Posted by dljholt on 11/12/09
Last updated 11/17/09

Please note the change in the time for the rally on January 18th. 

Posted 11/13/09 rpond Ashland, VA

Donna, Please provide a version with the Virginia flag in the background. Russ

Posted by dljholt on 11/08/09
Last updated 11/20/09

Dear Friends of Liberty,

The Virginia Campaign for Liberty has officially launched a legislative campaign around two 10th amendment bills. We're calling the campaign the "10th Amendment Revolution".

With all the federal power grabs coming down from Washington, the citizens of Virginia are calling for 10th amendment solutions in defense of our individual liberty and state's rights. There are some legislators who are working to push for a State Sovereignty Resolution and introduced HR61 at the end of the 2009 session that never made it out of committee.

While their effort is to be commended, we at Virginia Campaign for Liberty believe that a Declaration of Sovereignty Resolution poses certain dangers in that it allows bad legislators to clean their skirts with a piece of legislation that does nothing to make the 10th amendment more binding. It is our mission to put the 10th amendment, the law of the land, into practice.

Our bills will do just that.

The first is a bill modeled after the Montana gun bill called the Virginia Firearms Freedom Act (VFFA). This bill serves as a 10th amendment challenge to the powers of Congress under the commerce clause that prohibits the federal regulation of firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition manufactured and retained in Virginia. Delegate Charles Carrico has agreed to carry the bill in the 2010 session of the General Assembly.

The second is the Virginia Healthcare Freedom Act (VHFA). This bill is a 10th amendment challenge to the powers of the federal government to mandate federally approved healthcare by every citizen under the threat of steep fines and jail time. Delegate Bob Marshall has agreed to carry this important legislation in the 2010 session.

Through earlier surveys of the candidates for state seats in the General Assembly, we were able to identify 27 candidates that went on to be elected in their districts to the Virginia House of Delegates who said they would support such legislation. Within 2 hours of sending our email with copies of our bills, we had a chief patron for both bills and cosponsors for each in the House. We are currently working to find patrons for a Senate version of the bills.

We have contacted many like-minded groups asking that they join forces with us in our campaign for successful passage. In less than one week of networking, we have built a coalition of 13 citizen activist groups to include VC4L (of course), VA Federation of Tea Parties, Richmond Patriots, We Surround Them, Virginia Gun Owners Coalition, Gun Owners of America, Virginia Citizens Defense League, Freedom Ministries, Second Amendment March, Freedomworks, Americans for Prosperity, Restore the Founders' Vision, and Tertium Quids. The momentum is unbelievable and session doesn't even begin until January 13th.

On the first day of session, we have a team who will deliver packets to each of the 1oo Delegates in the House and 40 Senators to include a cover letter with contact information, a copy of the bills, and talking points for each.

Virginia Campaign for Liberty will host a Lobby Day/Rally on January 18 with speakers from each of the coalition groups, an emcee dressed in period costume as Patrick Henry and will give the famous Patrick Henry speech.  Our new Attorney General Elect who was endorsed by Ron Paul, and the chief patrons of our bills will be the keynote speakers, one of whom is a long time supporter of Ron Paul, was the incumbent for his state seat, won the election, and was also endorsed by Ron Paul.

We spoke with our Attorney General Elect, Ken Cuccinelli, and he is reviewing our bills and will be providing us with his official written opinion as Attorney General to be posted on the C4L website and a website we've set up dedicated to this legislative fight for the coalition.

We have contacted the NRA with our gun bill asking for their endorsement of it and after speaking with one of their coordinators, it is likely we will get that endorsement.

Prior to our November 3rd state election, we surveyed the candidates for Governor on the issues. The Democrat Candidate, Creigh Deeds, never responded but the Republican candidate did and said he would support the legislation. Well guess what? The Republican candidate won and if he holds to his promise, he will sign our bills into law if we get the votes needed for successful passage in the House and Senate. With a Republican majority in the House and Senate in Virginia and judging from the veto proof vote on our Stop Dangerous ID bills in the last session, and add the fact that we picked up 6 more seats on the Republican side in our recent election, we have a very good chance of getting both bills passed.

