Chairman: Ray Kramer

Vice-Chairman: Gary “Sonny” Compton

Secretary: Patty Hicks

Treasurer: Kathy Sobczak

Our next meeting will be Saturday May 3rd, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. at the Powhatan County Library in the large meeting room.

Local Republicans or residents interested in becoming members are invited to attend. Meet the committee and hear reports from elected officials, as well as campaign updates.

As Chairman of the Powhatan Committee of the Republican Party, and pursuant to the Plan of Organization and as recommended and directed by the Committee, I, Ray Kramer, do hereby issue this call for a Mass Meeting to be held at the Powhatan Village Building, Old Buckingham Road, Powhatan, Virginia at 7:00 p.m. local time on April 11, 2008 for the following purposes:

a) Electing a Unit Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer;

b) Electing members of the Unit Committee as follows: Subletts-24; Manakin-13; Flat Rock-9; Powhatan Station-17; Graceland-21; Bethesda-33 (Lee’s Landing Precinct shall be included in Bethesda Precinct); Powhatan Courthouse-24; Ballsville-16; Smith Cross Roads-10; Pineville-5; and 43 at-large;

c) Electing up to 290 Delegates and an equal number of Alternates to the Fourth District Convention to be held on May 17, 2008, Windsor High School, 24 Church Street, Windsor, Virginia at 10:00 a.m. for the purposes of electing a Republican Congressional District Chairman; to elect three representatives to the State Central Committee; to elect three delegates and three alternates to the 2008 Republican National Convention beginning on September 1, 2008; to nominate one Elector from the 4th Congressional District of Virginia to the 2008 Electoral College; and for the transaction of any other business that may properly come before the Convention;

d) Electing up to 290 Delegates and an equal number of Alternates to the State Convention to be held on May 30 and 31, 2008, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 North Third Street, Richmond, Virginia; and

e) For the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the mass meeting.

Qualifications for Participation

All legal and qualified voters under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, regardless of race, religion, national origin or sex, who are in accord with the principles of the Republican Party, and who, if requested, express in open meeting either orally or in writing as may be required their intent to support all of its nominees for public office in the ensuing election may participate as members of the Republican Party of Virginia in this mass meetings, party canvases, conventions, or primaries encompassing their respective election districts.

In addition to the foregoing, to be in accord with the principles of the Republican Party, unless otherwise stipulated by the appropriate Official Committee, a person otherwise qualified hereunder shall not have participated in Virginia in the nomination process of a party other than the Republican Party after March 1, 2004.

A single exception to this shall be approved for a voter that renounces affiliation with any other party in writing, and who expresses in writing that he or she is in accord with the principles of the Republican Party and intends, at the time of the writing, to support the nominees of the Republican Party in the future. Any voter that utilizes the foregoing exception, and thereafter participates in the nomination process of a party other than the Republican Party, shall not have the benefit of the exception thereafter.

Filing Requirements

Candidates for election at said mass meeting shall file a written statement by mail or in person with Jason Moore, 3890 Old Buckingham Road, P. O. Box 394, Powhatan, Virginia 23139, which must be received not later than 5:00 p.m. local time on April 2, 2008. Said statement must be filed on the official filing form. The form my be obtained at Powhatan Gun & Tackle, 2150 Anderson Highway, Powhatan, Virginia 23139, during business hours.

Registration Fee

There will be no registration fee to participate in this mass meeting.

Paid for and Authorized by the Powhatan Republican Committee

AN OVERVIEW OF THE 2008 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Dear friend,

As these lines are written we are less than a week from adjournment of a productive and surprisingly tame Session of General Assembly for 2008. Final debates should be relatively few, and most debates will be about modest elements of the biennial budget for 2008-2010 to take effect
July l.

That the national economy potentially faces what The Financial Times describes as “the mother of all meltdowns” has, predictably, sobered budget discussions in the House and also in the Senate and even, to a lesser extent, in the Administration of the Governor. Only two weeks ago we were told that the budget is running a $1 billion shortfall that could balloon to $2.1 billion by 2010. Accordingly, not only is the Governor proposing broad cuts in the Administration, but no increases in taxes will emerge from Assembly, though the Senate narrowly recommended a rise in the tax rate on gasoline that was not approved by the House.

