UPCOMMING EVENTS
Oct. 2 Regular Luncheon Meeting, 11:30 AM Social, 12:00 PM
Lunch. Speaker: Dr. Gloria Hom.
Oct. 9 Regular Board Meeting, Location / Time TBA
Nov. 4 Election Day – VOTE REPUBLICAN!
Nov. 22-23 Northern Division Fall Conference -"Race to the Crowne Plaza",
Foster City, Nov. 22-23.
SILICON VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED NEWSLETTER
–
OCTOBER 2008
MEMBER NEWS
Adopt-A-Chaplain
Update: The program continues to
support the troops and the chaplains that serve them. The weather is changing
in Iraq as are the requests for needed items. Grab-and-go food and powder
drink (single serving packs) items are the most needed now. Thank you to the
club members for your ongoing support of this program.
McCain-Palin yard signs, bumper stickers, and lapel stickers are available at
our headquarters.
Supplies are limited!! Stop by to show your support for our winning ticket.
Help us increase voter awareness, a key component to ensure a Republican
victory this November. With the Presidential campaign looming, the Santa Clara
County Republican Party is gearing up to make 2008 our most successful yet.
For info, 408-246-6600 or
Director@SvGop.com. Headquarters is
located at 522 North Monroe Street (at the corner of Forest Ave & N. Monroe
behind Valley Fair Mall.)
LEGISLATION
CFRW Mini Voter Guide
Proposition 1
- Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century (AKA
High Speed Rail).
Proposition 1 is on hold do to legal troubles. The Proposition is not in the
voter guide at this time and may or may not be on ballot as Proposition 1a.
Proposition 2
- Treatment of Farm Animals –
CFRW
Opposes.
Proposition 2 literally threatens the safety of California’s egg industry. If
Prop 2 passes, it will set back years of research and legislation which
developed the current safety standards on the housing of California chickens.
Proposition 3
- Children's Hospital Bond Act –
CFRW
Opposes.
Authorizes $980,000,000 in general obligation bonds for construction,
expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing, and equipping of eligible
children’s hospitals, including University of California general acute care
hospitals. An almost identical initiative, Proposition 61, which authorized
the sale of $750 million in general obligation bonds to fund children’s
hospitals, passed in 2004. Unspent funds from Proposition 61 are still
available, as only $403 million has been awarded to eligible hospitals
Proposition 4
- Waiting Period and Parental Notification before Termination of Minor’s
Pregnancy –
CFRW
Supports.
Sarah’s Law is a constitutional amendment. Sarah’s Law requires a doctor to
notify a parent, or, in case of parental abuse, another adult family member of
an unemancipated minor 48 hours before performing an abortion on her. It also
requires a doctor to obtain the personal consent of a minor before performing
the abortion and allows for court intervention if a minor is being coerced to
have an abortion. California’s parental consent law, Health and Safety Code
Section 12345, (passed by the California Legislature and signed by the
Governor in 1987) was upheld by the California Supreme Court in 1996, but that
decision was reversed in 1997, thus blocking the implementation of
California’s parental consent law. Sarah’s Law is a constitutional amendment,
so that its implementation cannot be blocked by California state courts.
Proposition 5
- Nonviolent Offenders. Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation
–
CFRW Opposes. It is impossible to distill
every aspect of it into a discussion brief enough for our purposes. However,
the most important aspects are as follows: It expands and increases funding
and oversight for individualized treatment and rehabilitation programs for
nonviolent drug offenders and parolees. It reduces criminal consequences of
nonviolent drug offenses by mandating three-tiered probation with treatment
and by providing for case dismissal and/or sealing of records after probation.
It limits somewhat the court’s authority in dealing with offenders who violate
probation or parole. It shortens parole for most drug offenses, including
sales, and for nonviolent property crimes. It creates new divisions, boards,
commissions, and reporting requirements regarding drug treatment and
rehabilitation. It changes certain marijuana misdemeanors to infractions.
Estimates of costs/savings vary so widely as to be almost meaningless, given
the magnitude of the proposal. Costs could run over $1 billion dollars for
setting up the various treatment and rehabilitation programs. These costs
should be less after the initial start-up. Savings are estimated to be in the
$1 billion dollar range, primarily due to the reduction of prison population
and costs of incarceration.
