Montgomery County Republican Party Line September 10, 2011

News accounts are spotlighting the failure of a solar panel company that has filed for bankruptcy, despite receiving a half-billion dollar government-backed loan from the Obama Administration. This past Thursday FBI agents raided the company's offices. Congressional investigators are looking into the crony capitalism connection between the White House and the decision to give Solyndra $535 million in loans. One of the company's top investors was a major fundraiser for Obama and a frequent White House visitor. Last year Obama visited Solyndra, where he proclaimed that the company represented America's energy future.

Operating with the same "green energy" playbook, Maryland Governor O'Malley has tried his own crony capitalism deal. Last spring O'Malley asked lawmakers to support a rise in almost every state resident's electric bill for the next 20 years in order to subsidize private offshore wind power producers. He would have added a surcharge on Maryland electric consumer bills to subsidize uneconomical wind power production. Analysts testified that it would have cost in excess of $84 per year per consumer or over $3 billion over time. The key advocate for the scheme was the Governor's former chief of staff, Michael Enright, now working for a company called Beuwulf Energy. Fortunately, the legislature turned the governor down, in part because the Washington Post began questioning the O'Malley - Enright connection.

Manhattan Institute energy expert Robert Bryce punctures the hype over wind energy. He observes that the wind-energy lobby has captured huge subsidies and mandates. Yet when power demand is highest, wind energy's output is generally low.

For example, last month, Texans were consuming record-breaking quantities of electricity. So much so, that the state's grid operator warned of rolling blackouts if customers didn't reduce consumption.

Texas has 10,135 megawatts of installed wind-generation capacity, nearly three times as much as any other state. But during three sweltering days, when the state set new records for electricity demand, the state's vast herd of turbines were unable to produce any serious amount of power.

Consider the afternoon of August 2, when demand was peaking, output from the state's wind turbines could provide only about 2.2% of all power. This is in despite of the fact that the installed capacity of Texas's wind turbines theoretically equals nearly 15% of peak demand. Last year when demand also set records, wind energy contributed less than 2%.

The wind-energy sector, through the $0.022 per-kilowatt-hour production tax credit, gets subsidies of about $6.40 per million Btu of energy produced-an amount that, according to the Energy Information Administration, is about 200 times the subsidy received by the oil and gas sector. According to the Energy Information Administration, the wind energy sector got more federal subsidies in 2010 than any other energy sector other than biofuels. Wind energy got a total of $4.986 billion in subsidies, or nearly twice as much as was given to the oil and gas sector, which got $2.82 billion. Still wind-energy lobbyists like Enright and Beuwulf Energy are calling for more.

Wind's environmental benefits have been exaggerated. Compared with natural gas-fired power generation, the carbon dioxide reduction from wind energy was just 0.3 tons of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour.

According to the Congressional Research Service's 2010 report, Displacing Coal with Generation from Existing Natural-gas-fired power Plants, " if natural-gas combined-cycle plants utilization were to be doubled from 42 percent capacity factor to 85 percent, then the amount of power generated would displace 19 percent of the CO2 emissions attributed to coal-fired electricity generation."

Another of the Governor and President's justifications for wind power has been a desire to produce so-called "green-tech" jobs. Their claims were rebutted by recent research from the Brooking Institute showing that between 2003 and 2010, these jobs increased at a slower rate than the economy as a whole. http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2011/0713_clean_economy.aspx

"Green Energy," solar, biofuels and wind power, is becoming a synonym for cozy insider deals between liberal Democrats and their favored supporters to have taxpayers pay for projects that could never receive investor funding in the marketplace.

Mark Uncapher

Montgomery County Republican Chairman

MCGOP TO SPONSOR GOLF TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER ON OCTOBER 11, 2011

The Montgomery County Republican Party is sponsoring its first annual golf tournament fundraiser on October 11, 2011 at the beautiful Bretton Woods Country Club in Germantown, Maryland. The tournament will provide participants with the opportunity to enjoy a great day of golf at one of the County's most exclusive courses and the opportunity to network with national, state and local Republican Party leaders and activists.

