Cynthia Brehm Chairman, Republican Party of Bexar County
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Republican Party of Bexar County
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF BEXAR COUNTY

NEWSLETTER

SEPTEMBER 2019


NATIONAL

Planned Parenthood Gives Up Title 10
The Trump administration has imposed rules to stop Federal funding of abortion. Hallelujah! More unbelievable is that the “9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco called the rules a ‘reasonable’ interpretation of a federal law that prohibits taxpayer-funded health clinics from advocating, encouraging or promoting abortion ([link removed][UNIQID]) .”^1 Planned Parenthood, who received $286 million in Title 10 grants in 2017, has withdrawn from the Title 10 Program. Progressive-controlled states of Maryland, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Illinois, New York, Washington, and Oregon have threatened to do the same.^2 Again, hallelujah!

IG Rebukes Comey Leak
The U.S. Inspector General (IG) released a report this week that says former FBI Director James Comey violated FBI policies "by providing one of the unclassified memos that contained official FBI information, including sensitive investigative information, to his friend with instructions for the friend to share the contents of the memo with a reporter." The IG says Comey failed to notify the FBI after he had been fired that he had retained some of the memos in a safe at home. The Justice Department said they won’t prosecute him for the violations. Last Thursday, Comey took to Twitter to claim vindication by spinning the actual outcome by saying, “The DOJ found no evidence that Comey or his attorneys released classified information contained in any of the memos to members of the media.”^3

Midland –Odessa Shooting
On Saturday afternoon, another tragic shooting occurred in Midland-Odessa, TX. A 36-year-old man was stopped for a traffic violation when he opened fire at officers. He then was traveling at high speed and went on a firing rampage shooting randomly at people at a stop light. One of the victims was a 17 month old girl, Anderson Davis. She lost part of her tongue, teeth, and lips, and is undergoing surgery in Lubbock to remove the shrapnel from her right chest. He then stole a mail truck and killed a young female postal carrier and hijacked her truck. Three officers were shot as they were moving quickly to take control of the situation. According to Midland Mayor Jerry Morales, allegedly the man was disgruntled with his employer. The total loss of life is at this time is 7, and 22 injured ranging from 15- 57years old.^4 A “Go Fund Me” account has been set up for Anderson Davis if you would like to contribute.


STATE

Hurd’s Decision Does Not Make Texans (or Texas) Blue
US Rep Will Hurd, (TX, CD 23) will not seek re-election. While this has put Dems and the Fake-News media in raptures assuming a Republican loss of the 23^rd District, they cannot explain the logic in that assumption. There are qualified candidates for the 23^rd District ready to step forward, such as Dr. Alma Arredondo-Lynch, DDS, Tony Gonzales, Ben Van Winkle, and Raul Reyes.^5

Hurd jumped on board the Fake-News “Trump’s a Racist” train with gusto, and he voted for the bill to override the President’s National Emergency declaration, H.R. 5 (Equality Act), and H. R. 8 (Bipartisan Background Check Act).^6 Rep. Hurd enjoys vocalizing his abandonment of Republican principles on Fake-News at any opportunity.^7 And, his road trip with Democratic Presidential hopeful, “Beto’ O’Rourke, in the spirit of bi-partisanship and criticizing Trump’s border initiatives, makes Republicans, at the national, state, and local levels, wonder about his loyalties and his choice of company.^8 Hurd’s exit looks more like a God send than a travesty for Texas.

Blundering Bonnen?
State Speaker Dennis Bonnen (R) is under investigation by the Texas Rangers for ethics violations. The upshot appears to be an illegal offer by Bonnen to Michael Q. Sullivan, CEO of Empower Texans, to target certain Republicans running for re-election in exchange for putting representatives of Empower Texas on the floor in the 87^th Session.^9 Bonnen and Sullivan have never had a close relationship, and the Speaker’s less than truthful efforts to muzzle Christopher McNutt over the Constitutional Carry bill,^10 led Sullivan to tape his meeting with Bonnen in self-defense.^11 Several counties across Texas have called for the Speaker’s censure.

Proposed Amendments to the Texas Constitution^12
The Republican Party of Bexar County has received numerous phone calls requesting information regarding the amendments that are on the ballot this coming November. The following are proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution to be voted on November 5, 2019. Here are the results of our research:

Proposition 1 (H.J.R. 72) permits a person to hold more than one office as a municipal judge at the same time. Vote No. Municipal court judges are either appointed or elected in accordance with the rules laid out by each municipality's charter/ordinance. The Constitution does allow appointed judges to serve more than one municipality. The concern is that judges from larger cities tend to be more liberal, and their influence could reach smaller, more conservative communities. Proposition 1 does not specify the size of the municipality. Placing judges in municipalities in which they have not been elected seems fundamentally wrong and may encourage governmental overreach by larger cities. Moreover, holding multiple judgeships may be more work than one person can handle.

