SILICON VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED NEWSLETTER

                      May 2008           

 

President: Ellen Longworth (408)354-0419 ~ 1st V.P & Program: Carol Greenleaf (408)867-5680

~2nd V.P/Membership: Laura Riffle (408)263-0990 ~ Treasurer: Naomi Blais ~

Secretary: Gloria Estes ~ Newsletter Editor/Legislation: Eve Bretzke  

Website: www.svrwf.org, Address: PO Box 2153, Sunnyvale, CA 94087

 

All SVRWF Luncheon and Dinner Meetings are held at the Ramada Inn,

Silicon Valley located at 1217 Wildwood Ave. Sunnyvale, California.

Luncheon Meetings: Social 11:30 AM., Lunch 12:00 PM, Cost $18.00.

 

Our next luncheon meeting is May 1^st  at 11:30 AM. 

Menu Choices:  Shrimp & Artichoke Salad -- Whole Steamed Artichoke with Mini Bay Shrimp OR Szechwan Pepper Beef -- Sautéd Juicy Beef Served with Steamed Rice.

Louise Kenny 739-4724 or Alice Wilson 733-6352 for reservations. 

“A reservation made is a reservation paid!”

 

Our guest speaker this month is Terry Anderson.  His presentation is titled “Greener Than Thou: Are YOU Really an Environmentalist?” 

 

Terry Anderson, the John and Jean DeNault Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, is the executive director of PERC – the Property and Environment Research Center – a think tank in Bozeman, Montana, that focuses on market solutions to environmental  problems, and  professor emeritus at Montana State University.  Mr. Anderson’s work has helped launch the idea of free market environmentalism and has prompted public debate over the balance between markets and government in managing natural resources.

 

Anderson is the author of thirty books.  Among these, Free Market Environmentalism, Accounting for Mother Nature (Stanford University Press, 2008); Self-Determination: the Other Path for Native American Indians (Stanford University Press, 2006); and Property Rights; A Practical Guide to Freedom and Prosperity (Hoover Institution Press, 2003).  Anderson has published widely in both professional journals and the popular press, including the Wall Street Journal, the Christian Science Monitor, and Fly Fisherman.

 

Mr. Anderson received his BS degree from University of Montana, and a Ph.D. in economic from the University of Washington after which he began his teaching career at Montana State University.  Anderson is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and archery hunting around the world. 

 

Let’s welcome Terry Anderson to this month’s luncheon meeting.  Bring a friend!

 

SILICON VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED NEWSLETTER – MAY 2008

 

 

 

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE (4/20/08)

 

Spring is Fun.  It seems like only yesterday was April 1^st (April Fools Day).  Laughter is so good for all of us regardless of age.  It is important not to get caught up in the anger and meanness that is widespread.  Finding fault with things and complaining will only make one miserable. 

 

In this age of electronics there are so many things you are exposed to.  We’re all making choices everyday.  It is exciting to sit down at your computers, send email and look for information on whatever you desire.  Within minutes you can find the answers to your inquiring mind.  The computer is also a wonderful tool for laughter.  There are so many things they do that make you laugh.  Children at play, the things children say and the joy they bring to you.  The old saying, “Life is short”, is so true, all the more reason to use your mind to think good thoughts and smile. 

 

I had a wonderful visit with my friends from Placerville.  The Spring Conference at the Jackson Rancheria was very nice and much party business was discussed.  It was stated many times over that we must get new members.  Our membership is most important.  We must also elect Republicans to office.  And when we do get legislators, assemblymen, congressmen, senators and Presidents elected we must hold their feet to the fire.  The last time we had an advantage we just sort of stood still. 

 

There are so many bad bills being passed through our state and also nationwide.  I know it is difficult to keep track of all this and lead our busy lives but if we want to maintain our freedom we have to work for it!  So let us get busy and work extra hard to get our people in office in November.

 

 

Regards,

 

 

Ellen Longworth,

President, SVRWF

 

 

 

UPCOMMING EVENTS

 

May 1              Regular Luncheon Meeting, 11:30 AM Social, 12:00 PM Lunch.  Terry Anderson - Speaker, Topic:  “Greener than Thou: Are YOU Really and Environmentalist?”

 

May 7              Regular Board Meeting, Ellen Longworth’s home, 10:30 AM.  For info call (408) 354 0419.

 

May 26            Memorial Day – Fly your Flag!

 

Jun 3                Primary Election - statewide

SILICON VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED NEWSLETTER – MAY 2008

 

LEGISLATION

 

California Update from CRWF and other sources

 

Republican Leadership in Sacramento

Every election cycle there is a perennial mantra, normally voiced by a politically naïve candidate who has no understanding of Sacramento politics, purporting to effect change. This mantra, “We need better or more leadership in Sacramento”, is chanted in an attempt to compel the electorate to vote out all incumbent legislators and vote in the new candidate for office. I offer a different opinion based on my work with legislators here at the Capitol. There is a deep well of Republican leadership in Sacramento. There are men and women of great conviction and passion. Our elected Republicans are outnumbered, but when it comes to leadership, they are an equal match to Democrats.

