Nance: Bridge and Road Work Ahead, Immigration Legislation Review

BRIDGE AND ROAD WORK AHEAD

MoDOT recently had a ribbon cutting for the Fishing River Bridge on 10 Highway in Excelsior Springs.

One bridge has been completed on Route A near Hardin, and they have started work on the other bridge scheduled for repair.

Another bridge on N highway is being repaired.  The bridge over 69 Highway in Excelsior Springs is closed for major repairs.

Double E highway is to have extensive work perform this December. Bids will be let in October. Cost is expected to be in the $250,000 range.

IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION

In light of the current legislation passed in Arizona, it might be helpful to review the actions of Missouri's General Assembly.

In 2007, the Legislature passed a law [HJR7] making English the language for all official proceedings in Missouri.

In the 2008 Session, the General Assembly passed HB 1549. This law changed the statute regarding illegal aliens and immigration status verification. This legislation was described at the time as among the toughest measures in the country to deal with illegal immigration. Key provisions include;

EMPLOYMENT

Business entities and employers are prohibited from knowingly employing, hiring, or continuing to employ illegal aliens in Missouri. Participation in E-Verify is required for all public employers and business entities receiving a state contract or grant in excess of $5,000 or a state-administered tax credit, tax abatement, or loan from the state.  Participation in a federal work authorization program is an affirmative defense to an allegation that a business entity knowingly hired an illegal alien.

Failing to provide identity information on employees within 15 business days after receipt of the request by the Attorney General will result in the suspension of a company's applicable local licenses, permits, and exemptions until the information is supplied.

Knowingly employing an illegal alien will result in the suspension of a company's applicable local licenses, permits, and exemptions for 14 days.  A second violation will result in suspension for a period of one year, and a third or subsequent violation will result in permanent suspension.

If a business with a state contract or grant or state-administered tax credit, tax abatement, or loan from the state has employed illegal aliens the contract will be terminated and the suspended from doing business with the state for a period of three years.  Additional violations will result a permanent ban from doing business in this state.  The state may withhold up to 25% of the total amount due to the business entity upon termination of the contract.

The Attorney General must maintain a database documenting any business entity whose license, permit, or exemption has been suspended or whose state contract has been terminated. Failure by a municipality or county to suspend any applicable license or permit of a violator as directed by the Attorney General within 15 business days after notification will be deemed a violation of the sanctuary cities provision and subject the municipality or county to the specified penalties.

SANCTUARY CITIES

Any county, city, town, or village is prohibited from enacting a sanctuary policy.  If they enact a sanctuary policy, they will be ineligible for money provided through grants administered by the state of Missouri until the policy is repealed or is no longer in effect.

A government entity or official or political subdivision violates the sanctuary city provision if it prohibits or restricts communicating or cooperating with federal officials on the immigration status of any person in this state. Any member of the General Assembly may request that the Attorney General issue an opinion as to whether the government agency or political subdivision has sanctuary city.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

An arresting law enforcement agency is required within 48 hours to verify through the United States Department of Homeland Security the lawful immigration status of a person charged with a crime and held in confinement if verification cannot be made from documents in the possession of the prisoner or after a reasonable effort by the arresting agency.  Upon verification that the prisoner is an illegal alien, the arresting agency must notify the federal department

If a judge reasonably believes that a person is an illegal alien, bail will be denied until the person can provide verification of lawful presence in the United States.

DRIVER'S LICENSES

The Department of Revenue is prohibited from issuing driver's licenses to illegal aliens and persons who cannot prove lawful presence in the United States.  Missouri will not extend full faith and credit to out-of-state driver's licenses issued to illegal aliens.

The commercial driver's license written test must only be given in English.  Translators will not be allowed for applicants taking the test.

It is against the law to assist any person during a driver's license, non-driver's license, or instruction permit examination process when that person knows or recklessly disregards the truth that a fraud or deception is being committed. Or assisting any person in applying for a driver's license, non-driver's license, or instruction permit when that person knows or recklessly disregards the truth that the application contains or is substantiated with false or fraudulent information or documentation, conceals a material fact, or is otherwise fraudulent or engaging in a conspiracy to commit any of the preceding acts or aiding or abetting in the commission of any of the acts. Violation of this provision is a class A misdemeanor.

