Silicon Valley Republican Women Federated
NEWSLETTER
www.svrwf.org * March 2006
President: Doris Whitney – 408-997-0581 * 1st VP & Program: Ellen Longworth * 2nd VP & Membership: Nancy Wark * Treasurer: Carol Greenleaf * Newsletter Editor: Laura Riffle – 408-263-0990
♦ SVRWF is a Diamond Achievement Award Club ♦
All SVRWF luncheons and dinner meetings are held at the Ramada Inn Silicon Valley, 1217 Wildwood Avenue, Sunnyvale, California – Luncheon Meetings: Social 11:30am, Lunch 12:00 Noon – Dinner Meetings: Social 6:30pm, Dinner 7:00pm – Luncheon: $18.00 – Dinner: $20.00 – For reservations please call Louise Kinney at 408-739-4724 or Alice Wilson at 408-733-6352 or Doris Whitney at 408-997-0581
SVRWF Luncheon Meeting………………………………………………. March 2
Menu Choices: Chicken Crepes or Shrimp Avocado Salad
Speaker: Laurie Smith – Sheriff of Santa Clara County - “How safe are we?” and a run-down on the ideas and projects she’s working on.
SVRWF Board Meeting……………………………………………………. March 9
Northern Division Spring Conference in Rancho Cordova…………….. March 3rd and 4th
CFRW Advocacy Day at the Sacramento Hyatt Regency……………... March 21
SVRWF Luncheon Meeting…………………………………………………. April 6
Tentative Speaker: Bill Evers of the Hoover Institution
Silicon Valley Republican Women Federated Program Chairman Ellen Longworth has arranged great luncheon and dinner speakers. Many thanks, Ellen, for a job well done. Please join us for our March 2 luncheon and hear Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith.
By a vote of the Executive Committee, Silicon Valley Republican Women Federated will continue to have the June and September dinner meetings. This was to continue our effort to accommodate and encourage members who can not attend during the day.
Legislation Chairman Eve Bretzke continues to do a superb job for our members with the newsletter coverage.
The Fisher House Program at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital continues as a project for SVRWF under Nancy Wark with her co-chairmen, Jen Jasper and Mika Storz. They will collect contributions at the March meeting.
For your information, the Executive Committee decided to secure a post office box for our SVRWF mailing address. The address is Silicon Valley Republican Women Federated (or SVRWF), P.O. Box 2153, Sunnyvale, CA. 94087-0153. Most California clubs now have permanent post office box numbers and we were encouraged to do the same.
Many of our members have paid their 2006 dues and some are still being received. There is a brochure now available for giving to your friends and associates for new members. Call and I will be glad to forward you some brochures. 2006 is an important year for Republicans and Republican Women volunteers.
Raina Mehrten is busy with the Americanism program and will be contacting school librarians for our contributions to their libraries. Raina will continue to provide information throughout the year.
I hope to see each of you at the Ramada Silicon Valley for lunch on March 2.
Doris Whitney, President, Silicon Valley Republican Women Federated
2006 Silicon Valley Republican Women Federated Chairs
Americanism……………… …… Rain Mehrten
By-Law……………………. …… Doris Whitney
Budget……………………. ……. JoAnn Barr
Chaplain………………….. …… Margie Frazier
Fisher House Project…… ……. Nancy Work with co-chairs Jen Jasper and Mika Stortz
Hospitality……………….. …….. Barbara Ferguson
Legislation………………………… Eve Bretzke
Luncheon co-chairs………………. Alice Wilson and Barbara Ferguson
Membership and per capita…….. Flinda Prevost
Newsletter………………………… Laura Riffle
Parliamentarian………………….. JoAnn Barr
Program…………………………… Ellen Longworth
Special Projects………………….. Shirley Harvey
Telephone………………………… Louise Kinney
Ways & Means…………………… Jane Reed
Web Director……………………… Alice Wilson
The Fisher House Program
The Fisher House that will be located on the grounds of the VA Hospital in Palo Alto is scheduled to open in mid-March. As you know, families of our veterans will be rotating through the facility. For the common room where the families will be gathering to relax, they are in need of some items that will provide some of the comforts of home like:
Homemade Quilts Magazine Subscriptions Crayons Coloring Books
Board Games Disney DVD’s Throws Non-perishable foods
SVRWF can also use cash donations which can be used to purchase these and other items needed to make the Fisher House a warm, inviting place for the families of our veterans. Bring one or more of these items to our March meeting and/or bring your checkbook.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
SVRWF now has a permanent P.O. Box – please change your records…
SVRWF
PO. Box 2153
Sunnyvale, CA 94087-0153
Political News Compiled by Eve Bretzke
NATIONAL / WASHINGTON, D.C.
