Summer 2001 Newsletter
In This Issue:
Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Simon To Address Congress
California Targeted: William Simon Jr. Might Be The
Man To Replace Governor Davis
1st Annual Golf Tournament Charity Fundraiser
Our State Budget: The Missing $60 Billion
Welcome New Golden Circle Members
Feinstein Should Learn Her Limit
Bill
Simon, successful entrepreneur and candidate for Governor in 2002, will
address Congress members and the public on August 20th at the Auburn
Elks Lodge.
California Vision
Simon will speak on his vision for the future of California and his
strategy to unseat incumbent Democrat Gray Davis next year.
First Visit to Placer County
This is the first major appearance by Simon in Placer County since
his Spring announcement that he is running for Governor. The Republican
Congress of Placer County is honored to be the first to host him in our
community.
A former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New
York, Mr. Simon served under then U.S. Attorney Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani
has since proved to be one of Mr. Simon’s biggest supporters and
fundraisers.
Mr. Simon, son of former Ford Administration Treasury Secretary
William E. Simon, later went on to co-found with his father and brother
the investment firm William E. Simon & Sons, Inc.
The firm's investments include PAX-TV, a family-friendly broadcast
network free of graphic violence, sex and inappropriate language. Mr.
Simon is also involved in developing a wide array of real estate
properties, including downtown San Francisco's high growth multimedia
and information technology district. Venture capital investments include
such well-known entities as PF Chang's and many others.
Reserve Your Tickets Today!
To confirm your attendance at this exciting event, please call (916)
786-6690, then pay $20 per person by cash, check or credit card at the
door. The price includes heavy hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and no-host
bar.
Members Save $5.00!
Members who prepay for their tickets save $5.00! Send a check for $15
per member payable to “Republican Congress of Placer County,” to
P.O. Box 840, Newcastle, CA 95658-0840. Non-members can also prepay at
$20 per person.
California Targeted: William Simon Jr. Might Be The
Man To Replace Governor Davis
By William F. Buckley Jr.
Somebody, it is widely thought in California, should replace Gray
Davis as governor. He is a Democrat, he is a little boring, and he is
seen as the master of ceremonies of the energy crisis in that state.
To be short of electricity in the capital state of visual
entertainment is a paradox that should not be allowed to happen. As a
wag dolefully put it, if this goes on they're going to have to watch
television by candlelight.
As aspirant executioner is William Simon Jr., son, as one would
expect, of William Simon Sr. He was a great 20th century figure,
individualist, philanthropist, Secretary of Energy, then of Treasury, a
man of adamant views and expressiveness.
Bill Jr. gathered the forces, and on Thursday in New York City, at
the Waldorf Astoria, raised $2 million. "People make reference to
my own resources," he told a fellow diner, "and I don't deny
them, but as I told the reporter in California, if I don't raise forty
million, I will pull out of the race."
That seems a staggering sum, except that nothing that happens in
California is staggering with the exception, these days, of any
prospective Republican victory.
The GOP has not recovered from the Proposition (187) which proposed
dealing with illegal immigrants as though they were actually illegal.
That was interpreted by the Hispanic community as a slight on any man's
right to be illegal in America; and although GOP governor Pete Wilson
endorsed the proposition, and it was carried by a substantial majority,
Republicans have suffered enormously from its shadow.
The excellent Dan Lungren lost California mightily to Gray Davis in
1998, and the comeback now attempted will be costly.
Bill Simon's competition isn't only the incumbent governor. It is the
possible candidacy of GOP mayor Richard Riordan of Los Angeles. Riordan,
like Simon, could finance his own campaign, but he has a rich- man's
ambivalence to the whole idea of all of that exertion.
He [Riordan] is 71- years old and there is that other ambivalence,
which is that of conservative California voters to Riordan. He is not a
faithful feller. Twice he declared for Democratic Dianne Feinstein for
senator, and he played a prominent role in the Tom Bradley campaign for
governor of California.
