Montgomery County GOP

Message from the Chairman:
Is this Really a "Recovery Summer?"

According to the Obama White House, we are now in the middle of a "Recovery Summer" because: "The fact is, the recovery act is working."

Really? Contrast the White House's happy talk with a Gallup Poll released just yesterday finding that 66% of Americans believe that the economy is getting worse and with Gallup's "Economic Confidence Index" which dropped to the lowest level in 12 months.[1]

So who is right - the Obama Administration or the American public?

A recent Heritage Foundation analysis tracks the full extent of the failure with Obama's own numbers. "The President's original target for jobs creation set during the campaign in the fall of 2008 was 2.5 million jobs. But as employment fell at the end of 2008, he increased the employment target by 1 million to 3.5 million jobs. At the time, employment stood at about 135.1 million, according to the DOL's most commonly used measure. This establishes the Obama jobs target for December 2010 at 138.6 million. It also establishes a basic trajectory for employment the economy would need to approximate to hit that target." [2]

According to the latest jobs report, total U.S. employment stood at almost 130.5 million in June, which means the cumulative Obama jobs deficit-the difference between the end target and the current employment level-stands at almost 7.4 million

By every measure, the Great Recession continues to grind on.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the US has undergone 12 recessions since the Second World War. The average length has been about a year. The longest recession, 1973-5, lasted 16 months. Since the group dates the beginning of this recession to December 2007, a normal recovery should have begun at least by 2009. In fact Obama's 18 months in office has already been longer than the longest recession we have experienced in the past 50 years.

One reason that prior recessions have been so much shorter than the Obama Recession is that earlier administrations have pursued pro-growth policies. For example the 2003 tax cuts helped the economy out of recession by putting more dollars into the pockets of consumers, small businesses and investors. Unemployment peaked at 6.3% within just two months after signing the cuts into law, before beginning a steady decline to 4.4% in 2007. In the early eighties Ronald Reagan's economic policies produced a "V" shaped rapid rebound.

Another problem has been the limited private sector experience of Obama Administration officials. The American Enterprise Institute has tracked the private sector experience of senior officials of every administration for the past century. 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 the Obama Administration members 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.

Given this recent Democratic claims of a "Recovery Summer" and their denial of obvious reality, we cannot expect a change in direction until a new Republican Congress in place to get the country moving aga

Mark Uncapher
Montgomery County Republican Chairman

[2] http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2010/07/Weak-Economy-Failed-Policies-Keep-Obama-Jobs-Deficit-High-at-7-4-Million

Mary Kane addresses a   crowd in Silver Spring, MD   www.bobehrlich.com

On the morning of Thursday July 1, Gov. Bob Ehrlich introduced Mary Kane to hundreds of supporters gathered in downtown Silver Spring. "Our campaign is about substance and connecting with the people," Gov Ehrlich said. "2010 is going to be a very historic year in Maryland. I need a trusted partner who shares our vision," he added, as he waved Mary Kane over to the podium.

On July 6 Republican candidate for governor Brian Murphy announced his running mate, Mike Ryman, former federal and congressional government inspector.

In his statement, Brian Murphy commended supporters to Ryman by saying:

Mike Ryman

"Growing Maryland's economy is my number one priority. To do that, it's imperative that we work together to balance our budget, without raising taxes. Throughout Mike's career, he has served our country with honor and distinction. A common thread throughout Mike's career is his passion for our country

Mike is familiar to many Montgomery County Republicans as the party's 2006 candidate for State Senate in State Senate District 19 in which he received 32% of the vote against Mike Lennett.

Dedication of Park in
Memory of Jean Cryor 
July 12 at 4:00 p.m.
12511 Circle Ave., Potomac

On Monday, July 12, state and county officials will gather at Glen Hills Local Park, 12511 Circle Ave. in Potomac to pay tribute to the life and work of Jean Cryor, member of the Montgomery County Planning Board and Republican delegate in the State Legislature.

Chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party Mark Uncapher stated:

"The Montgomery County Republican Party takes great pride in the dedication of one of our County's wonderful parks to the memory of Jean Cryor. Jean represented the best in Republican values. She understood the need for fiscally sound policies to make our state and county a friendly place for families and businesses. She believed in conserving the beauty and sustainability of our environment and in providing a quality education for every single child. It is fitting and right that Jean Cryor's memory be preserved in this place she visited often with her children and grandchildren."

For more information about the dedication ceremony, see this link: http://mncppc.typepad.com/news/2010/07/media-advisory-montgomery-county-department-of-parks-county-leaders-friends-family-dedicate-glen-hil.html

The Maryland Board of Public Works recently voted to spend an additional $15.87 million dollars for slot machines, a sum well over the industry average. In what amounts to an election year gamble, Maryland Republican Party Chairman Audrey Scott says Governor O'Malley is rushing through a failed slots program on the Taxpayer's dime.