Beyond the budget, no issue rose to prominence, though efforts, including my own via House Bill 1351, to reform payday lending, engaged numerous legislators for days at a time. Prospects for reform of existing law governing payday lenders seemed unlikely during negotiations this week. If changes arise in the concluding days of Session I will report on these through the press. By the way, when a Richmond paper’s reporter described me as “an ally of payday lenders,” I invited him to review my position so that it would be clear that I am rather an ally of justice and fairness for all interested parties, including borrowers and lenders. Justice in this instance requires us to consider the 400,000-plus Virginians most of whom responsibly use payday loans for amounts that are too small to be borrowed from a bank or similar institution. It was just this concern that guided negotiators through the past few weeks in quest of a reasonable reform bill.

As for the budget, significantly, delegates approved the House proposal by a huge bi-partisan margin of 93-5. (All five opponents were Democrats from northern Virginia.) That the alternate budget passed in the Senate by only 21-19 suggested, going into these final days, that the House version has stronger support.

Ensuring Quality Public Education

Significant, too, is the fact that only the House—not the Senate and not the Governor—included in its budget (1) a two percent salary increase commencing in July for public school teachers, (2) a further 1.14 percent salary increase for teachers in 2009, and (3) protects and increases funding for school construction.

In sum, the House budget devotes $13.0 billion for K-12 public education in 2008-2010, an amount that is $1.1 billion more than allocated for public schooling during 2006-2008.

Further, the House budget provides for public education $193 million more than proposed by the Governor and $68 million more than proposed by the Senate.

For example, for Powhatan Schools the House allots $47,943, 435, compared to $47,450,555 proposed by the Senate and $46,994,555 by the Governor, respectively.

For Chesterfield Schools the House assigns $660,408,070, compared to $654,622,749 by the Senate and $648,220,081 by the Governor, respectively.

House Budget’s Other Highlights

The House budget also:

• Provides state employees with a salary increase that was not included in the Governor’s budget for the next fiscal year;

• Protects $110 million in school construction grants currently provided for through the Lottery Proceeds Fund and through existing state General Funds;

• Provides an additional $70 million in supplemental school construction grants;

• Provides $42 million in new spending for mental health programs, an action taken in response to the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech last year;

• Provides additional funding for 800 new ‘MR Waiver’ slots over the next two years—though Virginia currently has a waiting list of some 3,800 families for this service;

• Provides $85 million in operating support for our colleges and universities. These funds should help contain the cost of tuition, which for in-state institutions has risen 40 percent over the past four years alone.

By comparison, the Senate would not provide teachers a pay raise in fiscal year 2009 and only a 2.5 percent rise in fiscal year 2010.

To achieve these programmatic gains, the House not only did not raise taxes but ensured that a reasonable withdrawal from the state’s “Rainy Day Fund” would be devoted solely to current programs, not to new initiatives. To provide these needed increases in critical and consensus public agencies, the House eliminated or reduced several new or experimental programs proposed by the Governor, including his pre-kindergarten initiative. All told, the House reduced revenues—hence spending—for this fiscal year by $980 million. The reduction is a direct response to the dramatic slowdown in the state’s private-sector economy.

Powhatan Park Funding Probable

Just as significantly, both the House and Senate unanimously approved a companion bill, HB 1547 (“The 21^st Century Capital Improvement Program”). This is a $1.8 billion bond initiative that provides for full development of a proposed state park in Powhatan. (The Senate budget included $2.1 million for the park, as a separate line item.)

The bond package provides for 65 projects—mostly at public colleges and universities—that would result in an economic stimulus of $1.2 billion over the next two years. Another 30 projects valued at $600 million are approved for preplanning in 2010.

Powhatan Tax Relief for Elderly

At the request and with the assistance of county supervisors and staff, I was able to introduce legislation (HB1428) that, after its incorporation into HB 698, adds Powhatan to the localities that may provide real estate tax exemptions to elderly or handicapped persons. The eligibility requirement is an income and net worth that do not exceed $62,000 and $350,000, respectively.

Other Bills of Local Interest

With able assistance from Winston C. Marshall of Powhatan, an officer of the Virginia Trappers Association, my two bills improving regulations for trappers (HB 114 and HB 115) were unanimously passed by both chambers.

HB 113, to allow prosecution of motorists who, in eluding law-enforcement officers, cause injury or, worse, death, as in the case of our community’s own Deputy Robbie Green, was still in the Senate in these final days. Robbie’s father, Charlie Green, supervisor for District 2, has made several trips to the Capitol to help get this bill through the legislature.

My HB 849, to improve the Land Preservation tax credits program and passed unanimously by the House, is expected to be okayed by the Senate, too.

General Assembly Reconvenes April 16

Assembly will reconvene on April 16 for the “Veto Session,” to consider actions that will have been taken by the Governor on bills that passed both chambers of the legislature. In the meantime, Session will have concluded, so I will be able to report on the final status of numerous other bills of high interest to 65^th District constituents.

