Welcome Georgia Patriots!

... To The Fayette County Issues Tea Party 

     We are Fayette County, GA citizens who routinely pursue our values through active participation in local government and welcome like-minded citizens to join us

Our Purpose:  Promote local governments that:
     - Consistently practice the rule of law & ethical conduct
     - Serve the electorate in an open, transparent manner
     - Hold officials accountable
     - Are prudent with public resources

We also work to influence state actions to be fair to Fayette County, and seek our most qualified citizens to serve in local governments- regardless of gender, race, religion, political party, and sexual preference

Coming Up...

Mar 19, 2013: FCITP supports Blacks in Debate On County Voting Process

May 21, 2013: Federal Judge Batten rules in favor of the NAACP

Pota Coston, left, moderates the debate between attorney Wayne Kendall (center) and FCITP Co-founder Bob Ross (right)
learn more about the issue; view the debate here and read newspaper article here.

2013 Fayette County Commission Convenes
Commissioners David Barlow, Charles Oddo, Chairman Steve Brown Brown, Randy Ognio,, and Allen McCarty

Three Board of Education members sworn in
Left to right: Mary Kay Bacallao, Marion Key, Judge Ann Jackson, & Barry Marchman

FCITP hosts meeting on education

Oct 30; At its monthly meeting, the Fayette County Issues Tea Party hosted a meeting to solicit ideas for making the county's public education system the best in the state while keeping spending within revenues.  Elected officials from the school board, county commission, Fayetteville, Peachtree City, along with PTO & PTA members, parents, and citizens heard an assessment of our current education status (very good!) and financial status (struggling with a forecasted multi-million dollar 2012-2013 defiicit).

The involved audience contributed and discussed a number of ideas to improve education and bring the budget under control. A copy of the Powerpoint presentation is available here.

Three new County Commissioners selected in primary
Congratulations!

August 21, 2012,  Commissoners-elect Barlow, Ognio, and Oddo (left to center) stand beside
Commissioners McCarty & Brown after learning that Ognio won all 36 precincts and Barlow took 35 of 36 precincts

All Metro Atlanta Region counties defeat $8.2b TSPLOST

Atlanta Regional taxpayers resoundingly defeated the transportation tax referendum on July 31 by 62% to 38%.
Regional taxpayerss lacked confidence in government stewardship of taxes, and weren't about to pay much more in taxes for too little traffic relief

Opposition to 10-year regional transportation tax grows

Commissioner Steve Brown (2d from right, Fayette County) participates in the
AJC/PNC Bank sponsored TSPLOST Forum July 12, 2012. See AJC article at this link.
View a video of the forum here.

July 4th, 2012 Peachtree City parade float

    4-16-'12, SATP member Marty Harbin key notes the FCITP Tax Day event on the square in Fayetteville

Feb 9, FCITP members join the GFRWC to hear GA Attorney General Sam Olens

Jan 28, National expert Tom DeWeese speaks on Agenda 21

Fayette County resident Steve Smithfield sits between Commissioners Steve Brown & Allen McCarty
at the Governor's Transit Governance Task Force meeting

Dr Bob Todd, Chairman of the Fayette County Board of Education,
meets with Clayton State University Students

Our Core Values

      - Constitutional Limits on government authority, and separation of powers both vertically and horizontally

      - Transparency of government assemblies, activities, and documents through prior announcement, open access, and accurate and complete records

       - Fiscal Prudence   We expect government officials to budget and spend our taxes to the benefit of the general welfare, rather than for narrow or special interests. 

       - Individual Responsibility  We believe that each of us has the responsibility to use their individual talents to support themselves to the maximum extent possible; every benefit facilitated by government is at the expense of another citizen with their own many challenges in life.

       - Free Markets that are unfettered by government protection of monopoly, force, or fraud through special rules that favor an individual or group

      - Secure Borders We recognize the federal government's constitutional responsibility to enact & enforce immigration laws, but are also well aware of their failure to do so and its consequences on our state and county.

Recent Events

Regional Transportation

     Our members are examining the impact of the recently enacted HB277, or  the Transportation Investment Act of 2010, which is Georgia legislation to identify and prioritize transportation projects across the state, and fund them through an increased sales & use tax.  This broad task will be accomplished through special districts that contain the same counties as our current regional commissions; Fayette County is currently a member of the Atlanta Regional Commission & special district.  Learn more here.

Newly opened 15 mile long congestion-based toll lane on I-85 north of Atlanta

      Check back often as we post content and remarks about this 10-year (minimum) $6.2b tax increase and its impacts on you.

West Fayetteville Bypass

     This road was one of among some 53 projects that were crypticly referred to as "road, street, and bridge purposes" on a 2004 ballot that voters approved to raise money through a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).  A number of citizens began questioning the need for the $25m road when they learned that there was no traffic engineering study that concluded the need for it or alternatives to carry the traffic that Commissioners Frady, Hearn, and Horgan insist will use it.

     Citizens renewed their interest when they discovered that they would be paying to provide additional access to over 900 acres of land owned by developers and that the designed road would not provide convenient access to I-85 or the Atlanta Airport (making it far less practical as a bypass around Fayetteville).  Learn more here.

