Posted by IUsharp on 07/18/09

This video was recently posted at the http://travishankins.com website.  Travis is running for US Congress as a Republican in Indiana's 9th District against incumbent Baron Hill (D).  The video is of him speaking to the "Independence Day Tea Party" crowd at Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds.  You have to hit play for the video to start.

Posted by IUsharp on 07/17/09

A message from the Rand Paul campaign:Rand Paul Gaining Momentum

Fellow Citizens,

Only two months ago, Dr. Rand Paul formed a committee to explore a run for the United States Senate in 2010. An ophthalmologist hailing from Bowling Green, KY, Rand is the son of Dr. Ron Paul, whose memorable presidential campaign reignited the flame of liberty throughout our beleaguered nation. Even though the campaign is still in its infancy, Rand has received acclaim for his common sense solutions and his dedication to the Constitution which made this country great. He has received his father's endorsement, been interviewed several times on national television, and is tirelessly traveling about the state testing support for his candidacy, most recently receiving an enthusiastic reception at the Jefferson County GOP Picnic.

Incumbent Senator Jim Bunning maintains that he is running, but then indicates he may not run if fundraising is too low. Additionally, has already given his blessing to another candidate to compete for fundraising, which raises serious questions about whether he indeed intends to run. Rand feels it is important that Kentuckians have the opportunity to vote for a true conservative. With ever increasing support and donations, and with time growing short, Rand Paul will make a final decision about running by August 20th.

Please consider coming out to show your support this Saturday, as Dr. Paul speaks at the Fayette County GOP Picnic. The event begins at 5:00 PM, and is at the home of Rodney and Rosemary Parsons on 3901 Iron Works Pike in Lexington. The cost is $25 per person with children under 12 eating for free.

Dr. Paul will also be speaking in Scottsville, KY on July 27th and hopes to make a big splash at Fancy Farm in western Kentucky on August 1st. Please see the event calendar on the website for more details!

Finally, grassroots supporters are planning to blast the campaign to the next level with a money bomb on August the 20th, with a goal of 10,000 donors donating $100 each. Please sign up at runrandrun.com, donate at randpaul2010.com on the 20th, and join others in spreading the word! Supporters have already begun to use Facebook, Meetup and even Youtube - as this phenomenal promotional video illustrates!

Let us build on the Constitutional Revolution that was sparked last year, reinvigorate the dream of liberty that has inspired nations, and together, make history once again!

In Liberty,
Christopher Hightower
Rand Paul for US Senate Exploratory Committee

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Remember, Campaign for Liberty is not for or against any candidate.  But it's all of our responsibilities to stay up-to-date on ALL candidates' acitivites!

Posted by IUsharp on 07/17/09

Just got another update from the Todd Young for Congress campaign.  Todd is running in the 9 district of Indiana for US Congress against incumbent Baron Hill (D).

Todd's Report Card
July 17, 2009
Dear Andrew,

People are recognizing we're the campaign to watch. With public support from nearly every statewide officeholder and nearly half of our Republican County Chairs, we've got the momentum and we're picking up speed.

We're in a great financial position, too, with more early money in the bank than we've ever seen a challenger candidate raise in Indiana's Ninth Congressional District. Since mid-March, when we began raising money, we've come a very long way.

Thanks to your support, this District remains one of the most competitive congressional races in the country.

Report Card:

Public Support
Statewide Officials:
Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman
State Treasurer Richard Mourdock
Attorney General Greg Zoeller
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett
State Auditor Tim Berry
Secretary of State Todd Rokita

Local Republican Chairs:
Melissa Acton (Jackson County)
Jim Mathers (Orange)
Ted Ogle (Bartholomew)
Gary Morris (Dearborn)
Gene Moncel (Monroe)
Yvette Dowd (Scott)
Ben Schoenhoeft (Switzerland)
Jennifer Voris (Brown County)
Mark Wynn (Jefferson)

What they're saying...
"Young is easily outperforming historic fundraising for a Republican in that district." Frugal Hoosiers

"I endorse Todd because I know when elected to Congress he will act to protect the interest of all Hoosiers. We need fiscally responsible leaders in Congress to protect the funds and investments of Hoosiers in these uncertain times." Richard Mourdock, Indiana Treasurer

"I endorse Todd because he possesses the wherewithal and drive needed to win this congressional seat." Melissa Acton, Jackson County Republican Chairperson

"Todd is a breath of fresh air. His experience and knowledge are what we need to represent us in Congress." Ted Ogle, Bartholomew County Republican Chairperson

"Todd's campaign for one of the most competitive congressional seats in the country has gotten off to a great start." Connie Nass, Former Indiana State Auditor

The Numbers
Nearly $90,000 cash-on-hand for Second Quarter Federal Election Commission reports.


