Village Republican Women January 2013 Newsletter SPEAKER Mr. Brad Bailey Speaking this month on one of the most controversial issues facing our country is Brad Bailey, founder and CEO of The Hard Work/Clean Hands Initiative. Mr. Bailey is a small business owner who found himself on the frontlines of the illegal immigration debate and decided to get involved in finding answers. His result is known as The Texas Solution, a conservative, market-based approach to fixing our broken immigration system. On June 8 th, delegates of the Republican Party of Texas adopted The Texas Solution as its new immigration platform. And since the election results of November, there has been a lot more national attention paid to the proposal. The platform s approach to the problem of illegal immigration is a comprehensive one. Its major proposals are to secure our borders immediately, modernize the U.S. Social Security card, clarify birthright citizenship and create an effective and efficient temporary worker program. So, please come and hear from a conservative Texan who is doing the hard work of finding remedies for the failures of our current immigration system. The future of the Republican Party, especially here in Texas, may very well rest on how we address this most difficult issue. Wednesday, January 23, 2013 11:00 A.M. Check in 11:30 A.M. Lunch & Meeting 12:15 P.M. Speaker Lakeside Country Club 100 Wilcrest Drive Lunch (optional) $20.00 (cash) Menu Parmesan Breast of Chicken Served with a tomato Florentine sauce, garlic whipped potatoes and seasonal vegetables or Garden Tortellini Topped with Grilled Shrimp Served with warm herb focaccia bread and Key Lime Pie RSVP for LUNCH with your menu selection by Friday, January 18 th at 5:00 PM WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ADD LUNCHES ON THE MEETING DAY *No-Shows will be billed* Click Here to RSVP on the website Del Dodd: vrwhospitality@gmail.com 713 461 4165 Complimentary Valet Parking 1
THE GOP IS LIKE A SUPER MODEL WHO'S BEEN DOING PHOTO SHOOTS UNDER FLORESCENT BULBS WITHOUT ANY MAKEUP Now I knew you could relate to that! There is some serious wisdom and advice in the editorial attached. The following are remarks made by Rebecca Williamson, Former SREC, SD 24. I couldn't have said it better! At the risk of being politically incorrect, I cannot help but make a few comments after reading it. We are a political party, not a religious organization. We hold fast the basic truths of our Judeo/Christian upbringing and foundation of our country - honesty, integrity, fairness; but we also need to be able to have fiscal restraints in place. We CANNOT accomplish that unless we have the power to do so. The remarks of two US Senate candidates regarding rape, for instance, taint all of us. We MUST begin to look at ourselves as perceived by outsiders. Are we inviting? Are we willing to bring someone into our party if they only believe in 55% of our platform??? If not, we lose. Political reality. I am NOT suggesting we compromise our basic principles, only that we modify our language in order to allow people of different perspectives and life experiences to take another look at us. Some of the rhetoric regarding immigration and women's issues, for instance, immediately turn some people away, when they SHOULD be running to us for help. We are fighting a battle against a serious liberal agenda. We cannot win if we also battle between ourselves. It is difficult to fight against a well-oiled machine (including most media) that doesn't embrace the qualities I mentioned earlier. It is impossible to win when the voter fraud is out of control. But we must first understand something - we have to be what a political party must be - a coalition of different factions that come together for common goals. What are our goals? If we want power, we are certainly not achieving THAT goal. We are at a turning point. Do we go down the same failed path or try to find a better way to market ourselves and improve our perception? (We all know the definition of insanity!) Please read this editorial and understand that this is the future speaking. http://online.wsj.com/article_email/sb10001424127887324439804578107410973408952- lmyqjaxmtaymdewmjexndiywj.html?mod=wsj_valetleft_email Then, after taking this in, take a deep breath, inhale, exhale, and make a New Years Resolution to be a part of the new image of the Republican Party. Come to the VRW "CHAT" January 9th and share some cheer and lively conversation on how we are going to RESHAPE our image! HAPPY NEW YEAR! To RSVP for C.H.A.T on Wednesday January 9 hjrohde@aol.com or 281-496-1195 See invitation below 2
