DC GOP Blog

Republicans Win Big!

2009-11-04T06:25:00.001-08:00

Last night's victories in New Jersey and Virginia are the latest examples of Republicans gaining ground on Democrats. As DC Republicans, we should all be proud to see states that trend Democrat, voted Republican.

New Jersey is a very deep blue state, very similar to Washington, DC. Governor elect Chris Christie (R-NJ) went into urban areas and campaigned on urban issues like a need for more transparency, better schools and less crime.

The Republican Party needs your support. Please register to vote in DC as a DC Republican by following this link: http://www.dcgop.com/Voter_Form.pdf

Please consider making a financial contribution with a credit card, by following this link: http://www.dcgop.com/Donate2.html

Get involved with the Republican movement here in Washington, contact us today at telephone number: (202) 289-8005 or email us at: info@dcgop.com. We want to hear from you!

Support the DCGOP

2009-10-15T07:53:00.001-07:00

PLEASE MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF $10, by following this link: http://www.dcgop.com/Donate2.html. We need DC Republicans to get active and support the local DCGOP in our effort to hold our elected officials accountable. If you would like to help, please do so, by making a small contribution here: http://www.dcgop.com/Donate2.html

Paul D. Craney

Executive Director

DC Republican Committee I 1275 K St, NW, Ste 102 I Washington, DC 20005

Office: 202 289-8005 I Cell: 202 550-1450 I Fax: 202 289-2197

En Espanol I dcgop.com I http://twitter.com/dcgop

Paid for by the DC Republican Committee I Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee

Washington Post Magazine Highlights Craney

2009-10-09T21:13:00.000-07:00

Saturday's Washington Post magazine does a fun story on DC Republican Committee's Executive Director Paul D. Craney. Read it here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/02/AR2009100204232.html

Event with William Kristol

2009-10-01T11:20:00.001-07:00

Please join the DC Republican Committee's Advisory Council for an event on Wednesday, October 15th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with special guest speaker William Kristol, editor from the Weekly Standard.

The event will take place at the residence of Jose E.V. Cunningham at 1609 16th Street, NW. This event is open to all Advisory Council members. To find out how to join the Advisory Council, please contact us at telephone: (202) 289-8005 or email us at: info@dcgop.com

http://www.dcgop.com/Events.html

DCGOP on last night's NBC4

2009-10-01T07:03:00.001-07:00

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local-beat/DC-GOP-Wants-Graham-to-Join-Chief-of-Staff-on-Leave-62989542.html

DCGOP in today's Washington Post

2009-10-01T07:02:00.001-07:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/30/AR2009093001922_pf.html

Story about the DCGOP

2009-09-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

Great story about the DCGOP hounding CM Jim Graham

http://dcist.com/2009/09/jim_graham_in_hot_seat.php

A Must Read about CM Jim Graham

2009-09-30T10:09:00.001-07:00

Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham's in some hot water, a must read:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=37892

DCGOP asks CM Gray to Push Graham Aside

2009-09-30T10:06:00.001-07:00

September 30, 2009

Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray

John A. Wilson Building

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 504

Washington, DC 20004

Dear Chairman Gray:

With the recent passage of PR18-0491 (Council Code of Official Conduct Rules Amendment Resolution of 2009), the DC Council has a unique opportunity to exercise its newly adopted ethics laws. With the recent arrest of Ted Loza, chief of staff to Councilmember Jim Graham and reports circulating that Councilmember Jim Graham is under investigation from the FBI, the DC Republican Committee encourages you to recommend Councilmember Graham take a leave of absence until the FBI has concluded its investigation.

According to recent reports, sources close to the FBI probe tell WUSA9 that Councilman Graham is also a target of the probe. Graham has obtained criminal defense attorney, James Cooper, with Arnold and Porter law firm.

As Chairman of the Council, you are the Council’s elected leader. As the Council’s elected leader, you have an opportunity to show District residents that the DC Council will not tolerate corruption or the appearance of corruption. Only with Graham’s departure will the DC Council be sending a clear message that unethical behavior will not be tolerated. Anything short of Graham taking a time of leave will suggest that under your leadership, the DC Council embraces the appearance of unethical behavior.

All law abiding citizens have the right to a fair trial and are innocent until proven guilty. However, as Council Chairman you also have a responsibility to show District residents that your Council will not tolerate the appearance of unethical behavior.

Mr. Chairman, you ran for the important job as DC Council Chairman on a platform of bringing honesty and responsible government to the entire city. Now is your time to fulfill that promise.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Kabel

Chairman

District of Columbia Republican Committee

DC Councilmember Jim Graham Is A Target Of FBI Probe

2009-09-29T06:54:00.001-07:00

In case you missed it yesterday, there is a report that CM Jim Graham has hired a defense attorney and is a target in the FBI investigation.

Read the story here:

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=91592&catid=187

This comes day after the DC Council passed a new ethics law. Let's see if the DC Council will enforce its ethics laws. DC Government does not have an ethics committee, like many other legislative bodies do.

