, the Indiana Republican Party must face their fear of Mr. Bauer and fund a candidate to run against the man. Will they stick their neck(s) out on the possible long shot campaign and take on Mr. Bauer, or will they simply look at the numbers from the gerrymandered district and consider it a lost cause? I hope not.
Any candidate willing to put his/ her name on the line for any office deserves my respect. I might disagree with their position but the gruelling pace will consume the candidates entire family either in a negative or positive manner. However, the first road block that a candidate meets when he or she runs against the Majority Leader is the lack of any substantial help from the Republican Party establishment. Any candidate (in the past) running against Bauer finds cheers from fellow Republicans from Northern Indiana but the Republican establishment in Indy treats the man/woman like a leper. Oh, you get cheers and a nice slap on the back at a few public functions, however they never take you seriously. NEVER! I know- I speak with experience. I have the distinction of being in a select club of lepers.
Question: How do you defeat an Army? War 101 says that you find and take out as many generals as possible. To move the State of Indiana forward, Mr. Bauer must be forced into early retirement but it will take a concentrated effort by Republicans in Indy and around the whole State to accomplish the task. I'm looking forward to seeing Mr. Bauer's retirement and I will help anyone with the sheer guts take him on!
I am taking the Governor at his word. At this point I believe that he will campaign for representatives and candidates trying regain the majority in the Indiana House. However, the Governor must take on the "little general" by endorsing, speaking and making sure that funds are provided for the defeat of Mr.Bauer.
Will the Governor come up to the region and campaign for the candidate? Will he send anyone? I hope so! It looks like a shift in thought-it's long overdue and I want to thank the Gov. for his willingness to join this fight. A little late, but I'm glad he is on board.
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From the Indy Star--
Behind closed doors
Daniels has answers for the GOP
To win races, he says, party must think about everyday people
When Gov. Mitch Daniels spoke last weekend at the Indiana Republican Party's Fall Dinner, he had Texas on his mind.
Daniels gave his speech a day before flying to Texas for the Republican Governors Association to meet with GOP colleagues from across the country, gatherings from which he said he usually plays "hooky."
Daniels said he decided to attend this time, in part, to help his party answer some key questions.
"They want to know about a Republican Party that wins elections, which it hasn't done a lot of in too many places, and nationally, for a while," Daniels said. "So, I'll tell them what we think the answer is."
Then, the governor followed with this advice: "You start by making it absolutely apparent that everything you say and do, your first concern, is the everyday people of the place, or in our case the state, to which you are accountable. You are happy about the prosperous people, the people that come to dinners like this; you're proud of them. But you never, never, never lose sight of the central meaning of the American experience: that anybody from anywhere has a chance. In where you go, in what you say, in what you do and how you approach your duties, you seek to make it possible for people to do that."
Daniels said his Republican colleagues also need to begin practicing more positive politics.
"I'll say to them, in Indiana, we practice the politics of addition, not division. We look for ways to bring people together. We look for ways to minimize or soft-pedal those things about which we disagree. We stand up always for things that are central to us, but we don't demonize anybody and we don't succumb to the temptation to criticize anybody, certainly not their motives, not their background. We remember what Ronald Reagan taught us some years ago: We have no enemies, only opponents.
"But most of all, if you want to know why we've been winning elections in Indiana, it's because we are known for what we're for, not just for what we're against."
Choice words for Bauer
Daniels' speech at the Republican dinner did, however, have some red meat.When Gov. Mitch Daniels spoke last weekend at the Indiana Republican Party's Fall Dinner, he had Texas on his mind.
Daniels gave his speech a day before flying to Texas for the Republican Governors Association to meet with GOP colleagues from across the country, gatherings from which he said he usually plays "hooky."
Daniels said he decided to attend this time, in part, to help his party answer some key questions.
"They want to know about a Republican Party that wins elections, which it hasn't done a lot of in too many places, and nationally, for a while," Daniels said. "So, I'll tell them what we think the answer is."
