Message from the
Chairman: Compare the Republican Energy Bill With the Waxman-Markey "Cap and Trade" (& Tax) Bill
Oil prices have jumped
by more than 50% just since the first of the year, and with them the price of
gasoline at the pump. Raising prices
are hurting consumers already contending with a struggling economy.
Despite
this, the House Energy and Commerce Committee recently passed the Waxman-Markey
Cap-and-Trade (& Tax) bill which is estimated to increase energy costs by $1,500 annually
for the typical family of four and cost over a million American jobs. While Nancy Pelosi had hoped to bring the
bill to the House floor before the end of June, it is currently facing stiff
opposition from Republicans and moderate and farm belt Democrats.
The
Congressional Budget Office calculates the Waxman-Markey bill will increase taxes
by $846 billion. Some other projections,
relying on the CBO projections translate the cost into an additional 77
cents/gal for gasoline.[1] Despite the costs, the CBO concludes that the
legislation will cut cumulative emissions in supposedly capped sectors of the
economy by just 0.5% through 2020. Economy-wide emissions would fall just 4%.[2]
Last week House Republicans offered a clear alternative with their "All-of-the-Above"
Approach to energy, the American Energy Act.
The Republican bill would encourage the production of American-made
energy in an
environmentally sound manner. The American Energy Act offers more affordable energy, more well-paying jobs, energy
independence, and a cleaner environment.
The House Republican bill would promote new,
clean and renewable sources of energy such as nuclear,
clean-coal-technology, wind and solar energy by providing tax incentives for businesses and
homeowners who improve their energy efficiency.
·
Nuclear: The bill establishes a national goal to bring 100 new
nuclear reactors online over the next 20 years to strengthen America's
commitment to clean, reliable energy.
·
New and Expanded Technologies: The bill creates a Renewable and
Alternative Energy Trust Fund to provide funding for energy programs authorized
by federal law, such as biomass, hydroelectric, clean coal, solar, wind,
geothermal and other forms of renewable energy.
·
Alternative Fuels: The bill spurs the
development of America's
alternative fuels by repealing restriction against government purchasing of fuels
from sources such as oil shale, tar sands and coal-to liquid technology.
·
Tax Provisions for New and Expanding
Technology: The
bill encourages new and expanding energy technologies by making permanent tax
credits for the production of renewable electricity, like wind, solar, and
biomass and makes permanent investment tax credits for solar energy and for
fuel cell properties and extends the biodiesel and renewable diesel tax
credits.
·
Outer Continental Shelf: The OCS holds up to 86
billion barrels of oil, as well as an estimated to provide a 19 year energy
supply of natural gas for the country. Significant
portions of the OCS remain unavailable because the current Administration
continues to delay leasing activities.
·
Arctic Coastal Plain: The bill increases
American energy by opening the Arctic Coastal Plain to exploration in an
environmentally-sound manner, which could provide an additional 1 million
barrels of oil per day.
·
Oil Shale: It is estimated that
more than 70 percent of American oil shale lies on federal lands which contain
an estimated 1.23 trillion barrels of oil, more than 50 times the nation's
proven conventional oil reserves.
·
Legal Reform: The bill curtails
dilatory lawsuits designed to obstruct American energy exploration.
·
Refineries: The bill increases
American supplies of gasoline and diesel by encouraging greater refinery
capacity by streamlining and accelerating the refinery permitting process.
·
Environmental Review: The bill reduces
red-tape and cost to the Environmental Protection Agency arising from having to
needlessly identify alternative locations for renewable energy projects, while
ensuring a proper environmental review for the proposed action and no-action.
·
Tax Incentives and Prizes: The bill encourages
American ingenuity by providing for competitive award cash prizes to advance
the research, development, demonstration and commercial application of
innovative energy technologies and new energy sources.
The Republican energy approach could not provide a clearer contrast to the energy ideas of liberal
Democrats such as Waxman and Markey.
Mark Uncapher
Montgomery County Republican Chairman
For more
information and coverage see:
http://www.gop.gov/energy
Wall Street
Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124467604217304035.html
New York
Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/us/politics/10energy.html?_r=1&ref=us
[1] http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601130&sid=a_559D1XN7l0
[2] http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/102xx/doc10262/hr2454.pdf
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In Memory of 100 Million Victims of Communism -- The June 16 Launching of the Global Museum on Communism
Whether it be the 20 million killed during the Great Terror of Stalin or the millions lost in the killing fields of Pol Pot's Cambodia, the system of big government known as communism always brings unspeakable tragedy, misery and scarcity.
