During the call, Johnny will speak for a few minutes about issues facing our small businesses here in Georgia and throughout the nation. After his brief comments, he will then open up the call to questions and comments from the participants.

The call in number and pass code are listed below:
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS CONFERENCE CALL
What: Conference call with U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson to discuss healthcare reform
When: Tuesday, July 7th at 4pm
Call?in #: (888) 677?2238
Pass code: ISAKSON

If you have any questions or concerns contact Jared Downs, Regional Director, US Senator Johnny Isakson, 912?656?7293

1:45-3:00 Business Issues
1:45 – John Grotheer, Jr. – Finance Director
2:00 – Kirk Croasmun – County Engineer
2:30 – Sheriff Clyde Smith & Kathy Hicks – E-911 Update
2:45 – Wendy Sims – Family Connections &
Bill Collins – Drug Free Coalition

3:00-3:15 County Administrator Issues

3:15-4:00 County Attorney Issues
Closed Session:
1. Pending Litigation

4:00 Public Comments
1. David Beard
Commissioners Comments

Adjournment

Consent Agenda:
1. Approval of New Occupational Tax Certificates
2. Approval of Tax Refunds Due to Mobile Home Is Not Livable
3. Denial of Refund of Tax Fee Due to Not Applying for Proper Paperwork in Time

County Administrator Issues:
1. Appointment to the Library Board
2. Statesboro Regional Libraries
3. Mobile Home Pre-1994 Relocated With no Permit/Inspection

1. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Cost Middle-Class Families and Small Businesses Billions. Though House Democrats don’t know (or won’t say) how much their government takeover will cost, here’s what we do know: the plan will make health care more expensive and hit the middle class particularly hard with higher taxes, rationed care, and new health care costs. As millions of families and small businesses are struggling to make ends meet while making responsible choices, this plan forces those that make responsible decisions to foot the bill for those who don’t.

2. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Cost Tens of Millions Their Current Health Care Coverage. The House Democrats’ plan could force more than 100 million Americans out of their current health care plan and onto the government rolls, according to a Lewin Group study published earlier this year. A Congressional Budget Office report on a similar plan authored by Senate Democrats that would force at least 23 million Americans off of their current plans. According to the Associated Press, even the White House admits that the President’s promises about allowing the American people to keep their health care shouldn’t be taken literally.

3. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Cost Millions of Americans Their Jobs. The House Democrats’ plan would impose employer mandates and cost jobs by requiring some employers – especially some small businesses – to pay a new eight percent tax to Washington. The plan would also slap employers that are unable to offer coverage the government deems adequate with another new financial burden. These two new taxes will make it more difficult than ever for small business owners to reinvest in their businesses and create and retain good paying jobs. Using the economic model of the President’s own economic advisors, an employer mandate would result in 4.7 million Americans losing their jobs.

4. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Put Bureaucrats in Charge of Key Medical Decisions. Instead of keeping patients and doctors in charge of key medical decisions, the House Democrats’ plan will give Washington the power instead. And if you’re outraged with what Washington’s done with the bailouts, just wait until you see what Uncle Sam does with your health care.

5. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Cost Future Generations Money They Don’t Have. The House Democrats’ bill simply shifts the burden of debt from one generation to the next. Our nation can’t sustain the Medicaid and Medicare programs now. At a time when families and small businesses already are being crushed under the weight of historic debt, a new government-run program will only further add to the bill passed along to our children and grandchildren.

6. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Cost Seniors Key Medicare Benefits and Options. In order to expand health care benefits to some seniors, House Democrats will slash coverage millions of other seniors depend on. These benefit cuts will ultimately eliminate choices for seniors.

7. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Place a New Mandate on Individuals. The House Democrats’ plan mandates that every American buy health insurance or pay a hefty penalty to Washington equal to almost two percent of their income. This would force more Americans into government-run system that will make health care more expensive, ration care, and put bureaucrats in charge of medical decisions.

8. Democrats’ Government Takeover Will Raise Taxes on Families, Small Businesses. Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) readily admitted that the Democrats’ health care “reform” plan would be financed with tax hikes. The Associated Press reported that, “Democrats are considering everything from taxing soda, to raising income taxes on upper income people earning more than $200,000, to a federal sales tax.” Exactly how many new taxes will there be to bankroll this government takeover? When do Democrats plan to reveal them?

9. Democrats’ Government Takeover Is a Missed Opportunity To Reduce Health Care Costs. The House Democrats’ plan does not include even a shred of medical liability reform, missing an opportunity to drive down health care costs by reducing costly, unnecessary defensive medicine practiced by doctors trying to protect themselves from trial lawyers.

