Senator Baker sponsored the Health Care Freedom Act last session, which was ultimately struck down by the Florida Supreme Court

A message from Senator Carey Baker on the Florida Health Care Freedom Act

March 16th, 2011

Dear Friends,

I am reaching out to those who believe in Medical Freedom and thank you for all the efforts you made last year when we first passed the Florida Health Care Freedom Act. I know that you believe that individuals should make the health care decisions that are best for you and your family. Unfortunately, the liberal Florida Supreme Court threw off the ballot our state constitutional Health Care Freedom amendment and denied Floridians the right to vote on this incredibly important issue. Once again we need your support to insure we protect our health care rights. Please consider becoming a citizen co-sponsor and contacting your state elected officials to let them know how you feel about this issue. To add your name as a Citizen Co-Sponsor, simply visit Citizen2Citizen.us and add your electronic signature.

Thankfully, the Senate President Mike Haridopolos, has personally filed this important amendment (SJR-2) and it has sailed through the Senate committees and is now poised for final passage before it is sent to the Florida House. We are hoping the House will soon begin the process of hearing this issue (known as HJR-1 in the House). Good news has been found in Florida’s lawsuit against the Obama administration’s National Health Care Bill but the fight is far from over.

Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, once said “The Constitution of this Republic should make special provision for medical freedom. To restrict the art of healing to one class will constitute the Bastille of medical science. All such laws are un-American and despotic. Unless we put medical freedom into the constitution the time will come when medicine will organize into an undercover dictatorship and force people who wish doctors and treatment of their own choice to submit to only what the dictating outfit offers.”

There have been few greater threats to our individual medical freedom and state sovereignty than ObamaCare. The fight against this unconstitutional act requires action on many levels in our courts and both on the state and federal level. Please consider what you can do to further the fight, write your friends and neighbors, become a citizen co-sponsor, and most importantly write your local state representative and state Senator letting them know you support SJR-2, the Florida Health Care Freedom, sponsored by Senate President Mike Haridopolos and State Rep. Scott Plakon.

Warmest regards,
Senator Carey Baker

Union protests in Wisconsin

In Florida and Wisconsin, some very important battles are being fought.

During the last election, much of the attention was put on the US Congress and how many seats conservatives would gain.

Less attention was put on the governors races and the gains made by conservatives in the state legislatures throughout the country. It is in these state houses and governors mansions, however, that the battle to turn our country around has been raging over the last week.

Governors are trying to address the real problems facing our nation. Predictably, they are being opposed by special interests groups who are more interested in preserving their entitlements.

In Florida, Governor Rick Scott turned down the High Speed Rail project which would have been funded in part by the federal government, and in part by Florida tax payers. It was too expensive, and Rick Scott canceled it.

In Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker and the Republican party are trying to fix an immense budget crisis by asking the unions to contribute to their health care and retirement plans. The outrage over such a simple request is frightening.

If America is going to make real progress, men like Rick Scott and Scott Walker must have our support. If the unions are able to win these early battles, it could cripple the attempts of conservatives nationwide. If our elected representatives win, we could see a domino effect in other states who are also attempting some of these same solutions.

Please join us THIS MONDAY, in Orlando at the “Governors Saving America Rally” at Senator Bill Nelson’s office, as we show our support for Rick Scott and men like Scott Walker.

Doing nothing is no longer an option.

Monday, February 21st, 5:30 PM
Outside Bill Nelson’s office
Landmark Two
225 East Robinson Street, Suite 410
Orlando, FL 32801

Support John Stemberger

A young woman from Ohio named Rifqa Bary was invited by one of her friends to attend church. She had been Muslim, but secretly converted to Christianity. The leaders of the mosque her parents attended discovered that she was a Christian and she fled to Orlando after her parents threatened her life.

Here in Florida, John Stemberger graciously agreed to defend her in the lawsuits that followed. After Rifqas case was won, her parents’ lawyer retaliated by filing two separate lawsuits against John, one of them a $10 million defamation case in Ohio federal court.

John is a good friend of mine who needs your help raising the necessary money to fight this shameless act of retaliation. Men like Newt Gingrich and David Barton are helping raise awareness. We need your help as well.

If any of us can be subjected to crippling legal attacks for the simple act of defending someone from persecution, then all of our religious freedoms are in doubt.

So, I’d invite you to do two things:

1. Visit the Defense Fund website that has been set up for him and consider what you can give, however small the amount

2. Help spread the word via email and Facebook. Invite people to join the Facebook page we have set up for him, so they can stay up to date as things progress

Much more information is available on the website if you have any questions. Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you for your vigilance,
Jesse Phillips
Citizen2Citizen, Founder

Breaking It Down with DT

The show airs between 10-11 and I will live around 10:10. Be sure to check out their website at http://radio.acnation.com

Stay vigilant,

Jesse Phillips
Citizen2Citizen, Founder

Seminole county banned simulated gambling

Today I had the opportunity to speak before the Seminole County Board of Commissioners and encourage them to ban “Internet Cafes” which set up casino-style slot machine computers.

Gambling had been illegal in Florida and Seminole County. However, due to advancements in technology, various companies skirted the law by making games available on computers and as instant sweepstakes.

Fortunately, our commissioners moved to close the loophole so that our laws view the virtual gambling as actual gambling. Read the Orlando Sentinel report of the ban.

A pretty lively crowd gathered, most in support of the gambling cafes. The board, however, seemed unpersuaded by their arguments and agreed with our assertion that this ban should be passed.

The ban should go into effect at the beginning of next month, although it could be challenged in court.

If you have a minute, send a note to thank commissioners Dallari, Horan, Van Der Weide, Henley and Carey for passing this unanimous action.

