Team Hammond' next general meeting will be this Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at the Woodmar United Methodist Church, 7320 Northcote Avenue in Hammond. Meet and greet will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the general meeting to follow at 7:00 p.m.
Public safety is the topic of March's meeting. Guest speakers for the evening include Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller who will speak on public safety in Hammond and its surrounding communities and what trends (such as gypsy scams) to look out for. Other speakers include Sgt. Robert Cobb who will do a gang presentation and Officer Scott Holbrook who will speak on crime statistics.
Public safety is an issue that impacts everyone. You do not have to be a resident of Hammond to attend; everyone is welcome.
For more information, please contact George Janiec at (219) 678-6761.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
'REVOLT' RALLY AT STATEHOUSE NO TEA PARTY
March 26, 2009
By John Byrne
Post-Tribune staff writer
INDIANAPOLIS -- By the time Jim Premeske of Hammond took the microphone at the "Revolt at the Statehouse" rally Wednesday morning, some in the crowd had begun to revolt against the rally, drifting away to chat with friends or peruse literature from interest groups in the rotunda.
But Premeske pressed his case for property tax elimination in Indiana on behalf of the Team Hammond taxpayer group to which he belongs.
He took note of Lake County's special place in the theology of Indiana government reform.
"If one were to define Indiana in terms of the book of Genesis, Lake County would be Gomorrah," Premeske said. "South Bend, home to (House Speaker Pat Bauer), might be considered Sodom."
Premeske, who began speaking more than a hour into the event, spoke in favor of Gov. Mitch Daniels' local government reform agenda, which appears dead this legislative session.
He also likened many elected officials to sociopaths, citing serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer and film villain Hannibal Lecter as paradigms of the self-absorbed way politicians enrich themselves to the detriment of their constituents.
"Did you elect a Dahmer or a Hannibal?" Premeske asked.
His speech came near the end of a smorgasbord of complaints by Hoosiers fed up with Indiana government.
Julia Vaughn, policy director for Common Cause Indiana, told the sign-waving crowd of about 200 that big-money lobbyists are hijacking the legislative process with payouts to lawmakers.
"We have to suspend belief to think legislators aren't being influenced by millions of dollars of lunches and dinners and gifts and tickets," Vaughn said.
Attorney Gary Welsh, who publishes the Advance Indiana blog, urged fellow Hoosiers to stand up against requests for more public money by sports teams like the Pacers and the Colts.
Contact John Byrne at 317-631-7400 or jbyrne@post-trib.com.
By John Byrne
Post-Tribune staff writer
INDIANAPOLIS -- By the time Jim Premeske of Hammond took the microphone at the "Revolt at the Statehouse" rally Wednesday morning, some in the crowd had begun to revolt against the rally, drifting away to chat with friends or peruse literature from interest groups in the rotunda.
But Premeske pressed his case for property tax elimination in Indiana on behalf of the Team Hammond taxpayer group to which he belongs.
He took note of Lake County's special place in the theology of Indiana government reform.
"If one were to define Indiana in terms of the book of Genesis, Lake County would be Gomorrah," Premeske said. "South Bend, home to (House Speaker Pat Bauer), might be considered Sodom."
Premeske, who began speaking more than a hour into the event, spoke in favor of Gov. Mitch Daniels' local government reform agenda, which appears dead this legislative session.
He also likened many elected officials to sociopaths, citing serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer and film villain Hannibal Lecter as paradigms of the self-absorbed way politicians enrich themselves to the detriment of their constituents.
"Did you elect a Dahmer or a Hannibal?" Premeske asked.
His speech came near the end of a smorgasbord of complaints by Hoosiers fed up with Indiana government.
Julia Vaughn, policy director for Common Cause Indiana, told the sign-waving crowd of about 200 that big-money lobbyists are hijacking the legislative process with payouts to lawmakers.
"We have to suspend belief to think legislators aren't being influenced by millions of dollars of lunches and dinners and gifts and tickets," Vaughn said.
Attorney Gary Welsh, who publishes the Advance Indiana blog, urged fellow Hoosiers to stand up against requests for more public money by sports teams like the Pacers and the Colts.
Contact John Byrne at 317-631-7400 or jbyrne@post-trib.com.
PROTESTERS 'REVOLT' AT STATEHOUSE
By Eric Bradner
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS — Nearly 200 activists fed up with inaction by state government on a host of issues and filled with a revolutionary spirit flocked to the Statehouse from every corner of Indiana on Wednesday to stage a protest in the Capitol rotunda.
Their message: "The government is not paying attention to people at the grass-roots level, and they continue to ignore us at their own peril," said David Coker, former president of the Vanderburgh County Taxpayers Association.
