San Antonio Tea Party » John Cornyn

Health Care Tiger Team Meeting Minutes

San Antonio Tea Party — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:45:14 +0000

San Antonio Tea Party (SATP)

Health Care Tiger Team (HCTT) meeting minutes

26 Sep 2009

Attendees:

Harry Sims

Dr. Stan and Joyce Thompson

Hope D’Amore

Gene Reber

Margaret Zucco

Laura Mullaney

Franklin Sullivan

Cynthia Konicek

Nita Kaplan

Jon Kaplan (Team Co-Leader)

Steve Baysinger (Team Leader)

Steve Baysinger opened the meeting by describing a conference call he participated in the previous evening with SATP chairman, Matt Perdue, Dr. Larry Hunter (President and CEO of Social Security Institute) and Gerald Merits. Steve also reviewed with the HCTT the Demint amendments which were, initially ,overwhelmingly passed by the senate only to be single handedly negated by Senate Committee Chairman, Kent Conrad of North Dakota. With what authority Conrad acted was not clear. In his paper, “Defeating Democrats’ 3Rs Strategy–Rolling Republicans with 60 Votes, RINOCare and Reconciliation”, Dr. Hunter described strategies for using the Demint amendments such as: applying pressure to 8 Senators who appear to be swing votes on health care; to demand of all conservative senators that they stand their ground in killing/delaying passage of the Baucus bill by reconciliation or any other method; to seek guidance from politicians aligned with the SATP (e.g., Sen. John Cornyn and Congressman Lamar Smith) regarding how conservative groups like the Tea Party movement can assist them in their mission to defeat government health care in any form it may morph into, and; apply “Grass Roots” pressure forcefully and often upon left-leaning senators and congressmen (such as Sen. Olympia Snow (R-Maine), et. al.) to stand up against bills unacceptable to conservatives.

NATIONAL ACTION PLAN

Immediate action must be taken to defeat/derail existing/proposed health care bills. What can SATP do?

Post, via the SATP website, a request for all supporters who know of Tea Party and 9-12 members in other states to contact SATP immediately with intra-state supporters names, email addresses and phone numbers and establish lines of communication.

Provide other Tea Party and 9-12 groups a template of SATP’s organizational structure to included mission statement, Tiger Team format and subject matter areas of expertise and focus, etc., for assimilation into their respective state Tea Parties and 9-12 groups.

Encourage other Tea Party and 9-12 groups to join with SATP in actions to defeat unacceptable health care proposals from passage in Congress.

SAN ANTONIO TEA PARTY ACTION PLAN

The members of the HCTT concluded a four-pronged approach to action, with respect to current health care bills currently under consideration, should be:

1. (HCTT sub-team #1) Federal level–Communicate with Sen. John Cornyn and Congressman Lamar Smith (and/or their aides) immediately to share ideas on what more we (SATP) can do. Faxed, hand written letters to members of congress are not enough. After the recess concluded in August, the Congress appears to have reverted to its “business as usual” mode of operation and is ignoring all Patriot input received from town hall meetings, protest rallies, etc. Bottom line: We the People must stay on the offensive. Input from Cornyn and Smith is required. (Steve Baysinger will lead this sub-team.)

2. (HCTT sub-team #2) State level–Communicate with Texas state Rep. Doug Miller, who can guide us to the right people at state level to promote state assertion of Tenth Amendment rights (both as proactive effort now and as reactive efforts later, i..e. “push back/nullification”) if onerous federal health care legislation actually passes. As well, gain an understanding of the Texas Insurance Board and how it currently operates. (Hope d’Amore will lead this sub-team.)

3. (HCTT sub-team #3) Constitutionally challenge the right of the federal government to administer health care–Communicate with the best Constitutional lawyers we can find to see if there is a way to “use the law to enforce the law” through Constitutional challenge, injunction, and/or other legal mechanisms. (Jon Kaplan will lead this sub-team.)

4. (HCTT sub-team #4) Private sector level–Make contact with representatives of the health insurance industry, eg. Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, Humana and others; Texas Medical Association/Bexar County Medical Society; Hospital Associations, health care economists, etc., to determine their positition on proposed health care related legislation in Congress. The objective here is to build alliances around a state and private sector administered health care delivery and insurance system that addresses cost containment, pre-existing conditions coverage, insurance/healthcare affordability and universal access. If this could be accomplished, it would add a bigger constituency with more resources to stop the bills in Congress and promote a better alternative. We must get behind alternative legislation at federal, state and/or local levels and through the private sector. These alliances would attempt to build that consensus. (Harry Sims will lead this sub-team.)

It is hoped this four-pronged strategy will be employed by other Tea Party and 9-12 groups around the country as a model..

The timeline for accomplishing all objectives shown above is immediate. The HCTT subteams will report back on our efforts and accomplishments to the HCTT body as a whole at our next meeting (Saturday, 3 Oct 2009, “Eyes of San Antonio,” NW Loop 410 @ Blanco, 2 pm – 5 pm). (Note: Steve will not be able to attend this meeting. Jon will serve as HCTT lead during Steve’s absence.. )

A closing prayer was offered and the meeting was adjourned.

Steve Baysinger (Lead/HCTT) Jon Kaplan (Co-Lead/HCTT)

MoveOn At It Again

San Antonio Tea Party — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:10:09 +0000

MoveOn.org is at it again. They are urging their members to call their senators and asking them to support Obamacare. WE need to counter this and call our senators and let OUR opinions be known as well. They track the calls they get so do not let up. Both of our senators oppose the health care bill but they still need to hear from us.

This is from an email that Moveon is sending out to their members. (the highlighting is mine)

Have you read the stories this week declaring the public health insurance option dead? Well, it’s not.

