Archive | December, 2012

As the year 2012 draws to a close, the New Jersey Tenth Amendment Center is looking ahead to 2013 knowing there is a lot of work to do.  A few short weeks ago, we gave thanks for the victories we achieved due to the hard work of activists in our group as well as other organizations.  We can add to that a second veto of the health care exchanges, which could fall under Mike Maharrey’s “few slices of warm, buttered bread” analogy in this week’s Tenther Radio.  We’d rather the unconditional veto on constitutional grounds, but we’ll take what we can get for the moment.

Governor Christie‘s veto of the health exchanges can be used as a turning point to take control of the ObamaCare debate in this very blue state over the next year.  We need a renewed push for the Federal Healthcare Nullification Act in the State Legislature.  Governor Christie spoke of the control the federal government gives to the states over the health care exchanges.  The focus needs to be on urging state legislators of both parties to TAKE control of health care reform in our state, making decisions within New Jersey and out of the control of DC.  Even if the debate gets vicious, let it occur in Trenton and in our local communities.

Another area that needs a great deal of effort is opposing the NDAA through the Liberty Preservation Act.  Despite the claims of Feinstein Amendment supporters in the 2013 NDAA, the final product is highly unlikely to have much if any protection against the indefinite detention clauses in the 2012 NDAA.  We will need to push for those protections in Trenton, as well as the county and municipal levels.  Those who are able must get to their Town Council and County Freeholder meetings to make sure these issues are discussed.  County Sheriffs will be useful if we can win them over.  For issues like this, there is the possibility the State Legislature and Governor won’t do anything unless they see action at the local level.  We will be looking for volunteers and other organizations to help with this outreach.  See our facebook page to join the planning . Continue Reading →

Indiana State Representative Tim Neese has introduced a bill that would block implementation of UN “Agenda 21″ policies  in the state.

HB 1021 would amend the Indiana Code concerning state and local administration.

“An Indiana governmental entity may not adopt or implement: (1) certain policy recommendations relating to the United Nations’ 1992 ‘Agenda 21’ conference on the environment and development that deliberately or inadvertently infringe on or restricts private property rights without due process; or (2) any other international law or ancillary plan of action that contravenes the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of the State of Indiana.  Provides that an Indiana governmental entity may not enter into any agreement with, expend any sum of money received from, or pay any money to, an ‘Agenda 21′ organization.’”

This bill, if passed, would nullify the UN’s resolution, which could have scary potential. “Agenda 21” was created to be an action plan for sustainable development worldwide.  This agenda, makes a stronger UN, and may be another step closer to a single world government.  A section from this agenda reads:

“Agenda 21 stands as a comprehensive blueprint for action to be taken globally from now into the twenty-first century-by Governments, United Nations organizations, development agencies, non-governmental organizations and independent-sector groups, in every area in which human activity impacts on the environment”.

It can also be argued that UN “Agenda 21” may be laying out plans for population control.  One of the programme areas in the agenda is listed as “improving human settlement and management.”  Clearly, this power of the UN has dangerous possibilities, strengthens their role, and brings us closer to a “one-world government.”

HB 1021 will be assigned to a committee when the House reconvenes on Monday, January 7, 2013.

ACTION ITEMS
Continue Reading →

In case you haven’t seen this yet, here’s CNN’s Piers Morgan interviewing my friend Larry Pratt of Gun Owners of America. Morgan behaves like a child, using the words “stupid” and “idiot” to refer to his guest, and Pratt keeps his cool. Morgan is totally outclassed, though that itself isn’t much of a feat, I suppose. Drudge is linking to this story today. (Someone in the comments points out that it was yesterday’s main headline on Drudge.)

South Carolina state representative Bill Chumley in support of his Freedom of Health Care nullification legislation

(Dec. 19, 2012) – History dealt out a delicious bit of irony yesterday.

Lawmakers hammering out a compromise version of the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act dropped the so-called Feinstein amendment from the bill. According to a report at Politico.com, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) told reporters that the provision and language the House proposed to insert instead was ultimately replaced with language that indicates that last year’s NDAA shouldn’t be interpreted to preclude Habeas Corpus suits by persons detained in the U.S.

In essence, the weak language of the Feinstein amendment was replaced with even weaker language.

