NSRF June 2012 Newsletter

7/31/2019 NSRF June 2012 Newsletter

1/22

1

North Suburban Republican ForumJune, 2012

www.NorthSuburbanRepublicanForum.com www.NorthSuburbanRepublicanForum.org

Our next meeting is from 9:30-11:30 am, Saturday, May 12th. Youll be able to hear from

your candidates involved in a primary election on June 26th to be on the November 6th

ballot.

Well have candidates for Adams County District 1 Commissioner (Kaarl Hoopes and Gary

Mikes), CU Regent-at-Large (Matt Arnold and Brian Davidson), and Colorado Senate

District 21 (Francine Bigelow and Matt Plichta). After opening statements, they will answer

questions from NSRF attendees. Please Bring your checkbook and/or time to volunteer as our

candidates need your support to win on November 6th. We meet at the Anythink Huron Street

Library community room, 9417 Huron St, Thornton, CO, 80260.

NSRF upcoming calendar in 2012:

July 14 -- Board of Education officials discussing issues in their school district

August 11 -- RTD members discussing transportation concerns and FasTracks

September 8Republican County Chairs forum about winning on November 6th

October 13 -- State of Colorado elected official ???

November 10 -- Election recap and discussion

December 8 -- Colorado Senate and House members talking about the bills they will introduce in 2013
http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.com/http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.com/http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.org/http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.org/http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.com/


2/22

2

If you have a smart phone, use a bar code app for the QR code on the left,

it will take you to our web site,

www.NorthSuburbanRepublicanForum.com

Table of Contents:

List of north metro candidates

Colorado primary elections move from August to June

Voters to decide Board Expansion question

Mike Coffman Campaign Kickoff

Adams County justice: Convicted criminal in paving scandal allowed to remain free due to shoulder injury

Volunteer for Romneys campaign and earn free gear

Top Colorado Democrat currently registered to vote in both D.C. and Colorado

New presidential poll shows tight race in Colorado

Compass Colorado The surprising truth about Senate Obstructionism

Scott Gessler aide: Feds stall voter-citizenship checks

Adams County Assessor charged with misconduct

Adams County adding to reforms

ObamaCare: The facts about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

Elected officials

NSRF Board of Directors

Heres the list ofnorth metro candidates

Adams County Commissioner District 1: Gary Mikes, Kaarl HoopesAdams County Commissioner District 2: Donnia HowellAdams County District Attorney:

HD-29: Robert RamirezHD-30: Mike SheelyHD-31: Beth Martinez HumenikHD-32: Paul ReimerHD-33: Dave PigottHD-34: Jodina WidhalmHD-35: Brian Vande Krol

HD-56 Kevin PriolaHD-63: Lori Saine

SD-21 Fran Bigelow, Matt PlichtaSD-23 Glenn Vaad, Vicki MarbleSD-25: John Sampson

CU Regent: Matt Arnold, Brian Davidson
http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.com/http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.com/http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.com/


3/22


4/22

4


5/22

5

Adams County justice: Convicted criminal in paving scandal

allowed to remain free due to shoulder injury

May 31st, 2012

Adams County style justice? Convicted felon allowed to remain free because he suffers from a minor shoulder injury.

As one of the key figures in the Quality Paving scandal in Adams County, the companys owner was

foundguilty of 23 felony countsand sentenced to nine years in jail. In a shocking development today, the

judge in the case has delayed the administration of justice and allowed Jerry Rhea to remain free while heseeks medical treatment for a shoulder injury.

Rhea, his employees, county employees and possibly Democrat Adams County officials ran a scheme that

bilked taxpayers out of nearly $2 million. The Quality Paving scandal has been one of many indignations

Adams County residents have suffered due torampant corruption at the county level of government.

Today Judge Steven Eugene Shinn took the highly unusual move of allowing Rhea to remain free while he seeks

treatment for a torn rotator cuff. This done despite the fact that treatment of the relatively minor injury could

easily be treated while Rhea begins to serve his sentence.

According tothe Denver Post, Adams County prosecutors were incredulous at the ruling. Prosecutor Jess

Redman had no sympathy for the criminal saying, All of us find ourselves in a situation in which we cantsleep or are in pain.

County prosecutor Dave Young said the handling of the issue by the judge was unusual. To continue to delay

the execution of his sentence because of a possible rotator cuff injury when so many people in the DOC

[Department of Corrections] have similar injuries is really rare.

Amazingly enough, Judge Shinn acknowledged that medical conditions are not an allowable excuse to delay

the jailing of Rhea yet he did it anyway.

Questionable conduct by Adams County officialshas been witnessed in recent years from low level employees

all the way to the County Commissioners. Now we appear to have a county judge that has a role in the Adams

Family.

