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Citizen Journalism Focused on Liberty, Conservatism and Independent
Thought
Special Invitation from Joe Solis
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Dear Joe,
2008
Young Conservatives of Texas State Convention in San Antonio
This event is FREE! Please
register at www.yct.org today! This will be held April 11th - 13th
in San Antonio, Texas at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Friday:
7:00 - 9:00PM -
Reception: Michael Williams, Chairman, Railroad Commission
10:00PM -12:00AM
Hospitality Suite
Saturday:
9:00 - 9:05AM -
Welcome Message with David White, State Chairman
9:05 - 10:05AM -
Cathie Adams, Texas Eagle Forum
10:10-11:15AM -
81st Legislative Session
State
Representative Wayne Christian
State Senator
Jeff Wentworth
11:15-11:50PM -
Leading a Chapter: Advice to Future Leaders
Brendan
Steinhauser, State and Federal Campaigns, Freedom Works, YCT-UT Alum
12:00PM-1:00PM
Lunch with Attorney General Greg Abbott
1:05 - 2:15PM -
Legislative Issues
Mary Katherine
Stout - Texas Public Policy Foundation - SCHIP
Billy Hamilton -
Tuition Deregulation
Hon. Ken Mercer,
TexasState Board of Education
2:15 - 3:15PM -
John Cornyn, United States Senator
3:20 - 4:45PM -
Breakout Sessions
A)
3:20 - 4:45 PM - Special Activism Projects:
Miranda Bond - Publications
Coordinator, the Leadership Institute
Ryan Sorba - Membership Director,
Intercollegiate Studies Institute, YCC Alum
Evan Dent - Public Relations
Director, Students for Saving Social Security
B)
3:20 - 4:45PM - Innovative Activism
Joe
Solis - South Texas Republicans/Coalition for Texas
Alicia Bruns - Freedom Alliance
4:45 - 5:15PM
Panel: Media and Publicity
Michael Sullivan - Texans for Fiscal
Responsibility
David Guenther - Texas Public Policy
Foundation
7:00PM - 9:00PM
Keynote Speaker & Dinner - Lieutenant Colonel Brian Birdwell
For general
questions email Laura at lauraelizabethmorales@gmail.com or visit
www.yct.org to register. Please email Laura for media inquiries
It's completely free. Just get
to San Antonio and we'll take care of the rest.
--
Laura Elizabeth Morales
lauraelizabethmorales@gmail.com
Director of Public Relations
Young Conservatives of Texas
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Join Senator John Cornyn
Chairman Michael Williams and
Texas Victory Chairman Roger Williams
for a
TEXAS VICTORY 2008 Organizational Meeting
WHEN: Saturday, April 12th
WHERE: University of Texas at Austin , Pharmacy Building , PHR
2.110.
West 24th and University Dr. (on the UT campus)
TIME: Registration: 10:30-11:00 AM
Meeting: 11:15-2:00
PM
Lunch will be provided
Objectives: Meet Texas Victory Leadership and Statewide Republican
Candidates for the 2008 Election.
Organize and Train Victory Team Leaders with the tools to recruit,
energize and secure a Republican Victory in the November election.
Please pass this information along to anyone who wants to join Team
Victory 2008.
Reserve your seat at the 2008 Regional Texas Victory Training by
contacting:
Colby Hale, chale@texasgop.org , (512) 879-4069
About Texas Victory:
Victory is a statewide Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) program
dedicated to cultivating, energizing, and training grassroots
volunteers to ensure Republican success at the polls on Election
Day. The program is chaired by former Secretary of State Roger
Williams. Texas Victory 2008 will utilize the latest technology like
never before in prior elections to target Republican voters and
drive them to the polls.
