Sen Leibham's Legislative Update

This is the text of the booklet Senator Leibham hands out for his constituents at his listening sessions. Since I know that I don't have all the video available of all his listening sessions and that not all of these issues get discussed at every listening session, I wanted to post the contents of that booklet here for those who have been unable to attend a listening session. Mr. Leibham's chief of staff, Mr. Gasper, kindly sent me a pdf copy so that I could copy and paste the relevant contents here without having to type them in myself.

Mr. Leibham remarked that his fellow legislators don't understand why he provides this guide to what has been done and is being considered in our legislature for his constituents. He believes it to be part of his job. It has been reproduced here with his permission and encouragement. Read it and get involved.

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Legislative Update
Actions of the Governor and the State Legislature
since January 1, 2009
This booklet contains information on many of the legislative
initiatives approved by Governor Jim Doyle and the majority of the
State Legislature since January 1, 2009. Also included is
information on various proposals that may be considered over the
next couple of months and highlights of Senator Leibham’s
legislative proposals.
For more information on the remainder of the 2009‐2010
legislative session and Senator Leibham’s efforts, please log on to:
http://www.leibhamsenate.com/

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New/Increased State Taxes = Approved
*Senator Leibham voted against each of these new taxes.

Combined Reporting Business Tax – $215 million new tax ‐ Require businesses (including many headquartered here in Wisconsin) to pay taxes on profits earned by subsidiaries in other states.
Phone Tax – $107.5 million increase – Impose a 75‐cent monthly tax on every wireless and land‐based telephone number.
Nursing Home Bed Tax – $71 million increase – Increase the tax on licensed beds in nursing homes from $75/month to $150/month in 2009‐10, and from $150/month to $170/month in 2010‐11.
Cigarette/Tobacco Products Tax – $334.7 million increase – Increase the cigarette tax by $0.75/pack (from $1.77 to $2.52). In addition, increase the general tax rate on other tobacco products like cigars and moist snuff.
Garbage Tax – $69 million increase – Increases the garbage tax from $5.90/ton to $13/ton – one of the highest in the nation.
Income Tax – $287 million increase – Create a fifth income tax bracket with a rate of 7.75% for small businesses structured as an LLC, “S‐Corp”, sole proprietorship or partnership, individuals earning over $225,000 and joint filers over $300,000.
Capital Gains Tax – $242 million increase – Decrease the individual income tax exclusion for long‐term capital gains from 60% to 30%.
Health Insurance Tax – $84.6 million increase – Postpone scheduled increases in the tax deductions for health insurance premiums.
Hospital Health Care Tax – $242.3 million increase – Increase the recently adopted hospital health care tax by $242.3 million over the next two years.
Surgical Center Tax – $44 million new tax – Impose a tax on the gross patient revenues of ambulatory surgical centers located in Wisconsin.
Sales Tax on Transactions between Related Businesses – $40.8 million increase – State sales tax was previously applied to SOME transactions between different companies with the same owner. This law specifies that ALL transactions between these businesses will now be subject to sales tax.
“Throwback Sales” for Business Taxes – $80.5 million increase – Current law taxes the sales of products made by companies in Wisconsin and shipped to a buyer in another state at 50 percent of the normal tax rate. This new law increases taxes on these “throwback” sales to 100 percent of the normal rate.
Streamlined Sales Tax – Enter Wisconsin into an agreement with other states to collect taxes when consumers purchase goods over the Internet. SST will also subject iced tea, marshmallows, chocolate chips and cloth diapers to sales tax.
“iPod Download” Tax – Extend the state sales tax to “digital property” downloaded off of the Internet, like songs, books and other digital files.

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Sen. Leibham’s Legislative Efforts