Then, the governor followed with this advice: "You start by making it absolutely apparent that everything you say and do, your first concern, is the everyday people of the place, or in our case the state, to which you are accountable. You are happy about the prosperous people, the people that come to dinners like this; you're proud of them. But you never, never, never lose sight of the central meaning of the American experience: that anybody from anywhere has a chance. In where you go, in what you say, in what you do and how you approach your duties, you seek to make it possible for people to do that."
Daniels said his Republican colleagues also need to begin practicing more positive politics.
"I'll say to them, in Indiana, we practice the politics of addition, not division. We look for ways to bring people together. We look for ways to minimize or soft-pedal those things about which we disagree. We stand up always for things that are central to us, but we don't demonize anybody and we don't succumb to the temptation to criticize anybody, certainly not their motives, not their background. We remember what Ronald Reagan taught us some years ago: We have no enemies, only opponents.
"But most of all, if you want to know why we've been winning elections in Indiana, it's because we are known for what we're for, not just for what we're against."
Choice words for Bauer
Daniels' speech at the Republican dinner did, however, have some red meat.
He took a few jabs at House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, and his recent proposal to reform the state's lobbying laws.
"It took five years, but our opponents finally, finally -- as I always knew they would -- are starting to get it," Daniels said. "That it doesn't always work real well to be 'no, no, no' and criticism, criticism, criticism and attack, attack, attack.
"You know I'm for it, it's overdue, but the proposals for ethical reform of the Indiana legislature that have just been put forward by our opposition, I think are a really good idea," Daniels continued, before drawing a loud round of applause and laughs with this line: "But I just got to say one thing: When Pat Bauer turns into a reformer, something has changed, right? Something is going on."
The governor then stressed the importance of Republicans regaining control of the House in next year's election, saying he will "do everything I can in the next year to see that that happens," before touting the high caliber of candidates the party has recruited to run for legislature.
"Abe Lincoln said: Some stumps you can pull out of the ground, some stumps you can blow out of the field and some stumps you just have to plow around," Daniels said. "I am tired of plowing around Pat Bauer and his Democratic majority, and I want your help to move him out of there."
About those Derby tickets
Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, says he always wanted to pay his own way to the Kentucky Derby, and plans to reimburse the gambling company that paid his tab.
Recently, a lobbying report filed with the Indiana Lobby Registration Commission showed that Kenley -- chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee -- accepted tickets valued at $876.64 to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks races from Centaur Inc., which operates Hoosier Park racino in Anderson.
At the time of the May derby in Louisville, the legislature was headed into a special session where casino and racino owners were hoping to win concessions.
When first asked by The Indianapolis Star about whether it had given him any pause to take the tickets from Centaur given the gambling issues facing the legislature, Kenley said no."I don't think that it created a problem," he said, noting that he had not allowed the gambling issues to move forward in the special session.
Last week, though, Kenley expanded on his account. Kenley said he had asked former State Rep. Matthew Whetstone, who now is a lobbyist with Krieg DeVault, if he knew where he could get tickets. That firm represents a riverboat casino. Kenley said he didn't know until he went to Louisville with his family that the tickets were from Centaur.
There, he said, he saw Whetstone and told him, "You need to make sure you let me know how much these tickets are."
He was told "not to worry about it," he said. But, Kenley said, he'd still planned on "getting this cleared up" and had thought he had until the end of this year to do so.
"It was a mistake on my part," he said, to not have reimbursed Centaur earlier. Now, he said, he'll do that.
Stimulating the nonexistent
The economic stimulus package not only created jobs, it also created congressional districts, according to the government Web site that tracks the spending.
Recovery.gov breaks down the money awarded and jobs created so far by congressional district. The site said that Indiana's nonexistent 10th congressional district has received $1,219,756, which resulted in eight jobs. The nonexistent 00th, 11th, 14th and 18th districts have also gotten funding, according to the site.
Republicans were among those having a field day with the inaccuracies.
