Message from the Chairman: Out of Touch County Council Obsessed with Social Agenda
With Montgomery County facing the prospect of a more than $400 million deficit in its projected $4.3 billion budget taking effect next summer, a Washington Post editorial warned this week: "At a time when many American workers are thankful to have jobs at all, most public-sector pay increases in the current economic climate are simply not affordable - not without the likelihood of countervailing layoffs, furloughs and tax increases.....Montgomery has long been a generous public employer - some would say a spendthrift one." see Post editorial
Yet instead of focusing on the bread and butter issues of government and making do with less during challenging economic times, the County Council members continue to treat their own politically correct social agenda as our county's top priority.
Just in the past few weeks:
· The Council voted to require chain restaurants to post the caloric information for food that they serve;
· A majority of the Montgomery County Council showed up alongside supporters of a same sex marriage law in Maryland to, in their words, "send a strong message" to the residents of the county and lawmakers in Annapolis.
· Eight of the nine council members joined to introduce a bill that would provide equal benefits to same sex domestic partners of employees of county contractors;
· The council is considering legislating that would require crisis pregnancy centers to post signs stating that they do not provide abortion services.
Consider Council Member Duchy Trachtenberg, chair of the Council's Management and Fiscal Policy Committee, which is responsible for county economic and fiscal policy. One might expect the county's budget to her primary focus in light of current conditions.
It is not. Instead she continues to be one of the Council's most zealous culture warriors.
Trachtenberg is best remembered as the sponsor of a 2007 county law banning discrimination against transgender people in housing, employment, public accommodations, and taxicab and cable service. Her law allows transgender men into women's bathrooms and locker rooms.
Now comes news reports that the Montgomery County Ethics Commission has concluded that one of Trachtenberg's employees sought to "intimidate, threaten, or discriminate against" a person collecting petition signatures. They found that her transgender staffer, Dana Beyer, tried to stop people last year from signing a petition which sought a referendum on a 2007 law.
One Beyer incident was recorded on Youtube in a short video clip records the efforts of entitled: "COUNCILWOMAN'S AIDE HARASSING PETITIONER"
Trachtenberg has tried to deflect attention from the ethics investigation into her office with a discrimination complaint against the county Ethics Commission lodged with the Montgomery County's Office of Human Rights alleging discrimination against Beyer because his being transgender.
However the County's Human Rights Office is the subject of its own investigation. Employees of the office, as well as the President of the Municipal and County Government Employees Organization Gino Renne, have requested that the Office of Human Resources investigate the complaint against the Office Director, Jim Stowe. Among the issues are an expensive $90,000 remodeling in the office for a new conference room ( see Washington Examiner)
While County Executive Ike Leggett has not been heard from on many county issues, his office was roused their slumber to defend the addition of an extra conference room as "critical" and to say the county used money saved through staff vacancies to pay for it.
The County Executive apparently sees a strong connection between expensive remodeling projects and good government. Last year Ike Leggett had a personal bathroom costing taxpayers $65,000 installed in his office suite, complete with a small sitting room and shower.
Instead of reviewing a county agency's spending, Trachtenberg is using the office as a weapon against another county agency she is upset with. This is just one more example of a Council ignoring budget issues in order to pursue their "progressive" social agenda.
Incomes in Montgomery County are stagnant, unemployment is rising, housing prices have declined and property taxes have continued to rise. Yet instead of addressing our financial crisis, our County Council continues to treat their personal politically correct social agenda as the county's most pressing priority. The Council is badly out of touch with the concerns of county residents.
Mark Uncapher
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Welcome Audrey Scott
Newly Elected State Chairman
Maryland Republican Party
On Saturday November 14 the Maryland Republican State Central Committee convened in Bowie, Maryland and elected Audrey Scott the new chairman of the Maryland Republican Party. As state chairman Mrs. Scott also serves as a member of the RNC.
Audrey Scott has served at every level of government and has won ten municipal and county-wide elections in Democrat dominated Prince George's County. She was Secretary of Planning in Gov. Ehrlich's Administration. Mrs. Scott has also served in both the Reagan and Bush Administrations. She brings a wealth of fundraising and grassroots experience and energy to the job.
"I come to this position excited about our prospects in 2010 and anxious to hit the ground running," Mrs. Scott stated upon her election. "There's a lot to do. We need to find the best candidates to run at all levels, train them on how to use modern campaign techniques, help them raise the dollars they need and build the organization required to identify and turn out our voters."