Job Creation Incentive ‐ Allow a company that creates or retains at least 15 Wisconsin jobs to keep a portion of the income tax revenue generated as a result of the new jobs to re‐invest in the company.
Capital Gains Reinvestment — Allow an individual to be exempt from capital gains tax if the gain is reinvested into certified Wisconsin‐based businesses.
Roth IRA Conversion ‐ Allow taxpayers to convert funds from a traditional individual retirement account to a Roth IRA without penalty. This legislation will also adopt higher contribution limits set by the IRS.
Alternative Energy Sources ‐ Allow new “light pipe” technology to be included in Wisconsin’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.
Health Care Freedom Amendment ‐ Constitutionally safeguard an individual’s right to purchase private health care services/health insurance and prohibit government from forcing participation in any public or private health care/insurance program.
Improving the CIP program – Gives MA‐eligible Wisconsin seniors, who would otherwise be forced to reside in a nursing home, the option to live with more freedom in a less costly community‐based assisted living type facility.
Workplace Wellness Incentives — Provide incentives for businesses to implement workplace wellness programs to reduce the costs of health care.
Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s) — Make investments into HSA’s tax deductible. Wisconsin is one of the last states to tax these investments.
Tax Deductibility of Out‐of‐Pocket Health Expenses ‐ Allow for all out‐of‐pocket health care costs, including insurance premiums and care expenses, to be deducted from state income taxes.
Tax Relief for Seniors ‐ Exempt income from retirement accounts & pensions from state taxation.
Repeal Auto Insurance Changes ‐ Repeal the mandatory auto insurance limits that were passed as a part of the 2009‐11 state budget.
Vehicle Emissions Program ‐ Eliminate the ineffective, inefficient and discriminatory state vehicle emissions testing program.
Nuclear Moratorium ‐ Repeal Wisconsin’s moratorium on the expansion or construction of nuclear power plants in our state.
Voter Photo ID ‐ Require a voter to verify their identity by presenting a valid state issued photo ID before voting or registering to vote.
Citizenship Requirement ‐ Require proof of identification and citizenship before receiving taxpayer‐subsidized state benefits.

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Items Pending for Consideration

Minimum Wage Increase ‐ Increase the state minimum wage from $6.50/hour
to $7.60/hour and index the minimum wage to inflation.
Wage Claim Lien ‐ Raise the cap on wage claim liens from $3,000 to $10,950
and index the cap to the rate of inflation.
Driver Cards for Illegal Immigrants ‐ Provide state‐issued picture ID driver
cards to illegal immigrants living in Wisconsin.
Appointment of the DNR Secretary ‐ Change the way in which the DNR
Secretary is appointed by giving that authority to the Natural Resources Board.
Under current law, the Governor nominates the DNR Secretary with Senate
confirmation.
Global Warming Bill ‐ Enact many recommendations of the Governor’s Task
Force on Global Warming, including mandated reductions in the use of fossil
fuels, requiring that 25% of the state’s energy come from “renewable” sources,
instituting a low carbon fuel standard, adopting California auto emission
standards and reducing statewide electricity use by 2% each year
Allowing Felons to Vote ‐ Allow felons to vote if they have been released from
prison but are still on extended supervision, parole or probation.
Beer Tax Increase ‐ Increase Wisconsin’s beer tax from $2/barrel to $10/barrel.
Concealed Carry for Retired Police Officers ‐ Allow retired law enforcement
officers to carry a concealed firearm in Wisconsin.
Ban on Cell Phones while Driving ‐ Ban the use of wireless communication
devices while driving, including telephones, text and e‐mail devices. A driver
over age 18 would still be able to use a cell phone with a hands‐free device.
Joint and Several Liability – Allow plaintiff to recover ALL damages in a lawsuit
from a defendant even if the defendant is only 1% liable. Currently, a defendant must be at least 51% liable for an injury before having to pay all damages.
Discrimination Complaints – Make the appeal of “no probable cause” findings
in Wisconsin Fair Employment Act claims subject to appeal directly to state
circuit courts, bypassing the Labor and Industry Review Commission.
Payday Lending Law Changes ‐ Prevent payday loan companies from charging
interest rates in excess of 36%/year and require them to obtain a license if the
payday lender makes a consumer loan of $5,000 or less.
Restricting Bisphenol A ‐ Prohibit the manufacture and sale of certain baby
bottles and cups for children that contain bisphenol A.
Medical Marijuana ‐ Legalize the medical use of marijuana in Wisconsin.

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New/Increased State Fees = Approved
*Senator Leibham voted against each of these new fees.

