State Rep. Rick Roth Updates Us on the 2019 Session

Our May meeting featured HD85 Representative Rick Roth, who described some of the significant actions taken by the Florida Legislature in the just completed session.

For a description of the various bills that emerged, please see: 2019 Legislative Session Update.

March Brunch – “Los Tres Amigos” – 2019

In what has become an annual event, the March meeting of the RCNPB featured “Los Tres Amigos”. This year’s lineup consisted of Palm Beach Gardens Councilman Matthew Lane, CD21 likely candidate Christian Acosta, and the perennial favorite, former PBCGOP Chairman Sid Dinerstein. Florida Representative Rick Roth also made an appearance.

Matt Lane, who took this opportunity to announce his bid for re-election next March, described his view of the responsibilities of a city official. First up is public safety and security, and the Gardens is now providing city police resources to patrol the local schools. With increased demands following the Parkland shootings, the School system was grateful to accept the help and is paying the city for the effort. After the Pittsburg synagogue shootings, the city is also stepping up security activities surrounding the Jewish centers around Hood Road.

Other priorities include fiscal restraint with the public purse and transparency of government operations. As we have witnessed on multiple occasions, Matt will frequently pull large dollar items from the consent agenda for public discussion, particularly when it is not clear that an open bidding process was used. In Matt’s view, understanding the way contracts are adopted is the way to keep tabs on public spending.

Lastly he mentioned term limits, pointing our that he was the lone vote against placing the ballot questions in 2018 that sought to weaken the charter provisions that had only recently passed. Fortunately, the voters soundly rejected this attempt and the 2 terms of 3 years is still in effect.

The second amigo to speak was Christian Acosta who has announced his exploratory quest to unseat CD21 Congresswoman Lois Frankel in 2020. This D+17 seat was uncontested in 2018, allowing the incumbent to remain in office without campaigning for the privilege. Stretching along the coast from Singer Island through Delray Beach and encompassing most of the county south of Southern Boulevard, including Wellington, it deserves a Republican challenger.

Christian is a resident of Boynton Beach and teaches Electric Power Engineering at Palm Beach State. A nuclear engineer and Pittsburg transplant, Christian has been making the rounds of the Republican clubs and plans to introduce himself at the Trump-45 Club next month. He claims that he is no relation to that “other Acosta” who is known for his rude behavior in the White House press corps.

Although not billed as one of the “tres amigos”, FH85 Representative Rick Roth spoke briefly about some bills of interest that are moving through Tallahassee. The Republican controlled legislature did not always work smoothly with Rick Scott, but so far they are in a honeymoon period with Rick DeSantis. The allowance for smokable medical marijuana is moving through the process at the Governor’s request, and they appear willing to embrace his initiatives in education, the environment and water policy, and health care reform. The Legislature also may be able to place a ballot question next year that would end the constitutional revision commissions that work their mischief every 20 years. The onerous multiple-issue questions that last year’s commission placed on the ballot may have been enough to spur action.

Keynoting the meeting was Sid Dinerstein. With a couple of pages of handwritten notes, he took the audience on a tour of all the hopeful things that have happened since the last election, and why the loss of the House was a two edged sword.

Arguing that following the 2016 election (which was a peak year for the GOP), we are now in a sweet spot, Sid explained that yes, the Democrats run the House, but the GOP didn’t do much with their majority when they were in charge. This led to the shutdown which we lost, because to win you need to have the media on your side. Consider that a “bottom”.

The Democrats can always be counted on to overplay their hand. For example, by delaying the State of the Union for a week, Pelosi didn’t realize that she moved it just past the greatest jobs report ever, completely strengthening the President’s hand. Putting on a great show, which was a masterfully done tribute to America, Trump was able to “hold the cross up to the vampires” by declaring “America will never be a Socialist Nation!”. Thus begins the 2020 campaign.

One of the President’s most valuable skills is to get his enemies to actually tell the truth.

