The Immigration Question

The hot issue of the day is the immigration bill being debated in the Senate this week. Today, Congressman Tim Walberg explained his opposition to the bill in an op-ed piece that appeared in the Battle Creek Enquirer. You can read it here:

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070627/OPINION02/706270313

I think that we all can agree that more work needs to be done to implement the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (requiring a fence be built along the borders). In addition, Congressman Walberg points out that the bureaucratic hurdles thrown up during the immigration process also need to be streamlined and reformed. This too, is a point of solid agreement among most Americans and most Republicans.

Some Republicans, however, are supporting this bill, including President Bush. The bill does require hefty fines (in the area of $5,000) for illegal immigrants, an approximate 10 year process to obtain citizenship, a concentrated requirement for English and Civic knowledge, and increased requirements for identification.

What I think is most impressive about this debate, though, is that it is being driven by our Party. Even though the Democrats control both Houses of Congress, it is Republican ideas and leaders who are controlling its future. However you fall on this issue, be proud of the fact that our party is not satisfied with the status quo and that we have leaders like Congressman Walberg and President Bush hashing out the details. Thanks fellas.

s

A Fighting Parent

Ma ny of you know the story of our own Robert Pederson - if you haven't, you must be hiding under a rock. Check out Rob and Angela's Blog here: http://www.daddy.typepad.com/ .

They share a great story of what a parent is willing to do to be an important part of his children's life. Thanks for all your hard work and devotion. You are an inspiration to us all.

In addition, Robert is planning a bike trek from Lansing to Washington, D.C. to bring awareness to equal parenting rights. If you can find a way to support him, do it.

s

Did Our Founding Fathers Smoke?

What would our Founding Fathers think of the proposed smoking bans? Well, first of all, being profiteers of the tobacco industry, they would not appreciate the government interference of their business. But secondly, and more importantly, what about the individual freedoms they tried to protect here in the New World?

James Madison explained the philosophy behind the new government in The Federalist Papers. What he tried to explain was this:

Human beings can be selfish creatures. They will continually try to get more things and take more actions that they think will help them in their own pursuits of happiness. Sometimes these desires may conflict with others. Previous forms of government had been instituted to deal with these conflicts by force and decree, thereby removing the cause of the conflict. Madison and the Founding Fathers thought this obscene. They thought that if you remove the freedom that causes the conflict, you have despotism. Rather, what they lobbied for and succeeded in achieving, was a government that protected people’s freedoms to do what they want while controlling the effects of those actions, ensuring that everybody’s rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are protected.

Smoking is bad. People should not smoke. People should also not eat fatty foods. People should not drink too much, gossip, call each other names, buy things they can’t afford, etc. etc. But people do all those things.

I completely understand and support the banning of smoking in publicly owned buildings (most people do not smoke, they should not have to deal with smoke in buildings they, in effect, are part owners of). However, the intrusion of government into privately owned buildings is going too far. Having said that, if I owned an entire building, I would either ban smoking in it or at least regulate it to a broom closet in the basement. But to have government tell me how I must run my building is not acceptable. The property rights guaranteed to us by the Founding Fathers are still important to many of us. Let’s not eliminate a freedom to prevent conflict (despotism), rather, let’s work together to control freedom’s effects so that a balance between the public health and personal freedom can be found.

Executive Committee of Calhoun County GOP Meets

We had a great Executive Committee meeting last night. Not only did we do some official business, but got to hear what our elected officials are up to:

County Drain Commissioner Blaine VanSickle has taken care of the beaver nusiance out on Cotton Lake by installing a beaver bypass system. Good work.

Congressman Walberg has been actively listening to his constituents, most recently at Battle Creek Health System and out at Fort Custer Industrial Park.

County Commissioners Greg Moore and Jase Bolger have been pleased with the new Hard Labor sentencing and thanked Sheriff Byam and Jeff Albgaugh for helping this be successful. In addition, they informed us on the proposed smoking ban that could take place in Calhoun County - more on that in the days to come I hope. Finally, there is a proposal to increase the number of Road Commissioners from 3 to 5. This seems like this will only cost the taxpayers more money. What is the benefit? Anyone?

Finally, Anne Norlander, the Calhoun County Clerk announced that almost every document her office keeps (and that the public has access to) will be available on-line in the near future. Many of the more common documents are already on-line, but the rest should be up and available in cyberspace in the weeks to come.

Great meeting - thanks to all.

s

Juneteenth a Huge Success!