Tom Marks, South Texas Region & San Antonio
(512) 592-1826, TMarks@TexasGOP.org
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Cornyn
Backs New Proposals to Ensure Greater Transparency & Accountability
of Tax Dollars
Senate
Republican Working Group Issues Recommendations to Strengthen
Legislative Process
Thursday, April 3, 2008
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Vice-Chair of the Senate
Republican Conference, offered his endorsement today for new
proposals from the Senate Republican Fiscal Reform Working Group
aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in federal
spending.
"This much is clear -- Congress must become better stewards of
taxpayer dollars. Taxpayers in Texas, and across the country,
deserve to see for themselves exactly how and where their tax
dollars are being spent by elected officials in Washington," Sen.
Cornyn said today. "Unfortunately, the Democratic majority in
Congress has not shown the resolve needed to reform this broken
earmark system. That is why Senate Republicans have put forward
common-sense proposals which would begin to provide the transparency
and accountability that I believe taxpayers deserve. I hope my
Democratic colleagues will closely review these important proposals
and I look forward to seeing what action, if any, they decide to
take moving forward."
The working group was formed in January by Republican Leader Mitch
McConnell in the wake of growing public concern over the earmark
appropriations process and the failure of Senate Democrats to
address it. In its report issued today, the working group
recommended provisions making it easier to strip inappropriate
earmarks, direct all savings of stripped earmarks to deficit
reduction, ensure all proposed earmarks are transparent and
available for public review prior to a vote, and increase
congressional oversight of executive branch earmarks.
Specifically, the working group has recommended the following:
DEBT REDUCTION
Savings from stricken earmarks may be applied to the national debt
rather than simply being spent elsewhere.
TRANSPARENCY
All earmarks in appropriations, authorization, and tax bills must be
placed in the bill text. This gives greater opportunity to challenge
and strike airdropped earmarks.
Members should make available on their websites information on
successfully inserted earmarks. Also, requested earmarks should be
made public in a searchable format at least 48 hours before floor
consideration on the relevant committee's website.
Senators must provide full justification for a requested earmark,
and whether the requesting Member, Member's family, staff, or
staff's family will benefit financially from the earmark.
OVERSIGHT
Congress insists the Executive Branch provide full justification and
review for requested earmarks.
Executive Branch earmarks should be subject to the same scrutiny and
guidelines as other earmarks, and should be subject to amendment to
strike.
Sen. Cornyn serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget
Committees. In addition, he is Vice Chairman of the Senate Select
Committee on Ethics. He serves as the top Republican on the
Judiciary Committee's Immigration, Border Security and Refugees
subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee's Airland
subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas
Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.
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Congressman Lamar Smith: Larger Reforms Needed for H-1B Visas
Ranking Member Lamar Smith today issued the following statement
regarding H-1B visa reform. On March 14, Ranking Member Smith
introduced a bill to address American companies' immediate need for
high-tech, specialty workers. The "Strengthening United States
Technology and Innovation Now Act (SUSTAIN Act)" raises the annual
cap for H-1B visas from 65,000 to 195,000 for 2008 and 2009.
"The American economy thrives on high-tech companies that require
high-tech workers to remain globally competitive. H-1B visas are
necessary to ensure that these companies have the resources and
workers required to succeed.
"Tomorrow, the FY 2009 H-1B visas will become available for
high-tech companies. Experts expect all 65,000 visas to be exhausted
in one day. We have an urgent need to expand the H-1B visa program
temporarily in order to ensure that high-tech companies can recruit
and hire the most talented and skilled workers in the field.
"This 'emergency fix' will also give Congress time to address larger
policy issues and concerns with the current H-1B program. For
example, while raising the cap on H-1B visas is important to
remaining competitive in the global economy, Congress must make sure
that we do not displace American workers in the process.
"Congress also must prioritize the needs of American-owned companies
over foreign companies. Currently, four out of the top five
companies using H-1B visas are foreign-owned. In reforming the H-1B
visa program, Congress must place the needs of American-owned
companies before those of foreign companies. I am also concerned
that only about half of the current H-1B visas made available
actually go to information-technology workers.