Montgomery County GOP Chairman Mark Uncapher expressed great enthusiasm after the election: "Audrey Scott is going to be a tremendous asset to us in 2010 and beyond. I believe she will turn things around for Republicans in Maryland. With her energy and experience, we are well poised for big wins in 2010."
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Message from New Maryland GOP Chairman
Audrey Scott
The Maryland Republican Party is alive and well and on the move to elect more Republicans in 2010. If you doubt my word, then you were not at the Maryland State Convention last weekend. The mood was upbeat, the attitude was positive, and the smell of victory was in the air. To quote one of the delegates, "We were pumped!"
I ran for State Party Chair to restore our rightful place as a viable alternative to the waste and spend policies of the Democrat majority and to establish for the citizens of Maryland a true two party system of checks and balances. The first priority must be unity. We must all be working together for common goals against the liberal agenda of the O'Malley and Obama administrations. The spirit of unity displayed at the convention was a demonstration of the potential that exists when we work together for the common good. When we set aside our personal agendas and focus on the basic principles of the Republican Party; smaller government, lower taxes, and individual responsibility.
Much to the disappointment of the media and the Democrats, the much ballyhooed walkout over the voting procedures never occurred. Much appreciation and thanks go to the Central Committee members from large and small counties who worked together to produce an acceptable compromise. The solution is not permanent and certainly may not be perfect, but it is a start and it showed that when we focus on the big picture and keep our eyes on the goal of revitalizing and reenergizing our Party, we can accomplish most anything. That act alone portends the unity and cohesiveness necessary to take on the bigger challenges facing our Party in the months ahead.
I am confident we can overcome the challenges that face us. First and foremost, we must become financially solvent, with sufficient funds to hire superior staff, to provide excellent training for our Central Committee members and candidates, and to provide state of the art technology that permits instant and effective communication. Nothing could be more heartwarming or indicative of the support and commitment among our Central Committee members than the spontaneous donations that occurred in the middle of my acceptance speech right after the election. In all, we raised $4000 in a few short minutes! That is the spirit and the momentum that must be sustained throughout the coming year if we want to be victorious in 2010. Every Central Committee member should consider his or her role in this effort just as important and equal to mine.
I may be the Chairman, but I am only as good and as successful as the sum of all of our parts. We are all working as one, on the same team. When one succeeds, we all succeed. And when we all succeed, the Party succeeds. Each and every member is a fundraiser for the Party. When you believe in the mission, the creation of a viable Republican party, the ask is easy. Have you identified 10 persons to contact? Have you made a call today? When you feel you need my assistance, I am available to call or meet with anyone you identify as a potential donor.
It is absolutely critical that our fiscal problems be resolved as soon as possible. The coffers must be full to overflowing. We have less than a year before the 2010 elections. Our energies must be directed to growing our base, creating coalitions, recruiting quality candidates, training our candidates and developing, funding, and implementing effective campaigns. The timing couldn't be better. Every single day you pick up the newspaper there is another reason to VOTE REPUBLICAN. The issues are being handed to us on a silver platter and we must be poised and ready to capitalize on the fiascos of the Democrat administrations at both the National and State levels. This is the opportunity we have all been waiting for and eager to engage. Let the Party begin!!
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Precinct Organization for Legislative District 17
(Includes Kentlands, King Farms, much of Rockville)
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. This week we will focus on District 17.
