Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations

ReadtheBill.org invites Americans of all political views: Help stop Congress from passing bills in the dead of night that nobody has read. America cannot afford this out-of-control spending and legislating. By Election Day, we will persuade Congress to post bills online for 72 hours before consideration on the floor of Congress.

ReadtheBill.org is a new national organization dedicated to one cause: make Congress post legislation online for 72 hours before it is considered on the floor of Congress. We call this the "72 Online" rule.�� The 72 Online rule is needed because Congress has degenerated into chaos. The House of Representatives still has a rule on the books requiring proposed legislation be available to members for three days. But the House waives this rule routinely and rubber stamps huge bills in the middle of the night, clueless of their content or cost. Senate rules are fuzzier but the result is the same. This chaos in Congress costs every American. Provisions and giveaways slipped through Congress are one reason that the U.S. has a national debt of $8 trillion. These sneaky provisions also invite plain-old corruption.� Posting bills online for 72 hours before consideration is the single most powerful reform to change the way Congress operates. It's also simple. Most working Americans must read certain papers to do their jobs. A short-order cook reads breakfast orders. An accounts payable clerk scrutinizes invoices. Amazingly, in the U.S. Congress, lawmakers do not believe they need to read laws before they pass! Americans know this is wrong.� Please support ReadtheBill.org. We want to get stuff done. The best way to fix the mess in Washington, DC is to break up the shadowy insiders game and let the sunshine in. We are not for or against any legislation on policy grounds. We just want a transparent process. We are non-partisan and philosophically independent of the two major parties. Everyone -- Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, independents and all others -- has good reason to support this reform.�� Launched in January 2006, ReadtheBill.org is on a roll. We've won respect from the national media and support from newspaper editorials. A diverse group of non-profit organizations and prominent individuals supports the 72 Online concept. Most important, we're backing a strong House resolution (H.Res.688) that has growing support from a bipartisan group of more than 25 cosponsors ((see list).

Americans of all political perspectives can agree on this reform. Please join our cause, and bring order and dignity back to the U.S. Congress.� http://www.readthebill.org/welcome2

FCTO will be adding its support to the proposed Bill.�

We urge you to do so as well!

Click on the following� and �.

Tell your Representative to cosponsor H.Res.688

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As Connecticut Taxpayers do battle over property taxes, LOOK WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NEW JERSEY, where they pay one of the highest property taxes in the nation.� Read what one person is doing to combat the powerful unions which is forcing these increases while property owners say they don�t want their taxes increased but also don�t want to limit school funding!?!?!

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A look at where New Jersey tax reform stands

By TOM HESTER Jr., Associated Press Writer, Published: Sunday, October 29, 2006

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - As the bid to chop the state's highest-in-the-nation property taxes races toward the Nov. 15 legislative deadline to recommend changes, state lawmakers are trying to polish ideas but have yet to unveil final plans. Here's a look as where the process that began in late July with the formation of four committees to debate reforms stands as it enters its final 2 1/2 weeks:� http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/newjersey/story/6886558p-6751279c.html

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It's unions vs. Gormley in a battle over taxes

Wednesday, October 18, 2006 http://www.nj.com/columns/ledger/moran/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/1161149104130620.xml&coll=1&thispage=1