PUBLIC BENEFITS

Aliens unlawfully present in the United States are prohibited from receiving a state or local public benefit unless it is offered under 8 U.S.C. 1621(b. Documentary evidence accepted by the Department of Revenue for obtaining a driver's license will suffice as proof of citizenship, permanent residency, or lawful immigration status. Nonprofit organizations regulated by the Internal Revenue Service are not required to enforce these restrictions, nor are they prohibited from providing aid.

TRANSPORTING ILLEGAL ALIENS

Any person knowingly transporting an illegal alien in this state for the purpose of trafficking in violation of Sections 566.200 - 566.215, drug trafficking in violation of Sections 195.222 and 195.223, prostitution in violation of Chapter 567, or employment will be guilty of a felony punishable with imprisonment for not less than one year, a fine of not less than $1,000, or both.

In the 2009 Session the General Assembly passed HB 390.

This law prohibits college or university students who are unlawfully present in the United States from receiving financial aid, including institutional aid awarded by public postsecondary educational institutions and state-administered postsecondary grants and scholarships awarded by all postsecondary educational institutions.  All postsecondary institutions of higher education must annually certify to the Department of Higher Education that they have not knowingly awarded financial aid to a student who is unlawfully present in the United States.

This session there were three bills considered by the General Assembly on the issue of illegal immigration. None passed but may be reconsidered:

HB 1231 DRIVER'S LICENSE EXAMINATIONS

This bill requires Missouri driver's license examinations to be administered in English so that the applicant can demonstrate his or her ability to sufficiently understand highway traffic signs and safety warnings.  The Director of the Department of Revenue cannot supply or permit the use of language interpreters in connection with the required written and driving tests.

HCS HB 1383 UNAUTHORIZED ALIENS SEXUAL OFFENDERS

This bill would add national citizenship to the information that must be included on a sexual offender registration form and requires the State Highway Patrol to report to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or other appropriate federal agency certain information regarding any person on the sexual offender registry who is not a citizen of the United States.

HB 2449 HUMAN TRAFFICKING

This bill creates the crime of trafficking for the purpose of illegal immigration if a person, in exchange for anything of value, knowingly transports or assists in the transport of an illegal immigrant within Missouri with the intent to violate federal immigration laws under Title 8 of the United States Code. Anyone who commits this crime will be guilty of a class B felony.

This bill also makes it a crime for a person to conceal, harbor, or shelter from detection any illegal alien knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that the illegal alien has entered or remained in the country illegally.  It is also a crime for an illegal alien to transport himself or herself in the state of Missouri.  Anyone who commits this crime will be guilty of a felony punishable by not less than one year's imprisonment, a fine of not less than $1,000, or both.

It is worth noting that the legality of many of these laws were questioned by opponents with the threat of taking the state to court and overturn these laws. I am aware of no court challenge to any of these laws and none of them has been successfully challenged in court.

One of the main sources of technical and other information for the laws passed in Missouri was Kris Kobach Professor of Law at UMKC. He has in his capacity as an attorney represented parties advocating for stricter laws regarding illegal immigration in Missouri and nationwide. He was involved in Arizona's latest laws.

(Immigration information provided by Representative Jerry Nolte)

Nodler: Safe Driving as Students Return to School

It’s the time of year for students of all ages throughout southwest Missouri to return to the classroom. This means more congestion on roadways in the area. Safe driving should always be a priority, but drivers need to be especially careful around construction sites and school zones.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is active in the 32nd District. Maintenance projects continue throughout the year as crews work to repair, patch, and perform upkeep on our roads. Here are some MoDOT projects affecting our area right now:

Jasper County:

• Route BB bridge at Deer Creek: Closed for replacement until Sept. 10.
• Route 66 (7th Street) between Route 249 and Duquesne Road: Widening the road to five lanes and replacing the Turkey Creek bridge. Reopening Fall 2010. Resident and business access only.
• MoDOT also recently announced that The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved highway construction resulting in the upgrading of the US 71 corridor between Kansas City and Joplin to interstate standards by the end of 2012.

Dade County:

• Route U bridge: Crews with Enviro Control of Stockton closed the Route U bridge over the Sac River for replacement on August 16 as part of the Safe & Sound Bridge Program. The bridge will reopen mid-September.

Newton County:

• Route 43: Paving from 32nd Street to I-44 taking place August 19-25.

