Message from the Chairman:
New Jobs Needs to be "Job One" Can there be any doubt that had the Obama Stimulus Package worked as advertised, there would have been no reason for this week's Jobs Summit? Since Obama's $787 Billion Stimulus was passed, we have lost 2.8 Million jobs, the unemployment rate has gone above 10% and the underemployment rate is 17.2%. Usually we think of Summits as meetings with foreign leaders. Calling this week's jobs event a "Summit" is unintentionally appropriate, given how "foreign" the business world is to most of this administration. The American Enterprise Institute recently produced a chart comparing the private sector experience of senior officials of every administration for the past century.[1] None had a smaller ratio than the Obama Administration. Only the Kennedy - less than 30% - and Carter - just over 30% - Administrations were close to the Obama mark of less than 10%. Virtually all of the members of the Obama Administration have never faced the uncertainly of meeting a payroll, collecting overdue customer bills or struggling to get business financing. Their job creation experience is limited to government appropriations or grants. The closest they have been to a small business is picking up their dry cleaning. Instead of recognizing the failure of initial plan, Democrats are considering repeating their same mistakes again, but only with bigger spending programs. If more government spending and expanded debt really were an economic cure-all, then given its size the Obama's Stimulus would have already produced results. Nearly every policy priority being pushed by the Democratic Congress and the Obama Administration has the impact of discouraging, rather than encouraging new job creation. The Obama Health plan includes billions in tax hikes on many small businesses that will kill jobs. According to the Congressional Budget Office: "This [surtax] would hit job creators especially hard because more than six of every 10 who earn that much are small business owners, operators or investors, according to a 2007 Treasury study... America's successful small businesses would pay higher tax rates than the Fortune 500 and for that matter than most companies around the world ..."[2] Similarly the "Cap and Trade" proposal adds additional uncertainly and costs for business. According to the Tax Foundation:"Overall, a cap-and-trade system that reduces annual GDP by 0.34 percent per year can be expected to reduce U.S. employment by roughly 964,900 jobs per year, reduce household earnings by $37.8 billion, and reduce total U.S. economic output by $136.1 billion."[3] A year ago many Americans voted for Barack Obama because he promised less partisanship. They expected him to reach out for good ideas, regardless of where they came from. Yet even compared with prior Democratic Administrations, this one is far more insular and limited in their outlook and experience. Obama and the Democrats need not look far for sound ideas to get the economy moving again, just across the aisle. Proposals developed by the House GOP Economic Recovery and Health Care solutions groups offer specific ideas to help small businesses get back to creating jobs: · Allow small businesses to take a tax deduction equal to 20 percent of their income. This will immediately free up funds for small businesses to retain and hire new employees. · Let small businesses join together to purchase health insurance for their workers the way large businesses and labor unions do. · Enact genuine legal reform and policies that incentivize wellness to reduce health care costs for small businesses. · Lower taxes for all taxpayers by reducing the current 15 percent rate to 10 percent and reducing the current 10 percent rate to 5 percent. This will provide an immediate increase in income to every taxpaying family in America and free up capital to help small businesses hire more workers. · Expand health savings accounts (HSAs) to provide additional flexibility to small businesses in providing health care to their employees. · Increase the net operating loss carry back from 2 to 5 years to provide struggling employers with additional resources to keep their doors open. Similar ideas come from other Republicans, such Mitt Romney. He offered his own 10 point economic recovery plan this week in an op-ed in USA Today[4]. The Obama Administration needs to recognize the limits of their own experience and the failure of their initial assumptions. They should listen to alternative ideas that will succeed in putting people to work.
Mark Uncapher
[2]"Estimated Revenue Effects Of Possible Modifications To The Revenue Provisions Of H.R. 3962, The 'Affordable Health Care For America Act'," Joint Committee On Taxation Publication, 10/29/09; Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter To Senator Harry Reid, 11/18/09; Editorial, "The Small Business Surtax," The Wall Street Journal, 7/14/09)
| From Maryland Public Policy Institute
Get Ready For Restricted Health Care In Maryland
(Originally published in the Washington Examiner)
by Marta Hummel Mossburg
Get ready for restricted health care in Maryland.
