| Message from the Chairman:
Why Won't Chris Van Hollen Hold a Townhall Meeting?
For years now many Democrats have pledged
their support of a single-payer government universal health care system. A few days ago a You-Tube video surfaced in
which candidate Obama promised the same thing.
The White House angrily denounced the clip as misleading. Yet his support for a single-payer health-care
system in the clip could not be any clearer.
A little like those "Three Card Monte" operators, the more red handed
they are caught, the louder they protest their innocence.
Before the last election, Rep. Chris
Van Hollen made a similar promise, writing to one group: "I will continue to fight for universal health care and support a
single payer approach.[1]"
Voters on the left are now being promised that under
a "Public Option" it will be just a matter of time before private health
insurance withers away and all care will come from the government. You think they would be furious at being
misled by their candidates, and some are.
But many are content because they are being told: "Don't worry. Trust us. This is the way we will get you single-payer
government care."
Other voters are also being told that the
so-called "Public Option" will be only one of several alternatives and that all
existing health care coverage will continue to be available as before. When the Heritage Foundation predicts that
nearly 90 million people would see their current private, employer-sponsored
health plan go away and that they will be shifted to the "Public Option" plan,
the ObamaCare supporters denounce them as insurance company shills and worse.
Remarkably Rep. Chris Van Hollen
has not yet scheduled a town hall meeting on health care or any other issue
during the August recess. Understandably
his constituents want to question him on where he stands on this important issue. For example, has Van Hollen now given up on his
single-payer goal or does he regard the "Public Option" as the best way to
reach a single-payer universal government system?
Questions for Van Hollen are only natural considering
that 74% of voters rate the quality of care they now receive as good or
excellent and 50% fear that if Congress passes health-care reform, it will lead
to a decline in the quality of that care.[2] His shrill attacks on private medical
insurance companies gives those who want to continue their private coverage even
more reason for anxiety.
Sen. Ben Cardin, commenting on
his own townhall meetings, has said:
"The overwhelming majority of Americans want to participate and find out
what is in it. They want to find out how
it affects them. Those are legitimate questions." [3]
Maybe it would be just too hard for Van
Hollen to explain that although he still supports a single payer health
government health care system, the bill he supports is not really a
single-payer system, but (wink to the left) it will likely result in a single
payer government health plan system, but (wink to the right and center) not
really.
It is a position that makes John Kerry's
"I actually did vote for the 87 Billion before
I voted against it" seem like a model of clarity. It would also be a performance that the card
sharks in front of the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York would be proud of.
Mark Uncapher, Chairman
mark@uncapher.net
[1] Letter
to "Progressive Neighbors" October
2008, http://www.progressiveneighborsmd.org/Van_Hollen_Response.pdf
[2]
Rasmussen Reports, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204313604574330442429438938.html
[3] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEVmhpXq_ow
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Come to Senator Ben Cardin's Townhall Meeting on Healthcare either on
Monday, August 10 or Wednesday, August 12!
On August 10 at 7:00 p.m. At Towson University Center for the Arts
Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall,
Corner of Cross Campus and Osler Drives
Towson, MD 21204
Parking is available across the street from the Center for the Arts on Auburn Drive off Osler Drive on Lot 13.
RSVP to sean_mckew@cardin.senate.gov
For a map, click here: Interactive map of Towson University
On August 12 at 1:00 p.m. At Hagerstown Community College Kepler Theater, 11400 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21742
Parking is adjacent to the theater
RSVP to robin_summerfield@cardin.senate.gov
For a map of the Hagerstown campus, click here:
Map of Hagerstown CC
 Norman Rockwell's painting of a Townhall meeting, entitled: "Freedom of Speech"
By the way, Senator Cardin's phone number is 202-224-4524
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Sign Bob Ehrlich's Petition on Health Care Now!
Ten Principles for
Responsible Health Care Reform
I agree that the nation's
health care system is in need of reform
and believe the following
10 principles should
guide
the debates.
I support:
- The freedom to choose a health insurance benefit
package that fits the needs of me and my family.
- The right to
choose my own doctor.
- The extension of health savings accounts.
- State legislation
to scale back Maryland's rigid health
care mandates and make health care more affordable.