For any one who participated in the Juneteenth Celebration yesterday, you'll know that a great time was had by all. The organizers deserve a lot of thanks. State Representative Mike Nofs, County Commissioner Greg Moore, and I participated in the parade and I must say, it is one of the best parades we've been in. Many good things are happening in Battle Creek and many good people are making them happen. We should never let our political differences get in the way of making progress in areas and in ways that we can all agree on.

The SBT Deal

Attached is an article in today's Detroit News about the new Single Business Tax replacement. It looks like there is support for the proposal from a variety of individuals and groups. Some concerns that have been raised is the tax INCREASE on certain sectors (finance, insurance, out of state companies), but I would like to know how this new tax level compares to other states in the region before coming to a final conclusion. 72% of businesses will see a tax DECREASE as compared to the old SBT - so that is a good thing.

Also, there is no net tax decrease for businesses in Michigan. One way to help spur economic growth (thereby increasing tax receipts) is to cut taxes. I hope our state governmental officials don't forget that.

Having worked in a split state legislature in the past, I know how difficult it is to work together and get acceptable legislation through, so I must tip my hat to the legislative leaders for offering this complex and comprehensive proposal.

Your thoughts?

Link: http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070614/POLITICS/706140408

Gen. George Armstrong Custer's Battle Flag Up for Auction

FYI-

I thought this was an interesting article and story about the auctioning off of Gen. Custer's Civil War Battle Flag down in Gettysburg, PA. Feel free to act accordingly:

http://lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070614/COLUMNISTS09/706140338

Good Speech about Democrats' Spending from the House Floor Today

Rep. Paul Ryan from Wisconsin gave this quick speech on the House Floor today detailing the change - in the wrong direction - of Congressional spending habits:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9VRKCGBSo4

A Different Perspective from the Middle East

Watch this video from Al Jazeera TV. It is quite a different view than what we see on American TV:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1296126090432829344

US Air Force Band to Perform Free Concert

If you have never seen or heard the United States Air Force Band - this is your chance. If you have seen them before, I know you will want to see them again.

They will be performing a FREE concert at the beautifully restored W.K. Kellogg Auditorium on July 6, 2007 at 7 pm. This concert is brought to you by the Yellow Ribbon Committee.

To reserve your FREE tickets - email gordon@scenepub.com

Calhoun County Republican Women to Retire Flags

Here is some info on an important event going on tomorrow night. Don't miss and I'll see you there:

Would you like to see a proper flag retirement? Centerline of Calhoun County welcomes everyone to join in observing a formal flag retirement ceremony on Flag Day, Thursday June 14th.

Collection sites in Albion at Albion Motors, in Marshall at Darling’s Hardware and Herman’s Hardware, and in Battle Creek at M-66 Auto Body & Frame, Justice Fence and Henkel Lincoln Mercury have accumulated almost 400 flags. Collection continues Monday June 11th. Please join us in giving Old Glory the respect it deserves.

The event is open to the public and the Calhoun County Republican Women’s Association cordially invites you to attend the ceremony at 7:00 pm on Flag Day, Thursday, June 14, 2007 at Centerline of Calhoun County. Performing the honors will be Calhoun County Vietnam Veterans, as well as BSA Venture Crew 308. Colonel Tommy L. Lancaster, United States Army Chief of Staff, Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service will speak immediately following the ceremony.

Centerline is located at 23100 13 Mile Road (Old Bellevue Road). From I-94 take exit 104 – 11 Mile Road North to end, turn right on Old Bellevue Road go four miles to Centerline; from M-78 in Bellevue take Sand Road South, go three miles to Centerline; from Battle Creek take Cooper Road at Emmett Street, go eight miles to Centerline. You are welcome to bring lawn chairs for the outdoor portion of the event.

Gore's Support for War in Iraq?

For those of you who listened to Rush Limbaugh today, here is a link to the Al Gore speech from 1992 where he advocates for unilateral military action in Iraq and for taking out Saddam Hussein. I wish someone would ask him if he was wrong back then?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bogBwAby3so

The New Beginning

Well Calhoun County Republicans, last week we enjoyed friendship and fellowship as we broke bread together with Secretary of State Teri Lynn Land at our annual Lincoln Day Dinner. At that dinner, I said that Calhoun County Republicans was on the verge of a rebirth. This blog is just another indication that things are changing, and changing for the better.

So please check back here often as I will be updating this space as things happen in our community, in our state, and in the country at large. Sometimes that will be every day, sometimes that will be every hour, but I will try to keep you updated of all the things I am hearing that might be interesting to you.

Thanks for reading.

s