SILICON
VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED
NEWSLETTER
–
OCTOBER 2008
CFRW Mini Voter Guide (cont.)
Proposition 6
- Criminal Penalties and Laws. Public Safety Funding. –
CFRW
Supports.
This initiative would require new state spending on various criminal justice
programs and increased costs for prison and parole operations. Funding would
come from the General Fund, reallocating funds currently spent on Education,
Health and Human Services etc. It would try juveniles 14 years and older
convicted of “gang related” felonies as adults, penalize recipients of public
housing with eviction if they do not submit or pass annual criminal background
checks, increase penalties for several crimes – violating gang injunctions,
using or possessing to sell meth, carrying loaded or concealed firearms by
certain felons, eliminate bail for illegal aliens charged with violent or gang
related felonies, change evidence rules to allow certain hearsay statements as
evidence when witnesses are unavailable. (It requires a ¾ vote to amend, and
only a majority vote to add.)
Proposition 7 -
Renewable Energy. - Analysis currently pending.
Proposition 8
- Limits on Marriage (AKA Protect Marriage) -
CFRW
Supports.
Amends the California Constitution to provide that only marriage between a
man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. The measure would have
no fiscal effect on state or local governments. This is because there would be
no change to the manner in which marriages are currently recognized by the
state.
Proposition 9
- Criminal Justice System. Victims’ Rights. Parole -
CFRW
Supports.
This measure changes some of the provisions of Proposition 8 in several major
areas relating to victim’s rights, and it also addresses changes in parole
consideration for lifers. (1) It requires restitution in every case, without
exception, where the victim has suffered a loss and the restitution must be
made before any other fines or penalties are assessed. (2) The right to
notification has been expanded. Under Proposition 9, those rights would be
expanded to notify victims of all criminal proceedings, including the right to
notice of a criminal’s release after arrest but before a trial. Victims would
also be permitted to discuss charges with prosecutors and participate in other
parts of the criminal justice process. The limit on the number of the victim’s
family who could attend or testify at hearings would be removed, and a
representative of the victim could attend and testify even in the victim’s
absence. (3) This measure would place restrictions on the early release of
criminals. It requires that prison and jail overcrowding not be a
consideration in release and that the full term be served, except that
constitutionally authorized “credits” (earned for good behavior or
participation in certain programs) would still be accrued to reduce a
sentence. In the matter of parole consideration, Proposition 9 would extend
the time between parole hearings to between 3 and 15 years (instead of the
current 1 and 5 years), but inmates would be able to request that the hearing
date be moved up. On a somewhat unrelated subject, the definition of “safe,
secure, and peaceful” schools would be expanded to include junior colleges and
colleges.
Proposition 10-
Bonds Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy -
CFRW
Opposes.
This initiative authorizes $5 Billion in bonds paid from the state’s General
Fund, allocated approximately as follows: • 58% in cash payments of between
$2K and $50K to purchasers of certain high fuel economy and alternative fuel
vehicles • 20% in incentives for research, development and production of
renewable energy technology • 11% in incentives for research and development
of alternative fuel vehicle technology • 5% in incentives for purchase of
renewable energy technology • 4% in grants to eight cities for education about
these technologies • 3% in grants to colleges to train students in these
technologies. Fiscal Impact: • State costs of about $9.8 billion over 30 years
to pay both the principal $5B in addition to the interest ($4.8B) costs on the
bond • Potential state costs of up to about $10M annually, through about
2018-19 for state agency administrative costs not funded by the measure.
Proposition 11
- Redistricting, Constitutional Amendment -
CFRW
Supports.
This reform takes away from politicians the power to draw their own districts
and places the responsibility in the hands of a 14-person citizens commission
comprised of five Democrats, 5 Republicans and 4 “independents.” The
initiative also requires that district lines respect the geographic integrity
of cities, counties, neighborhoods, and of communities of interest.
Proposition 12-
Veterans’ Bond Act of 2008 -
CFRW
Supports.