Not everyone has to worry, yet. But if the U.S. Senate health care bill passes, mammograms will not be the only diagnostic test or treatment harder to come by in Maryland and throughout the United States, as experts in controlling costs gain power and money at the expense of doctors and patients.
State regulators already follow guidelines set by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The task force recently recommended women should start to receive mammograms every two years at 50 instead of yearly checks beginning at 40, causing an uproar among doctors and patients locally and around the nation.
Because of the outcry, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., sponsored an amendment to the health care legislation that would guarantee women access to mammograms starting at 40. But it is not stopping Maryland regulators from reviewing state policies.
Dr. Rex Cowdry, executive director of the Maryland Health Care Commission, said changing the mammography guidelines will be one of a number of measures the commissioners will discuss to contain costs at an upcoming meeting.
Other ideas to be considered include closing the Maryland Health Insurance Plan to new enrollment and increasing premiums for participants, about 16,000 people unable to obtain private insurance because of pre-existing conditions. State hospitals and their patients spent about $90 million last year subsidizing those enrolled in the program.
Those 16,000 are not the only ones potentially affected by task force recommendations, however. The Maryland Health Care Commission oversees regulations for the small group-health market, which covers 407,983 people in the state. Any regulatory changes for both MHIP and the small group market would become effective July 1.
Employers who self-insure, generally large companies with a multistate presence, also can change guidelines. The General Assembly would have to pass legislation to change coverage for those with individual insurance or covered by insurance from large employers in the state.
Dr. David Rothfeld of Shady Grove Radiology, which opposes the new mammography guidelines, said he thinks there would be a large public outcry if the legislature tried to change the rules on mammography. But the Senate legislation may make it very difficult to ignore recommendations on any type of care from future task forces.
It would create panels who publish patient "decision aids" to help patients choose the appropriate (read: Cost-effective) care and discriminate financially against groups who do not follow the shared decision-making process the government recommends.
While some legislators may be able to create exceptions for certain treatments like Mikulski did, the whole point of the health care reform is to save money, which requires restricting access to care.
"This is about saving money. We're not talking about quality of care," he said. He expects "a lot more panels" to decide when someone deserves treatment if health legislation passes.
The worst part about it is that there will be no recourse for bad decisions. "You can't sue them. They are not answerable to anyone," he said.
That fact means a two-tiered health care system will emerge in the United States as it has in Canada and other countries with universal coverage. One will ration care to contain costs, cover everyone and treat people like data points to meet government regulation. The second will treat people as individuals and charge them large fees for "concierge care" as some already do.
No one can deny the rich do not fare better under this scenario. But so long as the government is OK with poor women dying of breast cancer, old people being denied hip replacements and middle-aged moms being denied liver transplants that may not work, just in order to make a budget the government will no doubt exceed exponentially, the new system will work just fine.
Marta Mossburg is a senior fellow with the Maryland Public Policy Institute and lives in Baltimore.
http://www.mdpolicy.org/research/detail/more-death-panels-on-the-obama-health-care-agenda
| Central Committee Elects Officers for 2010
At its November 24 meeting, the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee reelected Mark Uncapher as Chairman, Katja Bullock as First Vice Chairman, Stella Green as Second Vice Chair, and Deanna Stewart as Secretary.
A new Treasurer, J. David Cotter, was elected to replace Moshe Starkman. Starkman, who did not seek reelection, is currently the Maryland State Young Republican Chairman.
David Cotter, a director at a Bethesda organization, has worked for non-profits for more than 15 years, including executive positions with several area organizations. In the past five years, David has worked on fundraising campaigns that raised more than $250 million. David has volunteered on local, state, and national election campaigns since he was 12, and he worked on Capital Hills for Senator James Inhofe (R-OK). An Oklahoma native, David attended St. Edwards's University in Austin, Texas.
Central Committee officers are elected to single year terms. |
| | | District 15 Precincts
For the past year, we have been working on bringing volunteer lists up to date. In the following months we will be publishing
organization information we have for the eight Legislative Districts in the county. We will look at a different district in each news letter.