"From the beginning, I said this program would be exposed to rampant waste, fraud and abuse," said Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind. "Now, as we see these magical numbers from the Obama administration, how can we ever be convinced that this money will be accounted for and given proper oversight? The answer is simply this: we can't."
States and other funding recipients had to report last month how they spent the funding they've received. Indiana's listing of congressional districts on the Web site has since been corrected.
In a blog posting on the White House Web site, G. Edward DeSeve, an Obama adviser, said the mistakes were a result of human error that shouldn't detract from the overall effort to bring openness to the stimulus
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thankful for Government Programs
Noticed yesterday that the South Bend Tribune local section featured a man giving thanks for social security, medicare and his union.
I'm saddened by this:
First, the Tribune featured this man on the front page with a large picture and a bold quote giving thanks for government programs. On Thanksgiving Day the tribune could have featured other, more meaningful quotes.
Second, I feel sorry for the man! According to his public statement, Mr. Myers actually gave thanks for government programs over things like God, family and health.
It is evident that Mr. Myers has a love for government programs. I feel sorry for the man and I find it disturbing that the Tribune reinforced Mr. Myers by putting his quote on the front page of the Local Section.
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Security
, and the Democrats under LBJ gave us Medicare, both of which I have benefited from, along with my union pension. And I hope that all Americans who are hurting now will soon have a health plan and a good job. I had been unemployed many times in my working years and know how you feel.
— Louis Myers
South Bend
I'm saddened by this:
First, the Tribune featured this man on the front page with a large picture and a bold quote giving thanks for government programs. On Thanksgiving Day the tribune could have featured other, more meaningful quotes.
Second, I feel sorry for the man! According to his public statement, Mr. Myers actually gave thanks for government programs over things like God, family and health.
It is evident that Mr. Myers has a love for government programs. I feel sorry for the man and I find it disturbing that the Tribune reinforced Mr. Myers by putting his quote on the front page of the Local Section.
_______________________________________________
What are you thankful for?
I'm thankful that the Democrats under FDR gave us Social— Louis Myers
South Bend
Tribune Photo/MARCUS MARTER
Louis Myers is pictured at his home on Madison Road in St. Joseph County. Myers is thankful, among other things, for his union pension.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
South Bend wants to spend 40 million-what?
Plans are in the works for a huge facelift for South Bend's baseball stadium. City planners have unveiled their vision of spending 30- to 40-million dollars to upgrade Coveleski Stadium, where the single-A Minor League Baseball Silver Hawks play. Mayor Steve Luecke says the money won't come from the city's general fund, but instead South Bend officials plan to phase in the renovations using the Professional Sports Development Fund and Tax Increment Financing District revenue. The city wants "The Cove," as the stadium is affectionately called, to become an entertainment anchor for the downtown. (Scource-WFRN news)
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During an economic hardship,South Bend asked and received a higher tax on our income. The purpose of the tax was to "save" the basic necessities for the city to function (firefighters, police, etc). After hearing about the 40 million dollar plan for the "Cove" the public should "storm" the County City building with pitchforks. The City never raised this idea to spend 40 million on a baseball stadium during their media blitz to raise your tax dollars! Shame on them and shame on us if we allow the 40 million dollar plan to proceed.
This headline is a hard pill to swallow. I realize that the funds are in different places within the City. However, this plan makes no sense. It seems like the mayor and his stooges have lost touch with reality!
When you cry and moan to people that the city is out of money and threaten to take the drastic action of taking away their public safety, the people take that at face value.
Don't get me wrong- I love baseball and the Silver Hawks make for a great night out. However the "desperate picture" represented by our leaders was false and they should be taken to task for their irresponsible behavior.
Some headlines from August, 2009;
WNDU report--
Posted: 6:40 PM Aug 7, 2008
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During an economic hardship,South Bend asked and received a higher tax on our income. The purpose of the tax was to "save" the basic necessities for the city to function (firefighters, police, etc). After hearing about the 40 million dollar plan for the "Cove" the public should "storm" the County City building with pitchforks. The City never raised this idea to spend 40 million on a baseball stadium during their media blitz to raise your tax dollars! Shame on them and shame on us if we allow the 40 million dollar plan to proceed.
