Health care bill is horrific but there is still HOPE

Both of these bills amount to a disaster of epic proportions for this country. CBO numbers based on unbelievably dubious assumptions (and simply the fact that these numbers are being based on more years of taxing than years of benefits that correspond to those taxes) aside, this bill is going to result in crushing new taxes. There is no way around that. A disproportionate amount of that burden will fall on the shoulders of the rich, who can apparently never be punished enough for the audacity they've displayed in having been successful in life, but if you think the rapidly disappearing middle class will not feel this, I've got a bridge (not to nowhere, I'll leave that one alone for today) I'd like to sell you. That's not to speak of the inevitable problems that will come from government management of yet another formerly (at least partially) private sector or the massive expansion of government (meaning more bureaucracy and more spending by an entity that produces NOTHING other than the "service" of wealth redistribution) that is involved. At this point, there's nothing that can be done about any of that. The necessary votes to kill the Republican filibuster have been bought and paid for (by the taxpayers of this country) and obviously, some version of this bill is going to become law. The only hope there is that some of the worst provisions will end up being removed during the joint resolution process.

However, there are several positives to find hope in. Alabama Representative Parker Griffith has deserted his party, citing among other things the Democrats' undying desire to spend massive amounts of money this country does not have. The passage of the health care bills was the last straw for him. There are is also talk of Republicans working to win over other Democrats. This is to say nothing of the bludgeoning incumbent Democrats, particularly those in traditionally red states, are likely to take in the 2010 elections which are right around the corner. The Democratic majority seems to have chosen health care as its one punch. They have accomplished surprisingly little of their agenda in the time they've had so far. They will barely manage to sneak this monstrosity through the legislative process in the end and we are already seeing some of the consequences. So called "moderate Democrats" are going to have a very difficult time presenting that image at any point in the future after having voted for this. Who knows? Obama should have an easy win in 2012 but his complete disregard for some of his campaign promises ("you'll get to watch the health care negotiations on CSPAN and everyone will have a voice" quickly turned into back room negotiations the majority of Congress knew nothing about, for instance) may change that. The main point is this: as awful as this health care situation is, it may well end up being the worst we see from this extreme left White House administration and the likewise leaning, near super majority Congress. 2010 and 2012: now that's change I can believe in!

Holiday Party is approaching...Please RSVP!

The University of Wisconsin – Madison College Republicans will be having a holiday party this Friday, December 4th at 8:30pm. The event will be held at Brocach Irish Pub, located at 7 West Main Street, near the capitol building.

The event will feature many special guests and speakers, including Representative and lieutenant governor candidate Brett Davis. Additionally, congressional candidates Chad Lee and Terrence Wall will be in attendance.

Attorney General JB Van Hollen will be the keynote speaker at the event.

The CRs are asking that non-dues paying members play $10 at the door, and a suggested $10 donation is also asked for any general member of the public that wishes to attend. Those who have paid dues will be allowed to attend for free. Free food will be available, and a cash bar will be open. Please RSVP via our Facebook event or by contacting the Chair at wisconsincrs@gmail.com.

ANYONE IS INVITED TO ATTEND

Isreal 360 at Hillel TONIGHT!

MadPAC is hosting "Israel 360" on everything you've ever wanted to know about Israel!

“Israel 360” is a multimedia presentation designed to engage students who know very little about Israel by highlighting exciting components of Israeli history, geography and culture. In addition to providing tons of information, “Israel 360” will show students that Israel is a unique and inspiring place that must be seen.

The event will be held at UW Hillel, 611 Langdon St. at 7 p.m.

Wisconsinites divided on health-care reform

From the Wausau Daily Herald:

Poll shows Wisconsinites divided on health care
Associated Press

MADISON — A new poll shows that Wisconsin residents are nearly evenly divided over national health care reform.

The poll released Tuesday done by the University of Wisconsin Survey Center shows that 46 percent of respondents oppose the changes being developed in Washington, D.C., based on what they’ve heard or read. Forty-four percent support the changes.

That difference is within the poll’s margin of error which was plus or minus 4 percentage points. The telephone survey of 507 randomly selected Wisconsin residents was done between Oct. 29 and Nov. 20.

The poll also found that 72 percent believe the country’s health care system is in a state of crisis or has major problems and 56 percent believe health care costs are problematic.

For the original text, click here.