Phone Taxes ‐ $108 million increase ‐ Institute a 75 cents/month tax on each active wireless, land‐based or VOIP telephone. The tax will be called a “Police and Fire Protection Fee,” but no new funding will be directed into police and fire protection. Also, extend the state Consumer Complaint assessment and the Universal Service Fund assessment to cell phone providers, resulting in an additional 56 cents/month tax on cell phone users and including a provision forbidding cellular service providers from adding a separate line on your billing statement describing the tax.
Low‐Income Energy Assistance Fee ‐ $18.2 million increase ‐ Raise the low‐income assistance fee on utility bills to provide funding for District Attorneys.
Animal Slaughter Fee – Unknown fiscal impact ‐ Require the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to impose a new slaughter fee/food tax on farm animals after July 1, 2010.
Child Care Licensing Fee ‐ $1 million increase ‐ Increase licensing fees for group child care centers by increasing the per child biennial fee from $10.33 to $16.94.
Securities Trading Fees ‐ $22 million increase ‐ Increase fees on securities trading by raising the mutual fund filing fee from $750 to $1,500. Also, the 0.05% fee on securities sold to persons in Wisconsin will be maintained, but the minimum/maximum annual amounts of the fee are increased from $150/$1,500 to $750/$15,000.
Vital Records Fee – $6 million increase ‐ Make permanent the vital records fee increases that were enacted in 2007 on a temporary basis.
Increase Work Permit Fee – $960,000 increase ‐ Double the work permit fee from $5 to $10.
Vehicle Environmental Impact Title Fee – $16.7 million increase ‐ Under current law, the $9 vehicle Environmental Impact Title Fee was supposed to end at the end of 2009. The new budget makes this fee permanent.
Title Lien Fee – $4.7 million increase ‐ Increase the title lien fee for each notating and subsequent release of a lien on an auto title from $4 to $10.
Fee for Paper Copies of Driver Records – $130,000 increase ‐ Establish a $2 fee for providing a paper copy of a driver record upon request, in addition to the fee for the record search ($5 for a computerized request and $6 for a phone request).
Boat Registration Fee – $1.1 million increase ‐ Increase the fees for a three‐year motorized boat registration.
Handgun Background Check Fee ‐ $417,000 increase ‐ Increase the handgun purchaser record check fee from $8 to $13.

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New Policies Approved by the Legislature and Enacted by the Governor

In‐state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants – Allow the children of illegal immigrants to pay in‐state tuition to UW System institutions and Wisconsin technical colleges. They currently pay higher international student tuition rates.
Domestic Partner Benefits – Extend taxpayer‐subsidized health insurance and retirement benefits to same‐sex and opposite‐sex domestic partners of state employees. Also, allow a domestic partner to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Domestic Partner Registry ‐ Establish same‐sex domestic partnerships and provide
domestic partners with many of the same rights and benefits provided to traditional husband‐wife married spouses under current law.
Smoking Ban – Ban smoking in all privately‐owned Wisconsin workplaces and establishments, with certain limited exceptions, effective July 5, 2010.
Mandatory Auto Insurance Limits ‐ Increase mandatory auto insurance limits from
$25,000/person, $50,000/accident and $10,000/property damage to $50,000/person, $100,000/accident and $15,000/property damage.
Mandatory Auto Insurance ‐ Specify that no one may operate a motor vehicle on a Wisconsin roadway unless the owner or operator has purchased an auto liability policy for the vehicle.
QEO – Repeal the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO), which allows a school district to avoid mediation arbitration if they offer their teachers a salary and benefit increase of at least 3.8 percent.
Prevailing Wage Expansion – Expand the prevailing wage law to projects not currently covered, such as certain private projects that receive public financing. Lower the threshold for projects subject to prevailing wage from $150,000 down to $25,000.
Taxpayer Funded Condoms – Extend the Family Planning Waiver program to provide taxpayer‐subsidized condoms and other contraceptives to boys as young as 15 and men as old as 44.
Expungement of Criminal Convictions – Increase the age for which a person may have a conviction expunged from their criminal record from 21 to 25. Allow certain felonies to be expunged in addition to the misdemeanors allowed under current law.
Good Behavior Credit for Inmates ‐ Repeal Truth in Sentencing by allowing certain
incarcerated felons to get reduced sentences for good behavior.
Primary Enforcement of Seat Belt Laws ‐ Allow law enforcement officers to pull over a driver for the specific purpose of enforcing seat belt laws. Increase the forfeiture for a seat belt violation from $10 to $25.
Jobs Tax Credit ‐ Create a refundable jobs credit under Wisconsin individual and corporate income taxes. The total amount of jobs tax credits that may be claimed from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2013 is $14.5 million. In future years, the amount of total assets that may be claimed will be limited to $5 million/year.
Tax Exemptions for Biotechnology and Manufacturing Research ‐ Create exemptions from state sales and use taxes for purchases of machinery and equipment as well as tangible personal property sold to manufacturing or biotech businesses.
CORE Jobs Act ‐ Spend $15 million to spur economic growth through a series of strategies, some of which include the expansion of education and angel investment tax credits, farmshoring grants, business micro‐loan programs and funding for manufacturing skills training.
Drunk Driving ‐ Strengthen penalties for highly intoxicated and repeat drunk drivers by making third‐time OWI convictions a felony and requiring offenders to install an ignition interlock device. These changes may be funded through a 50‐ cent/quart tax increase on hard liquor products.
“Sex Ed.” Curriculum Mandate ‐ Sets the requirements for sex education curriculum through a statewide mandate, removing local control in an effort to ensure sex education curriculum is "age‐appropriate and medically accurate."
Wind Turbine Siting ‐ Direct the state Public Service Commission to determine what restrictions a municipality may impose on the construction of wind turbines.
Electronic Product Recycling ‐ Require manufacturers of household electronic devices like TV’s and computer monitors to make arrangements for the recycling of those devices when they are disposed of by consumers.
Mercury in Household Items ‐ Regulate the sale of consumer products containing
mercury, including fever thermometers, thermostats and other household items.
Sale of Home‐Canned Foods ‐ Exempt the makers of home‐prepared and homecanned pickles or other acidic fruits or vegetables from having to obtain a “food processing plant” license if they sell their products at a community or social event or a farmers’ market.
Federal Stimulus Funding Allocation ‐ Modify the way in which federal stimulus dollars are allocated to Wisconsin counties for use. This proposal seeks to cut through federal government red tape that prevented even a single dollar of these funds from being spent.
Regulation of Mixed Martial Arts ‐ Require the state government to regulate mixed martial arts fighting contests and make several changes to the way in which the state regulates boxing matches.