Today we will focus on District 15.
The Legislative District Chair for District 15 is Dave Sobeck. Dave lives in Bethesda. Dave can be reached at district15@verizon.net
The Central Committee members for District 15 are:
George Sauer of Potomac musicwilma@earthlink.net
Stella Green also of Potomac stella.green@comcast.net
Stella is also 2nd Vice Chair for the Central Committee
Regional Chairs for District 15 are:
Patrick and Marlies Murphy, Bethesda murphy@adoptionci.com
We have the following people listed as Precinct Chairs for District 15:
Precinct Voting Place
Cedarbrook C. Church - Steve Vassos
Churchill HS - George Sauer, Carol Gallagher
Cold Spring ES - Sylvia Darrow
Hyattstown Vol Fire Dept - Dale Ryan
Jones Lane ES - Charlie Scott
Kingsview MS - Jeanne Maurhoff
MLK MS - Maria Padama
Monocacy ES - Barbara Davidson
Our Lady of Mercy School - Dave Sobeck
Poole MS - Terry Sullivan
Poolesville ES - Joannie Henry
Potomac Methodist HS - Anne Martinez
Potomac Community Ctr - Sylvia & Mark Farrer
Potomac ES - Sam Malhotra
Rocky Hill MS - Ms. Dale Ryan
Seven Locks ES - Patrick and Marlies Murphy
Spark Matsunaga ES - Joe Wagner
Ss. Peter and Paul - Rick Sorkin
In addition to acquainting district residents with information on their districts, we also need to make sure we have correct information as we enter the all important election year of 2010.
If you have any deletions, additions or corrections to this information please contact Pat Fenati, Organization Chair. fenati@verizon.net. You can also e-mail Pat Fenati if you want contact information to become an active member of your precinct.
Other important statistics for District 15 are:
There are 33 Precincts in this district. We currently have chairs listed for 21 of those precincts. That leaves 12 precincts with no chairs. Only 5 of the chairs in District 15 have attended the Precinct Training. Precinct Training is free, open to all Republicans who
want to get involved at the grassroots at any level and is worth attending even if you don't want to be a Precinct Chair at this time.
The next training session will be on Saturday January 9th. Further details are in a separate item in this newsletter. Also look for future dates on the MCGOP WEB Page http://mcgop.net
Please look in the Help Wanted section for the names of
precincts with no chairs.
|
At the recent Maryland Federation of Republican Women convention in Cambridge a number of clubs in the MCFRW received awards from President Patt Parker for outstanding contributions in many areas. Among them were:
- CAMPAIGN AWARD - for most volunteer hours reported - NANCY MATTSON, Chevy Chase Club
- CARING FOR AMERICA AWARD - Chevy Chase Club
- GOLD ACHIEVEMENT AWARD- excellence in membership development, campaign activities, community relations, programs, and club functions - Chevy Chase Club, Potomac Club
- SILVER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - Olney Club, Rural Club
- BRONZE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - Rock Creek, Upper Montgomery
| | Unemployment Data by the Numbers
· 10%: Unemployment rate for the month of November.
· 17.2%: Rate of underemployment, accounting for the unemployed and those who are unable to find adequate work.
· 15,375,000: Unemployed Americans looking for work.
· 6,184,000: Jobs lost since Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as Speaker of the House.
· 4.6%: Unemployment rate when Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as Speaker of the House.
· 2,656,000: The number of jobs lost from the economy since the Democrat "stimulus" was passed.
· 7.6%: Unemployment rate when the Democrat stimulus was signed into law.
· 7.9%: The level at which unemployment would peak if the stimulus was passed, according to President Obama.
· 9,246,000: People who are working only part-time because they cannot find full time employment.
· 2,323,000: People who want work, but who have stopped looking because of the state of the economy.
· 1,548,000: Number of unemployed in November who had been laid off from their job.
· 5,887,000: People unemployed and searching for work for more than 27 weeks-the highest level ever.
· 1,266,000: Job seekers that are new entrants to the workforce and have yet to find a job.
