While GOP candidates and party faithful focus on who can best beat President Obama in November, Craig Copland is rallying conservatives to take over the country - one dog catcher at a time.

"In November 2012 we can take back the White House, majority control of the Senate, more governors' offices, scores of state legislative seats, and countless local level offices," says Copland, author of the just released 2012 Conservative Election Handbook (www.conservawiki.com), a guide to winning campaigns at any level.

"It doesn't start with the office of president," he says. "That's where it ends."

Citizens who want to see conservative governance and policies throughout the fabric of the United States can make it happen by running for local office or volunteering campaign help for conservative candidates, Copland says.

"There are 600,000-plus elected offices in this country," he says. "If America is to remain a beacon of freedom and prosperity, then conservatives need to be elected as county clerks, judges, water commissioners, mayors, school board trustees, state legislators, and every other rank of public office in the country."

His new guide, researched and written with insights gleaned from his years of managing political and non-profit campaigns, lays out clear instructions for both political veterans and newbies, stepping up to do their part for the conservative cause.

Among them: Some foolish ways to lose an election.

• Sex: Voters will forgive divorce; they won't forgive active adultery. Don't get carried away by the headiness and pressures of the campaign trail and screw up.

• Lies: Do not lie. Not about anything. You will always be found out. Your credibility will be attacked. You will lose.

• Videotape: Once you become a public figure, everything you say will be on the public record - somewhere. If not on videotape, then audiotape, in print, or in a notebook. Emails, Facebook posts and tweets live forever. So be consistent, think before you speak, and don't let your guard down. It will reappear at the worst possible time.

• Do NOT Break the rules: Every election, every state, every district and every campaign will be faced with a staggering list of rules. Learn them. Follow them. Bring accountants and lawyers on board who are experienced with the rules. If you are caught breaking even one, it could derail your campaign.

• Avoid conflicts of interest: Never let yourself be caught supporting a political action in which you have an obvious interest. Voters will respect a candidate who believes in something because it's the right thing. But if you appear to be lining your pockets, it's game over.

• Do NOT fight losing battles: Don't waste a nickel or a minute trying to appeal to the group trying to repeal marijuana laws - they'll never vote for you. And you're not going to win a precinct that voted 90 percent liberal in the last election. Focus your time and money where you can make a difference in the vote.

Raising money, of course, is a big part of winning a campaign, but it doesn't take a lot to win a less dazzling local office. It's a good place to learn the ropes of fundraising and get some practice running a campaign without a lot of pressure, he says. And there's value in winning even the most down-ballot office.

"If conservatives set out to win every elected post in the country, all 600,000-plus of them, then America will be a truly conservative country," he says, "from dogcatcher to president."

About Craig Copland

Craig Copland is a retired entrepreneur with a long history as a volunteer and professional consultant with expertise in fundraising and managing political campaigns. He spent many years as an executive and CEO of international humanitarian aid agencies, helping establish and run disaster response programs for children in Africa, Bosnia, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, among other locations. As founder and president of Conservative Growth Inc., he helps elect conservatives to all levels of public office.

HUNTINGTON, WV (01/31/2012)(readMedia)-- Isaac David Spangler of Hillsdale, IL, was among nearly 1,250 Marshall University students who were recognized at the university's Winter Commencement Dec. 10 in Huntington, W.Va. Spangler earned a Bachelor of Science degree .

Marshall University is the oldest public institution of higher learning in West Virginia and one of the region's most dynamic universities, serving students from 47 states and more than 60 countries. Marshall offers undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs and competes in Division I intercollegiate sports in Conference USA. Headquartered in the college town of Huntington, W.Va,, Marshall University is known for its safe and beautiful campus, dedicated professors, small class size, successful graduates and great value.

Piano Celebration, hosted by Piano for a Richer Life, is looking for piano players of all levels to perform!  Last year over 400 talented local celebrities, student pianists and piano enthusiasts of all ages performed at Northpark Mall in Davenport with a dual purpose: to raise funds to support Ronald McDonald House and get the message out that piano study equals brain development!

Iowa City Ronald McDonald House serves the families of thousands of children suffering from critical conditions.  The House receives no state or federal tax dollars, relying 100% on private gifts.