"American companies lead the world in developing new technology and
high-tech innovation. The SUSTAIN Act helps companies fill immediate
needs now, while Congress considers larger reforms to the H-1B visas
for the future."
Washington D.C. Office
2409 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
ph: 202-225-4236
fax: 202-225-8628
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Homeowner-Taxpayer Association of Bexar County
SPRING MEETING: Our featured speaker is the legendary former
Express-News columnist Roddy Stinson.
YOU ARE INVITED!
HTA SPRING MEETING
WHEN: SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2008; 10 A.M. - 12 NOON
WHERE: OAK HILLS MEDICAL CENTER HOTEL
7401 WURZBACH RD (NEAR BABCOCK RD )
ON THE AGENDA:
This November, Mayor Hardberger plans to overturn the results of the
previous term limit elections. Because of strict terms, there has
not been any increase in the city property tax rate since voters
imposed term limits in 1991. Will the media mention this as the
special interest funded campaign rolls into high gear?
Can we have a "world class" city by taxing tourists for projects we
would likely never vote for if it was our money? Tax and spend
politicians think so. After all, tourists are easy targets because
they can't vote here anyway.
The University Hospital District wants a $750,000,000 bond issue to
expand facilities. This is a regional hospital district serving
surrounding counties. Should Bexar County taxpayer's pick-up the
whole tab?
Our County Judge believes we missed a golden opportunity eight years
age to approve a light rail referendum. Will we get a second chance
to vote down this costly boondoggle?
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting. Please be sure to
bring a friend or neighbor.
IT'S TIME TO FIGHT BACK!
Sincerely,
Bob Martin
Homeowner-Taxpayer Association of Bexar County
6323 Sovereign Suite 187
San Antonio , Texas 78229
(210) 340-0011
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The
Republicrat:
This is a series by 3 anonymous political insiders in
Bexar County and one in Webb County. The views of this section do
not represent the views of South Texas Republicans PAC.
So I
went to my Senatorial District 19 Convention last week and it was so
bad I had to leave early. They threatened to arrest Nick Pena the
temporary convention chair who was acting like he was God. Then they
threw us all out for fire code violations for a time and everyone
was yelling at each other.
The owner of the
place also was yelling and acting like a child and at one point
demanded that everyone leave. People were bringing in food and not
buying his overpriced food. It was sheer lunacy.
The upside of the
day was the fact that there were so many new people that showed up.
Let's hope they show up in November. The biggest worry is that there
will be litigation and the rumor is the state won't seat any of the
delegation. Can you believe that?
I also hear in
the 26th Senatorial District they messed up and shorted
Barack Obama delegates for the state convention. We will see where
that goes too.
In the Senatorial
District 25 I was told that the assembly booed Sean Austin the
actor, for speaking in favor of Hillary Clinton.
By tomorrow we
will know if it is Amadeo Ortiz or Andy Lopez for Sheriff. The mud
has been flying and it is ugly. Andy is accusing Amadeo of not
living in BexarCounty. Madeo claims he ahs lived in BexarCounty for
over a year.
It sounds like
someone is desperate to me. It is rumored that Andy has some shady
characters in his campaign that are not upstanding citizens.
Speaking of
desperate, in the Pct. 1 JP race it is also getting nasty. The
incumbent Judge Monica Caballero is slinging it pretty well too.
Seems she is accusing Tomas Uresti of earning only a GED while she
is a full fledged lawyer. He has the Uresti name behind him, which
gives him lots of credibility. That ought to be a humdinger as well.
With the
extremely low turnout, it is anybody's guess as to who will win
those two nominations.
Last week, Carla Vela came so very close to resigning her position
from the pure frustration. She told folks that she did not know if
it was worth it. I am so happy she is sticking around. Carla is a
good lady and I have to admire the fact that she has to deal with so
many factions of the party and still stay sane. I love Carla and I
tell her often in little ways. There are times I want to give her a
big hug, but it is not part of my personality. She would freak.
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