The Santa Clarita Valley Congress ofRepublicans has endorsed four can-didates – two incumbents and two

challengers – seeking election to the SantaClarita City Council. The endorsementswere made during a special vote of theorganization’s officers and directors onFeb. 20. The decision followed a club-sponsored candidate forum at the Reperto-

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CITY COUNCIL ELECTION

BOARD MEETINGSRegular meetings are held on the first Thursdayof the month. Meeting times and locations vary.Visit www.scvcr.com for details.

REPEAL OF ILLEGAL TAXES SOUGHTLegislation by Sen. Steve Knight would make it easierto get money back on unconstitutional taxes.Page 2

Visit us at www.scvcr.com

The 2014 Board of Directors (above right) was sworn in during the Annual Installation Dinner on Jan. 31. Above left, Richard Sandnes and State Sen. Steve Knight.

See ENDORSEMENTS on Page 7

INSTALLATION 2014More photos on Page 5

HARTE MCLEAN MERCADO-FORTINE WESTE

The newsletter of theSanta Clarita Valley Congress of Republicans

Synopsis is published by the Santa Clarita Valley Congress of Republicans(SCVCR), a chartered volunteer organization of the California RepublicanParty. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not nec-essarily reflect the majority opinions of the SCVCR Board of Directors. PaidSCVCR membership includes a subscription to Synopsis. To join, completethe application on the back page or download an application atwww.scvcr.com.SCV Congress of Republicans, P.O. Box 803193, Santa Clarita, CA 91380

Jim McCarthyFIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Katie VarnerRECORDING SECRETARY

Mark HersheyPAST PRESIDENT

Randy LawrenceTREASURER

Hunt BralyTREASURER

John DortchMEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

Jim BergerJeff BrownBill CooperJohn GreenPatty Kelly

RJ KellyGloria Mercado-Fortine

Joe MessinaMarian SandnesRichard Sandnes

D I R E C T O R S

O F F I C E R SPhil EllisPRESIDENT

2 synopsis Visit us at www.scvcr.com

Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R-SantaClarita, has presented AssemblyConcurrent Resolution 87, which

declares Feb. 6, 2014 Ronald Reagan Day.Wilk was joined by 62 of his fellow Assem-bly members who added on as co-authors.During the floor presentation, many ofthem shared their own reasons on how andwhy President Reagan influenced them.“Ronald Reagan’s life reflects the

American experience and its potential forall those who work hard” Wilk said. “Fromhumble beginnings he rose from life guard, to radio broadcaster,actor, union leader, corporate spokesman, the Governor of Califor-nia, and the President of the United States of America.”

Reagan was born Feb. 6 and would have celebrated his 103rdbirthday this year. He was the 33rd governor of California and theonly California governor to become President. The 38th AssemblyDistrict is home to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

In closing, Wilk stated: “I challenge every one of us of thisfloor today to commit to Ronald Reagan’s vision that he sharedduring his first campaign for governor: ‘California, with its cli-mate, its resources, and its wealth of young, aggressive, talentedpeople, must never take second place. We can provide jobs for allour people who will work and we can have honest government ata price we can afford.’ ”

KNIGHT BILL SEEKS TO REFUND ILLEGAL TAXES

WILK HONORS LIFE OFRONALD REAGAN

Abill by Sen. Steve Knight wouldmake it easier for individuals whopaid taxes found to be unconstitu-

tional to get their money back. Senate Bill1327 would require that tax agencies auto-matically provide full refunds on taxesthat were later found to be illegal.The bill, sponsored by Board of Equal-

ization Member George Runner, seeks toremedy a major flaw in the tax code. Tax-payers who have paid a tax found to be

illegal are required to exhaust all adminis-trative appeals remedies before being eli-gible for a refund. This can be a timely,tricky, and often unrealistic process.“When government makes a mistake,

they need to do the right thing. This billwould return illegally collected taxes tothe taxpayers… it’s just common sense,”Knight said.SB 1327 will be helpful for individuals

who have paid taxes under the assumption

that they were constitutional. Instead ofrequiring taxpayers to go through a diffi-cult appeals process, it will ensure thatthey have a realistic and easy avenue bywhich their money can be refunded.“It is criminal that the State of Califor-

nia can keep money it illegally collectsfrom its citizens,” Runner said. “Anyonewho in good faith pays what ends up beingan illegal tax should get their money back.It’s as simple as that.”

