From this morning's Omaha World-Herald

Enough said.

In the words of Aaron Tippin "You've got to stand for something . . . ."

As the NEGOP Chairman, I also serve as one of Nebraska's three voting members on the Republican National Committee. In the aftermath of the November 2009 special election in New York's 23rd Congressional District, an internal debate has raged among RNC members about whether a candidate should support certain Republican principles as a precondition to receiving funding the national Republican organizations. One RNC member, Jim Bopp, Jr.--the national committeeman from Indiana and the 2009 Republican Lawyer of the Year--has proposed a resolution that sets forth ten principles; candidates are expected to support at least eight of these principles if they want to run and receive funding as Republicans. This debate has now gone public, with the expected gnashing of teeth from liberals and the press. One example from Politico can be found here.

The resolution:


Proposed RNC Resolution on Reagan's Unity Principle for Support of Candidates


WHEREAS, President Ronald Reagan believed that the Republican Party should support and espouse conservative principles and public policies; and


WHEREAS, President Ronald Reagan also believed the Republican Party should welcome those with diverse views; and


WHEREAS, President Ronald Reagan believed, as a result, that someone who agreed with him 8 out of 10 times was his friend, not his opponent; and


WHEREAS, Republican faithfulness to its conservative principles and public policies and Republican solidarity in opposition to Obama's socialist agenda is necessary to preserve the security of our country, our economic and political freedoms, and our way of life; and


WHEREAS, Republican faithfulness to its conservative principles and public policies is necessary to restore the trust of the American people in the Republican Party and to lead to Republican electoral victories; and


WHEREAS, the Republican National Committee shares President Ronald Reagan's belief that the Republican Party should espouse conservative principles and public policies and welcome persons of diverse views; and


WHEREAS, the Republican National Committee desires to implement President Reagan's Unity Principle for Support of Candidates; and


WHEREAS, in addition to supporting candidates, the Republican National Committee provides financial support for Republican state and local parties for party building and federal election activities, which benefits all candidates and is not affected by this resolution; and


THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Republican National Committee identifies ten (10) key public policy positions for the 2010 election cycle, which the Republican National Committee expects its public officials and candidates to support:


(1) We support smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama's “stimulus” bill;


(2) We support market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run healthcare;


(3) We support market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;


(4) We support workers' right to secret ballot by opposing card check;


(5) We support legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;


(6) We support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;


(7) We support containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat;


(8) We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;


(9) We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing, denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and


(10) We support the right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership; and be further


RESOLVED, that a candidate who disagrees with three or more of the above stated public policy positions of the Republican National Committee, as identified by the voting record, public statements and/or signed questionnaire of the candidate, shall not be eligible for financial support and endorsement by the Republican National Committee; and be further


RESOLVED, that upon the approval of this resolution the Republican National Committee shall deliver a copy of this resolution to each of Republican members of Congress, all Republican candidates for Congress, as they become known, and to each Republican state and territorial party office.

Although I will not be able to attend the January RNC meeting in Hawaii (I'll be in McCook playing host to Republicans who want to replace Sen. Ben Nelson), I'll be proxying my vote to National Committeeman Pete Ricketts.

How should I vote? In favor or against the resolution? If against, why?

Northeast Nebraska fired up for the NEGOP!

This evening I attended the inaugural Northeast Nebraska Republican Harvest Celebration. The event, which was organized by the Cuming, Burt, Cedar, Dakota, Dixon, Stanton, Thurston and Wayne County Republican Parties, drew some 300 people. The Nielsen Center in West Point is quite a facility. Those attending heard from the nation’s most popular governor, Gov. Dave Heineman, who spoke about his efforts to keep our state’s fiscal house in order and attempts by Democrat state senators to spend more of our money. We heard from U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns, who spoke passionately about the need to defeat Democrat proposals for government-run health care. We heard from Attorney General Jon Bruning, who told us about his efforts as President of the National Attorneys General Association and the Republican wave that started in Virginia and New Jersey a few Tuesdays ago. We heard from Secretary of State John Gale, who told us about why Democrats and their ACORN allies want to capture the office he holds so that they can water down our state’s protections against voter fraud. We listened to Public Service Commissioner Rod Johnson, who gave us background on the work of the Nebraska Public Service Commissioner. And voters had a chance to meet our 3 Republican candidates for State Treasurer—State Senator Tony Fulton, Tom Nesbitt, and former Attorney General Don Stenberg.

