The TN Department of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the TN Highway Patrol, will be setting up  checkpoints throughout Tennessee this weekend. If you are stopped at one of these checkpoints you will be asked for your papers, and likely administered a sobriety test which could include a forced blood sample!!! If you think you have nothing to worry about, keep in mind that TN DUI Officers have in the past have been warned to arrest more people "or else" which means they have every incentive to meet their quota. Once your blood and DNA is forcibly extracted from you it gets stored in a government database.

Here is the official release from the TN government -
https://news.tn.gov/node/10756

Here is a list of when and where the checkpoints will be located:
https://news.tn.gov/sites/default/files/Memorial%20Day%20Checkpoints.pdf

BE PREPARED!

If you should happen to not be able to avoid one of the "vampire checkpoints" listed at the above link please take the time to watch the following instructional videos in order to be prepared for your encounter.

10 rules for dealing with law enforcement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmrbNLt7Om8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKPutNg88bA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REJ2RsLp1Kk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUv3A4hscc0

7 rules for recording law enforcement:
http://gizmodo.com/5900680/7-rules-for-recording-police

DON'T TALK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT - PART I & II:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08fZQWjDVKE&feature=player_embedded

CITIZENS GUIDE TO SURVIVING POLICE ENCOUNTERS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA

PRINT OUT THIS MINI POCKET CARD OF RIGHTS FOR YOUR WALLET OR GLOVE BOX:
http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/bustcard_eng_20100630.pdf

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHEN ENCOUNTERING LAW ENFORCEMENT (full version):
http://www.aclu-tn.org/pdfs/kyr/kyr_english.pdf

Video of how to get through a checkpoint:
http://youtu.be/ILqc0DMh84k

PS - Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey voted for this and admits his ignorance at how this could possibly be an invasion of privacy. See the video of his own words here

The post Homeland Security Checkpoints in TN this Weekend appeared first on Tennessee Campaign For Liberty.

Ron Ramsey Pushes Internet Sales Tax; Grassroots Pushes Back

Knoxville, TN - Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey was challenged to a debate on the Internet Sales Tax by professional WWE wrestler and anti-tax activist Glenn Jacobs. In a blog post today Glenn Jacobs (stage name Kane) criticized the Lt. Governor for pushing the Internet sales tax and called for a debate on the topic at the Lt. Governor’s convenience. The blog post can be viewed here: http://www.tnliberty.org/?p=574

“Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey claims that the Internet sales tax mandate is not a new tax. Nor, according to Ramsey, is it an unfair tax. Ramsey is wrong on both counts.” Glenn writes. “ I, therefore, invite Lt. Gov. Ramsey for a policy debate on the issue of the Marketplace Fairness Act in a public forum at his convenience.”

In recent weeks Glenn Jacobs has been appearing in various media outlets advocating against the national Internet sales tax mandate with appearances on nationally syndicated terrestrial radio, satellite radio, and local radio stations in Tennessee. Jacobs has written multiple blog posts and op-ed pieces against the national Internet sales tax mandate.

Earlier this week the TN Campaign for Liberty challenged Lt. Gov Ramsey to show he had paid the obscure TN Use Tax for his online purchases after he called the vast majority of Tennesseans “criminals” for not paying it. That release can be viewed here:  http://tnreport.com/2013/05/13/ramsey-questioned-on-use-tax-payments-by-tn-liberty-group/

The national Internet sales tax mandate will likely come up for a vote in the US House of Representatives later this year. The bill is known as the “Marketplace Fairness Act” and is being opposed by the Campaign for Liberty, eBay, the Cato Institute, the Heritage Foundation, the National Taxpayers Union, Americans for Tax Reform, Americans for Prosperity, Freedomworks, the Heartland Institute, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, and many other conservative figures.

Glenn Jacobs lives with his family in Jefferson City, Tennessee and is a co-founder of the Tennessee Liberty Alliance www.TNLiberty.org. Mr. Jacobs is a critic of big government and a professional wrestler with the WWE.

The post TN Lt Gov Ron Ramsey Slammed By Wrestler On Internet Sales Tax appeared first on Tennessee Campaign For Liberty.