Add to this that on three issues of substance among California
conservatives — abortions, guns, and gays — he [Riordan] is, to say
the least, wobbly. On the other hand, the latest poll shows him even
with Gray Davis, and Bill Simon way behind, behind, even, Bill Jones, a
third contender who is the secretary of state.
Bill Simon is an engaging human being. His face is exactly that of
his father, the same smile, though not the same charisma. His speech was
well programmed, abiding by the usual protocols in New York City. The
invocation was done by a rabbi and a priest who embraced each other so
heartily as to leave the audience wondering whether before they were
done, they exchanged one another's religion.
Rudy Giuliani came in and gave his endorsement. He told the audience
that he had known the candidate since Simon appeared at the district
attorney's office in 1980, freshly graduated from law school, to pitch
in on the anti-crime campaign for which the mayor is justly renowned.
Mayor Giuliani applauded Simon's entry into the race 17 months before
the election, citing his own experience. In 1989 he ran for mayor and
was defeated, attributing that defeat to the brevity of the campaign.
Bill Simon believes in what one would want a GOP candidate to
believe. He did not say much about President Bush, perhaps because it
was widely reported that Mr. Bush had telephoned Riordan on his birthday
in May, allegedly endorsing a Riordan for Governor campaign. But Mr.
Simon did say that California's most pressing problem, more pressing
even than the power shortage, was the looming water shortage.
Some sport was made over the charge that Simon is a carpetbagger in
California. Simon went west eleven years ago and stayed on, and sings
the praises of his state at least as persuasively as newborn New Yorkers
like Kennedy, Buckley, and Clinton, who have served in the Senate.
Will Simon's campaign prosper? It is hard to judge, in part because
of the Riordan cloud. The L.A. Mayor says he is thinking about it, and
his wife is reportedly attracted to the idea of continuing her work in
foster care as First Lady of California. But, says Mr. Riordan a little
sleepily, he will say something on the general point by next September.
Meanwhile, the focus will increase on Bill Simon, whose legacy and
personal charm will work well for him.
1st Annual Golf Tournament Charity Fundraiser
Our 1st Annual Golf Tournament Charity Fundraiser is fast
approaching. Watch your mailbox for a formal invitation to this exciting
event on October 9th at prestigious Twelve Bridges Golf Club in Lincoln.
Helping Abused Women and Children
Partial proceeds from the Tournament will benefit PEACE For Families,
Placer County’s leading non-profit providing services and shelter to
battered and abused women and their children.
PEACE is very much in need of additional support to expand services
in the County and we hope our event will provide additional resources
for their important work.
National Domestic Violence Prevention Month
The Golf Tournament will have the added benefit of bringing attention
to the month of October as National Domestic Violence Prevention Month.
The Honorary Committee— A Who’s Who of Republicans in Placer
County
Leading Republican elected and appointed officials throughout the
County have embraced this event and joined our Honorary Committee. A
partial list includes:
* Tim Leslie, State Assemblyman
* Ted Gaines, County Supervisor
* Robert Weygandt, County Supervisor
* Harriet White, County Supervisor
* Claudia Gamar, Mayor of Roseville
* Jim Williams, Former County Supervisor
* Mike Lee, Former County Supervisor and current Placer County Water
Agency Director
* Mel Hamel, Former Mayor of Roseville
* Brad Fenocchio, County District Attorney
* Don Brophy, County Board of Education Member
The Tournament Schedule
The day
begins for golfers with registration from 11:00AM—1:00PM followed by a
shotgun start. The Tournament will be played in a “scramble format”
allowing for both new and experienced golfers to play side by side and
all have a great time out on the course.
Following golf at 6:00PM will be a Social Hour and Silent Auction for
golfers and non-golfers alike. The event concludes with a Dinner Program
at 7:00PM, hosted by Mark Williams, the top-rated talk show host on KFBK
Radio. Awards for the best golfers will be presented and non-golfers are
encouraged to attend the Social Hour and Dinner by purchasing a
dinner-only ticket.
