GRYR Meeting: Thursday, June 22nd

As a reminder, we will be meeting Thursday, June 22nd at RPV headquarters in Richmond (115 E. Grace Street). The meeting will begin at 7pm, and we'll have food and drinks!

We'll hear an update from the June 3rd Board meeting of the Young Republican Federation of Virginia (YRFV), as well as updates from area congressional campaigns.

We will also be discussing our plans for our August 8th kick-off event with special guest Senator George Allen.

Please try and attend as we have a lot of work to do to get ready for our kick-off!

If you have questions, or would like to be added to our email list for future updates, please email chairman@gryr.org.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening!

Flag Day and Upcoming Meeting Reminder

In honor of Flag Day, a number of Virginia blogs have posted tributes. Despite the rain, we should all take a moment to celebrate the flag, all it stands for and the men and women who, through the course of history, have stood up to defend the flag and our nation.

A few good posts: Riley, Not O'Reilly over at Virginia Virtucon has this reminder. Shaun Kenney posts this, and Below the Beltway sings "You're a Grand Old Flag" in honor of the holiday.


Also, as a reminder, the GRYR's will be having our June meeting at 7pm on Thursday, June 22nd at RPV headquarters. Please plan on attending as we will be hearing from some special guests and discussing plans for our upcoming kick-off party in August!

Whitney in the Wall Street Journal

Our own Chairman Whitney Duff was recently quoted in the Wall Street Journal.

Virginia Tax Rebellion: May 31, 2006; Page A12, Wall St. Journal

Big news from Richmond, Virginia: Republicans are starting to act like, well, Republicans again.

Last week a gang of conservative GOP members in the general assembly foiled Democratic Governor Tim Kaine's plan to raise $1.4 billion in car, gasoline and diesel taxes to pay for more roads and mass transit. This was a victory against long odds, because the renegade house members were lined up against the Governor, powerful Republicans in the state senate, elements of the business community and the state's largely pro-tax media.

Mr. Kaine, who only last year took the Governorship over fractured Republicans, was trying to repeat the tax increase passed by his predecessor Mark Warner in 2003. He was also tapped to deliver the Democratic State of the Union response to President Bush earlier this year. And after Republicans who control the state assembly refused to budge, Mr. Kaine barnstormed the state to make his case.

"The more he criss-crossed the state to win votes," says Whitney Duff, president of the Virginia chapter of Americans for Prosperity, which also opposed the tax hike, "the less popular the taxes became." Voters began to wonder why a state with a $2.5 billion budget surplus would need higher taxes only three years after imposing the largest tax increase in state history. It didn't help that Mr. Kaine was trying to raise gasoline taxes (currently 18 cents a gallon) amid soaring gasoline prices.

Governor Kaine says he'll keep pushing his campaign, and Democrats are accusing Republicans of forcing the state into endless gridlock. Republicans respond that they also want new roads but not new taxes to pay for them when state coffers are overflowing with cash. The successful show of principle by house Republicans has helped to revive a demoralized state GOP, and it demonstrates once again that the tax issue hasn't lost its political salience. That's a lesson Republicans in a few other states could also learn.

Richmond City GOP Kick-Off Thursday, June 8th

It's a new day for the Richmond City Republican Committee, and they're kicking off the political season with barbecue, beverages and a rip-roaring speech by a great American. Best of all, the event is FREE!

WHEN: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Thursday, June 8th

WHERE: 715 Spottswood Road Richmond, 23220

Keynote speaker is a true American hero: Adrian Cronauer, the radio disc jockey whose story is told in the movie "Good Morning Vietnam!"

For directions, more information or to RSVP, please e-mail Courtney Malveaux at info@richmond-gop.org

YRFV Kickoff Reception and RPV Gala Saturday

The RPV Gala is this weekend at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. Details and ticket information is available on the RPV website.

For any local YRs attending the Gala or just interested in meeting other YRs from around the Commonwealth, the Young Republican Federation of Virginia is hosting a kickoff reception from 4:30 until 5:30pm in the area next to the stairwell at the Jefferson. Many of the GOP leadership and others have been invited. There will be a cash wine bar, and it should be a great opportunity to meet YRs and GOP leadership from around the state.

If you have any questions, please email: chairman@gryr.org.

For information on other upcoming events, please visit our GRYR website.

Hope to see you Saturday!