DCGOP in today's Washington City Paper

2009-09-03T06:17:00.000-07:00

Today's Washington City Paper quotes the DCGOP. Read it here: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=37732

DCGOP in today's Washington Post

2009-09-02T13:25:00.000-07:00

Washington Post covers the DC Dems problems and quotes the DCGOP

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/01/AR2009090103031.html

AUDIT REVEALS DC DEMS MISUSE OF FUNDS

2009-09-01T13:13:00.001-07:00

Audit Reveals DC Dems Misuse of Funds

DC Office of Campaign Finance Steps In

Washington, DC: The District of Columbia Republican Committee made the following statement in response to revelations that the DC Democratic State Committee was audited by the DC Office of Campaign Finance as reported in the Washington City Paper and Washington Post.

"When elected officials and party activists feel there are no checks and balances, District residents loose out. If District residents want to send a clear message that they are tired of hearing their elected officials and party activists misusing money and trust, there is no clearer message than to register as a DC Republican," stated Robert J. Kabel, Chairman of the DC Republican Committee.

# # #

Press Release from Chairman Kabel

2009-08-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

Fenty Field at Harriet Tubman Elementary School is Inappropriate

Mayor's Name Dominates New Field

Washington, DC: The District of Columbia Republican Committee made the following statement in response Mayor Adrian Fenty's name being placed on the new Harriet Tubman Elementary School Soccer Field. The Mayor's name stretches across the field and the new stadium cost District taxpayers $558,000.

"The Administration has essentially created a Fenty Field. What should have been a celebratory occasion in showing off a new sports field, ended up being more of a PR campaign by the Mayor," stated Robert J. Kabel, Chairman of the DC Republican Committee.

"When did renovating a sports field for DC kids take a back seat to the Mayor's full throttle style of self promotion? If the new field is really for the kids, the Mayor should remove his name from the field immediately," concluded Kabel.

# # #

Republican Hispanic Event

2009-08-05T13:31:00.001-07:00

Republican National Hispanic Assembly

RNHA

Washington, D.C.
www.rnha.org

Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2009

Contact: Danny Vargas

Phone: 571-276-3109

RNHA Convention Update - Former Attorney General Gonzales Joins Other Prominent Speakers to Address RNHA Convention

Dear Friends,

We have the pleasure of announcing that former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has agreed to address the upcoming bi-annual RNHA national convention. The first Hispanic Attorney General, and thus the highest ranking Hispanic federal official in US history, Gonzales also served as White House Counsel, Texas Supreme Court Justice and Texas Secretary of State.

General Gonzales joins a spectacular line up of guest speakers, including RNC Chairman Michael Steele, Former U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, Virginia Gubernatorial Candidate Bob McDonnell, and several others who will participate on panel discussions.

The convention takes place in Northern Virginia from August 13 to 15. We urge all those who have not yet registered to do so no later than Friday, August 7. The following linking takes you to the registration page – http://rnha.org/upcoming_event%20RNHA%20Convention.htm.

The convention is also our opportunity to elect the new leadership board of the RNHA. The two candidates for National Chairman are encouraging folks to attend and have made the following statements:

Alci Maldonado - “Nothing brings me more pleasure than to invite each of you to join us at the RNHA national convention with great guest speakers and fascinating panels. I encourage all of you to partake in this historic moment; to enjoy not only the fellowship with each other, but a rare chance to receive words of wisdom from our special guests. Hispanic American Republicans can play a vital role in shaping the future of the electorate, our Party and our Country. I look forward to seeing all of you at our National Convention!”

Rick Rios – “I am thankful we have an opportunity to exercise open and fair democracy within the RNHA. I encourage all to attend the RNHA national convention and let your voices be heard. We will be deciding how to address the most important issues facing this nation. As leaders in your communities, your voice and opinions will shape the RNHA, but you have to participate to be heard. I encourage everyone to attend this year’s national convention. Regardless of where you stand on any single race or issue, be part of the solution, participate, and make a difference!”

We look forward to a fabulous convention and hope to see you there.

Best regards,

Danny

###

The mission of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly is to build a membership organization to foster the principles of the Republican Party in the Hispanic community, provide Hispanic Americans with a forum to play an influential role in local, state, and national Party activities, increase the number of Hispanic Republican elected officials, and create and maintain a network of Hispanic Republican leaders.

This message was sent from Communications Office to dannyvargas1@yahoo.com. It was sent from: Republican National Hispanic Assembly, 12125 Windsor Hall Way, Herndon, VA 20170. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

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DCGOP in this Week's Current Newspaper

2009-08-05T11:19:00.001-07:00

The Northwest Current

August 3, 2009

By: Tom Sherwood

ShamWow Politics. We had to laugh when we learned the D.C. Republican Party had sent a ShamWow cleaning cloth to mayor Fenty. If you don’t watch cable TV, the ShamWow is a miracle cloth for cleaning and soaking up water on even the hardest jobs.