For nearly a century, all of these biggest experiments in big government have failed. Whenever and wherever communism is attempted, it systematically robs people of their individual rights. The elites inevitably end up ruling over "the masses" in all communist systems. Communism always comes clothed in moral arguments claiming to provide people with their material needs such as jobs, health care, and education. It is as persistent as the desire of tyrants to control all individuals. And even though 20 years have passed since the fall of the Berlin Wall, this system built on lies continues to wield a heavy hand in all corners of the world, from Cuba to China.
On Wednesday, June 16, the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation unveiled an exciting new educational tool: the Global Museum of Communism, which you can visit by clicking here: Global Museum on Communism Please open its doors and visit its interactive exhibits. As people do so, they will gain and spread the documentation and knowledge needed in order to keep the torch of liberty burning.
And the next time you are on Capitol Hill, please visit the memorial to the victims of communism, located at Massachusetts and New Jersey Avenues, NW. It was very moving for me to be there on June 16 as dozens of wreaths were laid at the feet of the statue "The Goddess of Democracy" to honor the 100 million victims of communism. Read more about it in this issue of Party Line.
-- Stella Green
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Maryland Could Gain Jobs if Death Taxes Were
Permanently Repealed, Free State Foundation Study Finds
According to the Free State Foundation, Maryland could gain close to 30,000 jobs if
the federal estate tax was permanently repealed but it could lose over 9,000
jobs if the death tax is reinstated, according to a new national study.
The estimates are
based on research conducted for the American Family Business Foundation by
economist Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former director of the Congressional Budget
Office and now a consultant.
Holtz-Eakin estimated that the repeal of the estate tax,
which largely impacts owners of small businesses and family farms, would lead
to the creation of 1.5 million jobs nationwide because the death tax
discourages wealth accumulation and transfer of that wealth to heirs. The
estimates for Maryland job losses and gains are based on the number of small
business jobs in the state.
In 2010, the federal death tax, now at 45% for estates over
$3.5 million, goes down to zero next year under a law passed in 2001, but it
jumps back to 55% in 2011 if Congress takes no action.
"This study shows that death taxes are a real
disincentive to continuing business investment by the entrepreneurs who create
the most jobs in Maryland and the nation," said Randolph May, president of
the Free State Foundation. "Our members of Congress need to permanently
repeal the tax. Any return to a high rate, such as the permanent 45% President
Obama has proposed on estates over $3.5 million almost certainly would cause
unacceptable job losses."
Congress is expected to take some action this year, before
the provisions under current law kick in. Some members have said they would
like to restore the tax, as the president has proposed, while others favor a
lower tax or permanent repeal.
May said the state of Maryland too needs to repeal its own
higher taxes on estates, since it decoupled itself from the increases in the
federal exemption in 2004 and continues to tax estates over $1 million.
For other insightful policy reports, check this website of the Free State Foundation
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Maryland's Tax Revenues Drop
Even Further in May, Higher Taxes and Wasteful Spending Are Not the Solution
for Maryland
On Monday June 15, Comptroller Peter Franchot did his best imitation of a
broken record, announcing that Maryland's
tax collections have once again dropped precipitously, 19.6% below the month of
May last year and income tax collection fell even lower, at 22.9% percent below
May 2008. Sales tax receipts continue to plummet and corporate taxes
brought in just $9 million, a decline of 32.2%.
"This would be comical if it wasn't so troubling and frustrating," said
MDGOP Chairman Jim Pelura. "Republicans warned that this would happen in
the fall of 2007 and have tried to come up with ways to reduce the out of
control rate of growth in budget spending. The bewilderment we are seeing
from Gov. O'Malley and the Democrat leaders in Annapolis in response to this is
disingenuous, they were warned and should have known this would happen," Pelura
continued.
"Unfortunately, despite falling revenues and families and businesses leaving
the state, this year's budget contains even more short-sighted spending and
quick fixes than previous ones.
