Fourth Annual "Meat" and Greet on April 26th...meet the candidates, enjoy the food and fellowship!

The Cedar Lake/Hanover Township Republicans invite you to meet your Republican candidates and also many people who work behind the scenes to make good things happen.  Good food and good company.

The "Meat" and Greet details:

Location: South Side Pizzeria.

111 Broadway (Lincoln Plaza), Cedar Lake, IN 46303
(219) 374-6400

Time: 11 AM to 4 PM

Adults - $15.00

Children 10 years old and under - $7.00

Menu includes Chicken, mostaccioli with sausage, green beans, mashed potatoes, beverage and dessert all included in the ticket price.

Cash bar is also available.

Illiana an ill wind for Lake County? Obamacare website is working - if the plan was to ruin the economy and endanger your personal information!!!

The Illiana Toll Road reveals, by its very name, that it will harm rather than help local economies.  An expressway with off and on-ramps that would lure travelers to gas stations, motels and other local businesses like restaurants would be helpful to Lake County.  A toll road that penalizes drivers for getting off and on will simply funnel traffic right past Lake County businesses.   Who benefits then?  Not us!!!

Pair of elected officials urge NIRPC to reject Illiana highway

 

By Carrie Napoleon Post-Tribune correspondent November 7, 2013 8:20PM

A sign reads "No Illiana Toll Road" in front of a home on Lake Julia on 163rd Avenue in Crown Point, Ind. Wednesday June 6, 2012. INDOT's preferred route for the Illiana roadway would greatly impact the area. The southern end of the preferred route would cut through the lake's dam, according to neighbors. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media

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Updated: November 8, 2013 2:00AM

CROWN POINT — Two elected officials representing south Lake County residents have come out against the proposed Illiana tollway, saying they have yet to see the benefit to the region. They are asking members of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission to do the same.

State Rep. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, and Lake County Councilman Eldon Strong, R-Crown Point, came together at a news conference Thursday to say it was time they took a stand against the project that will negatively impact the constituents they represent and will serve only to benefit neighboring Illinois.

They are asking NIRPC members to listen to their concerns and not put the Illiana project in the agency’s 2040 plan, a necessary step for the roadway to move forward. NIRPC is set to vote on the plan in December. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning last month approved placing the roadway in its 2040 plan.

Niemeyer said he has been an elected official ever since efforts to build the highway began, first as a trustee, then a county councilman and now a state representative. Throughout the process he has asked how the roadway will benefit Indiana and to this day, he said, there has been no clear answer.

“I cannot see the benefit for this area, for the state of Indiana or for Northwest Indiana,” Niemeyer said.

Strong said the highway as it is proposed, a tollway, will do nothing to create long-term jobs for the region. Motorists use tollways to get from one place to the next and will not stop to shop.

“Development along a tollway is not beneficial. Any future development on the east end of this project will be costly as there are no nearby sewer and water utilities,” Strong said.

Money would be better spent to repair and improve the region’s aging infrastructure instead of investing money into something that will not benefit the region.

“Let’s fix what we have before we make new,” Strong said, adding money would be better spent on the Gary airport expansion, bridge repairs and revitalization of lakefront communities.

“I urge NIRPC to vote no on the Illiana and bring real jobs to Indiana,” Strong said.

Both men said they understand there often is not-in-my-back-yard resistance for major projects, but when the project benefits the greater good sometimes it must go forward.

“NIMBY is not the No. 1 driving issue on our stance,” Niemeyer said.

He said it might be different if this were an interstate project, but the tollway takes land from its current owners and turns it over to a private entity that will make a profit on it as a tollway.

Niemeyer said they, as public officials, have a responsibility to current residents as well as future residents. He described growth figures for south Lake County used in the Illiana studies as “so exaggerated.”

“It seems like they are pushing the investment in future growth and not taking into consideration the people who live here now,” he said.

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Meanwhile, back at the Obama Ranch, the disaster continues to grow!!!

From The Patriot Post (PatriotPost.US)

O'Care Success? Unfortunately Yes.

