Kevin Wade Hits Home Run at GOP Convention

Kevin Wade (R-DE), U.S. Senate candidate hit a home run at the Delaware Republican Party state convention held over the weekend.  The convention held to nominate the slate of state-wide candidates marks the beginning of the 2012 election season here in Delaware.  Please take moment to look at the following You Tube clips.

Full video of nominating and seconding speeches for Kevin Wade, and the acceptance speech by Kevin Wade on his nomination by acclimation:




The nominating speech by Wilmington Councilman Mike Brown (R-DE) is fantastic!  So worth the time.

Independence Hall Tea Party Association Releases 2012 Scorecard

The Independence Hall Tea Party Association released its 2012 Tri-State Area Congressional Scorecard.  The scorecard compiles votes of members of both the U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate and rates the members according to Tea Party principles.

For Delaware, lone Congressman John Carney (D-DE) scored a seven out of possible 100.  Delaware Senators Thomas Carper (D-DE) scored a nine out of 100 while is junior colleague Chris Coons (D-DE) scored the lowest amongst the Delaware delegation with a six out of possible 100.

Congressman John Carney and Senator Tom Carper are up for re-election in 2012 and analysis on this scorecard for each candidate will be done under separate posts.

Isn't It About Time We Send an Engineer to Washington?

Problem: noun \ˈprä-bləm, -bəm, -ˌblem\ a question raised for inquiry, consideration, or solution  

Solution: so·lu·tion noun \sə-ˈlü-shən\ 1a : an action or process of solving a problem b : an answer to a problem

An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. You see, Kevin Wade is an engineer and through his firm, Philadelphia Control Systems that he started over thirty years ago, has been successful in solving problems with technical solutions to help Fortune 500 companies bring everyday products that we enjoy to life.  From manufacturing bread, automobiles, antibiotics, infant formula, nylon, chocolate and peanut candies, aircraft, paints and coatings, oil and electricity and many, many other things.

In a previous post, we highlighted Kevin Wade's first hand knowledge of working on an oil rig as being a key asset to leveraging America's treasured crude oil reserves to be part of America's path to be energy independence.  In this post, we would like to share Kevin's own words on energy and the vital importance of our nation's security in being energy independent from foreign energy (oil, etc):

My decades of professional work and rigorous education allow me to see America’s energy problems and energy solutions through pragmatic experienced eyes and with an engineer’s clarity.

First of all, the politicians continuously confuse the various energy problems facing the country. This may be by their personal lack of understanding or by their personal intention to confuse the public.

There are two different energy problems in the US. The first and most critical to our security is our reliance on imported oil. The second is the artificially high cost of electricity. Both energy problems are due to the bad hands and failed policies of the career politicians in Washington. They are guilty of one or both of the charges of not knowing what they do or not caring what they do to the American people. This must end at election day in 2012.

Imported Oil – Today and everyday America imports 10 million barrels of foreign oil. This drains more than 1 billion dollars each day and every day from our sick and anemic economy. This is one billion dollars not here to build schools, hospitals, new plants and offices or to create new American jobs and a real sustainable prosperity. This treasure of dollars runs to waste from our hands into foreign hands. This drain has killed our national prosperity and armed so many of those in the Mideast who are at odds with our values.  

American Oil – Every new barrel of American oil directly offsets imported oil. Dollars stay at home. Jobs are created here. North Dakota is producing lots of oil in spite of Federal policies because the oil is produced on private and state owned lands. North Dakota’s 500,000 barrels per day in oil production has created a booming economy and very low unemployment. It is an island of prosperity beyond the reach of Washington. There is far more oil to be discovered and produced across this country and in our offshore waters. There is far more prosperity to be found using the new technologies developed by unfettered free enterprise. The road block between us and the treasure of resources beneath our feet is the willful blindness of the bleed America first crowd in Washington.

Oil Prices, the Dollar and Gas Prices – Gasoline is only made from oil. No number of windmills or solar panels will ever put gasoline in our tanks. Any career politician who speaks of energy security and gasoline prices when promoting solar or wind sources of electricity is guilty of misleading the American people. There is no connection. Repeat, there is no connection.

