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Message from the Chairman:
New Policy on Illgeal Alien Criminals 
Makes No Sense
This week's Montgomery Sentinel reports a disturbing shift in the Montgomery County Police Department's policy on cooperation with Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. See: http://www.thesentinel.com/mont/CountyPolice
According to the news story, individual police officers will no longer be able to contact ICE directly when arresting someone for violent crimes and/or weapons offenses. The policy had been changed last February to allow officers to report the name of a suspect to ICE agents so that they could checked against ICE's database. The old policy allowed officers to "notify ICE by telephone as soon as possible after the arrest."
County Executive Ike Leggett and Police Chief Manger's new policy states that due to the "sensitive nature of the issue" all requests for information or assistance from ICE must go through the Director or Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Division within the Department. In effect the county is tying the hands of officers with red tape. Officers are now constrained when arresting suspects of violent crimes to check with ICE.
Police spokesmen have claimed that their policies have not changed. Yet according to ICE sources all ties between their agents and MCPD have been cut. The police memo changing the policy reminds officers of the county's practice not to refer anyone to ICE solely on the basis of immigration status or "perceived gang affiliation."
Think of it, when a Montgomery County police arrests someone a reasonable person would suspect is a both a gang member and illegal alien, they cannot follow up on the hunch by checking with ICE. Even though, if the officer's hunch is wrong, there would be absolutely no adverse consequences to a suspect because the officer checked.
In fact, if we want to satisfy civil libertarians concerned about "profiling," the Montgomery County Police could routinely check every suspect arrested for a violent crime against the ICE database to determine immigration status.
Several years ago the nation was riveted by the Chandra Levy disappearance in Washington DC. Not only is the suspect in the case an illegal alien, but had the DC police accessed the ICE database after a prior encounter with the police, he could have been taken off the street.
Similar cases already exist in Montgomery County. In the last year nearly a dozen people have been murdered in the county by illegal aliens, especially gang members. The county has a serious and growing gang problem.
Just two weeks ago a 21 year-old from El Salvador and reputed MS-13 gang member was sentenced to 50 years in prison for killing a 14 year old honor student on a Ride-On bus. The same defendant had previously been arrested for threatening a student with knife at Northwood High School. Yet when he was arrested then, the police failed to check his immigration status. Had they, he could could have kept off the streets and held for deportation.
This was a murder that might have been avoided if our County Police policies had been different.
Not only are we are putting both Montgomery County citizens at risk, we are also putting non-citizens at risk too. Let's be clear, preventing the police from looking into the status of illegal alien criminals puts people in their immediate community at the greatest risk. They are the most likely to be crime victims. In an effort to not offend community activists in the Hispanic community politically, Ike Leggett is putting that community at far greater risk from violent crime and gang intimidation. This is example of politicians showing less concern for the crime victims than crime perpetrators.
Twenty years ago a rape and murder in nearby Oxen Hill had a dramatic impact on the 1988 Presidential campaign. It was committed by a convicted murderer from Massachusetts who had been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Yet he was able to escape custody because he had been given a weekend furlough. Voters ended up blaming Michael Dukakis for letting Willie Horton out of prison. It simply made no sense to them when they learned about a weekend furlough for someone who had been sentenced to never get out of jail.
The County Police Department's new policy on not contacting ICE similarly defies common sense. A very real risk exists that by rejecting common sense, and imposing these very short sighted criminal justice policies, County Executive Ike Leggett will provoke a similar situation and reaction in our county.
Mark Uncapher
Montgomery County Republican Chairman
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When you look at the numbers, O'Malley's budget claims don't add up
By Herb McMillan - President, Maryland Taxpayers Association
Following Gov. Martin O'Malley's $454 million budget adjustment, House Speaker Mike Busch lamented Maryland was "down to bone and gristle." Singing the same sad song, O'Malley claimed he had "reduced the state workforce and cut the budget by $4 billion since 2007."
The numbers say otherwise. According to the nonpartisan Department of Legislative Services 90 Day Report, Maryland had 79,729 state employees in 2006. Currently, we have 80,196. The state budget has also grown. Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s last budget was $29 billion. O'Malley's first budget was $30 billion. The second was $31.2 billion. This year's was $32.3 billion.
Even after subtracting O'Malley's $700 million in transfers, reductions and reversions since the 2010 budget passed, state spending has increased by $2.6 billion, or 10 percent, during O'Malley's three years.
