Political activist Matt Nye and a group of volunteers have organized the Brevard Tea Party to celebrate the founding of the country and to protest big government and out of control spending.

“This event will honor our Founding Fathers and provide a forum for people to speak out against the outrageous activities taking place in Washington, DC,” Nye said. “This country was founded on the principles of individual rights, limited government and free enterprise. Arrogant, short sighted politicians at every level of government have forgotten that, and so now we must remind them what made this country great, and of the oaths they took when sworn into office.”

The event will feature WMMB AM’s Bill Mick as the emcee, almost a dozen guest speakers, entertainment and a host of exhibitors. Given the proximity to the August primaries, a candidate hobknob has been added to this year’s event. “For the Tea Party movement to have an impact, the energy must be translated into votes,” Nye said. “The hobknob will give voters a chance to meet and vet candidates who espouse Tea Party principles.”

Adult admission is $3, and children 12 and under are admitted for free. The stadium concession stands will be open and serving food and beverages.

“The Tea Party movement serves as the catalyst to get ordinary working people involved – we want them to come out, get engaged, and learn how they can make a difference in the process,” Nye said. “Apathy is no longer an option; just as our forefathers stood against the redcoats so many years ago, Americans must once again stand up and fight if they want to preserve the greatest country known to man.”

For additional information on the Brevard Tea Party or to find out how you can help, please contact Matt Nye at 321-626-9791 or visit the official web site at http://www.brevardteaparty.com

About the Brevard Tea Party:
The Brevard Tea Party is a non-partisan movement to revive the spirit of the Founders and restore the Constitutional Republic. It is organized and run by local grassroots volunteers, and it not affiliated in any way with the Republican Party or the Florida Tea Party. Supporters of the Tea Party believe in limited government, free markets and the rule of law.
Contact: Matt Nye, Organizer
321-626-9791

http://www.brevardteaparty.com

Dear fellow BREC members,

With the election of a new Chair tomorrow night, we have the opportunity to change both the face and dynamic of the BREC. While I am excited about the election, I have been disappointed by some of the behavior I have witnessed and the logic being employed by many who will be voting.

First, full disclosure: I have only been a registered Republican and active member of the BREC for the last few years. I cannot claim 10 plus years of service like others, but I will let you be the judge as to whether or not I have had an impact in the short time I have been involved.

Prior to becoming active in this committee I was registered No Party Affiliation because I thought both parties were corrupt. Guess what I learned upon becoming an active member? I was absolutely, 100% correct, as has been proven by numerous RPOF scandals and the voting record of almost our entire Brevard legislative delegation.

Let’s be clear: it does absolutely no good to elect Republicans that betray their oaths and act like Democrats. I am not here to elect Republicans in name only. I am here to elect candidates who understand and believe in the US Constitution, and, more importantly, whose votes will reflect that understanding and belief. By this I mean candidates who vote for less government, less spending, lower taxes and more freedom.

If one uses the above as the standard for whether or not our local Executive Committee is a success, instead of just referencing how many “R”s or “D”s we have in office, one has to conclude the BREC is a dismal failure. With the exception of a handful of local officials, most of the Republicans elected act and vote like Democrats.

Worse still, the elected officials know the BREC is toothless and has nothing to offer in terms of helping to get them elected, or holding them accountable after they are elected. The absence of said officials at the monthly committee meetings sends the message loud and clear: “Except for the cameo right before the election where I pop in to do a Barbie wave and try to pick up a few volunteers and votes – you have nothing to offer me”. This attitude must change if we want to get solid leaders elected and expect to hold them accountable.

Albert Einstein once defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. At the time of this writing, we have four candidates in the race for Chair. Three of them are long time BREC members that have invested countless hours over many, many years, and I truly respect and appreciate their service.

The other, Frank Zilaitis, has only been a registered Republican for 18 months (previously registered NPA), and is being vocally criticized for it. But there is no “tenure” when it comes to politics and activism; there should be no ring to kiss when it comes to volunteerism.

This is about who can effectively articulate and implement their vision of what the Brevard Republican Executive Committee should be. So far the only candidate I have seen that has even expressed a coherent vision is Frank Zilaitis.

I encourage everyone that will be voting tomorrow night: please *read* what you have been sent, forget the labels and who has been involved for how long and instead focus on the substance of what these candidates have proposed.

