| Message from the Chairman:
Time to End Senate and Delegate Scholarships
In this current round of cuts, just 39 state jobs that are currently be filled were being eliminated in the state's 70,000 person workforce. That is less than six one hundreths of one
percent or 0.0006.
Nearly $40
million in cuts are slated for the University
of Maryland System. While it is too late to change tuition for
the Fall semester, according to the Baltimore Sun, University
System Chancellor William E. Kirwan says an increase for the semester that begins in
January is "definitely possible."
The Chancellor is not ready to say how large a tuition increase may be
coming.
The Governor also announced
this week that he is soliciting ideas for additional spending cuts. Controlling spending has has never been
one of Governor O'Malley's strengths, so he can use all the help you can give him. You can offer your ideas online at http://www.governor.maryland.gov/budgetcuts.asp.
I encourage Marylanders to
take full advantage of this opportunity. Let me kick things off with my own suggested
cuts.
Every year each State
Senator gives away $138,000 in higher education scholarship funds and each delegate
gives out $34,000. The criteria about
who get these scholarships is very loose, so as a result the schlarships tend to go to the
children of the politically connected. In
total, these legislative scholarships cost the State of Maryland twelve million dollars per year.
Earlier this year Senator Allan
Kittleman introduced SB 758 to
eliminate the senatorial and delegate scholarship program. If you are the least bit surprised that this
was not given warm reception, you probably are not paying very close attention to
what happens in Annapolis.
Yet our state
faces tough financial choices, just as Maryland
families are facing the same. In fact, many Maryland
families are making far deeper cuts proportionally in their own budgets than the state is
doing. Politically connected families should not
get a tuition free ride if average Maryland
families are facing tuition increases.
So now is the time to end for senate and delegate scholarships.
Let the Governor know and
the legislature know it is time for this reform and while you are at, tell
Senator Kittleman at allan.kittleman@senate.state.md.us that you agree with him.
Mark Uncapher, Chairman
mark@uncapher.net
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Goodbye to Private
Health Insurance?
A new analysis from
The Heritage Foundation -- conducted by The Lewin Group -- shows the public
plan component within the House Democrats' health reform bill is in conflict
with how the Congress and President Obama are selling their reform plan.
According to the Lewin study:
"Approximately 103 million people would be
covered under the new public plan and as a consequence about 83.4 million
people would lose their private insurance. This would represent a 48.4
percent reduction in the number of people with private coverage.
- - About
88.1 million workers would see their current private, employer-sponsored health
plan go away and would be shifted to the public plan.
- - Yearly premiums for the
typical American with private coverage could go up by as much as $460 per
privately insured person, as a result of increased cost-shifting stemming from
a public plan modeled on Medicare."
For the details, see:
Heritage Study on Health Care
....But the word is getting out: According the Rasmussen Reports "53% Now
Oppose Congressional Health Care Reform" (as of July 22, 2009)
"The health care reform legislation working its way
through Congress has lost support over the past month. The latest Rasmussen
Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of U.S. voters are at least somewhat
in favor of the reform effort while 53% are at least somewhat opposed. Today's
44% level of support is down from 46% two weeks ago, and 50% in late June.
"Opposition has grown from
45% in late June to 49% two weeks ago and 53% today. As in earlier surveys,
those with strong opinions are more likely to oppose the plan rather than
support it. The current numbers: 24% strongly favor and 37% strongly oppose.
There is a huge partisan divide on the health care plan. Sixty-eight percent
(68%) of Democrats favor it. However, the plan is opposed by 80% of Republicans
and 60% of those not affiliated with either major party." For details, see:
Rasmussen July 22 Poll on Health Care
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Rest in Peace, Ann Granados
 Ann Granados, who died on July 5, 2009, was a woman of great talent, principle and concern for others. She was a longtime Republican activist and served in the past as President of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women.
Among her most recent accomplishments was her involvement in hosting a delegation of Mongolian Women who wished to build democracy in their country by running for office and supporting candidates. When they came to Maryland they were involved in many activities and events with Maryland and Montgomery County Republican Women, including attendance at Campaign Management School.