"To date, the state has not collected a single dime in slot machine revenues; yet it has spent $65 million on new slot machines and an unknown millions of dollars on consultants," said Scott. "After bungling the process for years, O'Malley is now passing Marylanders a bill 460% higher than it should have been."

In 2003, Governor Bob Ehrlich pioneered a popular slots plan that would have generated substantial revenue for the state of Maryland. Ehrlich's cost efficient program was met with resistance from the same Democrats whose policies have resulted in a record deficit and who now tout a slots program already $65 million in the hole.

"Eight years after Bob Ehrlich first proposed a slots program, Maryland Democrats have dropped the ball," Scott said. "After treading water on the issue for years, O'Malley's election year recklessness is costing taxpayers dearly."

State Overpays for Slot Machines:

The state will spend an average of about $46,542 per video lottery terminal - an amount significantly higher than state and industry analysts say each machine should cost... the contract shocked Jeffrey Hooke, an industry analyst who said the cost per machine should be closer to $10,000. (Baltimore Sun "State spends $50 Million on slot machines.)

One of the funniest attempts- by members to deflect attention from themselves was a task force created in 2008 to recommend steps to improve "financial literacy" among the state's school children to prevent a repeat of the housing collapse and ensuing financial crisis.

As a result of the report, Maryland school children will be required to take financial literacy courses starting in 2011, according to a recent announcement of the State Board of Education. While the curriculum may benefit students and their families, they are not the ones who have been underfunding pensions for state workers for almost a decade and issuing debt to pay for road and other projects that were supposed to be paid for in cash.

Leadership is so in denial about the pension issue that House Speaker Michael Busch has not yet chosen people to sit on yet another task force created by the General Assembly in the most recent session to analyze ways to improve the system.

Worse, as one retiring legislator, Del. Murray Levy, D-28, told The Gazette, "I don't know what this group is going to come up with that we haven't already discussed."

Students were also not the ones who passed a massive boost to state spending on public education in 2002 known as Thornton with no way to fund it and hikes to teacher pensions in 2006 with no way to pay for those either. And students did not promise that huge across the board tax hikes passed in 2007 would solve the "structural deficit" permanently and then say more taxes will be necessary to balance the budget two years later. (The structural deficit is the difference between what the state spends each year and what it collects in revenue.)

To remedy the situation, legislators should require of themselves the same things they recommended to students. Economists from the University of Maryland should develop a curriculum for legislators that can be studied online when they are not in session to give them a basic understanding of budgets, accounting, taxes, supply and demand, statistics and incentives, with regular tests they must pass. The curriculum could also include a reading list, updated yearly.

Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff's "This Time is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly," a road map for understanding how debt and financial crises develop, would be a great summer pick. Legislators would also have the benefit of being able to ask Reinhart, a professor at the University of Maryland, to speak to them.

While a better understanding of economics may not prevent poor decisions, it will make legislators more aware of how their laws will impact residents and more accountable for their mistakes. If it is so important for students to know how to balance a checkbook, how much more essential is it for those charged with stewarding taxpayers' scarce resources to understand state finances?

Justice Clarence Thomas

Justice Clarence Thomas's decisive opinion in McDonald v. Chicago, which held that the Second Amendment limits the power of the states, was principled jurisprudence based clearly on the text of the Constitution

Thomas' concurring opinion points the way to a more principled jurisprudence, based more clearly on the text of the Constitution, while at the same time making the strongest of possible cases that Second Amendment rights are fundamental.

For the full article, click here: http://www.aei.org/article/102269

Just a bit more than a week ago, Montgomery County officials announced there wasn't enough money in the county budget to maintain potties in county parks.

Then they said the county was so hard up it couldn't afford to continue summer reading programs for children in our libraries.

The county, they seemed to say, was truly on the ropes, and we all have to tighten our belts to get through Barack Obama's Great Recession.

But it turns out that while the "small people" won't be able to find potties in the park or summer reading programs for their kids, some people will be living even better a few weeks from now than they are today.

Those people are county employees. Democrat County Executive Isaiah Leggett has agreed to give them 26 hours a year more paid time off.

It's the latest example of Montgomery County Democrats' Public-Be-Damned Philosophy: No potties for people, no reading for kids, but more time for county employees to get paid for loafing.

Even President Obama knows this is wrong - he's not giving pay raises to White House officials, and he's not telling them to take more time off.

If there's so little work to be done in Montgomery County that Leggett and the Democrats believe they can afford to give county workers 26 hours of additional paid leave, they should let those workers go - and use the savings to provide potties in the park, and summer reading programs for kids.

Elected officials should look out for Montgomery County residents. Isaiah Leggett and the county Democrats aren't looking out for you, and they won't look out for you.

It's time for a change.

In this Issue

Message from the Chairman

Lieutenant Governor Slots Filled: Ehrlich/Kane and Murphy/Ryman

Jean Cryor Park Dedication July 12

O'Malley Over Paying for Slot Machines

From the Maryland Public Policy Institute

Justice Thomas and Second Amendment Decision

Commentary:County's Misguided Priorities

Who are Your GOP Candidates?

