Tea Party Opposes Common Core

Education is at risk of being nationalized. Please visit this site, created by California Tea Party groups, to fax a petition to Congress:

https://www.faxcongress.com/Americans-Against-Nationalized-Education-NjU3.html

Stop Nationalized Education, Common Core Standards Petition

Common Core Standards (CCS) are a federal mandate by the Department of Education under Arne Duncan, to fundamentally transform public education.

Congress never voted on this and never approved monies. Legislators seem to know nothing about it because the program came through each state under the Stimulus bill in 2009. The states were offered award money under the Race to the Top education plan. Each state accepted different sums of money, thereby signing onto the Common Core Standards.

No one but the DOE and the administration are really aware of this program until now.

Now that the initial government money (taxpayer money) has been given to the 47 states involved, they are on their own to fund the implementation of programs associated with CCS. Once again, the state taxpayers will be responsible for billions of dollars to implement.

Tea Party groups have formed a national coalition to collaborate on fighting this transformation of children's futures.

Continue reading about Common Core on the San Diego Tea Party site: http://www.socaltaxrevoltcoalition.org/48.html Scroll down to find charts that outline the costs of implementation.

LA Council Shows Concern

A press release was forwarded by Mission Viejo watchdog Joe Holtzman with a message, “While three gutless members of the Mission Viejo City Council [Ury, Leckness and Kelley] sat on their hands, the LA City Council stood tall.”

Los Angeles votes to oppose reactor restart without public hearings

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously today [Apr. 23] to ask federal regulators not to allow the restart of the crippled San Onofre nuclear reactors before the formal public process to determine whether Edison’s experimental restart plan is safe and all needed repairs or replacements are completed.

The resolution by District 5 Councilmember Paul Koretz and District 11 Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, which passed 11-0, expresses support for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to: make no decision about restarting either San Onofre unit until it has fully reviewed public safety through a prudent, transparent, and precautionary process, has allowed independent experts and the public ample opportunity to comment, and has confirmed that Southern California Edison has completed any resulting mandated repairs, replacements, or other actions necessary to guarantee both short- and long-term safe operation of San Onofre . . . [The City also encourages the NRC] to take the time needed to independently determine whether or not the information, analysis and actions provided by Southern California Edison constitute a solid technical basis for the adequate protection of the public and resumption of operations.

LA joins a long list of Southern California cities that have expressed concerns about the safety of restarting either of San Onofre’s twin reactors. Both reactors have been shut down for almost a year, after a leak of radioactive steam led to the discovery of widespread and unprecedented damage to the reactors’ recently installed replacement steam generators.

Edison has proposed to the NRC that it be allowed to restart reactor Unit 2 at partial power and run it as a five-month test followed by two years of intermittent shutdowns and startups. Edison has also requested a license amendment with a “no significant hazard” provision that would allow restart with a public hearing to be held only after the fact. NRC staff have given preliminary approval to Edison’s request, but are taking public comments on the proposal through May 15.

“There is a growing consensus from cities in the Southland that Edison’s restart plan amounts to a dangerous experiment that gambles with the safety of millions of Southern Californians,” said S. David Freeman, former head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and a senior consultant to Friends of the Earth. “There are serious questions about what went wrong at San Onofre, whether it can be fixed, and whether it is safe to operate that can only be answered adequately in a formal legal proceeding.”

Cities that have passed resolutions or sent letters of concern to the NRC include Del Mar, Encinitas, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo, San Clemente, Santa Monica, Solana Beach, Vista, Berkley and Fairfax. In addition, the San Diego Unified School District board passed a similar resolution.

Acting on a petition from Friends of the Earth, the NRC is conducting two official proceedings which could require Edison to seek a full license amendment with adjudicated public hearings, expert testimony and rules of evidence.

The LA Times also reported on the council vote: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-san-onofre-20130423,0,6476550.story

Non-government Events

Following is a sampling of events and activities that are not funded by taxpayers or promoted by the Nanny State. Please support private enterprise and non-profit groups.

Crossline Church is offering classes on finance, with the next one on Tues., Apr. 30, 7:00 p.m. Learn how to beat debt and save money. Location is 23331 Moulton Pkwy., Laguna Hills, (949) 916-0251, http://www.crosslinechurch.com

Laguna Playhouse presents “Steel Magnolias,” Apr. 30 – May 26, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach, (949) 497-2787, ext. 1, http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com

Big Bucks Bingo, Wednesdays, 6:15 p.m. early bird and 6:45 p.m. regular games, Mission Viejo Elks Lodge, Marguerite and La Paz, Mission Viejo, (949) 830-3557. 
http://www.mvelks.com/

National Day of Prayer, Thurs., May 2, 7:00 p.m., more than 30 churches throughout south Orange County will gather to pray for the nation and community, Mission Viejo City Hall, 200 Civic Center, Mission Viejo, (959) 465-1940.

Soka University’s 12th Annual International Festival on Sat., May 4, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Fun With Chalk on Sat.-Sun., May 4-5, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Jazz Monsters with the Kenny Barron Trio on Sat., May 11, 8:00 p.m., 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.performingarts.soka.edu

San Clemente Choral Society presents “Best of Broadway,” Sat., May 4, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., St. Andrew’s by-the-Sea Methodist Church, 2001 Calle Frontera, San Clemente, (949) 496-7456, http://www.sccs-arts.org

“Elegant & Enchanting Rose Garden Tours,” Sat., May 11, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., visit five rose gardens in Laguna Hills, San Juan Capistrano, Capistrano Beach and San Clemente. Hosted by the Rose Society of Saddleback Mountain, (714) 731-9242, http://www.rosesrosesroses.org/gardentour2013.php