I am told that the Virginia Citizens Defense League has had the greatest turn out for a rally on the capital grounds with 500 participants than any other group during session. We aim to get 2000 people to the General Assembly on January 18th and judging from the momentum that is already building, we can and will do it. We are already getting press coverage without even trying.

We are going to turn the Virginia General Assembly upside down in the 2010 session. They won't know what hit them. But we can't take anything for granted. We have a long hard battle ahead. The ACLU, AARP, AFL-CIO, and all the anti-gun moms and pops, will be fighting us at every turn. If we are to be successful, we will need your help to cover the cost of such a huge campaign.

Please consider making an online contribution of $25, $50, $100 or whatever you can to help with the cost to launch a successful campaign to take our 10th Amendment Revolution to victory and get these bills passed.

Yours in liberty,

Donna Holt

Executive Director

Va Campaign for Liberty

Posted 11/09/09 Nate5176 Mechanicsville, VA

Count me in. I want to lobby.

Posted 11/09/09 Nate5176 Mechanicsville, VA

Did you or someone in C4L draft that legislation up?

Posted 11/17/09 Mark Thomas Willis, VA

Does the Virginia Healthcare Freedom Act protect us against federal fines levied by the IRS? I saw that the bill had language saying that no Commonwealth agency would enforce compliance with federal healthcare, but if I refuse to pay a fine on my federal income tax, would any Commonwealth agency prevent the IRS from threatening me with federal fines, audits, or imprisonment? Cynical me thinks this is why the agents of FEDGOV are talking about using income tax as an enforcement mechanism for healthcare.

Posted 11/17/09 dljholt Midlothian, VA

Our new Attorney General Elect, Ken Cuccinelli, assures me that he will do everything in his power to challenge the feds on their healthcare power grab to include penalties (excise tax) and jail time.

Posted by dljholt on 10/30/09

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. RES. 870

Expressing gratitude and appreciation to the individuals and families who participated in the Taxpayer March on Washington on September 12, 2009.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 26, 2009

Mr. PRICE of Georgia (for himself, Mr. PENCE, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. AKIN, Mr. AUSTRIA, Mrs. BACHMANN, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. BARTLETT, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. BONNER, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. CANTOR, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. CARTER, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. CHAFFETZ, Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado, Mr. COLE, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Ms. FALLIN, Mr. FORBES, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Ms. GRANGER, Mr. GINGREY of Georgia, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. GRAVES, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. HARPER, Mr. HENSARLING, Mr. HERGER, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. ISSA, Ms. JENKINS, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. JONES, Mr. JORDAN of Ohio, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. KLINE of Minnesota, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. LATTA, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, Mrs. LUMMIS, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. MCKEON, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. MORAN of Kansas, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. OLSON, Mr. PAULSEN, Mr. PITTS, Mr. POSEY, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Mr. ROONEY, Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin, Mrs. SCHMIDT, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mr. WAMP, Mr. WESTMORELAND, and Mr. WILSON of South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

RESOLUTION

Expressing gratitude and appreciation to the individuals and families who participated in the Taxpayer March on Washington on September 12, 2009.