QUEEN of VILLAGE Lauren Taylor Lauren Taylor is a native Houstonian and fourth generation Texan with a strong background in business marketing, as well as political and non-profit fundraising. She has a degree in Business Economics from Oklahoma State University, where she also served as the Oklahoma State Party interim Finance Director in 2006 and as the College Republican State Chairman in 2002. She has staffed a Congressional and Gubernatorial race, as well as several state wide initiatives, and while in Washington DC for two years, worked for the US Chamber of Commerce. For the last 5 years "post-politics", Lauren has been making "an honest living" helping friends and neighbors make wise Real Estate decisions, with a wonderful "boutique" real estate firm in the Spring Valley Area, Tammy Bateman Properties. Her love for real estate stems from a lifelong interest in interior design and architecture. She also spends time with her favorite Spring Branch non-profit, New Spring, assisting in their Business Plan Competition and annual Art Auction. She lives in Spring Branch with her 18 month old son "Grady," their 2 horses and dog "Chief". An avid equestrian for over 25 years, she also enjoys antiquing, bird hunting, gardening, skiing, and traveling. Many thanks to everyone who made the Westside Republican Headquarters a huge success. These elected officials made donations or provided services that made it possible to have all the amenities we needed: Commissioner Steve Radack, Representative Jim Murphy, Representative Dwayne Bohac, Councilman Oliver Pennington, Senator Dan Patrick, Congressman John Culberson and Congressman Ted Poe. Members of Village, Daughters of Liberty, Memorial West and Cy-Fair Republican Women volunteered hundreds of hours. Kathaleen Wall served as the Volunteer Coordinator, Nancy Scott compiled the final financial report with help from Brenda Stardig and Buffie Ingersoll stepped in to cover for Kathaleen when she had to tend to family matters. Harris County Republican Party Chair Jared Woodfill allowed us to use the Party name so we could campaign for Federal candidates. It was a wonderful experience and I am glad I was able to make my dream a reality. Beverly Roberts Important Dates: JANUARY 7 JANUARY 9 JANUARY 23 APRIL 12 APRIL 18 VRW BOARD MEETING AT SOSA CENTER VRW CHAT CHICKS HAVING AN AWESOME TIME at NOLIA S HOME VRW GENERAL MEETING LAKESIDE COUNTRY CLUB VRW BIENNIAL FUNDRAISING AT LAKESIDE CC LEGISLATIVE DAY IN AUSTIN 3
Why $16 Trillion Only Hints at the True U.S. Debt By Chris Cox and Bill Archer (Mr. Cox, a former chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee and the Securities and Exchange Commission, is president of Bingham Consulting LLC. Mr. Archer, a former chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, is a senior policy adviser at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.) A decade and a half ago, both of us served on President Clinton's Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement and Tax Reform, the forerunner to President Obama's recent National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. In 1994 we predicted that, unless something was done to control runaway entitlement spending, Medicare and Social Security would eventually go bankrupt or confront severe benefit cuts. Eighteen years later, nothing has been done. Why? The usual reason is that entitlement reform is the third rail of American politics. That explanation presupposes voter demand for entitlements at any cost, even if it means bankrupting the nation. A better explanation is that the full extent of the problem has remained hidden from policy makers and the public because of less than transparent government financial statements. How else could responsible officials claim that Medicare and Social Security have the resources they need to fulfill their commitments for years to come? As Washington wrestles with the roughly $600 billion "fiscal cliff" and the 2013 budget, the far greater fiscal challenge of the U.S. government's unfunded pension and health-care liabilities remains offstage. The truly important figures would appear on the federal balance sheet -- if the government prepared an accurate one. But it hasn't. For years, the government has gotten by without having to produce the kind of financial statements that are required of most significant for-profit and nonprofit enterprises. The U.S. Treasury "balance sheet" does list liabilities such as Treasury debt issued to the public, federal employee pensions, and post-retirement health benefits. But it does not include the unfunded liabilities of Medicare, Social Security and other outsized and very real obligations. As a result, fiscal policy