It is interesting to see how a state who employs a large number of health care providers and insurance workers feels about Obamas plan. Feel free to comment.

Wall gets key endorsements in bid for Senate

Terrance Wall, a Madison property developer, earned key endorsements today from fellow Republicans. The Badger Herald article on the subject can be found here.

If you are interested in joining Wall's campaign, or learning more about it, please see his campaign website.

Democratic imposed taxes still a burden for Wisconsin citizens

Our own Jon Derenne wrote an article posted in the Daily Cardinal on November 18. Derenne emphasizes the numerous taxes in Governor Doyle's state budget continue to hurt citizens in our state and advocate for a change in governmental control. The article can be found here.

Please comment on the story on this blog.
Thanks, Jon for your continued support of the chapter and the party!

CPAC announces invited speakers

CPAC listed on their site a number of speakers that have been invited to speak at the event. They include:

Amb. John Bolton*, Andrew Breitbart*, Herman Cain*, Ann Coulter*, Hon. Newt Gingrich, Doug Hoffman, Hon. Mike Huckabee, Gov. Bobby Jindal, David Keene*, Wayne LaPierre*, Mark Levin*, Rush Limbaugh, Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell, Hon. Sarah Palin, Rep. Ron Paul, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Hon. Mitt Romney, Marco Rubio*, and many more! (Those with a * have been confirmed!)

CPAC will be held Febuary 18-20, 2010. Check back to uwgop.com or uwgop.blogspot.com for more details!

COLLEGE REPUBLICAN UPDATE - NOV. 25, 2009

Conservative Political Action Conference
CPAC-The Conservative Political Action Conference
February 18-20th, 2010
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
Washington, DC
Please look out for further information in upcoming emails as we solidify numbers and costs for the trip!

CPAC Scholarships will be given out at $200 a piece by the Wisconsin Federation of College Republicans (WICR). Write a one-page essay on why you want to go to CPAC and why you are a College Republican to enter. These are due on JANUARY 1ST 2010. Turn them in to SAC Office #23!


CR Holiday Formal
Look out for upcoming information on location and specific times
Friday, December 4th
Invitees include Attorney General JB Van Hollen, County Executive & Candidate for Governor Scott Walker, Dave Westlake, Brett Davis, Chad Lee, Terrence Wall, Vicki McKenna, among others!
*YOU MUST PAY YOUR DUES TO ATTEND THE EVENT
*YOU MUST ALSO RSVP PRIOR TO THE EVENT AT wisconsincrs@gmail.com OR BE CHARGED $5 AT THE DOOR
*REGULAR ADMISSION IS $10 AT THE DOOR


"CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?" Rally in Madison!
On November 23rd, as part of a National Call to Action launched out of Florida, conservative grassroots groups across the United States will be holding major events. Wisconsin will take part.

"The Can You Hear Us Now?" Rally will be held inside the Capitol in Madison from 8:00am to 6:00pm.

The timing of this event is critical. Bill Clinton was in Washington last week to pressure Senate Democrats to get a health care bill--ANY health care bill--passed by the end of the year. It looks suspiciously like they will work to get a foot-in-the-door measure through. We all know that if the Senate passes anything at all, no matter how "weak," the process of melding it with the House's abysmal bill will begin. The progressives aren't going to sit back for the holidays. We can't either. The people of Wisconsin need to make their presence felt now.

The Wisconsin Grandsons of Liberty has an RSVP running on their site so that we can get an approximate count of how many people to expect.

http://www.wisconsingrandsonsofliberty.com/

Anyone with questions should contact: wisconsin912@gmail.com

Health Care Forum a Success

The health care forum held by UWCRs was a huge success last night. Great discussion was generated by our panel and by questions from the audience.

The links are here:
Badger Herald - Panel debate health care reforms
Daily Cardinal - Panel addresses setback with health-care bill

For those of you who attended, what did you find interesting? Surprising? Confusing? Clearly, there are a lot of moving parts in the health care industry. It will be interesting to see if Congress can take all parties into consideration and make a decision that is in the best interest of the majority of Americans.

--Stephen D.