Proposition 2 (S.J.R. 79) provides for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $200 million to provide financial assistance for the development of certain projects in economically distressed areas. Vote No. Although concurring with providing water supply and sewer service projects in economically distress areas, the answer is to prioritize such projects through normal funding mechanisms, not by having the State incur more debt.

Proposition 3 (H.J.R.) authorizes the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of a portion of the appraised value of certain property damaged by a disaster. Vote Yes. Support tax breaks for Texans afflicted by disasters.

Proposition 4 (H.J.R. 38) prohibits the imposition of an individual income tax, including a tax on an individual’s share of partnership and unincorporated association income. Vote No. Property taxes increase every year, and sales taxes are regressive. This withholds an obvious way to fix the current tax system. An income tax compiled with a reduction or elimination of other taxes could be a more equitable system.

Proposition 5 (S.J.R. 24) dedicates the revenue received from the existing state sales and use taxes that are imposed on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission to protect Texas’ natural areas, water quality, and history by acquiring, managing, and improving state and local parks and historic sites while not increasing the rate of the state sales and use taxes. Vote No. Targeting specific revenue for a specific purpose ties the hands of future legislators who need to fund other issues, such as presented in Proposition #2 above.

Proposition 6 (H.J.R. 12) authorizes the legislature to increase by $3 billion the maximum bond amount authorized for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Vote No. Increasing the state debt through bonds is an unfair burden on taxpayers and funding for cancer research is not a fundamental state function.

Proposition 7 (H.J.R. 151) allows increased distributions to the available school fund. Vote No. This proposition doubles the current distribution of funds from $300 million to $600 million. Texas schools already receive 48% of our property taxes. If approved, the amount used to fund through this mechanism will only continue to increase.

Proposition 8 (H.J.R. 4) provides for the creation of the flood infrastructure fund to assist in the financing of drainage, flood mitigation, and flood control projects. Vote No. Initial funding for this proposition, $793 million, will come from the state’s economic stabilization fund (Rainy-Day Fund) with no indication of where funding will come from in the out years. The Rainy-Day Fund, meant to assist all Texans affected by natural disasters, should not be depleted for cities who have, historically, neglected long-standing flood issues.

Proposition 9 (H.J.R. 95) authorizes the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation precious metal held in a precious metal depository located in this state. Vote Yes. Government spending has undermined confidence in our currency. Those who seek refuge from a devaluing dollar by holding precious metals should not be penalized.

Proposition 10 (S.J.R. 32) allows the transfer of a law enforcement animal to a qualified caretaker in certain circumstances. Vote Yes. Let’s take care of the dogs.


LOCAL

Outing the Donors
Joaquin Castro’s tweet of donors to the Trump campaign makes a look at his donors’ fair game. According to the Center of Responsive Politics, the USAA Employee PAC is one of the largest contributors to Castro’s 2020 campaign.^13 The USAA Employee PAC spent roughly $3 million last election cycle in support of selected candidates and organizations.^14
In both the 2018 and 2020 election cycles, the USAA Employee PAC contributed $5000 to re-elect Maxine Waters, the chairperson of the powerful House Committee on Financial Services.^ 15,16 However, Waters has advocated physical confrontation with members of the Trump administration.^17 Although has supported more Republicans than Democratic, it contributed $10,000 to both Chuck Schumer (2018 cycle)^15 and Nancy Pelosi (2020 cycle).^16
It is unfortunate that this PAC supported any politician who calls for open borders while attacking President Trump as “racist” for simply wanting to enforce border laws already on the books. Locally, the Bexar County Democratic Party recently tabled a resolution calling for a boycott of Bill Miller's Barbecue and the Pearl, based on Joaquin Castro's list of Trump donors.^18 Your support of the businesses listed in that resolution is encouraged.^19
Challenging Joaquin Castro for the 20^th Congressional District thus far, we have Mauro Garza (R). There are whispers throughout Bexar County of 2 other possible candidates; however no one has officially stepped forward and announced except for Mauro.