Oil is bought and sold worldwide in US dollars. As Washington policies destroy the value the dollar and of our dollar savings and dollar wages, it also increases the dollar price of oil. Every dollar increase in a barrel of oil results in a 2 cents per gallon increase at the pump. Fifty years ago, 2 silver dimes bought a gallon of gas. Two silver dimes still buy a gallon of gas because the price of silver in terms of oil is almost unchanged. It is the value of the dollar that has been destroyed. Who did this? Look again to Washington and the career politicians there.

Oil is a commodity that has a special economic property. Its supply and demand curves are economically “inelastic”. This means that consumption changes little with changes in price. If grape fruit suddenly doubles in price, most consumers switch to an alternate fruit to save money. They buy cheap cantaloupe, for example, and stop buying expensive grapefruit. Oil has no equivalent replacement. As oil prices soar people have no choice but to pay. School buses must make their rounds and people need to drive to work. As an inelastic commodity the slightest changes, up or down, in supply result in a great change in price. America can drive down the cost of oil (gasoline) by pumping more oil. Small changes in the total world output will bring major price reductions. The price of gas will tumble when combined with policies to protect your dollar savings and ensure a sound and stable currency.

American Electricity – There is no shortage of fuel sources or generating technologies to produce cheap American electricity. Electricity is made primarily from American coal with significant contributions from nuclear, natural gas (methane) and hydro sources. Federal policy and overreaching regulation have limited access to coal and restricted the use of coal fired power plants. Federal policy has delayed for a generation of small and safe nuclear designs. Federal intervention impede the use of new technologies to produce extremely cheap natural gas. This has limited the rapid drop in natural gas prices needed to fuel modern gas fired turbine driven electric power plants. If we remove the onerous regulations American can see electric rates drop more than 30% in the coming years.

Inexpensive electricity is the essential building block to a high standard of living. It is electricity that moves our industrial sector of the economy and its high wage manufacturing jobs.

America has hundreds of years of natural gas and coal supplies. Washington’s distorted focus on solar and wind sources of electricity has blocked our natural energy advantages. This forced artificially high prices on the American consumer and crippled our ability to compete in the world of high value/high wage manufacturing. Solar power and wind power are technical curiosities today. They are not solutions to rebuild our country.

 The technical analysis above by Kevin Wade on the current state of imported oil and high electric rates, and the alternatives are why we need someone to represent Delaware in Washington who will actually look at practical solutions rather than kicking the can down the road.  In true engineer form of offering solutions rather than rhetoric, Kevin Wade has a unveiled a robust platform to preserve America's national security through energy independence:

• Increase American oil production to 20 million barrels a day over the next 12 years; become oil independent by opening Alaska and most Federal lands to safe and responsible drilling and production to those willing to take a the risk of safe and productive exploration and production; NO TAXPAYER dollars

• All new oil is for use of the American people and is not for sale overseas; American oil independence before multinational oil company profits

• Stabilize the value of the dollar to eliminate currency decline affects on oil and gas prices

• Reanimate the country with the treasure of resources beneath our feet

• Remove Federal regulations that prevent use of high MPG engines operating on clean diesel for autos and trucks

• Allow alternate technologies to flourish in a free enterprise economy; the best ideas win in a fair marketplace

• Remove ALL energy subsidies and let the market decide; this applies to wind, solar, “Green”, oil, gas, coal and nuclear

Kevin Wade Takes On Senator Carper Over Hypocrisy Over Gas Prices

U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Wade (R-DE) takes on long-time Delaware U.S. Senator Tom Carper over failure to lead on U.S. energy development including drilling for oil resources here in the U.S.

Watch:



Kevin wade eloquently brings up the absurdity of the Democratic progressives who fail to connect available U.S. crude as part of the sustainable energy solutions we should be exploring as a nation.  As Americans continue to feel the pain of gas prices at the pump, lack of action by Senator Carper and his liberal colleagues on Capitol Hill.

As Wade mentions, the U.S. is blessed with these natural resources for our use so we can be energy independent.  This is not only an economic issue on gas prices and its affects on consumers wallets and added costs to goods shipped, but also a national security issue as we are dependent on foreign crude oil.   The latter is the biggest tragedy of them all as American sovereignty continues to be at risk every time we purchase foreign crude, which is something we could be doing within our very own country.

American taxpayers can no longer afford to send entrenched progressive career politicians like Senator Tom Carper back to Washington who continue to ignore the founding documents of this nation and erode Americans independence.  Every Delaware taxpayer who is feeling a budget pinch due to higher fuel costs should take a look at Kevin Wade.  

