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June 30, 2008
New GOP Leadership & Where to Go
Last week, long time Republican Leader Joseph Bruno, resigned from his position as Senate Majority Leader and opted to retire from politics by not seeking reelection for his district. Republicans and Democrats across the state of New York are interpreting the change of Republican leadership in different ways. Some say it's good for the party, others say it's good for the Democrats. It is what it is and the result of this party change can really go either way. It all depends on how the current leadership of the State Party takes a step forward in reigniting the Party.
Senator Dean Skelos is now the new Majority Leader. He is currently introducing himself to the leaders of the state and we can only hope he sets a course for the party now that the 2008 state elections are upon us. The New York Republican Party will need a platform that our elected officials and candidates can distinguish themselves from Democratic opponents. All too often, our candidates have had a history of sounding like Democrat-alternates and in a state with more registered democrats than republicans, it would be silly to try and convince Democrats to vote Republican when you sound exactly like the candidate of their party. It also alienates Republican voters who won't bother voting for a Republican who sounds like a Democrat.
Here are a few issues that I believe the Republican Party needs to stand for in both the Senate and Assembly, so they can win some seats:
1. Lower taxes. Support tax cuts that help the state economy whether they are proven supply-side revenue driven taxes or pro-business tax cuts that bring new small and big businesses to the state. It is also important to support the proposed Tax Cap on Real & School Property Taxes.
2. Responsible Spending. Our budget is extremely large and spending appears out of control. NY is the second largest state budget (behind California) and far ahead of the third largest state budget. Our elected officials and candidates should champion transparency with where allocated district funding is put. Spending should benefit the community and also be no larger than it has to be. Our Party should advocate shrinking the size of State Government and privatize where possible.
3. Term Limits. A vote for the Republican Party should be a vote for supporting term limits on elected officials. The desire to perform public service should not be a career decision. The statewide offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller and Attorney General, should be limited to consecutive elections of two four-year terms, with no statewide official exceeding ten consecutive years (or 120 months) in office. Assembly & Senate seats should be limited to serving no more than twelve consecutive years, and limited to serving a leadership position for no more than eight consecutive years.
4. Crime. The Republican Party must reinvent the wheel on being the Party that fights crime. The 1990s saw Mayor Giuliani, Mayor Spencer, Governor Pataki and a number of other Republican leaders flex their muscle on fighting crime. With the success of reducing crime and making our streets safe, the Democrats have co-opted the tough-guy image of being crime fighters as well. This is great to see, but it has hurt Republicans, because they have not been able to adapt to taking the issue to the next level.
5. Education. The Republican Party needs to promote a more competitive and effective educational policy that can resonate combat failed union-driven policies and reach the voter who wants to see change. Repealing laws that prevent a voucher program and promoting tax credit incentives will help level the playing field in education, but the message that these changes will not cut funding in public schools needs to be emphasized.
6. Environmentalism. Theodore Roosevelt was a strong supporter of protecting wildlife and promoting parks. He believed in a safe and clean environment for New Yorkers. He was also a Republican. This was a progressive position that was started by the Republican Party and it should still be a key component of the GOP. We must continue to be the conservatives for conservation. Whether or not you believe man is responsible for some kind of "global warming" is irrelevant. We must balance the need to support environmentally friendly policies that are based on science and fact, as well as policies that open doors to the free markets and allow the economy to grow.
7. Government Reform. Some issues are not meant for the politician. They are meant for the People of the State. Republican candidates should support ballot referendums on issues that determine the progressive stature of New York. Our elected officials and candidates should return government back to the People. We must not support decisions made by the few and support the actions of the voters. When the People of the State support change, then it is the duty of our elected officials, both Republicans and Democrats, to come up with a policy that meets the desires of a referendum.
These are just some key points that our elected officials and candidates need to focus on during this election cycle. And our candidates need to remember that they must emphasize differences, not similarities, when distinguishing one's self from the Democratic opponent. You cannot win by saying why you are like your opponent. It'll have Republican voters question why they need to vote for you and it'll simply confirm the decision for Democratic voters to vote democrat.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 12:20 PM | Comments (0)
June 23, 2008
Rent Regulation needs to Go
On June 19, the Rent Guidelines Board [RGB] approved rent increase percentages for one and two year leases at the highest rates in years. The new increases approved for October 1 are 4.5% for a one year renewal and 8.5% for a two year renewal.