Wisconsin Needs Some Common Sense Leadership for Change

Scott Walker has led Milwaukee County out of trouble and he can do the same thing for the state of Wisconsin

Wisconsin is in the midst of a major crisis. In addition to the nearly $6 billion budget deficit the state is facing, it is hemorrhaging businesses and the jobs that are tied to them, which will only exacerbate the budget problem. Beyond those issues, there are questions as to how our state will replenish the highway fund and other segregated funds like it, which have been pilfered by Governor Doyle to patch other holes in the state budget that were apparently more pressing at the time. Governor Doyle has responded with deep cuts in many areas and by raising all sorts of taxes and fees. Also, not surprisingly, he has elected not to run for re-election in 2010. But the damage is done and now someone else is going to need to come in and clean up the mess before things get worse.

So who should Wisconsin turn to? The ideal candidate for this job is someone who has faced, and persevered in the face of, a situation like this before. That candidate is Scott Walker. He was elected County Executive of Milwaukee County in a special election that resulted when his predecessor was involved in a pension scandal that left the county in terrible financial shape. During his years as County Executive there, not only has Walker restored order, he has found a way to cut the county’s debt and in 2008, in spite of what has been going on in the national economy and in the Wisconsin economy, Milwaukee County recorded a budget surplus. Those feats are impressive enough on their own but they are even more so when you consider that they were accomplished without any increase of the property tax levy. This is exactly the kind of leadership we need in Wisconsin.

Walker has certainly been successful for Milwaukee County and he has plans for the state of Wisconsin too. They start with creating a tax and regulatory climate that will encourage businesses to bring jobs back to the state. Government spending does not create anything. It is only a redistribution of resources. Businesses create products and jobs so it is very important to bring them back to Wisconsin. Another important aspect of Walker’s plans is responsibility in government. Walker has pledged to spend every taxpayer dollar as if it was his own. He has certainly kept that promise to the people of Milwaukee County.
Wisconsin has the potential to be great again. Scott Walker believes in that potential and has proven that he will implement policies which will allow it to flourish. At a time like this, Wisconsin needs a leader that can get results. Scott Walker has done that in the past and can do it again.

--Ben Turpin

HEALTH CARE FORUM ON UW CAMPUS

The University of Wisconsin – College Republicans will be hosting a HEALTH CARE FORUM this Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 7:30 in Science Hall, room 180. Science Hall is located at 500 Lincoln Dr. in Madison, across the street from the Memorial Union. The forum is in response to the passage of several versions of the proposed national health care bill out of their respective committees. It will feature UW Professor John Sharpless, who will be discussing the political implications of the passage of such a bill. The forum will also feature Terri Courtney, an employee benefits specialist, who will discuss the impact the bill will have on the insurance companies. Finally, the forum will feature Jon Sender, a representative from the UW Health communications department who will talk about the implications the bill will have on the medical community.

College Republican Chair Crystal Lee says the forum is crucial to educate the public about the health care bills being proposed. “There are so many different facts out there talking about who the different bills will affect and who they will benefit. The members of our panel are people who have been following this for months, have seen the developments, and have a good idea of what the implications of this bill are.”

The panel will have directed questions for each candidate, as well as a question and answer session for the audience members. Everyone is welcome to join.

President’s Visit Marked a Speech to One of the Last Groups Not Critical of Him

Our own Jerad McHenry wrote a blog post for the Heralds' Muckraker that I wanted to share about the President's recent speech here in Madison discussing his thoughts on education reform. The original link can be found here: http://badgerherald.com/blogs/opinion/2009/11/07/presidents_visit_mar.php.

We, like Jerad, think that Obama needs to wake up and realize that his policies are becoming more and more unpopular. I hope the GOP and those who oppose him can keep up the attacks into 2012 and let people know we are not happy with his choices that are running our country into the ground.



As Obama spoke at Wright Middle School on Wednesday, I couldn’t help but reflect on the president’s choice of speaking venue. In a town famous for its left political leanings, why wouldn’t the president speak to a group of voting adults? So many people in Madison received exactly what they wanted in the election of President Obama. The country is looking more and more like a social democracy every day, and yet, when the president is being slammed across the country for his controversial policies, he chooses to speak to preteens rather than garner positive PR for himself and his party going into the next election cycle by speaking to devoted supporters

Obama talked Wednesday about introducing accountability in public schools and encouraging success in America’s youth. Beyond being the least controversial of the president’s policy initiatives, Obama’s education policy appeals to republicans, mainline democrats, and independents alike. And yet, he spoke in a closed door speech to a bunch of naïve, star-struck adolescents rather than achieve some positive regard in the minds of the voting public when he desperately needs it. Maybe Mr. Obama was simply fulfilling a ceremonial function in visiting the school, but I think there is a deeper, more politically tinged reason for the venue choice.