10. Democrats’ Government Takeover Harms Small Businesses, Costs Jobs. The House Democrats’ plan uses the amount of an employer’s annual payroll to define “small business,” which is troubling news for millions of Americans who depend on these engines of economic growth. Based on the Democrats’ definition of small businesses, only those with, on average, less than 10 employees will be spared from new taxes through employer mandates. This leaves a huge number of small businesses to deal with the onerous and expensive mandates of the House Democrats’ government defined health benefit plan (”small businesses” are traditionally defined as employing less than 500 people). These small businesses employ 47.3 million employees and provide those employees $1.7 trillion in wages annually. The House Democrats’ new employer mandate and taxes on these businesses will make it more difficult to retain these jobs and wages. Source: House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH)

Nancy Pelosi and liberal Democrats in the House of Representatives are preparing to pass so-called “cap and trade” legislation THIS WEEK. This bill is nothing but a huge national energy tax on families and small businesses.

But don’t just take my word for it. Watch the video at this link, and listen to Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), the senior Democrat in the House of Representatives, admit that “…cap and trade is a tax, and it’s a great big one.”

Don’t let the Democrats tax your lights out. Pick up the phone now. Call your Congressman at 202-224-3121. Tell your Congressman to vote NO on the Democrats’ cap and trade energy tax.

Sincerely,

Michael Steele
Chairman, Republican National Committee

John Oxendine addresses 12 issues, important to Georgia families in The Contract with Georgia.

In 1994, Newt Gingrich introduced the Contract with America. His vision transformed politics on a national scale and made government more accountable to the taxpayers. We can do the same in Georgia. We will transform our state government with a service oriented philosophy that prioritizes families, small business owners, and taxpayers ahead of political self-interest.

Politics as usual have failed Georgians. Whether meted out by Democrats or Republicans, the results have been the same mediocrity at best, regress at worst. The centerpiece of John’s campaign for Governor is a pledge. This pledge will break the cycle of promises made but not kept and transform government with one basic ideal the good of the people before politics.

John Oxendine offers this contract for a better Georgia; a detailed agenda for transformation of state government, which is a written commitment.

The critics will complain, the doubters will hesitate, and the status quo will oppose; but John will move forward in a positive, determined and inclusive way. John Oxendine will work for Georgia and offer real solutions to our most pressing issues.

If you have been seeking an innovative approach, a new direction for government, then join John and help him transform Georgia.

On the first day of the 2011 General Assembly, the new Oxendine Administration will have it’s Legislative Floor Leaders begin to introduce the following major reforms aimed at transforming our state government:

First – Make state government smaller and more accountable by implementing zero-base budgeting.

Second – Create a modern 21st century tax code for Georgians which abolishes the state income tax.

Third – Implement a comprehensive statewide transportation system.

Fourth – Actively assert that the tenth amendment of the U.S. Constitution belongs to the American people and not Washington politicians.

Fifth – Break ground on new water reservoirs to ensure an adequate water supply for our future.

Sixth – Invest in all schoolchildren by allowing tax dollars to follow the child in the form of an education voucher. An equal access voucher system supports the rights of parents to decide how to best educate their children.

Seventh – Create an educational model which eliminates process micromanagement at the state level; maintaining local control but ensuring accountability.

Eighth – Aggressively support legislation which protects and preserves human life from conception to death.

Ninth – Fight for less government restrictions on where law abiding and permitted citizens can carry a firearm.

Tenth – Protect taxpayers by defending the integrity of Georgia’s borders through upholding and enforcing immigration laws.

Eleventh – Implement focused domestic and international economic development which targets our efforts on the recruitment of industries for which Georgia is a talent and resource fit.

Twelfth – Work with the Governors of other states to strongly encourage Congress to adopt The Fair Tax.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone that participated in the membership drive for their efforts in making a very rainy Friday night event, a huge hit!!

Over 130 people enjoyed low country boil and heard Congressman Jack Kingston and Senator Eric Johnson. We raised in excess of $1,000 in membership dues, and more importantly added new members to our roster. The food was great and so was the hospitality, I want to personally thank Michele and Toby Roberts for hosting us at their wonderful home and this would not have come off with out their tireless work and planning. Thanks again Michele and Toby.