 

Obama's ACA Agenda Moving Forward

By Mark Alexander · November 7, 2013   

"Of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people, commencing demagogues and ending tyrants." --Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 1 (1787)

Three weeks into the laughably catastrophic failure of Barack Obama's signature ObamaCare portal, Healthcare.gov, he proclaimed, "The Affordable Care Act is not just a website. It's much more."

This week, in congressional testimony about that failure, Marilyn Tavenner, who's responsible for overseeing the ACA technology, reiterated, "It's important to remember that the Affordable Care Act is more than just a website."

Indeed, it is much more, all of which poses an ominous threat to Essential Liberty, but for the moment, all eyes are on the cascading failures of ObamaCare.

The Lies and Cancellations:

In a 2009 health care reform speech before a joint session of Congress, Obama said, "If you misrepresent what's in this plan, we will call you out." This pathetic narcissist won't admit his own lies and duplicitous deceptions, so we'll call him out.

On 26 September, five days before the O'Care rollout, he declared, "I want to speak plainly, clearly, honestly, about what [ObamaCare] means for you and for the people you care about. Let's start with a fact. About 85% of Americans already have health insurance. If you're one of these folks, it's reasonable that you might worry that health care reform includes changes that are a problem for you, especially when you're bombarded with all sorts of fear mongering. So the first thing you need to know is this. If you already have health care you don't have to do anything."

Of course, we all now know that his oft-repeated lie -- "If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period." -- was a subterfuge to help push ObamaCare through the Democrat-controlled House and Senate.

To date, more than 4.1 million Americans have had their insurance policies cancelled. Worse yet, the Obama administration knew in 2010 that more than 90 million policies would be at risk of cancellation.

At present, Obama is fabricating new lies in an effort to cover up the old lies. Of his prevarications, National Journal's Ron Fournier, a long-time Obama acolyte from the Associated Press, wrote: "It might not seem possible that Obama could do more harm to his credibility ... than misleading Americans about health insurance reform. But he can. The president is now misleading the public about his deception."

Fournier also took note of Obama's pronoun substitution. In the first round of lies, it was all "I." But in the lies about lies, he has shifted to "We."

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) offered his assessment of Obama's lies: "You know, the president already has a Nobel Prize for peace; I think he's shooting for one in fiction." Indeed, if he wins a Pulitzer for fiction, it will be because he actually earned it this time.

 

The Sticker Shock and Awe:

Obama promised, "We're gonna lower your premiums by $2,500 per family per year."

Well, not quite. For the truth about O'Care policy replacement costs, this interactive map illustrates how the so-called "Affordable Care Act" will alter health insurance premiums. The latest report concludes that premiums will increase in 41 states, with some increases exceeding 100%.

The Security Breaches:

John McAfee, founder of the world's largest computer security company, offered this assessment of the scope of the Healthcare.gov failure: "Glitch is a minor annoyance. This is a catastrophic failure, not a glitch. There was no security testing, no quality assurance and no system emigration." McAfee notes that there are now more than 700 look-alike sites successfully scamming those pour souls who think they're at Healthcare.gov -- giving up lots of personal information. But it's not just the scammers that folks need to worry about. The information they'll be providing to the ObamaCare portal itself is at great risk of compromise.

In addition to the current O'Care debacles, I contend that there are very consequential political silver linings beyond all the lies, cancelations, price increases and security issues.
The real DemoCare liability is this: From October 1 forward, and with increasing frequency, Americans of every political stripe who have any issue with health care, whether a hangnail or heart transplant, a delay in a doctor's office or in critical care for a loved one, will tie blame for their discontent like a noose around the necks of Obama and his fellow Democrats, who were and remain solely responsible for forcing this abomination upon the American people.

So what's the success story for Obama?
The fact is, O'Care is achieving Obama's most coveted political objectives -- both the redistribution of wealth and the centralizing control and regulation of the U.S. economy, as outlined by his Marxist mentor, Saul Alinsky.