Ehrlich HQ Opening

Upcoming Events

Next Precinct Training July 10

Help Wanted!

Quote to Remember 

Click here for the Montgomery County's
GOP Candidates Page
The candidates page include links to the various candidate's websites.

In order to identify your specific district (whether for Congress, for legislature, for county council, for school board), simply check here: Board of Elections

Upcoming Events 

Volunteer Orientation &
Precinct Training Session
Saturday July 10th, 10:00 a.m.- noon
MCGOP Headquarters
15833 Crabbs Branch Way
Rockville, MD
More info in this newsletter
Contact: Dan Cuda
301-926-1095

Ehrlich Montgomery Headquarters
Grand Opening
Saturday, July 10th, 10:00 a.m.
718 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20895
Contact: Katja Bullock Katja@BobEhrlichMC.com

Chevy Chase Women's
Republican Club
Let's Talk Politics
Tuesday, July 13th
The home of Nancy Griffin

MDGOP Summer Celebration
July 15th, 7:00 PM
Hosted by Charlie Most
8251 Riverside Drive
Pasadena, MD
Cost: $75 to attend, $150 to join
The Celebration Host Committee
Featuring: Kendel Ehrlich, Susan Allen & Audrey Scott
RSVP: Kim Jorns - 410-263-2125
kjorns@mdgop.org

Reception honoring Gov. Ehrlich
Friday, July 16th, 7:00 - 9:00
Askinazi Residence
12504 Palatine Ct.
Potomac, MD 20854
Tickets: $250
Contact: Lori Askinazi
240-423-9138

Montgomery County Young Republicans Membership Meeting
Tuesday, July 20th, 7:30 pm
Growlers of Gaithersburg
Contact: Michael Gibble
president@mcyr.org

Meet the Candidate Happy Hour
Wednesday, July 21st, 6:00 - 8:00
Hamburger Hamlet
10400 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814-1914
Contact: Mark Uncapher
Mark@uncapher.net

MCYR Pool Party
Saturday, July 31st, 1:00 - 5:00
Amberlea Farm
14200 Dufief Mill Road
North Potomac, MD
Location Phone: 301-762-7214
Contact: Mike Gibble
president@mcyr.org

MCGOP First Monday
August 2nd, 7:30 - 9:00
Montgomery County Republican HQ
15833 Crabbs Branch Way,
Rockville, Md 20855
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.
Mark Uncapher
mark@uncapher.net

Montgomery County Young Republicans
Happy Hour
Thursday, August 5th, 5:30 - 7:30
Location varies
Contact: Michael Gibble
president@mcyr.org

Volunteer Orientation &
Precinct Training Session
Saturday August 10, 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 Noon
MCGOP Headquarters
15833 Crabbs Branch Way Rockville, MD
Contact Dan Cuda at 301-926-1095

Montgomery County Young Republicans
Membership Meeting
Tuesday, August 17th, 7:30 pm
Growlers of Gaithersburg
Contact: Michael Gibble
president@mcyr.org

Grand Old Party Picnic
Sunday August 29th, 12 noon
Smokey Glen Farm
16407 Riffle Ford Road
Gaithersburg, MD
Tickets: $35.00 for adults;
$25 for children 3 to 11; children under 3 free. (no pets allowed)

National Federation of Republican Women
Annual Conference
September 10 - 13
Orlando, Florida

Rural Women's Republican Club
Saturday Night in the Country
October 9th 5:00 pm (dinner at 7:00)
Location: Isaac Walton on West Willard Road in Poolesville.
Featuring singing auctioneer Anne Lynn to run the fun auction of neat stuff.

Precinct Training Session
Saturday, July 10

MCGOP HQS
10:00 a.m.-12:00 Noon
15833 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville

Learn how to Organize Republicans in your Precinct (there are more than you realize!) and to elect Republicans in Montgomery County 

This training session is fun, free and informative For more information call Dan Cuda at
301-926-1095 or e-mail at dcuda54@juno.com 

Organization Committee is looking to fill these volunteer positions:

Newsletter Co-Editor
Help prepare the MCGOP newsletter which is put together on a Constant Contact template. The co-editors coordinate and review major news items of MCGOP interest and gather stories and photos which are easily plugged into the layout of the newsletter. To get an idea of the features and information included, take an overall look at this newsletter and click on some of the archived copies listed below.

Volunteer Welcome Chair
Responsible for contacting new volunteer prospects, identify activities for them to get involved with, communicate with volunteer contacts, follow-up up to make sure the volunteer "hand-off" to committee chairs and other leaders has been completed.

Contact Mark Uncapher Mark@uncapher.net

Quote to Remember

"There is an inverse relationship between reliance on the state and self-reliance."

 William F. Buckley, Jr.