· 28.5: Average number weeks job seekers are unemployed after losing their jobs-the highest number since the statistic was first recorded in 1948.
· 26.7%: Unemployment rate among job seekers between the ages of 16 and 19.
· 15.6%: Unemployment rate among African Americans.
· 12.7%: Unemployment rate among Hispanics and Latinos.
· 15%: Unemployment rate among job seekers without a high school degree
Online at: http://www.gop.gov/policy-news/09/12/04/unemployment-data-by-the-numbers
| | | | | Events!!
Including Lots for the Holidays!
Sunday, December 6, 1:00 p.m. Holiday Champagne Brunch at the Waterford Penthouse, 3333 University Blvd., Kensington, MD. $25.00 For more information/RSVP, call or e-mail Ruth Melson at , 301-221-4469.
Monday, December 07 - 7:30 PM - First Monday - On the first Monday evening of each month, the Montgomery County Republican Party will host an event at its headquarters.
On December 7, Meyer Marks will kick off his Campaign for State Senate in District 16 with his Announcement Speech: A Platform For Maryland's Future. Meyer Mark campaign website
Thursday, December 10, 11:30 a.m. The Olney Women's Republican Club's Holiday Fun Meeting will take place at the Argyle Country Club, 14600 Argyle Club Road, Silver Spring, MD. There will be a Secret Santa gift exchange ($10) and collection of canned yams and boxes of stuffing for "Olney Helps." More information/RSVP to Pat Smith, 301-924-5347.
Saturday, December 12, 2:00-4:00 p.m. The Montgomery County Federation of Republican Women's annual gift giving party. Please enjoy the festivities by providing as admission an unwrapped gift for the needy of any age. More information/RSVP to Liz Rubin at lizrubingop@gmail.com
Tuesday, December 15, 7:30 p.m., MC Young Republicans Speaker Series, at Growlers, 227 East Diamond Ave., Gaithersburg, MD, with Councilman Mike Knapp (D) MC Council and MCGOP Chairman Mark Uncapher debating issues facing our County. For more information/RSVP contact
mike.gibble@gmail.com
Monday, January 4 - 7:30 PM - First Monday - On the first Monday evening of each month, the Montgomery County Republican Party will host an event at its headquarters.
Saturday, January 9 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon, Precinct Training at MDGOP Headquarters, 15833 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville. For more information call Pat Fenati at 301-253-5205 or e-mail fenati@verizon.net
|
Check off a New Year's Resolution for 2010
By attending a Republican Precinct Training Session on Saturday January 9, 201010:00 a.m. - 12 Noon
at GOP Headquarters:
15833 Crabbs Branch Way Rockville, MD
Learn how to Organize Republicans in your Precinct to Elect Republicans in Montgomery County This training is open to anyone who is interested in grass roots efforts at the precinct level. You will learn about the voting districts in Montgomery County, understand what is needed to build a successful precinct, and much more. The training is informative, fun and FREE and includes group participation and role playing. For more information call Pat Fenati at 301-253-5205 or email her fenati@verizon.net
If you have been doing precinct work for a while, your experience will be welcome.
Well over two hundred have completed the program so far. We are asking every current Montgomery County Precinct Chair who has not yet taken the course to do so NOW!
|
Montgomery County Republican
First Monday
The first Monday Evening of each month, the Montgomery County GOP hosts an event in which Republicans can meet candidates and discuss concerns and ideas.
First Monday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m., GOP Headquarters, 15833 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD For more information, call 301-417-9256.
This Monday December 7 at 7:30 we will feature candidate for state senate in District 16, Meyer Marks will kick off his campaign with his announcement speech: "A Platform for Maryland's Future." | | Hogan: Maryland Unemployment Insurance Fund Needs Overhaul
Maryland Republican candidate for governor Larry Hogan called on Martin O'Malley and the State Legislature to consider comprehensive changes to the way the unemployment insurance fund is operated.
"Raising unemployment taxes on job creators during tough economic times is counterproductive," charged Hogan. "This is just another example of government getting in the way of economic recovery. The unemployment insurance fund needs an overhaul."
