GOP Needs to Unite Against Democrats

A few months ago, a group of successful business executives who, for the most part, had not been involved in the political process formed a political action committee, the New Majority.

Their stated purpose was to further strong business objectives and to improve the Orange County Republican organization. These goals should be supported by every Orange County Republican. However, life teaches that actions speak louder than words.

The New Majority wants to remove the party chairman and replace the members of the Central Committee. It says our elected officials do not reflect Orange County and do not embrace mainstream Republican principles. Those claims simply do not reflect the recent history of the Orange County Republican Party.

In election after election over the past two decades, Orange County has produced Republican majorities that have often been crucial to victories, not only locally but in statewide and presidential elections. At the same time, the organization has fought to achieve the New Majority’s second goal: strengthening California’s economy.

Orange County Republicans long have given high priority to unshackling business from the bonds of excessive regulations and high taxes. The county’s Republican legislators’ commitment to these goals can be seen clearly in the California Chamber of Commerce’s annual analysis of the voting records of state legislators. Each year, Orange County’s Republican legislators rank at the top in working to protect California jobs and businesses.

Over the past four years, Republican state senators and Assembly members from Orange County have scored 97% in votes supporting the California chamber’s legislative agenda. In contrast, the two Democratic state legislators from the county scored less than 50% last year. The difference is even more pronounced when Orange County Republicans are compared with their Democratic neighbors. Last year, Orange County Republican legislators supported the chamber 93% of the time; Democrats from Los Angeles County scored 36%.

In the midst of California’s biggest economic boom, it’s easy to assume that our economy is indestructible. It isn’t. “Job killer” bills written by liberals can turn the boom into a bust, sending us back to the old days when a hostile business climate forced many companies to flee to friendlier states, taking thousands of jobs with them.

The best way to end these assaults on business is for Republicans to unite to defeat Democrats in November, rather than battle over the Central Committee in March. This is the goal of Unity 2000. This year, Republicans have the best opportunity for success since 1994. I am asking the New Majority to use its substantial talent, influence and income to elect Republican majorities in the state Legislature, to enlarge the Republican majorities in Congress and, of course, to elect a Republican president.