Lt. Gov Ron Ramsey calls every Tennessean a criminal for not paying the obscure use tax on Internet purchases; TNCFL asks Ramsey to prove he has paid up the use tax that he owes

Nashville, TN - The Tennessee Campaign for Liberty challenges Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey to show he has fully paid the Tennessee Use Tax he owes to the Tennessee government. In a comment given to the Commercial Appeal published on May 9th, 2013 Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey stated “I am very much for the Marketplace Fairness Act...It’s not a new tax. It’s a tax you’re supposed to be paying now and you are breaking the law if you don’t.”  referring to the Tennessee use tax as if it were the same thing as the statewide sales tax.

“The vast majority of Tennesseans do not pay the TN Use Tax, most don’t know that it exists or even how to pay it” said Matt Collins, a Coordinator with the TN Campaign for Liberty. “We’re willing to bet that like most Tennesseans, Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey hasn’t paid all of the use tax that he owes to the Tennessee government for purchases that his household made online. Can he prove otherwise? If not, then it’s the height of hypocrisy to label people as criminals for not paying the very same tax that he himself avoids. He should show the People of Tennessee his Use Tax receipts.”  

Lt. Governor Ramsey’s comments were in regards to attempting to sway the Tennessee Congressional delegation to support his push for the national Internet sales tax mandate. It will likely come up for a vote in the US House of Representatives later this year. The bill is known as the “Marketplace Fairness Act” and is being opposed by the Campaign for Liberty, eBay, the Cato Institute, the Heritage Foundation, the National Taxpayers Union, Americans for Tax Reform, Americans for Prosperity, Freedomworks, the Heartland Institute, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, and many other conservative figures.

According to the Tennessee Use Tax website: “If you buy or ship merchandise to your Tennessee address and sales tax is not added to the price, then you are responsible for paying the use tax directly to the TN Department of Revenue....The use tax rate is a combination of the state tax rate of 7% ... plus the rate levied by your local government, generally 2.25%. The tax is applied to the purchase price of the merchandise plus any shipping and handling charges that the merchant adds to your bill.”

The post Is Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey a Criminal For Not Paying His Taxes? appeared first on Tennessee Campaign For Liberty.

Senator Bob Corker explaining something to Lt Gov Ron Ramsey

From the article (May 9th):

 NASHVILLE — Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey on Thursday joined Gov. Bill Haslam in supporting the federal legislation requiring large out-of-state Internet retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases, and said that U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn is “100 percent wrong” by calling it a new and unfair tax.

“She’s wrong on this. It’s not a new tax. And how can you say it’s unfair? It’s not a new tax and it is fair,” Ramsey told reporters.

His remarks further illustrate how divided Tennessee Republicans are on the Marketplace Fairness Ac, which passed the U.S. Senate with bipartisan votes Monday but faces an uphill battle in the GOP-controlled House. Tennessee’s two Republican senators, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, voted for the bill, and Alexander is one of its leading proponents.

Blackburn, R-Brentwood, told the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Tuesday, “There’s nothing fair about the Marketplace Fairness Act” and, “We don’t need the federal government mandating additional taxes on Tennessee families and businesses.”

The federal bill would allow states to require Internet retailers with over $1 million a year in sales to collect and remit to the state taxes on purchases shipped into the state even if they don’t have a physical presence, like a retail store or warehouse, in the state. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that under current federal law, states can only compel out-of-state mail-order, telephone and Internet retailers to collect taxes from consumers if they have a physical presence in the state. As a result, chains like Walmart and Target collect sales taxes on purchases through their websites, while big online retailers without stores in Tennessee may do so voluntarily but are not required to.

“I am very much for” the Marketplace Fairness Act,” Ramsey said. “It’s not a new tax."

Blackburn was unbowed by her former state Senate colleague’s remarks: “Saying the Marketplace Fairness Act is fair is like saying the Affordable Care Act makes health care affordable. I continue to visit with local main street retailers and welcome their input,” she said through her spokesman, Mike Reynard.

Haslam, who spoke in Washington last year in support of the bill, said on Tuesday that he will encourage Tennessee’s House delegation to vote for the bill. Ramsey said he will, too. He has already spoken to his own congressman, Rep. Phil Roe, R-Johnson City.

Source:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/may/09/lt-gov-ramsey-says-tenn-rep-blackburn-100-wrong/

The post TN Lt. Gov Ron Ramsey Pushes Internet Sales Tax appeared first on Tennessee Campaign For Liberty.