At the meeting Thursday meeting, tenants in attendance screamed and caused a raucous once the new rates were announced. Signs were held, whistles were blown, voices were raised and arguments ensued as tenants associations and their representatives disapproved of such an "unfair" burden on "middle income" renters. The irony is, "those who are complaining about the RGB increases imposed under the rules of rent stabilization are the same people who argue for keeping rent stabilization!"
It is clear that this form of government regulation on housing, which was at one time labeled as "temporary," is so broken, that the best solution is to simply toss it out. Why else would someone complain about a government program one minute and then argue for keeping it the next? By keeping rent control laws on the books in New York, politicians are playing an unfair con-job with the voting public.
The belief that rent control has benefits over deregulated housing isn’t based within the Democratic Party. Republicans from Manhattan also fight to keep rent stabilization. Not that this really matters, because there are currently no elected Republicans representing Manhattan, but the big fear is that when rent control runs its course, the Democrats will be the party that switches their campaign strategy as the party against rent regulation and Republicans will be on the wrong side of an arcane argument.
Manhattan"s housing market is becoming more and more a buyers market. Those choosing to rent are renting market rate apartments and not government controlled housing. These buyers and renters are voters too and when you argue for rent regulation, you are arguing against these voters. They aren't going to make the case of arguing for a government program if they know they aren’t entitled to it.
Recently, city officials led by Speaker Christine Quinn, have voiced their desires to repeal the Erstadt Laws that took the housing control away from the city. We cannot let the city take back control of a program they couldn't run in the first place. It is important that our elected officials and candidates, especially those outside of the five boroughs, argue the case against returning control of rent regulation to New York City.
Our Republican leaders, Assemblyman James Tedisco and Senator Dean Skelos, must begin a fight for the buyer and market rate renter demanding New York State abolish rent regulation. Our elected officials must draft this policy initiative with clear and concise wording on how New York will benefit from removing such regulations. Every other state that has removed the program increased its housing stock and has made rentals more affordable.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 04:09 PM | Comments (0)
June 22, 2008
Wednesday July 9
NYYRC & its "county-part", the NYYRC will jointly host an...
Ice Cream Summer Social
...more details to follow soon.
Posted by NYYRC at 10:06 AM | Comments (0)
June 10, 2008
July 10 Speaker Forum 7:30 PM
The next New York Young Republican Club, Inc meeting will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2008.
Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld is the Director of the American Center for Democracy and an author who writes on terrorism and corruption-related topics. She has lectured on these issues in many countries, and has advised banking communities, law enforcement agencies, and governments, including the U.S. Defense Department's Threat Reduction Agency. She testified before the European Parliament on how the Palestinian Authority uses aid money to fund its terror activities, provided evidence to the British Parliament on the corruption of the PA, and testified before the U.S. Congress on terrorism related issues. She currently works on issues related to the Financial and Economic Jihad against America and the West. Dr. Ehrenfeld's writings also appear in the New York Sun as well as many other news publications.
Dr. Ehrenfeld is author of the book, Funding Evil: How Terrorism is Financed - and How to Stop It. The controversy surrounding a lawsuit brought by one of the alleged terror financiers, Khalid Salim A Bin Mahfouz again Dr. Ehrenfeld in a British court, sparked New York State's, nicknamed "Rachel's Law", which protects American journalists and writers against having local courts enforce malicious foreign prosecution. The Libel Terrorism Protection Act of 2008 empowers New York courts to assert jurisdiction over anyone who obtains a foreign libel judgment against a New York publisher or writer and limits enforcement only to those judgments that satisfy "the freedom of speech and press protections guaranteed by both the United States and New York Constitutions."
Please R.S.V.P. to this meeting/event.
Meeting Location
Soldiers', Sailors', Marines' & Airmen's Club
283 Lexington Ave (bet 36th & 37th St)
NW Lounge on the Second Floor
7:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Business Casual requested.
Please be on time.
For After-politics Socializing
Come join us afterwards for drinks at:
Margarita Murphy's
591 Third Avenue
Between 38th and 39th streets
Posted by NYYRC at 09:42 AM | Comments (0)