"And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; "~ 1 Samuel 8:10-19

Oppose Healthcare

For all those in Wisconsin who are incensed, as am I, that healthcare was passed by the Congress, here is the next step, or at least one of them. Wisconsin Attorney General Van Hollen has examined the legislation, determined that it violates the Constitution and is asking for the authorization to join other states in challenging the legislation.

In order for this to happen, Mr. Van Hollen requires authorization from either the governor (fat chance), the State Assembly (again, not likely) or the state Senate. Mr. Leibham and others have joined in crafting a resolution to give Mr. Van Hollen that authorization from the Senate.

The legislation is LRB−4576 and it will be coming before Senator Decker (R-Weston) the Senate majority leader within the next few days. The authority to bring this resolution up for a vote rests in his hands. I would suggest that we all contact Mr. Decker at Sen.Decker@legis.wisconsin.gov to share a wish that the Senate authorize Mr. Van Hollen to pursue a challenge this legislation legally along with the Attorneys General of several other states.

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? "~ Matthew 24:45

Planned Parenthood does the DO-SI-DO with GIRL SCOUTS

Planned Parenthood does the DO-SI-DO with GIRL SCOUTS

I know that, in the past, I have advocated for the Scouting program to teach values and build character for young people. I hereby withdraw that recommendation for the Girl Scouts of America. Ginny Maziarka has posted an article on WISSUP that is a must read for parents of Girls who were planning to utilize the Girl Scouting program. I am appalled.

Would it be appropriate for Jim Beam, Southern Comfort, Pabst, Budweiser or etc. to give a similar presentation to young people on drinking? I think not.

" A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. "~ Proberbs 22:3-8

I am the Lord and there is none else.

“For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” ~ Isaiah 45:18

After last night’s healthcare vote, I expect that several members of Congress will be congratulating themselves on “creating” a right to healthcare. They would do well to remember that all of our inalienable rights come, not from the Congress or indeed from the hand of any human, but from our Creator. For the Congress of the United States of America to claim that they have the same authority to grant unalienable rights is a very dangerous place to be - at least from a Christian perspective. Members of Congress are not the only ones who will be under judgment for such a statement, though, because this is a nation that is ruled “by the consent of the governed”. That’s us, folks, and we elected these people to represent us. I don’t know about any of you, but, as a Christian myself, such a usurpation of God’s authority is unthinkable for me.