THE PRESIDENT: This week in the State of the Union address, I set forth my American Competitiveness Initiative. This plan will help our Nation to compete with confidence, raise the standard of living for our families, and generate new jobs for our citizens. Generations of risk-takers, inventors, and visionaries have made America the world's most prosperous and innovative nation. Just 25 years ago, most Americans used typewriters instead of computers, rotary phones instead of cell phones, and bank tellers instead of ATMs. Today America is at the doorstep of even more technological advances. But we cannot afford to be complacent. We're seeing the rise of new competitors, like China and India, who are making great strides in technology. In response, some people want to wall off our economy from the world. That is called protectionism. The American people should not fear our economic future because we intend to shape our economic future… -- January 31, 2006
The U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Samuel Alito's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court by a vote of 58-42. Four Democrats voted in favor of Alito's confirmation, while one Republican, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, voted against it. -- www.nfrw.org, February 3, 2006
Ben S. Bernanke was sworn in on February 1, 2006, as Chairman and a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Dr. Bernanke also serves as Chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee, the System's principal monetary policymaking body. He was appointed as a member of the Board to a full 14-year term, which expires January 31, 2020, and to a four-year term as Chairman, which expires January 31, 2010. – The Federal Reserve Board, 02/01/06
Boehner Wins House Majority Leader Race - House Republicans picked Rep. John Boehner of Ohio as their new majority leader Thursday, one month after Rep. Tom DeLay stepped down permanently to deal with a campaign financing-related indictment in his home state of Texas. Boehner succeeded in a second-round ballot to oust Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, 122-109, after he trailed behind in the first round of voting. –www.nfrw.org, February 3, 2006
Chertoff pledges extra $5.4 billion to border security -- Citing recent violent incidents along the U.S. border with Mexico, the director of Homeland Security said an extra $5.4 billion in the department's proposed budget for next year would go toward meeting demands for more detention beds, border patrol officers and high-tech surveillance cameras.
CALIFORNIA/ SACRAMENTO
Additional Congress Members Add Their Support to the Poizner Campaign (Sacramento) - Congresswoman Mary Bono announced that she’s joining newly elected Congressman John Campbell as well as Congressmen John Doolittle, Jerry Lewis, Richard Pombo, and Devin Nunes in supporting Steve Poizner for Insurance Commissioner.
Kennedy May Be More of a Liability Than Help to Governor -- This probably was not what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had in mind when he signed up Democrat Susan Kennedy to be his chief of staff. You've got to wonder, however, what exactly he was thinking. It looks like yet another case of political naivete. Los Angeles Times -- 2/13/06
*** California is #1*** That headline used to be a good thing, followed by news that the Golden State was excelling. Unfortunately, what we are #1 in now is the
percentage of new mothers who are not citizens: 33.6%. It is staggering
percentage, and while it does not separate legal immigrants from illegal
ones, it adds fuel to the fire over what we need to do about our borders.-- THE LEONARD LETTER 02/14/06, Bill Leonard, Member State Board of Equalization
MORE NEWS…
THE United Nations has drawn up plans to privatize the bulk of its staff at its New York headquarters or have their work done more cheaply overseas. The move is in response to mounting demands for reform from the United States, its biggest paymaster. The Bush administration has made an overhaul of management a centre piece of its UN reform program. John Bolton, US ambassador to the UN, once said that if the New York headquarters lost 10 of its 38 floors, “it wouldn’t make a bit of difference”. He is leading an effort to move the UN towards the efficiency of a private company, including transforming the deputy secretary general into a chief operating officer and demanding that tasks are done by merit, not geography. – from Annan prepares for Privatization of UN, J. Lauria & F. Nelson, The Business Online, 02/12/06
The fundraising numbers are in for 2005, and the $28.5-million spread between the Republicans and the Democrats is the widest in 15 years. The RNC raised $102 million and had $34 million left over at the end of the year, while Howard Dean's mouth was able to scare up only $51 million for the DNC, with $5.5 million left in the bank at year's end. The Mad Doctor claims the Demos are on a roll now that they have staffers in all 50 states. If that's his measure of success, then he's come to the game even later than we thought. -- 27 January 2006, PatriotPost.US, Patriot No. 06-04