The four person "best ball" tournament will tee off at 1:00 p.m. and be followed by an awards dinner at the Bretton Woods Clubhouse at 6:00 p.m. The tournament will feature a $10,000 Hole-in-One Shootout and Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin competitions. All participants will receive a complimentary "re-play" certificate allowing them to return to the Country Club and play the Bretton Woods course a second time. The Party will also host a silent auction during dinner.

Please join us for this fun-filled day at Bretton Woods. Non-golfers are invited to attend the dinner and silent auction. For more information, or to register for the tournament or dinner on-line, go to www.golfdigestplanner.com/19429-MCGOP.

The Maryland Public Policy Institute

Gov. O'Malley and Mr. Jobs: contrast in visions

Originally Published in the Baltimore Sun

by Marta Hummel Mossburg

It was ironic to me that in the same week Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO of Apple, Gov. Martin O'Malley outlined a new definition of freedom as holding a job.

The worldview of these two men could not be more different - and the one we choose as a nation could not be more important for the future of our country.

Steve Jobs told Stanford University graduates in 2005 that "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose." That belief drives him to relentlessly pursue his own personal vision. He basically invented the personal computer; revolutionized the way we connect with one another, enjoy music and other media; gave us the amazing creativity and beauty of Pixar Animation Studios, producer of the"Toy Story" series, "The Incredibles" and "Finding Nemo"; and generated thousands of jobs.

His personal style has been called dictatorial, and he is known for berating and firing employees who do not meet his exacting standards. As a recent Fortune magazine piece said, "Apple also is a brutal and unforgiving place, where accountability is strictly enforced, decisions are swift, and communication is articulated clearly from the top." Mediocrity is not in his vocabulary. Excellence is everything to him.

Now to Mr. O'Malley. When he ran for governor, he told voters that he had created thousands of jobs in Baltimore as mayor, when in fact thousands had been lost during his tenure. With him as governor, Maryland ranks at the bottom of states for creating jobs. One of his friends, Marcus Brown, magically received a police pension that he did not deserve based on his time in office and is now secretary of the state police.

Mr. O'Malley frequently talks about "One Maryland," in the sense that those who generate wealth through their own creativity and vision should have it confiscated and given to (his definition of) the more deserving. That theme is also behind his "balanced approach" - aka raising taxes - to plugging the $1 billion hole in the state budget.

Mr. O'Malley's latest announcement that "A job is the root of our freedoms as Americans. ... A job is freedom and freedom is a job" most clearly distinguishes the two men from one another, however.

His comments commemorated the unveiling of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. that now graces the National Mall. He prefaced them with King's question: "What good is the right to sit at a lunch counter if one can't afford the price of a meal?"

First, to reduce King's civil rights struggle to a quest for jobs is to diminish the great man's legacy. Above all else, King fought for equality before the law for all people. He knew that a good job would not be possible without a person's innate dignity first being recognized. Besides, to say that a job is freedom is to reduce a human being to a machine that makes money, not individual hopes, dreams and qualities, the defining characteristic of a person. It also redefines the founding principle of our nation into a socialist utopian vision.

Mr. Jobs rejects that view of humanity. He said that being fired from Apple 10 years after he founded the company was the best thing that ever happened to him. It forced him to reevaluate his priorities and propelled him into one the most creative periods of his life. Post-firing, he launched NeXT, which was later bought by Apple and whose software became a key component in the company's operating system; as well as Pixar.

Obviously, not everyone has the talent and drive of Steve Jobs. Very few throughout history have ever or will. But we are rapidly turning into a society that makes it impossible for a Steve Jobs and others like him to exist. We punish and mock individual achievement and glorify entitlement - made clear by the fact that almost half of Americans pay no federal income tax. Our state public high schools regularly graduate thousands of students who are functionally illiterate and cannot add and subtract, and yet Maryland is ranked first of the states by a prestigious education journal. Our tax and regulatory system are so unfair, only those rich enough to hire lobbyists can readily compete.