This measure authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to sell
$900,000,000.00 in General Obligation Bonds and allows the Cal Vet Home Loan
Program to continue to fund the purchase of homes, farms and mobile homes for
California Veterans who served at least one day of active duty prior to 1977
and applied for the loan within 30 years.
(Note: The Attorney General’s office has made so many name changes to the
proposition titles that the safe way to vote will be going by the Proposition
numbers and not the titles.)
SILICON
VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED
NEWSLETTER
–
OCTOBER 2008
CA Legislation Update:
During the 2007-08 Legislative Session, the Advocacy office filtered through
all the bills the legislators introduced in the Assembly and Senate. The
Legislative Analysts filtered by subject, selecting bills in their fields of
interest. The Analysts and Advocate then tracked 364 bills. Of those bills,
the Governor vetoed 20 bills, 52 are awaiting his action, 59 bills were signed
into law, and 230 died in committee or never made it out of the house of
origin.
National
Update from
NRWF and
other sources
Talking
Points on The Economic Crisis from NRWF
John
McCain is committed to fixing the Wall Street mess, reforming Washington, and
most importantly, enacting a pro-growth agenda to create jobs for Americans
and to get this country back on track. Unlike Barack Obama, John McCain has
laid out his plan for reforming our financial markets. Barack Obama has put
forth no plan for reforming our financial markets. Barack Obama will not even
state a position on the biggest bailout so far - AIG. Barack Obama is content
to merely vote "present" on this current economic crisis - and that's not
presidential leadership. John McCain supports smart regulation. Our regulatory
structures need to be updated to reflect the modern financial system. Two
years ago, John McCain warned that the taxpayers would bear the cost of Fannie
Mae and Freddie Mac unless reforms were adopted. At the same time, Barack
Obama was silent as he took campaign contributions from Fannie and Freddie and
took advice from their former CEOs. (IF PRESSED ABOUT HEALTH CARE): Barack
Obama's attack on interstate banking laws that have little to do with our
current crisis demonstrates a lack of understanding of the nature of the
challenges we face.
The
Economic Plan Under Negotiation:
What we need in a plan for reform is accountability for Wall Street,
accountability for government, and a commitment to protecting peoples' homes
and life savings and restoring our financial markets. It is clear that
Congress must act and must act quickly. John McCain laid out his plan and
priorities last Friday. He spoke to Secretary Paulson over the weekend, and is
looking at the plan the administration has put forth. With great respect for
Sec. Paulson, John McCain is greatly concerned that the plan gives a single
individual the unprecedented power to spend $1 trillion. We will not solve a
problem caused by poor oversight with a plan that has no oversight. John
McCain believes we need a high level oversight board to impose real criteria
for who gets help and who does not; and to ensure that we have a careful
steward of the taxpayer's dollars. It should be bipartisan and have qualified
citizens who have no agenda but the protection of taxpayers and the financial
markets. John McCain believes we need to reform a Wall Street in need of
accountability. We cannot have taxpayers footing the bill for bloated golden
parachutes like we have seen in the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, where the top
executives are looking at $2.5 billion in bonuses after they ran the company
into the ground. We can't have taxpayers paying bonuses to executives at
failed institutions and they should make no more than the highest paid
government official.
Pushback
On Deregulation Attacks:
On the campaign trail, Barack Obama decries the very same 1999 deregulation
bill that his running-mate voted for, his economic team pushed for, his major
Republican support co-authored and President Clinton signed into law.
According to the full quote that Barack Obama is citing, John McCain says he
supports common-sense regulation and oversight of our financial markets.
Economic
Top line Message:
John McCain has outlined an economic recovery plan to get our economy back on
track. His economic recovery plan will create millions of jobs and create
opportunity in America.
“[T]he House of Representatives approved a bill to allow offshore oil
drilling, but nearly all the Republicans voted against it...
It isn’t a drilling bill, it’s an anti-drilling bill. If it becomes law,
nearly all the oil and gas in the Outer Continental Shelf would be off-limits
forever... This bill permanently bans all drilling within 50 miles of the US
coast, which just happens to be where most of the recoverable oil and gas
reserves are. It permits drilling between 50 and 100 miles out only if the
adjoining states agree - which they won’t, since the bill denies them any
share in the royalties the
SILICON
VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED
NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER 2008
(cont.) oil companies would have to pay, thereby eliminating any financial
incentive for a state to say yes. Virtually all the oil off the California
coast and beneath the Eastern Gulf of Mexico would be locked up for good.