synopsis 3Visit us at www.scvcr.com

STRICKLAND FILES FOR 25TH DISTRICT SEAT

Former state Senator Tony Stricklandhas announced his candidacy forCongress in California’s 25th Dis-

trict. Strickland represented much of thedistrict in the California Legislature.“I was raised in Simi Valley, and this

area is my home,” Strickland said. “Here, Iplayed basketball for Royal High Schooland learned what a wonderful place it is tolive. It’s also the place where I learned theconservative principles and values thathave made this country great.“My father Donald fought in both Viet-

nam and Korea. I still remember the mostimportant lesson my father taught me: thatit is the duty for every generation to leavetheir community in a better place than theyfound it. My mother Antonie, a Germanimmigrant, gave me a deep appreciationfor America and all that it has to offer.Those conservative values will guide mydecisions in Washington.”Congressman Howard P. “Buck” McK-

eon, who has announced his retirement,has endorsed Strickland to replace him. “Icare deeply about our community, and Iknow what it takes to be effective in Con-

gress,” McKeon said. “I support TonyStrickland because he shares our conserva-tive values and he’s effective.”First elected to the Assembly in 1998,

Strickland built a reputation as a conserva-tive leader and advocate for lower taxesand smaller government. “Congress is inneed of strong conservative leaders whowill work hard for the people they repre-sent,” he said. “I led in Sacramento, and Iwill lead in Washington.”

He made his mark in 2001, when hefiled a lawsuit against then-Gov. GrayDavis on behalf of energy ratepayers dur-ing the California energy crisis. The suitforced the administration to reveal the out-rageously expensive energy contracts ithad negotiated in secret with companieslike Enron. As a result, Strickland waselected GOP Caucus Chair and chargedwith driving the Republican agenda in theAssembly. As a senator, he formed the Tax-payer Caucus to organize opposition toout-of-control democratic budgets.“In Congress, I’ll be a champion for a

balanced budget that reigns in our nationaldebt and protects our country for future

generations,” he added. “I didn’t backdown from Gray Davis when he was run-ning California into the ground, and Iwon’t back down from President Obamaand Nancy Pelosi when they try to do thesame to our country. I will fight to lowertaxes, create jobs to strengthen our econo-my, and protect the individual rights thatare so uniquely American. I will work tire-lessly to reduce government intrusion andred tape so the full power of our economycan be unleashed.”

Endorsed by Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon

Assemblyman Scott Wilk has an-nounced his opposition to SenateConstitutional Amendment 5, which

would remove all anti-discrimination pro-tection on public education in California asprovided by Proposition 209.Currently, the California Constitution

prohibits the state from discriminatingagainst, or granting preferential treatmentto, any individual or group on the basis ofrace, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin

in the operation of public employment, pub-lic education, or public contracting.The legislation would eliminate this

prohibition on discrimination or preferencein the operation of public education. Publiceducation institutions of higher learningwill be exempt from the requirements ofProposition 209, which voters passed in1996. SCA 5 would turn the clock back and

allow schools to use race, sex, color, ethnic-

ity, or national origin as a consideration foraccepting students or hiring employees,Wilk said, adding, “The results of Proposi-tion 209 were compelling. Minority gradua-tion rates actually increased after the propo-sition was implemented.“Merit should always be the measure by

which our educational system should admitstudents to institutions of higher learning,and that is why I will be voting ‘no’ on thismeasure when it comes before me.”

ASSEMBLYMAN WILK ANNOUNCES OPPOSITION TO SCA 5

There is a looming budget battle devel-oping in the State Capitol, but it’s notyour usual partisan Democrat-versus-

Republican fight. This time, it’s a Democrat-on-Democrat scuffle over what the state’sbudget priorities ought to be.Gov. Jerry Brown and Speaker John A.