O'Malley plays budgetary musical chairs to hide spending increases. He replaces Program Open Space revenue with borrowed money, then shifts it to the General Fund. Then he replaces General Fund spending with bailout dollars, and claims he cut the budget. Problem is, sooner or later, the music stops and the bill comes due.
O'Malley's budgets are geared toward revenue redistribution than providing services. Maryland spends an average of $6,542 per pupil on education. Baltimore City receives $11,520 per pupil. Montgomery County receives $3913 per pupil. (In fact, thanks to state funding, Baltimore City spend more per pupil than Montgomery.)
And while O'Malley trumpets Maryland's high Education Week ranking, Maryland's average SAT scores ranked 40th in the U.S., despite a $1 billion increase in funding since 2006.
O'Malley blames Maryland's fiscal woes on the recession. He spins himself as a heroic captain, tossed by fate into recessionary waters, jettisoning cargo to keep Maryland afloat. Recently O'Malley claimed, "There's no stronger ship in the nation than the good ship Maryland," and claimed the dubious accomplishment of a deficit, "less than California's."
That's like Titanic's captain telling passengers they're lucky he didn't hit a bigger iceberg. Maryland's 2010 deficit is worse than 30 other states, and O'Malley's responsible. He ignored economic warnings.
His first budget blew Ehrlich's $1 billion surplus, added 1,000 state jobs and created a self-described "fiscal crisis." As the recession deepened, O'Malley raised sales, income, corporate and car titling taxes by $1.6 billion to "resolve the deficit" and increased spending again. This year, O'Malley needed a $2.3 billion federal bailout package to keep his budget afloat. Predictably, he increased spending anyway.
O'Malley's tax hikes increased the recession's impact on businesses and workers. Under Ehrlich, the Tax Foundation ranked Maryland's total tax burden ninth, and our business climate 25th. Under O'Malley, Maryland ranks fourth in total taxes and 45th in business climate.
It's a reality that despite layoffs, furloughs and general fund cuts, total state spending has grown, and so has Maryland's deficit.
O'Malley's fiscal failures are driven by the politics of using taxpayer dollars to buy support.
This year, he spent $238 million on health insurance for state retirees already covered by Medicare. He funded $210 million in "disparity" and "guaranteed tax base" grants that take tax revenue from Montgomery, and give it to other counties. Cutting these programs during the session would've made August's cuts unnecessary. Cutting them at the recession's beginning would've saved taxpayers $1.34 billion, without any state service reductions.
Will Rogers said, "When you find yourself in a ditch, the first thing to do is stop digging." O'Malley's still digging. His $2.9 billion deficit is so big that DLS states, "Even a robust increase in revenue is unlikely to resolve the imbalance between ongoing revenues and spending."
This reality overshadows the biggest O'Malley Myth of all: that he has "no appetite for another tax increase." History shows he's very hungry right after an election.
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HERB McMILLAN served in the House of Delegates from 2003-2007 and is currently president of the Maryland Taxpayers Association. The Maryland Taxpayers Association is a 501(c)(4) non-partisan, not-for-profit, volunteer grass-roots organization which asks Maryland elected officials for their pledge not to raise taxes,
acts to make Maryland government more efficient.
See http://www.mdtaxes.org/
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Republicans Running For City Council in Gaithersburg, Rockville
Henry F. Marraffa Jr.
Four-term Gaithersburg City Council member Henry F. Marraffa Jr. is running for re-election. Henry is a former Republican Central Committee member and state legislative candidate for District 39.
Concerning the race, Henry was quoted in the Gazette: "Right now the most urgent thing facing the city is its fiscal sustainability and I'm going to do everything I can to ensure that the city maintains its fiscal well being and ensure that the city can maintain its financial status of not having to raise taxes and not having to borrow money."
In Rockville, Republican Waleed Ovase is running for the Council. Waleed is a student at Richard Montgomery. For more information about Waleed, see http://www.waleed4council.org/
Both races are non-partisan.
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Precinct Organization for Legislative District 14
There are 30 precincts in Legislative District 14. We currently have chairs for 18 of those precincts. That leaves 12 precincts with no chairs. Please look in the "Help Wanted" section of the newsletter for the names of the precincts with no chairs.
Ten of the chairs in district 14 have already attended the Precinct Training Precinct Training is free, open to all Republicans who want to get involved at the grassroots at any level. The next training session will be in January. (It is worth attending even if you are not sure yet about committing to being a chair.)
Since the prior Chairman, Steve Hudson, has moved to Virginia, we are looking for a new District Chair. We are also looking to fill Regional Chair positions for District 14: Please also contact Pat Fenati, fenati@verizon.net for information on these positions.
