Illegal Immigration in Florida: Conservative Solutions to a Growing Problem

RCPB Immigration Invitation Oct 2011

As Republicans, we believe that the state of Florida, like our nation, is in desperate need of immediate and drastic improvements in in our immigration enforcement policies. At the same time, we are cognizant of the potential and often-unintended impact that government regulation of Florida businesses can have on economic growth, job creation, and prosperity for all Floridians. We hope to offer and informed and engaging discussing of the various conservative perspectives on this ever-evolving issue, to promote the sort of effective and functional immigration policies that will serve as a conservative model for other states.

We hope that this forum will not function as a debate.  Instead, we hope to foster an intelligent discussion about the different conservative perspectives on the interests at stake in our ongoing immigration discussions.  We recognize that not all conservatives will agree on all subjects.  Nonetheless, we hope to embrace differing conservative viewpoints, so that we as an audience, and as a Party, can come to more fully appreciate this complex issue which affects us all.  Won’t you please join us

Thursday, October 27, 2011

5:30 Meet & Greet

6:30 Program Begins

$20 Members and Guests

 

Bear Lakes Country Club

1901 Village Blvd

West Palm Beach, FL  33401

RSVP info@gopclubpb.org

PBC Charter Review – Call to Action – Deadline August 26th

Back in June, the County began public meetings about its ongoing Charter Review. If you recall – the County Charter is its ‘constitution’ and describes Home Rule. There are 20 Home Rule or Charter Counties in Florida. Palm Beach County does not have a formalized Charter Review process, and this is the first comprehensive review to have taken place.

The Charter and the county’s charter review website can be found here. While there are a few changes that the Commissioners would like, citizens can input their own suggestions via the County Website. Suggestions are limited to 300 words per suggestion. Here is a link to the survey page. You can make as many submissions as you like.

Personally, I am not in favor of a few changes favored by several of the Commissioners – a) changing the county commission makeup to include a few at-large commission districts, and b) to have non-partisan elections for County Commissioners.

I have a few changes that I am submitting in order to make for better governance without bogging down the document or specifying so much detail that the slim charter becomes unmanageable. You may have others. If you would like to submit any of the ones listed below, just click on the [copy] to the right of the suggestion you would like to copy, and then cut/paste from the text that comes up and submit that to the survey link above. Each of my submissions are shorter than the 300-word limit per submission.

Friday, August 26, is the last date on which submissions will be accepted on the county website.

Senate President Haridopolis Highlights July Lunch

The July RCPB lunch featured Mike Haridopolis who was well received as President of the Senate, even if he has ended his Senate campaign.

As previously reported, he recognized that the importance of leading the FL Senate would require more time than allowed by being a candidate for US Senate. He vowed that he would not be running for any office while holding his present position.

Of interest to many in the group, he answered a question about the disposition of the E-Verify bill that did not pass the legislature, or even emerge from the Senate committees for a vote. This was the perfect segue into the fact that our club will present a program on Thurs. Oct 27 on the merits of E-verify with organizations and local businesses who are pro/con.

The event was attended by several new members who enjoyed the program enough to comment: “I am so impressed with your speakers and programs that I want to be a part of your club.”

Here’s a few pictures from Delia:

RCPB Welcomes Sen President Mike Haridopolois

Please join RCPB on Wednesday, July 27^th as we are joined by Senate President and US Senate Candidate Mike Haridopolois.  Mike is a conservative reformer who has transformed government in Florida. A graduate of Stetson University and the University of Arkansas, Mike has served in the Florida Legislature since 2000  with special introduction by RCPB Member, Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff.  

“I promise to stay true to the ideals and principles of our Founding Fathers in this campaign. I promise to be a spokesman for a Constitutional, conservative vision of our great nation. And I promise to speak out for ideas that can revitalize our economy by empowering individuals, not governments, and by preserving opportunity for families and innovators, and not power for bureaucrats and politicians” states Mike Haridopolois. 