Ask yourself if you think the person has the right ideas, and whether or not you trust that person to stand on principle no matter what pressure is applied by state or national leadership.

In the short time we have been involved, I have watched Frank Zilaitis step up to the plate time and again. He wrote the much lauded resolution condemning pre-primary endorsements that put the BREC in the media last year. He represented members of the Republican Liberty Caucus pro bono at the kangaroo court known as the grievance hearings last year.

In January of this year I watched him go toe to toe with Senator Thrasher over the RPOF Chair race, and call out Senator Haridopolos and Representative Cannon over the credit card charges. I watched him stand up to Chairman Steele over the “sense of the body” to see whether the members of the BREC supported Day or Thrasher.

I do not always agree with Frank, but the one thing I know with absolute certainty is that he is one of the most principled and honest individuals I know, and he absolutely will not back down, no matter what threats are leveled against him.

The choice is ours. Will we act like entrepreneurs and take the view that merit, not tenure, is the standard by which we should judge? Or will we adopt the government bureaucrat mindset that time served entitles you to a promotion? As a walking, talking example of the former mentality, you know who I will be voting for.

May the best candidate win.

Sincerely,

Matt Nye
Organizer, Brevard Tea Party
Chair, Republican Liberty Caucus of Central East Florida
Candidate, Brevard County Commission, District 4

Continued here:
FEC Complaint Filed Against Alan Grayson

Supporter after supporter took the podium to share why they support Sharon Day as the new Chair of the Republican Party of Florida. The recurring theme expressed by committee members was principles over politics, with members pointing to Day’s refusal last year to sign the Rule 11 letter put forth by Jim Greer that would have allowed the RNC to endorse Governor Charlie Crist over rival Marco Rubio for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez as the hallmark of a principled leader. Other supporters pointed to her years of service and experience as a grassroots volunteer.

Only Chairman Steele spoke in support of Senator Thrasher, saying he would support Sharon Day if the party weren’t in such dire straits, but that extraordinary times call for extraordinary fund-raising abilities, something he believes Day lacks. In spite of the support expressed for Day, Steele said he will cast his vote for Thrasher because he gave his word he would support Thrasher when the deal was made to oust Greer. Steele said he was in a very unpleasant position, and understood how people would be frustrated, but he was a man of his word and had to honor his commitment to support Thrasher. Steele personally endorsed Thrasher last month.

The vote taken by the BREC is significant because it highlights the disconnect between rank and file Republicans and party leadership, including some of the leadership at the county level.

BREC State Committeeman Mike Thomas has intimated he will be voting for Thrasher despite BREC members asking him to vote for Day. Unlike Steele, Thomas has made no mention of any prior commitment to vote for Thrasher, stating only that his vote is his own. Thomas was not present at Thursday’s meeting.

BREC State Committeewoman Carlie Rogers has been a staunch supporter of Sharon Day since the news of Greer’s resignation broke.

There are currently three candidates for RPOF Chair: Florida Senator John Thrasher, RPOF National Committeewoman Sharon Day, and Osceola County State Committeeman Mark Cross. The special election for RPOF Chair is next Saturday, February 20th, at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando. You can get details about and register for the event here.

Read more:
Orlando Sentinel – Tea Party Cand. To File Ethics Complaint vs …

Sink has ordered her office to conduct a thorough and immediate review into whether she misused the state plane to pick up and drop off family members. Sink reimbursed the state for the cost of those flights before questions were raised. But the lawmakers say the review might not be good enough. In this letter, they cite a story in which Sink reacts to a Miami Herald investigation of financier Allen Stanford, who struck a deal with state regulators to sell investments and move vast amounts of money offshore without government oversight.

Sink said the Office of Regulation should not investigate itself and the lawmakers are asking Sink to apply the same criteria to her office. If its good for the goose, it should be good for the gander, Dorworth said in an interview.
Continue here:
Four House Republicans ask for investigation into Sink’s use of state planes

I have put forward an explanation below:

Line 612: Appointments to State Committees
Prior to this Bill, the number of appointments was 52.

The maximum potential number of State Committee members elected is 201. These members include, State Committeemen, State Committeewomen and the local REC Chairmen.

