Government & Politics Blog Archives - - Page 2 of 48 East Cobber

Cobb Taxpayer Association files complaint with State

April 19, 2013 Leave a Comment

The Cobb Taxpayers Association (CTA) president, Lance Lamberton, has submitted a complaint with the Georgia Department of Law claiming that the Cobb County School District was in violation of state law by using taxpayer money and taxpayer supported facilities to explicitly advocate for passage of SPLOST IV, which was ratified by the voters in a specially held election in Cobb County on March 19, 2013.

In the complaint, Lamberton stated:

The Cobb County School District explicitly called for passage of SPLOST IV using taxpayer supported and paid for communications, which included a newsletter, The Mt. Bethel Bugle, which urged a “yes” vote (attached). This newsletter was put in folders, given to students by teachers w hose salaries are paid for by taxpayers and transported to the student homes on school buses, also paid for by taxpayers.

In addition, an E-mail News Blast was sent out by Walton High School on February 6, 2013 (attached) stating: “Support SPLOST IV.” Two Dickerson Middle School E-mail blasts were sent out from and by the school stating: “Vote Yes for E-SPLOST on Tuesday, March 19.”

“We have no objection to advocates for the E-SPLOST using their own resources to support it,” Lamberton said. “But using taxpayer money to advocate for the continuation of a sales tax is clearly against the law and a violation of the public trust, and the entity responsible for such violations should be held to account.”

“All we are asking is that they play by the rules, without any special favors or dispensations, compliments of the taxpayer,” Lamberton added.

CTA is a local grass-roots organization of approximately 200 members and supporters whose goal is to ensure county and local governments provide the best quality services at the lowest possible cost by putting the interests of the taxpayers at the forefront when implementing tax and spending policy. For more information on CTA, go www.cobbtaxpayer.com

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Filed Under: Government & Politics Blog, [Featured], [PostToSocial] Tagged With: Cobb Taxpayer's Association, Lance Lamberton

Georgia Tea Party meets every Thursday

April 17, 2013 Leave a Comment

In the four years since the Georgia Tea Party was formed, some of their most active and passionate volunteers and guest speakers have been those who were not born here in America. Immigrants from around the world have both worked with and spoken to the Georgia Tea Party, and each story has been more inspiring and informative than the last. This week, the Georgia Tea Party will welcome two naturalized American citizens.

Sanjay Parekh will speak about his experiences of coming to America. Originally from Mumbai, India, Sanjay graduated from Bombay University in 1984, and petitioned for U.S. citizenship in 1995, pursuing an American dream Sanjay had held since his college days. Sanjay was told the waiting period would be 12 full years. The Parekhs finally received an American green card in 2006, and came straight to Atlanta to be with family members already in the country. Despite the great challenges facing America today, such as the job market, the Obama economic policy, and our nation’s debt, Sanjay has pledged to stand and fight here in his new homeland for the promise of prosperity and freedom he dreamed of in college. Sanjay will be visiting this week to tell the story of his journey to America, and why he feels so strongly that despite the challenges, this country is worth restoring.

In the second hour this Thursday night, another American immigrant success story will be presented by Mr. Oleg Ivutin, who will speak on his flight from the collectivist oppression he faced in the former USSR. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, the place where Oleg spent his childhood became Russia, on the border with China, not far from the Koreas. Oleg first visited the United States in 1998 as part of an exchange program. Two years later, and back in Russia, Mr. Ivutin met his wife, an American English teacher working in Khabarovsk. The two were engaged and married in Massachusetts. Having been heavily involved as a volunteer in local politics in Smyrna, as well as following his recent bid for Cobb County GOP Chair, it is Oleg’s belief that the most critical issue facing the United States is the steady spread of collectivism.

“I am involved because I do not want my three children to experience socialism… because I have,” said Oleg.

Join the Georgia Tea Party this Thursday night to hear Sanjay and Oleg’s stories. The meeting will be held from 7-9pm at 900 Roswell Street in Marietta, Roswell Street Baptist Church office building, east of the church campus, west of the Big Chicken.