It is absolutely reprehensible that Judge Shinn has delayed the administration of justice in the Rhea

case. Voters would do well to remember Shinns name when he comes up for retention.

http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/adams-county-justice-convicted-criminal-in-paving-scandal-allowed-to-remain-free-due-to-shoulder-injury/
http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/adams-county-justice-convicted-criminal-in-paving-scandal-allowed-to-remain-free-due-to-shoulder-injury/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/adams-county-justice-convicted-criminal-in-paving-scandal-allowed-to-remain-free-due-to-shoulder-injury/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/guilty-too-jury-finds-quality-paving-owner-guilty-of-23-counts/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/guilty-too-jury-finds-quality-paving-owner-guilty-of-23-counts/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/guilty-too-jury-finds-quality-paving-owner-guilty-of-23-counts/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/the-troubles-we-have-seen-scandals-and-mismanagement-mark-adams-countys-recent-past/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/the-troubles-we-have-seen-scandals-and-mismanagement-mark-adams-countys-recent-past/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/the-troubles-we-have-seen-scandals-and-mismanagement-mark-adams-countys-recent-past/http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20751854/judge-convicted-quality-paving-figure-jerry-rhea-remainshttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20751854/judge-convicted-quality-paving-figure-jerry-rhea-remainshttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20751854/judge-convicted-quality-paving-figure-jerry-rhea-remainshttp://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/the-troubles-we-have-seen-scandals-and-mismanagement-mark-adams-countys-recent-past/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/the-troubles-we-have-seen-scandals-and-mismanagement-mark-adams-countys-recent-past/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/adams-county-justice-convicted-criminal-in-paving-scandal-allowed-to-remain-free-due-to-shoulder-injury/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/adams-county-justice-convicted-criminal-in-paving-scandal-allowed-to-remain-free-due-to-shoulder-injury/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/adams-county-justice-convicted-criminal-in-paving-scandal-allowed-to-remain-free-due-to-shoulder-injury/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/adams-county-justice-convicted-criminal-in-paving-scandal-allowed-to-remain-free-due-to-shoulder-injury/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/adams-county-justice-convicted-criminal-in-paving-scandal-allowed-to-remain-free-due-to-shoulder-injury/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/the-troubles-we-have-seen-scandals-and-mismanagement-mark-adams-countys-recent-past/http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20751854/judge-convicted-quality-paving-figure-jerry-rhea-remainshttp://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/the-troubles-we-have-seen-scandals-and-mismanagement-mark-adams-countys-recent-past/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/guilty-too-jury-finds-quality-paving-owner-guilty-of-23-counts/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/adams-county-justice-convicted-criminal-in-paving-scandal-allowed-to-remain-free-due-to-shoulder-injury/http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/adams-county-justice-convicted-criminal-in-paving-scandal-allowed-to-remain-free-due-to-shoulder-injury/


6/22

6

Would you like to help send Mitt Romney to the White House without ever leaving your home and earn free Mitt gear,too? Our "Volunteer for Mitt" program is up and running for supporters who can spare a few minutes to makepersonal calls to other voters across the country.To thank you for your hard work and support for Mitt, the campaign will be giving away thank you gifts based on thenumber of calls made between Monday, June 4th and Saturday, June 9th.

Incentives are the following:

100 total calls made - bumper sticker 250 total calls made - lapel pin

500 total calls made - signed photo

1,000 total calls made - Romney t-shirt

1,500 total calls made - Romney half-zip sweatshirt

To get started making calls, go tohttp://mi.tt/Volunteer-for-Mittto log in or register.With your help, we can build the strong grassroots organization we need to be successful in November. Pleaseconsider donating a few minutes of your time from the comfort of your own home to this critical effort.
http://click.targetedvictoryemail.com/?ju=fe5a1677726d0c7c7517&ls=fdf716727d65007b7c157371&m=fe9d15707165067a76&l=fecb15757661077e&s=fe2316777d6c047c771c78&jb=ffcf14&t=http://click.targetedvictoryemail.com/?ju=fe5a1677726d0c7c7517&ls=fdf716727d65007b7c157371&m=fe9d15707165067a76&l=fecb15757661077e&s=fe2316777d6c047c771c78&jb=ffcf14&t=http://click.targetedvictoryemail.com/?ju=fe5a1677726d0c7c7517&ls=fdf716727d65007b7c157371&m=fe9d15707165067a76&l=fecb15757661077e&s=fe2316777d6c047c771c78&jb=ffcf14&t=http://click.targetedvictoryemail.com/?ju=fe5b1677726d0c7c7516&ls=fdf716727d65007b7c157371&m=fe9d15707165067a76&l=fecb15757661077e&s=fe2316777d6c047c771c78&jb=ffcf14&t=http://click.targetedvictoryemail.com/?ju=fe5b1677726d0c7c7516&ls=fdf716727d65007b7c157371&m=fe9d15707165067a76&l=fecb15757661077e&s=fe2316777d6c047c771c78&jb=ffcf14&t=http://click.targetedvictoryemail.com/?ju=fe5b1677726d0c7c7516&ls=fdf716727d65007b7c157371&m=fe9d15707165067a76&l=fecb15757661077e&s=fe2316777d6c047c771c78&jb=ffcf14&t=http://click.targetedvictoryemail.com/?ju=fe5b1677726d0c7c7516&ls=fdf716727d65007b7c157371&m=fe9d15707165067a76&l=fecb15757661077e&s=fe2316777d6c047c771c78&jb=ffcf14&t=http://click.targetedvictoryemail.com/?ju=fe5a1677726d0c7c7517&ls=fdf716727d65007b7c157371&m=fe9d15707165067a76&l=fecb15757661077e&s=fe2316777d6c047c771c78&jb=ffcf14&t=


7/22

7

Thank you for your help!Rich Beeson, Romney Political Director

Top Colorado Democrat Currently Registeredto Vote in Both D.C. and ColoradoThough modern physicists are yet to figure out a way for one person to be in two places at the same time, the top spokesman for

Colorado Democrats has figured out a way to vote in two places at once. Matt Inzeo, the communications director for the Colorado

Democratic Party, holds active voter registrations in both Colorado and Washington, D.C., according to a voter fraud investigation

by Media Trackers Colorado.