discussions generally focus on current-year budget deficits, the accumulated national debt, and the relationships between these two items and gross domestic product. We most often hear about the alarming $15.96 trillion national debt (more than 100% of GDP), and the 2012 budget deficit of $1.1 trillion (6.97% of GDP). As dangerous as those numbers are, they do not begin to tell the story of the federal government's true liabilities. The actual liabilities of the federal government -- including Social Security, Medicare, and federal employees' future retirement benefits -- already exceed $86.8 trillion, or 550% of GDP. For the year ending Dec. 31, 2011, the annual accrued expense of Medicare and Social Security was $7 trillion. Nothing like that figure is used in calculating the deficit. In reality, the reported budget deficit is less than onefifth of the more accurate figure. Why haven't Americans heard about the titanic $86.8 trillion liability from these programs? One reason: The actual figures do not appear in black and white on any balance sheet. But it is possible to discover them. Included in the annual Medicare Trustees' report are separate actuarial estimates of the unfunded liability for Medicare Part A (the hospital portion), Part B (medical insurance) and Part D (prescription drug coverage). As of the most recent Trustees' report in April, the net present value of the unfunded liability of Medicare was $42.8 trillion. The comparable balance sheet liability for Social Security is $20.5 trillion. Were American policy makers to have the benefit of transparent financial statements prepared the way public companies must report their pension liabilities, they would see clearly the magnitude of the future borrowing that these liabilities imply. Borrowing on this scale could eclipse the capacity of global capital markets -- and bankrupt not only the programs themselves but the entire federal government. These real-world impacts will be felt when currently unfunded liabilities need to be paid. In theory, the Medicare and Social Security trust funds have at least some money to pay a portion of the bills that are coming due. In actuality, the cupboard is bare: 100% of the payroll taxes for these programs were spent in the same year they were collected. In exchange for the payroll taxes that aren't paid out in benefits to current retirees in any given year, the trust funds got nonmarketable Treasury debt. Now, as the baby boomers' promised benefits swamp the payroll-tax collections from today's workers, the government has to swap the trust funds' nonmarketable securities for marketable Treasury debt. The Treasury will then have to sell not only this debt, but far more, in order to pay the benefits as they come due. When combined with funding the general cash deficits, these multitrillion-dollar Treasury operations will dominate the capital markets in the years ahead, particularly given China's de-emphasis of new investment in U.S. Treasury in favor of increasing foreign direct investment, and Japan's and Europe's own sovereign-debt challenges. Continue on page 5 4
When the accrued expenses of the government's entitlement programs are counted, it becomes clear that to collect enough tax revenue just to avoid going deeper into debt would require over $8 trillion in tax collections annually. That is the total of the average annual accrued liabilities of just the two largest entitlement programs, plus the annual cash deficit. Nothing like that $8 trillion amount is available for the IRS to target. According to the most recent tax data, all individuals filing tax returns in America and earning more than $66,193 per year have a total adjusted gross income of $5.1 trillion. In 2006, when corporate taxable income peaked before the recession, all corporations in the U.S. had total income for tax purposes of $1.6 trillion. That comes to $6.7 trillion available to tax from these individuals and corporations under existing tax laws. In short, if the government confiscated the entire adjusted gross income of these American taxpayers, plus all of the corporate taxable income in the year before the recession, it wouldn't be nearly enough to fund the over $8 trillion per year in the growth of U.S. liabilities. Some public officials and pundits claim we can dig our way out through tax increases on upper-income earners, or even all taxpayers. In reality, that would amount to bailing out the Pacific Ocean with a teaspoon. Only by addressing these unsustainable spending commitments can the nation's debt and deficit problems be solved. Neither the public nor policy makers will be able to fully understand and deal with these issues