The group brought signs, shirts, bumper stickers and creative chants to express messages opposing government on nearly every level.
The group brought signs, shirts, bumper stickers and creative chants to express messages opposing government on nearly every level.
Speakers lined up to decry taxes and government spending as group members demanded the government act to abolish property taxes, overhaul local government, establish a "fair" sales tax, stop paying millions for new schools, boot undocumented immigrants out of the country and more.
The protest was called the "Revolt at the Statehouse." It was the second year the Libertarian-type activists gathered at the "People's House" to drum up publicity for their issues.
As one speaker claimed Indiana taxpayers had been "snookered, scammed, bamboozled, fleeced, hoodwinked" by House Speaker Patrick Bauer, others demanded the South Bend Democrat resign because the Legislature hasn't acted to write last year's property tax caps into the state's constitution.
Coker and two other members of the Vanderburgh County Taxpayers Association were there to protest the proposed Downtown arena that Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel is backing.
"We're going to get shafted," said the association's current president , Frankie Neidhammer.
Martha Stott, another member of the Vanderburgh County Taxpayers Association, said the Indiana Legislature's actions are affected by high-profile lobbyists who cause lawmakers to lose touch with their constituents.
"It's a shame the only people that don't have lobbyists up here are the taxpayers," she said.
As the protestors ended the raucous rally, Coker asked the day's pertinent question.
"I just wonder," he said, "if the leadership hears what we're saying?"
"I just wonder," he said, "if the leadership hears what we're saying?"
From the Evansville Courier Press
Monday, March 23, 2009
MARCH 25TH: REVOLT AT THE STATEHOUSE
For Immediate Release Contact: Paul K. Ogden
March 23, 2009 (317) 531-6127 (cell)
(317) 631-0172 (work)
http://www.revoltatthestatehouse.com/
MEDIA ADVISORY
--Citizen Leaders Pay Call to Legislators; Demand Reforms--
Indianapolis – Attorney Paul K. Ogden, 47, today announced finalized plans regarding the taxpayer rally dubbed the “Revolt at the Statehouse” to be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the North Atrium.
The focus of the “Revolt” is the anger the average citizen has with government at all levels which has been captured by big money interests and does not listen to ordinary citizens.
Ogden cited the populist uprising in the country, which is noted on the cover of Newsweek that hits the newsstands today, as one of the reasons for the rally. “You are seeing a populist rage sweeping the country like you have not seen in decades. People are angry as they see their hard-earned money being taken to give out to failing companies, like AIG and others. In Indianapolis , leadership of both the Republican and Democratic Parties is deeply involved in a corporate welfare culture that silences even the most well-meaning party members who dare speak out for the interests of the taxpayers.”
Gary Welsh, author of the blog “Advance Indiana,” has tirelessly reported about the proposed Pacer bailout, the overly generous Colts-Lucas Oil Stadium deal as well as other issues related to the Capital Improvement Board and other local issues. Welsh notes, “The CIB is filled with members who have serious conflicts of interest, not the least of which is the President of the Board, who represents the Simons who own the Pacers. The individuals on the CIB clearly do not have the best interests of the people of Indianapolis in mind when they decide they need to give another $15 million of our tax money to billionaire sports owners.”
Melyssa Donaghy who runs the blog Hoosiers for Fair Taxation noted that people are fed up with the back door deals and lack of transparency in how government operates. “The Revolt will include a call for ethics reform, including more transparency. People need to know what is going on in their government,” Donaghy said. “The conflicts of interest many of these politicians have need to be exposed and ended. We should not have our elected officials using their positions to make themselves and their friends richer at the expense of taxpayers.”
The speakers will include Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians. Titles of some of the speeches include: “Increasing Debt: Mortgaging Our Children’s Future,” “The Colts, Pacers and the Capital Improvement Board,” “Run over by the Speedway Redevelopment Commission,” “Lobbying and Ethics Reform,” “Transparency and Accountability in Government,” “Pay to Play Politics, Indiana Style,” and “Fun and Games in Evansville .” A speaker list is included below.
###
REVOLT AT THE STATEHOUSE SPEAKERS
(Wednesday, March 25, 2009; 11:30 to 1 p.m.)