Colorado Democratic Party Communications Director Matt Inzeo

Publicly available voter registration records show that Inzeo registered to vote as a Democrat in Denver on March 1, 2012.

However, his voter registration in Washington, D.C. which dates back to January 10, 2006 still remains active. Media

Trackers spoke with an official at the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics last Thursday who confirmed that Inzeos D.C. voter

registration remained active. The official told Media Trackers that while Inzeo did not vote in the districts most recent 2012

election in April, he was certainly free and able to do so. Inzeos voter registration status in Colorado is also active according to

public records.

Inzeos last vote in D.C. came in a special election held on April 26, 2011, roughly ten months before he registered to vote in

Colorado.

Although Inzeo was first hired by the Colorado Democratic Party in May of 2011 according to hisLinkedIn profile, he waited nearly

a year before registering to vote in Colorado. Inzeos voter registration became active a mere five days before the state partys

presidential nominating caucuses which were held on March 6, 2012. State law requires prospective caucus participants to have

been registered in the state forat least two months prior to voting in the caucus.

When Media Trackers attempted to contact Inzeo on his cell phone to ask whether he voted in the 2012 caucus, he ab ruptly hung

up before providing any comment.

While holding an active voter registration in more than one jurisdiction at the same time is not specifically a crime, the mere ability

to cast two votes raises serious questions about how states purge voter rolls of ineligible voters. Many states do not have effective

rules in place to insure the integrity and validity of the voter rolls, leaving the door open for fraud and abuse. Voting rol ls in
http://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2012/06/04/top-colorado-democrat-currently-registered-to-vote-in-both-d-c-and-colorado/http://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2012/06/04/top-colorado-democrat-currently-registered-to-vote-in-both-d-c-and-colorado/http://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2012/06/04/top-colorado-democrat-currently-registered-to-vote-in-both-d-c-and-colorado/http://www.linkedin.com/pub/matt-inzeo/12/67a/a01http://www.linkedin.com/pub/matt-inzeo/12/67a/a01http://www.linkedin.com/pub/matt-inzeo/12/67a/a01http://coloradodems.ngpvanhost.com/sites/coloradodems/files/DelegateSelectionPlan107a.pdfhttp://coloradodems.ngpvanhost.com/sites/coloradodems/files/DelegateSelectionPlan107a.pdfhttp://coloradodems.ngpvanhost.com/sites/coloradodems/files/DelegateSelectionPlan107a.pdfhttp://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2010/05/10/more-from-chuck-devore/514-revision-5/http://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2010/05/10/more-from-chuck-devore/514-revision-5/http://coloradodems.ngpvanhost.com/sites/coloradodems/files/DelegateSelectionPlan107a.pdfhttp://www.linkedin.com/pub/matt-inzeo/12/67a/a01http://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2012/06/04/top-colorado-democrat-currently-registered-to-vote-in-both-d-c-and-colorado/http://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2012/06/04/top-colorado-democrat-currently-registered-to-vote-in-both-d-c-and-colorado/


8/22

8

Washington, D.C., for example, are purged only once every four years, while Colorado rolls are not purged on a regular basis at

all. Instead, the current system purges voters who have not participated in any of the two previous general elections.

Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler recently attempted to push through stronger vote integrity measures aimed at reducing

the incidence of fraud, but a coalition of state Democrats including Inzeo himself and left-wing activists groups such as

Common Cause sought to prevent the reforms. In March, Inzeo and his boss, Colorado Democratic Party Chair Rick

Palacio,suggested that Gessler be recalled from officefor his reform attempts.

If Scott Gessler is unwilling to fulfill his duties as a non-partisan election officer, the people of Colorado should consider all

avenues necessary to remove him as Secretary of State, Palacio said in apress release. Palacio did not say at the time

whetherviolent efforts like those of the Occupy movementfell within the category of all avenues necessary to remove an elected

official from office. The party chairs press release was issued in response to Gesslers testimony in the Colorado House against

a measure that would have redefined inactive voters as active voters.

Colorado Common Causelobbied for the redefinition of inactive votersand actively worked against Gessler and efforts by Colorado

House Republicans to require photo identification to vote. Common Cause joined forces with Mi Familia Vota and the Service

Employees International Union (SEIU) in litigation against Gessler,accusing him of voter suppression and violating federal election

rulesby performing actions meant to uphold the integrity of the Colorado voter rolls.