The Central Committee members for District 14 are:
Anne Koutsoutis of Silver Spring koutsa1@verizon.net
Pat Fenati of Damascus fenati@verizon.net
We have the following people listed as Precinct Chairs for District 14:
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Pct Voting Place
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First Name
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Last Name
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Baker MS
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Julie
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Sain
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Baker MS
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Pat
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Fenati
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Banneker MS
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Anne
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Koutsoutis
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Belmont ES
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Richard
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Gorsky
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Burtonsville ES
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Marilyn and Herb
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Bricken
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Cloverly ES
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J. Lee
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Annis
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Damascus ES
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Eric
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Carey
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Damascus HS
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Luis
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Lopez
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Fairland Sch Ctr
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J. Lee
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Annis
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Goshen ES
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John
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Bronson
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Greencastle ES
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Carola
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Lewis
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Olney Swim Center
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Libby
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Wright
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Olney Swim Center
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Susan
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Eisenhour
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Olney Swim Center
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Joanne
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Schroeder
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Page ES
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Hernst
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Joseph
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Paint Branch HS
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Mandy
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Metzger
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Sherwood ES
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Oliver
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Kendrick
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Sherwood High
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Patty
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Sarkissian
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Stonegate ES
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Steven
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Hudson
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Stonegate ES
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Thomasina
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Mathews
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Westover E
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Lou
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August
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Woodfield ES
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Bruce
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Hall
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Woodfield ES
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Scott
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Ruete
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Please look in the Help Wanted section for the names of precincts with no chairs.
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Montgomery County Republicans joins others in Fairfax, VA to contribute to phone banking efforts for Bob McDonnell
A lot depends on this race not only for the nation, but for Maryland as well. We can make a difference by helping the McDonnell campaign with phone banking as well as lots of door-to-door efforts in Northern Virginia
Both Central Committee members and the Montgomery County Young Republicans have led volunteer efforts from the county to help the McDonnell campaign
Please get involved by clicking on the campaign website bobmcdonnell.com
Or contact the McDonnell campaign in Fairfax by e-mailing adam.zubowsky@bobmcdonnell.com
Fairfax County Headquarters is located at 4246 Chain Bridge Road. You can also phone 1-804-814-1450.
One last note: If you do a lot of driving in Virginia and the District, consider putting a McDonnell bumper sticker on your car for the next couple of weeks!
Montgomery County Republicans
Helping Bob McDonnell Win the Governorship in Virginia!! |
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Union wins at taxpayers' expense in Maryland
Originally published in the Washington Examiner
by Marta Hummel Mossburg
Family child-care workers in Maryland beware. A union official will come knocking on your door soon.
A collective bargaining agreement Gov. Martin O'Malley signed with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 500 last week gives the union broad access to the names, addresses - and ultimately the checkbooks of family child care providers who participate in the state's child care subsidy program.
Gov. O'Malley described the first-ever collective bargaining agreement as a way to protect child-care workers. "The hard working professionals of SEIU are vital to the healthy future of so many Marylanders, and it's our obligation to ensure their rights as contracted workers are protected just as state employees are," he said.
In reality, it will likely force those not affiliated with the Local 500 to join the union, pay dues - and cost Maryland taxpayers millions in higher wages and benefits at a time when they are least able to afford more subsidies and when private sector employers are cutting wages and benefits. The SEIU Local 500 represents 18,000 people in child care and education, including employees of the Montgomery County Public School System and Head Start.
The agreement includes a 3 percent increase in subsidies paid to providers. It does not ask parents to pay more. The increase costs about $5 million over two years and will be paid for by federal stimulus dollars - for now. When those evaporate, Maryland taxpayers will likely be hit with the bill, along with millions more that the union negotiates in increased benefits.
To find out how this agreement might impact state taxpayers, it's worth looking at how collective bargaining agreements have affected child care elsewhere. Analysts Shikha Dalmia and Lisa Snell at the Reason Foundation, a free-market think tank in California, showed that they drive up costs without benefiting child access in a 2005 article in the San Francisco Chronicle about Quebec's day care program.
"The final price tag ... was supposed to cost $230 million over five years, but now gobbles $1.7 billion every year. Much of the increased spending has gone not toward increased access, but increased costs. Day care worker unions, on the threat of strike, negotiated a 40 percent increase in wages over four years. The cost of care has doubled since the program began, with the annual per-infant cost now exceeding $15,000."
