The Republican Party of Florida Unites and Welcomes Rick Scott and Jennifer Carroll
As Republicans after the Primaries, we are united and committed to getting every Republican Elected on the ticket. To answer concerns from loyal McCollum supporters about Rick Scott , here are the talking points to share:
- Reapportionment- The Senate and House will receive census numbers in 2011. Based on the information, district boundaries will be created. If we have a Democratic Governor, she will veto the bill THREE times. After the third VETO, districting then becomes a JUDICIAL responsibility.
- Tort Reform means JOBS. When we set the rules to eliminate frivolous lawsuits, we increase businesses desire to come to Florida as well as reduce the liability and cost of doing business in our state.
- Appointments – The Governor’s office is responsible for over 1,000 appointments – not just judicial appointments.
- Education – Education reform needs to continue so that our ONLY focus is the STUDENT.
- Obamacare – we need a Governor who will support our lawsuit to protect Floridians from the intrusion of our 10th Amendment rights.
For the Victory Dinner Speakers included Gov. Haley Barbour, Speaker Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, and Sen. George LeMeiux. At the end of the meeting, Sen. and Chairman Thrasher announced the party had raised $2 Million dollars to help our candidates.
The Day After… with Sharon Day, RNC Secretary
SHARON DAY, SECRETARY OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
Sharon is one of our Party’s most knowledgeable and active cheerleaders.
She will bring insight on the Primary Election and stir us to action for November.
WHERE: Bear Lakes Country Club, 1901 Village Blvd, West Palm Beach
BLCC Policy: Business Casual Dress (No Jeans); Please Silence Cell Phones,
TIME/DATE:
Wednesday, August 25; 11:30 Gathering; Lunch and Program at noon
COST $20 Members
$25 Guests
Complimentary Valet
RSVP by noon on Monday, August 23 — 561-697-4911 or email:
info@gopclubpb.org
How Safe Is Our Dollar?
Right Nights – Wednesday August 25, 2010
5:30 Meet & Greet
6:00 Program Begins
Bear Lakes Country Club
1901 Village Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL
Self Parking , CASH Bar
$5 per person
Club Policy is No Jeans and No Cell Phones
About the Speaker: David Chamblee
David started his career with Edward Jones in 2003 and joined Corbin Cook at Lighthouse Wealth Management in March of 2010. David practices Austrian Economic theory and serves his clients by managing their investments along with extensive financial planning. David believes that active portfolio management is a necessity in today’s economic environment as opposed to the widely practiced passive management. David also writes the bi-weekly web based commentary Razor Market Trends that touches on current economic topics and goes out all across the country. David grew up in Belle Glade, Florida and after attending the University of Arkansas to play football, David graduated from Otterbein College in Westerville, OH. He then got his masters at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. After living in Dallas and Los Angeles, David relocated back to the south in Atlanta in 2002. David was awarded the Financial Advisor 5 Star Best in Customer Service and Client Satisfaction by Atlanta Magazine in both 2009 and 2010.
Let Data Be The Guide, But Not So Fast
One of the wisest sayings in the world of economics and investing is, “Don’t make the data fit your belief, but let your belief be formed by the data.” Not following this wisdom has led many investors to lose a lot of money, advisers to give faulty advice and government officials to lead the public astray. Sound research that puts agendas, financial gain and wishful thinking aside will lead you to the truth of where things stand. By using this method the current picture is not pretty and getting less so as we look at projections forward. By now I’m sure you have heard the unsustainable word many times. Yes, it is the hard truth that many didn’t want to believe, but now it seems that many are coming to the realization. Our current economic path is unsustainable.
Why the “But” in the title then? Although the data tells us that things look like they can get really bad at anytime going back to 2007, you can’t underestimate the power and manipulation of governments and central banks. Not necessarily in that order. For example, in late 2008 the world economy started to unwind or deleverage from an economic system that allowed governments, corporations, small businesses and individuals to lever up to the sky and never really pay down debt, but just keep rolling it over. When that limit was reached the natural unwinding/deleveraging occurred and you have yourself a credit crisis. The natural cause and effect was upon us as banks and corporations with too much leverage started to fail. The data that so few saw or acknowledged told us this would happen, but governments and central banks didn’t allow it to happen. They built a dam to divert the flow of the river, if you will, through bailouts and stimulus. This is the “But”. The data is still telling us the same thing that it did back in 2008. Things are still broken and need to be fixed, but aren’t allowed to be. The data was held in limbo for two years with the negative numbers and debt becoming much worse as an attempt was being made to preserve our economic system and “lifestyles”. Just like any problems that are put off or ignored, they have to be dealt with eventually. If you deal with them early they are less painful. The Bush administration at the time in 2008 didn’t give us that option. When will we have to deal with it is the million dollar question. I would like to think that we are dealing with some of the pain already, but I think the data would accuse me of wishful thinking.