D.C. GOP chair Robert Kabel said Fenty should use the ShamWow on the 2010 budget. “The Mayor’s ShamWow has a warranty, and it can be used for the house, the car, the boat, the RV, and we hope it will work on the D.C. Council’s budget,” Kabel said.

But that’s not all. Paul Craney, the Executive Director of the D.C. Republican Party, also has compiled a chart of mayoral salaries. “The mayor likes to compare himself to big-city mayors,” Craney said in an email. So, the GOP did. Fenty’s salary is $200,000 in a city with just under 600,000 people.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg technically earns $225,000, although as a wealthy man he doesn’t accept it. New York has more than 8 million residents.

Chicago is just shy of 3 million people. Mayor Richard Daley earns 216,210.

And Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa earns 205,561. The city has nearly 4 million residents.

Say what you will, the GOP knows how to throw a few good political darts.

Craney got a call into the WAMU “Politics Hour” on Friday, asking if the mayor would support a salary cut. No, was the answer. Mayor Fenty says he and the Council earn their pay.

State Governor Salaries vs. DC Elected Officials' Salaries

2009-07-30T12:38:00.001-07:00

Comparison Graph of State Governor Salaries and DC Elected Officials' Salaries

Name of Governor	State	Salaries	Population
Arnold Schwarzennegger	California	206,500	36,756,666
Adrian Fenty	DC Mayor	200,000	591,833
Vincent Gray	DC Council Chairman	190,000	591,833
David Paterson	New York	179,000	19,490,297
Jennifer Granholm	Michigan	177,000	10,003,422
Jon Corzine	New Jersey	175,000	8,682,661
Timothy M. Kaine	Virginia	175,000	7,769,089
Edward G. Rendell	Pennsylvania	164,396	12,448,279
Pat Quinn	Illinois	155,600	12,901,563
Christine Gregoire	Washington	150,995	6,549,224
Martin O'Malley	Maryland	150,000	5,633,597
M. Jodi Rell	Connecticut	150,000	3,501,252
Ted Strickland	Ohio	144,830	11,485,910
Jim Douglas	Vermont	143,957	621,270
Jim Gibbons	Nevada	141,000	2,600,167
Deval Patrick	Massachussetts	140,535	6,497,967
C. Brad Henry	Oklahoma	140,000	3,642,361
Steve Beshear	Kentucky	137,506	4,269,245
Jim Doyle	Wisconsin	137,092	5,627,967
Sonny Perdue	Georgia	135,281	9,685,744
Charle Christ	Florida	132,932	18,328,340
Jack A. Markell	Deleware	132,500	873,092
Beverly Perdue	North Carolina	130,629	9,222,414
Chet Culver	Iowa	130,000	3,002,555
Sean Parnell	Alaska	125,000	686,293
DC Council Average Salary	DC Councilmember	125,000	591,833
Haley Barbour	Mississippi	122,160	2,938,618
Jay Nixon	Missouri	122,087	5,911,605
Tim Pawlenty	Minnesota	120,303	5,220,393
Donald Carcieri	Rhode Island	117,817	1,050,788
Rick Perry	Texas	115,345	24,326,974
Robert R. Riley	Alabama	112,895	4,661,900
Linda Lingle	Hawaii	112,000	1,288,198
William B. Richardson III	New Mexico	110,000	1,984,356
John Lynch	New Hampshire	108,990	1,315,809
Mark Sanford	South Carolina	106,078	4,479,800
Mark Parkinson	Kansas	105,889	2,802,134
V.L. "Butch" Otter	Idaho	105,560	1,523,816
M. Michael Rounds	South Dakota	105,544	804,194
Dave Heinman	Nebraska	105,000	1,783,432
Dave Freudenthal	Wyoming	105,000	532,668
John Huntsman Jr.	Utah	104,000	2,736,424
Brian Schweitzer	Montana	96,462	967,440
Mitch Daniels	Indiana	95,000	6,376,792
Bobby Jindal	Louisiana	95,000	4,410,796
Joe Manchin	West Virginia	95,000	1,812,035
Jan Brewer	Arizona	95,000	1,275,509
Ted Kulongski	Oregon	93,600	3,790,060
John Hoeven	North Dakota	92,483	641,481
August William "Bill" Ritter, Jr.	Colorado	90,000	4,939,456
Phil Bredesen	Tennessee	85,000	6,214,888
Mike Beebe	Arkansas	80,848	2,855,390
John Baldacci	Maine	70,000	1,316,456

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cmXVmiwqlL8/SnH0Vxv8ieI/AAAAAAAAAO8/U5bx3JVsEEs/s1600-h/Picture+24.png

DCGOP in Today's Washington Post

2009-07-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

Law Is No Obstacle In Renaming Park, Graham Says

Washington Post
By Tim Craig
Thursday, July 23, 2009

D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) says the city law prohibiting a public space from being named after a living person won't hinder his proposal to rename Girard Park in Columbia Heights Barack Hussein Obama Park.