Jesse Phillips
Citizen2Citizen, Founder

Tea party learning lessons in how to fight

Ever since the tea party’s historic victories in the November election, the nation has been watching very closely to see how the movement would act on its new found influence. Two things happened recently which show the amazing potential of the movement to accomplish needed changes, but also to shoot itself in the foot. Let’s examine these two examples.

Good example: Letter to Rick Scott

During his campaign, Rick Scott campaigned against the Sun-Rail system. Various members of his transition team, however, tried to influence him to change his position and support it. So we signed a letter, sent it to the governor elect, and talked to him personally to encourage him to follow through on his campaign promises.

This is an example of good advocacy. Chalk up a few points for the tea party movement.

Bad example: Blasting Personal Cell Numbers

Unfortunately, we also have a recent example of how NOT to advocate. A national group called “Tea Party Patriots” attempted to schedule a meeting with all of the newly elected representatives. However, another group scheduled a meeting that same day. The TPP emailed out the personal cell phone numbers and email addresses of the newly elected congressmen and women and told their members to call and tell them which meeting to attend.

I tried to smooth things over with my representative and heard that many of the incoming freshman were not too happy with their personal information being blasted nationwide. Hardly a way to win friends and influence people. Deduct a few points from the tea party.

The long-term influence of the tea party movement will be depend on whether it learns the lessons from events like these. Here are two lessons we can learn about how to be effective in our involvement as citizens:

1. Stay true to principles: Advocating for the government to oppose a project or spending bill is one thing. Lobbying for them to skip another group’s meeting to come to your own meeting is completely different.

2. Be constructive, not vindictive: Politics is personal and constructive relationships require trust. Calling your representative and expressing solidarity for a campaign position is constructive. Sending out their personal contact information nationwide to be spammed is counter productive.

If the tea party can stay true to principals and learn to overlook petty differences to focus on the important issues at hand in a way that is constructive, we will see our influence increased and freedom preserved.

Proudly Presents

The Orlando Movie Premiere of

“Battle For America”

With Special Guest

Stephen Bannon

Writer ● Director ● Producer ● Patriot

West Orlando Tea Party – OrlandoPoliticalPress.com – Citizen2Citizen.us

Friday, October 22nd, 2010 – 7:00PM

Do not miss this event!!

Premiere Cinema 14 – Fashion Square Mall

3201 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32803
Tickets Are Free – Seating Is Limited

Please Click REGISTER at this Event Announcement Site

http://BattleForAmericaOrlandoPremiere.EventBrite.com

Stephen K. Bannon: Writer/Director/Producer – Mr. Bannon is chairman and CEO of Affinity Media, the largest digital asset exchange and content company in the video game space. He is a former Naval Officer, Honors Graduate of Harvard Business School, and a former M&A Investment Banker at Goldman Sachs. An award winning film-maker, Mr. Bannon was the writer/director of “In the Face of Evil” the classic account of Ronald Reagan’s long struggle with communism. He has produced and executive produced and financed numerous films, including “Titus Andronicus” and “The Last 600 Meters”.

A special ‘Thank You’ to Armando Gutierrez and Sloane Mackenzie Public Affairs for sponsoring the event.

Interest in this event is very high and seating is very limited. Register TODAY!

http://BattleForAmericaOrlandoPremiere.EventBrite.com

Thank you for your help!

Yesterday I sent out an email with an urgent request to help Christian Coalition deliver voter guides to churches in Seminole County. These guides were delivered to my office on Friday for the primary vote on Tuesday.

Well, you guys responded and Citizen2Citizen delivered more than 30,000 voter guides to 75 churches, in the Sanford, Lake Mary, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Casselberry and Goldenrod areas. Not bad for a project that lasted less than 24 hours total.

Your response and volunteerism truly benefits the faith community. Thank you so much for your help! We recieved many expressions of gratitude from the pastors of these churches who anticipate these guides.

I will be sending out some alerts in preparation for the November voter guides. I hope we will have a bit more notice then. In the mean time, please hear my gratitude for your involvement today.

Thank you,

Jesse Phillips
Citizen2Citizen

Who are you voting for August 24th?

As I mentioned in the previous email, primaries are just as important as the November election, and sometimes more difficult to navigate. Toward this end I am sending you some recommendations that I have made based on various conversations I’ve had with the candidates, political consultants, pastors and other leaders in the community.

Please do your own homework as well. I hope these recommendations are helpful to you in determining how you can cast a vote responsibly and help defend the freedoms we enjoy as American Citizens.

The PDF version of my picks can be downloaded here.

If you have any questions, please reply to this email or jump over to my Facebook page and interact with others there.

Also, early voting starts THIS MONDAY. You can find information on early voting times and locations on the Facebook page linked to above.

Thank you,

Jesse Phillips
Citizen2Citizen

Happy Independence Day!

234 years ago today the greatest nation on earth was born. The founders of our country declared their Independence from the most powerful nation on earth at the time, and embarked on an American experiment that not only secured their freedom and ours, but has since provided liberty and justice for millions throughout the world.

Although we have in many respects lost our way due to the forces of liberalism that attempt to revise our heritage and threaten our liberty, every 4th of July is an opporunity to thank God that we still live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Please enjoy your freedom today and give thanks for our nation’s founding, our Constitution, and those certain brave men in government at home and military abroad that are working to maintain that freedom for us all.

What’s up with Citizen2Citizen?

Before you go, I just wanted to let you know that there are some great things being planned for Citizen2Citizen. Personally, I’m working with the Yes on 9 Campaign (Florida Healthcare Freedom Act). We’ll be establishing county leadership throughout the state soon. We’re also planning something big for C2C this fall. I’ll send you the inside scoop on that soon.

Stay vigilant,
Jesse Phillips
Citizen2Citizen, Founder