 As Kevin mentions he worked on oil rig platforms and knows first hand at the massive opportunity we as Americans have will a "drill here, drill now" approach to our energy independence platform.  As an engineer by trade who led his engineering firm to develop solutions for Fortune 500 companies world-wide, Kevin Wade will be asset as he seeks practical solutions the problems created by career politicians.   Delaware can no longer adhere to the Delaware Way of governance, and sending Kevin Wade to Washington means that being the First State to ratify the U.S. Constitution meant something.  Sending Kevin Wade will preserve it, not shred it like Carper has done by collecting a government paycheck and turning the other way while the spending machine ran on overdrive.

Club for Growth Flunks Carper, Coons and Carney on Pro-Growth Votes

In case you missed it, the Club for Growth released its annual Congressional Scorecard for both U.S. House and U.S. Senate members on pro-growth votes.  The methodology Club For Growth used to score each member is found here.

Delaware's federal delegation did not fare all that well.  In fact, they flunked.

Senior U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) voted 14% of time in favor of pro-growth economic policies during 2011.  Throughout his entire tenure, he voted 10% of the time as pro-growth.  Junior Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) supported pro-growth policies 12% of the time and lone Congressman John Carney (D-DE) supported pro-growth policies only 8% of the time.

If anyone in Delaware is unemployed, they need to look no further than the Carper, Coons and Carney.  For Democrats, they sure are not looking out for their constituents.

BlueHenConservative will evaluate the scorecard in further detail for specific votes and provide further analysis in a future post.  It is important to note that Sen. Tom Carper and Rep. John Carney are up for re-election in November 2012.  Clearly, given the meager results for improving the economy, neither can be re-elected.  Remember, elections matter, and there are consequences.

Senate Gridlock Prevents U.S. Job Creation

If you do not have a job, there a good reason for it.  Gridlock in Washington.  Actually part of Washington.  Florida Congressman Allen West (R-FL)sent out an alert on his Congressional web site on the status of bills that would reduce business regulation and create an environment where Americans can invest capital and create jobs.

But Harry Reid wants nothing to do with it.  See the gridlock here, or copied below.

Americans are out of work, and good chance based on the reported unemployment rates you or someone you know is.  As you can see where the gridlock is, lighting up your U.S. Senator's phones is the only way to get them to do their job.  Actually the job we sent them to do for us.


Ways you can help:

• Share this link on Facebook and/or Twitter
• Send this link to your U.S. Senator

If your Senator refuses to take action and is up for re-election in 2012, do what you can to replace them with someone who will uphold the U.S. Constitution and put the office above themselves.   The seat belongs to the public, not the officeholder.  Remember, elections matter and you can change the outcome of the election if you put your mind and heart into it.

If you need it, the U.S. Senate directory is here.

CPAC 2012: The Capitol Hill Edition

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) would not be a success without the insight of Senators and members of Congress who walk the talk on Capitol Hill. This year, as in year's past the best of best share insight on the upcoming 2012 election and current issues.  

The Leadership

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) addresses CPAC



Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell addresses CPAC

 

The Voice of Reason from Congress

Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) addresses CPAC 




Congressman Steve King (R-IA) addresses CPAC 




Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) addresses CPAC 

\  

Words from the 2010 Victory Superstars

Congressman Allen West (R-FL) addresses CPAC



Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) addresses CPAC 




Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) addresses CPAC 




At the time of this blog post, videos of CPAC speeches given by Senators Jim DeMint (R-SC), Jim Cornyn (R-TX), James Inhofe (R-OK) and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) were not available.

It's Time to Fire Tom Carper

Tom Carper, like former Congressman Mike Castle has spent his entire career on the government payroll.  It is that dependency on the government payroll that has mire Senator Carper's judgement and effectiveness to be a Senator from Delaware.

The first sin Tom Carper has committed is self-limiting himself to serving in public office. Even after earning his MBA from the University of Delaware, Carper skipped the private sector and went to work for the government in the state's economic development office.  A year later, Carper began his thirty-five year in elective office as Delaware's Treasurer.  After three terms as Treasurer, Carper set his sights on Washington DC where he served as Delaware's lone Congressman from 1983 to 1993.  After a ten year stint in our nation's capital Carper returned home to begin Delaware's 78th and 79th Governor.  Eight year's later, Delawareans sent Carper back to Washington where Carper is currently Delaware's senior U.S. Senator.  Clearly you can see that Tom Carper has a dependency on other people's money - and loves living off a government paycheck. 