Ticket Information
The cost for golfers is $150 per player and $550 per foursome (a $50
savings.) This includes greens fees, golf cart, balls, tees, scorecard,
picture of foursome and gourmet dinner. Dinner-only guests can enjoy the
Social Hour and dinner program for $35 per person.
To order tickets, please reply to the invitation being mailed in
mid-August or call us today at (916) 786-6690. You may also purchase
tickets by credit card at: www.placercongress.org/golf
Show Republican Support For Families
We ask all Members to support this worthwhile event by playing golf
or, if you don’t play the sport, by attending our Dinner Program. We
would like to demonstrate through this event the concern and compassion
Republicans have for protecting families.
If you cannot attend the event, please consider a contribution or
sponsorship. You may have a 4” by 4” sign on a tee or green
advertising your business for only $300. For more information, call Paul
Hrabal at (916) 660-1919.
Our State Budget: The Missing $60 Billion
By State Senator Tom McClintock in a floor speech on May 29, 2001.
As this budget takes shape, I want to ask a very simple question: “Is
this money being wisely spent? Is it being spent as frugally and as
carefully, as the people who earned it will spend what they have left?
It’s a very important question. This year, you are spending more
out of family incomes than has been spent in the 150-year history of
this state – more than nine dollars of every hundred earned – just
for Sacramento.
And yet, it’s hard to escape the reality that though you are
spending more than ever before, you are delivering less than ever
before. When you are taking so much, you have an obligation to answer
for the outcome.
My family moved here in 1965. The next year, Governor Pat Brown was
voted out of office, in part because of charges that he was a profligate
spender. And, in all fairness, he was:
* The state was constructing the biggest aqueduct in history.
* It had just undertaken an unprecedented expansion of the state
university system.
* It had created a state highway system that made California’s
freeways the model for the world.
* It had authorized major hydroelectric and nuclear facilities that
promised a limitless supply of clean, cheap and abundant electricity.
* We delivered one of the finest public schools systems in the
country and a mental health system that has yet to be rivaled.
* Spacious new homes at a fraction of today’s prices were
springing up in new communities across the state.
To produce all this, in 1966 we spent $1,300 for every man, woman and
child in California in 2000 inflation adjusted dollars. This budget
proposes spending nearly $3,000 per person -- or two and a half times
more.
Local bonds passed at just half the rate they do today, the
population was growing three times as fast, and yet we easily kept pace
with our school housing needs. In 1966, we spent about $3,000 for every
student in the public schools from all sources: local, state &
federal, inflation-adjusted. This budget spends more than $7,000 from
the general fund alone, per student – more than $9,000 per student
from all sources -- and yet our schools are chronically overcrowded and
we consistently rank near the bottom of national student achievement.
The only area where we are spending less than we spent per capita in
1966 is for transportation. We once had the finest highway system in the
world. Just look at it now.
So I ask again, “Does anyone here honestly believe we are getting
anything close to what we’re paying for?”
We all know the answer. So let me make these suggestions as this bill
goes to conference committee:
* For once, ignore all the special interest groups that are sapping
our taxes while delivering nothing but excuses.
* Decentralize the service delivery systems.
* Restore our highway taxes for our highways.
* Allow us to reward the good teachers and fire the lousy ones.
* Allow state government to shop around for the best service at the
lowest price.
* Stop taking the taxes paid by one community for projects that
exclusively benefit another – literally robbing Piedmont to pay
Pasadena.
* Stop borrowing from our children and our grandchildren to pay for
your own consumption.
* Restore the liberty that once produced affordable housing and
clean, cheap and abundant electricity.
* Stop telling people how to run their lives, raise their children,
and spend their money.
I know that’s hard. I know that it means upsetting the special
interests that are waiting right outside that door.
If this were Pat Brown’s budget he would be requesting $40 billion
– not the $100 billion before us today. That’s what he used to build
the prosperous state I knew as a child. And he would be asking why aren’t
we doing the same with that 40 billion? And what in the world are you
doing with the other $60 billion?