The text of the resolution can be located at the following URL:
http://tncampaignforliberty.org/misc/Madison_County_Internet_Sales_Tax_Opposition_Resolution.pdf

Over 14 tea party and conservative groups across Tennessee have signed on to a similar resolution issued by the TN Campaign for Liberty. Tennessee resident and wrestling superstar Glenn Jacobs (WWE name Kane) has also become an advocate against this new tax authoring a blog and appearing on national radio.

Matt Collins, a coordinator with the TN Campaign for liberty said "This resolution just goes to show that more and more voters are becoming aware of the Internet sales tax push by our elected officials, and they don't like it"

The mission of the Campaign for Liberty is to promote and defend the great American principles of individual liberty, limited government, sound money, free markets, and a Constitutional foreign policy, by means of education, issue advocacy, and grassroots mobilization. The Campaign for Liberty was formed in 2008 after the conclusion of Congressman Ron Paul’s Presidential bid.

The post Lamar, Haslam, Corker Slammed By County Commish re: Internet Sales Tax appeared first on Tennessee Campaign For Liberty.

Our friends at AFP break it down for us:

"Haslam's Senaky Medicaid [Obamacare] Expansion - Wednesday morning, Governor Haslam addressed the General Assembly to announce his decision regarding Medicaid [Obamacare] expansion. The press is reporting, per Governor Haslam’s wishes, that Tennessee won’t take part of the optional Medicaid [Obamacare] expansion, but a closer read of Haslam’s own press release shows this to be false. Haslam is expanding Medicaid [Obamacare] just under another name.

Haslam seemed to adopt the right policy rhetoric by telling the General Assembly that Tennessee won’t expand Medicaid [Obamacare]. But, Haslam’s press release continues by saying that Tennessee will work with the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate real health care reform for Tennessee families, but his description of reform sounds remarkably similar to Medicaid expansion [Obamacare]....Tennesseans desire better than Governor Haslam’s doublespeak on expansion."

The post Gov Haslam Caught Lying To Us About Bringing Obamacare to TN!!! appeared first on Tennessee Campaign For Liberty.

Governor Haslam is likely to bring Obamacare to Tennessee tomorrow. We stopped him once from instituting the Obamacare Insurance Exchange, now we have to stop him again from the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion!!!

Details are available in this article --
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/mar/25/gov-bill-haslam-decide-week-medicaid-expansion/

It is important that you call the legislators below and TELL THEM TO STOP GOVERNOR HASLAM INSTITUTING OBAMACARE MEDICAID EXPANSION IN TENNESSEE!!!

Specifically, tell them to support HB937/SB804 without amendments AND WITHOUT DELAY (they may try and push it back another week).  This bill would prohibit Tennessee from participating in any Medicaid expansion authorized under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act otherwise known as Obamacare.

Here are the legislators e-mail addresses for you to copy and paste into your browser:
rep.steve.mcmanus@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov, rep.joanne.favors@capitol.tn.gov,  rep.curtis.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jimmy.matlock@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.ragan@capitol.tn.gov, rep.david.shepard@capitol.tn.gov, sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov, sen.jim.tracy@capitol.tn.gov, sen.reginald.tate@capitol.tn.gov, sen.steve.southerland@capitol.tn.gov, sen.dolores.gresham@capitol.tn.gov, sen.charlotte.burks@capitol.tn.gov, sen.mark.green@capitol.tn.gov, sen.ken.yager@capitol.tn.gov,

Here is a listing of which legislators need to be called:

Rep. David Shepard
(615) 741-3513

Rep. John Ragan
(615) 741-4400

Rep. Dennis Powers
(615) 741-3335

Rep. Jimmy Matlock
(615) 741-3736

Rep. Curtis Johnson
(615) 741-4341

Rep. JoAnne Favors
(615) 741-2702

Rep. Kelly Keisling
(615) 741-6852

Rep. Steve McManus
(615) 741-1920

Senator Ken Yager
(615) 741-1449

Senator Mark Green
(615) 741-2374

Senator Charlotte Burks
(615) 741-3978

Senator Dolores R. Gresham
(615) 741-2368

Senator Steve Southerland
(615) 741-3851

Senator Reginald Tate
(615) 741-2509

Senator Jim Tracy
615-741-1066

Senator Bo Watson
(615) 741-3227

Please donate, $10, $15, or even $20 to help us fight for liberty in TN:

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE TN CAMPAIGN FOR LIBERTY

The post Stop Gov Haslam from bringing Obamacare to TN tomorrow!!! appeared first on Tennessee Campaign For Liberty.