This headline is a hard pill to swallow. I realize that the funds are in different places within the City. However, this plan makes no sense. It seems like the mayor and his stooges have lost touch with reality!
When you cry and moan to people that the city is out of money and threaten to take the drastic action of taking away their public safety, the people take that at face value.
Don't get me wrong- I love baseball and the Silver Hawks make for a great night out. However the "desperate picture" represented by our leaders was false and they should be taken to task for their irresponsible behavior.
Some headlines from August, 2009;
WNDU report--
Posted: 6:40 PM Aug 7, 2008
Budget woes for South Bend, and a possible surplus for Mishawaka
St. Joseph County, IN
If a local option income tax raise is passed, leaders say budget cuts in South Bend could be bearable, while the city of Mishawaka could end up with a surplus.
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And ABC Channel 57---
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And ABC Channel 57---
City of South Bend cutting jobs
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11:48PM 09 July 2009 | | |||
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Print
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Comments 0Public safety positions among the cuts
The city of South Bend is making cuts to its budget and public safety is taking a big hit.
State property tax cuts have left South Bend with a $22 million budget shortfall next year.
The police department is set to lose 19 officers. The fire department is cutting 45 positions.
That means some fire stations will be forced to close and that could cause a delay in response time.
The Parks and Recreation Department is eliminating 30 percent of its staff and closing both city pools, the ice rink, the East Race and Potowatomi Greenhouses.
The mayor says it's going to everyone will feel the impact.
15 percent of the city's employees will be cut. That's more than 200 jobs.
State property tax cuts have left South Bend with a $22 million budget shortfall next year.
The police department is set to lose 19 officers. The fire department is cutting 45 positions.
That means some fire stations will be forced to close and that could cause a delay in response time.
The Parks and Recreation Department is eliminating 30 percent of its staff and closing both city pools, the ice rink, the East Race and Potowatomi Greenhouses.
The mayor says it's going to everyone will feel the impact.
15 percent of the city's employees will be cut. That's more than 200 jobs.
Local News Powered by Weigel Broadcasting
Happy Holidays from the St. Joseph County tax man.
Happy Holidays from the St. Joseph County tax man.
St. Joseph County residents try to understand increase in tax bills
Video Gallery
FOX 28.com Links
Written By: Lindsey Sablan
If you live in St. Joseph County, you should have received your tax bill by now.
While you were expecting to receive the bill in the mail, many of you weren't expecting to see an increase in your bill.
Now residents are trying to understand why they're paying more, despite the property tax cap.
Jack Jones saw an increase in his property taxes this year and says, "I was disappointed, yes."
Many St. Joseph County residents reacted just like Jack Jones when they got their tax bills.
After the state legislature capped property taxes, residents were hoping for some relief, but Jones didn't get it.
"I'm not quite sure why. I've got to complete my analysis of it, but I suspect it's because the city's not getting back money from the state that they did last year," says Jones.
St. Joseph County Treasurer Sean Coleman says you should look at two places on your bill to understand why you may see an increase.
Coleman says, "One is the assessment of the property, the assessed value of property. See if there's a significant difference between the first year of assessed evaluation and this years. Secondly, I would tell them to look at the number of state credits."
This year, the property tax relief credit was eliminated and the homestead credit was significantly reduced, which means you could pay more.
St. Joseph County resident Bob Kiefer's property taxes actually dropped, but he's still upset because his overall tax bill went up.
Kiefer says, "The year before taxes went up, my taxes went up 40% and now they came down 40%, but other taxes went up."
Kiefer says with the local option income tax and sales tax increases, he's still paying the same amount.
In today's economy, he says people need a break, "For people who live paycheck to paycheck, I don't know how they do it."
Jones agrees, "You don't like to give up more of your money than you have to."
As for the future, property tax caps will be completely phased in next year and residents hope relief is on its way.