In the past few months we have seen them reveal what they really think:

– How great is Venuzuela
– How they will not rebuke their anti-semites – Farrakhan, Sharpton, Omar
– How abortion is not enough – we need nothing less than infanticide
– That their signature transportaion project – the California “train to nowhere” is a failure
– How they will not deal with their three “friends in Virginia”
– Jesse Smollett
– Green new deal (“kill all the cows”) – is outlawing volcanos next?
– We don’t want your stinking jobs (Amazon in NY)
– Dem PACs pulling out of Ohio
– Reuters sitting on the Beto hacking story

Making the case that Trump will likely win 44 states, Sid ended on a note of optimism. Hugging the flag at the beginning of the CPAC speech says it all – that is the entire campaign.

Congressman-Elect Brian Mast Highlights our December Brunch

Congressman-elect Brian Mast joined us for a Victory celebration at Frenchman’s Reserve on December 4. As the new Republican representing the 18th district, he will join a unified Republican Caucus in the 115th Congress ready, willing and able to implement the Trump agenda starting on day 1. After 4 years of representation by the very liberal Patrick Murphy (rated 4 out of 100 by the American Conservative Union), we look forward to having a Congressman who shares our values.

Brian recounted his experience in the weeks following the election, particularly the “Freshman Orientation” in the capital where he participated in closed door caucus sessions that attempted to discern just what the voters mean by “Drain the Swamp”. He was encouraged by the apparently very real concern by Representatives old and new that the voters clearly reject business as usual in the Congress, and they seem to really want to deliver on the Trump message of ending corruption and moving on the right priorities, not just those that will fill the pockets of the participants. While he can’t guarantee that his colleagues will follow through on this theme, he certainly plans to do so.

Brian plans to reside in his capital office while in Washington (as do 80 other House Members), and travel back to the district frequently on weekends. His wife plans to home-school their children starting after the end of this school year, so they will be more easily able to travel with him as needed.

We look forward to seeing Brian frequently in the future and wish him well on what could be a long and productive political career.

Next month, join us as the club will host Sid Dinerstein for a look at the past election and what it portends.

New Officers Sworn-in

At the February meeting at Frenchman’s Reserve Clubhouse, County Commissioner Hal Valeche administered the Oath of Office to newly elected leaders Marilyn Parmet (President), Linda Gore (First Vice President), Jane Pike (Vice President), and Linda Stoch (Membership Chair). Treasurer Jeff Holtzman could not be present.

Following remarks by Hal in support of the candidates for the Palm Beach Gardens Council election on March 11, (Robin Deaton and Mike Peragine, who were both present), Marilyn introduced the speaker for the evening, American’s for Prosperity Florida Director Slade O’Brien. In a Powerpoint Presentation, Slade took us through his view of the Challenges and Opportunities for 2014.

Some Pictures of the event:

Get out of our Comfort Zones – says our keynote speaker

Allen West was the keynote speaker at our 2013 Holiday Party.

Members and other guests were eager to hear from former Congressman West at our year-end meeting.  Outgoing President Cindy Tindall described the evening’s events and then after the invocation by Howard Parmet, and the Pledge of Allegiance and a song of thanks, there was a mad dash to the sumptuous Turkey buffet.

Colonel West had several messages to us for 2014:

• It’s not enough to keep the majority in the House – we need to expand it.
• He asked 3 questions of us – had we read Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War”?  Had we read “Rules for Radicals”?  And had we read the GOP’s Growth and Opportunity Strategy report?  Many had read the first two, none had read the latter.  How are we going to win if we hadn’t even read the document?
• We in Palm Beach County need to get out of our comfort zone and get out to communities like Belle Glade and Pahokee
• DO talk about social issues with the black community.  School choice is the top issue there as is abortion.
• The Republican Party was formed to fight slavery; now we are fighting economic slavery  Reject being called racist.
• We have a war for/on behalf of women, not a war on women
• The ‘other side’ never stopped campaigning.  Our party has to step up.
• Obamacare is going to fail.  The strategy will be to blame the insurance companies and then move to Single Payer – “Medicaid for all”.
• He ended with an oft used quote about combat “If you find yourself in a fair fight then your tactics suck!“

After a question and answer session – Allen had to leave for the TV studio in Boynton Beach for a segment on the Kelly Files on Fo News Channel.