To date, the Inzeo-backed effort to recall Gessler has beenless than successful.

http://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2012/06/04/top-colorado-democrat-currently-registered-to-vote-in-

both-d-c-and-colorado/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

New presidential poll shows tight race inColorado

DENVER- The results of a new poll of Colorado voters show a one-point race between President

Barack Obama and the eventual GOP nominee Mitt Romney with about five months left before

Election Day.

According to the NBC News / Marist poll Obama has 46 percent of the vote in critical swing state of

Colorado to Mitt Romney's 45 percent.

The poll finds President Obama's recent announcement that he supports gay marriage is a neutral

factor in Colorado, though overall the state's voters agree more with President Obama when asked

about the candidates' combined views on gay marriage, abortion, and contraception.

Still, Colorado voters are overwhelmingly more concerned about the economy than social issues

according to the results.

While Romney had a three-point advantage when voters asked who is better on the economy, voters

seemed to give President Obama some slack. Most said that Mister Obama inherited the country's

economic conditions rather than cause it with his policies.

The full results of Colorado's poll can be read here- or you can read some of the key findings
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20293838/colorado-democrats-launch-petition-drive-against-secretary-statehttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20293838/colorado-democrats-launch-petition-drive-against-secretary-statehttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20293838/colorado-democrats-launch-petition-drive-against-secretary-statehttp://www.coloradodems.org/press/secretary-gessler-leads-republican-efforts-disenfranchise-colorado-voters-0http://www.coloradodems.org/press/secretary-gessler-leads-republican-efforts-disenfranchise-colorado-voters-0http://www.coloradodems.org/press/secretary-gessler-leads-republican-efforts-disenfranchise-colorado-voters-0http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/05/terror_suspect_signed_lease_on.htmlhttp://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/05/terror_suspect_signed_lease_on.htmlhttp://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/05/terror_suspect_signed_lease_on.htmlhttp://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4848071http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4848071http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4848071http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4848461http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4848461http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4848461http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4848461http://www.coloradodems.org/press/secretary-gessler-leads-republican-efforts-disenfranchise-colorado-voters-0http://www.coloradodems.org/press/secretary-gessler-leads-republican-efforts-disenfranchise-colorado-voters-0http://www.coloradodems.org/press/secretary-gessler-leads-republican-efforts-disenfranchise-colorado-voters-0http://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2012/06/04/top-colorado-democrat-currently-registered-to-vote-in-both-d-c-and-colorado/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitterhttp://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2012/06/04/top-colorado-democrat-currently-registered-to-vote-in-both-d-c-and-colorado/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitterhttp://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2012/06/04/top-colorado-democrat-currently-registered-to-vote-in-both-d-c-and-colorado/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitterhttp://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/A_Politics/_Today_Stories_Teases/NBC-News-Marist-Poll-Colorado-Questionnaire_May-2012.pdhttp://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/A_Politics/_Today_Stories_Teases/NBC-News-Marist-Poll-Colorado-Questionnaire_May-2012.pdhttp://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/A_Politics/_Today_Stories_Teases/NBC-News-Marist-Poll-Colorado-Questionnaire_May-2012.pdhttp://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2012/06/04/top-colorado-democrat-currently-registered-to-vote-in-both-d-c-and-colorado/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitterhttp://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2012/06/04/top-colorado-democrat-currently-registered-to-vote-in-both-d-c-and-colorado/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitterhttp://www.coloradodems.org/press/secretary-gessler-leads-republican-efforts-disenfranchise-colorado-voters-0http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4848461http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4848461http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4848071http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/05/terror_suspect_signed_lease_on.htmlhttp://www.coloradodems.org/press/secretary-gessler-leads-republican-efforts-disenfranchise-colorado-voters-0http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20293838/colorado-democrats-launch-petition-drive-against-secretary-state


9/22

9

below.

NBC News / Marist polls released on the same dayshow similarly close races in Nevada and

Iowa, which are also seen as key battleground states for the campaigns.

---------THE BASICS----------

PRESIDENTIAL RACE (IF HELD TODAY)46% Obama

45% Romney

9% Undecided/unsure

STRENGTH OF DECISION

71% Strongly support chosen candidate

29% Somewhat support/might vote differently

OBAMA JOB APPROVAL

45% Approve

49% Disapprove

OVERALL DIRECTION OF COUNTRY

38% Right direction

56% Wrong track

BETTER UNDERSTANDS YOUR PROBLEMS

49% Obama

40% Romney

MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES

74% Economy

20% Social issues

---------ECONOMY----------

BETTER ON ECONOMY

45% Romney

42% Obama13% Unsure

BETTER REDUCING NAT'L DEBT

37% Obama

50% Romney
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/31/11983819-nbc-marist-polls-obama-romney-deadlocked-in-three-key-stateshttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/31/11983819-nbc-marist-polls-obama-romney-deadlocked-in-three-key-stateshttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/31/11983819-nbc-marist-polls-obama-romney-deadlocked-in-three-key-states