Wednesday, July 27^th

Bear Lakes Country Club

1901 Village Boulevard

West Palm Beach, FL  33409

 

Members $20.00

Guests $25.00

Meet & Greet 11:30 am

Program Begins 12:00

 

RSVP: (561)804-4591 or info@gopclubpb.org

 

 

NOTE:  There will be NO lunch meeting in August.

Former Ambassador Al Cardenas Highlights June Lunch Meeting

On Wednesday, June 22 at Bear Lakes, Keynote speaker Al Cardenas of the American Conservative Union, gave his views on current events and emphasized how important it is to stand on principles, such as boldly supporting the Ryan budget, given it is the only “real” proposal on the table to fix our structural fiscal problems. He considers it a moderate document, since it takes 28 years to achieve balance and does not touch Social Security. We need to stand for conservative principles, both while running for election and governing. Consistency provides mandates – if you take a controversial stand and are elected on that basis, then you have a mandate to implement that position. Ambassador Cardenas also announced that a regional CPAC convention is to be held in Orlando coincident with Presidency 5.

Also noted at the meeting was the formation of a new grass roots group in the county, the Palm Beach County Tea Party. Pam Wohlschlegel, formerly county coordinator for SFTP, has formed a new group to build a coalition of activists from related organizations dedicated to fiscal responsibility, constitutionaly limited government and free markets. She pointed out that she has been a Republican since her school days, but decided to work through a non-partisan group because of their success in attracting disaffected Democrats and Independents to the conservative cause.

Also speaking were Joe Kaufman, candidate for CD20 (Debbie Wasserman Schultz), and Starla Brown, PB and Broward coordinator for the Mike McCallister for Senate campaign. The meeting was hosted by Bette Anne Starkey.

Pictures by Boris Balaban and Delia Garcia Menocal.

REC Update June 8, 2011

Last Wednesday, the Republican Executive Committee held its bi-monthly meeting at the Palm Beach County Governmental Center.  The agenda for the June meeting was exciting and substantive.  The REC welcomed Colonel Mike McCallister, who is running in the Republican primary and hopes to ultimately join Marco Rubio as a United States Senator from the great state of Florida.  McCallister spoke of his deep concern over the expansion of Islamic fundamentalism and Sharia law, and the threats that they pose to both the United States and its allies abroad.  He also expressed great passion about our nation’s fiscal status, calling for an end to the era of ever-increasing government spending.  This election season is shaping up to be exciting and important, as McCalister challenges formidable Senate hopefuls, Mike Haridopolos, George LeMieux and Adam Hasner, for the chance to go to Washington and usher in a new age of robust economic growth and increased prosperity for all Americans.

The REC also took up a discussion over the issue of illegal immigration and the proposed e-verify procedures considered during the last legislative session in Tallahassee.  The topic proved for a lively debate, as members expressed competing perspectives on the proposed legislation.  While some touted the law as a viable and necessary means of combating illegal immigration and the associated dangers, others observed that the new law will impose upon Florida businesses an added and substantial cost of doing business which, like most government regulation over private industry, will limit the ability of Florida businesses to compete, create jobs, and grow our local economy.  The debate served as a reminder of the great importance of public discourse, so that we can fully appreciate the complexity of the issues facing our society and ensure that our state and nation can move forward instead of backward in the coming election cycle.

Join us for Lobsterfest 2011

Thursday, July 7, 2011    6 – 9pm

 

The Beach Club

755 North County Road

Palm Beach, FL

 

Tenth Annual Lobsterfest!

 

Spacious, cool indoor location on the OCEAN!

Hear the Latest from Honorary Chairman Jeff Atwater, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, and other Elected Officials and Candidates

 

Menu:
South African Lobster Tails, Chicken, Salads,
Corn on the Cob and Dessert • Cash bar$80 per person • Casual Attire

Buy your eTickets for the 10th Annual Lobster Fest- Republican Party of Palm Beach County-by clicking this link: https://www.donationtickets.com/donationticket/eventTicket.asp?guidEvent=565756

College Republicans NEED OUR SUPPORT

The Officers of RCPB have agreed to donate $100.  Won’t you please consider this a worthy cause too?