Graham proposed the name change at last week's council meeting. If the council agrees, the recently renovated park at 14th and Girard streets NW will become the first city facility named after the president.

The city code states: "No public space in the District shall be named in honor of any living person."

After the issue of the code arose, Graham sent an e-mail to his constituents informing them that the council has the authority to override the law without having to amend the code.

"For years, the council has been naming public spaces after living persons," Graham wrote.

He pointed to a 2007 opinion from the council's chief legal counsel that he says clears the way for the council to ignore the law, which dates to 1983. "Although the council adopted a statute, prohibiting a public space from being named in honor of a living person, I am constrained to conclude that because nothing in the Home Rule Act or federal law prohibits the council from amending, repealing or superseding that statute, that the council is not legally bound by that prohibition, so long as the council's approval is in the form of an act," wrote Brian K. Flowers, the general counsel.

Graham said the council renamed roadways last year in honor of radio mogul Cathy Hughes and musician Chuck Brown, both of whom are living. Graham also noted that an alley next to Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street NW is named Ben Ali Way in honor of the restaurant owner, who is also living.

"What I propose will create an exception," Graham said in an interview. "Every legislature passes laws that change earlier laws. But the fact that the city code says anything at all about naming a public space in honor of a living person will surely give ammunition to critics of the proposal."

Enter the city's minority party: the Republicans.

The D.C. Republican Committee, not surprisingly, has come out against Graham's proposal.

Robert Kabel, chairman of the GOP committee, sent Graham a letter this week suggesting that the council instead rename the park in honor of former U.S. senator Edward Brooke, a District native who was the first African American elected to the Senate after Reconstruction.

Brooke, a Republican, represented Massachusetts from 1967 to 1979. Brooke is also still alive; he lives in the Watergate.

But the real focus of Kabel's letter is an attempt to mock Graham for spending time on Girard Park's name.

"The District of Columbia Republican Committee encourages you to find ways to attract jobs to the District," Kabel said. "Now more than ever, District residents need their council members to stay focused on the financial problems that face our city."

Can critics, however, stop a public tribute to a president who received an astounding 93 percent of the vote in the District?

Letter to DC Council Members

2009-07-21T10:40:00.001-07:00

Dear Councilmember:

The District’s budget is plagued by a deficit that is expected to reach $150 million in 2010 and could climb as much as $1 billion annually unless significant steps are taken to reduce the city’s bloated budget. Instead of taking bold steps to reduce District spending, council members are threatening to raise taxes during an economic recession with District unemployment over 20% in some areas of the city.

Council member Jim Graham has proposed tax increases to the top tax bracket of District residents. Council member Tommy Wells has suggested a gas[1] and food[2] tax. Any tax or fee increase on District residents will be a further drag on the city’s economy and impact low income residents the most. The District of Columbia Republican Committee urges you to cut spending from the budget, starting with salaries.

Since 2004, the District budget increased 42%. Council members annually receive $350,000 for their staff salaries and an additional $350,000 if they Chair a Committee. Each Council member is Chair of a Committee. Annually, each Council member receives $700,000 for staff and that does not include their personal salaries.

Since 2006 Council salaries have increased from $92,500 to $125,000. DC Council members now earn more than the national average than what governors earn[3]. The DC Council Chair makes $190,000, higher than 49 states pay their governors and more than Members of Congress make. The Mayor makes $200,000, only $6,000 less than what the highest paid Governor in the nation receives[4].

An example of the Council’s spending problem is best displayed at a July 10^th interview on WAMU’s Kojo show when Council member Mary Cheh said, “How much we each get in our offices, $350,000 dollars for the office itself and an additional amount ($350,000) for our Committees and I must say, that money in my own case… it may sound unrealistic but I could use more money.”

The DC Republican Committee encourages our elected leaders to govern by example. If the District’s deficit is to be effectively addressed, council members should demonstrate leadership by cutting their own salaries and that of their staff as well as looking for cost saving opportunities within the District budget. DC Council members should trim their bloated District budget and avoid any further tax and fee increases.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Kabel

Chairman, District of Columbia Republican Committee

[1] Three cent gas tax.

[2] Tax on snack food.

[3] According to stateline.org, the average salary for Governors was $124,398.

[4] According to stateline.org

A Letter to Council Member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1)

2009-07-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

Councilmember Jim Graham
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 105, NW
Washington, DC 20004

Dear Councilmember Graham:

Recent reports suggest that you are seeking to change the name of Girard Park in Columbia Heights to "Barack Hussein Obama" park. This would violate the city’s code that states "no public space in the District shall be named in honor of any living person." If you feel the need to name a park in your Ward after a famous African American elected officia l, the DC Republican Committee suggests you consider DC’s native Edward Brooke who served in the US Senate from Massachusetts. Senator Brooke was the first African American elected to the US Senate since reconstruction, is a DC native and retired in the District.