Governor O'Malley ignored Republican good-faith proposals and is now going
to have to cut spending, but this all could have been managed in such a way
that would have protected our priorities while avoiding tax hikes during a
recession in the first place. When will the Democrats learn? The lesson
will start when the voters of Maryland
rise up and throw them out," concluded Pelura. |
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ABC Television Shuts
out Conservatives from Offering Healthcare Alternative To Obama Plan ABC Television has rejected an advertisement by Conservatives for Patient Rights opposing President Obama's health-care plan and proposing
an alternative plan. The rejected advertisement would have aired on ABC prior to next Wednesday June 24th's
"Town Hall" telecast on health care, featuring the president.
"The American people deserve a healthy, robust debate on this issue and
ABC's decision--as of now--to exclude even paid advertisements that present an
alternative view does a disservice to the public," Rick Scott, chairman of
CPR, said in a statement.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele urged
supporters Thursday to "fight" ABC News over the network's planned televised
town hall on health care that is set to air directly from the White House.
Steele said "It seems that
the mainstream media has finally decided to dispense with the pointless denials
of favorable coverage of the Obama Administration. Now one network, ABC
News, has actually turned its entire programming over to President Obama and
his big-government agenda." 
Conservatives for Patients' Rights is a non-profit organization dedicated to
educating and informing the public about the principles of patients rights and,
in doing so, advancing the debate over health care reform.
Conservatives for Patients' Rights
believes that any serious discussion of health care reform that does not
include choice, competition, accountability and responsibility - the four
"pillars" of patients' rights - will result in our government truly
becoming a "nanny-state," making decisions based on what is best for
society and government rather than individuals deciding what is best for each
of us.
Choice: A patient
must have the right to choose their own doctor, and must protect a consumer's
right to choose the health insurance that best fits their needs and budget.
Competition:
Leveling the playing field for doctors, insurers, and consumers will result in
healthy competition that drives down costs and increases favorable outcomes.
Providers should publicly post their prices so consumers can shop and compare.
States should eliminate burdensome regulations so insurance companies can
compete equally across state lines.
Accountability:
Making health care services more accessible, transparent and open through
standardized insurance claims forms and equal tax breaks for individuals and
companies will control costs by helping consumers and businesses compare
"apples to apples" across the health care spectrum.
Personal
Responsibility: Placing responsibility squarely where it belongs, on the shoulders
of the patient, will encourage individuals make to make healthy lifestyle
choices. Infusing personal responsibility into health care reform allows us all
to maintain our cherished freedom to live our lives without government
intrusion.
CPR takes a look at 16 plans that have been discussed,
written about or offered up as legislation. Which plans provide that the
individual patient can make their own choices regarding the health care they
seek? Which plans promote competition within the health care industry? Which
plans are just too costly? Read about and compare the different health care
plans here.
Compare them here: Compare Plans |
Republican Central Committee Seeks Bookkeeper
The Montgomery County Central Central Committee is currently looking for a
part-time bookkeeper.
The candidate should be experienced with Intuit QuickBooks, able to maintain the
Committee's contributor database and familiar with Maryland State Board
of Elections 'ELECTrack' filing system.
Send resumes to: mdmcrp@comcast.net
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Three Central Committee Vacancies to be Filled
The
Montgomery County GOP is accepting applications to fill three vacancies on the
Montgomery County Republican Party Central Committee. The vacancies are for one "at-large" position
and one each for Legislative Districts 19 and 39. The vacancies come as the result of the
resignations of Sam Malhotra (At-Large), Lynn
Siguenza (19) and Scott Dyer
(39).
Central
Committee members take on leadership responsibility for a variety of projects
on behalf of the Republican Party. The Republican Central Committee has monthly
meetings, with a number of other events interspersed throughout the year.
These
appointments will be valid through the next gubernatorial election year (2010).
Candidates for this position must be a resident of the jurisdiction being sought
and a registered Republican.
Applicants
should submit an expression of interest, resume and a short biographical sketch
of their political involvements to mdmcrp@comcast.net or through the U.S. mail at 15833 Crabbs Branch Way Rockville
Md. 20855.
The
vacancies are scheduled to be filled at a Central Committee meeting beginning
at 7:30pm on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 15833 Crabbs Branch Way Rockville
Md.