10/22

10

OBAMA ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

54% Obama inherited economy

37% Obama policies created

ECONOMY DIRECTION

39% Worst yet to come

54% Worst is behind us

YOUR HOME FINANCES OVER NEXT YEAR WILL

29% Get better

10% Get worse

61% Stay about the same

---------SOCIAL ISSUES----------

SHARES YOUR VIEW ON ABORTION/CONTRACEPTION/SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

48% Obama41% Romney

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE STANCE

45% Makes no difference in vote

28% More likely to vote Obama for supporting

27% More likely to vote Romney for opposing

---------MORE DETAIL----------

OBAMA OPINION47% Favorable

47% Unfavorable

ROMNEY OPINION

43% Favorable

43% Unfavorable

BETTER ON FOREIGN POLICY

47% Obama

39% Romney

(KUSA-TV 2012 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)

http://www.9news.com/news/article/270312/339/New-presidential-poll-shows-tight-race-in-Colorado
http://www.9news.com/news/article/270312/339/New-presidential-poll-shows-tight-race-in-Coloradohttp://www.9news.com/news/article/270312/339/New-presidential-poll-shows-tight-race-in-Coloradohttp://www.9news.com/news/article/270312/339/New-presidential-poll-shows-tight-race-in-Colorado


11/22

11


12/22

12

The Surprising Truth About Senate ObstructionismThe real cause of the current gridlock is the majority's desire to avoid difficult votes.ByBRIAN REARDONAndERIC UELAND

There's a growing chorus complaining that the Senate is broken, that Republicans are to blame, and that the rules of

procedure need to be changed. This argument has any number of flaws, but at its core it relies on a general

misrepresentation of how the Senate, and the filibuster in particular, works.

For example, here's how Politico's congressional reporter Scott Wong characterized the situation as part of a recent

story on a lawsuit brought against the Senate by Common Cause to declare the filibuster unconstitutional:

Getty Images

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

"From 1981 to 2006, both parties used the filibuster when they were in the

minority. During that period, the majority party in each Congress filed

fewer than 90 cloture motions to overcome a filibuster by the minority.

"But since Democrats seized power in fall 2006, Republicans have turned

to the filibuster far more frequently. The majority has averaged about 140 cloture motions in both the 110th and 111th

Congress. And Democrats are on pace to repeat that feat again this Congress."

So Republicans are to blame for all those cloture petitions to end filibusters, right? Wrong. The fact that the majority

has filed so many cloture petitions is as much a symptom of its own efforts to block the Senate from working its will as

anything the minority has done. Consider this example.

On March 19, Robert Menendez (D., N.J.) introduced legislation (S. 2204) to promote renewable energy with the cost

offset by a tax hike on large oil producers. The normal process would have been for this legislation to be referred to

committee for action.

Majority Leader Harry Reid bypassed the committee process, however, and using something called Rule 14 had the bill

placed directly on the Senate calendar. Two days later, he started the process to call up the bill by moving to "proceed

to it" and immediately filed a cloture petition to end debate on that motion.

The following Monday, the Senate then voted 92-4 to curtail debate on the motion to proceed to the bill. The next day,

as soon as the bill was before the Senate, Mr. Reid offered five consecutive amendments and one motion in order to

effectively block the consideration of any competing amendments or motions.

He then filed a cloture motion to close out debate on the bill. Two days later, the Senate rejected cloture on a party-line

vote and moved on to other business, leaving the Menendez bill adrift.
http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsjhttp://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsjhttp://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsjhttp://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsjhttp://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsjhttp://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsjhttp://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsjhttp://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsj


13/22

13

Now go back to the Politico story and ask yourself how exactly Republicans filibustered this bill? They didn't have time

to filibuster anything, it was over so quickly. Moreover, their ability to take meaningful action was effectively nullified by

four specific parliamentary maneuvers taken by Mr. Reid.

Why does the majority go to all this trouble? The simple answer is to protect its members from tough votes.

The Senate is a wide open forum where almost any issue can be raised and voted on at almost any time. This

environment is a function of the Senate's tradition of unlimited debate, but it does leave members vulnerable to having

to vote on difficult issues at inconvenient times, like when they are up for re-election.

In response, Majority Leader Reid has adopted the practice of blocking amendments from being offered. No

amendments, no surprises, and no tough votes.

Taken alone, Sen. Reid's actions on S. 2204 are not historically unique. Every recent majority leader has used them on

occasion. But what used to be relatively rare has been repeated dozens of times in recent years.

The very first bill considered by the Senate after the election of President Obama and a filibuster-proof Democratic

majority was adopted under exactly the same truncated process used for S. 2204Rule 14, cloture, block out any

competing amendments, cloture. Since that time, the Senate has voted on cloture repeatedly, yet has very little to show

for it: By some measures, 2011 was the least productive session in modern congressional history.

So where does that leave us?

Lawsuits like the one filed by Common Cause are frivolous public-relations efforts and will be rejected by the courts

the Constitution grants the Senate the right to craft its own rules, after all. But the possibility that the Democratic

majority, threatened at the polls and frustrated by the current legislative stalemate, will move to change long-standing

Senate rules to further limit debate and make it harder for senators to offer amendments on behalf of their beliefs is

very real and must be strenuously opposed.