More importantly then renaming parks, everyone on the Council except you1 voted for Resolution 18-209 which shortens the Council recess in order to focus on the District’s serious budget shortfall. Your Council colleagues voted for a shorter recess because the District faces a large budget deficit which will require you and the Mayor and the Council to work together and identifyways to reduce the budget deficit. As unemployment steadily increases in the District (over 20% in some areas), District residents and the District of Columbia Republican Committee encourages you to find ways to attract jobs for the District.

Now more than ever, District residents need their Councilmembers to stay focused on the financial problems that face our city. As Chairman of the Metro Board, we strongly encourage to ensure the safety of the Metro system and hope that you will join the millions of commuters and residents who use the Metro Rail on a daily basis to commute to work.2

Sincerely,
Robert J. Kabel
Chairman, District of Columbia Republican Committee

1: Graham was absent on a July 14th voice vote for R.18-209.
2 As reported in a June 26th interview with WTOP’s Mark Plotkin, Graham has not ridden on a Metro Rail since the Fall of 2008.

Harry Thomas Being Investigated

2009-07-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

In case you missed, the DC Examiner reports today that Councilmember Harry Thomas (Ward 5-Dem) is being investigated for setting up a non-profit and having a developer give money to his non-profit.

As of today, CM Thomas is over two weeks out of compliance with filing his Constituent Service Fund. The DC Office of Campaign Finance mailed him a reminder notice on Monday (7/13).

This is the not the first time CM Harry Thomas was been in hot water with the DC Office of Campaign Finance. In May, CM Thomas was late to file his annual Financial Disclosure Form. The Financial Disclosure Form is intended to show the public what gifts the DC Councilmembers receive.

The DC Council does not have an ethics Committee, there are virtually no checks and balances within the Wilson Building to oversee the activities of the DC Councilmembers.

Communicate with DC Republicans

2009-07-16T06:25:00.001-07:00

Do you want to email fellow DC Republicans? Ever wonder who in your neighborhood is a Republican?

The DC Republican Committee has launches an official yahoo email listserve for DC Republicans. An email listserve allows you to sign up and email fellow DC Republicans. By doing this, the DC Republican Committee has opened the door in allowing DC Republicans the ability to freely communicate with each other.

To get started, follow these steps.
1. Sign up here.
2. Forward this email to all your DC Republican friends.

Testimony of Treasurer Craig Engle on Election Reform Act of 2009

2009-07-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

TESTIMONY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE

D.C. Committee on Government Operations and the Environment

Craig Engle

I speak today on behalf of the District of Columbia Republican Committee and its

Chairman, Robert Kabel. We come to this hearing today not just as a political party, but as citizens of a great city who care about the vitality and integrity of our city’s political system. A quick example of this care is the proposal for a new law or charter amendment that would provide for an elected DC Attorney General: our June 2008 platform called for an elected, non-partisan attorney general.

So we thank you for the opportunity to express our views to this Committee, and for holding a hearing on this important topic.

D.C. residents know, maybe more than many Americans, that democracy is precious. We suffer from a lack of representation in our own national legislature and challenges to our home rule. The DC Republican Committee has a long history in support of DC Voting Rights, particularly the former Norton-Davis bill. Our Party’s Chairman has been quoted in many of the local media outlets in support of DC Voting Rights. Our National Party’s Chairman and DC native Michael Steele recently was quoted in favor of giving a House seat to DC and Utah and went as far as challenging President Obama to place “Taxation without Representation” license plates on his vehicles like Chairman Steele recently did.

But, we should remember that democracy requires care and maintenance in how it is implemented. Elections require rules and safeguards to insure their fairness, integrity and accuracy for the voters, and majority and minority parties.

My first point to this Committee today is to recognize that every change in our election law, however well-intentioned, does not deserve the description ‘reform’ – reform is a word that carries the notion of improvement. Changes carry risks and trade-offs that may not really be reform. Also, this Bill is a broad assortment of ideas, presumably gathered from other jurisdictions, but for which this city may be incapable of implementing fairly and responsibly, even if these ideas were good.

Many of these ideas are promoted as expanding participation by the District’s citizens in elections by making voter registration and voting more convenient. While the DCRC supports these goals in general, we are opposed to anything increasing the likelihood of administrative confusion, election management mistakes, opportunities for voter fraud and manipulation, or denying the fundamental value of secrecy of the ballot.

On April 21^st, a Council Board of Elections and Ethics Investigation Special Committee issued an “After-Action Report of the November 2008 General Election”. The Special Committee itself was formed because of the unacceptable performance of the Board in conducting last September’s primary elections: these numerous administrative failures are widely known and were documented by the Special Committee’s Preliminary Report.