The second sin Tom Carper has committed his service not to the U.S. Constitution but to his political ideology.  Senator Carper's tenure in Washington has been mired by his first stint in Washington as Congressman.  He has a love affair with spending and growing our nation's government.  From defending Obama Care stating its "provisions that make health insurance more accessible, more affordable, and more dependable" raiding government pensions funds to bail out the U.S. Postal Service Tom Carper is simply out of touch with mainstream America that wants a fiscally responsible federal government.


Why Kevin Wade

Enter Kevin Wade.  Last Monday, Kevin Wade declared his candidacy for U.S. Senate.  Tired of the Delaware Way that Tom Carper has brought to Washington, Kevin Wade has been critical of the dysfunctional manner as to how Carper and governed as Delaware's senior Senator.  In his declaration speech, Wade stated he "would not be standing here today if Tom Carper had done the job he was paid to do.”  And that is telling.

First, Kevin Wade is a business owner of a Christiana, Delaware-based engineering firm.  Like the engineering firm, Wade will find solutions to reigning in the bloated government in Washington that is crippling the American dream for millions.  Unlike Tom Carper, Wade will limit his tenure to only two terms stating that is all that is needed to go to work and come home.  

It is important to note that Wade's engineering firm, Philadelphia Control Systems has survived multiple recessions and operates in the global arena.  And providing solutions has scores of Fortune 500 firms has been the bedrock of its success for over thirty years.  And it is that provision of solutions that Wade will bring to Washington at a time when political divisiveness and rancor has eroded why those sent are sent to serve in the first place.

Second, Kevin Wade is a self-made man.  From humble beginnings, Kevin is the product of self-determination, perseverance and commitment.  Just as the firm he started and built to international acclaim and the family he nurtured, Kevin will go to Washington to restore this nation to greatness.  Kevin's personal faith and determination is one that will guide him to do what is required of him.  His success as Founder and CEO of his engineering firm give him the resume and skill set to seek solutions and not fall trap to the Beltway way of business as usual.

Third, Kevin Wade has a mission to restore America as the shining city upon a hill.  You see, Kevin already has a job, but feels that Washington has failed us.  Those that know Kevin Wade know he is a committed patriot to defending the U.S. Constitution and seeing a government that serves its people and not the other way around.  Kevin has outlined a robust platform of tax reform, energy independence and limited government that will allow America to once again be the bedrock of opportunity, freedom and liberty.

Delaware - it's time to send a servant to Washington.  It's time we send one of us.  It's time we stop being held hostage by career politicians who only care about themselves and next government paycheck.  Take a look at Kevin Wade.  You won't be disappointed.

For more information on Kevin Wade and his platform, visit his web site at:  http://www.wadeforussenate.com/.

John McCain Attacks Tea Party, Conservative Principles

Senator John McCain has lost it.  He has shown his true colors in a  Wall Street Journal editorial where he attacked the Tea Party and conservatives for holding to their principles in the debt ceiling debate.

Before we get into why John McCain is wrong, it's important to note that John McCain is no conservative. John McCain has been part of the combine (h/t to Ann Barnhardt) for that one.  Throughout his Senate career he has shown that he is a big government Republican.

In the editorial found here, John McCain derails conservatives and members of the Tea Party Caucus for criticizing House Speaker John Boehner's recent bills.  McCain incorrectly states that the the conservatives have no alternatives.  When in fact they do - it's called Cut, Cap and Balance.  It's important to note that John McCain was absent or didn't vote on Cut Cap and Balance last Friday evening.


McCain's poor use of comedic humor while attacking the Tea Party proves he is out of touch with the mandate the voters gave by giving the Republicans the House last November.  His attack on Sharron Angle and Christine O'Donnell, both 2010 U.S. Senate Republican nominees is beyond pale:

"This is the kind of crack political thinking that turned Sharron Angle and Christine O'Donnell into GOP Senate nominees."

Really, John McCain.  Was this really necessary?

You prove what a lot of conservatives knew about you during the 2008 Presidential Election.  We voted for you only because Sarah Palin was on the ticket.  But with this, you prove that you are no different than Barack Obama and your progressive stripes are glowing louder and louder.