WPB Commission says NO to New Assessments
It was standing room only at the city commission meeting tonight and Mayor Frankel announces – you can speak if you’d like – but we will NOT be voting on a new assessment for Fire Services and the City of WPB committed to not raising the millage rates this year.
Commissioner Mitchell reminded the panel and audience that while she agreed to support a temporary assessment, that she did so with the intentions of building THREE new structures.
Originally the fee was assessed to pay for three new fire stations. If, in fact, those stations do not need replacing this assessment fee needs to end. I disagree with the notion about the nexus between the fire fee and fire service. One has nothing to do with the other — except the word “fire.” I do not believe that getting rid of any assessment will slow down the job of the firemen. They know their job and do it well. This fee (tax) is just supplanting the operating budget of the general fund (ad valorem and non ad valorem).
This issue has nothing to do with the brave men & women who work for our Fire Dept. It has to do with a Commission who continues to tax and spend its residents and property owners into poverty.
In 2008, city administration brought forward a plan to build three new fire stations. The commission finally agreed by all that with the sale of certain city-owned property out west, bonds (not to exceed $12 million) would be (retired) and the assessment would end.
In 2009, facing budget shortfalls, administration suggested the city sweep the previous $2 million collected and add another $2 million in assessments to plug the deficit. Only Commissioner Mitchell voted against the budget last year due to these outrageous recommendations.
I would like to ask why no bond has been issued to raise the capital for the new fire stations but, the revenue stream has continued to be collected. Citizens should be outraged.
There was conversation about pensions and unions and how all across the country – municipalities are finding it almost impossible to fund these pension plans. The attendees are encourgaed that as West Palm Beach begins the budgeting process, we all need to be in attendance and take part of the process. Cuts are coming… let’s just jope they start with the non-essential items.
Elections bring out the conservative in candidates (so for one year we can benefit). It’s our very own Commissioner Mitchell who has the consistent voting record for responsible government. Read Palm Beach Post Article here
You Made The Difference!!!! No New Sales Tax
When we started 2010, our mission was to make a difference. Today, we showed that we can. RCPB along with other other local organizations including the South Florida 9-12 Group banned together, took our 2 minutes and let the world know how we felt about this new tax. Many members left during the commissioners comments upset that we didnt make a difference. Here we are – just a little over 24 hours later, and the opposition has decided they can not present a viable case… and have ENDED their request for a 1% Sales Tax on the November ballot.
RCPB members made the difference. We called, emailed and showed up. We voiced our opinion.
Here is a letter I delivered to all 7 County Commissioners, West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel, Two Fire Cheifs and the Palm Beach Post along with a roll of toilet paper (letter was modified for each person)
Dear Mayor Frankel,
I want to ask you to listen to the voice of the people. As a representative for the people, I ask you to take the stand to keep the Fire Dept funding in the budget – under the control of the City Commission and off the ballot.
It is very puzzling to understand why the FAST and SUDDEN push to add this sales tax. When we hear the unions have $3 Million dollars to get this issue passed, as a citizen we really need to ask WHY?
The November election cycle will be tremendous for citizens. We have every cabinet seat, a senate race and many amendments, including Amendment 4 to consider.
The expense of supporting or opposing an issue such as this is also a tremendous cost the people of West Palm Beach cannot afford.
I have attached a gift for you – along with the receipt. The value including 6.5% tax is $.80 (eighty cents). The message here is that even the daily staple of toiletries is a taxable item. With the ½ cent sales tax for schools ending in December, the residents of West Palm Beach can now take a sigh of relief. We have fulfilled our request for schools, but at this time, we are just unable to take on any additional dedicated tax.
Please STOP this madness and please do not place this issue on the ballot in November.
Melissa
RCPB Welcomes Mr. Portability – Rep. Carl Domino
Please join us on Wednesday, June 23rd at 11:30 am as RCPB welcomes Rep. Carl Domino. We have given him. We gave him the nickname “Mr. Portability”. Carl will give us an update on the recent session, as well as what’s next.
- Wednesday, June 23rd
- 11:30 am Meet & Greet
- 12:00 Program Begins
- $20 Member $25 Guest
- RSVP info@gopclubpb.org or by calling 561-697-4911
Immigration in 1907
‘In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language.. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.’