Line 651: Privilege
This section of the bill allows all appointed and at large members to have full rights and privileges as those elected members.

Line 735: Contribution Increases through exemption
This provision allows for the full amount of potential contribution from a Party to a candidate in the Primary. This number used to be half the amount and had restrictions as to when the money could be disbursed.

This provision also exempts several very costly services from the amount. For instance, media messages on behalf of the candidate would no longer go against the maximum contribution a Party could make to the candidate.

So why should anyone care about these proposed changes to Statute?
Political Parties give a voice to the individual. The Party is a structure developed to promote candidates that have a likeminded political philosophy with that of the grassroots of the party.

In theory, elected officials are in office to do the bidding of the people that elect them. In the past, there has been a thin line between the Party and the elected Republican officials. The Party has acted as a check and balance against those elected Republicans that seek to gain more power through means that are not in keeping with the Republican Party’s ideals. In large part, elected Republicans are the result of the Party and its efforts. In addition, the behavior and governance of those officials reflect back on the Republican brand. For that reason, it is necessary to keep a divide in leadership of the party and the elected Republicans.

Looking at the proposed legislation, the new large voting block is a historical departure from the past. The legislature traditionally has stayed out of writing RPOF Rules and Bylaws and running the party, leaving that to the Chairmen, State Committeemen and State Committeewomen.

This new legislation now gives the elected officials the opportunity to control the message, the money and the ability to promote cronies and likeminded people for office. Couple with that the increase in dollars that would be allowed in a Primary, and you now has a recipe for a party that is run by politicians and not the grassroots of the party.

Further, by allowing at large members to serve as fully privileged members, a Chairman could easily appoint those members to Committee chairs and weight the Executive Board of the State Committee in their favor. This type of cronyism could lead to messages and directions that are determined but by a few and not the grassroots.

People are dismayed with self-serving politicians. If our Party is to succeed, we must return control of the Party back to the grassroots and the party must demand that our elected Republican’s govern in a manner that is keeping with the traditions and values of the Republican Party.

These sections of the legislation must not become law. Doing so will act as a conduit to the collapse of the Republican Party as a grassroots organization and promote an environment for power hungry individuals to promote an agenda that is not in the interest of the Republican Party. Here is some advice from now indicted Ray Sansom’s grand jury:

“This state should be guided in openness and transparency.”

It is with this simple concept of separation that I call upon Chairman Greer and the entire RPOF State Committee to publicly reject the portions of this bill that will undoubtedly bring great harm to our State Party. We as Party leaders have a responsibility to stand for what is right, and fight those things that will bring harm to our Party. Are you uncertain if the grassroots like this bill or not? Then contact your REC members and ask them, I did, and they are not happy. Let your voice be heard, too.

Editor’s note: Eric Miller is RPOF State Committeeman for Martin County and ran against RPOF Chair Jim Greer in the last RPOF election

Read the bill here:

“Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again;
Th’ eternal years of God are hers;
But Error, wounded, writhes in pain,
And dies among his worshippers.”

The School Board has claimed consistently there has been a $100 million revenue cut over the last two years. My great sin was to ask for the state revenue numbers for the monies received by the BPS from the State over those two years. The property tax information was easily available from the Tax Collector as well as the School Board’s legal advertisement in July, and property tax revenue is up.

One will note in the exchanges, as well as the information sent by Ms. Preston, as well as the ‘memo’ from Dr. DiPatri (which I was deliberately not copied in its original two sendings so I would be unable to reply to all who received it) NEVER are the simple tax revenue numbers given from the State of Florida for FY 2006/07, FY 2007/08, and FY 2008/09. Never.

My belief now after the fire and brimstone answers from Amy Kneesy, Judy Preston, and Richard DiPatri is the $100 million in revenue already cut is a deliberate distortion. In Ms. Preston’s own memo she states the revenue was cut $445 per student, which is about $30 million. With this year’s property tax revenue increase of $9 million, that’s about a $21 million drop out of over $600 million received. The $600 million in State and Local revenue is about a $200 million increase over the last five years with a declining enrollment.