For example, still undecided in the Senate were several House bills that address the deepening effects within Virginia of the federal government’s failure to control illegal immigration throughout the country. The House passed four major bills (numbers 623, 14, 820, 440, and 926) that would greatly improve the state’s ability effectively to respond to the consequences of illegal immigration. I supported each of these bills.

Also, the Senate was reviewing House-passed bills on tax relief and reform, consumer protection, health care reform, environmental protection, veterans and military affairs, law enforcement and public safety, economic development, and transportation. Among the health care reform bills was HB 894, patroned by Delegate Matt Lohr of Rockingham. This would increase the safety of Virginians by requiring that abortion clinics be licensed and that such clinics comply with the requirements currently in place for ambulatory surgery centers. I supported the bill.

Thanks to Constituents

As usual, hundreds of constituents sent me emails, regular mail, called by ‘phone, or visited, helping me maintain the proper connection with the fundamental purpose of the General Assembly, which is to represent the people’s interests and conduct the people’s business. Each constituent’s message is reviewed and taken into account as my votes are cast, and I do my best to make sure that everyone receives at least an acknowledgement, and more often than not a brief original reply, to their question, concern, or suggestion.

I also maintain close contact with the locally elected officials of both Powhatan and Chesterfield counties. Chesterfield supervisors met with me and other Members of the House or Senate who represent some portion of Chesterfield. Powhatan supervisors and staff keep me well informed of their interests and concerns. Schools officials also provided me helpful information. As usual, I conferred numerous times with neighboring delegates, notably Sam Nixon, Watkins Abbitt, Kirk Cox, and Manoli Loupassi, because our close cooperation boosts the region’s voice on statewide issues, and of course I kept in touch, too, with our Senator John Watkins.

After adjournment I look forward to seeing constituents to review the final outcome of the Session’s actions on bills that were pending in the final days. I hope to see you along the way.

Cordially,

R. Lee Ware

CALL FOR A CONVENTION OF THE VIRGINIA FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT REPUBLICAN PARTY

I, Jason V. Gray, Chairman of the Fourth Congressional District Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia, pursuant to the State Party Plan and as directed by the District Committee, do hereby issue this call for a District Convention to be held on Saturday, May 17, 2008, at the Windsor High School, 24 Church Street, Windsor VA, 23487 or an alternate site if necessary, beginning at 10:00 AM, with registration at 9:00 AM.

PURPOSES: The purposes of the Convention are: to elect a Republican Congressional District Chairman; to elect three representatives to the State Central Committee; to elect three delegates and three alternates to the 2008 Republican National Convention to be held at the Xcel Energy Center, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, or an alternate site if necessary, beginning on September 1, 2008; to nominate one Elector from the 4th Congressional District of Virginia to the 2008 Electoral College; and for the transaction of any other business that may properly come before the Convention. The purpose of the National Convention is to nominate candidates for President and Vice President of the United States of America.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATION: All legal and qualified voters of the 4th Congressional District under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, regardless of race, religion, national origin or sex, who are in accord with the principles of the Republican Party and who, if requested, express in open meeting either orally or in writing as may be required, their intent to support all of its nominees for public office in the ensuing election, may participate as a member of the Republican Party of Virginia in its mass meetings, party canvasses, conventions or primaries encompassing their respective election districts.

REGISTRATION: Convention registration shall begin at 9:00 AM and shall end at 10:00 AM. The Convention shall be called to order at 10:00 AM.

BALLOTING: Election to all offices and of all nominees shall be by majority vote. Upon completion of the first ballot, if any contest has not been decided by majority vote, another ballot shall be held to decide the remaining contests, and the candidate who has received the lowest vote will be dropped after each ballot. Subsequent ballots shall be so conducted until all contests have been decided by majority vote, except that the three candidates for State Central Representative who receive the highest number of votes will be elected, and the three candidates for Delegate to the National Convention who receive the highest number of votes will be elected as Delegates with those receiving next three highest vote totals being elected as Alternates.

COMPOSITION OF THE CONVENTION: The District Convention shall be composed of delegates and alternate delegates of the respective units they represent. Each Unit shall have one delegate vote per 500 votes of “Republican Voting Strength” as defined in the Republican State Party Plan of Organization (”The Plan”). Each unit shall be entitled to at least one Delegate Vote. The delegates and alternates shall be elected in county and city mass meetings, party canvasses or conventions called for this purpose by each unit committee in conformity with the Plan. The number of delegates and delegate votes of each Unit shall be as follows:

The number of alternates a unit may have shall equal the number of delegates to which it is entitled. The delegates present in a given Unit delegation shall designate which alternate delegate(s) shall vote in the place of an absent delegate(s) except where the body electing the delegates has determined another method.
The delegates present and voting at the Convention shall cast the full vote of the unit. The delegate vote of a unit shall be reported to the nearest one hundredth (0.01) and in direct proportion to the raw vote cast.