"It sounded like a great idea. Keep unemployment taxes low when the account has plenty of money which meant business could keep more of their hard earned money," said Hogan. "But, nobody
thought about the reality - the only time the fund gets low is during tough economic times when claims rise. If people are losing their jobs, small businesses can't afford the mandated higher unemployment taxes. Worse, they could be forced to lay off even more employees just to pay the higher taxes!"
"Governor O'Malley's piecemeal approach to handling this economic crisis has created tremendous instability in our local economy. Short sighted fixes are not the solution," charged Hogan.
"Marylanders deserve better from their Governor. We deserve leadership that focuses on putting our state on strong foundation for generations - not months."
Martin O'Malley and legislative leaders are considering making a handful of technical changes to the unemployment laws so Maryland can qualify for a one time payment of just over $125 million. Some experts believe that the annual cost to implement the required federal changes will be around $20 million. In six years, the one time infusion of federal aid would end up costing Maryland small businesses an additional $20 million in unemployment insurance each year.
Larry Hogan is a small business owner in Anne Arundel County who served in the Ehrlich Cabinet. In his last run for office, Hogan nearly defeated the House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer in what Hoyer called the toughest race of his entire political career.
|
Republican Central Committee
Seeks Precinct Chairs for District 15
Do you want to get involved at the grassroots level in a very important election year? Are you concerned you don't know how to do it? We will help you every step of the way. Attend Precinct Training (a two hour class offered most months.) The next Precinct Training is January 9th. If your precinct already has a chair consider helping as co-chair or choose a nearby Precinct without a chair. You do not have to live in a precinct to be the Precinct Chair of that precinct.
The following precincts in District 15 are without Precinct Chairs:
- Cabin John
- Cabin John MS/Cafeteria
- Dr. Sally K. Ride ES
- Herbert Hoover MS
- Lake Seneca ES
- Little Bennett ES
- Northwest HS
- Our Lady of the Visitation Parish
- Pauline Betz Addie Tennis Center
- Robert Frost MS
- Shady Grove Conference Center
For more information call Pat Fenati at 301-253-5205 or e-mail fenati@verizon.net
| EMERGENCY
CALL TO ACTION
TO PREVENT OBAMACARE!!
These 14 Senators
hold the key! Please contact them:
Arkansas -
Blanche Lincoln 202-224-4833
Mark Pryor 202-224-2353
Connecticut
Joe Lieberman- 202-224-4041
Delaware -
Thomas Carper 202-224-2441
Indiana -
Evan Bayh 202-224-5623
Louisiana -
Mary Landrieu 202-224-5824
Maine -
Olympia Snowe 202-224-5344
Montana -
Jon Tester 202-224-2644
Max Baucus 202-224-2651
Nebraska -
Ben Nelson 202-224-6551
North Dakota -
Kent Conrad 202-224-2043
Byron Dorgan 202-224-2551
Virginia -
Jim Webb 202-224-4024
Mark Warner 202-224-2023
The ad makes the case that the future of the health care debate,
and the type of care all Americans will receive, hinges on these 14 men and women in the Senate.
The ad specifically identifies the senators and urges viewers to
call the Senate switchboard to tell them to vote "No" on the
public option plan.
For further contact information, including office locations of these
senators, check this webpage for a directory:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
| | CONTACT YOUR CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Hon. Moshe Starkman - 19
Treasurer
mstarkman@moshetechnologies.com
Hon. Vincent DeCain - 18
General Counsel & Parliamentarian
decainvf@aol.com
Hon. Gus Alzona - 16
augustus@alzona.com
Hon. Robert Dyer, III. - 16 | Past Party Line
Newsletters
November 21, 2009
November 7, 2009
October 24, 2009
October 3, 2009
September 19, 2009
September 5, 2009
August 22, 2009
August 8, 2009
July 25, 2009
July 4, 2009
June 20, 2009
June 6, 2009
May 23, 2009
May 9, 2009
April 25, 2009
April 11, 2009
March 28, 2009
March 14, 2009
February 28, 2009
February 3, 2009
January 2009
| |
MCGOP CONVENTION!