unless the government publishes financial statements that present the government's largest financial liabilities in accordance with well-established norms in the private sector. When the new Congress convenes in January, making the numbers clear -- and establishing policies that finally address them before it is too late -- should be a top order of business. Legislative Report by Theresa Kosmoski I have a friend who has, for more than years than I ve been alive, always said the only time Texans are in trouble is when the Legislature in session. If that s so, then trouble begins on January 8 th, 2013 merely hours away! Newly elected and returning legislators have been busy setting up their capital offices, staffing and pre-filing bills. Since pre-filing began on November 12 th, hundreds of bills have been pre-filed on a range of issues from school funding and testing to a ban on texting while driving. Gambling, vouchers and an end to straight-party voting for judicial races are just some of the many bills that will try to make their way through the legislative gauntlet. All indicators are that this will be another session for the record books. Here are note-worthy dates for the upcoming session: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 (1st day) - 83rd Legislature convenes at noon. [Government Code, Sec. 301.001] Friday, March 8, 2013 (60th day) - Deadline for filing bills and joint resolutions other than local bills, emergency appropriations, and bills that have been declared an emergency by the governor. [House Rule 8, Sec. 8; Senate Rules 7.07(b) and 10.01] Monday, May 27, 2013 (140th day) The last day of 83rd Regular Session. Corrections only in the house and senate. [Sec. 24(b), Art. III, Texas Constitution] Sunday, June 16, 2013 (20th day following final adjournment) - The last day governor can sign or veto bills passed during the regular legislative session. [Sec. 14, Art. IV, Texas Constitution] Monday, August 26, 2013 (91st day following final adjournment) - The date that bills without specific effective dates (that could not be effective immediately) become law. [Sec. 39, Art. III, Texas Constitution] 5
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October24, 2012 General Meeting Pam Goodson Village Republican Women held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday October 24, 2012 at Lakeside Country Club, 100 Wilcrest Drive, Houston TX 77042. President Buffie Ingersoll called the meeting to order at 11:30am. Nancy Lucke delivered the invocation and Joan Akin led the pledges to the American and Texas flags. A quorum was present. Buffie Ingersoll made candidate and guest introductions. Buffie then crowned Beverly Roberts Queen of the Village. Beverly was the heart and soul behind the Westside Campaign Center. She clocked hundreds of hours on the project and made the center a huge success. Thank you Beverly! There were no corrections to the September General Meeting Minutes. The minutes were accepted as written by Pam Goodson. The VRW financial report was available on the tables and open for comment. The current balance was provided along with the most recent member and associate membership stats. Carol Prince, Programs, announced that Judge Ed Emmett would be the November General Meeting Speaker. Penny Remick, Membership Chair, announced that we currently show 160 members and 43 associate members, exceeding the goal of 135. VRW is now considered a super-jumbo membership club. Theresa Kosmoski, Legislative Chair, addressed the incredible increase (20%) in early voting. She encouraged all members to get engaged over the course of the final two weeks to get the vote out. Beverly Roberts, Campaign Chair, reported that the Campaign Center was doing a postcard project, with a focus on Virginia and Ohio. Samples of the postcards are available on the website. On election night, the center would be open from 7:00pm-midnight with refreshments available. Carolyn Hodges discussed the importance of the Be Bold experience. Tina Mitschke, Community Outreach Chair, gave a review of the proposed community outreach program Learn our History. In May, 2012 VRW provided all Stratford High School and Memorial High School with the Now You re 18 booklets. For 2012-2013, VRW will provide videos to be viewed in Landrum Middle School classrooms. New Business: Buffie Ingersoll led a discussion on the proposed approval of a change in the standing rules on membership dues. The discussion revolved around decreasing active dues from $50 to $40, with the reasoning being that other clubs have much lower dues. A 2/3 vote is required to change the standing rules. Buffie called for a vote and the motion was