“Audit the Fed” Legislation Gaining Traction in Congress

“Audit the Fed” (H.R. 1207) Legislation has been gaining some popularity and momentum in the House recently, and it has also received some support from across the aisle. Rep. Tom Perriello (D- VA 5^th) has signed onto this legislation, which has been introduced by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) to make the Federal Reserve more accountable and transparent. Perriello also joins other Virginia Congressmen, including: Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA 4^th), Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA 6^th), and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA 1^st) in supporting this legislation.

H.R. 1207 will amend section 714 of Title 31 of the U.S. Code to remove the restrictions on how the GAO can audit the Federal Reserve. Once these restrictions are removed, all of the Federal Reserve interactions would be open to Congressional oversight.

Hopefully, once this legislation is passed, we will be one step closer to ending the Federal Reserve once and for all.

**Cross Posted at Crystal Clear Conservative

McDonnell/Bolling Energy Plan Released

The McDonnell/Bolling Energy Plan was released today with proposals of more energy and more jobs for Virginia. This plan will include a great focus on green jobs and promoting Virginia as the “Energy Capital of the East Coast.” With oil and natural gas located off the coast in Virginia, there would be more jobs created and this will assist in reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

Here are some of the highlights from the plan:

• Supporting Virginia’s coal industry and nuclear energy
• Expedite the permitting and approval processes for energy facilities
• Support affordable Energy Efficient improvements
• Improve Energy Reliability and Affordability through SMART Grids and Buildings

McDonnell said during his speech at Old Dominion University:

“This morning I traveled to Old Dominion University to launch our energy plan at The Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium. The Consortium is researching and developing the energy solutions of the future. However, to do this work for tomorrow they need the energy of today. And that is what our “More Energy, More Jobs” energy plan is about. We need more energy in Virginia at a reasonable price, and that means we must utilize all the resources available to us. Thankfully in Virginia the resources are plentiful, and if we fully develop them all we can be the “Energy Capital of the East Coast.”

McDonnell continued, “Right now Virginia is the second largest importer of electricity behind California. The time has come for bold action to harness the energy available to us today, while continuing to develop the energy sources of tomorrow. In a McDonnell administration we will safely drill offshore for natural gas and oil, and reap the significant economic benefits documented in recent studies. We will use a portion of the revenues from this effort to fund alternative and renewable energy research and development and a portion to fund transportation infrastructure. We will support Virginia’s coal industry which supplies 43% of our energy, creates thousands of jobs in Southwest Virginia and Hampton Roads, yet is under constant attack from national special interest groups. We will leverage Tobacco Commission funding to make Southside and Southwest Virginia a hub of energy research and development. We will expedite permitting and approval for new energy facilities to reduce bureaucratic delays in getting necessary projects underway. And we will make Virginia a national leader in the burgeoning field of green energy by establishing the Commonwealth as a “Green Jobs Zone” which will bring entrepreneurs, and the jobs they create, to Virginia. We need more energy, we need more jobs. We need our lights to stay on at an affordable price, while we develop our future energy sources. Our comprehensive energy plan will power the Virginia of today and tomorrow and create thousands of good paying jobs for our citizens in the process.”

Bolling mentioned the anticipated success from this plan.

“As Governor and Lieutenant Governor we are committed to supporting a comprehensive energy policy – a policy that recognizes the importance of developing new sources of energy, like wind, solar, biofuels and the like; while at the same time doing more to expand traditional sources of energy like nuclear power, clean coal, oil and natural gas, all of which are in abundance in Virginia.”

Bolling added, “As we all know, the most important issue currently facing our state is the need to get our economy moving again and create the jobs Virginians need to protect their economic security. We are determined to do just that. At the same time, we all know that our nation faces another important challenge, the need to protect our national energy security. Fortunately, we have developed a strategy to help our nation enhance its national energy security, while at the same time helping Virginians protect their own economic security.

There is no doubt that the energy crisis will be a difficult challenge, but there is no doubt that we need to be looking at common sense solutions in this economy.

**Cross Posted at Crystal Clear Conservative and YR Dominion

Scenes from the YRFV Convention

The Young Republican Federation of Virginia Convention on Saturday was no doubt exciting with the news of Sandy Liddy Bourne stepping aside to join Pat Mullins in his quest to become the next Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, but there were also other speakers who spoke.

Dan Mitchell of Cato Institute and author of Global Tax Revolution: The Rise of Tax Competition and the Battle to Defend It spoke about our current fiscal crisis with the bailouts and out-of-control spending by the Federal government. Mitchell emphasized that there is no way you can have a good tax system with massive government spending.

Speaker Bill Howell spoke to the YRs about the upcoming House races throughout the Commonwealth. He talked about the dynamic candidates who are running, along with several races to watch.

Budget was the topic of the Legislative Panel, which featured Del. Mark Cole and Sen. Ryan McDougle. Both Cole and McDougle discussed the smoking ban was also another issue that the media focused on this session, and mentioned that it was an intrusion on our liberties. Cole indicated that the strange thing about this year’s session was that there were very few, if any, proposals on transportation. When asked what were the strong points of the budget, the contentious points, and how the stimulus funds were used, both Cole and McDougle gave interesting perspectives.

