DEBT LIMIT - A GUIDE TO AMERICAN FEDERAL DEBT MADE EASY.

JUST STOP SPENDING; "It's Just That Simple!"
Gary A. Anderson, The Florida Whig Party, Exploratory Candidate, U.S. Senate, Fl., 2012 and I approve this message, shouldn't you?

President Obama Announces the 2012 Launch of African Americans for Obama

Who play's a RACE CARD? Ain't that kind of below the belt? Imagine, if you will, a slogan that stated the same but of the opposite color? Every Alphabet in the book would be climbing out of the wood work for a piece of your statement! This time, I guess it's "Black Only; Whites to the back of the bus and Get off!" Ain't it a shame our Commander in Chief would stoop so low! I want to live in a nation that has but one color; the Red, White & Blue of the nation, not Black verse whatever!

United Tipped Workers of Florida

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Help out those that are paid by their tips and pass it on; showing we will not be bullied by the Florida Legislature and Special interest Groups who wish to fill their coffers with more as the Tipped Employees of Florida get less. It is not fair! I AM, I VOTE! Join us too on Linkin at : United Tipped Workers of Florida It is said that "a rock rolling down a hill, gathers moss" but we are not rocks and for those to whom are looking after our welfare are, generally, looking after their own pocket books. This "Servers to Valet Parking; Tipped Employees" group is a platform to which one may speak out, without fear of losing their jobs. Constitutional Rights protect those to gathering & speaking their mind, without retaliation. Welcome to our new formed Tipped Employees Group. To share in value to solving problems to which all Tipped Workers have as a commonality. A voice of ONE in Uniting together, as free individuals of society, where we can be heard. OR On FACEBOOK; Let the power of the people through our voices be heard...

BIPARTISAN SUPPORT GROWS FOR REAL MAGNUSON-STEVENS REFORM!

Momentum Builds For March 21, 2012 Fishermen's Rally In Washington DC

(2/24/2012)  The Gloucester Times today reported that both of Massachusetts' U.S. senators, Democrat John Kerry and Republican Scott Brown, are anxious to speak with attendees at the second national fishermen's rally to be held in Washington DC on March 21. The Keep Fishermen Fishing rally in March has been organized since mid-January in an effort by leaders from both the recreational and commercial fishing industries to unite under one shared message, to 'reform Magnuson now.'

Efforts to incorporate limited management flexibility in the federal fisheries law have been underway since 2007, not long after the President signed off on the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act which helped remove most abilities for regional fisheries councils to circumvent rigid statutory requirements based on arbitrary schedules, incomplete data and often random definitions.

Sen. Brown had just been officially sworn in at about the time of the original United We Fish rally two years ago today and made a surprise appearance at the rally promising to educate himself about fisheries. Since then, Brown has thrust himself into the fight with the Obama administration that intensified over the two years since the initial event drawing around 5,000 industry representatives from all four coasts. Responding to the Gloucester Times piece, Sen. Brown said today via Twitter, "Looking forward to speaking at this year's fishing rally."

The effectiveness of that bipartisan (Democrat and Republican, commercial and recreational) coalition has been somewhat limited by key Democrats' unwillingness to press their own party's president for real, practical changes in fisheries regulation and management, though today's announcement by Sen. Kerry in support of the upcoming rally is indication that things may be about to change in favor of the fishermen.

"Sen. Kerry believes that additional flexibility is needed to help our fishermen," said his spokeswoman, Whitney Smith.

"(Fishermen) don't care about politics," Kerry said in an email obtained by the Gloucester Times. "They just want to be able to make a living, and Washington needs to hear them and talk to them in a way that's honest and fair."

"They don't expect Washington to solve their problems," he added, "but they sure as hell expect Washington to understand their problems and talk to them with respect."

"We would be honored to have Sen. Kerry attend the rally in support of pragmatic Magnuson reform," said Jim Donofrio, executive director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), a primary organizer and sponsor of the Keep Fishermen Fishing rally set for March 21 at Upper Senate Park in DC. "This is a jobs issue for U.S. recreational and commercial fishing industry folks."