Dear Supporter,

Two Florida Atlantic University students are representing Florida as voting delegates to the College Republican National Committee Bi-annual Convention, held in Washington, D.C. in July.  This is believed to be not only the first time any Florida Atlantic University students have served on the Florida Federation of College Republicans (FFCR) Executive Board, but also the first time Florida Atlantic University has been represented by one voting delegate, let alone two! 

Ashley Anastasi, President of the College Republicans at Florida Atlantic University, is the Secretary for the FFCR.  Ashley, a Sophomore majoring in Political Science, interns for Congressman Allen West and also serves in the Boca Raton House of Representatives.  Jon Taylor, the Vice President of the College Republicans at Florida Atlantic University, is also the Treasurer for the FFCR.  Jon, a Senior double-majoring in Accounting and Finance, was admitted to the Equity Analyst Program which begins in the Fall 2011 term.  We started the club at the end of the Fall term 2010, which was our first term as students at Florida Atlantic University.   Just a few weeks ago, we won the Best New Club award for 2011.

This is a great opportunity for the newly re-established College Republicans at Florida Atlantic University.  Not only are we going to make nation-wide connections that will be very beneficial to drawing attention to the University, we will also be given valuable training in operating and growing the chapter.  This convention is held every other year, and we are unsure whether or not Florida Atlantic University will have a delegate spot in the future.

We are asking for help from our supporters to fund this trip.  We’ve estimated total expenses to be $1,500 for both of us.  This covers airfare and hotels.  We’ve already paid the registration fees, and did not include them in the total.  We have big plans for the 2011-2012 academic year, and your donation will only help to propel us further.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Ashley Anastasi and Jon Taylor

aanasta1@fau.edu

GO OWLS!

Ambassador Al Cardenas – Won’t you join us?

Join Republican Club of the Palm Beaches as we host New Chairman of the American Conservative Union, Al Cardenas Our Luncheon Speaker.

 

Al Cardenas began his passionate conservative activities in 1975 as Florida’s Co-Chairman of Ronald Regan’s 1976 challenge to then President Gerald Ford and attended the ’76 GOP National Convention as a Regan delegate.  In 1993 Al was elected Co-Chair and then Chairman of the RPOF. In his decade of service the Florida GOP gained majorities in the state legislature and congressional delegation for the first time since reconstruction. As the Florida GOP Chairman he led our state to elect George HW Bush as the 41^st President of the United States.  Al Cardenas was elected Chairman of the American Conservative Union this year being nominated by Secretary Bolton.

 

You have seen him frequently on CNN, FOX, MSNBC, Univion, CNN Espanol, and Telemundo. He is also a regular guest columnist. In addition he was elected by his peers nationally as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” from 2007-2010.

 

Wednesday, June 22nd

Bear Lakes Country Club

Meet & Greet 11:30

Program Begins 12:00

 

$20 Members / $25 Guests

 

RSVP info@gopclubpb.org or by calling 561-804-4591

 

You don’t want to miss Al as he is a compelling speaker while sharing an incredible positive energy to all.  This is  a “WOW” event not to miss.

 

Save The Date:  July 27 – Sen President Mike Haridopolos

Note:  ***NO AUGUST LUNCH MEETING***

Governor Scott vetos “Turkeys”

On Thursday at the Villages to sign the 2012 budget, Governor Rick Scott used the line item veto to eliminate 87% of the “Turkeys” identified by Florida TaxWatch. The “Turkey List” annually identifies those dubious projects that are slipped into bills under cover of darkness – sometimes in confernce committees, sometimes by the leadership after the conference delivers their bill. Used by the more influential legislators to “bring home the bacon” to their districts, these “Turkeys” are the Florida equivalent of earmarks in the US Congress – those questionable appropriations that the Republicans in Washington have sworn to eliminate.

To his credit, our local Representative Pat Rooney did not participate, and when asked about the practice at an RCPB lunch this week he indicated he thought their use was questionable, even if some projects did benefit their communities.

See the whole story in “Scott Line-Item Vetoes Parallel TaxWatch ‘Turkeys'” in the Sunshine State News.

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