Legislative Report: Tea party movement not dead

Early skeptics and detractors of the tea party phenomenon have after a few short months been forced to take very seriously the activities of citizens fed up with heavy-handed governmental intrusion in their lives.

There has always existed disgruntlement over regulatory burdens, tax policies and social issues, but never to my knowledge since the beginnings of our country, have law-abiding citizens all across America felt threatened by their own government.

Never have the representatives they elected to represent them in the nation’s capitol demonstrated such total disregard for the expressed will of the majority. Never have we had a president who traveled the world apologizing for who and what America is.

The thousands upon thousands of letters to Congress in opposition to universal health care, the expose of the utter deceit of those promoting cap and trade tax policy and the election of a Republican senator to fill the seat long held by Democrat Ted Kennedy should have served as ample warning to the 535 heedless “misrepresentatives” in Washington.

In addition to that, 9 million pink slips have been delivered to those in the U.S. Capitol to the effect that they will be unemployed in 2011. Apparently heedless, the Democratic leadership continues pursuit of an agenda detrimental to well-being of citizens and unacceptable to expressed wishes of the vast majority.

 Millions of Americans are unemployed, have lost their homes or have been forced into bankruptcy. Some have had their life’s savings wiped out or come to realize that their retirement savings are in jeopardy.

Others live in dread of imminent tax increases and threat of oppressive energy costs because of poor polices forged by those who seem oblivious to reality. Is it any wonder that citizens feeling threatened by the status quo are seeking to restore accountability to all levels of government?

Is it any wonder that citizens feel intimidated when identified by law-enforcement agencies as potential terrorists because they are veterans, have engaged in peaceful demonstrations or display bumper strips showing support for third party presidential candidates or particular causes. Can they be faulted for seeking means of restoring our constitutional republic?

All but three states are in stages of financial crisis. While some state legislatures have passed laws to protect their citizens from potential harms resulting from policies dictated by Congress and federal agencies, others are seriously considering doing the same.

Since Montana led the way in passing the Firearms Freedom Act challenging the rights of the federal government to control intrastate firearms activity, 22 other states have passed or introduced similar legislation. Others have passed legislation reaffirming other 10th Amendment rights.

 The Obama anti-gun record, introduction of the Blair Holt Firearms legislation and Hillary Clinton’s announcement that the Obama administration would be working with the United Nations to pass the U.N. Small Arms Treaty has sent gun and ammunition sales rocketing as citizens fear their Second Amendment rights threatened as never before.

The National Association for Gun rights is urging all Second Amendment supporters to beseech their senators not to ratify the treaty which they report would result in global registration and confiscation of firearms.

In response to statistics of greatly accelerated criminal activity perpetrated against helpless individuals in Australia and other venues where guns have been confiscated, state legislatures are also passing laws to ensure that their citizens have the ability to protect themselves.

Assertions that the “tea party is over” made by factions who desperately wish that so, could not be further from the truth. The tea party movement is gaining momentum every day, energized by caring men and women who wish to peacefully return accountability to government.

We see them, not just by marching, demonstrating, showing up at public meetings, but also by becoming involved in the political process as never before.

 That involvement is evidenced in the time and effort being dedicated by individuals statewide to better inform themselves as to what a citizens options really are. They are seeking to educate themselves by attending rallies and public meetings conducted to raise awareness, of not only current issues but the basic rights granted citizens by our U.S. Constitution.

Lincoln County is no exception and Sen. Greg Hinkle and former Lake County Rep. Rick Jore will conduct a special seminar Feb. 27 at the fairgrounds in Eureka. There is no charge and all are encouraged to attend and learn how they can be more effective in making government the servant of the people as was intended by our country’s founders.

(Aubyn Curtiss, R-Fortine, represents District 1 in the Montana Senate).