Despite the "glitches" plaguing the web launch, and other notable issues undermining whatever credibility Obama has left, his macro agenda for the so-called "Affordable Care Act" is on track to become the largest wealth redistribution scheme in American history, and a crushing burden upon the shoulders of free enterprise.

Obama's ACA is the Socialist Democrats' crowning achievement for "fundamentally transforming the United States of America" -- the greatest domestic threat to Liberty since Franklin Roosevelt's despotic regime.

As for the two most significant objections to ObamaCare -- the increasing cost of insurance coverage and the forcing of millions of people into part-time employment so employers can avoid the mandates -- Obama will roll out two solutions.

First, once enough people have lost their existing insurance, he will launch a populist proposal to substantially increase "subsidies."

Second, he will unilaterally create even more regulatory measures to redefine part-time employment as it pertains to avoiding O'Care mandates.

Both of these measures will be wrapped up in his rhetoric about "fighting for the middle class," his incessant vows to protect the average American from the ravages of free enterprise, and his efforts to ensure "economic justice."

Regarding objections from his union constituency, HHS quietly announced this week a planned reinsurance tax exemption for big union insurance plans.
Obama has already succeeded in swelling the rolls of those who are government dependents.

According to the latest census data, while there are 125 million Americans who depend primarily on earnings, there are now 100 million Americans who depend on the government for subsistence. Some 82 million receive Medicaid welfare (and that number is going up as a result of O'Care), almost 50 million receive food and shelter subsidies, and 5 million receive unemployment checks. (Note, these figures do not include the 50 million Americans who receive earned assistance in the form of Social Security, Medicare and Veteran's benefits.)

ObamaCare adds millions to his government-dependent constituency through insurance subsidies.

ObamaCare expands the ranks of unionized government employees, much as was the case when the Transportation Security Administration forged its alliance with the Democratic Party.

ObamaCare greatly inflates IRS power and scope.

ObamaCare hugely increases the expense burden on small businesses -- punishing entrepreneurs and their employees for engaging in free-market capitalism and supporting conservative principles.
ObamaCare massively expands the Medicaid entitlement, which will cost taxpayers trillions more.

Oh, and did I mention that ObamaCare is going to be a conduit for new (and fraudulent) voter registrations? Indeed, within ObamaCare's application for insurance subsidies is a checkbox for voter registration.

Now, it's not out of the realm of possibility to substantially amend or revoke ObamaCare.
In 1988, with the support of the AARP, Democrats in the House passed the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act by a vote of 328 to 72. A year later, Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-IL), Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, literally had to flee an angry mob of unhappy constituents. The law was repealed 16 months after passage by a vote of 360 to 66.

However, the only hope of rolling back ObamaCare is by way of a coalition of conservative and moderate Republicans who can win controlling majorities in the House and Senate in 2014 and the White House in 2016. That means a cease-and-desist order regarding all the self-defeating Republican infighting.

In the meantime, we must do everything possible to contain Obama's overt and covert expansion of the ACA.

Pro Deo et Constitutione -- Libertas aut Mors
Semper Fortis Vigilate Paratus et Fidelis

We have a new Lake County Assessor and she is Cedar Lake resident Jolie Covaciu!!!

Reporting from the Lake County Government Center:

November 1st, 2013  

Jolie Covaciu of Cedar Lake, Indiana is the new Lake County Assessor!  In a caucus vote of Republican precinct committeemen and/or their vice-committeemen, Jolie was voted into office by a 56 to 44 margin. (The candidacy was covered by NWI.com and more information about the candidates is found in the article at the bottom of this post.)  Update...the actual vote count announced at the meeting was 56-44.  The count released to the public was 56-52.  I am fact-checking this discrepancy.  Further research has shown that the official count was, indeed, 56-52.


The chairman for the evening laid the ground rules for the speakers and explained the voting method, which was by secret ballot which was to be counted officially on site with neutral watchers on hand as the ballots would be tallied.