RFA and fellow organizers have said they are keeping a mostly open invitation for other Members of Congress who would like to address the fleet expected to arrive at Upper Senate Park in DC on the morning of March 21, a date picked specifically when Congress was in session. Bus efforts are currently underway in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida to transport fishermen to and from the event, which RFA expects to pick up momentum in the days ahead.

"We've talked personally with many fishing clubs, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region who are contacting local car rental agencies like Hertz and Enterprise to find out about van rentals to take smaller groups of 10 to 20," said Jim Hutchinson, RFA's managing director, who added "there are several bigger charter buses already set up to take large groups from some of the popular charter and headboat ports."

New York buses planned thus far leave Point Lookout and Sheepshead Bay and have been donated by captains aboard the F/V Stirs, party boats Marilyn Jean, Brooklyn VI and the Ocean Eagle as well as FishingUnited.com. In New Jersey, the Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund has four buses leaving Bogan's Boat Basin and Wildwood Fishing Center. Ocean Isle Fishing Center in North Carolina has put together a bus effort in Ocean Isle Beach while Tailwalker Marine is planning to leave Georgetown, SC early on the day of the event. Meanwhile, Raffield Fisheries is organizing a bus effort out of Panama City in Florida leaving on Tuesday, March 20.

"Grassroots organizers are busy filling seats, and RFA is encouraging anglers to visit the Keep Fishermen Fishing website to get those buses packed so that we can add more in the coming days," Hutchinson said. While organizers key in on the bus efforts around the country, the Members of Congress who are interested in addressing the thousands of fishermen expected to assemble at Upper Senate Park in March are encouraged to look closely at the legislation now being addressed in the House Natural Resources Committee to reform the federal fisheries law.

"The legislators who are committed to addressing the issues vital to all of our coastal fishing regions are those who are committed to putting forth the language contained in HR3061 to help provide relief from excessive regulations being experienced in many different stocks from New England cod to Gulf red snapper, that's who we're hoping will join us on stage in March," Donofrio said.

HR3061, the Flexibility and Access in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2011, is sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and has the support of 14 additional bipartisan, coastal co-sponsors including Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY), Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI), Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY), Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC), Rep. Steve Southerland (R-FL), Rep. John Tierney (D-MA) and Rep. Bob Turner (R-NY).

In addition to extending rebuilding timelines in certain situations (which could have a dramatic impact on the New England cod situation), HR3061 would also allow the Secretary of Commerce to suspend rigid annual catch limits and accountability measures for fish stocks where science and data is lacking, calls for socioeconomic impact studies when certain management decisions are made, and would require the National Research Council to perform another comprehensive review of the NOAA recreational data collection programs which were to have been completed as of 2009.

"This is responsible Magnuson reform that truly addresses the science and statistical deficiencies at NOAA and better balances commerce with conservation, something that our coastal fishing communities have always supported," said Donofrio. "This is about access to healthy, sustainable fisheries, a message which all fishermen should be proud to unite behind."

For more information about the rally including bus departure information, visit www.keepfishermenfishing.com.  

About Recreational Fishing Alliance

The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit www.joinrfa.org.

Fl. Hospitality Workers Now work for HALF PAY!

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Hello Fellow Floridians! First off, thank you so much for signing this petition! The one seconds you took out of your day, could mean all the difference for all our tipped workers in the hospitality businesses in our state. Second, please continue to pass this petition on to everyone you know - friends, family, coworkers, organizations of which you are a member, blogs, etc. Please write Letters to the Editor of your local news paper and to your Florida Representatives. It floors me that of all the people from the Governor to the floor of our legislature, it took but 5 to change our lives; this is preposterous! Tell all to sign and let us KILL THE BILL!

How would you like your income cut in half? Sign & pass it on!

A Fisherman's Rally: I FISH, I VOTE!

Congress needs to readdress as well rewrite more flexibility into the Magnuson-Stevens Act. No longer can we the people be held hostage to the “best available science” clauses with in as it creates unreliable data and false echos of species to which may or may not be in peril; causing needless regulations, mismanagement and dollars wasted in ventures doomed to fail before they started. The "United We Fish" rally at Upper Senate Park of 2010 was a success but seemed to fall on deaf ears, as those in charge continued to waste time and monies to their models of “best available science.”

