Aiken's Bringing Back the Constitution

NBC Augusta 26 had an interesting report on a new group being formed in Aiken. The group will have a meeting at O'Dell Week's tomorrow between 6:00 and 7:00 PM . Follow the link below to read the article and view the video.

Aiken's bringing back the Constitution NBC Augusta 26 news, weather, sports, community, entertainment, shopping for Augusta, Georgia Local News

Tea Party II in Augusta on November 10

UPDATE VIDEOS

WATCH THE FOX NEWS REPORT - HERE

Hello from Bakersfield, California!!!  Lloyd Marcus here, writing to you from the Tea Party Express II: Countdown to Judgment Day.
Yesterday I had the privilege to be on Fox News Channel where I was asked to respond to attacks on the tea party movement that have been made by Janene Garofolo.  Friends - I was blunt in my response and I encourage you to see and hear what I said - HERE.
You can find where our upcoming rally stops will be at our website: http://www.TeaPartyExpress.org

City Council Update

Steve Homoki to run for City Council at-large Seat-

You are invited to attend a rally in the Alley behind City Hall tomorrow morning July 15^th at 11:30 am to meet Steve Homoki. Steve will formally announce his intention to run for an at-large seat on City Council and present his platform. I hope to see you there.

In case you did not see the Aiken Standard news article today concerning the forthcoming city elections go here

Posted by Dick Smith 071409 

SC POLICY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES CITY OF AIKEN FOR FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY POLICIES-

Jane Vaughters has been an outspoken and effective champion of transparency in all government activities and our colleague Dick Dewar suggested the excellent idea of posting the details of the city finances on-line. All City Council members supported the idea and City staff made it possible in an economical manner.  Unfortunately  our state government does not have the same dedication to transparency. Our legislators are even unwilling to have a recorded vote system. They say it would be too costly and perhaps they are right. It would cost many of them their election if voters knew how they actually vote on issues. We need to send a message. The following letter from Jane Vaughters is self-explanatory. I hope you will attend.

Dear Friends of Responsible Government,

On Wednesday, July 22, at 11 a.m. in the Alley behind the Aiken Municipal Building, the South Carolina Policy Council, a non-partisan research and educational foundation devoted to honest accounting in government, will hold a press conference recognizing the City of Aiken for its voluntary commitment to transparent financial activity.

PLEASE COME, for we will not only discuss what we have achieved so far at the city level but what we need to do to achieve this transparency at all levels of government.  WE WILL NOT GET TRANSPARENCY LEGISLATION ON EVERY LEVEL IF WE CITIZENS DO NOT DEMAND IT.

State Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom will tell of his efforts to be on-line source for state agency transparency information --he is so informed and so interesting and so tenacious.  Policy Council President Ashley Landess, also a terrific speaker, will tell how their research on transparency relates to online spending accountability and share some of the important statistics compiled by the Policy Council this year—(did you know that even with the new rules, our lawmakers failed to record votes 75% of the time)!  Local city officials will tell how they placed government transactions online and available to the public free of charge.  State and county officials will bring us up to date on the status of transparency legislation at those levels.

Our goal is to have all this presented in about 30 minutes--I hope!!  What is needed most by these good people is YOU supporting their efforts.  We want to get as much coverage as possible for this event, so BRING YOUR FRIENDS, GET EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IS POSITIVE IN OUR CITY AND STATE, AND DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE DOWNTOWN AIKEN ECONOMY WHEN YOU ARE THERE.

Please call me at 270-3881 if you have any questions.  Hope to see you on the 22nd.

Thanks, 

Jane Vaughters 

     For more information about the South Carolina Policy 
    Council, please go to their web site at http://scpolicycouncil.com/. 

Posted by Dick Smith 071409

Aiken will have its own Tea Party Saturday April 25

Aiken Tea Party

Press Release

The grass roots citizen gatherings event that has sparked a political firestorm around the country is coming to Aiken.

Downtown Aiken will be the scene this weekend when citizens from all across the area come together to make a statement against runaway government taxing and spending

Aiken, South Carolina, April 25, 2009:  This Saturday, in the “Alley” in downtown Aiken, ordinary citizens will take the spotlight as part of a nationwide movement that continues to gather momentum.  Hundreds of “Tea Parties” were held across the country back on Tax Day on April 15^th.  On that day, the state house in Columbia was ground zero for thousands who came from far and wide to make their voices heard. Another Tea Party drew a large crowd to downtown Augusta. The Tea Party this Saturday in Aiken may be somewhat smaller but is expected to be no less enthusiastic coming on the heels of the other events. Those who attend the event will hear remarks from South Carolina’s Comptroller, Richard Eckstrom, several State senators and Representatives, County and city council members,  and various community leaders. A live band will provide patriotic music and there will be awards handed out for the most creative signs displayed during the gathering. The festivities get underway at 1 pm this Saturday, April 25^th in the “Alley” in downtown Aiken. Like the other events held around the country, the Aiken Tea Party is a nonpartisan event open to folks across all political party lines. For more information, call event coordinator, Colen Lindell, at (803) 640-9547.