Perez unveiled competing budget proposalsfor Fiscal Year 2014-15. Speaker Perez’s“Budget Blue Print for 2014-15” provides awish list of new or expanded governmentprograms he would like to fund, while Gov.Brown recognizes that California is onuncertain economic footing and needs tobegin paying down its long-term debt.Both proposals advocate reinvesting in

K-12 and higher education, which I sup-port. The governor’s budget projects a $9.7billion revenue increase over the 2013, 2014and 2015 budget years from Proposition 98.The speaker’s budget remained supportiveof increasing higher education funding, yetlacks a game plan.I am pleased to see the governor’s plan

begins to address our state’s extreme debtload. Brown advocates allocating $11 billionin new debt repayment to immediately repayover $6 billion in school district deferralsand to eventually pay off the “wall of debt”by 2017-18.The surge in revenue to the state is due to

two phenomena: the temporary tax increasesfrom Prop 30, and the stellar year in thestock market. This means the increase inrevenue is fleeting.Clearly our state’s economy continues to

struggle, and Brown supports targetedspending to try to encourage job creation.The governor plans to spend over $1 billionon new infrastructure for water, transporta-tion and “green” modernization projects.The budget also calls for $500 million inschool and community college maintenance.I’m frustrated that the governor contin-

ues to support his High Speed Rail Project(HSRP) boondoggle. Brown calls for taking$300 million in “Cap and Trade” tax dollar

revenue and applying it to the rail project. Ibelieve this is in violation of both AB 32(2006) and Prop 1A, which established thebullet train project.Families save for rainy days, and gov-

ernment should do the same. Brown calls fora $1.6 billion rainy day fund, and the figureis far below what the non-partisan Legisla-tive Analyst’s Office (LAO) recommends.But this is a positive first step.Right now the voters are scheduled in

November 2014 to decide if the state shouldhave a spending limit and rainy dayfund. This was a bi-partisan agreement from2010 when the Legislature passed AssemblyConstitutional Amendment 4 (ACA4). Speaker Perez wants to unwind that deal,and it appears Brown wants to modify it to aless stringent formula.The Assembly Democrats budget blue

print creates an unstable rainy day fund, witha portion of capital gains tax revenue beingsaved, and they would eliminate giving thevoters an opportunity to weigh in on theACA 4 spending cap.While I am supportive of developing a

new rainy day fund, the level of savings isnot high enough and could be damagedagain when Proposition 30 revenue expires.

In 2012 voters approved Prop30, which temporarilyincreases personal income taxand sales tax and is projectedto give the state $40 billion inrevenue. The AssemblyDemocrat blue print neveraddresses how to prepare forthe expiration of the tempo-rary taxes in Prop 30. UnderProp 30 the sales tax increasewill expire in 2016, and thepersonal income tax willexpire in 2018. Even though Iam a freshman, I’ve been in

Sacramento long enough to know AssemblyDemocrats will try to make these oneroustaxes permanent.Furthermore, Sacramento leaders need

to understand our past mistakes so we avoidrepeating errors. The Governor will beinvesting a majority of increased spendingthis year to pay down debt, but we will see a5 percent increase in welfare grants whichequates to $168 million, the funds for thisexpansion will come out of the general fund.Last year I was shocked by the lack of

transparency during the budget process andhow a document so important was negotiat-ed behind closed doors with no real publicinput. I hope for greater public dialogue thisyear, as we are at a fork in the road headingtoward a pathway to fiscal solvency or downthe road of “politics as usual.” Although nota perfect budget, I’m ready to stand with theGovernor and to reach out to my colleagueson the other side of the aisle who support fis-cal stability to confront the special interestswho want to spend your money in an irre-sponsible manner.California families are depending on us.