     May 22, 23, 2012.  Two FCITP members debate the Transportation Investment Act to an overflow crowd in Roswell, GA and Cherokee County GA
                                

    Jan 12, 2012. FCITP presented a letter to Governor Deal outlining disappointments related to his handling of the Transportation Investment Act of 2010; 22 other organizations co-signed the letter or sent their own copy for presentation to the Governor.

    Nov 2011. Greg Clifton defeated 3-term mayor of Fayetteville Ken Steele, who had voted repeatedly for wasteful transit plans in the metro Atlanta region; two of his supporting council members were also defeated.

    August 23, 2011.  Five municipal candidates introduced themselves to the membership at our monthly meeting, and State Senator arrived straight from the legislature to brief us on the re-districting progress (see our actions here to adjust U.S. Congressional districts to best reflect the values and community interests of Fayette County).

   July 4, 2011.  Members participated in the PTC Independence Day parade in Peachtree City; float awarded "Most Patriotic" award.

    June 23, 2011.  FCITP members join other citizens in a standing room only meeting of the Fayette County Board of Commissioners' meeting to comment on the county's FY 2012 budget, which spends $89m against projected revenues of $72m: Obamanomics?

     June 22, 2011. Three members of our Tea Party attend a small luncheon with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.  In a conversational manner, Gingrich touched on familiar themes important to the country: 14 million Americans out of work, one in four homes worth less than their mortgage, a mountain of federal debt, the need to return to a Constitutionally-limited federal government, energy, and principles that make America exceptional.

     Newt Gingrich has always been an idea man (he was the force behind the ’94 Contract With America), and after hearing his ideas here, more than one of us said, “Well, sure, that makes sense; of course that’s the way to approach that tough issue.” It was also obvious that practical ideas in our complex world are a rare commodity and a threat to the current administration and the fawning press that supports it. No small wonder, then, that his major policy speech on the Federal Reserve the same morning made no headlines, but the gossip of departing consultants does.

     June 11, 2011.  At the invitation  of the North Fulton County GOP, Tea Party member Bob Ross explained the economic consequences of rail transit projects in the 10-county transportation investment plan that voters will be asked to vote on next summer.  Todd Long, Director of Planning for the GA Dept of Transportation, outlined how highway revenues from gasoline tax was shrinking as maintenance and new construction costs rose.

Director Long addresses the crowd

Member Leslie Edwards joins in the discussion

     June 6, 2011. GA businessman Bruce Cook presented the 'One Cent Solution' to southside citizens.  Bruce was appointed by former Gov Sonny Perdue as chair of the GA Dept of Human Resources, and has been interviewed by CNN, CBS Evening News, ABC News, and the Wall Street Journal.  His simple, yet effective, non-partisan program would reduce federal expenditures 1c for every dollar for five years, which would balance the budget and reduce the national debt over $2T. 

     Mr. Cook has already briefed the One Cent Solution to US Senators and Representatives, and Rep. Connie Mack (FL) has introduced the legislation in May this year.  Read about the Solution, and sign up to urge your elected officials to support it.  Everyone can understand reducing their budget 1% over a year!

   
     April 27, 2011.  GA State Representative Matt Ramsey presented a lawmaker's perspective on grass roots support of key legislation- what actions are most effective, timing, and communicating with lawmakers.

     Now that Governor Deal has signed the bill, GA taxpayers will begin to see some relief in the costs they've borne supporting illegal aliens.   Many special interest groups still oppose this measure to enforce the rule of law.  

 
2-23-2011, Tea Party members (near side) in support of the Wisconsin
Governor Walker's effort to promote fiscal responsibility.   Union protestors are
on the far side.  See additional photos here.

2-11-2011, One of five Fayette County Issues Tea Party members testifying before the GA House Judiciary Committee

Know Your County Elected Officials

Review all elected county officials and their term expiration

Board of Education
The newly installed Board selects Tea Party candidate Bob Todd (R) as President of the Board for 2011.  During their April 19, 2011 meeting, the newly composed BoE voted to restore pay cuts made on the basis of faulty budget information.

County Elections Board
At their Dec 9th meeting, three commissioners approved a resolution that would allow them to veto the two major political parties' nominee to the County Elections Board.  We strongly opposed this violation of separation of political powers, and our efforts contributed to the the Board's recission of the resolution.

County Commissioners Sworn In
    During the July '10 primary election we supported two challengers for seats on the Fayette County Commission, and are pleased to also report their election.

Tea Party-backed candidates Allen McCarty and Steve Brown are sworn in as the county's newest commissioners

Education: The U.S. Constitution
Member Bob Ross (L) and others attended the day-long presentation on the U.S. Constitution by Dr. Earl Taylor of the National Center for Constitutional Studies (special thanks to Denise Ognio and the Coweta County Tea Party)

Gubernatorial Campaign Support
     We recently supported GA gubernatorial candidate Nathan Deal in his campaign against Roy Barnes and the liberal, big-government, high-tax politicians Barnes so generously supported with his personal financial contributions.  Since 54% of Georgians who voted in the Nov 2 general election agreed, Nathan and his team were able to immediately begin the transition for swearing in January 10th.

     A very sincere thanks to all of you who met Nathan Deal at our October 8, 2010 rally at Peachtree City's Falcon Field Airport.

GA Gubernatorial candidate Nathan Deal talks with attendees

 
Nathan Deal addresses critical issues     U.S Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, 3rd District

Watch Nathan's remarks on You Tube
Part I       Part 2