Debra Johnson was the first of two qualified candidates to file for the office and therefore spoke first.  Mrs. Johnson was introduced to the audience by the widow of the late Hank Adams, Jean Shepherd.  Debra was a friend of the Adam's family.  We all were reminded that Hank had become the first Republican to win a County-wide office since the FDR Administration.  Debra Johnson informed us that she knew Hank and knew his vision for the County and she intended to keep his initiatives going in his place.  She also told the audience that she had graduated Davenport University.

Pete Karagan of Munster stood up to introduce Jolie and then Jolie Covaciu listed all of her various accomplishments and her experience in the field of assessments and audits and compliancy to government regulations and asserted that she would go after the backlog of work left undone by the Assessor's office and would quickly deal with appeals that had been left to approve or deny and also make sure that billings and collections would be professional and on time.  She was happy to point out her 14 years as a Cedar Lake resident and her membership with Bethel Church, along with her husband and four children, and a long-time Republican voter and worker behind the scenes to help other candidates win public office.

After both candidates had spoken, the delegates came forward to vote by sections of the auditorium. The three sections closest to the door were for delegates and the fourth section was for interested onlookers.   The Jolie Covaciu rooting section consisted of those of us who had been handing out information cards in the rain outside the Government Center before the meeting began.  We outnumbered the Johnson delegation but, to their credit, they were personable people and we chatted comfortably with them as we waited for people to arrive so we could give them our candidate hand-bills.

Personal note:  Jolie Covaciu and her family are friends.   Jolie was NOT the candidate picked by the people who make decisions from a distance.  But her array of accomplishments, her willingness to meet and talk to all comers and her professional, intelligent speech to the delegates completely won the day for her.  Three cheers for Jolie Covaciu and we might as well plan on seeing her reelected, because I am sure she will accomplish a lot in a short time now that she is behind the wheel of the Assessor's office.

Many Republicans will take a Democrat ballot in primaries to vote for the lesser of two evils.  Both Covaciu and Johnson had done this at times.  However, Covaciu has lived in Lake County and owned property here for 14 years, whereas Johnson had purchased a lot late in October and, ironically, owes over $2,000 in back taxes on property that was just in the process of being officially processed as of October 31st.  It would have been interesting to have chosen an Assessor who had to make a last-second purchase of land to even qualify to hold office and would come into the Assessor position owing Lake County a large tax bill on said property.  The vote for Jolie Covaciu saved the Republican Party from an appearance of shenanigans.  

The NWI article that preceded the caucus.

November 2nd Update:  The NWI article concerning the Caucus results gives a different vote total than the count announced at the official results at the time of the caucus.  That announced total was 56 to 44.   The reporter, Bill Dolan, misspelled Pete Karagan's name and had a count that was at variance to the official count announced at the meeting.  I have tried to find out where the eight extra votes for Johnson came from, votes that would not have changed the outcome.   But I do commend Dolan for a fair report of the proceedings and I have reached out to him for clarity concerning the vote totals.

Jolie's message to the County in advance of the caucus:

Dear Republican Committeeman:

Make no mistake; Jolie Covaciu is seeking your vote at the upcoming Republican caucus.

Many of you know that I have volunteered and worked hard outside of the polls, for various Republican candidates over the years supporting their causes. I would be a strong Republican constituent for the future. I will help keep the momentum going forward for the Republican Party.     My Republican beliefs are not simply a temporary convenience, but an important cornerstone of my personal values and composition. The voting record between me and my opponent are very similar and this is not the issue in this campaign.  The issue is who will be an honest and fair Assessor, seeking uniform assessment for all the properties of Lake County.

I’ve done these things not for personal gain or political posturing, but as a direct outcome of my long-held politics, principles and creeds. Unlike others, I’ve never sought to be retained in office under a Democrat.  I have been a homeowner for 14 years and have always paid my property taxes on time. One of the qualifications to become the Assessor under State Statute is you must be a property owner and property tax payer.  I recently read in the newspaper article where my opponent  purchased a vacant lot in Lake Station two days ago to become compliant. This was shocking to discover. I have had people come to me and ask how or why a candidate would buy a vacant lot just to get on the ballot. How can someone who hasn’t had the recent burden of paying property taxes in Lake County understand the importance of fair, equal and uniform taxation?  I understand such a burden as I have had the financial pain and burden of paying property taxes.