FBI Investigation
Rep. Maxine Waters’ (D-CA) call for physical confrontation to anything Trump reached its natural conclusion in San Antonio. FBI officials opened an investigation into shots fired into Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices in San Antonio. An unknown number of individuals in an unknown number of vehicles fired numerous rounds into two ICE offices on the Northeast Side. The bullets came within inches of seriously injuring or killing an employee.^20

No Change to Number of Polling Stations
A proposed 5% decrease in the number of voting sites as the county moves to a new “vote center” system, in which voters may vote at any polling site within the county during both early voting and on Election Day, has been put on hold. The current number of polling sites will be maintained. Those speaking in favor of maintaining the current number of polling stations included Gregory Hudspeth, president of the San Antonio NAACP, and Cynthia Brehm, Republican Party of Bexar County (RPBC) chairman. The RPBC is committed to voting rights access for every eligible voter, and clearly states this position at every opportunity.^21

Bexar County Executive Pay Raises
According to KENS5, for the last two years, Bexar County Commissioners have received seven percent increases to their six-figure salaries. However, not everyone will be receiving a raise. (Please see chart below for pay raises).^22
On September 10, 2019 at 9:00am Bexar County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2019- 2020 Proposed Budget located on the 2^nd Floor of the Bexar County Courthouse located at 100 Dolorosa Street, Suite 2.01, SATX 78205. Anyone wishing to be heard will be given 3 minutes to address the Commissioners. Chairman Cynthia Brehm plans on speaking. If you would like to join her please call the Commissioners Court to sign up to speak at 210-335-2555.

Bexar County, Texas Commissioners Court
Notice of Proposed Increases To Elected Officials' Salaries and Allowances

Constables Precincts 1 and 2: Current annual salary of $99,960.48, no increase.
Constables Precincts 3 and 4: Current annual salary of $96,580.08 increases by $3,380.40 for a total of $99,640.08.
County Clerk: Current salary of 134,844.00 and an auto allowance of $6,000.00.
County Commissioner Precinct 1: Current salary of $131,293.92 increase declined and an auto allowance of $9,000.00.
County Commissioner Precinct 2: Current salary of $131,293.92 increase declined and an auto allowance of $9,000.00.
County Commissioner Precincts 3 and 4: Current salary of $131,293.92 increases by $2,625.84 for a total annual salary of$133,919.76, and an auto allowance of $9,000.00.
County Judge: Current salary of $171,834.96 increases by $3,436.80, for a total of $175,271.76.
County Sheriff: Current salary of $158,933.04, increase declined.
Criminal District Attorney: Current annual County supplement salary of $108,211.92 increases by $2,164.08, for a total annual County supplement salary of $110,376.24 and an auto allowance of $9,000.00.
District Clerk: Current annual salary of $132,199.92 increases by $2644.08, for a total annual; salary of $134,844.00, and an auto allowance of $6,000.00.
Justices of the Peace, Full time: Current annual salary of $123,325.68 increases by $2,466.72, for a total annual salary $125,792.40.
Justices of the Peace, Part time: Current annual salary of $92,494.80 increases by $1,849.92, for a total annual salary $94,344.72.
Tax Assessor-Collector: Current annual salary of $134,844.00 and an auto allowance of $6,000.00.

Bexar County Commissioner PCT 3, K. Wolff won’t seek reelection
Commissioner Wolff will not seek re-election in 2020. He has been in office since 2005. He cited it was time to invest into his family and work in the private sector. This has left on opening on the court for conservatives countywide. Thus far, Kenny Vallespin, Weston Martinez and Genie Wright are the only conservatives that answered the call. The filing deadline opens November 10, 2019, and closes December 10, 2019. It is still early, and undoubtedly other candidates will apply for this position as well.

SA City Proposes Migrant Funding (Illegal Aliens)
San Antonio's municipal government and nonprofit organizations have spent more than $600,000 assisting upwards of 16,000 migrants who showed up just since late March. Estimates of the number of migrants reaching San Antonio has recently tripled to 6,000 per month. If this rate continues, and these immigrants remain, our city would obtain 72,000 people entering our country illegally in just one year.^23
It is difficult to access exactly how much illegal immigration is costing taxpayers. The City is asking for $333,000 in the FY 2020 Proposed Budget which will cover only three months of operations at the Migrant Resource Center and Travis Park Church Overnight Shelter. “That would cover staff, fuel for vans that are used to transport migrants to the bus stations, for three hot meals during the day. It would also help with providing migrants with toiletries, medical supplies and a clean facility” said Roland Martinez, Public Relations Manager of the Department of Human Services. But this amount does not show the true cost of the illegal immigration problem, which our city leaders are facilitating.^24

These are our tax dollars being spent on illegal aliens. What about citizens of San Antonio that are living homeless, and the fact that there are plenty of homeless that are veterans who have served our country honorably and are being tossed aside? It seems like illegal aliens are being given preference by virtue of what the City provides them such as food, shelter, free medical care, clothing, bus tickets, and sometimes airfare to their destination cities- that’s if they agree to leave; otherwise, we taxpayers continue to foot the bill until they decide to leave. Another concern is this year our City’s budget has grown from $2.5 B to $2.9B. One can only wonder if the growth of our budget can be attributed to the City’s liberal policy of being a Sanctuary City. The RPBC is committed to further researching this issue for the taxpaying citizens of San Antonio.