Ultimately, we cannot celebrate men like Mr. Jobs and enjoy the fruits of their labors while simultaneously creating a society that does not value individual liberty, responsibility and success. Psychologists call it "cognitive dissonance" to hold two competing worldviews at once. Practically speaking, it produces what we have now: anemic growth, contempt for government, flash mobs, and a large swath of the populace that elects politicians based on how many goodies they promise. Thank you, Steve Jobs, for reminding us of who we still can be.

You can find this online at: Available online

Can You Become a Montgomery County Republican Team Leader?

voting_image

We are currently contacting Prime Republicans throughout Montgomery County -- You can help your party starting with your own neighbors.

Here is what you can do:

1. Send an email to [email protected]
with your name, address and precinct number (use your precinct number if you know it, otherwise we will look it up.)

2. We will email back a list with the names, addresses and phone numbers of 50-100 Prime Republicans who live near you or in your precinct and a short, easy to follow script.

3. You then contact these Prime Republicans, introducing yourself and asking if they might be interested in future in receiving Republican invitations and news via email, displaying lawn signs or bumper stickers or helping Republican campaigns in the future.

4. We ask that your record the information you receive online at: http://mcgop.net/signup.aspx, with the information you collect. Please be sure to fill out the "Referred by (email):" field do so can give you credit for the contacts you have made.

Complete five contacts - and we will recognize you in our website, in the newsletter our Republican Team Leader our leader board. After you reach your first group of Prime Republicans, and we can send you additional names to contact.

Where Did the Stimulus Dollars Go? County Spends $4 million for Apartments for 12 Homeless in

Bethesda

Earlier this week, the Washington Examiner reported that Montgomery County's Housing Opportunities Commission is opening a "permanent supportive housing" facility will be at 4913 Hampden Lane -- between Woodmont Avenue and Arlington Road in downtown Bethesda -- and will house six studio and six one-bedroom apartments.

The project received $1 million in federal stimulus money, as well as $944,829 from the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs and $2.1 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the state.

The Examiner quotes HOC spokeswoman Tedi Osias, that a counselor will work with residents weekdays, as well as offer seminars and workshops to help them acquire and maintain jobs. The building features a community room, fitness center, computer center, laundry facility, outdoor enclosed courtyard and storage space for the tenants.

From Americans for Tax Reform

A Comprehensive List of Obama Tax Hikes

Since taking office, President Barack Obama has signed into law twenty-one new or higher taxes:

1. A 156 percent increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco: On February 4, 2009, just sixteen days into his Administration, Obama signed into law a 156 percent increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco, a hike of 61 cents per pack. The median income of smokers is just over $36,000 per year.

2. Obamacare Individual Mandate Excise Tax (takes effect in Jan 2014): Starting in 2014, anyone not buying "qualifying" health insurance must pay an income surtax according to the higher of the following

	1 Adult	2 Adults	3+ Adults
2014	1% AGI/$95	1% AGI/$190	1% AGI/$285
2015	2% AGI/$325	2% AGI/$650	2% AGI/$975
2016 +	2.5% AGI/$695	2.5% AGI/$1390	2.5% AGI/$2085

Exemptions for religious objectors, undocumented immigrants, prisoners, those earning less than the poverty line, members of Indian tribes, and hardship cases (determined by HHS). Bill: PPACA; Page: 317-337

3. Obamacare Employer Mandate Tax (takes effect Jan. 2014): If an employer does not offer health coverage, and at least one employee qualifies for a health tax credit, the employer must pay an additional non-deductible tax of $2000 for all full-time employees. Applies to all employers with 50 or more employees. If any employee actually receives coverage through the exchange, the penalty on the employer for that employee rises to $3000. If the employer requires a waiting period to enroll in coverage of 30-60 days, there is a $400 tax per employee ($600 if the period is 60 days or longer). Bill: PPACA; Page: 345-346