Before she died, Ann was able to celebrate the May 2009 election of the first non-communist president of Mongolia, an event due in great part to the activism of those women nurtured by Ann, many of them pictured here:
You can read a detailed obituary on Ann, written by Donna Cahill, by clicking here:
Ann Granados Obituary
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New Education Study by Maryland Public Policy Institute on "Teachers as Entrepreneurs"
Education is an issue central to the superb research produced by the Maryland Public Policy Institute. A new study by visiting fellow Tom Neumark explores a bold question: "What if all Maryland schools districts
could hire employees under their existing union-negotiated agreements and could also sign contracts with education companies, individual teachers, and other unions?"
The result would no doubt be an arrangement that better serves children, parents and teachers.
You can read the research paper here:
Teachers as Entrepreneurs
Naturally this does not sit well with the unions. A July 24 Washington Examiner report by Marta H. Mossburg addresses that conflict and how it is playing out right now in Baltimore. You can read her report here:
"Must Unions Always Block Innovation in Public Schools?"
And don't forget to check out the Maryland Public Policy Institute's website at mdpolicy.org
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Young Republicans Raise 'Change You Can Believe In" -
Donations Support Local Pregnancy Center
The Montgomery County Young Republican Club on July 24th presented the Rockville Pregnancy Center with the proceeds from its
recent "Change You Can Believe In" baby bottle drive, a group
fundraiser aimed at raising donations to support the local community
organization that provides support to women faced with an unintended
pregnancy.
"Our
members are pleased to present the Rockville Pregnancy Center with a
substantial donation in support of the Center's good work in our
community," said Montgomery County Young Republican President Michael
Gibble.
"We whole heartily support a 'Culture of Life'
and the Center works hard to provide counsel and support to women and
families in times of need. Since we started this drive earlier this spring, we have been able to share the good work the Center does in the community. Who knew putting loose change in a baby bottle could be so effective."
The
nearly $600.00 collected will help benefit the Rockville Pregnancy
Center in its educational programming, medical clinic services, and
assistance to new mothers. Each year, the Center is able
to provide a full range high quality services, including counseling,
sex education, parenting courses, and medical assistance, to women and
men dealing with unintended pregnancies.
Montgomery County Young Republican Club Background
The Montgomery County Young Republican Club is the premier Republican organization
in Maryland's Capitol region comprised of students and young professionals age 18 - 40.
For more information, please visit www.mcyr.org or contact MCYR President Michael Gibble at (202) 441-6963 or e-mail michael_a_gibble@yahoo.com
Rockville Pregnancy Center Background
The Rockville Pregnancy Center is a non-profit, licensed medical clinic and pregnancy
counseling organization staffed by peer and professional personnel, which has been
serving women and their families since 1987. Services are offered to women facing
unintended pregnancies and all services are free of charge. Confidentiality is guaranteed,
except as required by law. For more information, please contact the Center at (301) 770-4444.
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Did you know . . ?
. . . You can keep abreast of local politics by tuning into your local cable TV station on Channel 21 for a weekly half-hour lively roundtable discussion called
"21 This Week"
Among the Republican guests often appearing on the show are Montgomery GOP Chairman Mark Uncapher, Legislative District 19 Chairman Martha Schaerr, Central Committee member Jim Shalleck and President of the Montgomery Federation of Republican Women, Liz Rubin.
The show airs Sunday nights at 7:00 p.m. and again during the week. For more scheduling information, click here:
Access Montgomery Website
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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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Please help us recruit solid candidates to run for state and local office in 2010! 
Maryland's tax ranking went from 26th highest (in 2008) to the 5th highest of all 50 states this year. That bodes ill for the state, but presents an opportunity for Republicans.
Please share your thoughts with us about good potential candidates -- especially if you yourself would consider running for office.
Call Sylvia Darrow at 301-424-3097 or Jim Shalleck at 301-987-0505. Or send them your ideas at gsylvie@aol.com or jimshalleck@hotmail.com
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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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CONTACT YOUR CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Hon. Moshe Starkman - 19
Treasurer
mstarkman@moshetechnologies.com
Hon. Gus Alzona - 16 augustus@alzona.com
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