More important, the agreement gives the union control over negotiating pay, time off and the training of child-care providers. It also puts union representatives on all committees choosing training vendors; puts the union in charge of overseeing how early childhood dollars should be spent if a comprehensive early childhood education law like the one noted in Quebec passes in Maryland; and requires the state to deduct union dues from payments to providers that the union says are members. This means that one-person providers could be subject to rules about how to take care of their own child.
Loyola University Maryland economist Stephen Walters says there is another negative aspect of collective bargaining. "... Through bloc-voting and generous campaign contributions, the unions are succeeding in 'hiring' the people they'll face across the negotiating table." In other words, state taxpayers will help to fund a group that will cement union-friendly politicians in office in a never ending cycle.
Because Virginia does not allow collective bargaining for state employees or contractors, Walters said it is just one more reason in addition to lower taxes to choose that state over Maryland.
The worst part of the agreement is that it is probably the first of more to come. They will continue to ratchet up the cost of doing business in Maryland and deter the wealthy job creators necessary to pay for ever increasing government largesse.
You can find this online at:
http://www.mdpolicy.org/research/detail/union-wins-at-taxpayers-expense-in-maryland
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What 9.8 Percent Unemployment Means - By the Numbers
Earlier this month, the Department of Labor reported the highest unemployment rate in 26 years-9.8 percent for the month of September. Sadly, 9.8 percent only tells part of the story of the struggles of average Americans. A deeper look at the numbers reveals the true cost of the Democrats' economic policies, especially for the nation's most vulnerable people.
- 15,142,000: People unemployed and looking for work-the highest number ever.
- 263,000: Jobs eliminated in September.
- 1,916,000: People laid off in September-the highest number in one month ever.
- 2,884,000: Jobs lost since Democrats' "stimulus" was passed in February.
- 9,179,000: People who are working only part-time because they cannot find full time employment.
- 2,219,000: People who want work, but who are not currently looking because of state the economy.
- 5,438,000: People unemployed and searching for work for more than 27 weeks-the highest level ever.
- 1,112,000: Job seekers that are new entrants to the workforce and have yet to find a job.
- 26.2: Average number weeks job seekers are unemployed after losing their jobs-the highest number since the statistic was first recorded in 1948.
- 25.9%: Unemployment rate among job seekers between the ages of 16 and 19-the highest level since the statistic was first measured in 1948.
- 15.4%: Unemployment rate among African Americans-the highest level since 1985.
- 12.7%: Unemployment rate among Hispanics and Latinos.
- 17%: Rate of underemployment, accounting for the unemployed and those who are unable to find adequate work.
- 15%: Unemployment rate among job seekers without a high school degree.
- 65.2%: Rate of the U.S. population in the workforce-the lowest level since 1986.
- 58.8%: Rate of the U.S. population who currently has a job-the lowest level since 1985.
From the House Republican Conference, Mike Pence Chairman
http://www.gop.gov/policy-news/09/10/05/what-9-8-percent-unemployment. |
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Congratulations to our MCGOP Awards Winners!
Sylvia Darrow, recipient of the FORBES BLAIR AWARD honoring the lifetime achievement and work for the Montgomery County Republican Party by an individual.
Patti-Jo Witham, REPUBLICAN WOMAN OF THE YEAR honoring the outstanding achievement and work for the Montgomery County Republican Party in 2008 by a woman.
Rex Reed, REPUBLICAN MAN OF THE YEAR , honoring the outstanding achievement and work for the Montgomery County Republican Party in 2008 by a man.
Preston Cornish, ALBERT BULLOCK YOUTH AWARD, honoring the outstanding achievement and work for the Montgomery County Republican Party in 2008 by a person under the age of 25.
all photos by S. Green
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Come to our "First Monday" Series at GOP HQS in Rockville, at 7:30 Monday, November 2
On the first Monday evening of each month, the Montgomery County Republican Party will host an event at its headquarters located at 15833 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855
It is a free forum welcoming activists and those wishing to learn more about our party, candidates, and issues. Please stop in.
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Events!!
Mark Your Calendar!
Saturday, October 24, come and join
Republican neighbors to march in the
Potomac Day Parade. (See below for more information)
Tuesday, October 27, 11:00 a.m.
Rock creek Women's Republican
Club Luncheon Meeting with guest
speaker, U.S. Senate Candidate Jim
Rutledge. At Alfio's Restaurant,
4515 Willard Ave., Chevy Chase, MD
Call 301-216-5880. $20.