The April post-election report also presented a fairly damning description of the performance of the Board of Elections and Ethics during the November General Elections of last year. The Report described failures of the Board, or its contractors, with respect to:

Breakdowns in the delivery of absentee ballots;
Misprinted ballots; the most serious of which was a Ward 2 absentee ballot that lacked both the Republican and Democratic candidates for that
Problems with in-person absentee ballot voting;
Inadequate training of poll workers;
Lack of poll worker performance evaluation;
Confusion about poll worker ‘last-minute’ elevation to precinct captains;
Lack of communication between the Board and poll workers, including [quote] “the Board printed hundreds of signs posted at polling places with an incorrect phone number for the [dedicated line for complaints]”;
Failure to compensate poll workers in a timely manner;
Touch-screen voting machines that told voters that a single vote for At-Large Council was “incomplete”, which is not only false but almost certainly had an adverse effect upon election outcomes;
Lack of privacy for disabled voters in numerous polling sites;
Obstructions to election observers trying to witness the vote tabulation process;
Failure of the Board to release voting results in a timely and methodical manner, despite warnings of the Preliminary Report of the Special Committee;
[quote] “Lack of a clear, publicly available checklist for evaluating the accuracy of election night review of the unofficial election results”;
Concerns about the integrity of the voter registry, specifically:

Further: [T]here is reason to believe that the voter registration roll in the District of Columbia is both over-inclusive and under-inclusive. In particular, the Special Committee understands that the voter rolls have a large number of voters who have moved or otherwise no longer eligible to vote, but remain on the voter list. Furthermore, the Special Committee received a very large number of complaints from voters who claimed to have timely registered but learned that their registrations had not been processed.

The Report of the Special Committee also stated: “Major recommendations and legislative proposals will be part of the Committee’s final report, which is scheduled to be issued in May”. For whatever reason, the Special Committee has not issued a Final Report with recommendations and legislative proposals. Thus, the Bill being considered before this Committee today is not related to any official objective findings. It is a case of ‘ready, fire, aim’.

Perhaps other persons testifying today can provide a technical analysis of this proposed Bill that is not apparent to the DCRC. Maybe if election experts from both political parties are invited to work with the Committee, and discuss the Help America Vote Act and how it has been utilized in other more error-free jurisdictions, we can reach a good, bipartisan result. So we congratulate the committee for having a hearing - and hopefully a “roll up the sleeves” collaborative session with elections administration experts of all parties - to improve this bill.

Next, the bill clearly heaves on the shoulders of an already beleaguered Board of Elections and Ethics a vast array of responsibilities it cannot conceivably be expected to handle. Perhaps the Board is under-staffed, under-compensated or under-trained. Maybe they are victims. Let’s not flirt with a situation where someone may lift that regrettable quote: “You’re doing a heck of a job, Board.”

We respectfully submit this Committee should fix what’s broken. If the Board doesn’t have the platform to implement your new ideas, and these ideas carry substantial risks of abuse, why push for them now? Our response is: first things first. And the first thing is fix the problems you already have.

We now wish to express a number of concerns the DCRC has about certain provisions of this proposed Bill and their intended or unintended consequences. In the interest of time,

I will not address every provision of this Bill. If the DCRC is invited to a working session, maybe we can discuss them all in greater detail.

First, the proposed Bill contains provisions clarifying the qualifications of members of the Board of Elections and Ethics and delineating requirements for their open meetings. We support such improvements. We are in favor of fixing existing problems. One of the three members on the Board should be a Republican. By ensuring a truly bi-partisan Board, all voters will feel as thought they are truly represented.

Then the proposed Bill descends into a pattern that is all too familiar in the District of Columbia. In proposed Section 103, it calls for the establishment of an Elections Advisory Committee comprised of members selected by the Mayor, the Chairman of the Council, the Chairman of this Committee, and, oddly, the Chairman of the Board of Elections and Ethics. This provision provides no particular powers, duties or responsibilities for the Advisory Committee, other than to advise the Board of Elections and Ethics. If it had any authority, it would represent an impermissible delegation of the oversight responsibility of this Committee. It is another example of diffusing responsibility in this city rather than seeking genuine accountability. Membership on such an Advisory Board may be nice for its members, but the Bill provides no meaningful purpose for its establishment. The DCRC opposes this proposal.

The DCRC has no objection to the measures that expand the rights of election observers under proposed Section 104. Too many people, however, can create a distracting commotion at polling sites and at Board headquarters. After a threshold of sufficient election monitors and transparency in the election process has been reached, more is not always better.

We support the reporting requirements in proposed Section 105 for the Board of Election and Ethics regarding basic statistics and fundamental operations following an election. It is curious the Board has not been obligated to provide this information before.

The DCRC supports provisions of this proposed Bill seeking to improve poll worker training and require performance evaluations. Again, we are in favor of fixing problems. We note, however, the provision to eliminate a District residency requirement for poll workers, however necessary it may have become, is a commentary on the state of election administration in this city.

Similarly, the DCRC supports efforts to insure the reliability of voting mechanisms and to demand accountability from vendors. After so many problems, we want this city to get it right. Hopefully, others with technical expertise in the field of voting machinery will testify before you today.