A great night for Republicans, a great night for northeast Nebraska, and a great night for democracy in action.

And the winner is . . .

In early September I announced the Tom White opposition research contest, encouraging people in Nebraska and beyond to review Tom White’s public record and tell us what issues they thought might be relevant to Nebraska voters. My attempt at using crowdsourcing for opposition research resulted in a number of entries, and I have selected a winner. Upon informing the winner of our selection, the winner politely declined the tickets and, in good conservative fashion, asked that we donate the tickets to a worthy charity. So we did. Last Friday, the NEGOP donated two (2) tickets to this Saturday’s Nebraska/K-State football game to Make-a-Wish of Nebraska, a wonderful charity that grants wishes to children with serious medical conditions (including my God daughter Ellie). The tickets were sold on radio station CD105.9 on its Make-a-Wish Radio-Thon.

Thanks to all who participated, and thanks to the winner for the donation to Make-a-Wish of Nebraska!

Tom White: Aye or Nay on Nancy Pelosi's New Health Care Mega-Bureaucracy?

The Joint Economic Committee House Republican staff, which earlier this year created a chart mapping the bureaucratic complexity of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s original health care proposal (H.R. 3200), has prepared a new chart showing the health care bureaucracy created by the new version of the Speaker’s bill (H.R. 3962) approved by the Democrat Congress last Saturday night.

House Republican Leader John Boehner rightly calls it "the blueprint for a taxpayer-funded mega-bureaucracy."

Democrat congressional candidate Tom White still arrogantly refuses to say how he would have voted on H.R. 3962.

Is Tom White scared to let his partisan liberal supporters know that he would have voted the same way Congressman Lee Terry did? Or is Tom White scared to let Nebraskans know that he would have been just another vote for Nancy Pelosi's taxpayer-funded mega-bureaucracy?

If Tom White can't or won't answer this very timely and relevant question, why should Nebraskans consider him to be a serious candidate?

Tom White--How Would You Have Voted?

Late Saturday night Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats barely passed a 2,032-page, $1.3 trillion government takeover of health care over the objections of Republicans and moderate Democrats. The roll call vote can be found here.

Democrat Tom White is running for Congress, but has arrogantly refused to take a public position on this health care legislation.

Nebraskans have a right to know.

Tom White: Would you have voted with Nancy Pelosi in support of H.R. 3962? Or would you have sided with Congressman Lee Terry in opposing this government monstrosity?

We anxiously await your response.

The Meaning of Today's Elections for Democrat Tom White

Virginia. New Jersey. District 19, Michigan State Senate. Mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Wow. A huge night for Republicans.

Take Virginia for example. President Obama carried Virginia by 7 points in 2008. Republicans have lost the last 2 gubernatorial races and last 2 Senate races in Virginia. President Obama and the Democrats campaigned hard and spent millions for Democrat candidate Creigh Deeds. The result? Republicans won the elections for Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General. Prior to tonight, Republicans have only won all 3 statewide offices on one occasion--1997.

New Jersey? One of the most heavily Democrat states in the nation, where the Republican was outspent by the Democrat incumbent by 3-to-1.

Exit polls in both Virginia and New Jersey showed the greatest concern on voters' minds was the economy. Not health care. Not forced unionization. Not cap-and-trade.

So, Nebraskans, what's this mean for partisan Democrat Tom White?

It's All About Government

The Democrats' proposals on health care have little to do with helping Americans and much to do with the federal government possessing more power and exercising more control over our lives.

Lest there be any doubt, take a look at this list of the new boards, bureaucracies, commissions, and programs created in H.R. 3962, Speaker Pelosi’s government takeover of health care (thank you to the House Republican Conference for putting this together):