Saturday, October 31, R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. will address the MCFRW annual luncheon. For more information see separate item below.
Friday, November 6 - Sunday, November 8 Maryland Federation of Republican Women Convention at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, Maryland. For more information see www.mfrw.org
Saturday, November 7, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Republican Campaign Training School, sponsored by the Maryland GOP and Maryland Federation of Republican Women. At the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge Maryland. $30 includes all-day seminar and working lunch. Presented by Holly Robichaud, president of Tuesday Associates. Point of Contact Patt Parker 1-443-624-3116 For more information, click here:
Campaign School Registration
Thursday, November 12 6:00- 8:00 p.m. House Party with the Hon. Robert Ehrlich in Pasadena, Maryland. $100 or VIP tickets for $200. To RSVP or for information, call 1-410-263-2125 or contact finance@mdgop.orgAlso see more information posted at www.mcgop.netFriday, November 13 - Saturday, November 14 Maryland State Republican Fall Convention at the Comfort Inn and Conference Center in Bowie, Maryland. For more infomation call 1-410-263-2125 or click on Fall Convention
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MCFRW to Host Commentator
R. Emmett Tyrrell
October 31 Luncheon
The Montgomery County Federation of Republican Women cordially invites you to attend its Annual Luncheon featuring R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr., founder and Editor-In-Chief of The American Spectator and syndicated columnist for the Washington Times.
Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. at Lakewood Country Club 13901 Glen Mill Road, Rockville MD
$40 per ticket. For reservations call 301-279-0927. For more information, call 301-881-7377. Please respond by October 26.
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Republican Central Committee Seeks Precinct Chairs for District 14
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.) 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.
District 14 Precincts that vote in the following locations are without Precinct Chairs:
- Laytonsville ES
- Riderwood Village
- Paint Branch HS
- Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center
- Marilyn J. Praisner Community Rec. Ctr.
- Greenwood ES
- Olney Baptist Church
- Brooke Grove ES
- Lois P. Rockwell ES
- Good Hope Com Ctr.
- Marilyn J. Praisner Community Rec. Ctr.
- Sandy Spring Vol. Fire
Interested? Contact Pat Fenati of Damascus at
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Potomac Day Parade this Saturday
Today - October 24th - is the annual Potomac Day Parade. We need to arrive at the check-in area at 9:30 am. We check-in on the corner of River and Chapel Roads (take Rive Road west from Potomac Village past Potomac ES on the right). We have been instructed to park at Potomac Village and walk down to Chapel Road.
We are SECTION F NUMBER 4.
Dixon Drumheller, of the Churchill Teenage Republicans, will drive a convertible and has 3 people riding with him. We will walk with the rest of the group along side the car. We have the banner and will also bring small American flags and candy to pass out along the route.
Events Chair Chris Schauer can be reached at 240.750.9255.
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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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The Race is On to Prevent:
1. Obamacare
2. the Imminent RE-funding of ACORN
3. the Imminent DE-funding of the DC opportunity scholarship program
It's Never Been So Important to Call:
Senator Mikulski 202-224-4654
Senator Cardin 202-224-4524
and Your Representative:
Rep. Van Hollen 202-225-5341 or
Rep. Edwards 202-225-8699
On the Laura Ingraham show this week, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) discussed her campaign to have 10,000 calls per day to EACH representative and senator from every one of the 50 states - between now and the end of the year!! Can you imagine these offices having the phone ring 10,000 times a day?
We can make this happen! Just pick up the phone on a regular basis every day (not just once) and make three calls: one to Senator Mikulski, one to Senator Cardin, and one to your representative Rep. Van Hollen if you live in District 8 and Rep. Edwards if you live in District 4. Ask your like-minded friends to do the same.
Tell them: 1. No to Obamacare, 2. No to the imminent RE-funding of ACORN (Did you know that the de-funding of Acorn was a temporary CYA by Congress? It will start up again at midnight, October 31.), and 3. NO to the DE-funding of the Opportunity Scholarship Program alive in the District of Columbia. (This would be a yes for school choice.)
Call Senator Barbara Mikulski at 202-224-4654 or click here: http://mikulski.senate.gov/Contact/contact.cfm
Call Senator Ben Cardin at 202-224-4524 or Click here:
http://cardin.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
For Chris Van Hollen, Call 202-225-5341 or Click here:
http://vanhollen.house.gov/Contact/
For Donna Edwards Call 202-225-8699 or Click Here:
donnaedwards.house.gov |
Past Party Line
Newsletters
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!