CANDIDACY FILING REQUIREMENTS: Any person seeking election to any of the offices listed above under “Purposes” must file a written declaration of candidacy with the 4th District Chairman, Jason V. Gray, 5007 Cedar Cliff Road, Chester, VA,23831 or by email jandwgray@comcast.net by 6:00 PM, May 10, 2008. The declaration must be received by 6:00 PM, May 10, 2008. Postmarks shall not be considered.

DISTRICT CONVENTION VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION FEE: Every person elected as a delegate or alternate to the 4th District Convention will be asked to pay a voluntary $15.00 fee. This fee will be paid to the unit represented and the unit will forward it to the 4th District Convention.

CERTIFICATION OF DELEGATES: Delegates and alternates elected to the District Convention shall be certified in writing with their respective names, addresses (including zip codes), and phone numbers by the Permanent Chairman and Permanent Secretary of the unit mass meeting or convention, or by the unit chairman of the unit committee if the unit has conducted a party canvass to elect delegates and alternates to the 4th District Convention. ALL CERTIFICATIONS AND APPLICABLE FEES, REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OF THE UNIT MASS MEETING, PARTY CANVASS OR CONVENTION MUST BE POST MARKED NO LATER THAN SEVEN DAYS PRIOR (May 10, 2008) TO THE CONVENING OF THE DISTRICT CONVENTION,. ALL CERTIFICATIONS AND FEES SHALL BE DELIVERED TO THE 4TH DISTRICT CHAIRMAN, Jason V. Gray, 5007 Cedar Cliff Road, Chester, VA, 23831. After the filing deadline of the certification, no change may be made except a certified alternate delegate may be made a delegate. A copy of the published call of the unit mass meeting, convention or party canvass shall accompany the certification.

Filing and registration fees are not tax-deductible.

Authorized and paid for by the Fourth District Republican Committee.

As Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia and pursuant to the Plan of Organization and as recommended and directed by the State Central Committee, I, John H. Hager, do hereby issue this Call for a State Convention of the Republican Party of Virginia to be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 North Third Street, Richmond, Virginia, or its alternate site, starting at 2:00 p.m. local time on Friday, May 30, 2008 for the following purposes:

a) Nominating a candidate for U.S. Senate, to be elected November 4, 2008;

b) Electing twenty-seven (27) delegates and twenty-seven (27) alternate delegates at large to the 2008 Republican National Convention to be held at the Xcel Energy Center, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, or its
alternate site beginning on September 1, 2008, for the purpose of nominating a candidate for President and Vice President;

c) Nominating two (2) Electors At Large to be voted for in the presidential election on November 4, 2008;

d) Electing a State Chairman;

e) Nominating a National Committeeman and National Committeewoman; and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the convention; and I further direct the Executive Director of the Republican Party of Virginia to publish this call in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the state at least ninety (90) days prior to the date of the state convention as required by the rules adopted by the previous Republican National Convention.

Qualifications for Participation

All legal and qualified voters under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, regardless of race, religion, national origin or sex, who are in accord with the principles of the Republican Party, and who, if requested, express in open meeting either orally or in writing as may be required their intent to support all of its nominees for public office in the ensuing election may participate as members of the Republican Party of Virginia in its mass meetings, party canvasses, conventions, or primaries encompassing their respective election districts.

In addition to the foregoing, to be in accord with the principles of the Republican Party, unless otherwise stipulated by the appropriate Official Committee, a person otherwise qualified hereunder shall not have participated in Virginia in the nomination process of a party other than the Republican Party after March 1, 2004, or in the last five years, whichever is more recent.
A single exception to this shall be approved for a voter that renounces affiliation with any other party in writing, and who expresses in writing that he/she is in accord with the principles of the Republican Party and intends, at the time of the writing, to support the nominees of the Republican Party in the future. Any voter that utilizes the foregoing exception, and thereafter participates in the nomination process of a party other than the Republican Party, shall not have the benefit of the exception thereafter. The selection and certification of a delegate by the Official Committee that is qualified pursuant to the first paragraph shall be adequate proof that the Qualifications for Participation have been met.

