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San Jose Pension Reform Heads to Ballot
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| After the San Jose City Council approved a bold pension reform plan, city leaders are preparing to win its approval from the voters.
The City Council voted 6 to 5 in December to place the measure on the June 2012 ballot. Pension reform is necessary because the city's costs have repeatedly risen faster than revenues, and retirement costs already consume over 20% of the General Fund.
Click on the chart below to see the growth in city retirement costs.
The measure would provide a new, lower-cost retirement plan for new employees. Current employees would have the choice of a) paying more to keep their current plan or b) selecting a new, lower-cost plan.
Cost control measures include limits on cost of living adjustments (COLAs) and increases in retirement age. Disability determinations would be made by an independent panel of medical experts. Benefits would be based on a 3-year period to prevent spiking.
COLAs could be suspended during a fiscal emergency.
Any future pension enhancements would need to be approved by the voters.
The pension reform plan was developed under the leadership of Mayor Chuck Reed along with
Councilmember Pete Constant, the only Republican member of the council, and himself a former San Jose police officer.
Recognizing the importance of the issue to fiscal responsibility in the Bay Area's largest city, the Santa Clara County Republican Party unanimously endorsed the ballot measure after Mayor Reed asked for support.
Changes in the proposal can still be made until early March if discussions with the city employee unions are fruitful.
If you would like to know more about the San Jose pension reform plan, you can read the Fact Sheet, the text of the measure, or the background discussion. There is also an informative article at CalPensions.com .
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| February, 2012 | Luis Buhler, Publisher |
California State Budget: Democrats' Budget Fiction Comes Home to Roost
California by law must pass a balanced budget. You may recall that last year the Democratic legislature passed a budget without a single Republican vote.
Now Democrat Controller John Chiang says we are running out of cash because revenues are $2.6B below projections and because the state has overspent by $2.6B.
You will recall that last year the budget was "balanced" when revenue projections were inflated to close the gap. Trigger cuts were added if revenue didn't materialize, but the cuts were less than the added revenue.
The revenue didn't happen. The state government has overspent. Surprise - the Democrats have created another "crisis" that they will use to argue for increased taxes.
But our friends on the Senate Republican Caucus staff have highlighted the most important issue: California General Fund Revenues are projected to grow without tax increases.
 This analysis makes it clear that there is no need for tax increases when revenues are increasing and we have not yet made the hard choices to cut spending for projects like high speed rail. You can view the Powerpoint presentation of the Caucus analysis or click on the chart to see a larger version.
California Republican Party Convention
On February 24-26 the California Republican Party will hold its Semi Annual Convention in Burlingame. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this convention. If you are not already a delegate, you can serve as an associate delegate by returning the associate delegate appointment form on the CAGOP website by Feb. 7th. Please contact me at Luis@BayAreaGOP.com if you need an appointment.
In addition to regular convention activities, we are planning BayAreaGOP receptions for Friday and Saturday night at the convention, where you can meet fellow Bay Area Republicans and learn about what is happening at the convention. We look forward to seeing you there.
Best regards, Luis
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CRP Spring 2012 Convention - Burlingame
Friday-Sunday, February 24-26, 2012
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 Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, 1333 Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, CA
The California Republican Party holds its state convention Friday to Sunday with the theme "Take the Party to the Next Level". Since the convention only comes to the Bay Area once every two years, this is a great opportunity for local Republican activists. Find out more ...
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February Events
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 Event for David Haubert, Candidate for Assembly District 16
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - 6:30 pm
San Jose Country Club, 15571 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose
Juan Barosso of Blach Construction and AEDIS Architects are hosting an event for Republican Assembly Candidate David Haubert. General admission is Free. Find out more ...
 Silicon Valley RWF Luncheon with Chuck Bell
Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 11:30 am
Blue Pheasant Restaurant, 22100 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino
The Silicon Valley Republican Women Federated present attorney Chuck Bell. Mr. Bell is senior partner of Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP. He is one of the leading experts on the California Political Reform Act and federal and state election laws.
Find out more ...
 Alameda County Republican Party Presents Kevin McGary
Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 7:00 pm
Century 21 Mission Bishop Real Estate, 39180 Liberty Street, Fremont
The Alameda County Republican Party will host a pot luck dinner and social featuring Kevin McGary, Chairman of the Frederick Douglass Foundation of California. The topic will include Black History Month and upcoming elections. Find out more ...
 Volunteer for Mitt Romney During the Nevada Caucus
Friday-Saturday, February 3-4, 2012
Reno, Nevada
Governor Romney needs your help, and we are fortunate to be close enough to Nevada to make a difference. Bay Area Romney supporters are invited to come to Reno to help get out the vote for the Nevada Presidential Caucus on Saturday. Volunteers are requested to be in Reno for training Friday afternoon. Contact Romney Bay Area Chair Catharine B. Baker at CBB@hogefenton.com to let the campaign know you will be participating.