Combined score of individual and employer mandate tax penalty: $65 billion/10 years

4. Obamacare Surtax on Investment Income (Tax hike of $123 billion/takes effect Jan. 2013): Creation of a new, 3.8 percent surtax on investment income earned in households making at least $250,000 ($200,000 single). This would result in the following top tax rates on investment income: Bill: Reconciliation Act; Page: 87-93

	Capital Gains	Dividends	Other*
2011-2012	15%	15%	35%
2013+ (current law)	23.8%	43.4%	43.4%
2013+ (Obama budget)	23.8%	23.8%	43.4%

*Other unearned income includes (for surtax purposes) gross income from interest, annuities, royalties, net rents, and passive income in partnerships and Subchapter-S corporations. It does not include municipal bond interest or life insurance proceeds, since those do not add to gross income. It does not include active trade or business income, fair market value sales of ownership in pass-through entities, or distributions from retirement plans. The 3.8% surtax does not apply to non-resident aliens.

5. Obamacare Excise Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans (Tax hike of $32 bil/takes effect Jan. 2018): Starting in 2018, new 40 percent excise tax on "Cadillac" health insurance plans ($10,200 single/$27,500 family). Higher threshold ($11,500 single/$29,450 family) for early retirees and high-risk professions. CPI +1 percentage point indexed. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,941-1,956

6. Obamacare Hike in Medicare Payroll Tax (Tax hike of $86.8 bil/takes effect Jan. 2013): Current law and changes:

	First $200,000 ($250,000 Married) Employer/Employee	All Remaining Wages Employer/Employee
Current Law	1.45%/1.45% 2.9% self-employed	1.45%/1.45% 2.9% self-employed
Obamacare Tax Hike	1.45%/1.45% 2.9% self-employed	1.45%/2.35% 3.8% self-employed

Bill: PPACA, Reconciliation Act; Page: 2000-2003; 87-93

7. Obamacare Medicine Cabinet Tax (Tax hike of $5 bil/took effect Jan. 2011): Americans no longer able to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin). Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,957-1,959

8. Obamacare HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike (Tax hike of $1.4 bil/took effect Jan. 2011): Increases additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,959

9. Obamacare Flexible Spending Account Cap - aka "Special Needs Kids Tax" (Tax hike of $13 bil/takes effect Jan. 2013): Imposes cap on FSAs of $2500 (now unlimited). Indexed to inflation after 2013. There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap will be particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children. There are thousands of families with special needs children in the United States, and many of them use FSAs to pay for special needs education. Tuition rates at one leading school that teaches special needs children in Washington, D.C. (National Child Research Center) can easily exceed $14,000 per year. Under tax rules, FSA dollars can be used to pay for this type of special needs education. Bill: PPACA; Page: 2,388-2,389

10. Obamacare Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers (Tax hike of $20 bil/takes effect Jan. 2013): Medical device manufacturers employ 360,000 people in 6000 plants across the country. This law imposes a new 2.3% excise tax. Exempts items retailing for <$100. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,980-1,986

11. Obamacare "Haircut" for Medical Itemized Deduction from 7.5% to 10% of AGI (Tax hike of $15.2 bil/takes effect Jan. 2013): Currently, those facing high medical expenses are allowed a deduction for medical expenses to the extent that those expenses exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI). The new provision imposes a threshold of 10 percent of AGI. Waived for 65+ taxpayers in 2013-2016 only. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,994-1,995

12. Obamacare Tax on Indoor Tanning Services (Tax hike of $2.7 billion/took effect July 2010): New 10 percent excise tax on Americans using indoor tanning salons. Bill: PPACA; Page: 2,397-2,399

13. Obamacare elimination of tax deduction for employer-provided retirement Rx drug coverage in coordination with Medicare Part D (Tax hike of $4.5 bil/takes effect Jan. 2013) Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,994

