Roanoke Tea Party

Here are the bills we will be actively supporting. We feel these bills will help further the principles of the Roanoke Tea Party

1. Everyone has inalienable rights that derive from our maker

2. That government’s main purpose is to protect those rights

3. When government stops doing that, we have a duty to fix it.

While we feel that the Freedom For Virginians Act is the best way to get back to these principles at the state level, until we get there, these bills will help move us forward. And we will also be opposing certain bills as well. Keep the phones clear and the emails at the ready. Our local reps need to hear us roar. Our local reps are:

House of Delegates

19th District:  Lacey Putney

8th District:  Greg Habeeb

11th District: Onzlee Ware

17th District: Bill Cleaveland

Senators:

District 21: John Edwards

District 22: Ralph Smith

Not sure who your Delegate or Senator is, you can enter your addres and find out at this site. Not sure how to address them, here are some practical lobbying tips. You can track up to 5 bills on this site and get email updates. You do have to sign up and set it up. You can also register at the 10th Amendment Revolution Site and get updates as some of these bills are supported on their site.

Agenda Item # 1. Do not increase spending. Do not increase taxes. That’s simple enough. Yet we have failed for decades to do this…

HB 1721 Urban development areas; makes incorporation of areas optional rather than mandatory.

Introduced by: Robert G. Marshall |

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Urban development areas. Makes incorporation of urban development areas optional rather than mandatory.  Any locality that has previously adopted urban development areas may, and upon voter petition shall, reconsider such action.

FULL TEXT

• 01/10/11  House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/11 11102990D pdf

Analysis: This is a bill that Delegate Marshall crafted to replace the bill that Delegate Clay Athey originally promised to patron to repeal the Sustainable Development laws passed in 2007 that are tied to Agenda 21. This doesn’t repeal the law but it essentially allows each locality the ability to opt out of the comprehensive plan. While it is not perfect, it is a good first step in combating the Agenda 21 Sustainable Development movement. More details on the evils of Agenda 21 can be found here. It is critical that our local legislators get behind the effort to combat Sustainable Development, despite the fact the governor is a supporter of this effort.

SB 867 Budget bill; Conference Committee Report shall not be considered until on website for 72 hours.

Introduced by: Ralph K. Smith

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

General Assembly; consideration of certain documents related to the Budget. Provides that no legislative action may be taken on (i) committee amendments to the budget, (ii) any conference committee report on the budget, or (iii) any Governor’s recommendations on the budget until each has been posted on the General Assembly’s website for at least 72 hours. The bill provides that each house may vote by two-thirds majority to override the posting requirement.

FULL TEXT

• 01/10/11  Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/11 11101397D pdf

Analysis: Last year Senator Smith was handed the budget (the size of a large city phone book) and was given less than an hour to review it and decide on a yes or no vote. To his credit he voted no, but this would seem to be a no brainer law that any responsible legislator would support. The fact that it crashed and burned last year is inconceivable to us here at the Roanoke Tea Party. So we would like to lobby our legislators in favor of this bill as well. Legislators from both parties use this process to hide the pork and back room deals that are rampant throughout all levels of government.

The argument used to oppose this is simply that it will delay the completion of the GA session and that the information can be found elsewhere. There is nothing wrong with a couple of extra days, if we shine light of transparency on the budget process. Anyone opposing this law should be voted out of office this November.

HB 1397 Residential energy efficiency standards; exempts certain homes from federal cap & trade legislation.

Introduced by: Robert G. Marshall |

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Residential energy efficiency standards. Exempts any residential building or manufactured home in Virginia from being subject to federal “cap and trade” legislation if such buildings comply with the Statewide Uniform Building Code. The owner of such building or home cannot be required by the federal government to (i) have an energy efficiency analysis conducted on his residence, (ii) have his residence meet federal energy efficiency standards, (iii) participate in a building performance labeling program, (iv) make modifications to the residence in accordance with federal legislation, and (v) post a label showing the energy efficiency of his home prior to its sale. The bill also prohibits a state agency from assisting any federal agency in the implementation of global warming or climate change legislation.

FULL TEXT

• 07/21/10  House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/11 11100073D pdf

Analysis: This effectively nullifies some of the most onerous of the Cap and Trade regulations being implemented by various agencies of the Federal Government. We are supportive of bills that rightly assert the Commonwealh of Virginia’s sovereignty against unconstitutional laws.

SJ 307 Constitutional amendment; taking of private property for public use (first reference).

Introduced by: Mark D. Obenshain

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); taking of private property for public uses. Limits the exercise of eminent domain for the purpose of public use and specifies that, with the exception of property taken for public service corporations, public service companies, or railroads, property may not be taken if the primary purpose of the taking is private financial gain, private benefit, an increase in tax base or tax revenues, or an increase in employment. No more property shall be taken than is necessary to achieve the stated public use.

Analysis: There are numerous efforts every GA session to expand eminent domain rights for the government. This would codify severe restrictions on eminent domain laws that were enacted in the aftermath of the Carillion fiasco in 2007 right here in Roanoke. Again, this is simple common sense and a legislator voting against this should be voted out this November.

HB 1438 Goods produced or manufactured within State; not subject to federal law, federal regulation, etc.

Introduced by: Mark L. Cole

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Goods produced or manufactured in the Commonwealth; not subject to federal regulation. Provides that all goods produced or manufactured within the Commonwealth, when such goods are held, retained, or maintained in the Commonwealth, shall not be subject to federal law, federal regulation, or the constitutional power of the United States Congress to regulate interstate commerce. The bill does not apply to goods ordered, procured, or purchased by the federal government or by a federal contractor. The bill only applies to goods produced or manufactured on or after July 1, 2011.

FULL TEXT

• 11/09/10  House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/11 11100306D pdf

Analysis: This creates a push back against the Federal government’s unconstitutional use of the commerce clause to regulate practically every aspect of life.

HJ 558 U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights; subcommittee to study compliance of federal government, etc.

Introduced by: Robert G. Marshall

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Study; federal government compliance with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the state of compliance by the federal government with the terms of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights in its treatment of the citizens of the Commonwealth and recommend remedies for (i) any unauthorized acts of the federal government, (ii) actions that amount to noncompliance by the federal government with the terms of the United States Constitution, and (iii) acts of Congress that are outside of the enumerated powers specified in Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights as they relate to the treatment of citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Analysis: This could lead to a real discussion of nullification and the rights of our commonwealth. We certainly welcome this study.

HJ 557 Alternative currency; subcommittee to study whether should adopt if breakdown of Federal Reserve.

Introduced by: Robert G. Marshall

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Study; adoption of an alternative currency; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study whether the Commonwealth should adopt a currency to serve as an alternative to the currency distributed by Federal Reserve System in the event of a major breakdown of the Federal Reserve System.

Analysis: Preparing for the inevitable collapse of the Federal Reserve system seems to be prudent. We welcome this study, as it will cast light on the disaster that is our Federal Reserve system.

FULL TEXT

• 01/05/11  House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/11 11102035D pdf