The Legislative District Chair for District 17 is Jim Herz. Jim lives in North Bethesda. His email address is jimherz@yahoo.com
The Central Committee members for District 17 are:
Adol Owen-Williams, Adol's email address is
the1andonlyadol@hotmail.com
Josephine Wang of Gaithersburg, her email address is dustercjshan@cs.com
Rachael Gingrich of Rockville is also in District 17. Rachel is an At-Large member of the Central Committee rachaelgingrich@hotmail.com
Martha Hale of Gaithersburg is the only Regional Chair listed for District 17
We have the following people listed as Precinct Chairs for District 17:
Precinct Voting Place
Ashbury 417 Com Bldg Lydia Little
Ashbury 417 Com Bldg Midge Wiehl
Carver Educational Serv Cent Shirley Hakimdin
Diamond ES Frank Armbruster
Diamond ES Nelson Ring
Ed Services Ctr Bob Ekman
Fallsmeade ES John Saveland
Gaithersburg HS Josephine Wang
Gaithersburg HS Martha Hale
Lakelands Park MS Dave Roseman
Lakelands Park MS Deborah Lambert
Lone Oak School Ctr Joan Menser
Rachel Carson Es Silvio Renzi
Richard Montgomery HS Frank Di Giovanni
St Elizabeth School Bob Gloria Natiello
St Rose/Lima Parish Church Janice &Bruce Erickson
ThomasWootton HS Glenn Abrams
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
Other important statistics for District 17 are:
There are 30 Precincts in this district. We currently have chairs listed for 13 of those precincts. That leaves 17 precincts with no chairs. Three of the chairs in District 17 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 January 9th. Look for the future dates on the MCGOP WEB Page www.mcgop.net
Please look in the Help Wanted section in the right column of this newsletter for the names of precincts with no chairs. |
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Do the Trial Lawyers Control Democrat Public Policy?
Under Maryland's Democrat leadership, do the trial lawyers control public policy? According to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Thomas M. "Mac" Middleton, you'd better believe it.
At least, that was Senator Middleton's commentary to the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and reported by Sean R. Sedam in last week's The Gazette of Politics and Business:
"Outta the mouths of Dems"
"With all this talk about health care reform, don't expect tort reform to move front and center, at least according to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mac Middleton."
"Middleton, who was on a health care panel at the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Business Policy Conference in Cambridge last Friday, said political realities might prevent it.
"Middleton, a Democrat, said that having a Democratic president and Congress means no one is talking about limiting damages in medical malpractice cases.
"One of the things [is], Republican or Democrat, you take care of your base," Middleton said. "You recognize the people that get you there. It's labor and trial lawyers that get Democrats in office. And you don't bite off the hand that feeds you. That's the stark reality of it."
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10 Reasons to Support the Republican Health Care Alternative
Republicans listened to the American people and have produced a common sense, fiscally responsible health reform proposal-not Speaker Nancy Pelosi's 2,000+ page government takeover of 1/6th of our nation's economy.
Republicans have a better plan, one that lowers premiums for working families and small businesses, fights fraud, and will lead to expanded access to affordable health care coverage for all Americans without raising taxes, cutting benefits to seniors or spending money we don't have.
1. Lowers Health Care Premiums.
According to CBO, the Republican Alternative would reduce health insurance premiums by up to:
· 10% for employees who get coverage through a small business (50 or fewer employees)
· 8% for those who do not have access to employer-provided coverage
· 3% for employees who get coverage through a large business
All told, under the GOP plan, premiums for millions of families would be nearly $5,000 lower than Speaker Pelosi's cheapest insurance plan, according to CBO estimates.
2. Guarantees Affordable Coverage for Patients with Preexisting Conditions.
The Republican Alternative makes it illegal for an insurance company to deny coverage to someone with prior coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition. So if you lose your health insurance because you lose your job, move, get divorced, or just want to change plans, you are protected. Through a new Universal Access Program, all patients with preexisting conditions will have access to affordable health care coverage- without waiting lists. The Republican Alternative also prohibits an insurer from cancelling a policy unless an individually knowingly commits fraud on an application form. It also prohibits insurance plans from instituting annual or lifetime spending limits.
3. Protects Seniors Medicare Benefits.
Unlike the Pelosi bill, seniors' benefits are not cut and nothing in the Republican Alternative will increase seniors' Medicare premiums.
4. No Tax Increases. Period.
5. Encourages Small Businesses to Offer Health Care Coverage, Without Taxing Job Creation.
Unlike the Pelosi bill, which punishes small businesses with onerous mandates and exorbitant taxes that CBO says will be passed on the employees in the form of lower wages, the Republican Alternative plan gives small businesses the power to pool together and offer health care at lower prices, just as corporations and labor unions do.
6. Enacts Real Medical Liability Reform. The Republican Alternative saves $54 billion by helping to end costly junk lawsuits and curbing defensive medicine by enacting medical liability reforms modeled after the successful state laws of California and Texas.
7. Empowers the Doctor- Patient Relationship.
The Republican Alternative eliminates taxpayer funding of a program that could lead to government intrusion in the doctor-patient relationship and the rationing of care on the basis of cost. Unlike the Pelosi bill that increases taxes and expands price controls on medical devices and prescription drugs, the Republican Alternative promotes innovation and places greater emphasis on prevention and wellness.