This year, may be one that is heard, as platforms change daily according to the heat put on Washington and the Parties, as the via in position to be heard by “the people” and be heard they shall as a new Rally is about to descend upon the steps of Washington this March 21, 2012! With as many as 5000 plus anglers and concerned business owners related to the fish trade take seat to our Liberties and right to assemble, many more will be reading online at http://keepfishermenfishing.com in remembering and shouting “United We Fish” as United Fisherman across America, chanting our slogan I FISH, I VOTE!

Two buses are available to depart Panama City to DC and back, leaving early am on the 20^th and returning early am on the 22^nd. The bus ride is offered for free the only expense will be for food and a possible hotel the evening of the 20^th. All interested should call Bob Zales, II at 850-814-8001, email bobzales@att.net or Tom Adams at 850-381-1313 or email 4tomadams@gmail.com. Please respond before 3-7-12. Things to Know, should you go.

The Magnuson-Stevens Act was written 36 years ago and did not encompass all then, it does now. It like a boat that is 36 years old, at times needs a tune up to cleaning rather than just a new paint job over the old peeling paint. For the job to be done right, the paint first must be stripped away before that first primer is put on. Those at NMFS to NOAA just keep painting over the old craft in hopes it will float. We, on the other hand, want the job done right so our kids and their kids will to have this luxury to pass down, over and over. If you cannot join the rally, at least join the RFA and help in keeping our boat afloat.

RFA Florida should be contacted if not in my area as, I am trying to put the Sun Coast Chapter together for the Punta Gorda, Charlotte Harbor, El Jobean, North Port/Venice, Englewood area. If you are of interest in our new RFA Sun Coast Chapter, please contact me at mailto:inshoreflorida@gmail.com

1% wants more from Florida Tipped Workers!

The state Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee passed a bill Thursday that would allow employers to pay tipped workers, waiters and waitresses, a lower minimum wage than what is currently authorized in Florida, effective July 1, 2012. The bill, SB 2106, would slash the current Florida tipped minimum wage of of $4.65 an hour to the federal standard of of $2.13 an hour. “Causing or threatening to cause financial harm to any person—i.e., using financial control over a person,” is one of the terms used in the definition of Unfree labor; a direct violation of the The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This Bill, SB 2106, which was “hurried” into through committee, slippery and silent, is not of the Will of, "The People!" Florida ranks No. 3 in restaurant and sales growth, according to National Restaurant Association as of this year. The bill was put through by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, in that they are saying the pay hike to tipped employees of $4.65 per hour will hurt the industry and its owners. The 1% want more as, if they could, we, the people, would work for free! Kill this Bill before it kills your way of life and puts just one more burden on your plate.
I am but just an Exploratory Candidate to the US Senate and I can see this is wrong. Why would not all who represent 'The People' in the Service Industry', see it too as a way for those who have to have more and those who have not; lose more? State Sen. Nancy Detert, Lynn, Montford and Dockery all voted for the bill with one Senator reporting a bold NAY, thank You State Senator Ring! Sign the petition! Tweet it up! Saving your pennies in saving your livelihood; KILL the SB 2106: Tipped Employees Bill before it kills you!

To our esteemed Representatives & Governor Scott to whom may not have been involved in this "Free Lunch" to the industry. We the signed patrons of this petition, do hereby request that this bill be stricken from the records, called down and not imposed on the people who live pay check to paycheck with enough on their plates without the government making it harder to get through the day. Just because a server makes $10.00 per hour on the roll call in the halls of justice of our fair state, does not mean they make 10 dollars each and every hour. It is averaged out over the year, so it looks good on paper but not in real time. Many service workers work feast to famine. One day say 200 dollars for a double shift and the same time, next month, 20 dollars. Add the two together and one could say this worker made, $7.30 a day, when in reality they had money for two days and went without for 28? It is not fair to reduce their fare efforts to give you good service. Will you all do the same and Kill this Bill of economic failure to the 99% who are in need and working hard to obtain it?  TWEET IT UP!

Sign the Petition!

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