The Assessor’s office is the most important office that impacts the property owners financially. I am dedicated to the property owners of Lake County and will not be controlled by any political machine or special interest group. By making that pledge, this is how I will make everyone’s property values fair, equal and just.    Your opinion and your vote matter to me.  I appreciate your willingness to consider all the facts before reaching a decision. Thank you for your consideration. 

My Qualifications to become the next Assessor of Lake County are as follows;

·       18 years of assessing experience in Lake County

·       Site inspections of tens of  thousands of properties

·       Deputy Assessor in Cedar Creek Township

·       Property owner and taxpayer in Lake County for 14 years

·       Mass Appraisal valuations for Lake and Jasper Counties

·       Annual Adjustments, trending and Ratio Studies

·       Volunteering for Republican candidates for over 30 years

 

I, Jolie Covaciu, respectfully ask for your vote and support this Friday November 1st at the Republican caucus. I understand that this is a very important decision in which you are making.

I will make a strong commitment, to fulfill both the duties as the Republican candidate in the upcoming years as well as assure you I am the person who can fill the role of County Assessor on your behalf, and for all the people of Lake County. If chosen by you I will strive to make the very best decisions to benefit and serve our fellow citizens. Thank you for your time and I very much appreciate for your consideration!

Best Regards,  

Jolie Covaciu               219-730-2707              email:  joliecovaciu@sbcglobal.net

Jolie A. Covaciu

7402 W. 129 Ave., Cedar Lake, IN 46303

Qualifications, Experience & Education:

·        Level III Indiana State Certified Assessor/Appraiser

·        18 years including 14 years with Lake County Government, working in the assessing field

·        State of Indiana Certified Tax Representative

·        Valuation of both Real and Personal property

·        Mass Appraisal valuation

·        Tax Consultant; Project Manager; District Coordinator

·        Site inspections and review of tens of thousands of Properties        

·        Annual Adjustments, trending and Ratio Studies

·        Conducted three General Reassessments in Lake County

·        Field assessment experience of both Residential and Commercial property

·        Familiarity with the computer software used by the Lake County Assessor (Proval) as well as other programs important to the position, such as MVP Tax, Sidwell mapping,etc.

·        Experience with resolving appeals in a timely manner  

·        Member of the International Association of Assessor Officers (IAAO) #10168682

·        Assessment Administration Specialist (AAS) applicant with the IAAO

Recently attended courses and continuing education include:

9/30/2013        Income Approach to Valuation II	2/18/2011     IAAO 300 Fundamentals Mass Appraisal
8/30/2013        Agriculture land Review	11/8/2010     IAAO 400 Assessment Administration
8/29/2013        Defending your Assessment	9/01/2010     IAAO 151 USPAP (National)
8/29/2013        Multiple Regression Analysis	4/19/2010     IAAO 102 Income Approach
8/28/2013        Manufactured vs Stick Built Homes	3/15/2010     IAAO 101 Real Property Appraisal
8/28/2013        Gateway/Sales Disclosure	1/21/2010     Fast Food Assessment
5/01/2013        Income Approach to Valuation I	1/20/2010     IAAO 910 Valuation Convenience Stores
8/22/2012        Special Use Properties	2/24/2009     Personal Property
8/22/2012        Disasters- Deal with the Aftermath	12/9/2009     Cadastral Mapping
1/19/2012        Reassessment/PTABOA	4/30/2008     Intro to Income Approach
1/19/2012        Cost Tables 2012	1/18/2007     Winning Appeals at the PTABOA
1/18/2012        IAAO  911 Value Contaminated Property	1/18/2007     Sales Disclosure: Valid vs. Invalid
1/20/2011       Creating & Implementing a Land Order	1/17/2007     Stratifying by Home Style
3/09/2011     Level III Assessor-Appraiser	7/05/2006   Level II Assessor-Appraiser 6/06/2006   Level I Assessor-Appraiser

Pork Chop Dinner For GOP - Please RSVP!