The public option has the support of 83% of the American people,¹ (Take a look at this carefully. It’s from JUNE 15th!!! Only 43% now support it Click here for poll) and enough progressives in the House to block any bill without it.^2,3 And contrary to what you may have read, the White House has said repeatedly their position hasn’t changed.^4,5

But there is real danger in the Senate, where conservatives have stepped up efforts to kill the public option.

Can you call Senators Kay Hutchison and John Cornyn right away? Tell them that you, along with the majority of Americans, strongly support a public health insurance option—it’s the heart of real reform.

Here’s where to call:

Senator Kay Hutchison
District Offices:
Abilene: 325-676-2839
Austin: 512-916-5834
Dallas: 214-361-3500
Harlingen: 956-425-2253
Houston: 713-653-3456
San Antonio: 210-340-2885

Senator John Cornyn
District Offices:
Austin: 512-469-6034
Dallas: 972-239-1310
Harlingen: 956-423-0162
Houston: 713-572-3337
Lubbock: 806-472-7533
San Antonio: 210-224-7485
Tyler: 903-593-0902

1. “New Poll Shows Tremendous Support for Public Health Care Option,” Blog for Our Future, June 15, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51510&id=16878-17235110-fdrceox&t=2

2. “60 Members of Congress Say ‘No Public Plan, No Conference,’” Firedoglake, August 17, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51764&id=16878-17235110-fdrceox&t=3

3. “Weiner says health plan without public option won’t fly,” The Examiner, August 17, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51765&id=16878-17235110-fdrceox&t=4

4. “White House Issues Q&A on Health Plan,” The Wall Street Journal, August 17, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51770&id=16878-17235110-fdrceox&t=5

5. “White House Insists ‘Nothing Has Changed’ on Public Health Insurance Option,” ABC News, August 17, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51768&id=16878-17235110-fdrceox&t=6

6. “White House Issues Q&A on Health Plan,” The Wall Street Journal, August 17, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51770&id=16878-17235110-fdrceox&t=7

7. “Joint health care reform debate remains peaceful in Dallas,” Dallas Morning News, August 18, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51772&id=16878-17235110-fdrceox&t=8

8. “Alternate Plan as Health Option Muddies Debate,” The New York Times, August 17, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51773&id=16878-17235110-fdrceox&t=9

9. “Hundreds urge Polis to keep fighting for ‘public option,’” KDVR, August 17, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51771&id=16878-17235110-fdrceox&t=10

Obama Wants Your Neighbors To Spy On You

San Antonio Tea Party — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:47:48 +0000

Sen. Cornyn Calls On White House To Immediately Stop Compiling Political Enemies List

Sends letter to President Obama expressing grave concern over new White House program to monitor speech of American citizens’ with opposing political views

WASHINGTON—In a letter to President Obama, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, expressed serious concern about the White House’s new program requesting Americans to forward email chains and other communications opposing the President’s health care policies. Sen. Cornyn is seeking assurances that the program is being carried out in a manner consistent with the First Amendment and America’s tradition of free speech and public discourse.

Sen. Cornyn’s letter also inquires about the collection of names, email addresses, IP addresses, and private speech of U.S. citizens that will be reported, which raises the specter of a data collection program.

“I am not aware of any precedent for a President asking American citizens to report their fellow citizens to the White House for pure political speech that is deemed ‘fishy’ or otherwise inimical to the White House’s political interests,” Sen. Cornyn wrote. “You should not be surprised that these actions taken by your White House staff raise the specter of a data collection program. As Congress debates health care reform and other critical policy matters, citizen engagement must not be chilled by fear of government monitoring the exercise of free speech rights.”

–The full text of Sen. Cornyn’s letter is below–

Dear President Obama,

I write to express my concern about a new White House program to monitor American citizens’ speech opposing your health care policies, and to seek your assurances that this program is being carried out in a manner consistent with the First Amendment and America’s tradition of free speech and public discourse.

Yesterday, in an official White House release entitled “Facts are Stubborn Things,” the White House Director of New Media, Macon Phillips, asserted that there was “a lot of disinformation out there,” and encouraged citizens to report “fishy” speech opposing your health care policies to the White House. Phillips specifically targeted private, unpublished, even casual speech, writing that “rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation.” Phillips wrote “If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.”

I am not aware of any precedent for a President asking American citizens to report their fellow citizens to the White House for pure political speech that is deemed “fishy” or otherwise inimical to the White House’s political interests.

By requesting that citizens send “fishy” emails to the White House, it is inevitable that the names, email addresses, IP addresses, and private speech of U.S. citizens will be reported to the White House. You should not be surprised that these actions taken by your White House staff raise the specter of a data collection program. As Congress debates health care reform and other critical policy matters, citizen engagement must not be chilled by fear of government monitoring the exercise of free speech rights.

I can only imagine the level of justifiable outrage had your predecessor asked Americans to forward emails critical of his policies to the White House. I suspect that you would have been leading the charge in condemning such a program—and I would have been at your side denouncing such heavy-handed government action.

So I urge you to cease this program immediately. At the very least, I request that you detail to Congress and the public the protocols that your White House is following to purge the names, email addresses, IP addresses, and identities of citizens who are reported to have engaged in “fishy” speech. And I respectfully request an answer to the following:

· How do you intend to use the names, email addresses, IP addresses, and identities of citizens who are reported to have engaged in “fishy” speech?

· How do you intend to notify citizens who have been reported for “fishy” speech?

· What action do you intend to take against citizens who have been reported for engaging in “fishy” speech?

· Do your own past statements qualify as “disinformation”? For example, is it “disinformation” to note that in 2003 you said: “I happen to be a proponent of a single-payer universal health care plan”?

I look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN

United States Senator

Sen. Cornyn serves on the Finance, Judiciary, Agriculture and Budget Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.