City residents may see an increase compared to county residents, Coleman says that's because city residents pay for another layer of services.
Remember you must pay in person or have your tax bill postmarked by December 11th.
St. Joseph Register spotlight-Camp Ray Bird
Our mission
The mission of Ray Bird Ministries, Inc. is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the "at-risk" children and teens of the Michiana area, nurture those believers through memorable camping experiences and prepare them for participation in local churches.
Who we serve
At Ray Bird Ministries, we serve the economically disadvantaged children and teens of the greater South Bend area.
Our heritage
The late Mr. and Mrs. Ray Bird (Ethel)
On December 8th 1914, Mr. Ray Bird backed by a few concerned citizens opened the doors of the City Rescue Mission to South Bend's homeless and needy citizens. Their first Sunday School service was attended by a group of 24 children. The Bird's ministry would continue to focus on the needy children and their families for many years to come. By 1935 the Sunday school had an enrollment of 450 persons.
On an early summer morning in 1919 the Elks Club gathered together on newly acquired land purchased for the City Rescue Mission at Chain O'Lakes (now known as Bass Lake). Mr. & Mrs. Fredrick Cunningham and Mr. & Mrs. James Oliver donated the parcel jointly for Ray Bird's Fresh Air Camp. The Elks Club erected the camp's original lodge in a single day. It became a haven for hundreds of destitute families for years to come. The families worked through the hard times, the husbands seeking work in town while the wives and children raised garden crops at the camp to sell in town. The camp still has in its possession a large garden sprayer, which was used by the Bird's gardeners in the 1920's.
As years passed the camp evolved to meet the needs of each passing generation of needy children. The need continues and the program has continued to change and grow to meet today's needs. But the bottom line stays the same - we are hear to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Today the City Mission no longer exists, but Bird's Fresh Air Camp now known as Camp Ray Bird, continues preach the good news of Jesus Christ to the at-risk children and teens. To learn more about Camp Ray Bird's history, email our director to receive a free copy of "Where Miracles Happen all the Time: A Historical Documentary of Camp Ray Bird" on video CD (plays in any DVD player).
Mission Opportunities
Summer Missions Trip Opportunity/Volunteering
You can bring your youth group for an excellent and affordable week-long summer mission trip. Senior high youth group students serve as junior counselors and kitchen assistants. What's in it for participating teens? A chance to see that God can use them, An opportunity to see God work in the lives of the campers and in their own lives, Opportunities to talk with campers about the gospel of Jesus Christ and to care for the spiritual, physical and emotion needs of the campers, Interactions with mature summer camp staff members, Exposure to many campers who come from tough homes - perhaps out of their comfort zone, and Great fun and long-lasting memories. Come join us this summer and help advance God's kingdom. Email our director to request an information packet. The first step in applying to bring a group in the summer is to download, complete and return a Volunteer Church Application.
Other mission trip/volunteer resources
Volunteer Staff Reference Form (two are required for each volunteer)
Get involved on Summer Staff
Are considering employment doing urban or inner-city summer camp ministry in Michiana (Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana)? Then Camp Ray Bird is the place for you! You can be part of sharing the gospel with hundreds of at-risk children and teens from greater South Bend, Indiana. Each summer 30+ seasonal paid employees are hired. See our calendar page for the summer calendar.
Contact our director for more information on summer ministry opportunities (and a great summer job) in this urban ministry in South Bend, Indiana. If you are interested, you can download the following
Summer Staff Application* (for new staff, NOT for returning staff)
*If you do not have access to Microsoft Word, please email our director for other options.
Volunteer Work Projects for Groups
We are always looking for help as we maintain and upgrade our grounds and facilities. Work groups (youth or adults) stay for free in exchange for the work. This is an excellent way to build teamwork and teach service. Families and individuals are welcome. If you would like to help, we will find a good job for you outside or in the office. Contact our facilities director for more information. You can also download a work group pre-arrival questionnaire.
Be a Volunteer
Would you like to share your talents with Ray Bird Ministries? At times help is needed in the following areas: kitchen work, grounds, maintenance and new building projects. Email us with questions or for more details.