Welcome New Golden Circle Members
The Congress is grateful for the leadership of the following
individuals who joined the Golden Circle during the 2nd quarter 2001:
Dan Blatt
Kathy Lund
Joanne K. Neft
Susan Rohan
Al & Sandra Saraceni
By joining the Golden Circle, you are invited to twice yearly private
receptions with key political leaders. Members also receive a gold name
badge and their name prominently listed on our web site, letterhead and
newsletter.
Join Today!
Take your place among the mainstream Republican leaders in Placer
County, join the Golden Circle today! The cost is $250 (individuals) or
$300 (couples) per year and includes Congress membership. Existing
Congress members can upgrade to Golden Circle for $220 (individuals) or
$250 (couples.)
For more information or to join, please call Sandy Hoffman at (530)
878-9089 or simply mail your check, payable to “Republican Congress of
Placer County,” to P.O. Box 840, Newcastle, CA 95658.
Feinstein Should Learn Her Limit
Published on July 17, 2001 By Debra J. Saunders, San Francisco
Chronicle
Senator Dianne Feinstein wants to butt into your life again. Last
week, she sent a letter to the CEOs of seven major airlines warning that
if they don't implement rules that limit passengers to two drinks on
domestic flights, "I am prepared to proceed with legislation."
Feinstein, you see, isn't aware that when people say, "There
ought to be a law . . .," it's just an expression.
Why has the good senator decided that she can tell you how much you
can drink on a plane?
"In view of the 5,000 'air rage' incidents each year," she
wrote, "I believe it is time for the airline industry to set
standards voluntarily, or else Congress may step in."
Was there a study definitively linking alcohol to air rage that
prompted Feinstein to threaten to slap the airlines with the heavy hand
of federal law? No. A spokesman explained, "We have anecdotal
evidence."
How special. Feinstein apparently doesn't need facts or research to
propose laws that limit other people's freedom. She's heard anecdotes.
For those of you who are interested in facts, here are a few: The Air
Transport Association, the lobbyist group for the major carriers, says
that there were 610 million domestic passengers last year. According to
the Federal Aviation Administration, 314 of their passengers were cited
for unruly conduct.
This year, perhaps because of increased attention to the issue, there
have been fewer citations -- 100 as of June 15. The FAA doesn't know how
many were alcohol-related. As Michael Wascom of the Air Transport
Association noted, "We don't think that the hundreds of millions of
law-abiding, cooperative passengers should be unilaterally penalized for
the disruptive actions of a few."
What about Feinstein's claim that there are 5,000 "air
rage" incidents annually? It's more factoid than fact. The number
comes from the Air Transport Association and it includes rude,
disruptive behavior -- a loudmouth grousing about not making it into
first class for example -- that does not result in legal action. Wascom
said the ATA used a ballpark figure -- between 3,000 and 4,000 air-rage
incidents -- that came from feedback from carriers. (In other words,
there is no hard data.) In other stories, advocates have ratcheted it up
to 4,000 to 5,000. Feinstein, her office confirmed, then took 4,000 to
5,000 to mean: 5,000. Call it inflated numbers for inflated law-making.
Even the Association of Flight Attendants -- which wants tighter
rules on drinking and more training -- hasn't signed off on the idea.
Said spokesperson Dawn Deeks, "At this point, we'd have to wait and
see what the legislation actually asks for." It's hard to figure
how flight attendants are supposed to keep track of who gets two drinks
on a big flight. And: "We have to examine whether passengers drink
more before they get on the flight."
I should think that flight attendants would appreciate having the
discretion to dispense a third drink to a nervous flier -- especially
when rules forbid them to serve drunken passengers, and penalties for
unruly plane behavior are steep.
Which leaves us with the question about what to do about politicians
who are drunk with power?
Hmmmm. Maybe a limit to two laws and two heavy-handed threats per
year. Then maybe Feinstein would insist on hard facts before proposing
to infringe on other people's rights.
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Past Newsletters
Winter 2001
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