4 synopsis Visit us at www.scvcr.com

BUDGET BATTLE: BROWN VS. ASSEMBLY DEMS

COMMENTARYScott WilkState Assembly38th District

synopsis 5Visit us at www.scvcr.com

INSTALLATION 2014

The Republican National Committeehas launched three National Adviso-ry Councils to strengthen ties with

minority communities and expand engage-ment efforts across the country: theAfrican American Advisory Council, theAsian Pacific American Advisory Council,and the Hispanic Advisory Council.

The National Advisory Councils arepart of the RNC’s unprecedented commit-ment to engage voters year-round to builda lasting foundation for future campaigns.Council members will lend their expertisein developing better, more effective

engagement strategies between the RNCand state parties and communities acrossthe country. In addition to providing adviceand counsel to RNC leadership and staff,National Advisory Council members willattend community events, speak withgrassroots activists nationwide, and attendRNC meetings. To complement the workof the three National Advisory Councils,the RNC is working with state parties toform state advisory councils as well.

“I want to ensure the Republican Partyis building sincere relationships in everycommunity across the country, and our

advisory councils will help make that areality,” said RNC Chairman ReincePriebus. “They are all leaders in their com-munities, and each council member bringsa unique perspective. I look forward toworking with them to grow the RepublicanParty.”

“We look forward to the councils’guidance as we continue to build theRNC’s engagement efforts,” said RNC Co-Chairman Sharon Day. “We welcome theirinput and advice as we take our message todiverse communities throughout ournation.”

6 synopsis Visit us at www.scvcr.com

RNC LAUNCHES NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCILS

The Republican National Committeesent a request under the Freedom ofInformation Act (FOIA) to the

National Archives and Records Administra-tion on March 6 in order to find out whowas responsible for improperly withholdingdocuments at the William J. Clinton Presi-dential Library for over a year. The lawfulwithholding period of the documentsexpired in January 2013, but no documentswere released until February 2014. Manydocuments have yet to be released. As such,the RNC is requesting copies of any corre-spondence related to the review, considera-tion, or withholding of documents.The Clinton Library announced that the

next release of documents will be delayed,making it even more important to keep awatchful eye on their actions and for anypolitical pressure that’s affecting theirbehavior.“The Clintons have a history of trying to

keep their past secret from the Americanpeople. Americans deserve to know whowas responsible for keeping on lockdowndocuments that should have been releasedover a year ago,” said RNC ChairmanReince Priebus.“Keeping these documents secret does-

n’t uphold the principles of accountabilityor transparency. But it’s easy to see whyDemocrats would want them hidden.Among other things, they have revealed thateven in the Clinton years, liberals knew thatit was a deliberate lie to tell Americans theycould keep their insurance plans and theirdoctors under HillaryCare-ObamaCare-style laws.”The letter specifically asks for:

• Any and all documents, correspon-dence, and e-mails, between designees, rep-resentatives, or staff of the NationalArchives and Records Administration, anddesignees, representatives, or staff of BillClinton or of the William Jefferson ClintonPresidential Library, regarding the review,consideration, or withholding of documentsat the William Jefferson Clinton Presiden-tial Library pursuant to the PresidentialRecords Act, specifically including the doc-uments withheld under the PresidentialRecords Act that the National Archives andRecords Administration announced on Feb-ruary 27, 2014 that it would be releasing,including but not limited to, communica-tions involving Hillary Clinton or staff orrepresentatives of Hillary Clinton.

• Any and all documents, correspon-dence, and e-mails, between designees, rep-resentatives, or staff of the NationalArchives and Records Administration, anddesignees, representatives, or staff ofHillary Clinton, regarding the review, con-sideration, or withholding of documents atthe William Jefferson Clinton PresidentialLibrary pursuant to the PresidentialRecords Act, specifically including the doc-uments withheld under the PresidentialRecords Act that the National Archives andRecords Administration announced on Feb-ruary 27, 2014 that it would be releasing.

WHO WITHHELD CLINTON DOCUMENTS? RNC WANTS TO KNOW.