Nashville, Tenn. - Conservative and Tea Party groups across the state of Tennessee have signed a resolution (below) condemning Senator Lamar Alexander, Governor Bill Haslam, and Senator Bob Corker’s push for a national Internet sales tax scheme, known as the “Marketplace Fairness Act” (MFA). Sources indicate that language contained in the Act will be voted on in the US Senate in the next few days.

The MFA would seek to overturn a 1992 Supreme Court decision (Quill vs North Dakota) which ruled that businesses that do not have a physical presence in a state cannot be forced to collect sales tax for that specific state government. The Quill decision protects online businesses from having to collect tax for all 50 states, and also prevents taxation without representation by prohibiting state governments from enforcing their laws on business outside of its borders.

The MFA would force each online retailer to create different pricing structures for every individual customer, a massive burden and significant increase in cost to doing business. It's assumed that these costs would be passed on to the customer, causing the price of all online purchases to increase in addition to the new taxes imposed as a result of this Act. These types of regulation would likely be stifling to online commerce and detrimental to the economy overall.

Matt Collins, a coordinator with the Tennessee Campaign for Liberty discusses the issue: “This is reflective of a bigger question, that of how much authority will the government hold during the Internet Age? Will states get to exercise power outside of their borders, or will there be an unlimited reach available to every government? Taxation without representation is always appealing to the politicians because they cannot be held accountable by the people they are taxing. We are at a fork in the road and can move forward with either more freedom, or move backwards with more government; Internet taxation is one of the first steps in deciding which direction we’ll take.”

Free market groups like Cato Institute, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Americans for Tax Reform, Nat’l Taxpayers Union, Heartland Institute, Heritage Foundation, Reason, and even eBay and the Direct Marketing Association are opposing this measure. Liberty activist and professional WWE Wrestler from Strawberry Plains, TN, Glenn Jacobs, authored an opinion piece earlier this week in which he called the Act “fraudulent” and “anything but fair”

Political experts suggest this issue may be a point of contention during any potential primary race against Senator Alexander in the 2014 election season.

Matt Collins also noted that “Republican elected officials who are joining Dick Durbin, Dianne Feinstein, and Al Franken to support this measure should know that recent polling shows almost half of Americans do not want an expansion of sales taxes on the Internet and 63% of conservatives are opposed to it. When the question is framed about states pushing their laws outside of their borders 61% of Americans oppose it and 77% of conservatives do too. In fact 84% of Republicans oppose any sort of expansion of governmental power over the Internet, especially taxation or regulation. It is likely that any Republican who supports this massive expanse of government power will see a primary challenge because of it.”

The mission of the Campaign for Liberty is to promote and defend the great American principles of individual liberty, limited government, sound money, free markets, and a Constitutional foreign policy, by means of education, issue advocacy, and grassroots mobilization. The Campaign for Liberty was formed in 2008 after the conclusion of Congressman Ron Paul’s Presidential bid.

__________________________________________
RESOLUTION:

Whereas: In the case of Quill Corporation v. North Dakota 504 U.S. 298 (1992), the United States Supreme Court ruled that businesses that do not have a “physical presence” in a state cannot be forced to collect that state’s sales tax; and

Whereas: The Quill decision protects online businesses from having to incur the costs of acting as a tax collector for all 50 states, and it prevents companies from having to pay taxes to a state government where they have no representation; and

Whereas: The ability to shop online without paying exorbitant state sales taxes has been a major factor behind the growth of online commerce, creating new businesses and jobs and benefiting consumers; and

Whereas: Burdening the Internet with new taxes and regulations will harm the American economy at a time when many Americans are struggling to find jobs and provide for themselves and their families; and

Whereas: The Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 336/HR 684) would overturn Quill and authorize states to “deputize” Internet merchants to collect sales taxes; and

Whereas: The National Internet Sales Tax Mandate represents a major tax increase on every American who shops online; and