Financial Support
Are you interested in supporting the work God is doing at Ray Bird Ministries? Please contact our director with any questions.
Ray Bird Ministries / P.O. 3717 / South Bend, IN 46619
Or you can donate on line
Why should my church support Camp Ray Bird?
Click here to see what one local church has to say.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
A MONTHLY ABORTION FEE
If you love INNOCENT life then please read the following.
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Sen. Reid’s Government-Run Health Plan Requires a Monthly Abortion Fee
Posted by GOP Leader Press Office on November 19th, 2009.
Just like the original 2,032-page, government-run health care plan from Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) massive, 2,074-page bill would levy a new “abortion premium” fee on Americans in the government-run plan.
Beginning on line 7, p. 118, section 1303 under “Voluntary Choice of Coverage of Abortion Services” the Health and Human Services Secretary is given the authority to determine when abortion is allowed under the government-run health plan. Leader Reid’s plan also requires that at least one insurance plan offered in the Exchange covers abortions (line 13, p. 120).
What is even more alarming is that a monthly abortion premium will be charged of all enrollees in the government-run health plan. It’s right there beginning on line 11, page 122, section 1303, under “Actuarial Value of Optional Service Coverage.” The premium will be paid into a U.S. Treasury account – and these federal funds will be used to pay for the abortion services.
Section 1303(a)(2)(C) describes the process in which the Health Benefits Commissioner is to assess the monthly premiums that will be used to pay for elective abortions under the government-run health plan and for those who are given an affordability credit to purchase insurance coverage that includes abortion through the Exchange. The Commissioner must charge at a minimum $1 per enrollee per month.
A majority of Americans believe that health care plans should not be mandated to provide elective abortion coverage, and a majority of Americans do not believe government health care plans should include abortion coverage. Currently, federal appropriations bills include language known as the Hyde Amendment that prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, while another provision, known as the Smith Amendment, prohibits federal funding of abortion under the federal employees’ health benefits plan.
Leader Reid’s 2,074-page health care monstrosity is an affront to the American people and drastically moves away from current policy. The National Right to Life Committee has called the Reid abortion language “completely unacceptable.” The American people deserve more from their government than being forced to pay for abortion. The pro-life Stupak/Pitts amendment passed the House by a vote of 240 to 194, enjoying the overwhelming support of 176 Republicans and 64 Democrats. The Stupak/Pitts Amendment codifies current law by prohibiting federal funding of elective abortions under any government-run plan or plans available under the Exchange. The Reid plan ignores the will of a bipartisan majority of the House, and indeed the American people, by rejecting this bipartisan amendment.
Health care reform should not be used as an opportunity to use federal funds to pay for elective abortions. Health reform should be an opportunity to protect human life – not end it – and the American people agree. House Republicans have offered a common-sense, responsible solution that would reduce health care costs and expand access while protecting the dignity of all human life. The Republican plan, available at HealthCare.GOP.gov, would codify the Hyde Amendment and prohibit all authorized and appropriated federal funds from being used to pay for abortion. And under the Republican plan, any health plan that includes abortion coverage may not receive federal funds.
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Sen. Reid’s Government-Run Health Plan Requires a Monthly Abortion Fee
Posted by GOP Leader Press Office on November 19th, 2009.
Just like the original 2,032-page, government-run health care plan from Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) massive, 2,074-page bill would levy a new “abortion premium” fee on Americans in the government-run plan.
Beginning on line 7, p. 118, section 1303 under “Voluntary Choice of Coverage of Abortion Services” the Health and Human Services Secretary is given the authority to determine when abortion is allowed under the government-run health plan. Leader Reid’s plan also requires that at least one insurance plan offered in the Exchange covers abortions (line 13, p. 120).
What is even more alarming is that a monthly abortion premium will be charged of all enrollees in the government-run health plan. It’s right there beginning on line 11, page 122, section 1303, under “Actuarial Value of Optional Service Coverage.” The premium will be paid into a U.S. Treasury account – and these federal funds will be used to pay for the abortion services.