As we have seen, any systematic effort to block amendments, short-circuit debate, and force a preordained outcome

turns the Senate into a legislative dead end. The salutary news is that on bills where the Democratic majority actually

worked with the Republican minority to respect their rights to help craft bills and to debate and propose amendments,

the Senate has been able to work its will and pass legislationfor example, the recent reauthorization of the Food and

Drug Administration's user-fee program.

The Senate is the most uniquely American of all our federal institutions. It is a powerful and proud body that has

protected us and our freedoms for more than 200 years. In order to work properly, however, senators must have their

freedom toothe freedom to debate and offer amendments and, ultimately, vote. That is what they were elected to do,

and that is how the Senate should work.

Mr. Reardon is a principal at Venn Strategies, and served on the National Economic Council under President George


14/22

14

W. Bush. Mr. Ueland is vice president of the Duberstein Group and was chief of staff to former Senate Majority leader

Bill Frist.

http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsj

Scott Gessler aide: Feds "stall" Colorado voter-citizenshipchecks

POSTED: 06/01/2012 04:29:28 PM MDTUPDATED: 06/02/2012 12:32:39 AM MDT

By Sara BurnettThe Denver Post

Colorado Secretary of State, Scott Gessler, left, during a campaign and political finance hearing at the Secretary of

State offices last December. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post )

EXTRAS

Read DHS Director Alejandro Mayorkas' letter to Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler. (PDF, 1 page)

Secretary of State Scott Gessler's office accused the Department of Homeland Security on Friday of

using "stall tactics" to prevent Colorado from verifying the citizenship status of about 4,500

registered voters.

Gessler asked the DHS in March to help his office ensure no noncitizens are on the state's voter rolls.In a letter to Secretary Janet Napolitano, he said that ensuring only citizens are registered and voting

is "imperative to the integrity of Colorado elections."

Critics said they feared the effort would intimidate voters in advance of the November presidential

election and that trying to match state and federal databases could result in people who are eligible
http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsjhttp://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsjhttp://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsjhttp://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2012/0601/20120601_042555_Dept%20of%20Homeland%20Security%20Letter%20051512.pdfhttp://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2012/0601/20120601_042555_Dept%20of%20Homeland%20Security%20Letter%20051512.pdfhttp://www.denverpost.com/portlet/article/html/imageDisplay.jsp?contentItemRelationshipId=4442353http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2012/0601/20120601_042555_Dept%20of%20Homeland%20Security%20Letter%20051512.pdfhttp://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsjhttp://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577424491399594250.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion&mg=reno64-wsj


15/22

15

to vote being incorrectly removed.

Last month, the director ofU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services sent Gessler a responsethat

said the department "must further assess serious legal and operational issues that remain before we

can make a determination on your request."

Director Alejandro Mayorkas also said his office would provide an updated response to Gessler'srequest once the assessment is complete. "We're disappointed," Andrew Cole, a spokesman for

Gessler's office, said Friday. "It's politics, but it's also a federal bureaucracy that is unable or

unwilling to work toward a solution."

The roughly 4,500 names the state wants verified are people who provided a noncitizen document

such as an alien-registration card, or "green card" when they applied for a Colorado driver's

license and who also are registered to vote. About 2,000 of those people have cast ballots in recent

elections, spokesman Rich Coolidge said.

The list may include people who are in the country legally but are not citizens and who registered to

vote, either when getting a driver's license or through some other method. It also may include those

who became citizens after applying for a driver's license.

The office is evaluating its options, and Gessler is discussing the issue with fellow secretaries of state

in Florida and Michigan, which have had similar requests denied, Coolidge said.

Sara Burnett: 303-954-1661 or [email protected]

Read more:Scott Gessler aide: Feds "stall" Colorado voter-citizenship checks - The DenverPosthttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20762666/gessler-aide-homeland-security-stalling-colorado-voter-checks#ixzz1wrcdRobDRead The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

Adams County assessor charged with misconductPOSTED: 05/11/2012 04:37:06 PM MDT

UPDATED: 05/11/2012 04:37:06 PM MDTThe Associated Press

BRIGHTON, Colo.Adams County prosecutors have charged the county assessor with nine counts of

official misconduct, alleging he improperly lowered the property taxes of one of his campaign

contributors.

Prosecutors say Assessor Gil Reyes is accused of having the appraisal values of nine warehouses owned by

Majestic Realty Co. lowered in 2005 and 2007, without following protocol. A state investigation last year

