RWAAC

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Issues in the News

Following Supreme Court Ruling, House Republicans Call On Governor to Issue Death Penalty Regulations

Media Release

Letter to Governor O'Malley re Death Penalty and Supreme Court Ruling from House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell and House Minority Whip Christopher B. Shank.

THE 90 DAY REPORT

A Review of the 2008 Legislative Session
(All files are in PDF format and may be viewed using Adobe Acrobat Viewer)

Click here for Recommendations Of The Fiscal Reform Working Group

Read RWAAC president Joyce Thomann's testimony to the legislature:
Re HB288 Re HB1345 Re HB1236 Re SB621

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?!

Astronomical PAY RAISES for his top aides! One percent (if that) pay raises for the other “less important” State Government workers – and an INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES AND INCOME TAXES for the rest of us! More...

Dear Friends:

If you: pay taxes on anything, have paid taxes on anything, or might someday pay taxes on something – this should be of interest to you.

After all, it IS OUR MONEY our United States Congress is spending. What a novel approach – to refrain from spending taxpayer dollars – just because they are there! GREAT IDEA. Take a look at the Debt Reduction recommendation. If we can get these concepts adopted at the Federal Level – perhaps we can bring some sense to the Maryland Legislature?

Reminder: Senator Mitch McConnell is the Minority Leader in the United States Senate.

Best regards.

Joyce

March 11, 2008

Dear Friends:

I’ve combined two MDGOP Releases – read them both! Pass this message to your friends and neighbors. They show Governor O’SLIMEY at work!

Joyce

ACTION ALERT

The Democrats are at it again - this time, trying to raise your property taxes. See the press release below and TAKE ACTION. Call and e-mail your legislators TODAY. To find out who your legislators are or to get their contact information, go to http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/. Be sure to use the General Assembly's toll-free switchboard (800) 492-7122. Pass this on to your family, friends, and neighbors. This impacts everybody!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2008

Democrats Push For $130.7 Million
In New Property Taxes
Maryland GOP Calls For Cut In Property Taxes

ANNAPOLIS— At a time when Marylanders are feeling the pinch of higher gas prices, soaring utility rates, and hikes in the cost of household goods, Democrats in the General Assembly are pushing for over $130 million in new property taxes.

Democrat leaders recently held hearings on Senate Bill 302 and House Bill 512, which would impose a new tax on Maryland families that would total $130.7 million in 2010 and increase each year thereafter. This would amount to an additional state property tax rate of $0.05 per $100 of assessed value for operating real property of a public utility and $0.02 for all other real property.

The new taxes would be used to start a new government program, the Maryland Affordable Housing Investment Fund. SB 302 and HB 512 would grow state government, creating a new board to administer the Fund with 14 new bureaucrat positions that would receive 4.4% annual pay raises without regard to budget shortfalls, inflation, or the job performance of the employee.

Dr. Jim Pelura, Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, released the following statement:

“Martin O’Malley and the Democrats have not learned their lesson. They cannot tax the state into prosperity. In a volatile housing market, the last thing anyone should do is raise the property tax. What they should do is lower the property tax rate to provide Maryland families with the relief that they need right now. Marylanders are overtaxed and cannot afford more government programs. Martin O’Malley and the Democrats need to realize that they have a spending problem, not a revenue problem

House Republicans Present FY 2009 Budget Plan

Annapolis – The House Republican Caucus today rolled out their FY 2009 Budget Plan. The Republican proposal slows the rate of growth of State spending, resolves the structural deficit, eliminates computer services tax, and positions the state to withstand a significant economic downturn.

“The current budget course is not sustainable”, said Minority Leader Anthony O’Donnell. “The Governor’s budget as proposed leaves the structural deficit unresolved and the Rainy Day Fund depleted. The economic outlook is precarious and further inaction could have catastrophic consequences for the State of Maryland.”

The Republican plan reduces the total budget spending increase from 5.9% to 3.7%. It reduces the ongoing General Fund Budget spending increase from 5.6% to 2.6%. The reductions in spending eliminate the $308 million structural deficit.

“The 2007 Special Session did not resolve the long term structural deficit”, said Delegate Gail Bates, the ranking Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee. “There were no cuts in overall planned spending and the General Assembly actually created an additional $128 million in net new spending. At the same time, they passed a historic amount of tax increases which enabled state spending to continue to grow excessively.”

“This Administration has ransacked the state’s Rainy Day Fund”, said Minority Whip Christopher Shank. “It is funded only at the statutory minimum and is not well positioned to protect State finances from a significant financial downturn. There will be no place to turn for revenue to fund critical services. November’s Special Session spending spree has emptied the taxpayer’s pockets.”