Maine and Nevada Republican Caucuses
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Nevada: Number of Delegates: 28, Closed Caucus
Maine: Number of Delegates: 24, Non-Binding Straw Poll, Caucuses End February 11
See the complete Presidential Primary/Caucus schedule.
 BMRA General Meeting featuring Dr. Lydia Ortega
Monday, February 6, 2012 - 7:00 pm
Offices of Coldwell-Banker, 2896 Berryessa Road, San Jose
Berryessa-Milpitas Republican Assembly (BMRA) invites you to attend their General Meeting featuring Dr. Lydia Ortega, a free market economics professor at San Jose State University. Find out more ...
Colorado and Minnesota Republican Caucuses
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Colorado: Number of Delegates: 36, Closed Caucus
Minnesota: Number of Delegates: 40, Open Caucus
 The Conservative Forum Presents Dr. Gary Wolfram of Hillsdale College
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 - 6:15 pm
IFES Portuguese Hall, 432 Stierlin Road, Mountain View
The Conservative Forum of Silicon Valley will hold their second annual Hillsdale College event with special guest Dr. Gary Wolfram. He will speak on "Regime Uncertainty and the Obama Administration - Why Unemployment Remains So High". Find out more ...
Nob Hill Republican Women Lunch Featuring Supervisor Mike Farrell and Christopher L. Bowman
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 - 11:30 am
Scoma's Restaurant, Pier 47 on Al Scoma Way (Fisherman's Wharf), San Francisco
3 Course Luncheon in the West Side Room. $35 Members, $45 Non-Members. Find out more ...
Palo Alto RWF Presents Dr. Gloria Hom and Vicky Ching, J.D.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 - 11:30 am
Ming's , 1700 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto
The Palo Alto Republican Women Federated will hold a luncheon meeting with special guests Dr. Gloria Hom and Vicky Ching. Gloria Hom is an economist, businesswoman and author. Vicky Ching is the owner of Ming's Restaurant and is associated with several companies. Lunch selections will be for a Chinese New Year Celebration. Find out more ...
 Pacific Research Institute Book Launch with Author Lance T. Izumi
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 - 5:30 pm
Pacific Research Institute, One Embarcadero, Suite 350, San Francisco
Pacific Research Institute presents the book launch of Obama's Education Takeover by Lance T. Izumi, Koret Senior Fellow and PRI's Senior Director of Education Studies. Find out more ...
Sonoma Valley RWF Lunch with Carol Werner
Thursday, February 9, 2012 - 11:00 am
The Lodge at Sonoma, 1325 Broadway, Sonoma
The Sonoma Valley Republican Women Federated will host a luncheon featuring Carol Werner, CPA, on the topic "Everything You Wanted to Know About the IRS and Taxes".
RSVP: Contact Cece Dahl 707-939-1029. Ticket price: $30.00
Valentines for Vets Fashion Show & Luncheon
Thursday, February 9, 2012 - 11:30 am
Ulatis Community Center, 1000 Ulatis Dr, Vacaville
The Solano Republican Women Federated is one of the sponsors of the Valentines for Vets event to benefit the Community Action Council's Veteran Employment & Transitional Housing Services. Find out more ...
 Tri-Valley RWF Monthly Dinner Meeting with Janie Johnson
Thursday, February 9, 2012 - 6:30 pm
Cattlemens Restaurant, 2882 Kitty Hawk Road, Livermore
The Tri-Valley Republican Women Federated will present their guest speaker Janie Johnson, author of Don't Take My Lemonade Stand, An American Philosophy. Find out more ...
Novato RWF Lunch with Author Janie Johnson
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 - 11:00 am
Marin Country Club, 500 Country Club Drive, Novato
The Novato Republican Women Federated will host a luncheon with featured speaker Janie Johnson, author of Don't Take My Lemonade Stand - An American Philosphy and Obama 2012 Slogans Rewritten. Find out more ...
 Silicon Valley Association of Republican Women Breakfast Featuring Dakin Sloss
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - 9:00 am
La Rinconada Country Club, 14595 Clearview Drive, Los Gatos
The Silicon Valley Association of Republican Women will host a breakfast with guest speaker Dakin Sloss, President, California Common Sense (CACS), a Stanford-based nonprofit using Silicon Valley technologies to open government finances to the public, engage citizens in data-driven discourse, and catalyze a grassroots movement for better governance.
Find out more ...
 SPARC Presents Morgan Kelley, Bay Area Regional CRP Vice Chair
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - 5:00 pm
Ming's Restaurant, 1700 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto
SPARC is pleased to host an evening featuring Morgan Kelley, Bay Area Regional Vice Chair for the CA Republican Party. The topic will be "Revitalizing Bay Area Republicans - to Win in 2012!".