According to the U.S. Labor Department, jobless claims have fallen to their lowest level since April 2000. -- NFRW Capital Connection, January 23, 2006
CULTURE
The mayhem has centered in four nations: Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan and Syria. Each has a double-digit unemployment rate, and poverty rates between 32 percent and 52 percent. All have large pools of idle men who can show up for a mob activity at a moment's notice. In short, they're havens for losers, uniquely equipped to stage such spectacles. -- From Pursuing Mayhem by Tony Snow 02/10/06
On the small screen, ABC's "Commander in Chief" was pulled temporarily for low ratings. "Commander" is not just about a female president, but about a feminist president and is clearly a tool for the feminist agenda. When one considers the recent poll numbers on Hillary, the show's failure comes as no surprise. – US Patriot 06-05 Digest. 02/03/06
What's black and white and in the red all over? The New York Times, which has reported severe circulation decline, announced that fourth-quarter earnings fell 41 percent from the same period in 2004. Could it be that constant partisan attacks on all persons with an "R" after their name (except John McCain, of course), and an uncontrollable urge to root against America are causing the decline? Turning a deaf ear to the obvious, the Times, now raising home-delivery rates by four percent, is following the model of the U.S. Postal Service: Don't improve your product, just raise your rates. -- 27 January 2006, PatriotPost.US, Patriot No. 06-04
QUOTED
"There's a baby-boomer bulge. I was born in '46, on the leading edge of what we call the baby boomers, and there's a lot of us getting ready to retire, which means you are going to have to pay for a lot more people in the system, plus we've been promised greater benefits than the previous generation. So the system is going to go broke unless we do something about it." —President George W. Bush
"Far from being a hopeless dream, the advance of freedom is the great story of our time. In 1945, there were about two dozen lonely democracies in the world. Today, there are 122... At the start of 2006, more than half the people of our world live in democratic nations, and we do not forget the other half—in places like Syria and Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea and Iran—because the demands of justice, and the peace of this world, require their freedom as well." —President George W. Bush
"Burger King...withdrew its ice cream cones from its British menus because Rashad Akhtar of High Wycombe complained that the creamy swirl shown on the lid looked like the word 'Allah' in Arabic script. I don't know which sura in the Koran says don't forget, folks, it's not just physical representations of God or the Prophet but also chocolate ice cream squiggly representations of the name, but nay on both just to be 'sensitive'." —Mark Steyn
"[T]hree cartoons made political points. One showed Muhammad turning away suicide bombers from the gates of heaven, saying 'Stop, stop—we ran out of virgins!' —which I believe was a commentary on Muslims' predilection for violence. Another was a cartoon of Muhammad with horns, which I believe was a commentary on Muslims' predilection for violence. The third showed Muhammad with a turban in the shape of a bomb, which I believe was an expression of post-industrial ennui in a secular—oops, no, wait: It was more of a commentary on Muslims' predilection for violence. In order to express their displeasure with the idea that Muslims are violent, thousands of Muslims around the world engaged in rioting, arson, mob savagery, flag-burning, murder and mayhem, among other peaceful acts of nonviolence. Muslims are the only people who make feminists seem laid-back." —Ann Coulter
NFRW ASSOCIATION NEWS
Source: NFRW Capital Connection, The Week of February 6, 2006
Ellen R. Sauerbrey, a member of Maryland FRW, has been appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as Assistant Secretary of State (Population, Refugees and Migration). Sauerbrey was sworn-in by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Jan. 26. Previously, Sauerbrey served as ambassador and representative of the United States to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations Commission of the Status of Women. She also served as a member of the United States delegation to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
Dr. Diane Rivers, an NFRW Regent, was appointed by President George W. Bush as a commissioner for the National Commission on Libraries and Information Sciences last year. She was confirmed by the Senate and sworn-in by Chief of Staff Andy Card in December.