The Republican’s proposal adds $400 million to the Rainy Day Fund above the statutory minimum.

“There is still time to exercise fiscal restraint and build reserves”, said Delegate Steve Schuh, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “All of the major indicators point to a slowing economy. If we experience a significant economic downturn and spending has not been reined in, the only choice will be major cuts to services. This plan is fiscally responsible and it protects the citizens of Maryland against the possible economic storm on the horizon.”

Dear Friends:

Our terrific Republican House Caucus has put together a workable “citizen friendly” budget for consideration by the Maryland General Assembly. A budget which REPEALS the computer tax and slows the growth of SPENDING! (SPENDING IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN THE PROBLEM!)

I urge you to contact as many members of the Maryland General Assembly as you can. Contact Governor O’Malley! Let them all know that there IS a way out of the pending financial disaster a way which you support. Ask them to support this reasoned and reasonable budget plan.

Many thanks to our Republican House Caucus for being such a wonderful LOYAL OPPOSITION. They are loyal to us, the citizens of Maryland, and they are willing to take a public stand in opposition to some very bad policies!

To contact any member of the Maryland General Assembly go to the Maryland General Assembly Web site: www.mlis.state.md.us. Click on the Contact or find a Legislator link. Through that link you can send an e-mail to the individual offices. Click on the Roster and List of Committees and you will find the specific office address, phone number, committee assignment and picture of every member of the General Assembly.

To reach Governor O’Malley and ask him to support this Republican alternative budget, call: 410-974-3901 or 1-800-811-8336, or go to www.gov.state.md.us. At the bottom of the Governor’s web site, there is a link “Contact Us.”

Our Republican Legislators are trying to help us! It’s now up to us to help them succeed!

Best regards
Joyce
Joyce E. Thomann, President - RWAAC

Dear Friends:

The following was sent to me by Andi Morony, the new terrific Corresponding Secretary of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women (MFRW). It’s VERY IMPORTANT to get this information to your friends, family and neighbors.

The October Newsletter is here

LEST WE FORGET

Some schools in the United Kingdom have removed all references to The Holocaust from their curriculum because it “offended” the ever growing Muslim population in the United Kingdom – which claims The Holocaust never occurred. It is now more than 60 years since World War II ended in Europe. During World War II, 6 million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated with the German and Russian peoples – and indeed most of the world – looking the other way. Now, more than ever, with Iran among others claiming The Holocaust to be a “myth” it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets. Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it! We cannot afford to forget THIS history lesson!

Fundraising season is here. Notices of fundraisers will be listed on our Candidates page as well as on the Calendar. Candidates and campaign managers: please submit fundraiser information to info@rwaac.com with fundraiser as the subject.

The Republican Women of Anne Arundel County (RWAAC) do hereby salute and thank Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. for his tireless and principled work on behalf of the citizens of Maryland during his term as Governor of Maryland. Read the complete citation.

Republican Principles

I'm a Republican Because...

I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.
I BELIEVE in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age or disability.
I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.
I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.
I BELIEVE the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations, and that the best government is that which governs least.
I BELIEVE the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people.
I BELIEVE Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.
I BELIEVE Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.
FINALLY, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.

Photos from Recent Events

Photos from the May 15 Dinner Meeting
April 11 General Membership Meeting
March 20 Dinner Meeting
Welcoming home returning Navy Medical personnel from Iraq and Kuwait
February 20, 2007 Dinner Meeting
January 25, 2007 Dinner Meeting
Christmas Luncheon, December 13, 2006
RWAAC Fabulous at Forty Fashion Show, April 29, 2006
March 21, 2006 Dinner Meeting
March 21, 2006 Visit to the Statehouse
February 21, 2006 Dinner Meeting, Speaker: Kenneth Timmerman
January 17, 2006 Dinner Meeting, Senator J. Lowell Stoltzfus, (R-38), Speaker

RWAAC Regular Meetings begin at 10:00 a.m. (with a “meet & greet social” beginning at 9:30 a.m.). The meetings are held in the basement community room of The Conte-Lubrano Apartment Building, 130 Lubrano Drive, Annapolis, MD. (130 Lubrano Drive is the third building behind The Italian Market and Restaurant, 125 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD.) For additional information contact: Barbara Reynolds, Publicity Chairman, 410-956-4052 or Joyce Thomann, President, 410-757-2345.

RWAAC Dinner Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. with a “meet & greet social” and are held in the private dining room of Griffins West Street Grill, 2049 West Street, Annapolis, MD. Advance menu selections are required. Contact: Jackie Biedlingmaier, Dinner Committee Chairman, 410-349-4045. Dinner meetings feature speakers.

Both locations are handicapped accessible.
RWAAC meetings are cancelled according to Anne Arundel School closings for inclement weather.