"Increasing Debt: Mortgaging our Children’s Future"
– Lisa Kelly, former Libertarian Candidate for Lt. Governor
"The Colts, Pacers and the Capital Improvement Board"
– Gary Welsh, Attorney at Law and Publisher of Advance Indiana blog
“Government Grants & Public Corruption”
– Rev. Solomon, Author and Community Activist
"Run Over By the Speedway Redevelopment Commission"
- JoEllen Dotlich, SPEED
"Pay to Play Politics, Indiana Style"
– Mark Small, Attorney at Law and Author
"Transparency and Accountability in Government"
– Diana Vice, Lafayette-area Housewife and political activist; Publisher of Welcome to My Tea Party blog
"Lobbying and Ethics Reform"
– Julia Vaughn, Policy Director of Common Cause/Indiana
"Overreaching Arm of State Government"
--Jim Premeske, Team Hammond Taxpayers' Group
"Fun and Games in Evansville "
– Frankie Neidhammer, President Vanderburgh County Taxpayers Association
"How to Get Involved & Make a Difference"
– Melyssa Donaghy, political activist and publisher of Hoosiers for Fair Taxation blog
"A Call to Action"
– Paul Ogden , Attorney at Law, and publisher of Ogden on Politics blog.
March 23, 2009 (317) 531-6127 (cell)
(317) 631-0172 (work)
http://www.revoltatthestatehouse.com/
MEDIA ADVISORY
--Citizen Leaders Pay Call to Legislators; Demand Reforms--
Indianapolis – Attorney Paul K. Ogden, 47, today announced finalized plans regarding the taxpayer rally dubbed the “Revolt at the Statehouse” to be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the North Atrium.
The focus of the “Revolt” is the anger the average citizen has with government at all levels which has been captured by big money interests and does not listen to ordinary citizens.
Ogden cited the populist uprising in the country, which is noted on the cover of Newsweek that hits the newsstands today, as one of the reasons for the rally. “You are seeing a populist rage sweeping the country like you have not seen in decades. People are angry as they see their hard-earned money being taken to give out to failing companies, like AIG and others. In Indianapolis , leadership of both the Republican and Democratic Parties is deeply involved in a corporate welfare culture that silences even the most well-meaning party members who dare speak out for the interests of the taxpayers.”
Gary Welsh, author of the blog “Advance Indiana,” has tirelessly reported about the proposed Pacer bailout, the overly generous Colts-Lucas Oil Stadium deal as well as other issues related to the Capital Improvement Board and other local issues. Welsh notes, “The CIB is filled with members who have serious conflicts of interest, not the least of which is the President of the Board, who represents the Simons who own the Pacers. The individuals on the CIB clearly do not have the best interests of the people of Indianapolis in mind when they decide they need to give another $15 million of our tax money to billionaire sports owners.”
Melyssa Donaghy who runs the blog Hoosiers for Fair Taxation noted that people are fed up with the back door deals and lack of transparency in how government operates. “The Revolt will include a call for ethics reform, including more transparency. People need to know what is going on in their government,” Donaghy said. “The conflicts of interest many of these politicians have need to be exposed and ended. We should not have our elected officials using their positions to make themselves and their friends richer at the expense of taxpayers.”
The speakers will include Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians. Titles of some of the speeches include: “Increasing Debt: Mortgaging Our Children’s Future,” “The Colts, Pacers and the Capital Improvement Board,” “Run over by the Speedway Redevelopment Commission,” “Lobbying and Ethics Reform,” “Transparency and Accountability in Government,” “Pay to Play Politics, Indiana Style,” and “Fun and Games in Evansville .” A speaker list is included below.
###
REVOLT AT THE STATEHOUSE SPEAKERS
(Wednesday, March 25, 2009; 11:30 to 1 p.m.)
"Increasing Debt: Mortgaging our Children’s Future"
– Lisa Kelly, former Libertarian Candidate for Lt. Governor
"The Colts, Pacers and the Capital Improvement Board"
– Gary Welsh, Attorney at Law and Publisher of Advance Indiana blog
“Government Grants & Public Corruption”
– Rev. Solomon, Author and Community Activist
"Run Over By the Speedway Redevelopment Commission"
- JoEllen Dotlich, SPEED
"Pay to Play Politics, Indiana Style"
– Mark Small, Attorney at Law and Author
"Transparency and Accountability in Government"
– Diana Vice, Lafayette-area Housewife and political activist; Publisher of Welcome to My Tea Party blog
"Lobbying and Ethics Reform"
– Julia Vaughn, Policy Director of Common Cause/Indiana
"Overreaching Arm of State Government"
--Jim Premeske, Team Hammond Taxpayers' Group
"Fun and Games in Evansville "
– Frankie Neidhammer, President Vanderburgh County Taxpayers Association
"How to Get Involved & Make a Difference"
– Melyssa Donaghy, political activist and publisher of Hoosiers for Fair Taxation blog
"A Call to Action"
– Paul Ogden , Attorney at Law, and publisher of Ogden on Politics blog.