The article in the Journal stated: “The Justice Department announced that it has settled 2 lawsuits - one for millions of dollars – in connection with the IRS scrutiny of TEA Party groups….” This is misleading.

There have been multiple law suits. The two groups the paper is referring to are 1) ours with the ACLJ (American Center for Law & Justice) and 2) a class action lawsuit with a private legal firm, which we decided not to join. Our lawsuit is complete except for the final step of submitting the agreement signatures of the participants.

We won the constitutional protection part of our law suit. The other group has NOT settled yet; and if they do get the award that the paper mentioned, the lawyers will take their 40% cut with the rest divided up among all the participants – which will amount to about $1,000 - $2,000 each.

We feel the constitution protection for the future is much more important.
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Graham Bartlett
President, ATP

It is true, history repeats itself. In 1616, Copernicus was tried and judged guilty of "formally heretical" and "at least erroneous in faith" for his view on the earth revolving around the sun. That was against the Church’s belief. Then in 1633. Galileo was found "vehemently suspect of heresy", forced to recant his support of Copernicus, and spent the rest of his life under house arrest. Now 400 years later, there are elements in our society that are calling for arrest and conviction of “climate change deniers”. Hasn’t mankind learned anything about science?

History of science is full of those who suggested theories counter to popular belief and, yes, many times they were ridiculed until they were proved right. The idea of a “consensus of scientists” agreeing on any theory making it an absolute law has never stood the test of time. Any scientific theory must go through a rigorous process of examination and testing before it is accepted as valid.

Merely stating two “events” (in this case “rising” earth temperatures and two hurricanes) as having a cause and effect relationship without even an explanation of the cause/effect process and asking us to accept it or be damned is the same as insisting the earth is the center of the universe.

Any real scientist knows that scientific theories will be challenged until the evidence is solid, including the process in the cause – effect. Until we reach that point in climate change, many of us will continue to question and try to understand the mechanisms involved. That includes the impact of man-made greenhouse gases, the atmosphere’s ability to stabilize atmospheric gas ratios, other sources of warming just to name a few.

We know we do not have all the answers, but we are not willing to take the climate change theory on faith alone. If the theory turns out to be true, we will be better able to logically attack the problem.
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Graham Bartlett
President, ATP

ACHE [Albuquerque for a Healthy Economy] provides the following copy of the paid sick leave ordinance on the upcoming Municipal Elections, October 3, 2017. ACHE has highlighted some of the most damaging elements of this ordinance. Read, share and vote No come October 3!

After six long years and endless appeals, the IRS has finally granted the Albuquerque Tea Party (ATP) its long-overdue status as a nonprofit 401c(4) organization!  ATP President Graham Bartlett states, "The decision by the IRS is a win for free speech for all parties."

ATP is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to educating the public on the importance of the core principles of constitutionally limited government and the free enterprise system. 

​As an example of ATP activities, on July 18 we are hosting a Mayoral Candidates' Forum at the UNM Continuing Education Building, 1634 University Blvd. NE, in which all eight of the mayoral candidates have promised to attend.  The event will be moderated by the League of Women Voters.  Refreshments will be provided at a "Meet and Greet" starting at 6:30 PM, with the Forum beginning at 7:00 PM. 

ATP hosted a similar event, also moderated by the League of Women Voters, for Albuquerque Public School Board candidates back in January of this year. 

These events illustrate just how unjustified the long delay in granting ATP's nonprofit status really was.  We hope the IRS will continue what appears to be its new and more balanced approach to evaluating applications for nonprofit status by conservative organizations interested in public affairs.

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) represented the ATP pro bono before the IRS.

For more information, contact Graham Bartlett at gbartlett@abqteaparty.com.

How did we get to the state we are in today? Our elected officials are no longer working to provide 'we the people' with the things our state and national Constitutions require of them. Their time is exclusively spent gaining power, and lately gaining power by destroying anyone who is not on their side.

Destructive politics has become a well-organized process. Can you imagine what our nation and our state would be like if our elected officials spent even half the amount of time promoting the general welfare than they do trying to destroy the opposition? 

The relentless attacks on Trump by the media and the Democratic leadership are like a fine-tuned instrument. If at any time, you listen to the mass media, you will hear the same phrases repeated in every channel. Is that by accident or is someone providing the day's "talking points"?

But let's not limit it to the Democratic party - the Republicans are no angels. Depending on which way the political winds are blowing, they will throw anyone under the bus who does not fit their power agenda, including those members of their own party who are trying to be hardworking representatives of the electorate. 

I am not sure if the New Mexico party bosses have taught the national parties how to destroy their opponents or the other way around. But NM is up there with the best (or worst) of them. Their attacks on the Sonntags are a perfect example of destructive politics, a la New Mexico style. 

The current climate of destructive politics is disgusting. ATP will work to expose and defeat those politicians at the polls who practice that type of behavior. We will do this by seeking the truth on the issues and spreading the truth in all our education efforts. We believe in the Constitution and that governments exist to serve the people, not their own power ambitions. 

We welcome all New Mexicans who agree with bringing civility back into our society to join us in making New Mexico and the United States a place where liberty is more important than power politics.