The Senate Republicans are not as outnumbered as the Assembly Republicans. If the capitol were the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the Democrats would be running the casino by stacking the decks in their favor. The Senate Republicans chair two committees in the Senate. The Assembly Republicans chair none of the committees in the Assembly. When it comes to committee assignments, the worst ratio is five Republicans to nine Democrats on the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. On most Senate committees, there are on average, three more Democrat members than there are Republican members. In the Assembly the story is much bleaker. In most assembly committees the Democrats have two-thirds or more of the members. The Assembly committee with the greatest disparity is Appropriations where there are five Republicans to twelve Democrats. The reason Republican bills are not being heard or not passing out of their committee of origin is because the bills are being killed in the first hearing, not for lack of Republican leadership or great ideas. We are getting the door slammed in our faces. The answer is more Republican representation in Sacramento. Let us do it! -- [CFRW News] Legislation Update, April 14, 2008.

Huff’s Bill package

Assemblyman Huff (R-60) solicited our assistance in support of his package of immigration reform bills. After review, CFRW has taken a SUPPORT position on all three bills: AB 2418, AB 2420 and AB 2422. The Assemblyman’s office requested me to testify on these bills before the Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, April 8, 2008. The hearing was not televised or on the web due to the controversial nature of the bills. All three bills were killed in committee! 

 

AB 2418 - Bill would provide that no person charged with one or more certain violent or gang-related felonies shall be eligible for bail or released pending trial if, at the time of the alleged offense, the person was in the United States illegally. The bill would also require the sheriff of the county in which the subject is being held to notify federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the person's arrest and charges.

 

AB 2420 - Bill would provide that it be the policy of this state that no law enforcement entity or any local governing body may adopt an ordinance, rule, regulation, or order, or otherwise implement a policy, that prohibits law enforcement officers from initiating action to discover a person's alien status, or that prohibits a law enforcement officer from arresting or booking a person for entering the United States of America illegally.

   AB 2422 - This bill would require the department to implement and maintain procedures to identify inmates serving terms in state prison or wards of the Division of Juvenile Facilities who are undocumented felons subject to deportation. The bill would further require the department to refer to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement the name and location of any inmate or ward who has committed a violent felony or a gang-related felony, as specified, and who may be an undocumented alien and may be subject to deportation.

Coming to a Ballot Near You 

On June 3 more than 450 people are running for their party’s nomination for more than 150 congressional and state legislative seats.  Voters really should put thought into casting their ballots to ensure the very best candidates for the general election.  See complete list of candidates:  www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_cand.htm

SILICON VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED NEWSLETTER – MAY 2008

National Update from NRWF and other sources

Rep. John Campbell (R-CA) introduced the “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Act,” which would allow taxpayers to contribute voluntarily above and beyond their tax liability by adding a line on the 1040 form to that effect. “It’s a great injustice that citizens wishing to fulfill their dream of paying more taxes cannot simply check a box on their 1040 form to make a donation.”

The Senate passed the Foreclosure Prevention Act by a vote of 84-12. The bill will dole out taxpayer dollars for pre-foreclosure “counseling” to endangered home-loan borrowers (to the tune of $180 billion), money grants to communities to buy abandoned houses (tab: $4 billion), a $7,000 tax credit for the purchaser of a foreclosed property and a $6-billion tax break for the home-building industry.

The House passed the Safety of Seniors Act this week, a truly critical piece of legislation aimed at reducing the number of elderly people who fall down. The Falls Free Coalition (FFC), a collection of nonprofit groups that back the bill, says the bill calls for “education strategies to raise awareness about elder falls, encourage research to identify at-risk populations, and support demonstration projects aimed at preventing falls among older Americans.” We suppose this bit of silliness is due to the cost to Medicare for these accidents. The FFC estimates that Medicare picks up most of the annual $19-billion tab for medical care for seniors who have fallen. They predict that tab will grow to $44 billion by 2020. The Senate passed its version of the bill in August.

CFRW 33rd Advocacy Workshop, Sacramento, April 21-22, 2008 – Member News

The 33^rd Advocacy Workshop was attended by President Ellen Longworth and Legislation Chair Eve Bretzke along with two high school students, Monica and Luanne.  We enjoyed the many speakers and were privileged to hear many current state leaders speak to hundreds of students and CRWF members.  The state of State looks rather unhealthy these days although it was a beautiful but cloudy day in our capitol.  The issues of the budget, illegal immigration, environmental regulations, agribusiness and other current topics were discussed by the various leaders including the honorable Bill Jones, California Chair of the McCain for President Campaign and Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia.  As always, when we as members attend such events, we come away with a greater understanding of how our government works and how it doesn’t work.  Government is complex. 

 

       

 

The CFRW supports a Legislative Advocacy Office in Sacramento which lobbies the state government and keeps its eyes on current and pending legislation.  This office also supports education for women in all aspects of Republicanism and to “promote a wider knowledge of the principles and policies of the Republican Party”.   Our newsletter often has contributions from this valuable resource that our club membership supports. 

 

SILICON VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED NEWSLETTER – MAY 2008