Republican National CommitteeChairman Reince Priebus said hewelcomed the news that some Amer-

icans found jobs in February. “But imaginethe jobs we could be creating if the presi-dent joined Republicans and focused onpro-growth job policies like approving theKeystone Pipeline that is overwhelmingly

favored by Americans. We can do so muchbetter, and the millions of Americans whoare still out of work deserve better.

The Republican-controlled House ofRepresentatives has passed bill after bill tospur job creation. But the Democrat-con-trolled Senate ignores them, and the presi-dent promises to veto them.

OBAMA SHOULD FOCUS ON PRO-GROWTH POLICIES

ry East Playhouse the previous week. The endorsements are:

Three City Council seats are up for grabs during the Tuesday,April 8 election. McLean and Weste are incumbent members of thecouncil seeking re-election; the third seat is currently held by FrankFerry, who is not seeking re-election. Harte is a member of the city’sParks, Recreation & Community Services Commission. Mercado-Fortine is a member of the William S. Hart Union High School Dis-trict Governing Board.The SCV Congress of Republicans believes any one of the

endorsed candidates would uphold our common principles and serveour city with distinction if elected to serve. We heartily endorse allfour candidates and encourage our membership to select the threecandidates with whom they are most comfortable.

synopsis 7Visit us at www.scvcr.com

ENDORSEMENTSFrom Page 1

VOTE APRIL 8!Visit votesantaclarita.com for more information

• Duane Harte• Marsha McLean

• Gloria Mercado-Fortine• Laurene Weste

Former Ambassador to the UnitedNations John Bolton announced hisendorsement of Congressional Candi-

date Tony Strickland in the 25th District ofCalifornia.“I firmly agree with President Reagan that

American foreign policy should seek peacethrough strength,” Strickland said. “That iswhy I’m committed to keeping the dangerousIranian regime from attaining nuclear weapontechnology under any circumstance. “With so many dangerous situations in the

world today, from the collapse of our chemi-cal weapons agreement in Syria to the contin-ual threats to Israel, America needs strong,principled voices in foreign affairs, somethingPresident Obama and his administration hascontinually failed to be,” he said. “Ambas-sador Bolton has been a strong conservativeleader in the international community for

decades, and I am honored to have his sup-port.”“These are dangerous times, and now

more than ever we need conservatives likeTony Strickland who are prepared to lead inWashington,” Bolton said. “Tony has thecourage to stand by his convictions and theintegrity to never waiver regardless of thepolitical pressure to do so. I'm proud toendorse Tony Strickland for Congress."Bolton served as U.S. Ambassador to the

United Nations from 2005 to 2006 and servedunder Presidents Ronald Reagan, GeorgeH.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. He is cur-rently a senior fellow at the American Enter-prise Institute.Ambassador Bolton’s Feb. 25 announce-

ment came on the heels of Defense SecretaryHagel’s proposal to drawdown the UnitedStates armed forces.

BOLTON ENDORSES STRICKLAND

If you’d like to help a local grassroots organization furtherthe Republican Party and its philosophy, and help electRepublicans to public office, the Santa Clarita Valley Con-gress of Republicans would like to hear from you.

We believe that the power of the Republican Party andRepublican politics resides in the grassroots volunteers,those dedicated individuals and the local organizationsthey form to educate and influence the citizenry of theircommunities.

Annual membership in the SCVCR costs only $25, whichentitles you to participate in our monthly meetings andincludes a one-year subscription to Synopsis. We also holdspecial events throughout the year. Won’t you join us?

To make a difference, mail the completed application anda check for $25 to:

SCV Congress of RepublicansP.O. Box 803193Santa Clarita, CA 91380

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!A P P L I C A T I O N

Name______________________________

Address_____________________________

City_____________________ ZIP________

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As a registered Republican voter, I agree with the purpos-es and the objectives of the California Congress of Repub-licans and the SCV Congress of Republicans, the chapterto which I hereby apply for membership.

Signature___________________________

Date_______________________________

SCV CONGRESS OF REPUBLICANSP.O. Box 803193, Santa Clarita, CA 91380