1. Retiree Reserve Trust Fund (Section 111(d), p. 61)
2. Grant program for wellness programs to small employers (Section 112, p. 62)
3. Grant program for State health access programs (Section 114, p. 72)
4. Program of administrative simplification (Section 115, p. 76)
5. Health Benefits Advisory Committee (Section 223, p. 111)
6. Health Choices Administration (Section 241, p. 131)
7. Qualified Health Benefits Plan Ombudsman (Section 244, p. 138)
8. Health Insurance Exchange (Section 201, p. 155)
9. Program for technical assistance to employees of small businesses buying Exchange coverage (Section 305(h), p. 191)
10. Mechanism for insurance risk pooling to be established by Health Choices Commissioner (Section 306(b), p. 194)
11. Health Insurance Exchange Trust Fund (Section 307, p. 195)
12. State-based Health Insurance Exchanges (Section 308, p. 197)
13. Grant program for health insurance cooperatives (Section 310, p. 206)
14. “Public Health Insurance Option” (Section 321, p. 211)
15. Ombudsman for “Public Health Insurance Option” (Section 321(d), p. 213)
16. Account for receipts and disbursements for “Public Health Insurance Option” (Section 322(b), p. 215)
17. Telehealth Advisory Committee (Section 1191 (b), p. 589)
18. Demonstration program providing reimbursement for “culturally and linguistically appropriate services” (Section 1222, p. 617)
19. Demonstration program for shared decision making using patient decision aids (Section 1236, p. 648)
20. Accountable Care Organization pilot program under Medicare (Section 1301, p. 653)
21. Independent patient-centered medical home pilot program under Medicare (Section 1302, p. 672)
22. Community-based medical home pilot program under Medicare (Section 1302(d), p. 681)
23. Independence at home demonstration program (Section 1312, p. 718)
24. Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research (Section 1401(a), p. 734)
25. Comparative Effectiveness Research Commission (Section 1401(a), p. 738)
26. Patient ombudsman for comparative effectiveness research (Section 1401(a), p. 753)
27. Quality assurance and performance improvement program for skilled nursing facilities (Section 1412(b)(1), p. 784)
28. Quality assurance and performance improvement program for nursing facilities (Section 1412 (b)(2), p. 786)
29. Special focus facility program for skilled nursing facilities (Section 1413(a)(3), p. 796)
30. Special focus facility program for nursing facilities (Section 1413(b)(3), p. 804)
31. National independent monitor pilot program for skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities (Section 1422, p. 859)
32. Demonstration program for approved teaching health centers with respect to Medicare GME (Section 1502(d), p. 933)
33. Pilot program to develop anti-fraud compliance systems for Medicare providers (Section 1635, p. 978)
34. Special Inspector General for the Health Insurance Exchange (Section 1647, p. 1000)
35. Medical home pilot program under Medicaid (Section 1722, p. 1058)
36. Accountable Care Organization pilot program under Medicaid (Section 1730A, p. 1073)
37. Nursing facility supplemental payment program (Section 1745, p. 1106)
38. Demonstration program for Medicaid coverage to stabilize emergency medical conditions in institutions for mental diseases (Section 1787, p. 1149)
39. Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund (Section 1802, p. 1162)
40. “Identifiable office or program” within CMS to “provide for improved coordination between Medicare and Medicaid in the case of dual eligibles” (Section 1905, p. 1191)
41. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Section 1907, p. 1198)
42. Public Health Investment Fund (Section 2002, p. 1214)
43. Scholarships for service in health professional needs areas (Section 2211, p. 1224)
44. Program for training medical residents in community-based settings (Section 2214, p. 1236)
45. Grant program for training in dentistry programs (Section 2215, p. 1240)
46. Public Health Workforce Corps (Section 2231, p. 1253)
47. Public health workforce scholarship program (Section 2231, p. 1254)
48. Public health workforce loan forgiveness program (Section 2231, p. 1258)
49. Grant program for innovations in interdisciplinary care (Section 2252, p. 1272)
50. Advisory Committee on Health Workforce Evaluation and Assessment (Section 2261, p. 1275)
51. Prevention and Wellness Trust (Section 2301, p. 1286)
52. Clinical Prevention Stakeholders Board (Section 2301, p. 1295)
53. Community Prevention Stakeholders Board (Section 2301, p. 1301)
54. Grant program for community prevention and wellness research (Section 2301, p. 1305)
55. Grant program for research and demonstration projects related to wellness incentives (Section 2301, p. 1305)
56. Grant program for community prevention and wellness services (Section 2301, p. 1308)
57. Grant program for public health infrastructure (Section 2301, p. 1313)
