Category Archives: Horce Racing

November 2014 Newsletter

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Marijuana: Three Pre-filed Bills¹ for 2015

H.B. 1 is a bare-bones bill, a skeletal outline to be “fleshed-out” later. It does not mention children. S.R. 6 amends the State Constitution to legalize medical and recreational use of marijuana. S.B. 7 would authorize, regulate, and oversee marijuana use in Georgia.

H.B. 1 is so broadly written that it would allow (a) unrestricted use of cannabis and its derivatives (b) supplied by unmentioned sources (c) for innumerable patients birth until death, (d) administered through an unidentified private or state entity, (e) for an indeterminate period of time, (f) prescribed by unnamed entities, (g) with protection from prosecution given anyone possessing “a stated maximum amount of THC,” with no maximum amount of THC stated.

Possible end game: If H.B. 1 passes the House and S.B.7 passes the Senate, a conference committee could combine both and produce a transformational bill such as S.B. 7, outlined below and on page 2. Since conference committee bills cannot be amended, they pass or fail as written by the committee.

S.R. 6 Constitutional Amendment; Legalizes Marijuana for 21-Year-Olds & Older This pre-filed resolution by Senator Curt Thompson would add a new section to the Constitution of the State of Georgia to accomplish three things. It would authorize personal use of marijuana, direct the distribution of tax revenue collected from the commercialization of marijuana, and provide for the following question voters would decide in a referendum.

“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by general law for the legalization and regulation of the production and sale of marijuana for personal use by individuals 21 years of age or older and may further provide that the taxes from such production and sale shall be appropriated equally between educational programs and purposes and capital outlay projects for transportation infrastructure purposes within this state?”

S.B. 7 Controlled Substances Therapeutic Relief Act, by Senator Curt Thompson, allows the use of marijuana for the treatment of diseases and their symptoms, as follows:

Diseases to be treated: Cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, or agitation of Alzheimer’s disease

Symptoms to be treated include any medical condition that produces cachexia (a weak or emaciated condition) or wasting syndrome; severe and chronic pain; severe nausea²; seizures, epilepsy or severe and persistent muscle spasms; multiple sclerosis; or any other medical condition or treatment added by the Department of Public Health or as petitioned by the public.

Medical use of marijuana defined: “the acquisition, possession, cultivation, manufacture, use, administration, delivery, transfer, or transportation of marijuana or paraphernalia for the administration of marijuana to treat or alleviate a registered qualifying patient’s debilitating medical condition or symptoms associated with the patient’s debilitating medical condition.”

Click here to view the party platforms and to read the rest of the November 2014 Newsletter.

 

January 25, 2013 Radio Commentary

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Are You Ready for State-Sponsored Pari-Mutuel Gambling?

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, January 25, 2013 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim.  Representative Harry Geisinger pre-filed H.R. 1 and H.B. 4 on November 15th.  H.R. 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment to authorize pari-mutuel betting, which is the system of betting at horse tracks.  Those betting on the winning horse share the total stakes, but the management keeps a percentage of the take.

As a proposed constitutional amendment, H.R. 1 requires two-thirds vote in both House and Senate and, if passed, would be a referendum for voters to decide on the 2014 ballot.  If the constitutional amendment is adopted by a majority of voters, H.B. 4 would be enacted to govern and regulate horse racing pari-mutuel betting in Georgia.  So, this is what would happen.

Mr. Geisinger’s H.B. 4 would authorize the governor to appoint a seven-member racing commission that must be confirmed by the House and Senate.  Initial terms of commissioners would be staggered, with future terms set at five years and possible unlimited reappointment.  Senators and representatives would NOT be eligible, while serving in the General Assembly.

Each commissioner would get $173 per diem, plus $.555 per mile travel expense, meaning each of those unlimited meeting days would cost at least $1,211 plus travel, plus meeting space, plus staff.  Then, the appointed commissioners could do some appointing themselves.  They could appoint stewards, chemists, veterinarians, inspectors, accountants, guards and “other necessary employees” and set salaries and benefits that must be paid whether or not a dollar is ever made from horse racing.  Continue reading →

December 2012 Newsletter

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Thanks, to the Founding Fathers, U.S. Dodged another Bullet!
38 Votes Protected U.S. from Dangerous U.N. Treaty 

The U.N. helped negotiate over 300 international treaties to expand international law, ranging from human rights treaties to agreements governing the oceans, outer space and diplomatic relations among nations.
– 1995 United Nations Association of the U.S.A.

The issue on December 4th was whether disabled children and adults in the U.S. could by-pass parents, care-takers and doctors to complain, directly, to the U.N. and give the U.N. control over their treatment and care. Also, any person or group could contact the U.N. on behalf of a disabled person, whether or not the disabled person authorized them to contact the U.N.