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"If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free!" -- P.J. O'Rourke
Please Call your Senators and Representatives NOW to say "NO" to Democrats' Push for "public option" which will take away health care choices for you and your Family
A "public option" for health insurance as presented by the Democrats is nothing more than the first step to imposing what they hope will be a single payer system in the United States. As Senator Mitch McConnell attested on Face the Nation last week, it is inevitable that private insurance choices will be pushed out once a "public option" is pushed in. Then we will be looking at a system that truly cannot be fixed. We can expect long waits for treatment under such a system which will require government "approval" -- i.e., rationing -- for desperately needed procedures.
Here are the phone numbers for Montgomery County members of Congress
Sen. Mikulski 202-224-4654
Sen. Cardin 202-224-4524
Rep.Van Hollen 202-225-5341
Rep. Edwards 202-225-8699
Rep. Bartlett 202-225-2721
The general switchboard for Capitol Hill is 202-224-3121
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It's a New Day for Maryland! Get involved in the renewal of our state at newdaymd.org
Maryland's tax ranking went from 26th highest (in 2008) to the 5th highest of all 50 states this year. That's a dubious accomplishment for Gov. O'Malley and the Democrats in the Legislature to be proud of.
Concerned Citizens for a Better Maryland have launched an exciting new grassroots effort to engage Marylanders in bringing the Free State back to fiscal and social responsibility.
Charles Lollar, Chairman of Concerned Citizens for a Better Maryland, launched in May 2009.
Chairman Charles Lollar says of the group, "We have always been compassionate, caring and supporters of the underdog. By and large, we value a free economy, personal freedoms and minimal government involvement. Click here:
New Day Maryland
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The Goddess of Democracy
Twenty years ago this month, extraordinary events took place in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. China was -- and remains -- a society that has not known the freedoms we take for granted. Yet the human yearning for liberty is a universal truth that cannot be suppressed in perpetuity. It caused Tiananmen Square to fill with thousands who petitioned for a government of, by and for the people. Did you watch the astonishing coverage that summer? I remember how my jaw dropped as I watched one student protester passionately speaking to a western journalist. He could barely contain himself as he proclaimed in accented English: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Anyone not astounded and moved watching such testimony perhaps does not fully understand the nature of tyranny.
Those demonstrators had the wherewithal and passion and defiance to bring into the Square a statue they called "The Goddess of Democracy," a larger than life symbol of freedom modeled on our Statue of Liberty, holding a torch of freedom. The statue was destroyed as tanks pushed into the square to put down the protestors in the Tiananmen Square Massacre.
On June 12, 2007, President Bush dedicated a replica of that statue on Capitol Hill at the corner of Massachusetts and New Jersey Avenues, NW. She stands to memorialize the 100 million victims of communism. The date of that dedication two years ago was the 20th anniversary of President Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech in Berlin. Please click here to learn more about the memorial itself:
VOC Memorial
And please spread the word.
--Stella Green
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Come Visit or Volunteer at the GOP Tent at the Montgomery County Fair, August 14-22
What a great way to meet Republican neighbors from all over Montgomery County! Get involved and have fun at the Fair. To sign up for a two-hour slot at the Republican Tent, contact Ruth Melson at rockinruth@verizon.net
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Come to the Maryland GOP's Western Maryland Pig Roast
"Celebrate the Proper Use of Pork"
6/26/2009 7:00:00 PM to 6/26/2009 11:00:00 PM 7704 Mapleville Road
Boonsboro, MD 21713
RSVP: 410-269-0113
Chris Cavey
443-465-1002
chris@cavey.com Join
MDGOP in beautiful Western Maryland to celebrate the proper use of
pork. Our Pig Roast will feature live music, plenty of roasting pork,
burgers, hot dogs, and plenty of ice cold drinks. Tickets are $40 and
Sponsorships are also available. |
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CONTACT YOUR CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
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Precinct Training at MCGOP HQS.
15833 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville
Saturday, July 11 10:00-12:00 noon
This training is open to any one who is interested in grass roots efforts at the precinct level. You will learn about the voting districts in Montgomery County, understand what is needed to build a successful precinct, and much more. The training is informative, fun and FREE and includes group participation and role playing. To enroll please email your name, phone number and precinct number or address to mdmcrp@comcast.net, email Pat Fenati at fenati@verizon.net or call MCGOP Headquarters at (301) 417-9256. If you have been doing precinct
work for a while, your experience will be welcome.
Nearly 200 people have completed the program so far. We are asking every current Montgomery County Republican PrecinctChair that has not yet taken the course to do so in 2009. | |