Cole: The best thing about this budget is that it cuts spending. We cut $2 million dollars out of the budget. Last year, we had to create a two year budget, and this year, we edited the budget. Kaine is a political creature: politics first, work second. Cole voted for the budget, as it was a reduction in spending. Included limits on growth of support personnel within our schools, effort to do away with a reduction in the sales tax collections from businesses. Took the stimulus money. VA was given $4 billion in stimulus, and it was divided in two parts. It will be used in next year and the following year’s budgets. This would prevent cuts in first responders and teachers. We are in a depression, not a recession. Excessive spending and excessive debt.

McDougle: Budget was challenging. We went through this process. Revenue estimates. What we are projecting to collect, included increases in personal income growth (15% for the Commonwealth), we need to create new jobs or salaries have to go up. We can’t take more money than we take in. McDougle voted against the budget last year (July 1-June 30th Budget span).

After the legislative panel, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and former Attorney General Bob McDonnell gave insightful speeches about their campaigns. Bolling delivered his remarks first to get the crowd of YRs fired up. Bolling said we need to move forward, instead of looking back at past, unsuccessful elections. During his speech, Bolling mentioned that the united ticket with Bob McDonnell at the top of the ticket will provide the direction of how we can win again. Bolling also discussed how we need to focus on energy, protecting our status as a right to work state, and having fiscal integrity.

Bob McDonnell spoke next by touching upon his initiatives to bring more jobs to Virginia and working on a transportation proposal to help improve a problem that has plagued Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads for years. McDonnell also addressed how to improve education, and he mentioned that we need more charter schools and merit pay for teachers. While money is important, McDonnell said education needed to be about accountability and higher education standards.

Later in the afternoon, after the Attorney General’s Forum, the YRs heard from Brendan Steinhauser of FreedomWorks, who gave a great grassroots activism training.

Overall, the 63^rd Annual Young Republican Federation of Virginia Convention was a success, and we look forward to playing a key role in the 2009 elections.

**Cross Posted at Crystal Clear Conservative and YR Dominion

Update on the Northern Virginia Tea Party

If you are still interested in attending the Northern Virginia Tea Party, there are two partnering events on April 15^th. The Merrifield protest against Wasteful Stimulus Spending and Bailouts will take place from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Merrifield Post Office. From 6:30-8 p.m. at Lake Anne Village Center in Reston, there will be a tea party, which will be emceed by a fellow Jeffersoniad blogger, Leslie Carbone.

If you are mad at government waste and the exorbitant amount of spending, then you should stop by and protest the actions of our leaders in the Federal government.

**Cross Posted at Crystal Clear Conservative

Here’s Some Clarification

I was not prepared to report about anything political this weekend, as I am spending Easter with my family in Maryland. However, after reading some leftist blogs in Virginia slam the Republicans in the House of Delegates for their recent decisions to expand unemployment benefits, while looking out for the taxpayers in Virginia by not placing more debt on them, I decided there would be no hiatus for the first part of the weekend.

Many of the blogs from the left believe that the federal stimulus money that was pushed aside will be bad for the workers, and it has even caused the full-time DNC Chairman/part-time Governor Tim Kaine to actually drop everything and spreading his anger around the state, because the Republicans in the House of Delegates actually did something fiscally responsible. In fact, the Republicans extended unemployment benefits eligibility from 26 to 59 weeks. Wow! This is an improvement. Where were the Democrats?

The other things to consider: First, the recent decision to expand unemployment benefits will actually say no to any part of the federal stimulus money allocated to Virginia. Delegate Tim Hugo (R-Centreville/Clifton) clarified the second part. Governor Kaine’s tax increase proposal would have increased a business’ tax from $98 per job in 2009 to $159 per job in 2010 and up to $199 per job in 2012. This would be an increase of $101.00 per job. Not only would this tax increase be detrimental to businesses, this would come during an economic recession, which would result in more layoffs.
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More on the Northern Virginia Tea Party

In an earlier post, I mentioned that I was going to conduct an interview with the organizer of the Northern Virginia Tea Party, and I followed through with this by interviewing Ron Wilcox, who is organizing the Tea Party, which will be taking place at the Merrifield Post Office on April 15^th from 5-7 p.m. I would like to thank Mr. Wilcox for his time, and I hope to see everyone at this event.

CCC: Why did you decide to throw a tea party?
RW: I was fed up with the out of control spending by the current Administration. The Administration is closely coordinating with the media to tamp down any opposition to their policies. Americans feel that NO ONE in Washington is listening to them. The silent responsible majority needs to be given a voice to counter the daily spin in the mainstream media.

I also felt the need for the I decided to organize Northern Virginia Tax Day Tea Party, because I felt that there was a real need to organize Northern Virginia for this and future Tea Party events. The DC event is in the middle of a work day preventing participation by many and others who simply do not like to go into DC for logistical reasons. Organizers say that we are on track to have 1250 tea parties nationwide with the goal of as many as 2009.

