NWC Newsletter January 2009

NWC Breakfast in December

During the RJC's Winter Leadership meeting the NWC hosted a panel with top political experts. The breakfast was held at the Madsion Hotel in Washington, DC on December 10th. The panel was moderated by Jonathan Martin , senior political reporter, POLITICO- and included Anne Hathaway, the chief of staff at the Republican National Committee, Todd Harris, communications director for Fred Thompson's 2008 presidential campaign, and Kevin Madden, national press secretary and senior communications strategist for Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign. The focus of the discussion was the 2008 election and the media. The panel addressed the key topic of women in the media- from Hillary Clinton to Sarah Palin. Over 40 members attended the breakfast including NWC Founder and Chair Linda Law and State Senator Florence Shapiro. 

OP-ED by NWC Member Sabrina Schaeffer

                                            Greater Freedom is the way to Spur Economic Growth

By Sabrina L. Schaeffer

As crowds leave the National Mall and inauguration festivities come to a close, President Obama and Congress face a daunting agenda. At the top of the President's to-do-list is The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan- an economic "stimulus" package. But this $850 Billion package will not revitalize our lagging economy. It's simply an enormous payoff of narrow interest groups rather than a means of helping the country-at-large.

A central component of the plan is massive spending on the repair of roads, bridges, and schools, which President Obama claims will create 2.5 million jobs over the next two years. While FDR's expansion of public power to the Tennessee Valley and Eisenhower's implementation of the interstate highway system were similar attempts to spur economic growth through massive infrastructure plane- the workplace looks very different today. 

Unlike these earlier times when men dominated the workplace, today women make up approximately 46 percent of the labor force. And the fact that the Democrats want to invest so heavily in the construction industry- an area where women only account for about 9 percent of the jobs- is concerning.

That's why it seems fair to ask , "what's in it for women?" The short answer is: not much.

Let me be perfectly clear: I don't think President Obama should simply balance out the recovery plan by "creating" jobs in sectors of society that are more heavily dominated by women- for instance, in health care and education.

But when the government gets into the business of job subsidies, we inevitably face the question, "which types of jobs should it subsidize?"

No government job program is going to be fair. That's why if our goal is to clean up the corruption in politics and take government out of the business of helping one group at the expense of another, we ought to resist the temptation to engage in this type of government largesse.

President Obama and Congress can help spur real economic development and job growth- instead of redistribution- by investing in policies that encourage greater market freedom. More specifically, we should keep taxes low, cut the corporate tax rate, reform entitlements, and expand educational freedom.

By extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for as long as possible, Congress has the ability to introduce some much-needed certainty into the market place. With an estimated $500 Billion in new spending planned, the threat of tax increases loom large. That's why to encourage real economic recovery the Democratic leadership ought to limit uncertainty by preventing a tax increase during this turbulent period. 

Congress can also take this opportunity to cut corporate tax rates. It's often overlooked, but the U.S. tax rate on corporate profits is the second highest in the world- and much higher than competing EU nations. With a statutory corporate tax rate of 39 percent , U.S. businesses are at a serious disadvantage and have incentives to relocate in lower-tax burdened countries. No less important to restoring confidence in the economy is long-term entitlement reform. Before Congress passes nearly $1 trillion stimulus package, they should tackle the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid storms looming on the horizon. WIth nearly 80 million Baby Boomers set to start retiring in the coming decades, the cost of these programs threatens to more than double the percentages of GDP from 8.4 percent to 18.6 percent. Without eliminating every other government program- an obviously unrealistic expectation- economists estimate taxes would have to increase by more than $12,000 a household.

Finally, creating jobs that can't exist without government support is massively wasteful. If our log-term goal is to ensure that the country remains productive, we must provide people with the best opportunity to prepare for a rapidly changing global economy.

Not only does school choice provide children with a better education- it can save state and local governments already facing severe budget shortfalls billions of dollars over the next decade.

 The fact is, politicians almost inevitably respond to one crisis- often one they've helped create- by introducing more government spending, programs, and burdensome regulations. If President Obama really wants to enact change, he would follow Ockham's razor: "all other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best."

In this economy, the simplest solution is the one that requires the least amount of government. And that's a policy proposal that would truly help everyone.

Sabrina L. Schaeffer is the managing partner of Evolving Strategies, a visiting fellow at the Independent Woman's Forum, and a senior policy analyst with the Independent Woman's Voice. She served as the speechwriter for Senator George Voinovich of Ohio, the Director of Media Relations and Public Affairs at the Republican Jewish Coalition in Washington, DC, where she frequently served as a spokeswoman for the organization, and a member of the communications team for Bob McEwen's campaign in Ohio's second district. She was also a Communications Associate with the White House Writer's Group, where she worked extensively on designing and orchestrating communications projects for a range of intellectual, government, and corporate clients on issues including energy policy, transportation policy, and telecommunication deregulation. While working for the White House Writers Group, she also acted as a liaison at the U.S. Department of Labor, where she helped launch "The Skilled Trades Initiative." Sabrina began her career in Washington as an assistant to former United Nations Ambassador Jeane J. Kirkpatrick at the American Enterprise Institute. She has commented on politics and political culture in publications such as The Weekly Standard, The Washington Times, Philanthropy Magazine, Doublethink, Policy Review, Tech Central Station, American Enterprise Online, and National Review Online, as well as on FOX, MSNBC, PBS, and local radio stations around the country. 

NWC in Fort Lauderdale! Save the Date

The NWC will host an event on Friday March 20th during the RJC Winter Leadership Meeting (March 20th- 22nd) at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This event is open to members of the NWC only. The event will be an important discussion on the direction and future of our organization. Many women have been contacting me with questions, comments, and most of all ideas. This will be a great chance for all NWC members to come together and share their thoughts. 

A Letter From The NWC Executive Director 

As the head of the only Jewish Republican Woman's Group, I am looking forward to an exciting few years. With a new administration and a Democratic Congress, this is the time to make our voices heard. As I travel the country and meet with members of the NWC, I realize that their are many of you whom I have not had the chance to meet. I wanted to take this opportunity to give you a little background. I have been involved in Republican politics since my college years at the University of Kansas. After graduating, I moved to Washington, DC where I have worked for several Republican organizations and members. My past employers include the College Republicans National Committee, the Republican Jewish Coalition (as their deputy grassroots director) and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Currently, I have my own company and my clients include Senator John Thune, Senator David Vitter, and State Senator Florence Shapiro. One of the greatest aspects of being the executive director of the NWC is hearing from like-minded women from across the country. I welcome you comments, questions, and most of all suggestions. I am available by email at Lisa@theLSgroup.com as well as by phone at 202-638-2909 ext. 109. I look forward to meeting more NWC members these next few years! Thank You, Lisa Spies