Highway safety in our state has made great strides. In 2009, 878 people were killed in traffic crashes — almost 100 less than in 2008. MoDOT reminds drivers that basic driving safety including following the speed limit, buckling up, and never driving while impaired can make a significant difference. Drivers should also try to avoid common distractions such as texting while driving or driving while fatigued. These tips are especially important for young drivers. According to MoDOT, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for people 15 to 20 years old. There are three factors that contribute to traffic crashes for this age group: inexperience, risk-taking behavior and immaturity, and greater risk exposure.

If you see a roadway emergency or unsafe driving, call the Missouri State Highway Patrol at 800-525-5555 or *55 on your cell phone. You can also contact your local law enforcement agency.

For more information on roadway safety and road projects in the area, visit www.modot.mo.gov. I wish everyone a safe and happy start to the school year.

Davis: The Crown Jewels

The Crown Jewels Etc. celebrated the opening of their store in O'Fallon with a ribbon cutting ceremony.  I am pictured here with owners, Butch and Sharon Dowdy joined by family and friends. Also in attendance for the celebration were representatives of the O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce and the City of O'Fallon.

The Crown Jewels Etc. is Missouri's only high end consignment shop that allows you to consign or trade-in. They accept diamonds, gold, silver, timepieces and high end handbags and are located at 234 Fort Zumwalt Square in O'Fallon.  You can reach them by phone: 636-294-6612 or online: www.thecrownjewelsetc.com

Cynthia in the News

Davis elected head of St. Charles County Republicans

By Jo Mannies, Beacon Political Reporter

Posted 2:34 pm Wed., 08.18.10

State Rep. Cynthia Davis will still wield political clout, even though she lost her Republican bid for the state Senate.

Davis, R-O'Fallon, confirmed this afternoon that she has been elected chair of the St. Charles County Republican Central Committee, effective immediately. The vote, conducted Tuesday night, was unanimous, she said.

Davis' selection for the unpaid but powerful post underscores the clout of the Tea Party movement in St. Charles County.

Earlier this month, she unsuccessfully sought to oust state Sen. Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville, in the GOP primary for the 2nd District state Senate post. Davis snagged almost 46 percent of the vote, despite being heavily outspent by Rupp.

Davis is completing the last of her four allowed terms in the state House. So her new job will continue to give her a political base.

"I am tremendously honored to be asked to serve in a larger capacity for our party. This is an important statement for all Republicans because St. Charles County enjoys the prestige of being a major determiner of Missouri politics," Davis said, referring to the county's status as one of the top Republican blocs of votes in the state.

"Our reputation is earned from being able to deliver the votes to shape the outcome of statewide races. The size of our victory margins can propel winners statewide," she added.

Davis said she is promising "enthusiastic, principle-driven leadership" that will focus on promoting what she sees as "the Republican brand ... limiting government, protecting the taxpayers, supporting marriage and morality and standing up for everyone's God-given right to life."

Davis has won a lot of political notice -- and national notoriety -- for her regular legislative newsletters. . . Davis said this afternoon that she plans to "continue sending out regular updates because communication is vital to all successful offices."

Link to the St. Louis Beacon article.

A Little Bit of Humor: Business Sense or Cents?

Before going to Europe on business, a man drove his Rolls-Royce to a downtown NY City bank and went in to ask for an immediate loan of $5,000. The loan officer was quite taken aback, and requested collateral. "Well, then, here are the keys to my Rolls-Royce", the man said. The loan officer promptly had the car driven into the bank's underground parking for safe keeping, and gave him $5,000.

Two weeks later, the man walked through the bank's doors, and asked to settle up his loan and get his car back. The loan officer checked the records and told him, "That will be $5,000 in principal, and $15.40 in interest." The man wrote out a check, thanked the loan officer, and started to walk away.

"Wait sir," the loan officer said, "while you were gone, I found out you are a millionaire. Why in the world would you need to borrow money?

The man smiled. "Where else could I securely park my Rolls-Royce in Manhattan for two weeks and pay only $15.40?"

Rupp: Missouri Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Health Care Freedom

Citizens Draw Line Between Federal and State Decisions

Nearly 940,000 Missourians throughout the state made their way to the polls on August 3 to make their voices heard.  Perhaps one of the most important measures to hit the ballot was the decision for health care freedom.