8. Prohibits Abortion Funding.
The Republican Alternative explicitly prohibits all federal funds from being used to pay for abortion.
9. No Entitlement Expansions Forcing Americans onto a Government Run Plan.
The Republican Alternative avoids a dramatic expansion in entitlement spending and reverses pressure to enact enormous additional tax increases in the future, including on the middle class.
10. Reduces the Deficit.
According to CBO, the Republican Alternative reduces the deficit by $68 billion over the next ten years and continues to reduce the deficit in the second budget window.
For more information, please visit House Republican Caucus
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Health Care Debate at Leisure World held on Monday, Nov 9.
The debate was sponsored by the Inforce Club of Leisure World. The group presents programs of current interest to all Leisure World residents. The Republican and Democratic Clubs were invited to participate.
Republican panelists were US Senate candidate Dr. Eric Wargotz , Ben Swayze (a LW Republican club member) and County Chairman Mark Uncapher. The Democratic panelists were Leonard Teitelbaum (former MD State Senator and a resident of LW), Delegate Roger Manno and Duchy Trachtenburg, (MC Council).
The debate was open to people from outside LW and there were close to 200 attendees. It was a lively debate, followed by a question and answer period.
The Republican Club received many compliments following the debate about both our panelists and the questions we had submitted. We were definitely proclaimed the winners. Dr. Wargotz presented answers from a medical perspective , Ben Swayze was a consumer of health care representative and of course Mark Uncapher was very knowledgeable about all aspects of the health care bill.
Mary Ann Johnston
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URGENT CALL TO ACTION !!!
Sen. Ben Nelson 202-224-6551
Sen. Blanche Lincoln 202-224-4843
Stop the Healthcare Takeover!
After months working in secret behind closed doors, Harry Reid this week finally unveiled his 2,074-page government-run health care plan. His plan would increase health care premiums, increase taxes on families and small businesses by half a trillion dollars, cut Medicare by another half trillion dollars, and allow federal funds to be used for abortions.
Harry Reid has scheduled a critical vote this Saturday night that will allow the Senate to take-up his bill. If that vote succeeds, Harry Reid will be dangerously close to finally imposing President Obama's government-run health care scheme on America.
Two Democrat Senators - Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) - are critically important to defeating Saturday's vote. The RNC urges every concerned citizen to call Sens. Ben Nelson and Blanche Lincoln TODAY and tell them to vote against Harry Reid's liberal bill when it comes up for a vote on Saturday.
Call Sen. Ben Nelson at (202) 224-6551
Call Sen. Blanche Lincoln (202) 224-4843
This is the best opportunity there will be to stop President Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi from imposing their government-run health care plan on America. Again, please call Sens. Ben Nelson and Blanche Lincoln TODAY and tell them to vote against Harry Reid's health care bill
when it comes up for a vote on Saturday.
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Events!!
Including Lots for the Holidays!
Tuesday, November 24, 11:00 a.m., Meeting and Luncheon of the Rock Creek Women's Republican Club at Alfio's Restaurant, 4515 Willard Ave., Chevy Chase, MD, $20. Speaker is Dr. Eric Wargotz, candidate for U.S. Senate. For more information/RSVP call Midge Wiehl 301-216-5880. Thursday, December 3, 11:30 a.m. PWRC Gala Holiday Luncheon at Avenel Country Club, 10000 Oaklyn Drive, Potomac, MD. Join the Potomac Women's Republican Club for wonderful food and a dynamic speaker, Certified Protocol Professional and Fox News contributor Cynthia Lett, author of "That's So Annoying." $35.00 Copies of the book will be available for $15.00. For more information/RSVP call Jane Leeson 301-330-4042 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. 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.comTuesday, 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
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Republican Central Committee
Seeks Precinct Chairs for District 17
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 17 are without Precinct Chairs:
Brown Station Elementary School
Candlewood ES
College Gardens ES
Fields Rd ES
Gaithersburg ES
Gaithersburg MS
Garrett Park ES
Julius West MS
Maryvale ES
Meadow Hall ES
Ritchie Park ES
Rock Creek Valley ES
Rosemont ES
Summit Hall ES
Twinbrook ES
Watkins Mill ES
WSSC Gaithersburg Depot
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"Maryland Must Cut Spending"
Baltimore Sun commentary by Christopher Summers, President of the Maryland Public Policy Institute
Another excellent op-ed on this issue can be read at
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bal-ed.le.letter s181nov18,0,6750574.story
In his op-ed "Maryland must consider tax increases," Maryland Budget & Tax Policy Institute Director Neil Bergsman says Maryland has no other choice but to raise taxes. Mr. Bergsman is two years too late; the Maryland General Assembly voted in a 2007 special session to raise and expand the state's sales tax, create a new income tax bracket, raise the state's corporate tax, establish new taxes on property transfers, increase the state tobacco tax, expand the amusement tax and permit state-taxed slot machines. The new taxes were intended to raise an extra $1.4 billion each year for state government. But the new money has not kept up with Annapolis' spending. Only by cutting spending and growing the tax base can Maryland's budget problem be solved.