A couple of thoughts on where we go from here:

• As Jack reminded us Friday night, 2010 will be a crucial year not only for Georgia and the GOP but also for the USA. He said it’s time to “get off the bench” and indeed it is. The fate and direction this country will take over the course of the next 8 years is at stake here. We must success in taking back control of the Senate and House.
• I have received numerous comments from members saying they will no longer support the GOP as contributors because of the failures of the past administration and the presumed deafening silence coming from the GOP in Washington. While we can all appreciate that feeling – let’s not burn down the barn to get rid of the rats! If you believe in the basic tenets of conservatism, ie. life, liberty ( without the intervention of a huge massive government bureaucracy in our lives, ) and the pursuit of happiness and freedom in achieving your dreams and goals in life, then stand with us., shoulder to shoulder.
• We need to fuel a grass roots uprising by supporting our candidates with donation donations and our time. I want to see us raise at least $10,000 for our gubernatorial and congressional candidates herein Bryan County.
• We need to use cutting edge technology to sell our message and get the word out , ie…text messaging, facebook, iphones, emails, talk radio, television. etc.. not to just our group but to all those who share our ideals. We need to encourage young people to get involved. We need to be ON MESSAGE with our talking points and get in the face of the media when challenged with our message and hold the media accountable for the truth and not waffle or waiver when under attack.

We are in the planning stages of our next rally to be held this fall and we will be calling on each of you to support this endeavour. I want to again thank everyone for their support and I am honored to be your chairman in this truly historic time. May God bless each of you and the USA.

Larry Barker
Chairman, Bryan County Georgia GOP.

In today’s speech on national security, Obama blamed Bush for the challenges facing our nation. This is no surprise. His presidency has been dominated by this strategy-blame Bush for everything.

Obama Blames Previous Administration

“In dealing with this situation, we do not have the luxury of starting from scratch. We are cleaning up something that is – quite simply – a mess; a misguided experiment that has left in its wake a flood of legal challenges that my Administration is forced to deal with on a constant basis, and that consumes the time of government officials whose time should be spent on better protecting our country.”

“[F]aced with an uncertain threat, our government made a series of hasty decisions… our government made decisions based upon fear rather than foresight, and all too often trimmed facts and evidence to fit ideological predispositions.”

Cheney Defends Previous Administration

“The serious way we dealt with terrorists from 9/11 on, and all the intelligence we gathered in that time, had everything to do with preventing another 9/11 on our watch. The enhanced interrogations of high-value detainees and the terrorist surveillance program have without question made our country safer.”

“Along the way, there were some hard calls. No decision of national security was ever made lightly, and certainly never made in haste. As in all warfare, there have been costs – none higher than the sacrifices of those killed and wounded in our country’s service. And even the most decisive victories can never take away the sorrow of losing so many of our own.”

Isn’t this what Bush did?

Obama said that he still reserves the right to order use of enhanced interrogation techniques should it deem necessary. “Having reserved for himself the authority to order enhanced interrogation after an emergency, you would think that President Obama would be less disdainful of what his predecessor authorized after 9/11,” said Cheney.

Retrieved from NFRW email

Rob Doll, 1st Vice Chairman nissanmrc@aol.com

B.J. VanGundy, 2nd Vice Chairman bj@vangundy.net

Bert Guy, Secretary bert_guy@msn.com

John Padgett, Asst. Secretary jpgodawgs@aol.com

Bob Mayzes, Treasurer rmayzes@printpack.com

Received from the Georgia Federation of Republican Women email

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After the convention, it was on to Glynn County for several events. First, I stopped in to see my good friend Dottie Ann Smith who graciously hosted an event with some friends. Then, we headed to the Glynn County GOP dinner where Steve and I caught up with Ruby Robinson, Kevin Gough, Rep Jerry Keen, Ken Trobaugh, Mack and Leslie Mattingly and many others. I’m also glad I had a chance to visit with Republican trailblazers like Virginia Ramsey and Willou Smith, who literally helped pave the way for me and other Republican women.

Last Sunday, we held a very well attended reception with members of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. It was a great opportunity to share with these community and business leaders my thoughts on several key issues facing our state. I also attended the Georgia Chamber’s opening event, and even in this crowd, the launch of our “Bring It On” campaign was the talk of the evening.

The momentum from the convention has carried over into this week with an incredible number of volunteers and supporters joining our team.

As I continue traveling the state and spreading the message, I hope you’ll take a moment to visit our new website at www.KarenHandel.com. Here, you can see the video, read about my stances on our state’s important issues, catch up on recent press, and even join our campaign team. Also, please forward this e-mail to friends and family so they might do the same.
Finally, I want to give my sincere thanks to our volunteer team who helped make the State Convention a success last weekend. Our goal was to generate excitement and enthusiasm for our campaign, and we couldn’t have done it without you. I genuinely appreciate your hard work on my behalf.

Thanks again for all your help and support and for your continued friendship and prayers!

Reprinted from email distribution from HANDEL FOR GOVERNOR, INC.