Proposition C, which passed by an overwhelming 71 percent by Missouri voters, amends Missouri Statutes to deny the federal government the authority to penalize our state's citizens for refusing to purchase private health insurance and infringe upon the most basic rights we hold as Missourians, including the right to decide how we will take care of ourselves and our health care needs.  In the 2^nd District, Lincoln and St. Charles county voters followed the statewide trend by supporting the proposition with 76 percent of the vote.

It all started with the passage of the federal health care bill earlier this year, in which the "Affordable Care Act" was signed on March 23.  Proponents of the act said it would put into place comprehensive health insurance reforms that would hold insurance companies more accountable, lower health care costs, guarantee more health care choices, and enhance the quality of health care for all Americans.  In fact, since this measure was signed into law, citizens in states across our nation have been trying to let those in Washington, D.C. know that they don't want a federal law to force them to buy health insurance.

That's why I signed on, with 19 of my Senate colleagues, to co-sponsor a measure that would prohibit laws interfering with an individual's freedom of choice in health care.  The "Health Care Freedom Act" was included in House Bill 1764 and was approved by the General Assembly, placing the issue before voters in the August election.

Voters made sure to stand up for their rights, reinforcing their belief that Missourians should be able to choose their own health care products and services without living in fear of being fined or imprisoned for not participating in any government or privately run health care system.  This does not, however, reject any federal health care option nor take away an individual's choice to participate in the federal health care plan. Missourians drew a significant line regarding the role the federal government plays in determining very personal decisions — our health care.  I am proud to have worked to get this issue before the citizens of this state and will continue to serve the rights of those who elected me to serve as their voice in Jefferson City.

Plan H Opens Gate to Possible Flooding in 2^nd Senatorial District

I recently submitted a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, U.S. Congressman Todd Akin, and Missouri Gov. Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon regarding Plan H and its possible impact on the citizens of Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles counties, two of which I represent in the Missouri Senate.  Below is the letter I wrote to Colonel Thomas O'Hara, District Engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

I'm writing this letter in regards to Plan H, which is a proposal for levee alterations along the Upper Mississippi River in Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois.  This is a matter of urgent concern to me, especially in light of the fact that many people are not aware of this plan or its ramifications.

Plan H calls for building taller, wider and stronger levees along the Mississippi River all the way down through Iowa, Northern Missouri and Illinois, until it gets to Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles counties in Missouri.  In these three counties, the plan does not include building flood-proof levees.  Instead, it calls for about half of the counties' levees to be improved while the other half is required to be left as is.  The lands behind the unprotected levees have been designated as "flood water storage areas."  Mississippi River bottom lands north of these counties would receive federal protection from flooding, with the three counties of Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles, two of which I represent in the Missouri Senate, left unprotected against the threat of floods.  This is totally unacceptable.

I am asking that you oppose this plan, as it will make the counties of Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles the dumping ground for future floods.  This would be devastating to my constituents in the 2^nd Senatorial District.  I have written Gov. Nixon, both U.S. Sens. Christopher Bond and Claire McCaskill, and Congressman Todd Akin stating my opposition to Plan H and asked for their support in opposing the plan as well.  I believe that further studies need to be done in order to truly understand the effects of building these better levees, new hydrology and flow studies on the more recent floods since 1993 need to be done, and public hearings need to be held in the areas that will be affected, namely the three counties that will be left unprotected.

If you have any questions or comments about this week's column or any other matter involving state government, please do not hesitate to contact me.  You can reach my office by phone at (866) 271-2844.

Gatschenberger: Special Session Report, Annexation Law Signed, State Jobs Report

Special Session Report

In late June, the Governor called us back to the building for furthered debate of the Manufacturing Jobs Act [HB2] and a bill that would make changes to state employee pension [SB1].

The House got to work immediately and convened for a one day session, pushing both bills out the door to the Senate. Although the Senate sent the pension bill to us in a timely manner, they sat on the Manufacturing Jobs Act for quite some time.

The Senate finally passed the bill and sent it back to us. That same day, we truly agreed to both bills and sent them on to the Governor's desk for approval.

Manufacturing Jobs Act

Tax incentives have been a proven-effective way to create jobs in Missouri.  Through the Manufacturing Jobs Act, auto manufacturing companies are able to keep half of the withholding taxes for each full time employee, but only if that company continues to make investments in their infrastructure.  Qualified companies must make a $75,000 investment per employee to take advantage of these benefits.