Compared to neighboring states, Maryland has very high marginal tax rates. This discourages investment and job creation. Raising these tax rates even higher will only impede our ability to recover from the current economic recession. Given that Maryland spends more on a per-capita basis than most of its neighbors, there is ample room to trim the fat from the state budget. There would be significant savings for the state if its per-capita spending were in line with our neighbors.
No, Maryland does not need to consider tax increases. Further penalizing businesses and individual taxpayers is the road to reduced economic growth, fewer jobs and a lower standard of living. Maryland needs to consider reducing the high spending and high taxes that are so popular in Annapolis.
Christopher B. Summers, Rockville.The writer is president of the Maryland Public Policy Institute.
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Federal stimulus site gives Maryland 15 new congressional districts
A by-lined story by Len Lazarick of the recently launched local news Maryland Reporter website reports that according to the White House "Recovery.gov" website:
" Maryland's congressional delegation has nearly tripled in size, according to a government Web site, even though next year's census that will reapportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives has yet to take place."
The federal site tracking use of stimulus dollars cites 15 new Maryland districts in which more than $11 million was spent to create or save 37 jobs. The state has had only eight congressional districts for decades.
"In Maryland's phantom 38th Congressional District, 16 jobs were saved or created with $789,000 or $49,000 per job. The lowest cost per job was $31,200 in the nonexistent 40th District and the highest cost was in the "00" Congressional District, where $3.9 million generated just two jobs at about $2 million apiece.
In eight of the imaginary districts, from the 9th to the 75th, no jobs at all came out of $4.4 million in spending.
"The phantom districts on the federal tracking site were first reported on Monday by the New Mexico Watchdog, followed by similar reports from Watchdog sites in New Hampshire, Kansas, Ohio, Minnesota and West Virginia.
"Ed Pound, director of communications for the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, which oversees the site, told the Montana Watchdog that his organization is accurately reporting the information that recipients provide. He said in some cases it appears recipients are entering the wrong congressional districts in their reports.
"People make errors, and we've found people are making errors in these reports," Pound said.
Pound said he planned to tell the chairman of the recovery board about the calls he has received. However, he said there are no plans to change the information on the Web site at this time. Pound said the reports will be updated and have a chance to be corrected during the next reporting phase in January.
Recipients of the federal aid file their reports on a password-protected site. That information is then relayed to officials who oversee the Recovery.gov Web site, Pound said. Unless an egregious error is noted, Pound said they post the information exactly as it is received. "Our job is data integrity, not data quality," he said.
Other media, including The Boston Globe and the Associated Press, have raised questions about the accuracy of reporting on Recovery.gov. "Finding flaws in the data is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel," says Alec MacGillis in Wednesday's Washington Post, noting that Congress demanded the difficult -to-calculate jobs figures, but is not expressing outrage over inaccurate reports.
Stimulus spending in the state's miscoded district data was low compared to the $3.4 billion going to Maryland's eight real congressional districts. Those billions, which largely in the form of state spending.
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CONTACT YOUR CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Hon. Moshe Starkman - 19
Treasurer
mstarkman@moshetechnologies.com
Hon. Vincent DeCain - 18
General Consul & Parliamentarian
decainvf@aol.com
Hon. Gus Alzona - 16
augustus@alzona.com
Hon. Robert Dyer, III. - 16
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Past Party Line
Newsletters
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
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MCGOP CONVENTION!