In proposed amendments to Title II, Title III, Title VI and Title VII, however, this Bill begins to get into serious trouble.

Proposed amendments to Section 201 lowers the voting age to 17 in party primaries, or any election whatsoever, including special elections, for those who will turn 18 by the next General Election Day. The DCRC respects and encourages political involvement of young voters. But this provision is a strange expansion of the voting franchise to a small group of people. It will be an additional chore for an elections board that does not have the ability to handle the basics of voter registration they already have. This is particularly true if coupled with same-day voter registration. Let’s give the Board a chance to pull itself together with their current responsibilities within a uniform and traditional voting age of 18.

The Bill proposes amending Section 301 to provide for ‘same-day’ voter registration – registering to vote on Election Day. The DCRC supports efforts to make voter registration more convenient prior to Election Day. We would endorse reducing the period between a registration deadline and an election to perhaps seven days – if the Board of Elections and Ethics can produce an accurate final voter registry in time for use at the polls. We would consider proposals to permit voter registration on Election Day at centers set up by the Board that guarantee, facilitate and respect normal, orderly and thorough procedures for registration. But we do not support the same-day voter registration process proposed in this Bill.

Our concern here is not only about obvious opportunities for voter fraud as have been documented across the country. Frankly, this provision demonstrates a failure of the Bill to anticipate the practical consequences of the idea. The Bill provides for qualified electors to appear in person “at the polling place for the precinct in which the individual maintains residence, by completing a voter registration application, making an oath in the form prescribed by the Board, and providing proof of residence.” So, let’s imagine the process:

Polling sites must provide staff devoted to voter registration.
A new entry line from outside of the polling place for not-yet-voters must be provided.
The designated polling site staff will assist persons through the relatively cumbersome and time consuming job of applications, oaths and proof of residence – in the midst of other voters signing in and voting.
Persons wishing to register, assuming they know the appropriate precinct to which they should go will be required to provide proof of residence – a level of identification not required of the voters around them. The legislation does address the situation if a same day voter shows an expired driver’s license or a license that shows their old address.
Once registration is completed, will these newly registered voters be required to go back outside and get in line with the voters, or will they be permitted to jump the line?

Same-day voter registration at polling sites will guarantee confusion and acrimony in polling sites, and undoubtedly slow down the voting process for everyone. We do not recommend you impose this on the Board of Elections and the ready voters of the District. At some point, the drive for providing more convenience to potential voters to register has to give way when it creates seriously adverse consequences. This is, in our opinion, not an improvement and not real reform.

Another proposal in this Bill is providing for ‘no-fault absentee ballots’ in Section 601 and ‘early voting’ in Section 603 under Title VI. Unfortunately, the proposed Bill jumbles the two together and lacks coherence. The DCRC is not opposed to the idea behind no-fault absentee ballots and early voting, since these practices are already effectively permitted in the District, notably last November. We suggest that this Committee revise and clarify the language in this Bill to simply permit early voting in person at the Board’s office or designated, supervised centers for a reasonable timeframe.

We would object, however, to no-fault absentee ballots mailed out to voters. Voting outside a polling place is an exception to the rule of secrecy of the ballot. Even when permitted only for those who have a legitimate reason, such as illness or travel, absentee ballots have a long history of encouraging fraud and manipulation, not just in the District but across the United States. This Committee should not endorse any changes to the election law that would broaden these risks. Voting should be conducted in private, except in special and justifiable circumstances.

Also in this Bill at Title VII, Election Procedures, is a proposal to amend Section 703 to change the date for elections for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners. Rather than being voted at the General Election, where they belong, the ANC members would now be elected at the preceding September political party primary elections. The DCRC does not understand why this is being proposed or how it could possibly be considered a reform. Questions abound:

Will registered Independents be permitted to vote on Primary Election Day for ANC members? If so, will they be provided a separate ballot? Why are Independents being forced to participate in voting on Primary Election Day if they wish to exercise their right to vote for non-partisan candidates for ANC? Why does this Bill complicate the operations of polling sites and further burden poll workers rather than fix the problems that we have?

We have one final concern regarding electioneering and the proposed amendment of Section 903, in the Miscellaneous Provisions of this Bill, which would add: “This section should not be construed to prohibit passive electioneering, which includes wearing tee shirts, clothing or buttons with a candidate’s or political party’s name, picture, or emblem on it.” While we recognize that the days are probably gone when voting in one’s polling place had a sense of dignified civic ceremony. This does not mean we should turn actual polling places into an opportunity for electioneering. Campaigning and voting are two separate things. The DCRC believes in robust rights of freedom of political expression, but we object to so-called ‘passive electioneering’ in polling sites.

To conclude, I reiterate that this proposed Bill does not appear focused on the current circumstances of elections in this city. In our opinion, a Bill must begin with acknowledging evidence of mismanagement of the election this Committee has itself recognized. Aside from any of these proposals’ merits, this Committee should not ignore the damage these proposed changes could do to an election administration system already buckling in crisis.