Whereas, on September 12, 2009, hundreds of thousands of American patriots, who refuse to sit idly by as the Federal Government advances skyrocketing deficits, taxpayer-funded bailouts, pork-barrel projects, burdensome taxes, unaccountable policy czars, command-and-control energy policy, and a government takeover of health care, came to Washington, DC, to show their disapproval;

Whereas individuals also wanted to convey their displeasure with the future tax increases that will be required to pay for deficit-financed spending;

Whereas these individuals understand that the fundamental American principles of limited government and personal liberty are under direct assault;

Whereas this dedicated group of freedom-loving Americans believe in open, accountable, responsible, constitutionally based government;

Whereas hundreds of buses, multiple caravans of cars from across the country, and many individually chartered flights, as well as thousands of lone-traveling cars and trucks, brought these patriots to Washington, DC, solely for this event;

Whereas these individuals endured considerable personal expense to get to the march, including transportation and lodging expenses, as well as lost wages in many instances;

Whereas estimates of the number of people who peacefully marched from Freedom Plaza to the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on September 12, 2009, range as high as 1,700,000 marchers;

Whereas all 50 States were represented in the march;

Whereas this event is considered to be the largest ever gathering of fiscal conservatives in Washington, DC;

Whereas special accolades are due to the grassroots citizens organizations across the country who helped individuals exercise their constitutionally protected First Amendment rights in the Nation's capital; and

Whereas when the current trends of government expansion and freedom retrenchment are reversed, it will be due in large part to the efforts of the hundreds of thousands who marched on Washington, DC, on September 12, 2009: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the hundreds of thousands of people who marched on Washington, DC, on September 12, 2009, to show their love of liberty and their grievance with recent government actions.

HRES 870

Posted 10/31/09 Elaine Prairie City, OR

This is the first I have heard about this--

Posted by dljholt on 10/23/09

Dear Mrs. Holt,

Thank you for contacting me about The Federal Reserve Accountability Act. I appreciate the benefit of your views on this important issue.

As you know, on October 20, 2009, this legislation was introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Bob Corker (R-TN) and will be referred to the Committee on Housing, Banking and Urban Affairs. I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind as we consider this legislation in committee, and if the full Senate considers this bill or similar proposals in the future.

Again, thanks for writing. As we move forward in the 111th Congress, please continue to be in touch with your opinions and concerns.

Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

Posted 10/30/09 chessman2k Keysville, VA

As for me I have called both senators and expressed my views to them concerning the full audit of the FED ..I expressed that anything short of a full audit of the Fed would be an act of disloyalty to the people and We considered it a treasonist act !!! C.Nix

Posted by dljholt on 10/23/09

Dear Mrs. Holt:

Thank you for contacting my office regarding the Federal Reserve. I appreciate your taking the time to share your concerns with me.

I believe there should be appropriate regulation of the Federal Reserve. For this reason, I am a cosponsor of the Federal Reserve Sunshine Act (S.604), which strengthens an existing provision in the law to audit the Federal Reserve. I also cosponsored an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 concurrent budget resolution, which required the Federal Reserve to provide the names of institutions receiving emergency economic assistance, the amount of money they receive, and how the funds are being used. The amendment was agreed to by a vote of 59 - 39 on April 2, 2009.

Since the onset of the financial crisis and the recession, I have worked to promote both economic recovery and meaningful regulatory reform. As the Congress reviews the Obama Administration's recent proposal for rebuilding financial supervision and regulation, I will work to ensure that we address the weaknesses and gaps in our current regulatory regime, but avoid undue government interference in the marketplace.

This crisis had many causes, including the failure to monitor systemic risk, a lack of regulation of complex financial instruments, compensation practices that prioritized short-term gain above all else, and other factors. I am working to restore integrity to the financial regulatory system. Throughout the U.S. Senate's debate on the financial sector, I have been an outspoken advocate for several fundamental principles, including ensuring the executive branch is not granted excessive power, incorporating wide-ranging transparency requirements, and ensuring proper Congressional oversight and the wise use of taxpayer money.

As the U.S. Senate debates matters pertaining to the financial sector, please be assured that your specific views are helpful to me and my staff. I hope you continue to share your thoughts with us in the years ahead.

I would also invite you to visit my website at www.webb.senate.gov for regular updates about my activities and positions on matters that are important to Virginia and our nation.

Thank you once again for contacting my office.

Sincerely,

Jim Webb
United States Senator