President Obama is scheduled to speak before a joint session of Congress tonight to present his long-awaited jobs plan (Spoiler Alert: It hinges on spending $300,000,000,000 more we don’t have). With unemployment over 9 percent in August, the administration’s NO. 1 priority should be to get Americans back to work. The following criteria must be met to ensure an economic climate that promotes growth and innovation for years to come.

First, we must recognize the role of government in our economy. The role of the federal government is not to create a job for every American; our government’s responsibility is to create an environment that fosters private-sector job creation. Not one public job can be created without raiding private-sector resources.

To do this, we need a tax system that facilitates this goal. During slow economic recovery, it is verifiably wrong to increase taxes and decrease certainty. To ensure we don’t damage an already weak job climate, we must permanently extend our current tax rates, which are set to expire in 2013.

We need to understand that we are operating in a new, globally intricate marketplace. Look no further than Ford’s announcement earlier this week of a $1 billion plant to be opened in India. The president must include discussion of free and fair trade in his address tonight. Removing our self-imposed trade barriers that cause outsourcing away from America will create an atmosphere conducive to positive growth. By eliminating the capital-gains tax, we can allow American entrepreneurs to be competitive with other countries and bring money earned in a global market back into America.

Tonight, we hope the president speaks on repealing the Dodd-Frank Law, which he signed with nearly unanimous Republican opposition. This law kills loans to small businesses and weakens home sales. We hope the president speaks on creating a new American energy policy. By removing barriers in responsible energy advancements, we will create American jobs and lessen our dependence on foreign countries. We hope the president speaks on repealing Obamacare, and replaces it with a bill that allows patients and doctors to be in charge of health-care decisions, not the bureaucrats. For once, we hope the president puts together a policy that is pro-jobs.

A 550-word editorial is barely enough room to draft this robust collection of Republican ideas for the economy, but it seems Obama would only need two: more spending. Obama’s previous spending efforts and burdensome regulatory efforts have done enough to damage our fragile economy and we hope for a change of course.

For nearly three years, President Obama has failed to be a leader in America’s trying economic times. If we continue down this path, the path of promulgating an Orwellian nanny state, our current rate of unacceptable unemployment will become the new normal. One day soon, we will all graduate and leave the isolated bubble we know as Iowa City. We must demand common-sense solutions from our elected leaders now, so we can ensure a healthy economic climate for future Iowa graduates.

Political grandstanding and partisan bickering will not solve the problems before us; only the resolve of an educated American people can do that. These issues, and many more, are discussed every week at College Republican meetings. Challenge your beliefs, practice self-education, and get involved in your government.

— University of Iowa College Republicans

Originally published in the Daily Iowan on September 8th, 2011.

I know at times it feels like you are the only person that disagrees with this liberal town, but you are not alone! We are asking all Republicans, Independents leaning right, or just anyone slightly frustrated with the current one party controlling every level of Johnson County, and some levels of Iowa and U.S. government to STAND UP!

Conservative Coming Out Week will be April 18th – April 22nd. Here is the schedule of events that will be going on throughout the week:

Monday: Who is Conservative Anyway? Guess which athletes, movie stars, and performing artists are Republican. 11-1 on Kautz Plaza off of the T. Anne Cleary Walkway

Tuesday: Red vs. Blue Blood Drive from 2 to 6pm at the Carnival Room in Burge. Competition between the Republicans and Democrats for a good cause!

-College Republican meeting that night at 8pm in 71 Schaeffer Hall with showing of “Journeys with George” in honor of President George W. Bush.

Wednesday: Come pick up your Doctors Notice to miss class for “sick of stress”, just like the Wisconsin public employees during the union protests from 11 to 1 on the Pentacrest.

Thursday : Red vs Blue games! Beat the UDems in kickball and flag football from 4-6 in Hubbard Park. Wear your respective political party’s color!

Stick around for an Animal Rights BBQ at 6pm.

Friday: Wear RED Day! Come out of the closet and show your true colors!

Should be a great week! Lets come out!

Conservative Coming Out Week
Our annual Consevative Coming Out Week is right around the corner on the week of April 18-22nd! We will be celebrating this week of coming out of the closet and showing your true Republican colors with events like Red Punch Pong Day at the Pentacrest, a Blood Drive at Burge Hall, Animal Rights Barbeque and many others! This is going to be a great week to stand up with others and show we are not all liberal in this town!

Upcoming Events
Tomorrow Monday April 11th: Congresswoman Michele Bachmann at the IMU at 5:30
Monday May 2nd: Rick Santorum at the IMU

“Nothing is unchangeable but the inherent and inalienable rights of man.”- Thomas Jefferson

Mike Huckabee at the Bookstore
Former Governor Mike Huckabee will be at the University of Iowa Bookstore in the Old Capitol Mall from 4-5pm on Monday February 28th for a book signing for his new book “A Simple Government- 12 Things We Really Need From Washington (And a Trillion We Don’t).” Stop by between classes and take a picture and talk with the 2008 Republican Caucus winner and potential 2012 presidential candidate.