When introducing this Bill, the Washington Post quoted the Chairman of this committee as saying "For anyone who wants to vote, I want it to be a smooth, efficient operation." Agreed. But we suggest this Committee help the Board of Elections and Ethics fix current problems, not create new burdens which will create new problems. We have seen it around the world: a poorly administered election creates chaos and a lack of confidence – not just in the voting – but in the government, itself.

Frankly, in a city heavily dominated by one political party, these dangers have a far greater likelihood of affecting Democratic Party primaries, and causing bitterness and legal battles during those campaigns. Our Democratic friends should be worried. We hope some of them will join us in encouraging this Committee to fix problems first and then proceed with a second, separate bill that thoughtfully makes changes to this city’s election process.

Thank you again for this opportunity for DCRC to provide testimony to this Committee.

RNC ANNOUNCES NEW WEB VIDEO “NOTHING” ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S FAILED ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE

2009-07-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee released a new web video today on President Obama’s failed stimulus plan. The web video, entitled “Nothing,” can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMuQZTgciNE.

RNC Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement:

“Vice President Biden warned us that there would be ‘waste’ in the stimulus bill. The Obama administration is devoting $18 million dollars to create a government website to show Americans just where their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent. This is unreal and outrageous. If the Obama administration is willing to devote $18 million in taxpayer dollars to a website, imagine what government-run health care will charge taxpayers for an MRI.”

SCRIPT:

Time: 01:18

Voice: “Barack Obama.”

Chyron: BARACK OBAMA

Voice: “A failed stimulus plan.”

Chyron: A FAILED STIMULUS PLAN

Voice: “Unemployment 9.5 percent.”

Chyron: UNEMPLOYMENT 9.5%

Voice: “What would he have done differently?”

Chyron: WHAT WOULD HE HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

President Obama: “There’s nothing that we would have done differently.”

Voice: “Nothing?”

Chyron: NOTHING?

Voice: “A failed stimulus plan.”

Chyron: 2 MILLION JOBS LOST

Voice: “A budget deficit of 1.8 trillion.”

Chyron: DOUBLING THE NATIONAL DEBT

Chyron: $1.8 TRILLION

President Obama: “There’s nothing that we would have done differently.”

Voice: “Nothing?”

Chyron: NOTHING?

Voice: “Biden says they got it wrong.”

Chyron: THEY GOT IT WRONG

Vice President Biden: “We and everyone else misread the economy.”

Voice: “Obama’s response?”

Chyron: OBAMA’S RESPONSE?

President Obama: “There’s nothing that we would have done differently.”

Voice: “Nothing?”

Chyron: NOTHING?

Voice: “Stimulus money squandered on fraud and wasteful spending. Not on creating new jobs.”

Chyron: STIMULUS MONEY SQUANDERED ON FRAUD AND WASTEFUL SPENDING NOT ON CREATING NEW JOBS

Vice President Biden: “We know some of this money is going to be wasted … People are being scammed already.”

Chyron: $18 MILLION FOR RECOVERY.GOV WEBSITE REDESIGN

Voice: “Obama’s answer?”

Chyron: OBAMA’S ANSWER?

President Obama: “There’s nothing that we would have done differently.”

Voice: “Nothing?”

Chyron: NOTHING?

Voice: “Even Democrat leaders are disappointed.”

House Majority Leader Hoyer: “I don’t think anybody can honestly say that we are satisfied with the results so far.”

Chyron: MAJORITY LEADER STENY HOYER

Voice: “An economy in trouble. Soaring unemployment. Soaring deficits. Stimulus money misused.”

Chyron: SOARING UNEMPLOYMENT SOARING DEFICITS MONEY MISUSED

Voice: “Obama’s answer?”

Chyron: OBAMA’S ANSWER?

President Obama: “There’s nothing we would have done differently.”

Chyron: NOTHING

Chyron: Paid for by the Republican National Committee. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. www.gop.com

###

Get Your DCGOP T-Shirts

2009-07-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

The DC Republican Party now has T-Shirts

If you would like to get your own DC Republican Party T-Shirt, download the form attached and either mail or fax it to (202) 289-2197 or contact us today to place your order over the phone. We may be reached at phone number: (202) 289-8005 or email at: info@dcgop.com.

Available sizes range from small to extra-large. Each shirt is made from 100% cotton material. For a donation of $15 you can get one T-Shirt or get two shirts for a $28 donation. If you would like to have them shipped to you, add an extra $4 for postage.

The front of the DCGOP T says "District of Columbia Republican Party" and it includes the DCGOP logo. The back of the T says "Turning our deep blue city a more purplish hue" with the DCGOP website and logo. This slogan was given to the DCGOP in a Washington City Paper story, describing the DC Republican Party.

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DC Republican Committee
Edward W. Brooke Leadership Center
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202 289-8005 | 202 289-2197 fax | info@dcgop.com
www.dcgop.com
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