Numerous University studies prove that piano study leads to increased brain development, academic achievement and builds confidence while keeping you happy and healthy.  "Piano Celebration helps to get the important message out - while raising substantial dollars for Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City," quotes Jim Foster, the spokesman for Piano for a Richer Life.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 21^st 10am-5pm and Sunday, April 22^nd noon-5pm at Northpark Mall in Davenport, Iowa. Three conservatory grand pianos will be placed outside of Dillard's, Younkers and JC Penny's stores.

Contact Lynn Kroeger at 563-285-8421 to schedule a performance time or to give a financial contribution. Donations can also be made during the performances at any of the three concert locations.

Over the past 9 years Piano Celebration has raised over $248,000 for Iowa City's Ronald McDonald House, and this year the goal is $35,000.  Admission is free and the public is welcome!

Q:        What is the False Claims Act?

A:        The False Claims Act is an important tool for combating fraud against the U.S. government or, in effect, the taxpayers.  It's sometimes called Lincoln's Law because it was first passed in 1863, in response to unscrupulous contractors who sold the Union Army things like faulty rifles, decrepit horses, and ammunition boxes filled with nothing but sawdust.  When enacted, the law offered a reward that let private citizens sue on behalf of the government and receive a percentage of the recovery.  This provision is known as qui tam, an abbreviation of a Latin phrase that basically means "on behalf of the King as well as for himself."  In 1943, the qui tam provisions were curtailed by Congress based on the argument that they rewarded the unworthy and got in the way of other law enforcement efforts.  Forty years later, in the mid-1980s, there was growing concern about extensive fraud by defense contractors.  I was involved in exposing wasteful spending by the Defense Department at that time, and part of my response was working with Representative Howard Berman, of California, and others to reinvigorate the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.  In 1986, we won passage of a major update to the law, restoring and updating qui tam.  Our goal was to empower private citizens who had information about fraudulent activity by government contractors to bring wrongdoing forward and sue in the name of the government.  We knew these kinds of courageous whistleblowers were in positions to identify fraud that would otherwise go completely undetected by federal law enforcement.

 

Q:        Does qui tam work?

A:        This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Grassley-Berman update of the False Claims Act.  All together, since 1986, the qui tam provisions have recovered more than $30 billion that otherwise would be lost to fraud.  Experts believe the deterrent effect of the law has saved taxpayers many additional billions of dollars.  While qui tam actions during the late 1980s and early 1990s involved mostly defense contracts, in recent years, most qui tam actions have fought fraudulent Medicare billing and fraud against other federal health care programs.  In fact, the law has become the government's most effective tool for fighting health care fraud.  In 2011, the False Claims Act recovered $3 billion to the U.S. Treasury, and $2.8 billion of that total resulted from qui tam.  Most of the $2.8 billion in recoveries were in Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, and the Veterans Administration health care programs.

Q:        Is there current legislation impacting this law?

A:        There are constant threats to the strength of the False Claims Act and its qui tam provisions.  These threats have arisen in Congress and the courts.  I've led efforts to defend the law and keep it from being weakened legislatively, but over time federal courts have diminished the strength of the law.  In 2009, I sought and won passage of the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act to restore the scope and applicability of the law where it had been limited by court decisions.  I will stay vigilant in working to protect this proven anti-fraud law from efforts to weaken or even gut it.  In addition, I regularly give strong support to individual whistleblowers outside and inside government.  Our system is better off when government and all those who spend taxpayer dollars are held accountable, and whistleblowers play a major role in making certain that happens.  They do so at great personal sacrifice, often losing their jobs and livelihoods and living in a state of limbo for as many as 10 years, sometimes more, while fraud cases work their way through the legal system.  Qui tam is structured to compensate, based on the fact that without the whistleblower information, it's likely that the fraud would have continued undetected and no taxpayer money at all would be recovered.  Separately, I've worked to encourage states to adopt state-level versions of the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act with legislation establishing incentives for states to fight Medicaid fraud, as Medicaid is a program funding by both state and federal funds.  Looking ahead, the broad scope of government programs where the False Claims Act has helped recover taxpayer dollars is a testament to its flexibility and value.

 

Tuesday, January 31, 2012