Perhaps if you voted last Friday in support of Cut, Cap and Balance and exemplified leadership to get a few more on-board, we would have have a winning solution to the debt crisis. Get on board, or leave running the country for the adults.

Senate Ignores Constitution over War Powers Vote

Despite the valiant effort by constitutional conservative Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), the United States Senate rejects a war powers amendment 90-10.  The vote signaled a clear rejection that the sole power to declare war and appropriate funds for war rests sole with the United States Congress.  Rand Paul in his floor speech did cite three exceptions to where American armed forces may be deployed for combat missions without a declaration of war. 

Rand Paul cited the three hurdles that must occur to to put American troops in harms way:

• Declaration of War
• Authorization of force (approved by Congress
• Imminent danger upon the nation

Neither of these criteria was met with the situation in Libya. 

Furthermore, Rand Paul noted that after the attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 Congress convened within 24 hours to declare on Japan.  Because there was not attack, there was no reason why President Obama could not reach out to the leaders of the Congress to have a vote on use of force in Libya. 

What is more ironic is the that Senator Barack Obama chided former President Bush in December 2007 by stating that "the President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military in a situation that does not stopping an imminent threat to the nation".

Well, Mr. President was the United States under an imminent threat from Libya.  Of course not.  So the words against President George W. Bush in 2007 were just words.  For when the table is turned and you are in the Oval Office, you do not practice what you preach. 

An interesting close to Rand Paul's floor speech was “The new motto of Congress appears to be, ‘Tread on me. Please, tread on me.’”  Paul is a quick study for only having been an Senator for about three months and realizing that the Congress is just a rubber stamp AGAINST the Constitution.

Does Delaware Need A National Park?

In Congress' last session, Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Ted Kaufmann (D-DE) submitted S.1801 to create the First State National Historical Park.  The intent is to commemorate the historical significance of Delaware's rich history.  Here is the text of the bill:

S.1801 -- First State National Historical Park Act (Introduced in Senate - IS)



S 1801 IS
111th CONGRESS
1st Session

S. 1801

To establish the First State National Historical Park in the State of Delaware, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

October 20, 2009

Mr. CARPER (for himself and Mr. KAUFMAN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A BILL

To establish the First State National Historical Park in the State of Delaware, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `First State National Historical Park Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