Battle of the Mariachis, Sat., May 11, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., music, dance workshops and food, Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 234-1315, http://www.missionsjc.com

Annual Gala of Stars at Concordia University, Sat., May 11, 5:00 p.m., entertainment, gourmet dining and auction items to support the university’s scholarship fund, 1530 Concordia West, Irvine, (949) 854-8002, http://www.cui.edu/?gclid=CMyjsdWOt7YCFQ3qnAod9CoA4w

Recycling Drive at St. Kilian’s Church, Sat., May 18, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, held on the third Saturday of each month. Organized by Knights of Columbus; acceptable items include aluminum, paper and plastic. No glass or cardboard. Lower parking lot, 26872 Estanciero Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 472-1249, http://www.stkilianchurch.org

Political and Government Events Calendar

Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Tues., Apr. 30, 6:30 p.m. “if necessary.” The next regular meeting will be Tues., May 14, 6:30 p.m., 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/

Orange County Parks Commission will meet on Thurs., May 2, 7:00 p.m. The commission meets on the first Thursday of every month. Irvine Ranch Historic Park, 13042 Old Myford Rd., Irvine, (949) 923-3741, http://ocgov.com/cals/

Orange County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tues., May 7, 9:30 a.m., Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100. http://ocgov.com/cals/?ViewBy=7&CalDate=1/15/2013&EventDateID=89649

OC Veterans Advisory Council Meeting on Wed., May 8, 6:00 p.m. The council meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Veterans Service Office, Conference Room A/B, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building B, Santa Ana, https://cms.ocgov.com/gov/occr/occs/veterans/advisory/default.asp

Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Wed., May 8, 7:00 p.m., district office, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. Agenda and supporting documentation are published on the website 72 hours prior to a meeting, (949) 234-9200, http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/

Santa Margarita Water District meetings: Engineering Committee on Fri., May 10, 7:30 a.m.; Finance Committee on Fri., May 17, 7:30 a.m.; Board of Directors on Wed., May. 22, at 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com

Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT! for America will hold a General Meeting on Mon., May 13. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m., at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo.

Capistrano Valley Republican Women Federated, Wed., May 15, 9:00 a.m., at the Marbella Country Club, 30800 Golf Club Drive, San Juan Capistrano. CVRWF meets on third Wednesdays. Call (949) 496-2525 for reservations, http://cvrwf.org

Saddleback Republican Assembly, Thurs., May 16, 7:00 p.m. SRA meets on third Thursdays (except in December, July and August) at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Jacaranda Room-B, Mission Viejo. For information call (949) 360-1717.

Meet Donald Rumsfeld, Mon., May 20, 7:00 p.m., Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Distinguished Speakers Series. Price ($48 general admission; $43 members) includes lecture ticket and autographed first edition of Rumsfeld’s Rules. Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org

The Buzz

At least five candidates are running for Diane Harkey’s 73rd Assembly District seat in 2014, including Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Steve Baric, who added his name to the list last week. Also running are Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Jesse Petrilla, Capo school board trustee Anna Bryson, Dana Point Councilman Bill Brough and lobbyist Paul Glaab, who was formerly on the Laguna Niguel City Council.

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This is not a joke, but everyone who hears it is laughing about OC Supervisor Pat Bates’ choice as her representative for the Redevelopment Agency Oversight Committee. The committee was created to oversee the successor agency (translation: it rubberstamps everything). Bates surprised nearly everyone by appointing Sherri Butterfield, the laughingstock councilwoman who was thrown out of office in 2002.

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OC Supv. Bates and State Senator Mimi Walters will play musical chairs in November 2014 by running for each other’s seats when both women term out of office. Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, who also terms out in 2014, is running for the California Board of Equalization. Thus far, Bates and Walters have no opponents. State Sen. Mark Wyland (of Carlsbad – his senate district includes a small portion of Orange County) is running against Harkey for the Board of Equalization.

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The Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT for America will hold a General Meeting on Mon., May 12. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. Keynote speaker Brigadier Gen. Nick Halley (U.S. Army, Retired) will present “Iran … Our Next War?” This terrorism expert will discuss the risk of a nuclear theocracy. The group meets at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way (Sycamore B Room), Mission Viejo.

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More than 30 South County churches will participate in a National Day of Prayer, to be held on the grounds of the Mission Viejo Civic Center on Thurs., May 2, 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. From a website: “We are asking all Christians from churches in the Saddleback Valley to unite with us in worship and prayer on Thursday, May 2, 2013 as we seek God’s face for our nation, region, churches and families. The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May.” http://www.mvcchome.org/ndop2013

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May is National Military Appreciation Month, as designated by Congress, to recognize the history and accomplishments of the armed services. Celebrations include Loyalty Day on May 1, VE Day on May 8, Military Spouse Appreciation Day on May 10, Armed Forces Day on May 18 and Memorial Day on May 30. http://www.nmam.org/about.htm

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From Tea Party Patriot Carla Bonney: I was thinking about how immigrants would be able to apply Constitutional and accepted law applications to cases when they are not citizens. So, I looked up what I could easily find…I don’t think this works, and I don’t think it will be approved.

In our Constitutional Republic (note I didn't say democracy) the people have granted certain limited powers to government, preserving and retaining their God-given inalienable rights. So, if it is indeed the juror's right to decide the law, then the citizens should know what their rights are. They need not be told by the courts. After all, the Constitution makes us the masters of the public servants. Should a servant have to tell a master what his rights are? Of course not, it's our responsibility to know what our rights are!

The idea that juries are to judge only the "facts" is absurd and contrary to historical fact and law. Are juries present only as mere pawns to rubber stamp tyrannical acts of the government? We The People wrote the supreme law of the land, the Constitution, to "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." Who better to decide the fairness of the laws, or whether the laws conform to the Constitution?

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