Section 1303(a)(2)(C) describes the process in which the Health Benefits Commissioner is to assess the monthly premiums that will be used to pay for elective abortions under the government-run health plan and for those who are given an affordability credit to purchase insurance coverage that includes abortion through the Exchange. The Commissioner must charge at a minimum $1 per enrollee per month.
A majority of Americans believe that health care plans should not be mandated to provide elective abortion coverage, and a majority of Americans do not believe government health care plans should include abortion coverage. Currently, federal appropriations bills include language known as the Hyde Amendment that prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, while another provision, known as the Smith Amendment, prohibits federal funding of abortion under the federal employees’ health benefits plan.
Leader Reid’s 2,074-page health care monstrosity is an affront to the American people and drastically moves away from current policy. The National Right to Life Committee has called the Reid abortion language “completely unacceptable.” The American people deserve more from their government than being forced to pay for abortion. The pro-life Stupak/Pitts amendment passed the House by a vote of 240 to 194, enjoying the overwhelming support of 176 Republicans and 64 Democrats. The Stupak/Pitts Amendment codifies current law by prohibiting federal funding of elective abortions under any government-run plan or plans available under the Exchange. The Reid plan ignores the will of a bipartisan majority of the House, and indeed the American people, by rejecting this bipartisan amendment.
Health care reform should not be used as an opportunity to use federal funds to pay for elective abortions. Health reform should be an opportunity to protect human life – not end it – and the American people agree. House Republicans have offered a common-sense, responsible solution that would reduce health care costs and expand access while protecting the dignity of all human life. The Republican plan, available at HealthCare.GOP.gov, would codify the Hyde Amendment and prohibit all authorized and appropriated federal funds from being used to pay for abortion. And under the Republican plan, any health plan that includes abortion coverage may not receive federal funds.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Headline:
Exclusive: Jobs 'Saved or Created' in Congressional Districts That Don't Exist
The quotes below are priceless. Unfortunately, the actual bill will burden our nation for generations to come. The stimulus package was and is a reckless piece of legislation.
By now, this is old news, however it demonstrates a worthy point. If the Federal Government cannot manage something as simple as this; then how in the world can we expect the Feds to engineer Cap and Trade or Health Care reform?
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"We report what the recipients submit to us," said Ed Pound, Communications Director for the Board.
"Some recipients clearly don't know what congressional district they live in, so they appear to be just throwing in any number..."_______________________
Exclusive: Jobs 'Saved or Created' in Congressional Districts That Don't Exist
Human Error Blamed for Crediting New Stimulus Jobs to Nonexistent Places
Here's a stimulus success story: In Arizona's 15th congressional district, 30 jobs have been saved or created with just $761,420 in federal stimulus spending. At least that's what the Web site set up by the Obama administration to track the $787 billion stimulus says.
There's one problem, though: There is no 15th congressional district in Arizona; the state has only eight districts.
And ABC News has found many more entries for projects like this in places that are incorrectly identified.
Late Monday, officials with the Recovery Board created to track the stimulus spending, said the mistakes in crediting nonexistent congressional districts were caused by human error.
"We report what the recipients submit to us," said Ed Pound, Communications Director for the Board.
Pound told ABC News the board receives declarations from the recipients - state governments, federal agencies and universities - of stimulus money about what program is being funded.
"Some recipients clearly don't know what congressional district they live in, so they appear to be just throwing in any number. We expected all along that recipients would make mistakes on their congressional districts, on jobs numbers, on award amounts, and so on. Human beings make mistakes," Pound said.
The issue has raised hackles on Capitol Hill.
Rep. David Obey, D-Wisc, who chairs the powerful House appropriations Committee, issued a paper statement demanding that the recovery.gov Web site be updated.
"The inaccuracies on recovery.gov that have come to light are outrageous and the Administration owes itself, the Congress, and every American a commitment to work night and day to correct the ludicrous mistakes."
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