(a) Findings- Congress finds that--
(1) the State of Delaware contains a collection of nationally significant resources relating to--
(A) the early succession of the Dutch, Swedish, and English settlement of the United States; and
(B) the period leading up to the role of Delaware as the first State to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787;
(2) among the resources relating to the early settlement of the United States are--
(A) National Historic Landmarks in Wilmington, Delaware, including--
(i) the site of Fort Christina, which was--
(I) constructed in 1638 by colonists led by Peter Minuet to be the focal point of New Sweden; and
(II) the first Swedish settlement in North America; and
(ii) Old Swedes Church, which is the oldest church building still standing as originally built;
(B) historic sites in New Castle, Delaware, including--
(i) Fort Casimir, which was constructed by the Dutch in 1651; and
(ii) the New Castle Historic District, which is the location of an assemblage of resources associated with Dutch, Swedish, and English settlement of the State; and
(C) the Lewes Historic District in Lewes, Delaware, which--
(i) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places;
(ii) was a significant location for early Dutch settlement and early nationhood;
(iii) is the oldest town formed in Delaware; and
(iv) contains Ryves Holt House, which--
(I) was built in 1665; and
(II) is the oldest building still standing in the State;
(3) among the nationally significant resources relating to the period of English settlement and the birth of the United States are a collection of resources in New Castle, Delaware, including--
(A) the Old New Castle Courthouse, which served as the capitol of the colony until 1777; and
(B) other National Historic Landmarks, including--
(i) the home of John Dickinson, who is known as the `Penman of the Revolution';
(ii) the Jacob Broom House, which was the home of Jacob Broom, delegate to the Constitutional Convention;
(iii) Lombardy Hall, which was the home of Gunning Bedford, Jr., delegate to the Constitutional Convention; and
(iv) Stonum, which was the home of George Read, who was--
(I) a delegate to the Constitutional Convention; and
(II) an advocate of the early ratification of the Constitution by the State of Delaware;
(4) Dover Green, laid out in 1717 in accordance with the 1683 orders of William Penn, was the site at which Delaware--
(A) voted to ratify the Constitution;
(B) mustered a Continental Regiment during the Revolution; and
(C) celebrated the reading of the Declaration of Independence in 1776;
(5) the State Archives in Dover, Delaware, contains records and documents of persons and events that contribute to public knowledge and understanding of--
(A) the period of the early settlement of Delaware; and
(B) the role of Delaware as the First State;
(6) the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes, Delaware--
(A) commemorates the founding of the first European settlement in the State by the Dutch in 1631; and
(B) provides exhibits and information on the maritime, social, and military history of the Lewes area; and
(7) it is fitting and proper that the resources described in this subsection be recognized through the establishment of the first unit of the National Park System in the State of Delaware so that the public may better understand and appreciate the contributions of those resources to the history of the United States.
(b) Purpose- The purpose of this Act is to establish the First State National Historical Park to preserve, protect, and promote public understanding and appreciation of--
(1) the cultural and historic resources associated with early Dutch, Swedish, and English settlement in Delaware; and
(2) the events, places, and persons associated with the role of Delaware as the `First State'.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) MAP- The term `map' means the map entitled `First State National Historical Park-Proposed Boundary', numbered [Struck out->][ XXXX ][<-Struck out] , and dated [Struck out->][ XXXXX ][<-Struck out] .
(2) PARK- The term `Park' means the First State National Historical Park established by section 4(a).
(3) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior.
(4) STATE- The term `State' means the State of Delaware.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST STATE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
(a) Establishment- There is established in the State a unit of the National Park System to be known as the `First State National Historical Park'.
(b) Purpose- The purpose of the Park is to preserve, protect, and interpret--
(1) the historic and cultural resources associated with Dutch, Swedish, and English settlement in the State; and
(2) the resources associated with the role of the State as the first State to ratify the Constitution.
(c) Boundaries-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Park shall be comprised of the following, as generally depicted on the map:
(A) The New Castle Historic District.
(B) Fort Christina.
(C) The Old Swedes Church.
(D) The John Dickinson Plantation.
(E) Lombardy Hall.
(F) Stonum.
(G) The Lewes Historic District.
(H) The Dover Green.
(2) AVAILABILITY OF MAP- The map shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
(3) HEADQUARTERS- The headquarters for the Park shall be in the City of New Castle, Delaware.
(d) Acquisition of Land- The Secretary may acquire land or interests in land within the boundaries of the Park by--
(1) donation;
(2) purchase from willing sellers with donated or appropriated funds; or
(3) exchange.
(e) Administration- The Secretary shall administer the Park in accordance with--
(1) this Act; and
(2) the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including--
(A) the National Park Service Organic Act (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.); and
(B) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.).
(f) Grants and Cooperative Agreements- Subject to the availability of funds under section 6(a), the Secretary may provide grants and technical assistance to, and to enter into cooperative agreements with--
(1) the State, political subdivisions of the State (including the cities of Wilmington, New Castle, Dover, and Lewes, Delaware), nonprofit organizations, and private property owners for--
(A) the development, management, and operation of visitor service facilities, subject to the non-Federal entity agreeing to provide the National Park Service, at no extra cost, with sufficient office space and exhibition areas to carry out the purposes of the Park within the facilities;
(B) historic preservation of, research on, and interpretation of properties within the boundary of the Park, including research on the archaeology of the Park;
(C) public access;
(D) educational programs; and
(E) signage and interpretive devices on properties and sites within the Park for interpretive purposes; and
(2) the State Archives located in Dover, Delaware, and the Zwaanandael Museum located in Lewes, Delaware, for research and exhibits relating to the purposes of the Park.
(g) Interpretation- The Secretary may provide interpretive tours to historic sites within the State located outside the boundaries of the Park that include resources relating to--
(1) early Dutch, Swedish, and English settlement; and
(2) the period leading up to the role of the State as the first State to ratify the Constitution.
(h) General Management Plan- Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this subsection, the Secretary, in coordination with the State and in consultation with owners of properties within the boundaries of the Park, shall prepare a general management plan for the Park in accordance with section 12(b) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-7(b)).