CCC: How many people do you anticipate to have at the event?
RW: I anticipate 200 or more people that are fed up with out of control Government, the area I have selected will be seen by every single person going to pay their taxes and could facilitate hundreds more demonstrators stretching down both sides of Lee Highway.

CCC: Have you experienced any issues with arranging a site for the tea party?
RW: We do not require a permit for our area but are working with the traffic authorities for everyone’s safety.

CCC: Will there be any guest speakers at this event? If so, who?
RW: We have invited State Senator [and current Attorney General candidate] Ken Cuccinelli and Congressman Frank Wolf.

CCC: Do you hope that this will spur other activist events in the future?
RW: Do I ever! Silent majority no more. We have a form on our web page so that people can sign up to get involved and be informed of this and other similar upcoming events.

CCC: What other groups have partnered with you to make this event possible?
RW: We are working with a number of civic minded individuals and groups. We are working with the DC Tax Day Tea Party and the Virginia Tax Day Tea Parties to help publicize our events. Also, we are coordinating with the Reston Tax Day Tea Party for maximum impact and attendance. The Reston event is being organized by the American Conservative Party. We will be posting their event on our website shortly when we have worked out a few details. We are also looking to work with the Leadership Institute for a 4th of July Tea party at their annual Conservative Soiree at Bull Run Park.

**Cross Posted at Crystal Clear Conservative

Northern Virginia Tea Party

With the recent momentum of the April 15^th Tea Parties, there are several occurring within Virginia. The most recent updated list can be found here.

There will be one held here in Northern Virginia at the Merrifield Post Office on April 15^th from 5-7 p.m. You can find more information at the Northern Virginia Tea Party website. This will not only give you a chance to go to the DC Tea Party, but it will allow you to make a mark on your own community. Additionally, I am trying to line up an interview with the organizers of both the DC Tea Party and Northern Virginia Tea Party that will appear this week.

I will be covering both of these events for both CCC and Virginia News Platoon. Keep a look out on my YouTube Channel for video of these events.

Transparency Among Virginia Counties

The Sunshine Review, a web site devoted to government transparency at the state and local levels recently evaluated counties and jurisdictions across the United States, in terms of how much open information that is accessible to the public. In Virginia, there were some surprising statistics on how open government was by accounting dealings with lobbyists, expenditures, taxes, and budgets.

In Northern Virginia, several counties had good to mediocre transparency on their websites. Fairfax County has a fairly good record of transparency on their website, as they place the Board of Supervisors’ contact information and term dates listed. Additionally, there are lists of previous budgets, county board agendas, bid requests, county contracts, as well as places where you can make tax payments to the county. However, it lacks in listing department officials’ contact information or any lobbyists who might be employed by the county. Arlington County also accounts for the same amount of transparency on their website.

Loudoun County is more open with their dealings on their website, as it lists the same information as Fairfax, and the only thing not listed on their website is the public record. Where Fairfax County does not list department officials’ contact information or lobbyists who petition on behalf of the county, Loudoun County makes this information accessible.

Both Prince William County and the City of Alexandria have more restrictions on what they list on their sites. Lobbying affiliations are not mentioned, and both governments list their budgets, contact information for their elected officials and department heads, audits are available, and FOIA filing instructions are prominently displayed.

Overall, the Northern Virginia counties all have good transparency measures in place. There is still more work that needs to be done to ensure full transparency is available to the taxpayers. While Northern Virginia leads the Commonwealth in transparency, Virginia is still better than some of our neighboring states, when it comes down to transparency and accountability.

**Cross Posted at Crystal Clear Conservative

Video from the Anti-Tax Rally in Fairfax

Check out both the video clips on Crystal Clear Conservative.

Video from the Republicans United for Tax Relief Anti-Tax Rally
Video from the Anti-Tax Rally in Fairfax

Anti-Tax Rally Mobilizes Grassroots in Fairfax County

Tonight, about 80 anti-tax activists held a rally outside the Fairfax County Government Center to protest the proposed rise in real estate taxes. There was a great air of dissension from many Fairfax County and Northern Virginia residents alike about tax hikes as a means to solve our budget woes. In fact, many of the participants at the event attended the hearing, where Arthur Purves of the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance and James Parmelee of Republicans United for Tax Relief both delivered testimony before the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors hearing about how taxes will not help prosper our county’s economic growth. More taxes are not going to help Fairfax County families. In fact, this will cause many families to leave Fairfax County for other jurisdictions with lower taxes.

Additionally, Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity stopped by, former 11th District Congressional candidate Keith Fimian, and Kerry Bolognese, who is running for the 41^st House of Delegates seat against David Marsden.

I got to meet several participants who traveled from Sterling and Manassas to join the rally here in Fairfax. Both the Loudoun and Prince William County Board of Supervisors will be addressing this issue soon.

Here are some pictures from the event:

**Pictures courtesy of B.J. Bluth, Ph.D.**

Video will be posted tomorrow morning of the rally. Hopefully, you will be able to attend the Northern Virginia Tea Party on April 15^th at the Merrifield Post Office from 5-7 p.m. For more information on this event, please check out the Northern Virginia Tea Party website.

**Cross Posted at Crystal Clear Conservative

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