Indefinite detention stays.

The irony?

Yesterday also marked the 68^th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in  Korematsu v. United States. That ruling upheld the power of the president to create “exclusion zones” under executive order 9066.

With the order, President Roosevelt vested in himself the authority “to prescribe military areas in such places and of such extent as he or the appropriate Military Commander may determine, from which any or all persons may be excluded, and with respect to which, the right of any person to enter, remain in, or leave shall be subject to whatever restrictions the Secretary of War or the appropriate Military Commander may impose in his discretion. The Secretary of War is hereby authorized to provide for residents of any such area who are excluded therefrom, such transportation, food, shelter, and other accommodations as may be necessary, in the judgment of the Secretary of War or the said Military Commander, and until other arrangements are made, to accomplish the purpose of this order.”

The exclusion areas eventually covered nearly one-third of the United States and resulted in the caging of about 110,000 Japanese Americans.

Continue Reading →

by Lyle Denniston

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday refused to block enforcement of a broad new grant of detention power for the government, indicating that she felt a need to be cautious about putting into effect a judge’s ruling that struck down that new law, at least while the issue was under review in a federal appeals court.  Ginsburg acted without seeking a response from the federal government to a plea by writers and political activists who fear they may be seized under that new law.  [This blog covered the filing of the stay application earlier this week.]

The full text of Ginsburg’s order, as shown on the Court’s docket, reads: “Application (12A600) denied by Justice Ginsburg.  The application to vacate the order entered by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit staying a permanent injunction entered by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is denied.  See Doe v. Gonzales, 546 U.S. 1301, 1308-1309 (2005) (GINSBURG, Circuit Justice).” Continue Reading →

Texas Representative David Simpson of Longview Texas has introduced a state bill that would make it a criminal offense for a government agent to intentionally touch the private areas of a person without probable cause as a condition of travel. House Bill 80 would also, under the same conditions, prevent the separation of minors from their parents or guardians and prevent the harassment of travelers for refusal to submit to such unconstitutional violations of their person.

ACTION ITEMS IN TEXAS:
1. Contact your legislator to urge their support for HB80, Contact info here
2. Join the Nullify TSA Texas facebook activist group HERE

via People against the NDAA

The dedicated efforts of People Against the NDAA (PANDA), the Tenth Amendment Center, and thousands of volunteers paid off in the Michigan Legislature on Friday. Senator Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) -  the Senate Majority Leader – told PANDA’s Michigan team that the 2013 version of Rep. Tom McMillins’ HB 5768 (non-compliance with the indefinite detention provisions of the 2012 NDAA) will be scheduled as the first item for consideration in the new legislative session beginning in January of next year.

The bill, originally introduced in June of this year, was passed unanimously (107-0) by the Michigan House earlier this month. On Tuesday the bill was referred to the full Senate by the Judiciary Committee chaired by Senator Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) without a dissenting vote. The progress enjoyed by HB 5768 to this point was unusually quick and the unrelenting visits, calls, and emails from volunteers played a key role in this progress. This week, Senators and their offices were quite impressed by the large volume of calls and emails made by the energetic members of PANDA and coalition partners in support of the bill.

We will be back in January with numbers, spirit and enthusiasm. Building on our success in 2012, we will focus the energies of our growing army of volunteers on getting the bill through the House and Senate and on to Governor Snyder’s desk for his signature. We ask all those concerned about the NDAA to prepare to join us in January for our final push. In the meantime, we all should thank the following legislators for their assistance in 2012: Continue Reading →

During a discussion the other day, a gun control advocate was making her case for banning assault weapons.

“Why does anybody need an assault weapon anyway?”

As I started thinking about it, I realized proponents of the government doing this or that often use the “need” argument to brush aside those who oppose government action.

Nobody “needs” an assault weapon, so we should have no problem with the government banning them.

Nobody “needs” to fly, so we shouldn’t complain about a TSA agent groping us in the airport. Just take the bus!

Rich people don’t “need” all that money, so they shouldn’t protest a tax increase.

If you don’t have anything to hide, you don’t “need” to worry about government searching or prying into your private life.

If you’re not a terrorist, you don’t “need” to worry about NDAA indefinite detention. Continue Reading →