58. Center for Quality Improvement (Section 2401, p. 1322)
59. Assistant Secretary for Health Information (Section 2402, p. 1330)
60. Grant program to support the operation of school-based health clinics (Section 2511, p. 1352)
61. Grant program for nurse-managed health centers (Section 2512, p. 1361)
62. Grants for labor-management programs for nursing training (Section 2521, p. 1372)
63. Grant program for interdisciplinary mental and behavioral health training (Section 2522, p. 1382)
64. “No Child Left Unimmunized Against Influenza” demonstration grant program (Section 2524, p. 1391)
65. Healthy Teen Initiative grant program regarding teen pregnancy (Section 2526, p. 1398)
66. Grant program for interdisciplinary training, education, and services for individuals with autism (Section 2527(a), p. 1402)
67. University centers for excellence in developmental disabilities education (Section 2527(b), p. 1410)
68. Grant program to implement medication therapy management services (Section 2528, p. 1412)
69. Grant program to promote positive health behaviors in underserved communities (Section 2530, p. 1422)
70. Grant program for State alternative medical liability laws (Section 2531, p. 1431)
71. Grant program to develop infant mortality programs (Section 2532, p. 1433)
72. Grant program to prepare secondary school students for careers in health professions (Section 2533, p. 1437)
73. Grant program for community-based collaborative care (Section 2534, p. 1440)
74. Grant program for community-based overweight and obesity prevention (Section 2535, p. 1457)
75. Grant program for reducing the student-to-school nurse ratio in primary and secondary schools (Section 2536, p. 1462)
76. Demonstration project of grants to medical-legal partnerships (Section 2537, p. 1464)
77. Center for Emergency Care under the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (Section 2552, p. 1478)
78. Council for Emergency Care (Section 2552, p 1479)
79. Grant program to support demonstration programs that design and implement regionalized emergency care systems (Section 2553, p. 1480)
80. Grant program to assist veterans who wish to become emergency medical technicians upon discharge (Section 2554, p. 1487)
81. Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee (Section 2562, p. 1494)
82. National Medical Device Registry (Section 2571, p. 1501)
83. CLASS Independence Fund (Section 2581, p. 1597)
84. CLASS Independence Fund Board of Trustees (Section 2581, p. 1598)
85. CLASS Independence Advisory Council (Section 2581, p. 1602)
86. Health and Human Services Coordinating Committee on Women’s Health (Section 2588, p. 1610)
87. National Women’s Health Information Center (Section 2588, p. 1611)
88. Centers for Disease Control Office of Women’s Health (Section 2588, p. 1614)
89. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Office of Women’s Health and Gender-Based Research (Section 2588, p. 1617)
90. Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Women’s Health (Section 2588, p. 1618)
91. Food and Drug Administration Office of Women’s Health (Section 2588, p. 1621)
92. Personal Care Attendant Workforce Advisory Panel (Section 2589(a)(2), p. 1624)
93. Grant program for national health workforce online training (Section 2591, p. 1629)
94. Grant program to disseminate best practices on implementing health workforce investment programs (Section 2591, p. 1632)
95. Demonstration program for chronic shortages of health professionals (Section 3101, p. 1717)
96. Demonstration program for substance abuse counselor educational curricula (Section 3101, p. 1719)
97. Program of Indian community education on mental illness (Section 3101, p. 1722)
98. Intergovernmental Task Force on Indian environmental and nuclear hazards (Section 3101, p. 1754)
99. Office of Indian Men’s Health (Section 3101, p. 1765)
100. Indian Health facilities appropriation advisory board (Section 3101, p. 1774)
101. Indian Health facilities needs assessment workgroup (Section 3101, p. 1775)
102. Indian Health Service tribal facilities joint venture demonstration projects (Section 3101, p. 1809)
103. Urban youth treatment center demonstration project (Section 3101, p. 1873)
104. Grants to Urban Indian Organizations for diabetes prevention (Section 3101, p. 1874)
105. Grants to Urban Indian Organizations for health IT adoption (Section 3101, p. 1877)
106. Mental health technician training program (Section 3101, p. 1898)
107. Indian youth telemental health demonstration project (Section 3101, p. 1909)
108. Program for treatment of child sexual abuse victims and perpetrators (Section 3101, p. 1925)
109. Program for treatment of domestic violence and sexual abuse (Section 3101, p. 1927)
110. Native American Health and Wellness Foundation (Section 3103, p. 1966)
111. Committee for the Establishment of the Native American Health and Wellness Foundation (Section 3103, p. 1968)