POLITICAL BRIEFING
National Federation
of Republican Women, February 13, 2006, Vol. 4, Briefing No. 6
President Lays Out Bold Reform Agenda in FY2007 Budget
On January 31, President Bush laid out a
bold reform agenda for the nation in his State of the Union Address. Following
his agenda, he submitted the FY2007 Budget to Congress. This budget will aid in
the reform process the President has set forward. From his strong focus on
America’s competitiveness and creating jobs, to making health care more
affordable, to winning the War on Terror, President Bush is confronting the
challenges of our time with boldness and clarity.
As a member of the National Federation of Republican Women, we urge you to act
promptly to progress the President’s reform agenda. We need to get the message
to Members of Congress and local communities. You can help by:
Calling your senators and asking that they support the President’s agenda,
including his budget proposals. To find phone numbers, visit
www.congress.org, or call (202)
224-3121 to reach the U.S. Capitol operator.
Writing a
letter to the editor regarding this
issue. Media contacts can be found at
www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/.
Talking to friends, family and members of your community about this issue.
Discuss with them the importance of the President’s agenda, including his budget
proposals. To find specific budget information affecting your state, please go
to
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/budget/2006/states/.
Highlights of the
President’s FY2007 Budget
The President’s 2007 Budget continues the
successful pro-growth policies that have encouraged robust economic growth and
job creation. A strong economy, together with spending restraint, is critical to
reducing the deficit. The Budget builds on last year’s successful spending
restraint by again holding the growth of overall discretionary spending below
inflation, proposing to reduce non-security discretionary spending below the
previous year’s level, and calling for the elimination or reduction of programs
not getting results or not fulfilling essential priorities. Like last year, the
budget proposes savings and reforms to mandatory spending programs, whose
unsustainable growth poses the real long-term danger to our fiscal health.
Continuing Our Economic Expansion
The Budget continues the President’s pro-growth policies vital to our economy’s
continued expansion. With the full implementation of the President’s tax relief
plan in 2003, the Nation has added more than 4.7 million new jobs, productivity
has increased at a 3 percent annual rate, homeownership has reached all-time
highs, and the American economy is growing faster than other major
industrialized nations.
Because America needs more than a temporary expansion, taxpayers need more than
temporary tax relief. The Budget proposes to make permanent the tax relief
enacted in 2001 and 2003, preventing a tax increase on families and small
businesses.
The strength of our economy has produced rapid increases in the level of Federal
receipts, which are critical to reducing the deficit. From 2004 to 2005,
receipts grew 14.5 percent ($274 billion), or more than twice as fast as the
economy itself. The Budget forecasts receipts to grow another $132 billion from
2005 to 2006, an increase of 6.1 percent.
Restraining Spending and Cutting the Deficit
Through continued pro-growth economic policies and spending restraint, the
Budget keeps us on track to meet the President’s goal of cutting the deficit in
half by 2009. The Budget:
Again holds the growth of overall discretionary spending below inflation and
again proposes to reduce non-security discretionary spending below the previous
year’s level.
Terminates or reduces 141 programs that are not getting results or not
fulfilling essential priorities, for a proposed savings of $14.7 billion,
building on last year’s success in which savings of $6.5 billion were achieved
in 89 of the President’s proposals.
Requests that Congress give the President a Constitutional line-item veto. All
savings from the line-item veto would be used for deficit reduction.
Projects the deficit will decline from its projected 2004 peak of 4.5 percent of
GDP ($521 billion) down to 1.4 percent ($208 billion) in 2009, more than in half
and well below the 40-year historical average deficit of 2.3 percent.
The Long-Term Fiscal Danger
The greatest threat to our fiscal health over the long-term comes from
unsustainable growth in entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare,
and Medicaid.
The Budget saves $65 billion over 5 years by slowing the future growth of
entitlement spending.
In addition, it paves the way for further reforms that will be needed over the
longer term to bring Medicare’s finances in line with available resources.
The President will also continue to promote comprehensive reform of Social
Security to place the program’s finances on sustainable footing for future
generations.
Focusing On National Priorities
The Budget focuses taxpayer resources on National priorities like the War on
Terrorism, health care, energy research and strengthening our global
competitiveness through improved math and science education and research.
Fighting the War on Terror. To give our troops the resources they need to fight
terror and protect our Nation, the Budget increases defense spending by nearly 7
percent. This funding will maintain a high level of military readiness, develop
and procure new weapon systems to ensure U.S. battlefield superiority, and
support our service members and their families.