For those of you who have been bamboozled by the nonsense taught in the public school system (or who have simply refused to become better informed through you own efforts after graduation) – get informed. Yes, the US was formed as a Christian nation – look it up. It was illegal to be an atheist at the time this nation was formed and if you wanted to hold office, you had to be, not only a Christian, but a protestant of some sort. Christian values shaped this nation and our Constitution. And, I suspect, were Christian values still the guiding principle before our Congress, we would not now be viewing the destruction of America.

Not only does claiming to have “created” a “right” to healthcare usurp the authority of God, it creates a slave class in the United States. This is in clear violation of the United States Constitution, the 13th amendment of which states: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” If I may be said to have a “right” to healthcare, that creates a requirement on the part of healthcare providers to care for me whether they will or no and whether I pay or not. This makes every healthcare provider essentially a slave to my need for healthcare.

Now many would argue that God himself would want us to take care of each other. Yes, He does. However, such care is clearly an individual obligation as demonstrated by the account of the Good Samaritan and others. God never instructs any individual to steal from another to do the good works through which we would honor Him and this legislation is nothing less than theft. Some would say that a loving God would reward such an effort to care for the homeless and downtrodden by our consensual government. Even if I agreed that God would approve of theft for the commission of “good works”, I would not be so foolish as to expect God to overlook the usurpation of His authority by the overweening members of Congress who have and will, in the coming days, claim to have made healthcare into an inalienable right.

In reality, this legislation is nothing less than the Congress and president of these United States attempting to claim and exercise God – like control over every aspect of our lives. Who lives and who dies will rest on the regulatory bodies charged with enforcing this monstrosity. (That would be the IRS to start with-like those folks needed more power.) And when, in 5 or so years, the “beneficial” parts of this enslavement plan come to the point of application, I wonder if anyone will have any money left to allow them to maintain their lives and liberty, much less pursue happiness at all. I won’t be holding my breath, as I believe that with the passage of this legislation, the America of the founders and even the much less free America of my own childhood has breathed its last. The tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free would do better, in my opinion, to stay where they are and get busy about changing their own governments to what America used to be if they want to breathe free, because freedom here is dead.

I, personally cannot breathe free, knowing, that through this legislation, the government will have it’s hand in my bank account directly and with no provision for appeal should they take more than they ought. And since it will be they who determine how much they “ought” to be taking directly out of my bank account to pay for whatever services they deem necessary for a useless eater such as myself, how could I dispute the charges anyway?
For those who wanted this legislation-Shame on You. Shame on you for not being willing to reach into your own pockets to help your fellow man. Shame on you for abandoning your duty and responsibility to teach your children and your unsaved fellow man the truth and necessity of upholding Christian values. Shame on you for deciding that theft is okay as long as you think you are getting the hard-earned money of those from whom you will be stealing. And finally-Shame on you for your hand in destroying a nation that was created by the hand of Divine Providence.

God is a God of judgment. The Ninevites, who repented and turned to God and had their city spared in Jonah’s time, reverted within about 200 years to the evils that put them at the point of destruction. Did God extend to them His lenience a second time? I’d suggest you check the book of Nahum to find out. Those members of Congress who connived and schemed to destroy a nation formed by the hand of Divine Providence, and the president who approves such a measure should remember, that just as Jonah had nowhere to hide from the Lord, neither do you.

Lest the foregoing statement be taken as a personal threat, let me add that I, like David, have a healthy respect for those individuals that the Lord raises up to positions of power and authority. I will wait upon the Lord’s judgment, secure in the knowledge that I voted for none of you, choosing instead to vote for candidates of good character instead of the lesser of two evils. God willing, when you are gone, I will still be here to help to rebuild what you have destroyed.

“God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.” ~Nahum 1:2-3

The Maritime Sentry: Dems Be Warned - We Know What You Are Doing To America And We Will Have Your Seats In November

The Maritime Sentry: Dems Be Warned - We Know What You Are Doing To America And We Will Have Your Seats In November

Not being able to say it any better,(at least not without indulging in unladylike language and scurrilous insults) I have provided a link to The Maritime Sentry's blog where SR has outdone herself.

MAYDAY!

Update:
The radio station that carries Faith2Action in my area has dropped the show contending that the show and it's host are promoting Dominion theology. The host of the show is the person organizing the Mayday event, Janet Porter. I am looking at the links provided by WVCY to determine if I am in agreement with them. I did not see that tendency while listening myself, but I wasn't looking for it either.Having a care for my readers, I share the link to WVCY's explanation for their cancellation.