SEC. 5. STUDY OF ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES.
(a) In General- Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available under section 6(a), the Secretary shall complete a study regarding the preservation and interpretation of additional properties in the State that relate to the purposes described in section 4(b).
(b) Inclusions- The study shall include an assessment of--
(1) the potential for designating the properties as National Historic Landmarks; and
(2) options for maintaining the historic integrity of the properties.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General- There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act, including--
(1) $3,000,000 for grants to the State, political subdivisions of the State, and nonprofit organizations for the rehabilitation of existing structures to serve as administrative and visitor services facilities for the Park; and
(2) $2,500,000 for grants to the State, political subdivisions of the State, private property owners, and nonprofit organizations for--
(A) the historic preservation and restoration of resources within the boundary of the Park; and
(B) the costs of design, construction, installation, and maintenance of any exhibits relating to the Park.
(b) Non-Federal Share-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Federal share of the cost of activities under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) shall be not more than 50 percent.
(2) FORM- The non-Federal share required under paragraph (1) may be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued.

The premise of this bill to make these landmarks part of Delaware's first national park may be sincere.  But these landmarks are already registered nationally.  By creating the national park, local control over these landmarks would be lost, and that would be tragic.

Would you like historic New Castle to be a controlled by the federal government? 

By making these a national park, Senators Carper and Kaufmann have failed to understand the impact to these areas.  Many of these areas are not conducive to massive tourist travel.

As the U.S. government barrels along with $14 Trillion in debt, and over $1.5T in deficit spending annually, how can we as a nation afford this?  Nice idea, but the credit cards have been maxed out.

U.S. Senate Debate on Legality of Obamacare Heats Up; Senate Rejects Repeal

Once again Senate Democrats ignore the will of the American people and reject a repeal of the over-reaching and unconstitutional Obamacare health care reform bill.  The Senate vote on the full repeal of the American Patient Protection and Affordability Act failed 47-51, along party lines.  All Senate Republicans voted for the repeal, while all Democrats rejected the repeal.

While the Senate killed all hopes of a Congressional repeal of the Obamacare bill, they did pass a full repeal of the 1099 reporting of requirement for medical business purchases of equipment worth $600 or more.  That amendment sponsored by Democrat Senator Debbie Stabenow, passed 81-17.  Senior Delaware Senator Tom Carper voted against the repeal (and business), while Freshman Senator Chris Coons supported this repeal.

On the full repeal, Democrats fail to recognize that the individual mandate already validated by the Florida Federal District Court, is unconstitutional.

The battle over the legitimacy of this over-reaching bill will be done in the courts and at the state level.  The court battle either go directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, or through the Federal Appeals Court first.  Regardless, the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately decide the fate of this bill.  The state battle will be in each state legislature (or those willing to take this on), where they will pass bills invoking the 10th Amendment to deny compliance. 

Either way, the will of the American people last November have spoken, and repeal of this bill is inevitable.

Russia: Obama Signed Away Missile Defenses

Earlier today, Newsmax broke a story (albeit under-reported) that Russia states that Obama signed away the U.S.'  right to missile defense.  According to the author, Russia's parliament states that the ratification of the START treaty prevents the U.S. from developing future missile defense systems.  Of course, Washington disagrees.

The exact wording of the treaty includes “interrelationship between strategic offensive arms and strategic defensive arms”.  This word and direct connection to strategic offensive and strategic defensive arms should raise concerns that the ratification by the U.S. Senate, violates the U.S. Constitution.  Specifically, the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution calls for the U.S. government to 'provide for the common defence' (spelling correct for writing of U.S. Constitution).

The allegations made by Russian leaders (see Newsmax article) should bring pause to the U.S. judicial branch, who has authority to review the ratification of the treaty (pursuant to Article III, Section II of the U.S. Constitution).  Thorough review of the treaty and its components must be done to ensure that the U.S. continues to have the liberty to ensure we can defend its citizens, property and interests around the world.

What President Obama and the Democrats in the U.S. Senate fail to realize that that agreeing to such a treaty is not about securing a political victory.  Agreeing to such a treaty must always center around whether it will allow for the protection of the U.S. and its citizens.  National security must always trump image. 


NOTE: As this article was being written, Russia has said NO to this treaty.  While this may be a thumb of the nose against Obama and the Democrats in the U.S. Senate, it is a victory for all Americans.  Let the warnings signs of this article be a reminder that national security must be a priority.

Oh and Delaware, Chris Coons and Tom Carper approved the ratification of the START Treaty.  Remember that the next time you have an opportunity to vote.