14. Obamacare Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tax Hike (Tax hike of $0.4 bil/took effect Jan. 1 2010): The special tax deduction in current law for Blue Cross/Blue Shield companies would only be allowed if 85 percent or more of premium revenues are spent on clinical services. Bill: PPACA; Page: 2,004

15. Obamacare Excise Tax on Charitable Hospitals (Min$/took effect immediately): $50,000 per hospital if they fail to meet new "community health assessment needs," "financial assistance," and "billing and collection" rules set by HHS. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,961-1,971

16. Obamacare Tax on Innovator Drug Companies (Tax hike of $22.2 bil/took effect Jan. 2010): $2.3 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to share of sales made that year. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,971-1,980

17. Obamacare Tax on Health Insurers (Tax hike of $60.1 bil/takes effect Jan. 2014): Annual tax on the industry imposed relative to health insurance premiums collected that year. Phases in gradually until 2018. Fully-imposed on firms with $50 million in profits. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,986-1,993

18. Obamacare $500,000 Annual Executive Compensation Limit for Health Insurance Executives (Tax hike of $0.6 bil/takes effect Jan 2013). Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,995-2,000

19. Obamacare Employer Reporting of Insurance on W-2 ($min/takes effect Jan. 2012): Preamble to taxing health benefits on individual tax returns. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,957

20. Obamacare "Black liquor" tax hike (Tax hike of $23.6 billion/took effect immediately). This is a tax increase on a type of bio-fuel. Bill: Reconciliation Act; Page: 105

21. Obamacare Codification of the "economic substance doctrine" (Tax hike of $4.5 billion/took effect immediately). This provision allows the IRS to disallow completely-legal tax deductions and other legal tax-minimizing plans just because the IRS deems that the action lacks "substance" and is merely intended to reduce taxes owed. Bill: Reconciliation Act; Page: 108-113

2010 AWARDS NOMINATIONS REQUESTED

The Montgomery County Republican Party is now seeking nominations for four prestigious awards categories. Deadline for consideration is September 12, 2011. Categories are:

ALBERT BULLOCK YOUTH AWARD - Presented to honor and recognize outstanding achievement and work for the Montgomery County Republican Party in 2010 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 2010 by a man.
REPUBLICAN WOMAN OF THE YEAR - Presented to honor and recognize outstanding achievement and work for the Montgomery County Republican Party in 2010 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 [email protected] or the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee, Attention Awards Committee, 15833 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855. Committee members include Rachael Gingrich ([email protected]), Josephine Wang ([email protected] ) and Lorraine Kuchmy ([email protected])

Come to the 2011
Grand Old Picnic!

Sunday, October 9 from 1pm to 4:00 pm.

at Smokey Glen Farm 16407 Riffle Ford Rd. Gaithersburg, MD

Tickets: $35.00 Adults, $25 children 3-11, children under 3 free

Pay Online

Meet fellow Republicans and enjoy great picnic food, including barbequed chicken, burgers and hot dogs with all the trimmings.

grilled burger

For more information, e-mail event chairman Denise Siegel at [email protected] or call 301-581-5897

See you there!

Renew Your Republican Party Membership for 2011
Online

MCRP MEMBERSHIP LEVELS:

SUSTAINING MEMBER -$25 per year

BUILDER MEMBER -$50 per year

CENTURY CLUB MEMBER -$100 per year

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL - $250 per year

FINANCE COUNCIL -$500 per year

TRUSTEE COUNCIL -$1000 per year

CHAIRMAN'S CLUB -$2500 per year

( ) OTHER AMOUNT -___

Paypal

Upcoming Events
For Event details see:
the county party website

Monday Sep 12, 2011 6:00 PM

Prince George's County 57th Lincoln Day Dinner w/ Congressman Andy Harris

Tuesday Sep 13, 2011 7PM

Montgomery County Central Committee Executive Board Meeting

Thursday Sep 15, 2011 7PM

District 18 Monthly Meeting

Friday Sep 16, 2011 6:30PM

Daniel Bongino for US Senate Meet & Greet in Kensington

Saturday Sep 24, 2011 5PM

A Grand Old Party with Guests

Rep. Fred Grandy and Mrs. Fred

Tuesday Sep 27, 2011 8AM

Breakfast with Governor Rick Perry

Tuesday Sep 27, 2011 11AM

Rock Creek Women's Republican Club Monthly Meeting

Tuesday Sep 27, 2011 7:30 PM

Montgomery County Central Committee Executive Committee Meeting

Thursday Sep 29, 2011 6PM

Evening Reception with Governor Mitt Romney

Friday Sep 30, 2011 12PM

Men's Republican Club of Montgomery County Meeting with Guest Jim Calderwood

Saturday Oct 01, 2011 10AM

Precinct and Volunteer Training

Tuesday Oct 04, 2011 11AM

2011 Business Leadership Luncheon with John Fund

Saturday Oct 08, 2011 6PM

Rural Women's Republican Club

Annual Fundraiser - Saturday Night in the Country

Sunday Oct 09, 2011 1:00 PM

Montgomery County GOP Grand Old Party Picnic

Tuesday Oct 11, 2011 1:00 PM

Montgomery County GOP Inaugural Golf Tournament

Tuesday Oct 11, 2011 7:00 PM

Montgomery County Central Committee Executive Board Meeting

Saturday Oct 22, 2011 5PM

Upper Montgomery Women's Republican Club Annual Fundraiser

Tuesday Oct 25, 2011 7:30 PM

Montgomery County Central Committee Executive Committee Meeting

Montgomery County GOP

Friday Nov 04, 2011 1PM

Maryland Federation of Republican Women

Fall Convention

Tuesday, Nov 22, 2011, 7:30 PM
Montgomery County Central Committee Meeting

Help Wanted

Voter Registration Chair

Responsible for the county party's voter outreach effort for registering new voters as Republicans and re-registering voters changing their party affiliation. Works with the Events Chair and with the individual Legislative District Chair.

Applicants should submit an expression of interestand a short biographical sketch of their political involvements or resume to [email protected].

GOLF TOURNAMENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Montgomery County Republican Party is planning its first golf tournament. If you are interested in serving on the MCGOP Golf Tournament Committee, please e-mail Bruce Stern at [email protected].

GET INVOLVED ! REPUBLICANS NEED TO APPLY !

MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

District 16 Central Committee member Carol Bowis has taken on the task of encouraging fellow Republicans to get involved in volunteer opportunities on Montgomery County Boards and Commissions. We can help shape public policy and make our voices heard. Please help spread the word to any qualified Republican to apply for county boards and commissions that are of interest. Congratulations to Scott Graham who has been appointed to the Upcounty Citizens Advisory Board. Good luck to other Republicans who have made applications to other Committees. With persistence, and qualified applicants, we will get our voices hear!d

The County Executive has announced the following vacancies and their application deadlines:

September 9, 2011

Water Quality Advisory Group
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Advisory Council

September 23, 2011

Dickerson Area Facilities Implementation Group
Ethics Commission

To view the details of each application, go to the Montgomery County website and look for Boards and Committees, then click on Vacancy notices. Then click on the press release which interests you. Please encourage other good Republicans you know to apply as well. Our county needs to know the opinions of their citizens from BOTH parties! For all of the above, please send a letter of interest and a resume to the County Executive's office. The Mont. County website, under Boards and Commissions, lists the press releases with details about each of the vacancies.

If you have served on a Board or Commission during the last ten years or have applied and not been selected, Carol Bowis (301-229-1121) would appreciate hearing from you so that we can be more helpful in advising future applicants as to the process and interviews, etc., in the hopes of getting more GOP representation on county boards.

Anyone else who has been appointed to a County Board, please advise Carol as well, so we can congratulate you publicly.