One of the prime intentions of the legislation is to allow the Ford plant in Liberty to continue operation and build the facilities for a new line of automobiles.  This plant employs several hundreds of Missourians and it would do significant harm to our unemployment rate if Ford chose to leave the state. It is our hope that through the Manufacturing Jobs Act, they will leave their doors open and continue to add to Missouri's rich economic environment.

State Pension

The Governor chose to tie the state pension reform bill to the jobs bill for Special Session. Although I don't believe these pieces of legislation are co-dependent, we answered the Governor's call and passed the legislation.

This bill changes the requirements for new state employees hired after January 1st, 2011.  These new employees will be required to contribute 4% of their salary to their own pension fund, instead of the state paying it for them- which is the current process.  According to this legislation, 10 years of employment with the state is required before the employee can become vested in their retirement.

Further, to be eligible for normal retirement under this plan, employees must reach age sixty-seven and complete at least 10 years of service or reach age fifty-five with the sum of the employee's age and service equaling at least ninety.

In light of our economy and the serious condition of our state budget, the House worked swiftly to pass both bills so that no more tax dollars than absolutely necessary would be spent on Special Session.

Special Session has now adjourned and I look forward to coming back to the building for Veto Session in the fall.

A Message for you from MODOT:  WESTBOUND Route 40 @ Boone Bridge to be CLOSED the entire weekend August 27 thru August 29 for bridge repair work.

Governor Nixon signs legislation into law sponsored by Representative Chuck Gatschenberger

[Operator's note: The bill signed into law was HB1806. Rep. Gatschenberger proposed HB2312, a similar bill which did not advance from committee.]

This bill stops local cities from annexing any territory (i.e. Research Parks) without getting the consent of all the current property owners located within the unincorporated area of such parcels.

"Without this legislation, all the businesses in the Missouri Research park (located @ Hwy 94 and Interstate 64) would have to pay between $50,000 to over $250,000 in extra taxes as an added business cost.  This is unacceptable!  These companies (in just this one business park) would possibly have had to lay off roughly 35 to 50 employees just to pay these added taxes and that is wrong.  We need to help our companies in our state not throw them under the bus.  I want businesses to think of Missouri as a good place to do business and that means more jobs for the people that live in our state." … Representative Gatschenberger said.

Standing with Representative Gatschenberger are Cheryl Renne, Controller for Nike and Dennis Fitzgerald from Zoltek.

DED releases June 2010 state jobs report

Release Date: 07/12/2010
Contact: John Fougere, (573) 522-5058

JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri's labor market conditions continued to improve in June, according to data released today by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED). Missouri's nonfarm payroll employment increased by 3,600 jobs during the month, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, marking the fifth consecutive month of positive job growth in the state. Missouri's net job growth since January 2010 now stands at 26,600, an average of 5,300 new jobs created each month.

The state's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate stood at 9.1 percent in June, the lowest rate in more than a year, down from 9.3 in May. The state's not-seasonally adjusted rate increased by half a percentage point to 9.2, a standard practice in June each year as summer jobseekers enter the labor force. In comparison, the U.S. rates for June 2010 were 9.5 seasonally-adjusted and 9.6 not-seasonally-adjusted.

The private sector added 6,000 new jobs in June, with noteworthy growth occurring in construction (+1,100); durable goods manufacturing (+2,300, spread through a number of industries); and transportation, warehousing and utilities (+2,200). Increases came in spite of the loss of 3,300 federal government jobs in June, mostly temporary Census workers.

Most other industry groups saw comparatively small changes. The leisure and hospitality industry as a whole saw little change from May as its two major sectors went in opposite directions. Arts, entertainment and recreation saw an employment gain of 1,900, while accommodation and food services employment was down by 2,200.

Payroll employment in the state's metropolitan areas decreased in some areas and increased in others. The reduction of temporary census workers played a substantial role in many areas, particularly in St. Louis (-2,600) and Kansas City (-2,600). On the plus side, Joplin (+1,000) led the way in gains, while most others were relatively unchanged.

Pro-Life Ultrasound Bill Becomes Law!

I am pleased to report that the pro-life ultrasound bill [SB793] adopted by the General Assembly this past session will now become law.  Governor Jay Nixon's office allowed Senate Bill 793 to become law without his signature. July 17^th was the constitutional deadline for the Governor to either sign or veto the measure.  He has declined to do either, meaning the bill will become law as if he had signed it.