UICR Day on the Hill
On Tuesday March 1st we will be going to Des Moines for College Republican Day on the Hill. We will be meeting with Auditor Vaudt, Secretary Shultz, Lt. Gov. Reynolds, and the House Republican Caucus throughout the day. Pizza will be provided and a dome tour to the top as well. If interested, please email Natalie Ginty. We will be leaving Iowa City around 8 am and arriving back around 4pm. Carpooling is available, note this when RSVPing.

Upcoming Events
March 7th: Ron Paul will be speaking at the IMU main ballroom at 4pm. If you are interested in volunteering, email Kayla-Sproul@uiowa.edu. We would like you to be available from 2:45 to 5pm.

April 1st-2nd: Iowa Federation of College Republicans Spring Convention- We will be meeting with College Republicans from across the state. It will be an overnight stay in Des Moines with $25 covering the cost of food and lodging. Carpooling is available. The deadline for hotel reservations is March 10th, so please email Kayla-Sproul@uiowa.edu to RSVP. It will prove to be a great time, don’t miss it!!

T-Shirts
We are currently in the process of figuring out the final design and cost for UI College Republicans apparel. If you or someone you know is interested, please attend a meeting or look out for future emails regarding them!

Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the Democrats believe every day is April 15.” -Ronald Reagan

Ashley Ervin

Secretary
College Republicans
University of Iowa

1. New to College Republicans?
We’re always looking for new people to get involved! Stop by any of our meetings, come check out our facbebook page or our website at www.hawkeyegop.org, and come to any of our upcoming events!

2. Next Meeting
Tuesday February 22 in 71 Shaeffer Hall. At our next meeting we’ll be writing letters to our Board of Regents about the proposed tuition hikes. Join us to make your voice heard and save you money! We’ll also be discussing ideas for tee shirts designs so we can show off our student organization.

3. Iowa Federation of College Republicans RSVP
On Friday April 1st we’ll be heading up to Des Moines for the IFCR Spring Convention. We’ll be meeting with other like-minded college students from the state, meeting with Iowa legislators and socializing! The cost is $25 which includes the hotel stay and all meals. Carpooling is available. Please RSVP to Kayla-Sproul@uiowa.edu or Ashley-Ervin@uiowa.edu by March 27 to reserve >your spot! All are welcome it’s going to be a great time!

4. Redistricting Tool
Here’s a link from the Des Moines Register in regards to the future redistricting of Iowa from 5 districts to 4. See what you can come up with!

5. Upcoming Events
Meeting: Tuesday February 22 in 71 Shaeffer
Monday March 7: Ron Paul @ IMU at 4pm
Friday April 1- April2: IFCR Spring Convention in Des Moines

Tuesday at 9pm in 71 Schaeffer Hall we will be having our UI College Republican elections for a new board that will serve the 2011 year. The positions are Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Events Coordinator. The process is pretty informal. You will need someone to nominate you, and then give a short 1 to 2 minute speech, and then we will vote either by acclimation or ballot if it is contested.

If anyone is interested in running, or has any questions, please email me!

We will also be discussing Former Minnesota Governor (and probable Presidential candidate) Tim Pawlenty’s visit to the IMU on Monday February 7th at 3:45pm. We are looking for a few more volunteers, so if you are free from 2:15-5 on Mondays let me know.
Please invite all your facebook friends that live in the Iowa City area to the facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=196059733738408).

President Obama started his campaign based on the young vote in Iowa. We have an opportunity to personally meet most candidates for the Republican nomination for President, so lets not disappoint! Having any Republican come into Iowa City is a pretty big statement.

Hope all is well,

Natalie Ginty

“If prosperity were easy, everyone around the world would be prosperous. If freedom were easy, everyone around the world would be free. If security were easy, everybody around the world would be secure. They are not! None of this is going to be easy, but this is the United States of America. It takes an extraordinary effort, it takes extraordinary commitment, it takes extraordinary strength. Valley Forge wasn’t easy. Going to the moon wasn’t easy. Settling the West wasn’t easy. We are the American people. We have seen difficulties before, and we always overcome them. We are going to have some differences, but it is about putting our head down as Americans and getting it done!” Tim Pawlenty

Dr. Miller-Meeks’ Meet and Greet Schedule:

• 1:00 – 2:15 pm – North Liberty Recreation Center (520 West Cherry St., North Liberty)
• 2:30 – 3:45 pm – Coralville Recreation Center (1506 8th St, Coralville)
• 4:00 – 5:15 pm – Lower City Park, Shelter #6
• 5:30 – 6:15 pm – The Pentacrest (Eastside, facing Clinton St)

See you there!

Roxanne Conlin, the Democrat candidate facing Senator Chuck Grassley, will be at the Pentacrest today (Tuesday) at 1:30 to speak. It would be great to have some people there with some difficult questions!

We also will be having our third meeting tonight at 9pm in 61 Schaeffer Hall. Come by and discuss how we are going to win this November!

Finally we will be having a phonebank at Victory Headquarters Wednesday night from 6:30 to 8:30. If you are able to come please email Natalie Ginty, and we will figure out a car pool situation.