Madison Forum Open Forum Luncheon
For those of you who missed the luncheon on Monday, August 11th, you can catch up with the information below. For those of you who attended, here is the information I promised. (the comment field has been opened with no restirctions, I will do my best to monitor them)
We intended to cover 4 topics, but only covered 3 due to time.
1) The House Energy Bill, and the happenings on this issue in the house for the past 10 days.
2) The Gang of 10, including a statement for Madison Forum Members from Johnny Isakson's office.
3) State's Rights, a new group is emerging. They are legislatures from various states, other grassroots groups, and members of media.
4) The Global Poverty Act sponsored by Senator Obama (the one we didn't get to)
Here is a wrap up and info on these topics:
1) House Energy Bill
Here is a link to the House Energy Bill by John Boehner: LINK
I simply refer to this bill as "Prego." "It's in there." Renewables, solar, nuclear, wind, drilling, etc, it's in there; and with no added costs passed onto the taxpayer.
What is going on in Washington, DC, on the House Floor, and how did it all begin? Go Here for that info....(you will need to scroll down- and if you click the pause button on the blue blogtalkradio box you can stop the audio on this page- and you can go to the talk show page here on Madison Forum to hear from the folks in DC involved.
There are 2 different petitions you can sign to help these efforts: Drill Here, Drill Now and Call Back Congress
Other actions you can take: I have talked to the folks leading this charge in DC everyday. They do not need anymore calls to them for support, they know we support them. They do not need us to call Nancy's office anymore, she knows we want her to call Congress back for a vote on the above bill. They have urged us to call the Democratic Congressman who are not joining them on the floor and urge them to return to Washington and join the fight for an up or down vote NOW. HERE is a link to the results of the vote on staying to vote on this bill or go on vacation.
2) Enter the Gang of 10! The "Gang of 10" are 5 Democrat and 5 Republican Senators who have joined together to come up with their own "Energy Plan." (Click Here for the press release from the gang on their energy ideas) What we need to know and understand about the gang. This gang had originally formed BEFORE the events we see happening on the House Floor. They truly believed that the Boehner bill would never pass the Senate. But folks, things have changed since their original "meetings." The PEOPLE WANT BOEHNER'S BILL! The "news" of the gang of 10 seemd to hit with an article in the Wall Street Journal on Friday, August 8th. One week after the House Republicans decided to stay in DC and fight for an up or down vote on this bill. Johnny Isakson is one of the gang, and this is what I wrote to their office:
you realize they (MF) are going to (be) very hot-- pitchforks in hand, hot over this... We want the Boehner bill in the House- we feel there is no need for a gang even the drilling areas the gang proposal has- will be no help-- these areas are not where the oil is. The Senate serves the same people that House serves The House hears the American people--- Repub and Dem alike-- we want Boehner's bill We do not want "something" done for the sake of "something being done" we want a SOLUTION.... the gang proposal is NOT a SOLUTION to the crisis and will not lead us to Energy Independence.... Can you get me a Statement from you office that addresses these concerns?
His office sent me this statement- Click HERE to read.
The "Gang" needs to hear from us that we want the HOUSE BILL! There are many details on this issue that would just take up too much space and time to read....
3) States Rights--
Here are links to some info on this issue. (You can also listen to the Madison Forum radio show from Saturday, August 2nd- I interviewed State Representative Charles Key about this issue, he is involved with this forming group- they will have a web site soon)
Right now-- the focus of this groups is to repeal the Real ID Act, stop the Trans Corridor, and stop the SPP. But there are many other state's rights issues to be addressed as we move along.
Here are 2 links to the work being done in Oklahoma:
Fighting the Real ID Act in Oklahoma
Joint Resolution by Charles Key of Oklahoma that he introduced in his state
Stay tuned for more developments on this issue.
4) Senator Obama's Global Poverty Act
We didn't get to cover this. Let me say that I have talked to Senator Obama's office about this bill on at least 3 occasions, and have contacted every single one of the 23 co-sponsors of this bill at least once and in some cases up to 3 times. NONE of them were willing to give me a statement, but I did receive something from Obama's office.
I will schedule a Madison Forum Show for this Saturday, as long as MF members are willing to call in and discuss these issues. The show works much like a conference call. We can handle multiple callers, and all callers are welcome to stay for the entire show, as long as they are not rude or using foul language.
The comments section is open- or you can reach me by phone and/or email with thoughts and comments.
Thanks to each of you for all you do to help in our efforts to bring about "GOOD GOVERNMENT" and an enlightened population of voters.