Defending the Homeland. Government-wide, non-defense homeland security funding,
including fee-funded activities, increases by more than 8 percent. The Budget
also provides resources to strengthen our borders with funding for 1,500 new
border patrol agents, 6,000 new detention beds, 560 detention and removal
personnel, and 257 attorneys to expedite removal of illegal immigrants.
Reducing Health Care Costs and Improving Access. The Budget makes health care
more affordable and available with improvements to Health Savings Accounts,
health information technology, and medical liability reform.
Reducing our Addiction to Foreign Oil. The Advanced Energy Initiative provides a
22-percent increase in research funding for cleaner, cheaper, more reliable
energy: solar, wind, nuclear, zero-emission coal, batteries for hybrid and
electric cars, hydrogen, and biomass – with the goal of replacing 75 percent of
oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.
Strengthening our Competitiveness. The American Competitiveness Initiative
commits $5.9 billion in FY2007, and more than $136 billion over 10 years, to
increase investments in research and development, recruit new math and science
teachers, encourage American innovation, and strengthen our nation’s ability to
compete in the global economy.
Promoting Compassion and Strengthening Families. The Budget continues to advance
compassionate programs that are effective in addressing social concerns,
including $322 million in targeted Faith-based and Community initiatives. These
efforts fund the Helping America’s Youth initiative, as well as other priority
programs.
Delivering Results and Controlling Spending. The President proposes reforms to
control spending and to ensure programs deliver greater results. The 2007
Budget:
Proposes statutory limits on discretionary spending, enforced by across-the-board cuts. Proposes biennial budgeting, which would allow lawmakers to devote more time every other year to ensuring that taxpayers’ money is spent wisely and efficiently. Proposes creation of a Results Commission and a Sunset Commission to improve agency and program performance and reduce unnecessary costs to taxpayers. Launches ExpectMore.gov to improve Federal program transparency and accountability and focus on results.
Sources:
www.whitehouse.gov
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31st Advocacy Workshop and Luncheon
March 20-21, 2006
Hyatt Regency Sacramento
Please complete the following form. Make your checks payable to SVRWF
Name: _______________________________
Address: _____________________________
City, State, ZIP: ________________________
Phone: _______________________________
E-Mail: _______________________________
Number
Monday Luncheon _______ @$33.00 = ________
Advocacy Open House _______ @ N/C = ________
Non-Ambassadors Reception Event _______ @$40.00 = ________
Red Jacket Rally Photo _______ @$20.00 = ________
Advocacy Registration (Adult) _______ @$30.00 = ________
Advocacy Luncheon _______ @$27.00 = ________
Total Enclosed…………………………………………………………… $________
On Monday, only those with tickets will be admitted to lunch. Hotel reservations must be made directly with the Hyatt Regency Sacramento – 916-443-1234. Please reference the Advocacy Workshop. Direct any questions to Doris Whitney at 408-997-0581.
SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
PREVOST PROPERTIES
Charles Prevost *4801 Yamato Drive * San Jose, CA 93111
408-972-2599
AVON – Buy or Sell
Alice Wilson
A representative of AVON – The world’s #1 beauty company
408-733-6352
Proud member of the Silicon Valley Republican Women Federated
D. Jo Ann Barr
Elected member of the Santa Clara County Republican Party
Robert E. Temmerman, Jr. – Certified Specialist – Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law
State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
408-998-9500 Extension 237
2502 Stevens Creek Boulevard, San Jose, California 95128 – rtemmerman@calteclaw.com
Laura Riffle, EA
FEDERALLY AUTHORIZED TAX PRACTITIONER
2095 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126 – 408-551-2130
CENTURY 21 * El Camino
Doris Whitney
Realtor ®
761 East El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, California 94087 – 408-997-0581 – www.c21ec.com
Rosemary Hernandez, EA, CFP
Federally Authorized Tax Practictioner
2095 Park Avenue, San Jose, California 95126 – 408-551-2130 rosemaryah@aol.com
Individuals * Self-Employed * Estate Trust * Real Estate
Golfland ® Entertainment Centers
Sunnyvale San Jose Milpitas
855 East El Camino Real 976 Blossom Hill Road I-680 at Jacklin Road
408-245-1322 408-225-1533 408-263-4330
RAMADA SILICON VALLEY * Home of the SVRWF
Phone: 408-245-5330 * 101 at Lawrence Expressway
“A great place for banquets, meetings and weddings”