April 23, 2009
April 24, 2009
From: The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer
Organizations (FCTO)
Contact: Susan Kniep,
President
Website: http://ctact.org/
Email: fctopresident@aol.com
Telephone: 860-841-8032
CONGRATULATIONS to
FCTO Board Members Tami Zawistowski of Concerned
Taxpayers of East Granby whose organization led the defeat of the East Granby
Budget and to Board Member Judy Aron of the West
Hartford Taxpayers Association who successfully challenged the Town’s PTO
before the State Elections Enforcement Commission. More coverage on their success is offered
below.
NEWS ALERTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- As reported on
the Huffington Post website on the suicide of
Freddie Mac CFO….He and a group of company attorneys
tussled with its regulator in early March as the firm prepared to file its
quarterly earnings report with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
group insisted that Freddie Mac inform shareholders of the cost to the
company of helping carry out the Obama
administration's housing recovery plan. The regulator urged the company
not to do so, according to several sources familiar with the matter. An
FHFA official contested that account, saying the regulator did not oppose
disclosure but how the information was portrayed in the filing. Continued
at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/22/freddie-mac-suicide-offic_n_189911.html
· First Criminal
Charges in Bank Bailout
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/22/first-criminal-charges-in_n_190167.html
· Banks Playing Both Sides On Bankruptcy Bill,
Have Reform On Life Support http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/22/banks-playing-both-sides_n_190299.html
· A
Message from Governor Rell: Far-Reaching Labor
Agreement Will Cut Costs for Taxpayers Now and in Future
- Proposal, Approved by Union Leaders, Now Headed to
Rank-and-File State Employees for Consideration http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=3675&Q=438830
· Governor Rell:
Deficit Estimate Tops $1 Billion for ’09; New Estimates Put 2010-11 Shortfall
at $7.95 Billion http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=3675&Q=438816
· East Granby Voters Reject $17
Million Budget http://www.courant.com/community/news/fv/hc-east-granby-vote-0423.artapr23,0,2635478.story
Congratulations to FCTO Board Member Tami Zawistowski and all members of the Concerned
Taxpayers of East Granby. Read Tami’s
message at the end of this publication and check out their website featuring
the Hartford
Tea Party. http://egtaxpayers.org/hartfordteaparty.html
·
Judy Aron of the West
Hartford Taxpayers Association and FCTO Board Member wins case before
State Elections Enforcement Commission against Parent Teachers Organization. http://whta.org/SEECcomplaint2008.pdf
. Check out Judy’s Blog
at http://yedies.blogspot.com/
*************
TEA PARTY MOVEMENT EXPANDS
Stay tuned for
further updates to include
July 4th
Event
April 25, 2009, 11
AM to 1 PM
Kennedy Park, Corner of Rt 6 and Rt 64
North Woodbury,
CT
Contact:
Cliff cliquor@prodigy.net
*************
Congratulations to all who organized and participated in the
April 15 Connecticut
Tea Parties!
A special thank you to Pamela Fowler and Richard Rothstein
for all of their hard work in planning this event. Please read Pam’s message at the end of this
publication.
*************
Hartford Tea Party Draws Large Crowd
by Christine Stuart
| April 15, 2009 1:50 PM
http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/state_capitol/hartford_tea_party_draws_large.php
*************
ONE MILLION
ATTEND TEA PARTIES IN 50 STATES
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=95230
*************
The Following
Photos of the Hartford Tea Party are Compliments of the East Granby Taxpayers
Association
CTEG photos
*************
Susan Kniep’s Presentation at Hartford Tea Party on
April 15, 2009
I’m delighted to
be here today. I stood on these very
same steps with Susette Kelo,
the patriot of our time. We pleaded with
the State to allow Susette and her neighbors to keep
their homes. We spoke out against the
abuse of Eminent Domain. But our elected
officials would not listen. Susette and her neighbors
lost their homes.
I stood on the
steps in front of this Capitol during the anti-income tax rally to plead with
our State legislators not to impose a State income tax. Again, they would not listen and ignored our
pleas.
Today, we can
begin to change of the course of history and reinstate a government of, for and
by the people.