This is a monumental victory for women and children in Missouri.  For the first time since Roe v. Wade, women entering abortion clinics in our state will be told the truth about abortion and what it means to them and their unborn child.  The new informed consent law ensures that abortion-minded women are advised of the immediate and long-term risks of abortion to their physical and mental health.  Women will also be informed of the humanity of their preborn child, and given the opportunity to see an ultrasound and hear the heartbeat of that child.

This legislation also exempts Missouri from the abortion mandate contained in the new federal health care bill.  Health insurance policies sold in Missouri through federally subsidized health insurance exchanges will not be allowed to cover abortions.  As a result, Missourians will not be required to underwrite the destruction of unborn children in our state through their taxes or their health insurance premiums.

This is the most significant piece of pro-life legislation to become law in Missouri in nearly 25 years.  Women faced with unintended pregnancies will get what they deserve:  full disclosure of the alternatives before them so that their decision is truly informed.  We thank God for what this means for generations of children and their mothers in our state.   Many women will be spared the heartache and indignity of abortion.  Many children will know the joys of life and the love of family.

NISC on Computerworld's Top 100 Best IT Places to Work

Suburban Journal (July 24, 2010) --- Computerworld ranked NISC 22nd in the nation in the magazine's annual Best Places to Work in Information Technology. NISC is ranked No. 3 in the nation for businesses with fewer than 2,500 employees. The company has 780; they're evenly divided between Mandan, ND and Lake Saint Louis, MO.  The ranking is no fluke. Computerworld has ranked NISC in the top 100 eight times in nine years. Read More...

EDC incubator welcomes 4 new tenants & 1 graduation

Four new business tenants and one graduation from the small business incubator operated by the Economic Development Center of St. Charles County, was announced today by EDC officials. New tenants include Clarus Communications, Conscious Sedation Consulting, 1st Integrity Enterprises and Luxury Bath of St. Charles.

The latest graduate from the EDC incubator program is Pro Basement Finishers, a basement remodeling and finishing company, who expanded and opened their new office in O'Fallon. Read More...

Inherited Deficit

The Washington Post babbled about Obama inheriting a huge deficit from Bush.  Amazingly enough, a lot of people swallow this nonsense. So once more, a short civics lesson…

Budgets do not come from the White House. They come from Congress, and the party that controlled Congress since January 2007 is the Democratic Party. They controlled the budget process for FY 2008 and FY 2009, as well as FY 2010 and FY 2011. In that first year, they had to contend with George Bush, which caused them to compromise on spending, when Bush somewhat belatedly got tough on spending increases.  For FY 2009, though, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid bypassed George Bush entirely, passing continuing resolutions to keep government running until Obama could take office. At that time, they passed a massive omnibus spending bill to complete the FY 2009 budgets.

And where was Obama during this time?  He was a member of that very Congress that passed all of these massive spending bills, and he signed the omnibus bill as president to complete FY 2009.   Let's remember what the deficits looked like during that period:

If the Democrats inherited any deficit, it was the FY 2007 deficit, the last of the Republican budgets.  That deficit was the lowest in five years, and the fourth straight decline in deficit spending.  After that, Democrats in Congress took control of spending, and that includes Barack Obama, who voted for the budgets. If Obama inherited anything, he inherited it from himself. In a nutshell, what Obama is saying is I inherited a deficit that I voted for and then I voted to expand that deficit four-fold since January 20th.    WAKE UP, AMERICA, BEFORE ITS TOO LATE  !

Fun Facts

A chemistry professor in a large college had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back, and stretching as if his back hurt.

The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back.  He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government.

In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question.  He asked, "Do you know how to catch wild pigs?"

The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line.  The young man said this was no joke.  "You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming.  When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in The last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.

Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.

The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America.  The government keeps pushing us toward socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc.. While we continually lose our freedoms -- just a little at a time.

One should always remember: There is no such thing as a free lunch!  Also, a politician will never provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself.

Also, if you see that all of this wonderful government "help" is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America you might want to send this on to your friends. If you think the free ride is essential to your way of life then you will probably delete this email, but God help you when the gate slams shut!

Keep your eyes on the newly elected politicians who are about to slam the gate on America.

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have." –Thomas Jefferson