Don’t be fooled:
The only offshore drilling this bill really opens the door to would have to be
100 miles or more out to sea, where the oil companies have no
infrastructure... According to the Interior Department, the offshore areas
where drilling is restricted contain more than 19 billion barrels—that’s equal
to 30 years of current imports from Saudi Arabia. The bill would deny
Americans access to as much as nine-tenths of that oil. A good deal? I don’t
think so.” —Jeff
Jacoby
The
House voted 266-152 Wednesday to repeal the District of Columbia’s continued
ban on guns.
After the Supreme Court affirmed the meaning of the Second Amendment in June,
the District had thumbed its nose at the Court, maintaining its ban on
semi-automatic handguns while allowing registered revolvers that were kept
unloaded and with a trigger lock. The House bill takes away DC’s ability to
write its own gun laws. However, it faces a stiff challenge in the Senate. “If
this bill comes to the floor of the United States Senate, I will do everything
in my power to stop it,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
“Joe Biden isn’t
backing down from his startling claim last week that raising taxes on the rich
is the ‘patriotic’ thing
to do. [In fact,] he upped the ante, thundering that he also has Jesus in his
corner. ‘Catholic social doctrine as I was taught it is, you take care of
people who need the help the most,’ Mr. Biden preached to a group of union
supporters... We won’t get into a theological debate with Mr. Biden, except to
say that Biblical tax rates tended to run around 10%, not the 39.6%-plus that
Barack Obama’s tax plan calls for. As for patriotism, maybe the young Joe
Biden missed school the day the Boston Tea Party was being taught. There’s
also the point that if you want to finance a war, you need a strong enough
economy to throw off the tax revenues to pay for it. As we learned in the
1980s under Reagan, lower taxes that help an economy grow can finance a
defense buildup that helps win the Cold War. By that standard, cuts in
marginal income tax rates deserve to be called patriotic. Regarding taxes and
social justice, the issue is whether the high taxes that Mr. Biden favors
promote economic growth and prosperity, not least for America’s poorest
citizens. There he doesn’t have evidence on his side. Studies from around the
world, including the annual
Wall Street Journal-Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom,
conclusively indicate that countries that keep taxes low tend to have the
least amount of poverty. As for fairness, we’d note that today the top 1% of
taxpayers pay twice as large a share of income taxes (39%) at a 35% rate than
they did in 1980, when they were taxed at a rate of 70% yet paid only 19% of
income taxes. In that sense, the tax code is more ‘progressive’ now. By the
way, Mr. Biden and his wife recently released their tax returns, and they
reported an average of $380, or 0.2% of their income, in annual charitable
contributions over a 10-year period. The national average was about 2% of
income.” —The Wall Street Journal
Other
Despite the slowing
economy, Senator Barack Obama admits that he will raise taxes
if elected President. But, he assures us, only on the top 5% of income earners
in America. There's one problem with that -- most taxpayers filing as
individuals in the top income brackets are actually small businesses, which
create most new jobs in America.
“I’m not running for president
because I think I’m blessed with such personal greatness that history has
anointed me to save our country in its hour of need. My country saved me...
and I cannot forget it. And I will fight for her for as long as I draw breath,
so help me God. I’m going to fight for my cause every day as your president.
I’m going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God,
as I thank Him: that I’m an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country
on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things
are always within our reach. Fight with me. Fight for what’s right for our
country. Fight for the ideals and character of a free people. Fight for our
children’s future. Fight for justice and opportunity for all. Stand up to
defend our country from its enemies. Stand up for each other, for beautiful,
blessed, bountiful America. Stand up and fight. We’re Americans, and we never
give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history. Thank
you, and God bless you, and God bless America.” —John McCain, concluding
his nomination acceptance speech.
SILICON
VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED
NEWSLETTER
–
OCTOBER 2008