If you would like to address Council and speak to this issue, please be at City Council Chambers before 6:00pm on Wednesdays either September 4^th or September 11, 2019 to sign up to speak. Their address is 114 W. Commerce. You will be given 3 minutes to speak. Then on, Thursday September 12, 2019 SA City Council will convene at 9:00am to vote on this issue. You will not be allowed to speak on Thursday, but you can show up with a sign, and observe how your Council Member votes.

SA’s 2018 Outstanding Teen to Perform in Nation’s Capital
Angelica Park, (daughter of Dolores and John Park) is a senior at Claudia Taylor Johnson High School and San Antonio’s 2018 Outstanding Teen, has been invited to sing the National Anthem for the opening ceremony at the 2020 March for Life in Washington DC. Angelica is a guest speaker January 23^rd at the March for Life Youth Rally, with the opening ceremony for the conference being January 24.^25

GUEST COMMENTARY:
“The Student’s Voice”
By John Brookreson


Alamo Heights High School (AHHS) is an institution that supports Progressive ideas and their agenda and hates the thought of free thinkers, such as myself, to have an opinion. We have a Republican Club at AHHS it is not taken seriously or given the respect afforded other student organizations. It has been communicated to me by students, faculty, and staff that conservative ideas and beliefs are not welcome. Usually, they do not say it to my face, but the message is received loud and clear nonetheless. Compared to other AHHS student organizations, the Republican Club is thrown to the curb like so much garbage. I however have had enough of the weird, dismissive looks when I wear my Trump shirts, the nasty remarks people make when I say capitalism is a good idea. This is a free country, you can think, feel, and act however you would like so long as you don’t break the law. Supporting our president and wishing him well is not against the law. Thank you for reading my comments. Have a
great day and God bless!

[Editor’s Addendum. In the August issue of the Newsletter, we noted the Progressive’s death grip on hypocrisy. Here, apparently, is another example in our own backyard: the uber-tolerant, compassionate Progressives being intolerant of those with an opposing philosophy, and, indeed, Progressives despise free and independent thinkers. But, has the responsibility for teaching, mentorship, and adult supervision been completely abandoned by the faculty and staff at Alamo Heights HS in favor of ideology? Is institutional blackballing condoned there? Have the faculty and staff decreed the First Amendment null and void at AHHS, or must a student graduate with a diploma stamped “Progressive” to qualify for those rights? SPOILER ALERT AHHS: To ostracize a student organization or even one student for their beliefs is not only prejudicial, but wholly un-American. Shame on all of you.]


TRUMP 2020 RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN


VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
The RPBC needs YOUR help to re-elect President Trump 2020. Please consider being a presiding judge, alternate judge, clerk, poll watcher, precinct chair, or general volunteer. If you would like to help, please call RPBC headquarters at 210-824-9445.

Vote Republican Signs
The RPBC has "Vote Republican" signs available for a donation. The recommended donation is $10. If you are interested, please come by headquarters to pick one up
.
Trump T-Shirts
Trump 2020, Keep America Great t-shirts are in! The recommended donation for the t-shirts is $25. We also have ladies “Trump” pins. (The kind of pin that you can clip onto your blouse.) The recommended donation is $17.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

For more details/changes go to [link removed][UNIQID]

Republican Prayer Group
September 9, 16, 23, 30 2019 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Republican Party of Bexar County, 12000 Starcrest Dr, SA

Alamo Pachyderm Club Monthly Luncheon Meeting
September 5, 2019 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
San Antonio Petroleum Club, 8620 N New Braunfels Ave # 700, SA

Alamo City Republican Women
September 10, 2019 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Embassy Suites North by Hilton, 7750 Briaridge, SA

San Antonio Republican Women Luncheon
September 12, 2019 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Old San Francisco Steak House, 10223 Sahara Dr, SA

Bexar County Republican Women Luncheon
September 13, 2019 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
The Club At Sonterra, 901 E Sonterra Blvd, SA

School Board Training Phase 1
September 14, 2019 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
TriPoint 3233 N St Mary's St., SA

Precinct, Activists and Campaign Workers Training Class I
September 14, 2019 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Republican Party of Bexar County, 12000 Starcrest Dr, SA

Republican Club of Bexar County Monthly Lunch
September 25, 2019 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Luby's 911 North Main, SA

Young Republicans of Bexar County
September 26, 2019 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location TBA

RPBC Precinct, Activists and Campaign Workers Training Class II
September 28, 2019 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Republican Party of Bexar County, 12000 Starcrest Dr, SA

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Political advertising paid for by Republican Party of Bexar County.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Headqurters12000 Starcrest, Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78247

Republican Party of Bexar County | [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
210-824-9445 | [link removed][UNIQID] ([link removed][UNIQID])



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Republican Party of Bexar County . 12000 Starcrest, Suite 101 . San Antonio, Texas 78247 . USA