While Todd's campaign is off to a great start much work is left. Todd isn't receiving nearly $40,000 in support from Washington fundraisers. Instead, he is relying on you. Let's join together to tell Washington and Baron Hill enough is enough!

Sincerely,

Friends of Todd Young
www.toddyoungforcongress.com

Posted by IUsharp on 06/29/09

Just got this message from the Todd Young for Congress campaign:

I hope every Hoosier will take a little time to investigate what's in the massive cap-and-trade bill that passed by the narrowest of margins Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives. If this bill succeeds in the Senate, Indiana might just as well put up signs saying "closed for business" on its borders.

In my 10 years of closely following Congressional activities, I cannot recall any other bill that would have a more devastating impact on Indiana than this legislation. Not only is it potentially the biggest tax increase I have ever seen, it is the most regressive.

It saddens me to think of what this carbon tax bill will do to Hoosiers on fixed incomes who are already having trouble paying their electric bills. This legislation has the potential to practically double those bills almost overnight.

Seven of Indiana's nine Congressional representatives figured out just how bad the carbon tax bill was for Indiana and voted no. To the two who voted yes, Baron Hill and Andre Carson, I can only ask: What were they thinking!!??

Had they exercised the good judgment of the rest of the Hoosier delegation, the tax bill would have failed.

Admittedly, it would have been hard to read all of the bill's 1,300 pages in the few hours they were available to members of Congress before the vote was taken, but key information was available.

For instance, both the Energy Information Administration and Congressional Budget Office published tables showing exactly how each state's citizens would be affected by so-called "cap and trade" allowances established in the bill.

Those tables show that electricity consumers in Indiana would have to pay $763 million more each year for electricity so their power companies could buy carbon offsets. Only Texas would pay more than Indiana!

Perhaps not surprisingly, the bill allocates extra credits to California and New York so their ratepayers won't see an immediate jump in their electric bills.

It's not clear yet what this bill will do to gasoline prices - but they won't go down. Does anybody remember how painful it was to pay in excess of $4 a gallon?

There are two main reasons Indiana remains one of the better states for manufacturing. Our energy costs are relatively low and we have a good quality work force.

This bill wipes out the first reason and punishes our workers with a major new tax they do not deserve.

Supporters of this legislation will tell Hoosiers the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the average cost per family for carbon offsets will be $175 a year - or, as the spin-doctors are saying, "about the price of a postage stamp per day."

But I would urge Hoosiers to look closely at just how the CBO reached this conclusion.

The CBO found that the "gross" cost of this legislation would be $890 per household. The CBO then assumed that all of the proposed "rebates" to taxpayers and businesses adversely affected by cap-and-trade would actually take place.

In other words, the CBO is taking Congress at its word that this massive pile of new revenue won't be spent by Congress or applied to the hemorrhaging national debt.

Of course not. Congress will give every penny back. Honest!

What's really going on here is that the CBO was asked to make its estimate under the very best of circumstances, not the most likely of circumstances. Now it becomes clear why so many respected economists are estimating the bill's cost as much higher than what the CBO has published.

I recognize that many Americans are legitimately concerned about climate change and what will happen to the planet if we do not rein in CO2 emissions. But I reject the notion that we have to cripple our economy to address these concerns. The technology exists today to produce energy in many ways without pumping CO2 into the atmosphere.

Here in Indiana, we are moving forward with clean-coal technology that offers a very promising solution. Elsewhere in the world, many countries are moving forward with safe, modern nuclear technology that carries none of the dangers associated with the mega-reactors built a half century ago. And, wind and solar can be made cost-effective in some areas of the country with some initial infrastructure expense.

A combination of all of these technologies would result in far more reductions of CO2 than are likely to be achieved under this carbon tax bill. And, with none of the economic handicaps.

Our only chance of heading off such an economic disaster is for Americans to rise up and declare their opposition to it. And in Indiana, we've got more reasons to oppose this bill - 763 million reasons, to be exact - than any other state but Texas.

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Posted by IUsharp on 06/07/09

From the Herald Times:

State Rep. Matt Pierce, state Rep. Peggy Welch, and state Sen. Vimpson will host a legislative forum Monday to gain public input about the new state budget that will be considered when the Indiana General Assembly reconvenes this week in special session.

The forum will be Monday, June 8th, from 7-8:30 pm at the Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave.

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This is a great opportunity for us to have input with actual lawmakers at the state house.  Please be sure to attend this important meeting!

-Andrew