concluded the warehouses weren't valued correctly.
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2012/0601/20120601_042555_Dept%20of%20Homeland%20Security%20Letter%20051512.pdfhttp://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2012/0601/20120601_042555_Dept%20of%20Homeland%20Security%20Letter%20051512.pdfhttp://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2012/0601/20120601_042555_Dept%20of%20Homeland%20Security%20Letter%20051512.pdfhttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20762666/gessler-aide-homeland-security-stalling-colorado-voter-checks#ixzz1wrcdRobDhttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20762666/gessler-aide-homeland-security-stalling-colorado-voter-checks#ixzz1wrcdRobDhttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20762666/gessler-aide-homeland-security-stalling-colorado-voter-checks#ixzz1wrcdRobDhttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20762666/gessler-aide-homeland-security-stalling-colorado-voter-checks#ixzz1wrcdRobDhttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20762666/gessler-aide-homeland-security-stalling-colorado-voter-checks#ixzz1wrcdRobDhttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20762666/gessler-aide-homeland-security-stalling-colorado-voter-checks#ixzz1wrcdRobDhttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20762666/gessler-aide-homeland-security-stalling-colorado-voter-checks#ixzz1wrcdRobDhttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20762666/gessler-aide-homeland-security-stalling-colorado-voter-checks#ixzz1wrcdRobDhttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20762666/gessler-aide-homeland-security-stalling-colorado-voter-checks#ixzz1wrcdRobDhttp://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2012/0601/20120601_042555_Dept%20of%20Homeland%20Security%20Letter%20051512.pdf


16/22

16

In August, Reyes pleaded guilty to not reporting gifts after accepting baseball tickets from an executive of

Majestic Realty. The Denver Post has reported Majestic saved more than $800,000 when it had $23

million shaved from the value of its warehouses.

Reyes was out of the office Friday afternoon for a child's graduation events and wasn't available for

comment

Read more:Adams County assessor charged with misconduct - The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/ci_20604550/adams-

county-assessor-charged-misconduct?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com#ixzz1wrd5s1YI

Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

Adams County adding to reformsThree more resolutions will be introduced to avert ills in the scandal-plagued county.

POSTED: 05/23/2012 01:00:00 AM MDTUPDATED: 05/23/2012 06:48:37 AM MDT

By Yesenia RoblesThe Denver Post

A year after the Adams County commissioners drew up a seven-point road map for reforming the scandal-plagued county,

a few more things are being revised, proving to the commissioners that reform is slow.

"We had no idea, really, how long it would take," commission Chairman Skip Fischer said. "People talked about three to

five years, but it wasn't until we started ourselves that we really learned it just takes patience."

Today, the commissioners are expected to introduce and approve three more resolutions to add to the seven implemented

in May 2011 after theQuality Paving scandal, which led to a series of criminal chargesand media investigations into county

practices.

Fischer and Commissioner Erik Hansen discussed the proposed reforms with The Denver Post on Tuesday. Commissioner

Alice Nichol, who is the focus of an active criminal investigation into her relationship with Quality Paving, did not

participate on the advice of her attorney.

Last year's resolutions included changes that centralized purchasing, hired an auditor and rewrote ethics standards

specifically prohibiting county officials and employees from doing personal business with county contractors.

The resolutions also outlined specific duties for the county administrator so that department heads report directly to him,

rather than having the ability to go around to commissioners or other employees.

"We've had to modify our systems and build in checks and balances," Administrator Jim Robinson said.

Purchasing has not been completely centralized yet, he said, but the changes are rolling through the departments as

employees are trained in new systems. Some departments have been consolidated, and all employees started taking

leadership- trust classes this week. Today's resolutions will continue to address internal issues, directing staff to update

and correct a 1989 policy that governs use of take-home vehicles for employees and elected officials.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_20604550/adams-county-assessor-charged-misconduct?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com#ixzz1wrd5s1YIhttp://www.denverpost.com/ci_20604550/adams-county-assessor-charged-misconduct?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com#ixzz1wrd5s1YIhttp://www.denverpost.com/ci_20604550/adams-county-assessor-charged-misconduct?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com#ixzz1wrd5s1YIhttp://www.denverpost.com/ci_20604550/adams-county-assessor-charged-misconduct?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com#ixzz1wrd5s1YIhttp://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19211813http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19211813http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19211813http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18133188http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18133188http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18133188http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19211813http://www.denverpost.com/ci_20604550/adams-county-assessor-charged-misconduct?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com#ixzz1wrd5s1YIhttp://www.denverpost.com/ci_20604550/adams-county-assessor-charged-misconduct?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com#ixzz1wrd5s1YIhttp://www.denverpost.com/ci_20604550/adams-county-assessor-charged-misconduct?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com#ixzz1wrd5s1YI


17/22


18/22

18

Will Everyone Really be Insured?

No. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), even if everything worked outas the supporters of

the law claim, there would still be 22 million Americans without health insurance.

How will the newly insured be covered?

According to the CBO, 47% of the newly insured will be covered under Medicaid or other government-sponsoredinsurance. The states will be responsible for most of the expenses for these new enrollees. This will add to the

financial burden on the states and be paid for by YOU, the taxpayer.

Will Obamacare decrease my premium costs?Since Obamacare passed, healthcare premiums have increased from 10-22%! The CBO estimates that the

premium costs for a typical family of 4 will be $20,000 per year by the year 2016. Thats how much you or your

employer will have to pay. You may be eligible to receive a subsidy from the government, but that money must

come from state or federal funds, and therefore, from YOU, the taxpayer.

Will Obamacare decrease overall healthcare costs?The only way this law proposes to decrease overall healthcare costs is by restricting patient access to tests and

treatments (healthcarerationing), or by decreasing payments to doctors and hospitals, forcing many qualified

providers to stop seeing Medicaid and Medicare patients. Massachusetts has a similar plan to Obamacare, and

the average wait time to see a primary care physician there is 48 days!