Whereas: The National Internet Sales Tax Mandate forces online businesses across the country to know the details of each state and locality’s sales tax laws, thus creating a different pricing structure for each customer depending on where they live. These companies would then have to figure out how much tax they owe each state and locality and send the corresponding payments; and

Whereas: These compliance costs will further raise the prices of goods purchased over the Internet; and

Whereas: The compliance costs of the National Internet Sales Tax Mandate will discourage the growth of Internet-based businesses, hampering the development of the most dynamic sector of the American economy; and

Whereas: The National Internet Sales Tax Mandate could encourage states to raise their sales taxes instead of addressing their fiscal crises with serious spending cuts and reforms; and
Whereas: The original intent of the Commerce Clause was to enable Congress to guarantee free trade among the states by ensuring states could not impose onerous regulations or taxes on out-of-state businesses; and

Whereas: The National Internet Sales Tax Mandate, by giving states the power to level taxes on inter-state transactions, flips the Commerce Clause on its head;

Therefore, be it resolved that:

The undersigned opposes the National Internet Sales Tax Mandate;

The undersigned calls on Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker to remove their names as a cosponsor of S. 336, the Senate version of the National Internet Sales Tax Mandate;

The undersigned calls on Representatives John Duncan and Steve Cohen to remove their names as cosponsors of HR 684, the House version of the National Internet Sales Tax Mandate;

The undersigned calls on all members of the Tennessee congressional Delegation to publicly pledge to oppose the National Internet Sales Tax Mandate;

The undersigned calls on Governor Bill Haslam to officially withdraw his support of the National Internet Sales Tax Mandate.

TN Republican Assembly
TN Tenth Amendment Center
TN Campaign for Liberty
TN Liberty Alliance
Benton County Tea Party
Carroll County Tea Party
Gibson County Patriots
Jackson Madison County Tea Party
Dickson County Tea Party / 912 Project
Obion County Tea Party
Stewart County Tea Party
Tennesseans for Liberty (Madison County)
Volunteers for Freedom (Henry County)
We the People (Tipton County)

The post TN Tea Party Groups Reject Lamar Alexander’s Push For National Internet Sales Tax Mandate appeared first on Tennessee Campaign For Liberty.

You will be asked for "Papers, and blood sample, please"

The TN Department of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the TN Highway Patrol, will be setting up "no-refusal" checkpoints throughout Tennessee this weekend. If you are stopped at one of these checkpoints you will be asked for your papers, and likely administered a sobriety test which could include a forced blood sample!!! If you think you have nothing to worry about, keep in mind that TN DUI Officers have in the past have been warned to arrest more people "or else" which means they have every incentive to meet their quota. Once your blood and DNA is forcibly extracted from you it gets stored in a government database.

Here is the official release from the TN government -
http://tncampaignforliberty.org/misc/2013-StPatricksDayCheckpoints-pressrelease.pdf

Here is a list of when and where the checkpoints will be located:
http://tncampaignforliberty.org/misc/2013-StPatricksDayCheckpoints.pdf

BE PREPARED!

If you should happen to not be able to avoid one of the "vampire checkpoints" listed at the above link please take the time to watch the following instructional videos in order to be prepared for your encounter.

10 rules for dealing with law enforcement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmrbNLt7Om8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKPutNg88bA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REJ2RsLp1Kk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUv3A4hscc0

7 rules for recording law enforcement:
http://gizmodo.com/5900680/7-rules-for-recording-police

DON'T TALK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT - PART I & II:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08fZQWjDVKE&feature=player_embedded

CITIZENS GUIDE TO SURVIVING POLICE ENCOUNTERS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA

PRINT OUT THIS MINI POCKET CARD OF RIGHTS FOR YOUR WALLET OR GLOVE BOX:
http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/bustcard_eng_20100630.pdf

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHEN ENCOUNTERING LAW ENFORCEMENT (full version):
http://www.aclu-tn.org/pdfs/kyr/kyr_english.pdf

Video of how to get through a checkpoint:
http://youtu.be/ILqc0DMh84k

PS - Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey voted for this and admits his ignorance at how this could possibly be an invasion of privacy. See the video of his own words here

The post List Of TN Police Checkpoints This St. Patrick’s Day Weekend! appeared first on Tennessee Campaign For Liberty.

The post Anti Lt. Gov Ron Ramsey Radio Ad appeared first on Tennessee Campaign For Liberty.