Thanks.

First, I don't think the general public is aware that we have had no official budget for the past two years. The budget is normally presented first by the House and then moves on through the Senate and up to the President. While Nancy Pelosi (Dem. California)was Speaker of the House, a loophole was used which amounted to little more than extending the then current budget rather than presenting a new one. Meantime, of course, many new programs and their costs were implemented. Also, many people lost jobs and homes so that taxes and values were changed and welfare or unemployment checks were being sent to more people.

Second, the Democrats have NOT at any time during the current mess, presented a written budget proposal. They apparently prefer to belittle and rant against anything presented by Republicans, totally overlooking many of the dangers the rising debt will cause for future generations.

The Republicans in the House have passed a bill known as the Cut, Cap, and Balance bill. It cuts taxes, caps our debt limit to a percentage of our GNP, and calls for a constitutional amendment requiring Congress to balance the budget each year. Most states currently require their legislators balance the state budget annually -- and some, such as California - legally withhold any pay the legislators are due between the time one year's budget ends and the next one is put in place. They are never paid for the time the state is without a budget, even after it is finally balanced.

The US currently takes in enough money each month to pay the interest on its debt, continue sending social security checks and military paychecks, as well as fund Medicare. I am rather disgusted with hearing our President get up and scare old people with his statements about not being able to pay Social Security benefits. This threat falls into the same category of the many times school districts have heard that sports and music will be cut because the money to pay for them is not there. In other words, you threaten something that is very popular (in the school case) or very essential to many (the Social Security/military pay).

Our media is not doing a very good job of covering much of this entire situation. The President has been on the air (almost) daily, laying the blame at the feet of the Republicans. Let him look to his own party which has neglected to prepare a budget the past two years, and now , thank you Harry Reid, is refusing the allow the Cut Cap and Balance proposal to advance. Could it be that they don't want the public to be able to say that the Democrats voted it down, since they control the Senate, or the President killed it with a veto?

We need to quit spending money we don't have. Why are we giving billions to Brazil to develop their off-shore drilling but throwing thousands out of work by shutting down drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and preventing new drilling and exploration in Alaska? Why are we making life so difficult for small business owners with new taxes and laws? Why does the so-called health care reform call for a 0ne percent additional tax on all home sales? Why does that same bill call for an additional 16,000 IRS employees? The list goes on and on. We need to take a few lessons from Ronald Reagan. We laughed when he first described cutting taxes as having a trickle down effect, but guess what, he was right and it worked.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/bikingbill

Fresh off of our selection of being top ten in the nation, a busy year is in store for our group. We are currently working on obtaining 15,000 pledges against texting and driving for our sixteen foot pledge wall. At this point in time, we have 500 pledges, and are only two weeks into our campaign.

On Monday, we were presented with an amazing opportunity. The Peoria Chiefs have allowed us to bring our pledge wall and our group to their August 3rd game. We will be located on the main concourse of the stadium, with gates opening at 5:45 p.m. The game will start at 7:00 p.m. Several FOCUSED members will be pre-selling tickets for the game, at $10.00 a piece. For every pre-sale ticket purchased, a portion will go to the group. This is not only a great opportunity for the group, but for everyone in the community.

Since the game will be played on a Wednesday, the Chiefs will have $1 hot dogs, soda, and ice cream sandwiches. Also with the purchase of a ticket, a random draw will be held. The winning ticket gets to pitch the first pitch of the Chiefs game. Please contact one of the following FOCUSED members to purchase your Pre-Sale ticket. Deadline for purchasing pre-sale tickets is July 26th.

Mollie Healy – (815) 257-8999
Lesley Hakes – (309) 830-4145
Audrey Witte – (815) 343-2097

Or email Sheila Healy @ go_cubs_win@yahoo.com

*If you are not able to make the Chiefs game, more information will follow for the Bloomington Cornbelters game on September 3rd. The St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders will also be in attendance, and the plan is to have them take the pledge.

http://www.underpaidgenius.com/post/8000152068

UNDER BUSH NEW COSTS

1469 BILLION FOR WAR
1812 BILLION TAX CUTS
608 BILLION NON-DEFENSE DISCRETIONERY SPENDING
224 BILLION TARP
180 BILLION MEDICARE DRUG BENEFIT
773 BILLION 2008 STIMULUS

TOTAL UNDER BUSH 5.07 TRILLION

TOTAL UNDER OBAMA 1.44 TRILLION

THE TEA PARTY NEEDS TO GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT

1st price - $150.00 - Natalie Overocker, Toluca, IL
2nd prize - $100.00 - Joe Boyd, address unknown - donated prize back to
Post 142 when contacted by phone
3rd prize - $75.00 - John Welch, ElPaso, IL
4th prize - $50.00 - Robert Burmood, Benson, IL
5th prize - $50.00 - Anna Johnson, Minonk, IL
6th prize - $50.00 - Cory Hart, Cornell, IL
7th prize - $25.00 - Scott Meils, address unknown, no answer to phone call
8th prize - $10.00 - Judy Davis, Minonk, IL
9th prize - $10.00 - Madison Tjaden, Minonk, IL
10th prize - $10.00 - Jerry Schlueter, MInonk, IL
11th prize - $10.00 - Jerry Barth, MInonk, IL
12th prize - $10.00 - Ron "Corky" Marshall, MInonk, IL
13th prize - $10.00 - Dick Shelkby, Minonk, IL
14th prize - $10.00 - Peggy Ponce , Minonk, IL - donated back to Post 142
15th prize - $10.00 - Josh Baker, Minonk, IL
16th prize - $10.00 - Jamie Vissering, Minonk, IL
17th prize - $10.00 - Bob durdan, Grand Ridge, IL

Unclaimed prizes are being mailed to winners.

David Shirley
Post 142 Finance Officer

Poker run will have 7 stops, first bike out at 11am, last bike in 6pm. Food, raffles etc.

Proceeds will help Mark with monthly living expense and medical bills. If you would like to help or have donations you would like to make please call the Minonk Lanes at 309-432-2737.

Thank you, Beck