Dr. DiPatri claims I stated the reduction was $7 million (which would be 1%) when I had included the analysis of Ms. Preston’s numbers at a decline of $30 million (with an extra $9 million in property tax coming in). Dr. DiPatri was sure to laughingly criticize the straw man $7 million yet AGAIN fails to provide the real number of the State revenue reductions for the last three years. Note below the question is never answered in Dr. DiPatri’s comment below and then determine who is distorting comments and ignoring facts. $10 million is not $100 million by a long shot.

“Does he actually believe that we have only been reduced by $7 million during the past two years rather than almost $100 million? In Ms. Preston’s e-mail of 4/2/09, she provided Mr. Ellis with the revised third calculation as one of the sources which alone reduced Brevard’s 2008-2009 funding by $10.1 million. Yet, he persists in stating that you didn’t provide the information and that we were only cut a total of $7 million during the past two years. This is just another example of how Mr. Ellis distorts or ignores the facts presented to him.”

Total School Board revenue (including Federal) rose from $487 million in 2003 to $715 million in 2008. I am trying to get the State side of FY 2006/07 – FY 2008/09. Clearly whatever reductions have occurred in 2008/09 pale in comparison to the large gains made in the years prior.

The School Board and Dr. DiPatri do not wish to be questioned as the real culprit behind the current problems, debt service, will come to light. The hundreds of millions of dollars in COPs issued to build all the new facilities, rebuild many existing facilities, build new stadiums, gymnasiums, and performing arts centers, as well as additions to schools now alleged to be on ‘closure’ lists, is eating into the monies normally used for maintenance and facilities. The monies borrowed short term (RANs), which are similar to payday loans, now are also eating into the monies available for the school system.

The Brevard Public Schools went into debt based on a model of ever increasing revenues to cover the ever increasing debt service. When monies went flat their model fell apart. Many homeowners are unfortunately going through foreclosure based on the same model as they heavily borrowed off their houses.

If the school will not recognize how they got into the hole they’ll never recognize how to get out.
Again, one need not be an expert to read simple revenue numbers.

No one need believe anything I say, ask for yourself.

Ask for the total State revenue to the School Board for FY 2006/07, 2007/08, and 2008/09 as well as the total property tax revenue for the same years.

Then ask for the annual debt service for RANs (short term) and COPs (long term).

If you can get the data I could not (without being labeled Public Education Enemy Number One) please send it to me.

And as for that label, if someone had told you in 1912 not to get on the Titanic as its design was faulty, would they have been considered Public Steamship Enemy Number One?

The BCC meeting was a show, not a dialog. Dr. DiPatri guaranteed such by his taking the microphone, leaving a discussion, and initiating the broadside.

It was a rally and as such is fine, but labeling it a discussion or exchange of information is a misnomer,
BCC was packed because the upper School Board Administration ran out dozens of scare stories to parents to get them to the meeting, as well as having the students told to tell their parents to come to the meeting to ‘save’ education. I have coached for years, my players and parents were being told 9th grade and JV sports were dead if the Legislative cuts were made. Numerous local schools were to be closed, including my niece’s school at Croton.

The parents were told ‘another’ $100 million cut was coming, when in fact there had been nothing near a reduction of that magnitude so far and certainly NOTHING near that number was proposed by the Legislature.

A $100 million cut by the State would be equal a little over ONE THIRD of the State appropriation. Never was any cut of this magnitude proposed. This is what I mean by the School Board and Richard DiPatri running massive scare stories driven by exaggeration to push the parents to this meeting, then running it into anything but a rational dialogue and discussion.

Nothing was mentioned of the School Board’s demographic planning in the building and expansion of schools, to the point many on the alleged closure lists, such as Croton, had received millions in additions and upgrades. Titusville High School took in about $50 million, yet when the shuttle is history in a few years one the three high schools in North Brevard may very well be surplus. The new western Palm Bay High School was not needed, a push to the north of boundary lines, particularly to Satellite and Melbourne, could have relieved Bayside. Oddly enough it is ignored that numerous high school teachers are being shifted to the new school because there are not enough students to justify them in the surrounding high schools.

The hundreds of millions spent on the new schools and the renovations and additions elsewhere have created the debt service now hammering the School Board. I am not sure if Dr. Dipatri included everything in his missive, because back in 2005 I warned the School Board members NOT to start their planned $700 billion bonded expansion plan. I tried to show them house prices were grossly irrational and if their 10% annual growth were correct the MEDIAN house price in Brevard County would be over $350,000 in five years, a stratoshperic number where people with children would flee, and certainly not come in. From a median price of $250,000 in 2005 we are now at $115,000, not $350,000 – and falling.