And now I ask you
- Are you mad as hell, and you’re not going to take it any more. If your answer is yes, then join with me in
sending a clear message to Washington
– JAIL NO BAIL!
Our so called
leaders in Washington
and their special interests are bankrupting us, taking our homes, depleting our
savings and forcing our children into insurmountable debt.
And they call it
democracy. I call it criminal!
Nationally, our economy is in a freefall and spiraling out
of control. Our country is in
crisis. The blood on Wall Street is
flowing down to Main Street
as deteriorating stock prices and a troubled housing market have reduced a
family’s net worth by 30% or more.
We’ve just
witnessed the biggest bank robbery in our country, leaving American taxpayers
and their children burdened with a legacy of insurmountable debt which has
grown to $10.7 trillion. This translates
to $36,000 for every man, woman and child in the U.S. Interest payments on this debt are $500
billion for one year.
With each dollar
in debt we incur, our country loses control to foreign creditors such as China, Japan,
Britain, and Saudi Arabia.
Being
bailed instead of jailed, some U. S.
robber barons, such as AIG executives, had their pockets stuffed with millions
of U. S.
taxpayer dollars guised as bonuses, as hard working Americans are losing their
jobs, their savings and their homes.
Some
predict the government’s data is fatally flawed and the real jobless rate has
hit 19.8% when factoring in the unemployed who have lost their benefits.
Mortgage
foreclosures rose 81% from 2007 to 2008 and continue to climb, with an increase
of 67% from Jan, 09.
With
lost jobs and few job prospects, the next tsunami to play havoc on the lives of
Americans and their families will be the result of Tax Lien Sales as
municipalities force families from their homes who cannot afford to pay their
property taxes.
In
Connecticut we pay one of the highest property
taxes in the nation, second to New
Jersey.
Approximately 85% of our property taxes pay for personnel related
expenses driven by public sector union contracts. Last month, the Democrat-controlled State
legislature handed over $86 million more of our tax dollars to give some state
employees wage increases of 6%. This
contract set the basis for future state and municipal contracts which
follow.
Some
retired town employees are receiving annual pensions exceeding $90,000 and
$100,000 with full health benefits.
The
only recourse taxpayers have is to unite in solidarity to keep what little we
have left as more economic storms brew on the horizon.
Instead bailing out the crooks, we
should be jailing them.
And that just might happen,
although a little too late. Yesterday,
we learned and I quote from the Financial Times …. the Securities and Exchange Commission is reviewing whether
Bank of America
broke the law by not telling shareholders about Merrill Lynch's
plan to pay out $3.6 billion in bonuses before they voted for the government-backed merger of these two
banks.
Broke the law? – well, maybe they didn’t brake the law because what we have
in this country is legalized corruption – our politicians construct laws on
which they can put their own interpretation.
But today we rejoice in solidarity. Our numbers will
grow, and our success will be great.
But the path will be long with many stumbling blocks which we will have
to overcome.
Our country can
only survive with an empowered, educated voter, and candidates who will reject
the status quo form of government which has long been controlled by special
interests. This is not a Republican or
Democrat issue. This is an issue of
survival both for us and our families and for our country as a whole.
You have a job to do. When you leave here today, be a spokesperson
for the cause. Tell others that they
must spread the word to take our country back.
Write articles in the newspaper denouncing what they are doing in Washington as it relates
to the bailouts and the debt we are incurring.
Write to your congressmen, to your local elected officials, and to your
state representatives.
Tell them you will
not pay more in taxes and they must control their spending. Tell them no more corruption and to jail those
who are corrupt. Tell them you will be
watching them. And you will speak out
against them when they work against you.
Your voice may be
weak in the beginning. But you will be
amazed how much stronger it will grow.
Because you know you can no longer stand at the back of the train. You can no longer let others speak for
you. You must take control of the
conversation and let those in Washington
know that you will no longer stand for the special interests and power brokers
who have for too long controlled our country and our lives.
And remember, you
can make the effects of activism felt this year, 2009. Attend your local town council meetings and
State legislative hearings.
Speak out on issues which concern
you. And more importantly, run for public
office or find candidates to run who will challenge the status. Support and work for those candidates. Through effective grassroots campaigns,
changes will be felt at all levels of government.
Thank you for
being here today and uniting in solidarity.