As I read this post, it may seem that I am promoting Dominion Theology(The creation of heaven on earth through political power, as I understand the explanation.) I am promoting Christianity and Christian values, not theocracy. The United States is a unique nation in history and our political form requires that each individual votes and acts according to the dictates of his/her conscience. I think that converting people to Christianity is a duty for the sake of Christ's finished work on the cross and securing the believer's place in the afterlife, NOT for the purpose of the political control of this nation or any other. If people were perfect, it would be a desirable goal, but we are not and I loathe the idea that Christianity could be used as a political tool for attempting to force others to accept Christ. (Which would be pointless and ineffective anyway as the decision to accept Christ's work on the cross is an individual decision in every case.)
I encourage all of my readers to do the research and make their own decisions and to go forward in their walk with Christ and to do so in knowledge.

Mayday is an internationally recognized symbol of distress. There will be a gathering at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on May 1st 2010 (also know as May Day.) for Christians to come together to cry out to God for a nation in distress. During the past few years, I have come to the conclusion that our nation needs Christian prayer and Christian values now more than ever before.

As I surf the 'net and interact with others on their blogs or chats, I cannot help but notice how quick many people are to disassociate themselves from Christianity. They are even quicker to attack any who seem to have a grasp of sound doctrine. Sadly, many of those who are the most vicious in their attacks profess to be Christians. They are those who prefer to have their ears tickled. They find preachers and ministers who will tell them that any part of the Bible which might cause them to have to confront their own sins or the sins of loved ones are the work of ignorant savages who didn't have the enlightened scientific evidence for cause and affect that we are blessed with today. But anything that allows them to ignore the entire idea of sin is the word of God.

Those who would demonize Christianity are rather like the woman that wants to marry a man who will be a stable family man and husband, who then destroys the very thing she wishes to have by pursuing a man who is already married to someone else. Those who despise family values and the idea that we should be ruled by the tenets of some "religious superstition" nevertheless prefer to live in societies that are based, like the USA's on Christian values.

Such people recognize that the form of our society is the only one that is stable enough to allow them the tolerance they need to engage in their preferred behaviors and beliefs, but then turn on the very system that created that tolerance. They then refuse to give credence to the idea that Christianity is the stable base upon which all the positive aspects of this nation rest.

Often there is an insistence that "those religious right wingers" want to legislate morality. But there is no recognition of the fact that all legislation is based on someone's morality. The question we, as a nation need to answer, is whose morality do we want to legislate? The morality upon which the laws of this nation were founded, the morality which espouses personal responsibility and the development of good character, the morality that allows tolerance for those of other religions is Christian.

It is time for Christians to stand up and take their nation back, to "work, for the night is coming..." If we do not lead, then we will be forced to follow those who hold us in contempt and watch as everything this nation has done, with the continual help and guidance of Divine Providence, is reduced to rubble.

If you can, plan to join with other Christians in a day of prayer for our nation in Washington D.C. The MAYDAY event details can be found here.

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. "~ James 5:16

Separation of Church and State - Unless You Want Church Money For Your Socialist Agenda

It appears that Soapbox Jill and I were both in attendance at an informational workshop in Sheboygan a bit ago that tackled the topic of how Alinsky type community organizing groups are operating across the nation in an effort to dupe churches out of their money and to use the congregations as a political lever to push their radical agenda.

There are a few larger organizations operating in this state and across the nation. Groups with links to IAF (The Industrial Areas Foundation), ACORN, the Gamaliel Foundation and etc., which spawn smaller and to all appearances, charitable organizations within a community. They do engage in good works with some of the money they receive from our churches, but in doing so they are simply acting as wolves in sheep's clothing.

For instance, the Gamaliel group of Chicago receives money from the umbrella group, WISDOM, under which a slew of smaller Biblically named groups operate. They have names like JOSHUA of Green Bay, ESTHER in Appleton, SOPHIA in Waukesha, RIC, JOB, CUSH, MICAH, AMOS and JONAH. They undoubtedly provide resources for some who need them in those communities, but that is not their true goal.
Tom Murphy in the Appleton Post describes Gamliel's true mission like this: "The organization envisions units in every metropolitan area and would break down whatever local ordinances it deemed in opposition to its socialistic goals.”