denied. Dues will remain at $50.00 for active membership. Announcements: A donation will be made to Wounded Warriors in honor of the Jim McGrath The campaign will have an election night watch party (7-midnight) Next General Meeting will be November 28, 2012 VRW Christmas party will be on Thursday, December 6 th at Buffie s home Program: Jim McGrath was born in Washington DC and was educated at the University of Maryland. Jim used his journalism degree, first as a writer and editor in the Executive Office of the President from 1991-1993 and now as a partner at Begal- McGrath; a firm offering strategic communications services to blue chip clientele. He is also the post-presidential speechwriter and media spokesman for George H.W. Bush. Currently offering his expertise in effective communication strategies to the Romney/Ryan ticket, Jim is at the center of all the action in this pivotal presidential race. Jim presented a GOP Countdown, referencing the Obama campaign as a Campaign about Nothing. He reviewed his Election Survival Guide: National reporters and editors tend to be moralists when covering GOP, and strategists when covering the Dems. 1. Media is interested in the narrative, not the truth 2. A Presidential election is actually 50 individual state elections. As such, national polls are meaningless except (A) they can indicate macro trends, and (B) they let the media talk about the horse race. 3. The only polls you can trust are those that sample likely voters not registered voters. The meeting was adjourned at 12:55. 7
November 28th, 2012 General meeting Pam Goodson Village Republican Women held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday November 28th, 2012 at Lakeside Country Club, 100 Wilcrest Drive, Houston TX 77042. President Buffie Ingersoll called the meeting to order at 11:30am. Nancy Lucke delivered the invocation and Joan Akin led the pledges to the American and Texas flags. A quorum was present. Buffie Ingersoll made no candidate introductions, but did introduce elected officials. Twelve quests were introduced. Buffie then crowned Lauren Taylor Queen of the Village. Lauren is one of the newest and youngest members of the club and has graciously agreed to serve as Membership Chair for 2013. Lauren made some great contributions during the Board retreat, initiating conversations about the importance of local elections and giving. There were no corrections to the November General Meeting Minutes. The minutes were accepted as written by Pam Goodson. The VRW financial report was available on the tables and open for comment. The current balance was provided along with the most recent member and associate membership stats. The numbers now reflect 164 active members and 43 associate members. VRW has had the highest increase in membership in the state of Texas and will be recognized at the State Capital on Legislative Day. Theresa Kosmoski filled in for Carol Prince, membership chair. Theresa announced that Brad Bailey would be the January General Meeting speaker. Brad Bailey is the CEO and founder of the Texas Immigration Solution. New Business: Village Republican Women will be sending holiday letters to the Romney s, along with a Texas ornament and Santa Claus. Buffie reported out on the Board Retreat. During a working weekend in Galveston, the VRW Board mapped out upcoming changes in club focus. A new membership form was created and the group discussed the importance of reshaping the party. In 2013, VRW will focus on local elections and government, the Hispanic community and women. There will also be a focus on giving (Northbrook High School PTA, teacher appreciation, New Spring, Wounded Warriors, etc). Announcements: *A donation to Wounded Warriors in honor of the speaker, Ed Emmett *Next CHAT will be at Nolia Rohde s home on January 9th *Next General Meeting, Wednesday January 23, 2013 *VRW Christmas Party on Thursday December 6th at Buffie s home Program: Judge Ed Emmett, Republican Party of Texas VICTORY chairman (www.texasvictory.org), was the featured speaker. He encouraged VRW to keep the faith as 2014 will be a better year for Republicans. He gave some statistical data on the November election and stressed the importance of Republican fighting for votes everywhere in the country. How do you do it? Fill precinct chairs, get on college campuses, reach out to the Hispanic community, etc. Judge Emmett provided local demographics and highlighted 5 county issues: 1. Transportation 2. Flood control 3. Emergency management 4. Healthcare (specifically mental health) 5. The Dome The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 am. 8
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