Find out more ...
 Lamorinda RWF Luncheon Meeting featuring Heather Gass
Thursday, February 16, 2012 - 11:30 am
Orinda Country Club, 315 Camino Sobrante, Orinda
The Lamorinda Republican Women invite you to a luncheon featuring Heather Gass of the East Bay Tea Party. Topic: "Agenda 21 and the One Bay Area Plan" . Social 11:15 AM, Lunch 12:00, Program 12:25.
Find out more ...
 West Valley Republican Women Lunch with Sam Paredes
Thursday, February 16, 2012 - 11:30 am
Holder's Country Inn, 998 So. De Anza Blvd., San Jose
Please join the West Valley Republican Women to hear Sam Paredes from Gun Owners of America. Sam Paredes is a member of the Board of Directors of Gun Owners of America and has worked with Gun Owners of California (GOC) for over 30 years. Find out more ...
Bay Area Patriots "Wag Your Finger at Obama Rally"
Thursday, February 16, 2012 - 5:00 pm
Outside The Regency Ballroom, 1300 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
The Bay Area Patriots encourage Republicans to rally outside of an upcoming fundraiser for President Obama. The event starts at 6:00pm and you are encouraged to arrive closer to 5:00pm. If plans change, those who have RSVP'd will be notified. Find out more ...
 Celebration Reception for Tara Martin-Milius
Thursday, February 16, 2012 - 5:30 pm
The Grand Hotel, 865 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale
Please join new Sunnyvale City Council Member Tara Martin-Milius for a reception to celebrate taking the Oath of Office and a fundraiser to retire her campaign debt. Hors d'oeuvres. Find out more ...
 Blackhawk RWF present Pursuing Liberty
Thursday, February 16, 2012 - 5:30 pm
Blackhawk Country Club, 599 Blackhawk Club Dr, Danville
The Blackhawk Republican Women Federated are pleased to present Cory Emberson and Rick Lindstrom, the authors of Pursuing Liberty. The book is a chronicle of those who have experienced despotism and tyranny first-hand, escaped it, and lived to tell the tale. Find out more ...
 Santa Rosa RWF Lunch with Catharine Baker
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 - 11:15 am
Fountaingrove Gold & Athletic Club, 1525 Fountaingrove Parkway, Santa Rosa
The Santa Rosa Republican Women Federated will hold a luncheon with speaker Catharine Baker on the topic "Voter Fraud & Ballot Integrity". Find out more ...
 Marin RWF Speaker Luncheon with Allison Daley Olson
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - 11:30 am
The Club at McInnis Park, 350 Smith Ranch Road, San Rafael
The Marin Republican Women Federated welcomes Allison Daley Olson, the Legislative Advocate for the California Federation of Republican Women. She will speak on "Governor Brown's Budget, the Deficit and Your Money". Find out more ...
SFRA Dinner with Bill Bowen, CA Grand Jurors' Association
Thursday, February 23, 2012 - 6:00 pm
San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, 1630 Stockton Street, San Francisco
The San Francisco Republican Assembly presents an evening with Bill Bowen, former President of the San Francisco Chapter of the California Grand Jurors' Association (2004-2007) speaking on the topic "The Civil Grand Jury". Find out more ...
Republican Club at The Villages Dinner with Duf Sundheim
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - 6:00 pm
The Clubhouse at The Villages Golf and Country Club, 5000 Cribari Lane, Evergreen, San Jose
In many ways, the political landscape in 2012 is as strange as the one Dorothy encountered in the Land of Oz. Duf Sundheim will talk about this strange new environment, why he is so optimistic about California's future, and what we can do to find our way out of the woods. Find out more ...
Republican Primaries in Arizona and Michigan
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Arizona: Number of Delegates: 29, Delegate Selection: Winner-Take-All, Closed Primary, Polls Close 6:00pm PST
Michigan: Number of Delegates: 30, Delegate Selection: Proportional, Closed Primary, Polls Close 5:00pm PST
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Calendar
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This section contains information on county committee meetings, club meetings without a speaker, grassroots activities, etc.
Silicon Valley Tea Party Patriots Monthly Dinner MeetingWednesday, February 1, 2012 - 6:00 pmDenny's Restaurant at Hillsdale & Almadent Expressway, 1140 Hillsdale Avenue, San JoseThe Silicon Valley Tea Party Patriots will host their monthly dinner meeting (dinner at 6:00 pm / meeting 7:00-8:00 pm). No cost for the event.
SFGOP Central Committee General Meeting
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - 6:30 pm
Hiram Johnson State Building (downstairs meeting rooms), 455 Golden Gate Avenue (between Polk and Larkin), San Francisco
Monthly meetings are usually held the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm. They frequently have a featured speaker.