At the peak of the Housing Bubble they were assuming the 10% annual growth rate in the tax base for five years would cover all the new debt service. Well, since 2005 the tax roll has gone backwards, and in the next two years will fall even further. The School Board’s 2 mill capital tax will drop in revenue by tens of millions of dollars, creating more havoc with their finances. The School Board did exactly what many homeowners did, borrowed off ‘equity’ and ‘future equity’ in the tax roll and set up a system where they HAD to have increasing revenue to constantly cover the rising debts. Their situation will get worse now as capital millage revenue shrinks but debt service continues to rise.

The School Board is not addressing their own culpability in their reckless financing of short and long term debt and the crippling effect of their own self inflicted fiscal policies. Now again I may be labeled Public Education Enemy Number One by the School Superintendant, but the real fact is while I have no true influence over School Board spending policies (as certainly evidenced by the massive COP borrowing) the current Superintendant has left a legacy of debt that future Boards and the next Superintendant will struggle with for a decade.

As for my alleged nastiness with Ms. Kneesy, I hope Dr. DiPatri sent everyone the entire e-mail exchange. To not so so is a disservice to the true debate. Ms. Kneesy initially e-mailed me with her less than courteous (in fact, extremely condescending and sarcastic) comments on the School Board revenue numbers. She made sure in her comments to copy Dr. DiPatri and the press. If you read the entire exchange you will see I continually ask for the state revenue numbers and the source of the $100 million cut alleged to already have happened and you will see she never responded with math, simply fire and brimstone. This was in the INITIAL e-mail to me, copied to the press, so clearly no private e-mail exchange was ever intended. Below I have copied Ms. Kneesy’s initial e-mail, my initial response, and a copy of Dr. DiPatri’s e-mail identifying my status in life as Public Education Enemy Number ONE!

Take the time to analyze the tax revenue streams and where the money has been spent and the debts accumulated. School spending has not been endangered by the incoming revenue but by the massive debts accumulated during a period of windfall revenue.

Melbourne, FL – The Tea Party movement comes to the Space Coast on Sunday, April 19th from 1-4pm at the Wickham Park Event Pavilion next to Brevard Community College. Details are available at http://www.brevardteaparty.com

Matt Nye, Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Central East Florida, has organized the Brevard Tea Party to celebrate the 234th anniversary of the first military engagements in the American Revolutionary War and to peacefully protest out of control government spending.

The event will feature Congressman Bill Posey, political pundit Chris Ingram and local entertainer Mark Vance. The guest of honor will be Courtney Roberts, http://www.schoolofhardknox.info, who has been in a six year legal battle with Brevard County over a home he tried to build in Cocoa Beach in 2003.

“This event will provide a forum for people to speak out against the outrageous spending taking place in Washington, DC,” Nye said. “This country was founded on the principles of individual rights, limited government and free enterprise. If Americans want to see those principles preserved, they must engage in the political process.”

“The Tea Party movement serves as the catalyst to get ordinary working people involved – we want them to come out, get engaged, and learn how they can make a difference in the process,” Nye said. “Apathy is no longer an option; Americans must stand up and fight if they want to preserve the greatest country known to man.”

For additional information on the Brevard Tea Party or to find out how you can help, please contact Matt Nye at 321-626-9791 or visit the official web site at http://www.brevardteaparty.com

About the Republican Liberty Caucus:
Founded in 1990, the Republican Liberty Caucus works to advance the principles of individual rights, limited government and free enterprise within the Republican Party.

With members in every state, a prominent Board of Advisors, many elected members, and active local affiliates, the RLC exists to recruit candidates who support the RLC’s agenda, elect limited government Republicans to political office, and change the direction of the Republican Party to reflect our vision.
Members of the RLC think every human being is endowed by nature with inherent rights to life, liberty and property that are properly secured by law.

We support a strict construction of the Bill of Rights as a defense against tyranny; the expansion of those rights to all voluntary consensual conduct under the Ninth and Tenth Amendments; and the requirements of equal protection and due process under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Contact: Matt Nye, Chair
321-626-9791
http://www.brevardteaparty.com