Cindy conducted the election for the 2014 Officers’ slate.  Marilyn Parmet was elected President; Linda Gore – First VP, Jane Pike – VP; Treasurer – Jeff Holtzman, and Linda Stoch, Membership Chair.  The position of Secretary remains unfilled and members are encouraged to volunteer for the Board- just contact Marilyn.

After the elections – candidates for office were given a few moments to speak.  Speakers running in the GOP Primary for Congressional District 18 against Patrick Murphy were:  Ellen Andel,  Beverly Hires, Carl Domino, Alan Schlesinger and Ilya Katz.  Calvin Turnquist also running for the seat was not present.  Also speaking was Henry Colon, the only Republican candidate running against Ted Deutch in District 21.  Paula Prudente handed out cards for a new GOP candidate running against Alcee Hastings, District 20.  You can keep abreast of all the 2014 by clicking on the 2014Voter’s Guide button on the first page of the website.

Thanks to all who came and Congratulations to the new Officers!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year!

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Some pictures from the event:

October Meeting Featured Senator Joe Negron

Senator Joe Negron, was our October Guest. Representing District 32, which includes all of Martin and St. Lucie Counties, as well as the far north (Jupiter / Tequesta) of Palm Beach County, Senator Negron has represented the Treasure Coast in either the House or Senate since 2000.

Senator Negron spoke of the things that unite us rather than a division of ideas. State and local governments have the most impact to each of us, yet national security, taxation and regulations should be the big picture. We should “always with kindness, and respect, appeal to our elected representatives” to consider the impacts and both intended and unintended consequences of their actions.

Our state has a great example in our Governor – we must work to re-elect him to continue the economic stability we are experiencing.

Senator Negron is currently running for re-election in 2014, and has drawn a Republican challenger (Brandon Cannon) for the August Primary.

Some pictures from Jane Pike:

Senator Joe Negron is October Speaker

Words of Wisdom from Sid Dinerstein

Our guest speaker for September was former PBC GOP Chairman Sid Dinerstein.

Explaining in clear terms why Republicans are not on a winning path, Sid laid out some simple Zen-like truths.

The path to victory is not through finding a bunch more white guys to vote for us. Hard core Democrats are never going to accept our worldview, so why waste time trying to convert them. Find natural conservative constituencies and make your case.

As an example of the latter, he used charter schools. Lots of them in Florida are really helping their students, many of whom are minorities, but the local teachers unions and school boards hate them. Solution: have the Governor appoint an education coordinator for charter schools and give them some Tallahassee weight.

Another example of a “natural” Republican opportunity would be Detroit – show the residents of that city what Democrats have done to them and that there is a better way. Closer to home, there is the Haitian community – with their political clubs and radio stations. Sid has made inroads with the Haitians and offered to the Governor an opportunity to address a meeting of a couple of thousand but was rebuffed by staff. For 2014, the Haitian Republican clubs that are forming could be a real asset in the St. Lucie County areas of CD18.

As usual, he left us both challenged but encouraged.

The meeting saw the addition of several new members and the participation of Gardens Mayor Bert Premuroso.

Coming up next month will be Senator Joe Negron.

Lobster Fest 2013

Join us for Lobster Fest 2013. Use the [PRINT] link (upper right) to print the form and send it (along with a check) to the County GOP at the address noted. You can also let the club know you are attending by clicking on the RSVP button below.

June 19 Legislative Update

*Tentative

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