VICTORY WILL BE
OURS!
******************************
APRIL 16, 2009: A MESSAGE FROM PAM FOWLER, CONNECTICUT’S ORGANIZER FOR TEA PARTIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE…..
Friends,
Yesterday we made history! We did exactly what we set
out to do - PEACEFUL protests to send the message to all politicians that the
tax and spend policies are bad for America. Connecticut, we have
a VOICE and with the undeniable success of the Tea Parties, we are a FORCE!
1.
Taking the lead from another Tea Party organizer, I urge all of you to contact
your state and federal legislators to let them know you attended or are part of
the Tea Party movement! Click here to find your legislator! Please remember to be civil
and specific, for example -
Dear
Legislator, I went to a Tea Party on April 15th, I vote and you're fired if you
vote or have voted for the spending bills that will levy the largest tax
burden in history on the American people. Just wanted to let you know!
Your constituent, --------'
2. Nancy Pelosi
said we were funded by big money and rich whining people. Hmmmm...? Ms. Pelosi also suggested our movement was
an astro turf movement. See how funny she
is? We are an artificial movement! Do you feel artificial? If
not, how about sending Ms. Pelosi a message that you attended a Tea Party on
April 15th and tell her who paid for the Tea Party you attended. If you
need any information, contact your local organizer: Newhaventeaparty@gmail.com,
freenorwich@gmail.com, hartfordteaparty@gmail.com,
mattlechner@optonline.net.
3. Woodbury is on for
April 25th, Contact Cliff for specific details: cliquor@prodigy.net
|
Date:
|
Saturday, April 25, 2009
|
|
Time:
|
11:00am - 1:00pm
|
|
Location:
|
Kennedy Park
|
|
Street:
|
(Corner of RT 6 and Rt. 64)
|
|
City/Town:
|
North Woodbury,
CT
|
4. I've had tremendous number of emails from people
wanting to host or attend more Tea Parties! Here's what you can do -
email me at ctteaparty2009@gmail.com
and let me know if you want to host a Tea Party in your area by putting
"Host" in the subject line. We have a fantastic team that will
assist you will all aspects of your tea party!
If you wish to receive text updates on the Tea Party
movement simply text the word 'teaparty' (all one
word, lowercase) to 69302. There is no charge for this however, your own text message rates will apply!
With my very best regards,
Pam Fowler
CT Tax Day Tea Party Coordinator
Email: ctteaparty2009@gmail.com
******************************
Comments from Tami W. Zawistowski Secretary , Concerned Taxpayers of East Granby
(CTEG) on recent East Granby Budget Defeat - Hi – Proud to say that the East
Granby budget, which only included about a 1.1% tax increase, was narrowly
defeated at referendum today. Because it was a revaluation year, it was
not at all clear what the percentage increase was since everyone’s assessments
changed. Hence, the voters did not really understand just how
incrementally small the proposed increase was (and of course we did not point
it out to them).
We put our focus on increased spending, particularly by the
Board of Education, but chose not to complain about the compensation of our
teachers (even though they’re among the highest paid in the state - mainly
since nobody wants to retire from the system). Instead, we hit the school
administrators very hard, pointing out that our 14 top administrators make
about $1.5 million including benefits. We also posted their salaries on
our website. Our campaign included print ads in the Yankee Flyer and Granby
News, as well as a double-sided insert in the Reminder News, a letter to the
editor of the Granby News, flyer handouts at the town dump on Saturday, four
dozen lawn signs, and CTEG members hanging out in front of the polls today –
total cost of less than $1000. All of our media included the address of
our website, which contains a full analysis with all sorts of charts and
attachments (and which did get a spike in views when the various ads came
out). And of course Faith and her bell (although
her sandwich board only encouraged people to vote and didn’t say to vote
no). We also picked up some new members and some contributions through
this effort. And with our focus on the school administrators, if BOE
comes back and tries to cut programs without any concessions from the
administrators, it will put them in a very tough position.
I know it sounds like I’m bragging – well, actually I
am. I’m very pleased with the results.
If you’d like to see what we’ve got up on our website, it’s
at www.EGTaxpayers.org
– if you have AOL, I understand that the link may not work, so you’ll need to
type it in. Tami
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