The U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) has been signed by 153 countries and ratified by 117. President Obama signed it July 24, 2009 and 61 U.S. senators voted FOR it on December 4th. Except for the Constitution’s required two-thirds vote and 38 Senators who voted NO, care of disabled U.S. citizens would be subject to U.N. rules.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin thought UNCRPD was good for the U.S. and moved for passage by “unanimous consent” September 19th, with no debate and no roll-call vote. Mr. Durbin’s proposal was blocked when Utah Senator Mike Lee objected from the Senate floor.

The next day, on September 20th, 36 senators, including Senator Lee, sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, asking the Senate to refrain from the consideration of treaties during the lame duck session, stating they would oppose any effort to consider a treaty until after the new Congress is seated in January. The request of those 36 senators was not honored and on December 4th the Senate vote of 61 to 38 defeated UNCRPD. Thankfully, Georgia Senators Chambliss and Isakson voted NO!

Why did the treaty fail, with 61 of 99 votes?
To ratify a treaty, the Constitution of the United States requires a two-thirds vote of senators present. On December 4th, of the 99 senators responding to the roll-call vote, 38 voted against it and the 61 voting for it were six shy of the constitutionally required two-thirds.

Homeschoolers are very concerned about Article 7 of UNCRPD.
CRPD allows government to take away parental rights, such as home-schooling for children with disabilities, if the government thinks homeschool is not “in the best interest of the child.”

Treaties threaten U.S. sovereignty.
A treaty signed by the President, is not effective until ratified by two-thirds of the Senate. It does not go to the House. Many dangerous treaties1 have been around for years, but have been kept at bay. Obama wants all of their provisions enacted, whether by executive order or treaty.

ACTION – Thank Georgia senators for voting against UNCRPD! Ask them to vote NO on the treaties listed below.

Senator Saxby Chambliss: Toll-free in D.C., 1 800 234-4208; Savannah, 912 232-3657; Augusta, 706 738-0302; Macon, 478 741-1417; Atlanta 770 763-9090; Moultrie, 229 985-2112; Washington, D.C., 202 224-3521

Senator Johnny Isakson: Toll-free D.C. 1 877 851-6437; Atlanta, 770 661-0999; Washington, D.C., 202 224-3643

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November 2012 Newsletter

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Action ALERT! Lame Duck Session Considering UN Treaty

Treaties ratified by the U.S. Senate supersede the Constitution of the United States, become the law of the land and nullify contradictory federal and state laws, rules, regulations and policies.

A September 20, 2012 letter to Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was signed by 36 U.S. Senators, who requested that the Senate refrain from considering treaties in the congressional lame duck session – the period between the November election and the January 20, 2013 inauguration. They, further, informed the Leaders that the 36 cosigners of the letter would “oppose efforts to consider any treaty during this time period.”

On November 27th, despite that letter, the Senate voted 61-36 to take up the U.N. Convention (treaty) on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). It was discussed, but not voted on.

Why should anyone who is not disabled be concerned? CRPD seems to apply only to disabled individuals. However, the U.N. could intervene in any family or group that includes a person with a disability, defined as a long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment that may hinder full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

On August 14, 2012, WND Radio quoted U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) as follows:

“…another U.N. treaty that threatens American sovereignty has been put back on the table by foreign diplomats and their internationalist allies in the federal government. It’s called the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Disabled, which calls for government agents to supersede the authority of parents of disabled children and even covers abortion.”

Fact: CRPD allows disgruntled children to bypass parents and complain directly to the U.N.

  • Disabled minors or adults could bypass family and U.S. law to complain directly to the U.N.
  • Decisions for disabled children and adults would be under U.N. control and global values.
  • Complaints could be made by or on behalf of individuals or groups that claim victim status.
  • After a complaint, the planned remedy (using U.N. rules) must be reported in six months.
  • The U.N. would be authorized to mandate immediate changes, even during the six months.

Fact: If CRPD is ratified, the U.N. Convention on Rights of the Child (CRC) would be next.
A mother’s report from a country enforcing CRC: “The rights of the child is insanity…when our daughter was 12 or 13 she ran away to the streets of ??????? We were told this was her right and it was her choice to be there. …I was told if I grabbed her from the streets or forced her to come home against her will, I could have been charged with kidnapping her…which could have sent me to jail. You have no idea what this does to a family. …there is much more to my story than this…but it gives you a little idea of how it takes the parents’ rights away so completely…and how much damage it does to that child. …It is a parent’s worst nightmare.”

ACTION – Oppose ratification of CRPD and other U.N. treaties. Contact Georgia’s two U.S. Senators as follows:

Senator Saxby Chambliss: Toll-free in D.C., 1 800 234-4208; Savannah, 912 232-3657, fax 912 233-0115; Augusta, 706 738-0302, fax 706 738-0901; Macon, 478 741-1417, fax 478 741-1437; Atlanta 770 763-9090, fax 770 226-8633; Moultrie, 229 985-2112, fax 229 985-2123; Washington, D.C., 202 224-3521, fax 202 224-0103

Senator Johnny Isakson: Toll-free in D.C. 1 877 851-6437 (Ask for his office.); Atlanta, 770 661-0999, fax 770 661-0768; Washington, D.C., 202 224-3643, fax 202 228-0724

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