Forgive Dudley Burdge for his outburst. He is just a little guy with glasses who works the hallways in Trenton lobbying to protect the benefits of union members. He didn't mean to pick a fight with Sen. Bill Gormley. Because as anyone in Trenton can tell you, Gormley is a clench-jawed former Marine who relishes a good fight. Burdge provoked him this week by suggesting that state workers will go on strike if Gormley's new plan to trim health benefits is enacted. "He says he wants to go on strike if we change the law," Gormley says. "Well, I'm going to change it for sure now." Call it Round 1 in the fight to control property taxes. After months of talk, Gormley this week was the first legislator out of the foxhole with a realistic reform. His idea, trimmed down to its basics, is to provide government workers the same type of health benefits that are offered in the private sector. They would get a basic package, and have to negotiate shared payments on anything more. Those rules would cover workers in Trenton, as well as local teachers, cops and firefighters. That is not a radical notion. But it is pure poison to the public worker unions, who have used their political muscle over the years to build an empire of benefits that is beyond the dream of most taxpayers. They can retire as early as age 55, with lifetime health benefits. They can get good health coverage without contributing a dime to their premiums. They get enough vacation days to build a house in their spare time. And they can retire with a fat cash payment if they don't use all their sick days. "I have construction workers in my district who work until they're 65, and have to pay for their health benefits," Gormley says. "What's happening now is they're comparing that like they never have before. Things have really changed. The property tax problem is that great." The unions say this logic, in the end, will leave workers in both the private and public sectors with lousy benefits. It is a race to the bottom. They note, too, that sharing the costs of premiums will hit workers at the bottom of the pay scale the hardest. It would definitely hurt people of less income more," Burdge says. Maybe. But let's pause here for a reality check. Public worker unions like to present themselves as champions of the working class, as if the cost of their benefits comes from the profits of some corporate giant. The reality is that those costs land on the average taxpayer. He's already racing to the bottom. And rising property taxes, fueled primarily by rising labor costs, are a key reason why. The first politician to press this point was Sen. Steve Sweeney, a Democrat from South Jersey. The unions responded by shouting him down at news conferences, buying radio ads to vilify him, and even hiring a plane to drag anti-Sweeney banners at the Shore. If Gormley gets that treatment, stand back for your own safety. Even his friends worry that the man is on the edge of sanity sometimes. When casino taxes were raised during the McGreevey administration, for example, legislators had to hide from him so they could discuss it in peace. "We had a secret knock -- two hard and one soft," Senate President Richard Codey recalls. "And he kept trying to get in." That is known in Trenton as a Gormley moment. And he's been having them all his life, it seems. Tom Condon, a rugby teammate at Notre Dame, saw it long ago. "We had an alumni game years after we graduated," Condon says. "We were like 37 years old, and most of us were taking it easy. But not him. He broke his collarbone tackling some 19-year-old kid. That's Gormley. He knows only one speed." So rejoice, taxpayers. Gormley is now at the center of the fight over property taxes. Maybe there is hope after all. Tom Moran's column appears Wednesdays and Fridays. He may be reached at tmoran@starleger.com or (973) 392-1823.

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NJ RESIDENTS:� NO SCHOOL CUTS OR HIGHER TAXES

TRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey voters want it both ways when it comes to school funding.� A poll released by an advocacy groups has voters saying they don't want higher state income or sales taxes. But they also don't want school funding cuts.

http://1010wins.com/pages/109816.php?contentType=4&contentId=225027

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Looking for Someone?

http://www.zabasearch.com/

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CNN is devoting Three Weeks of Special In-depth Coverage in assessing our BROKEN GOVERNMENT as we approach the Mid-term Elections.� Issues range from Eminent Domain to Taxes to Corruption, etc�. If you have missed some of the series, it is not too late to tune in �. http://www.turnerinfo.com/newsitem.aspx?P=CNN&CID01=dad32d15-d4ad-45aa-87f9-e955e9153fa7

You Can also offer your ideas on� how to fix our broken government �.. http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/situation.room/blog/2006/10/cafferty-file-broken-government.html

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Mike Telesca, Teleman2@aol.com

Waterbury

Subject:� You got to love the government!!

Oct 28, 2006

This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Quality, State of Pennsylvania. This guy's response is hilarious, be sure to read the State's letter before you get to the response letter.

SUBJECT: DEQ File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County
Dear Mr. DeVries: It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner� and/ or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:

Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.� The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2006. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action.. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions. Sincerely, David L. Price, District Representative and Water Management Division.

Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries:

Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. Price, Your certified letter dated 12/17/02 has been handed to me to respond to. I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane, Trout Run, Pennsylvania .� A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials "debris." I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic. As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity. My first dam question to you is:
(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or
(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?
If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated. I have several concerns. My first concern is, aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English. In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams). So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2006? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then. In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality, health, problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office. Thank You Ron DeVries and the Dam Beaver

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Future Tax Shock, New York Times Editorial, Oct 29, 2006 http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/29/opinion/29sun1.html?ex=1319774400&en=ee28805726382afb&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss