The turnout for the Midwest Fair Tax Rally/Tea Party was great. One media estimate placed the turnout at 7500 people coming and going. A lot of AFPMO members were there and stopped by out booth. It was great to see and hear from all of them! Unfortunately, I committed a grievous sin against government at the rally and have now been banned by Senator Carl Vogel’s chief of staff from coming into the office next session.

During the gathering, I was asked to make a presentation on how grass roots can make a difference. I gave a couple examples of how grass roots phone calls, e-mails and petitions have had an impact on various issues. Then, I took the action that got me banned from Senator Vogel's office. I had the audacity to give the Senator's OFFICE phone number (573-751-2076), you know, the one the public pays for the purpose of communicating to the elected official, to the crowd and encouraged them to let Senator Vogel know of their support for the Fair Tax (the bill died in his committee this session). I told people to be courteous when calling. I also told them that Senator Vogel’s staff may not receive their calls well.

I would rather not have been right in the last statement but I was. Senator Vogel's chief of staff, one Martin (Bubs) Hohulin, took great umbrage at the fact I would have people call his office. It seems that as a former legislator and now paid lobbyist, I should know better than to have real people call a legislator’s office. It's ok if you real people happen to find the number you are looking for but far be it from me to give you the information on who and how to contact an elected official at his/her official place of business. In Bubs' own words, "You just don't get it do you?".

Just so Mr. Hohulin understands, I believe you and I do get it. We get it that state government is supposed to be responsive to the citizens, not just corporate or other special interest lobbyists. We get the fact that no elected official should object to receiving phone calls from constituents or as chairman of a committee, people affected by their decision regardless of where they reside. And we get the fact that an unelected bureaucrat can and does make decisions to dissuade the people's access to their elected officials and thwart movement of bills based on personal agendas.

On the contrary, it is Mr. Hohulin who doesn't get it. If you haven't made contact with Senator Vogel's office yet about your support of the Fair Tax, you can do so at 573-751-2076. Who knows, if you call during the day, you may get Mr. Hohulin and he can explain to you why I don't get it.