Composition of Convention

The State Convention shall be composed of delegates and alternate delegates of the respective units they represent. Representation shall be based on a percentage of the total number of Republican votes cast in each county and city in the last gubernatorial and presidential election combined. Each unit is allowed one (1) Delegate Vote for each two hundred fifty (250) Republican votes cast or major portion thereof. Each unit shall be entitled to at least one (1) Delegate Vote. The delegates and alternates shall be elected in county and city mass meetings, party canvasses or conventions that shall be called for this purpose in conformity with the Plan of Organization of the Republican
Party of Virginia by each unit committee.

Voluntary Registration Fee

A voluntary registration fee of Thirty-Five Dollars ($35.00) (for the Republican Party of Virginia) is requested of each delegate or alternate delegate to the State Convention. The unit chairmen are requested to collect and transmit to the State Party headquarters all voluntary registration fees promptly upon completion of the unit mass meeting, party canvass or convention.
Payments to the Republican Party of Virginia are not tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes. Funds received will be deposited into the Party’s Federal Account unless otherwise prohibited.

Certification of Delegates

Delegates and alternate delegates to the State Convention so elected shall be certified in writing with their respective names and addresses including zip codes over the signatures of the permanent chairman and permanent secretary of the unit mass meeting or convention, or of the unit chairman of the unit committee which may have conducted a party canvass to select the delegates and alternate delegates.

ALL CERTIFICATIONS, REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OF LOCAL MASS MEETING, PARTY CANVASS OR CONVENTION must be postmarked not later than sixteen (16) days (Wednesday, May 14, 2008) prior to the convention or delivered in person not later than fourteen (14) days (Friday, May 16, 2008) prior to the convening of said convention. After the filing deadline of the certification, no change may be made except a certified alternate delegate may be made a delegate. A copy of the published call of the convention, mass meeting or party canvass called for the purpose of selecting delegates and alternate delegates to said convention, must accompany the certification with the date of publication included. Certification should be mailed or delivered as follows:

1. Original – Mr. John H. Hager, State Chairman, 115 East Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219-17412. Second Copy – The respective district chairman

3. Third Copy – For the unit’s records

A delegate or alternate delegate is not certified until his name, address and phone number has been provided on the certification.

When: February 11, 2008 5:30 p.m.

Where: Richmond International Airport
5701 Huntsman Road
Richmond, VA

John McCain returns to Virginia for a Campaign Rally at the Virginia Aviation Museum on Monday, February 11th at 5:30 p.m. Senator John Warner will introduce John McCain.

Click here to RSVP online

HE WILL BE AT THE SHERATON RICHMOND WEST HOTEL AT 6624 WEST BROAD ST AT 8:00 A.M. ON MONDAY MORNING.

ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.

I want to take this occasion to thank each of you for all your help with our campaigns and issues during the past year. Some things went our way and some didn’t.

The past year was an up and down one for Kitty and myself as you know; but your prayers and support have helped us through every day. I thank you for that kindness as well. Kitty is back in the hospital again this week, after suffering a relapse of sorts, and we hope she will be home by week’s end.

2008 will be a big year for the USA. I think we are at a crossroads between Good and evil. We seem to be losing our country and our freedoms bit by bit. It now becomes our larger Duty to stand up and work for what is right for America. It is past time to take this country back before we have to do it at the end of a barrel. We had to do that once for this country in 1776, and I for one don’t want it to happen again. This may be our last chance to leave our current form of Republican self-governing to our children. We don’t want them to say to us, “Why didn’t you do something when you had the chance?”

No, we don’t have perfect people running for office - we never will - we have to pick the best we can and then support them to the fullest.

May God bless you all and may He have Mercy on the USA.

Thanks for all you do, and all you will do for the good of your country.

Ray Kramer
Chairman - Powhatan Republican Party

During Christmas, we gather with family and friends to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As God’s only Son, Jesus came to Earth and gave His life so that we may live. His actions and His words remind us that service to others is central to our lives and that sacrifice and unconditional love must guide us and inspire us to lead lives of compassion, mercy, and justice.

The true spirit of Christmas reflects a dedication to helping those in need, to giving hope to those in despair, and to spreading peace and understanding throughout the Earth. As we share love and enjoy the traditions of this holiday, we are also grateful for the men and women of our Armed Forces who are working to defend freedom, secure our homeland, and advance peace and safety around the world.

This Christmas, may we give thanks for the blessings God has granted to our Nation and in each of our lives. May the joy of the holidays renew our commitment to working together for a future of peace, opportunity, and hope.

Laura joins me in wishing you a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

GEORGE W. BUSH