- The dramatic
reduction of fraud & error rates in the Medicaid
and Medicare programs, which cost taxpayers billions annually.
I oppose:
- Any attempt to centralize standard insurance plans that
would put a government bureaucracy between me and my doctor.
- Implementing a single payer universal health insurance scheme.
- Any attempt to pay for health insurance reform through increased
taxes on small business owners.
- Including a "public option" (e.g.
government-run insurance) in any health care bill.
- Expensive
new Medicaid obligations to be imposed on our already-overburdened
state budgets.
| To sign this petition, click here: |
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Bob Ehrlich's Petition on Health Care
You can also read Gov. Ehrlich's July 28 Wall Street Journal op-ed here:
Mandates Raise Costs in Maryland
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Tell members of Congress who support Obamacare to support House Res. 615 and sign up for it themselves!
Rep.
John Fleming (R-LA) has introduced House Resolution 615, which would
require members of Congress who vote for a "public option" to sign up for it themselves.
You
can show your support for this resolution by clicking on Rep. Fleming's
homepage here:
Sign to show support of House Res. 615
The text of that Resolution reads as follows: 111TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. RES. 615
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Members who vote in favor of the establishment of a public, Federal Government run health insurance option are urged to forgo their right to participate
in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and agree to enroll under that public option.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 8, 2009
Mr. FLEMING (for himself, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. BARTLETT, Mr. LINDER, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr.
BLUNT, Mr. SCALISE, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. BONNER, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, Mr. AKIN, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Ms. FALLIN, Mr.
COLE, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. PENCE, Mr. HENSARLING, Mr. PITTS, Mr. POSEY, Mr. MARCHANT, Mrs. LUMMIS, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. ROGERS of Alabama, Mr. POE of Texas, and Mr. BOUSTANY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration
RESOLUTION
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that Members who vote in favor of the establishment of a public, Federal Government run health insurance option are urged to forgo their right to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and agree to enroll under that public option. |
Early Voting is Coming; Montgomery County Board of Elections will choose five sites from among the following:
- Bauer
Community Center in Rockville
- Board of Elections in Gaithersburg
- Damascus Community
Center
- Germantown Community
Center
- Coffield
Community Center in Silver Spring
- Lawton
Community Center in Chevy Chase
- Long
Branch Community Center
in Silver Spring
- Praisner
Community Center in Silver Spring
- Potomac Community
Center
- Upper
County Community
Center in Gaithersburg
This will take effect in
2010. Comments on the proposed sites will be received by the County Board
of Elections. Comments can be sent to the Board by September 18, 2009 for
the Board meeting scheduled for September 29th at 2:30pm. Submission
of written comments may be sent via e-mail to: elections@montgomerycountymd.gov
or mailed to Montgomery
County Board
of Elections, PO Box 4333, Rockville MD 20849-4333.
The state's early voting law requires
that 80% of the registered voters live within 5 miles of one of the early
voting centers. Yet the Board is
considering concentrating as many as three of the potential sites are in Silver Spring. None
of the ten proposed sites are within five miles of voters in the northwest of
the county and only the Damascus
site would be meet the requirement for voters in the northeast.
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Citizen Advisory Committees are Opportunities for you to more directly engage Montgomery County government
Most people who live or work in Montgomery County are unaware that they can apply for an appointment to any one of more than 75 citizen advisory committees and boards dealing with all facets of public life -- from education to transportation to landlord tenant issues, libraries and more. The office of County Executive Ike Leggett regularly puts out calls for citizens who would like to apply to be on various committees and boards.
Current vacancies with an August 28 application deadline include slots on these bodies:
Bethesda Urban Partnership Board of Directors
Citizens Review Panel for Children
Community Action Board
Advisory Committee on Consumer Protection
Ethics Commission
And later in the fall, vacancies will be announced on these and many other committees:
Firearms Safety Committee
Human Rights Commission
Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission
To check the schedule of vacancies, click here:
Montgomery County Board Vacancies
For more complete information on citizen involvement check this page of the County Executive's website:
County Citizen Advisory Committees and Boards
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Stella Green elected Second Vice Chair of the Central Committee,
Deanna Stewart elected Secretary
At the July 28 meeting of the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee, Stella Green of District 15 (Potomac) was elected Second Vice Chair and Deanna Stewart of District 20 (Takoma Park) was elected Secretary.
