Protest tomorrow at State Capitol, Bell Tower at 11am. We will be protesting the State Senate trying to bury our 10th Amendment bill, the Firearm Freedom Act (HB69). This is the LAST chance to let the State Senate know you are not happy! We want our 10th Amendment bill released from Committee! We will also be joining AFP in a protest against a 24% tax increase on all phone lines.

Speakers include Tito the Builder, Delegate Bill Carrico (patron of HB69), Joe Guarino of Richmond Tea Party and more! Free lunch is being provided by AFP at the Omni after the protest. Come and let the State Senate know what the 10th Amendment means to you! We cannot grow weary.

If the pending 24% tax increase on home, business, and cell phones seems small enough to not worry about, you have just become a victim of incrementalism—the proven tactic of the relentless left bent on transforming this nation to fulfill their dream of total government control. They have spent a century eroding our freedoms by creating a program here and raising a tax there, so that we now find ourselves living in a country we don’t recognize. And because good people have not stood up strongly enough against the little things, the left has been emboldened to do the big things. Thus, we find ourselves on the verge of Obamacare.

We cannot allow them another inch. Our elected officials must know we are watching EVERYTHING they do and we will no longer roll over and allow sneaky taxes just because they’re “small.” What is small today is massive tomorrow.

Yes, government needs to fund its own operation, but does anyone in the Tea Party movement seriously believe they don’t collect enough taxes already? And even if they did need more, does anyone really trust them to use it as they promise? Or in any responsible manner whatsoever? Of all people, Tea Party Patriots should understand this best.

Government’s problem isn’t a lack of tax revenue, it’s out-of-control spending.  And until they show us they’re serious about responsible stewardship of the people’s hard-earned money for an extended period of time, we would be foolish to allow them to take another penny from us. If we don’t show up at the Capitol for the rally on Monday, though, they will know they can continue to kill us through incrementalism.

We are trying to mobilize for a last-minute protest on Monday at the State Capitol against the Senate burying our 10th Amendment bill, Firearm Freedom Act (HB69) AND against the 24% tax increase on all phone lines. We need as many bodies as possible to make an impact. We would like 200-500 people at the State Capitol on Monday. Get a free lunch out of it as well. Read on…

Tax increases and killing our 10th Amendment bill–if that doesn’t get Tea Party people angry and mobilized, then what are we doing?

We will protest the Senate trying to bury the Firearm Freedom Act on Monday at 11am at the Bell Tower. The Richmond Tea Party only had 2 bills in the General Assembly, and they are killing one of our 10th Amendment bills. Our own Joe Guarino of Richmond Tea Party will speak on our behalf at the protest. Here are the details:

Monday, March 8
11am
State Capitol, Bell Tower
Speakers: Tito the Builder, Delegate Carrico (the Chief Sponsor for HB69), Joe Guarino of Richmond Tea Party, and more.
AFP is providing a free lunch at the Omni Hotel after the protest.

Here is some background on our HB69 bill:

Anti-gun Senator Marsh is hoping that the full committee can avoid a vote on our 10th Amendent bill by sending it to subcommittee to be buried, which is where HB69 has been sent. However, the Senate Rules require that subcommittees report bills to the full committee:

“20 (h). The Chair of any Committee may appoint subcommittees to consider a particular bill or resolution or to consider matters relative to a portion of the work of the Committee. Such subcommittees ***shall*** make recommendations to the Committee. The Chair of the full Committee shall be an ex officio member of all subcommittees and entitled to vote, but shall not be counted as a member for purposes of a quorum. All subcommittees shall be governed by the Rules of the Senate. ”

The State Senate is violating its own rules. Please tell Republican Lt. Governor Bill Bolling (who presides over the Senate) and Democrat Senator Dick Saslaw (who is the Majority Leader of the Senate), and Senator Marsh (Chairman of the Committee) that we want the Senate rules followed! We want an up or down vote…no gimmicks.

Come to the rally and call/email these leaders and let them know you are coming:
Senator Saslaw, district35@senate.virginia.gov, 804-698-7535
Lt. Governor Bolling, bill.bolling@ltgov.virginia.gov, 804-786-2078
Senator Henry Marsh, district16@senate.virginia.gov, 804-698-7516

There is also one more hope. We can amend a senate bill that is in the House, and substitute our HB69 language. We need the help and cooperation of Speaker Howell and Majority Leader Morgan Griffith in order to accomplish this task. Speaker Howell is a co-sponsor of this bill. Delegate Griffith has stated he is willing to help, but he doesn’t believe the bill is germane. Here is an email that you can send.

Dear Speaker and Majority Leader,

As you know, Henry Marsh has decided to kill all gun bills in his subcommittee against senate rules. It has been determined that the only way to resurrect HB69, Firearm Freedom Act, is to offer it as a substitute to one of the senate bills in the House. The Virginia Tea Party Patriots had only two bills in the General Assembly (HB10, HB69). We will not let this bill go down without a fight and would greatly appreciate your assistance.

We have researched the bills and believe that SB501 is germane. SB501 and HB69 come from the exact same section of the Code 18.2-308 and deal with firearms. I understand that you believe this is not a germane bill. However, I also know this comes down to the ruling of the Speaker.

Speaker, we are very grateful that you co-sponsored this bill. Delegate Griffith, you have expressed a willingness to offer an applicable substitute. This bill is very important to Tea Party Patriots in Virginia. We just need to carry this bill over the victory line.

Speaker Bill Howell – delwhowell@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Morgan Griffith – DelMGriffith@house.virginia.gov

Richmond Tea Party will be joining other Virginia Tea Party groups and AFP to protest the outrageous 24% tax increase on your business, home, or cell phone that is being proposed by the State Senate. This is a huge tax increase.

We will also use this opportunity to protest the State Senate killing our 10th Amendment bill, Firearm Freedom Act (HB69). You rallied for 10th Amendment rights in January. Now make sure you come back and tell Senator Marsh and the other State Senators you don’t appreciate them ignoring our bill and letting it die. We want an up or down vote!

Details of Protest:

Monday March 8, 2010
11:00 am
Virginia State Capitol
1000 Bank Street
Richmond, VA 23219

Looks like one of our 10th Amendment bills is being intentionally stuffed in a drawer. The Firearm Freedom Act, HB69, was referred to the Senate Courts of Justice Committee, which is NOT a favorable committee for us. It contains an overwhelming majority of Democrats and moderate Republicans. The Committee is made up of 10 Democrats and 5 Republicans. It looks like the Committee has it set up to die a quiet death. If we could get a vote on the bill, we could probably count on Hurt, Obenshain, and McDougle. All other senators are questionable.

Tomorrow is the last day for this bill to be added to the Committee docket. So far the Committee has refused to put this bill on the docket. We believe they want to let it die a quiet death in committee without a vote. DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN!! Make them at least vote and be accountable!

Of the Democrats, Marsh, Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Puller, McEachin, and Petersen probably won’t give it the time of day. Senators Edwards, Reynolds, and Deeds are our best shots. These are from big gun districts. If we get these three Democrats plus the five Republicans, we win the committee vote. This will be extremely difficult. We need all hands on deck now!!!!

Contacts:
Senator McDougle (R) / 698-7504 / district04@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Norment (R) / 698-7503 / district03@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Quayle (R) / 698-7513 / district13@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Edwards (D) / 698-7521 / district21@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Reynolds (D) / 698-7520 / district20@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Deeds (D) / 698-7525 / district25@senate.virginia.gov