Santa Cruz Republican Central Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 7:00 pm
Live Oak Senior Center, 1777 Capitola Road, Santa Cruz
Monthly meetings are usually held the first Thursday of each month. The meeting is open to the general public.
Solano County Republican Central Committee Meeting
Friday, February 3, 2012 - 7:00 pm
HQ, 625 Jackson Street, Fairfield
The Solano County Republican Party Central Committee meets.
In addition, the HQ will be open M-W-F & Saturday between the hours of 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM and volunteers are most welcome!
Santa Clara County Republican Party Committee Meeting
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 - 7:00 pm
Santa Clara County Administration Building, 70 W. Hedding Street (at First Street), San Jose
The monthly meeting of the Santa Clara County Republican Party. Normally the second Wednesday of the month. Questions? Contact HQ at director@svgop.com or 408-246-6600.
San Mateo County GOP Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 9, 2012 - 7:00 pm
San Mateo American Legion Hall, 130 South Blvd., San Mateo
Join the San Mateo County Republican Party for their monthly committee meeting. Normally the second Thursday of the month.
Sonoma County Republican Central Committee Meeting
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - 7:00 pm
1421 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa
Meet and interview candidates for Congress & Assembly. Sonoma GOP monthly meetings are usually held the third Wednesday of the month. For more information, contact Elissa at (707) 228-8331.
Silicon Valley Log Cabin Social Meeting
Thursday, February 16, 2012 - 5:30 pm
Piatti's Restaurant, 3905 Rivermark Plaza, Santa Clara
Join the Silicon Valley Log Cabin Club for their February Social Meeting. Please RSVP to eshickok@yahoo.com or call (408) 406-4917.
Contra Costa Republican Party Central Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 16, 2012 - 7:00 pm
San Ramon Golf Club, 9430 Fircrest Lane, San Ramon
The Contra Costa Republican Party will hold its regular monthly meeting. Open to CCRP Members and registered Republicans. Contact: 925-930-9551.
San Mateo Young Republican 2012 Election Meeting
Saturday, February 18, 2012 - 11:00 am
San Mateo County Republican HQ, 875 Mahler Road, STE. 120, Burlingame
Attention: Young Republicans in San Mateo County
Are you a young Republican interested in politics? If so please join us at the San Mateo County Republican Party Headquarters to discuss the YR plans for 2012 to elect Republican candidates! Come meet the team and hear from SMGOP Chairman Chuck McDougald. Light refreshments served. RSVP to Deyanb@smgop.org.
Alameda County Republican Central Committee Meeting
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 - 6:30 pm
Alameda County Republican Headquarters, 1039 MacArthur Blvd., San Leandro
Meetings occur every third Tuesday of the month. The meetings start at 6:30 PM, but there is time to socialize beforehand. They are currently open to all Republican voters in Alameda County, but only Members may vote. These meetings are a great opportunity to meet many of the involved volunteers.
Napa County Republican Central Committee Meeting
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 - 6:30 pm
Coldwell Banker Real Estate Office, 1775 Lincoln Avenue, Napa
The Napa County Republican Central Committee normally meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Social 6:30 PM; meeting 7:00 PM.
Arizona Republican Presidential Primary Debate on CNN
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - 5:00 pm
Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, Arizona
The Arizona Republican Party and CNN are partnering on the debate production.
Marin County Republican Central Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 23, 2012 - 7:00 pm
Jason's Restaurant, Community Room, 300 Drakes Landing Road, Greenbrae
Usually the last Thursday of the month. Contact: 415-446-4111.
CCRP Voter Registration at the Danville Farmer's Market
Saturday, February 25, 2012 - 9:00 pm
Danville Farmer's Market, Railroad & Prospect Avenue, Danville
The Contra Costa Republican Party hosts a voter registration table. You can register to vote, sign a petition, chat with other Republicans, or just say hello. Info: 925-930-9551. |
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Save the Date!
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Lincoln Club of Northern California Campaign SchoolSaturday, March 3, 2012 - 8:30 amTechmart - Santa Clara Network Meeting Center, 5201 Great America Parkway, Santa ClaraThe Lincoln Club is partnering with the Santa Clara Republican Party to present a campaign school to help train aspiring elected officials how to be effective campaigners. Former Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado will be a featured speaker, along with many more. Find out more ...
 Marin Forum presents Professor John Yoo on ObamaCare
Thursday, March 8, 2012 - 7:00 pm Sheraton Four Points, 1010 Northgate Drive, San Rafael Marin Forum, North Bay Patriots & Bay Area Patriots present Professor John Yoo discussing "ObamaCare and the Supremes: The Ins and Outs of the Pending Decision". Prof. Yoo served in the Justice Department under President Bush.
The Republican National Convention meets to select the candidate for president.
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Be sure to visit my website for the latest information:
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