How Will Medicare be affected?Overall, over $500 Billion dollars is scheduled to be cut from Medicare. Obamacare is the ONLY healthcare

reform plan being proposed that decreases benefits to CURRENT Medicare recipients! All other plans, including

those proposed by Congressman Paul Ryan and Republicans, do NOT affect current Medicare patients. Many

services, such as hospice, home health care, outpatient surgery, will be restricted. In addition, federal subsidies for

Medicare Advantage will be severely cut, leaving millions of Medicare patients unable to afford the premiums.

How will my doctor be affected?Obamacare directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (now Kathleen Sebelius,NOTa physician) to

determine, through government bureaucrats, how doctors are allowed to diagnose and treat patients. If doctors do notcomply with their rules, they may not be paid, they could be fined, or even put in jail! 45% of physicians surveyedhave said that they will stop practicing medicine if these rules are allowed to go into full effect.

What are the waivers Ive heard about?Because the premium costs of the proposed government plans are so high, and the rules that businesses have tofollow are so extensive, many businesses have requested waivers so that they will not have to participate inparts ofObamacare. Even the entire state of Nevada (Senator Harry Reids state) was granted a waiver!Many small employers will stop offering health insurance to their employees altogether, since the premium

costs will be so high. We may end up with MORE uninsured after this law goes into effect!Why did the American Medical Association support Obamacare?Thats a really good question! The AMA only represents 17% of physicians, most of whom are not actually

practicing physicians. So most of the physicians affected by this law are NOT represented by the AMA!So what CAN we do to fix the Healthcare system?There are lots of great ideas being discussed that use market-based solutions rather than governmentbureaucracy to solve the broken healthcare system. To learn more, watch this YouTube video series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDk_GhE9Q1E. Feb.2012JQV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDk_GhE9Q1Ehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDk_GhE9Q1E


19/22


20/22

20

NSRF Board of Directors Email Address TelephoneJohn Lefebvre President [email protected] 303-451-5558

Dana West Vice President [email protected] 303-280-0243

Jan Hurtt Treasurer [email protected] 303-451-0934

Phil Mocon Secretary [email protected] 303-452-4709

Brian Vande Krol Membership [email protected] 303-466-4615

Gary Mikes Membership [email protected] 303-252-1645

Leonard Coppes Membership [email protected] 303-287-9145

Wanda Barnes Membership [email protected] 303-373-1521

Kevin Allen Membership [email protected] 303-319-3011Join the North Suburban Republican Forum on the Internet and Facebook:

http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.org/http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=95611986640&_fb_noscript=1

Yearly membership dues are $20, while a couple is $30. Make checks payable to NSRF. It onlycosts $3 per person to attend the monthly meeting and a continental breakfast and beverage(coffee, tea, orange juice or water) is included. A membership application is located on thelast page. Fill it out and bring it along with you.

To subscribe or unsubscribe from our monthly newsletter, send an email with your name and

subscription instructions in the body to:[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:fljcoppes@mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.org/http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.org/http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=95611986640&_fb_noscript=1http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=95611986640&_fb_noscript=1mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=95611986640&_fb_noscript=1http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.org/mailto:[email protected]:fljcoppes@mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


21/22

21

Politically, is there really a difference? You decide:Democrat platform Republican platform

Bigger government Smaller government

More onerous rules and regulations Less onerous rules and regulations

More government control over your life Less government control over your life

More government spending & higher tax rates Less government spending & lower tax r

Anti-business policies Pro-business policies

Gun control & weak national defense Gun rights & strong national defense

Obamacare

Equality of outcome

Social justice

Liberal/Progressive

Community and social responsibility-based

Private health care choices

Equality of opportunity

Personal responsibility

Conservative

Individual rights and justice-based

The U.S. debt is due to a revenue problem The U.S. debt is due to a spending proble


22/22

22

The North Suburban Republican ForumNSRF Membership Application

We meet on the second Saturday of each month to discuss politics from 9:15-10:45am at Gander Mountain(9923 Grant St, Thornton, CO, 80229) in the employee training community room. A continental breakfast is

provided with coffee, tea, orange juice and bottled water.

Http://www.NorthSuburbanRepublicanForum.com

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________Address: _________________________________________________________________________________City: ____________________________________________________________Zip: _____________________Best phone number to reach you: H/W/C______________-________________-________________________Email: __________________________________________________________@_______________________How did you hear about the NSRF? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Signature: ______________________________________________________________________________________ New member

______ Current member renewal

______ Individual Membership $20 per calendar year______ Family Membership $30 per calendar year for couples______ Deluxe $56 individual/$66 family per year includes 12 monthly fees + yearly dues

Paid via __________ cash__________ check #__________

Todays date: _____________________________________________________________________________Received by NSRF board member: ____________________________________________________________

If you have a smart phone, use a bar code app for this QR code. It will take you to our web site.
http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.com/http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.com/http://www.northsuburbanrepublicanforum.com/

Date post:	05-Apr-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	north-suburban-republican-forum
View:	223 times
Download:	0 times

NSRF June 2012 Newsletter

Documents