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
Florida Does or Does NOT need an Immigration Law?
I would like for our members to weigh in on these statements and create a dialog.
Argument: The reason why Florida doesn’t need the Arizona law: Because all officers and elected officials ALREADY take an OATH to protect and defend the Constitution. So I ask, why are our LOCAL officials not able to honor their oath without another law. The law already exisits…
RCPB Letter on Sales Tax Proposal
This was sent to the seven county commissioners on RCPB letterhead. The Tuesday, 5/18 agenda item has been postponed until June, most likely ending discussion of an August ballot measure, but the issue is alive and well for a November ballot. Currently 4 of the 11 cities with F/R districts have voted no. See:
May 12, 2010
Board of County Commissioners
Regarding the proposed Fire/Rescue sales tax surcharge proposal, the Republican Club of the Palm Beaches asks that you do not pursue this as an August ballot measure. While there is some merit to the idea of reducing the county tax burden from ad valorem taxes, it does not appear that this proposal does this, nor does it contain any incentives to reduce spending in an area where the budget has grown much faster than the county as a whole.
We have tremendous respect for the professional fire and rescue personnel in our county and the valuable services rendered by them. We object, however, to a new local sales tax dedicated to the exclusive use of fire and rescue departments. Among the reasons:
- It is permanent – there is no sunset provision.
- There are no limits or caps – whatever is collected from 1% of sales can be spent by Fire/Rescue.
- It contains incentives to increase spending, particularly at the city level (e.g. unfunded pensions).
- It results in 9 months of double taxation – sales tax starts in January, offsets do not kick in until September of that year.
- It is funding essential services with an unpredictable revenue source – ad-valorem taxes can be forecast, sales taxes are subject to swings in economic activity.
- There is no guarantee of revenue neutrality in the statute or the proposal – only that the Fire/Rescue portion of ad valorem taxes be offset, not that property tax will be reduced.
- The Fire/Rescue budget needs to be brought under control – the budget grew by 82% in the 6 years that call volume (workload) only increased by 25%
We, therefore, respectfully request you spare the taxpayers the unnecessary expense of conducting an election at this time.
Sincerely,
Melissa Nash Andrews, President
Republican Club of the Palm Beaches
The Children’s Project of Palm Beach
Have you seen the recent commercials on television or seen the ads in the paper?
The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation is spearheaded by Dave Lawrence of The Children’s Trust in Miami-Dade County. The Foundation is sponsoring The Children’s Project of Palm Beach– a feasibility study about the potential for organizing and building a politically powerful Children’s Movement of Florida, significantly shaping the State’s priorities for children.
Those priorities include:
- Access to quality health care.
- Training for parents and guidance for mentoring.
- Early screening and treatment for children who might have special needs.
- Stimulating and nurturing child care.
- High-quality pre-kindergarten.
This is a countywide outreach project to strictly educate and inform Palm Beach County residents about essential issues regarding children in order to ensure that they are prepared and ready to learn in school and able to succeed in life.
To that end Dave Lawrence at The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation http://www.teachmorelovemore.org/ECIF.asp , funded by the Kellogg Foundation www.wkkf.org , is promoting the Children’s Project of Palm Beach during April and May. The goal during these two months is to learn how media messages and grassroots organization might educate and inform the public about the need for a “movement” for children. This non-partisan effort seeks to measure the extent to which people, once informed, can actually tell us how they received new information and why it is important for children. That then gives us a better chance of prioritizing resources to benefit children and families.
RCPB is pleased to be co-hosting an event which will further our understanding of the program. The event is FREE – but reservations are REQUIRED. Please contact Bette Anne at 561-697-4911 or via email info@gopclubpb.org
The Childrens Project 5-11-10 Click Here for Invitation
Cordially invite you to a presentation about early childhood development and children’s issues: If children are our future – shouldn’t we invest more in them now?
Presented by
Roberto Martinez, Esq.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Meet And Greet: 5:45-6:30 p.m.
Presentation: 6:30-7:00 p.m.
Bear Lakes Country Club
1901 Village Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Business Attire, No Jeans Please
Cell Phones must be silenced
Light Refreshments and Beverages Provided
The Bar will be OPEN for Credit Card Purchases
SELF PARKING – No Valet Service
There is NO Fee to attend and learn more about the Children’s Project of Palm Beach County
Reservations are REQUIRED
R.S.V.P. to
(561)-697-4911