The Second Vice Chair has oversight for Communications and Fundraising. Stella has been the Communications Director of the County GOP since March 2007, and Secretary since November 2007. Deanna has served on the Central Committee since 2002 and has previously served as Secretary.
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Take the Freedom Pledge
In 1947, in celebration of the 160th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a Freedom Train dubbed the "Spirit of '76" began a journey through 322 communities of the United States, shunning those that insisted on segregation. When it stopped in New England, the Freedom Pledge was introduced to rededicate Americans to the principles of freedom:
I am an American. A free American.
Free to speak -- without fear.
Free to worship God in my own way,
Free to stand for what I think right,
Free to oppose what I believe wrong,
Free to choose those who govern my country.
This heritage of Freedom I pledge to uphold
For myself and all mankind.
You can read more about this little known episode of American history by clicking here:
Freedom Pledge history
And you can visit the site of the museum here:
Lincoln Highway Museum
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Do you know a hardworking GOP activist deserving of an award?
The
Montgomery County Republican Party is now seeking nominations for four
prestigious awards categories. Deadline for consideration is September 10, 2009. Categories are:
ALBERT
BULLOCK YOUTH AWARD - Presented to honor and recognize outstanding
achievement and work for the Montgomery County Republican Party in 2008
by a person under the age of 25.
FORBES
BLAIR AWARD - Presented to honor and recognize lifetime achievement and
work for the Montgomery County Republican Party by an individual.
REPUBLICAN
MAN OF THE YEAR - Presented to honor and recognize outstanding
achievement and work for the Montgomery County Republican Party in 2008
by a man.
REPUBLICAN
WOMAN OF THE YEAR - Presented to honor and recognize outstanding
achievement and work for the Montgomery County Republican Party in 2008
by a woman.
To
be considered for an award, a nomination form must be completed and
should include a statement of justification with supporting
documentation. Nominations may be sent to Rachael Gingrich at rachaelgingrich@hotmail.com or the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee, Attention Awards Committee, 15833 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855. (301) 417-9256. Nomination forms may be found on the Montgomery County Republican Party website: http://www.mcgop.net or by writing to the awards committee at the email/address above.
Please note that MontgomeryCounty Republican Central Committee members
and elected officials are ineligible for the awards.
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COME TO A FAMILY FUN NIGHT POTLUCK FUNDRAISER ON AUGUST 29, 5 - 9 p.m. TO BENEFIT FISHER HOUSE 
Music, Singing & Dancing
By Eddie Hitt of The
Karaoke Jukebox.
Cash
Bar, Door Prizes, Games & Silent Auction - Fun for All
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE
UPPER MONTGOMERY REPUBLICAN WOMEN'S CLUB
Saturday, August 29, 2009 5-9pm
VFW Post No.9862
211K North Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg,
MD 20877
(In the Duval
Shopping Center lower
level behind 711)
Proceeds to Help
Fisher House
Supporting America's
military in their time of need, Fisher House provides "a home away from home" that enables family members to
be close to a loved one at the most stressful time -- during hospitalization
for an illness, disease or injury.
Bring your Family and a dish to share
And have a great time while
supporting a great cause
Adults
$20.00, Children 12 & under $10.00, 4 & under Free
Contact Anna Mell at 301-540-0061
Mail Checks Payable to "UMRWC" to
12600 Running Brook Dr., Clarksburg,
MD 20871
Email annarmel@gmail.com
or witham15449@comcast.net with
responses
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Three Strong Arguments for GOP Candidate Recruitment in 2010 in Montgomery County1. If we do not recruit strong candidates, we insure more Democrats win, not only in Maryland, but around the nation. How? Without opposition, they will use their money and resources in tighter races elsewhere, including out of state.
2. The time is ripe for GOP wins in Montgomery County and throughout Maryland. The state's tax ranking went from 26th highest in 2008 to fifth highest this year.
3. Monopolies of power, such as exist in the 100 percent Democrat County Council and Montgomery delegation to Annapolis invite abuse of power. We must never resign ourselves to such monopolies, but fight them at every opportunity.
 
Do not resign yourself to more Democrat wins. 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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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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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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Past Party Line
Newsletters
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
Janaury 2009
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