That's the point of our posts. The goals of these organizations are to promote a change in our society. Now the beauty of our form of government, is that We the People are able to change our government when it suits us. However, there is a big difference between a large group of people deciding to make a change out in the open and a small group of folks hijacking the good names, charitable contributions and intentions of a larger group to accomplish goals that are completely in opposition to what that larger group would approve, and that is what has been happening.

What these community organizing groups do, is to get the local churches to sign on to their membership, by promising to do the good works for which the church has traditionally been responsible in the community. (I won't address the morality of outsourcing good works by the churches here, although it is of some concern to me.)Then these groups use a portion of the money that is donated by the churches to hire a lobbyist who goes to the seat of government and tells our legislators that all the congregations of all these churches support the legislative agenda they are pushing. That agenda includes, but is not limited to: promoting in-state tuition and driver's licenses for illegal aliens; promoting abortion and homosexual marriage like contracts; promoting Obamacare; opposing second amendment freedoms; promoting the national popular vote movement to disenfranchise rural voters and the voters of smaller states in national elections by awarding all the electoral votes of a state to go to the winner of the popular vote regardless of how the voters in that state actually voted; allowing felons to vote, thus skewing the voting power of electoral districts by increasing the numbers of voters in large urban centers; and the list goes on and on.

This is a heinous crime against the congregations of our local churches and we need to take a close look at where our church dollars are going. If your church is giving to these organizations go to the board, or the deacons or whomever has a vote and let them know that you will boycott the collection plate until all donations to these groups are stopped. You may also ask that these groups refund any donations made to date.

The other biggies, besides the Gamaliel foundation that are hijacking people's church dollars with such disingenuousness in Wisconsin are the Industrial Areas Foundation, or IAF (includes Common Ground and Dane County United), Wisconsin Council of Churches and Wisconsin Catholic Conference.

The largest sources of income for all of these groups are as follows:

1. Church Pledges -
   http://www.joshua4justice.org/content/view/14/27/
2. Catholic Campaign for Human Development - http://www.reformcchdnow.com/ and http://www.catholicmediacoalition.org/
3. Local Community and Private Foundations - Look up non-profit tax returns at http://www2.guidestar.org/
4. Public Dollars - Where is all that stimulus money going? See the housing bill here: http://www.joshua4justice.org/images/pdf/09-1944p4.pdf Notice that this link is through the JOSHUA home site.
5. George Soros and Out of State Billionaires - Like The Open Society Institute; Search http://www.soros.org/ for Wisconsin to see where Mr. Soros' money is going in this state.; George Soros' funding of Catholic groups (see
   http://www.aim.org/aim-column/atheist-soros-funds-catholic-groups and
   http://www.aim.org/aim-column/catholic-tv-host-challenges-bishops ) It seems a bit odd for an atheist to fund a faith based organization, doesn't it?; Then there is the Gay Mafia(Time Magazine's terminology, not mine.) here http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1854884,00.html and the group " They Won't Know What Hit them (The Atlantic Magazine)
   http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/03/they-won-8217-t-know-what-hit-them/5619/

If you don't want to have anything to do with the socialist political agendas of these groups, which are, in my opinion, detrimental to the state of Wisconsin as well as the nation, then hold your church accountable for the money they give to others for the outsourcing of "good works". Hold them accountable at the collection plate and get on the boards that make such decisions. Don't drop out of your church, make your church accountable for the funds that they are given in the name of charity.

As for the progressives who have concocted this scheme, I don't know how many times I have heard folks like you advocating for the "separation of church and state" when the good folks whose money you are now receiving under false pretenses object to something in your socialist agenda on the basis of their Christian faith. I think that since you are such advocates of the separation of church and state, the good people of Wisconsin and the nation should let you have it.

I think you should not receive one more penny from a single church in Wisconsin or the nation and I think that you should be required to return every cent you have received under false pretenses. And congregational members of these churches, don't, whatever else you do, complacently continue to allow this misuse of your funds because you think that the wolf in sheep's clothing is really just a nice doggy. The good works that are done by these organizations are not payment enough for their theft of your good name, your reputation as Christians, and your standing before the Lord when you will have to account for their evil done with the funds over which you were given stewardship.

As Soapbox Jill was in attendance at this or a similar meeting as she has posted a wonderful write-up over at Liberty's Logic: Community Organizing Groups Dupe Wisconsin Christians There are also clips on her site of Mr. Leibham's listening session in Sheboygan.

"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."~ 1 Peter 4:10