President Obama sold us all on “hope” and “change.” Few questioned the president’s ability to render positive change in America during the election of 2008, but 10.2 percent unemployment, falling approval ratings, and grassroots opposition as seen in Tea Parties and Town Hall meetings definitely put “change we can believe in” in doubt for many voters. Maybe the fact that less than four months after his election, 8,000 people were on the steps of the state capitol protesting the stimulus package and the president’s tax and spend policies, or maybe it is the healthcare town hall meeting with keynote speaker John Stossel that attracted over 2,000 attendees that makes the president shudder at that thought of delivering a public speech to some of his most loyal supporters in the 2008 election.

Many of the most liberal members of congress have been called out at public forums by there once loyal supporters on a host of issues relevant and irrelevant to the topic of the forums they have held. Perhaps with the quick rise of descent in Dane County, the president would rather speak to a bunch of youth rather than astute voters. Reading the reactions of the students at Wright Middle School to the President’s visit, hope was enough for them, and in a time when the rest of America isn’t so star-struck, Obama needs to speak to any group that is still willing to believe in the bastardized change he pimped to America that now has so many Americans royally pissed.

--Jerad McHenry

Protect Small Businesses, Preserve Our Campus

One of the beauties of this campus is also one of its main attractions, drawing people from all over the city of Madison everyday. Leading directly to the capital, State Street is lined with many trendy boutiques, coffee shops and eateries that will satisfy any craving, even for the pickiest eaters. One could find whatever type of popcorn their heart desired at Vic’s Corn Popper, or create any costume imaginable at Ragstock. If you’re looking for a particular hat, it could probably be found at the Sacred Feather, and if your bike breaks down along the way, take it to the Yellow Jersey. The businesses on State Street are convenient, and they provide the residents of this campus with a variety of places to shop and eat. Simply strolling down State Street is an experience in itself. However, one important observation that many residents may fail to notice is that many of these stores are, in fact, small businesses.

Small businesses make up 99 percent of businesses in this country, and have historically employed half of the U.S. workforce. Our country has been able to thrive because of small businesses, and these businesses have provided jobs for many Americans all over the country. Having a variety of businesses on State not only makes our campus unique, but it provides many students with employment opportunities. I, in fact, work on State at Jimmy John’s, and I am extremely thankful that I even have a job considering the number of people that are unemployed in this country.

I bring this up because small businesses are now being threatened. We are all aware of the ongoing healthcare debate, and I’m sure most people understand the harms associated with preserving the status quo. There’s no doubt in my mind that reform is needed, it’s just the ways in which our government plans on administering these changes worries me. The Democratic plan for a government takeover of healthcare would impose more than $820 billion in new tax hikes, and Democrats want to enact a $544 billion surtax on the so-called “rich” to help pay for this government takeover. According to the IRS, the majority of the “rich” targeted by this surtax are small business owners. Small businesses struggle to stay in business as it is, so by imposing a surtax this could force small business owners to cut costs, leading to millions of job losses. So the question is, why are Democrats pushing a government takeover of health care that will harm small businesses and increase job losses?

This just doesn’t make sense.

Just the other day I passed by Up Spatique on State Street, and a “70 percent everything” sign caught my eye. Well of course I walked in to take a look; I wasn’t going to pass up a sale. But as I glanced around I noticed the store was almost completely bare, and then it hit me that this place was going out of business. It’s upsetting to witness such a misfortune, but it’s even more upsetting to know that every employee of Up is now unemployed. Now imagine our beautiful State Street empty. Picture businesses closing all along the road, with “For Rent” signs in every window. What would that do to our campus? What would we have left?

--Sarah Hertz

A state tarnished by the Democrats

This article just goes to show how badly Doyle and the Dems have messed up this state by taxing businesses and citizens, raiding funds and spending frivolously. This article notes that Wisconsin is one of the top 10 states facing "fiscal peril" this year

Check it out: http://badgerherald.com/news/2009/11/12/wis_in_top_10_for_wo.php

I hope that the GOP can retake some seats in the Assembly and Senate and capture the Governor's office, and turn this situation around soon.