The STAR Republican News September 2018 Star Republican Women is a federated member club of the Texas Federation of Republican Women and serves members and communities within TFRW Region XI and Texas Senate Districts 22 and 24. In This Issue. . . ​ September Program Details ​ Gennie's Spotlight ​ Sen. Cruz Visits Llano Renew Your Membership ​Red Shoe Book Club Selection ​ SRW Patrons & Sponsors ​ SRW To Meet ​ September 18 at Quail Point ​ Light Lunch 12:30 p.m. Program 1 p.m. ​​ CLICK HERE for Upcoming GOP Events Calendar Rafael Cruz To Speak September 18 Rafael Cruz -- a businessman, religious leader and political activist -- will speak at the September 18 Star Republican Women meeting at Quail Point Lodge. Cruz is a powerful example of the American Dream. Born in Cuba, Rafael lived and suffered under a cruel, oppressive dictator. He began fighting Batista’s regime as a teenager and was imprisoned and tortured simply because he wanted to be free. Rafael arrived in Texas in 1957 on a student visa. He got a job as a dishwasher, making 50 cents an hour, and worked his way through the University of Texas, while learning English. He later built a small business in further pursuit of the American Dream. In early 1980, Rafael Cruz joined the State Board of the Religious Roundtable, a Judeo-Christian organization that mobilized millions of people of faith during the Presidential Campaign of Ronald Reagan. He is an ordained minister and the Director of Grace for America, sharing the Word of God in churches and Pastors Conferences throughout the United States. He is the author of A Time for Action, Empowering the Faithful to Reclaim America. His son, Ted Cruz, is a constitutional conservative U.S. Senator from Texas and former a candidate for United States President. When Ted was a child growing up in Houston, Rafael would tell him, “When we faced oppression in Cuba, I had a place to flee to. If we lose our freedom here, where do we go?” That’s why Rev. Cruz is passionate about returning America to the biblical and historical foundations that made this country exceptional. SRW members and associates are encouraged to attend. Guests are welcome. Denise Rives, VP and Programs Gennie's Spotlight It is great to be back from a very busy, dry and exhausting summer. I hope everyone is as ready as I am to get to work and be committed to our Fall Election. Each and everyone of us has to be committed to working in electing a strait Republican ballot. Senator Cruz is in a serious fight to hold on to his senatorial seat as well as many other very contested races in this election. Our Judges are in positions of contention and all are in need of our help. Our young adults are being saturated with socialism in many schools and universities and so many of our own grandchildren are seeing no danger in this way of thinking. Our borders are being overrun by illegal aliens, and our President is doing all he can to fulfill his duties as our President. Everyday there are new allegations being slammed at President Trump, and it is a battle in itself to keep the media at bay. So with all that being said it is our responsibility as citizens of the USA and as very proud Texans, to help save our great country. It is what we can do at the elections to keep our good hard working Republicans in office. Get yourself involved in however you are able and do your part. Our Star Republican Women will continue to do what we can and help our County, State and Country remain Red. God Bless You All!! Gennie Ward, SRW President ​ Senator Ted Cruz Visits Llano U.S. Senator Ted Cruz visited Llano on Friday, August 31, 2018 at Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que, speaking to an enthusiastic and supportive standing room only crowd of about three hundred. Senator Cruz opened his speech with humor, telling the group about an unusual challenge he took on when Jimmy Kimmel challenged Sen. Cruz to a one-on-one basketball game after the Houston Rockets lost The Western Conference Finals in May. Six thousand people came out to watch Senator Cruz win the game. Over $80,000 was raise and donated to charities. Senator Cruz then focused on his major priorities and challenges. He outlined four domestic priorities that the President Trump and majorities in both houses have been able to accomplish: Tax Cuts, Regulatory Reform, Confirming Judges and Repealing the Affordable Care Act. On Tax Cuts , Cruz was proud of the passage of the biggest tax cuts in a generation, including doubling the child tax credit and doubling the exemption on the death tax. Sen. Cruz boasted that next year 90 percent of Americans will be able to pay their taxes on a postcard. Cruz’s goal is to have 100% of Americans pay their taxes on a post card. He would like to see a flat tax and abolish the IRS. Cruz claimed that one of the greatest successes of President Trump’s administration has been Regulatory Reform . Cruz stated that ‘just about every cabinet secretary has pulled back job-killing regulations that were hammering the state of Texas. Regulations affecting farmers and ranchers were eliminated. The elimination of regulations that were hammering oil and gas has resulted in the Texas economy today producing 33% more oil in Texas than in 2016. We have seen national unemployment rate at its lowest in decades. African-American unemployment is the lowest it has been in history. Hispanic employment is the lowest it has been in history since we began recording. Unemployment ages 16 to 24 is the lowest it has been in 52 years. Cutting taxes, simplifying the tax code and killing job regulations has enabled small businesses to prosper in the state of Texas. The third priority, Obamacare , "is clearly the biggest unfinished commitment of the Republican majorities." Cruz added "it is worth noting that we did manage to come together and repeal Obamacare’s individual mandate." Cruz stated we need to "finish the job and repeal the rest of that disaster." And fourth Priority, the Judges . Cruz claimed that the appointment of judges has been an ‘unmitigated success of the Trump Presidency and Republican Senate.” Senator Cruz was proud that Justice Neil Gorsuch was appointed to the Supreme Court and enthusiastic about the upcoming confirmation of Brett Kavanagh. Cruz noted that last year more Federal Court of Appeals Judges were confirmed than any time in history in the first year of a Presidency. Senator Cruz then spoke of his highly contested Senate race against his Democratic challenger, Beto O’Rourke. Cruz stated “If you noticed, we've got a fight on our hands. The far left, they’re angry, they’re energized, they’re filled with hatred for the President.” Cruz went on explaining how “dangerous” this really is. It’s dangerous because tens of millions of dollars are flooding in the state of Texas. Liberals all over the country desperately wanting to turn this state blue. Ted Cruz believes that “Texas has a whole lot more conservatives than liberals.’ Senator Cruz said that in November we are going to see record setting liberal voters turn out. Cruz warned against complacency by conservative voters. He said we need to energize voters to get out and vote. Cruz emphasized: ‘turnout, turnout, turnout.” It’s worth mentioning that several times during his speech, Ted Cruz recognized the young people in the audience. Cruz took several questions from the audience. A question came from one of our Star members, Donna Stevenson. She asked the Senator if he has any Democratic friends. He answered “Yes.” Then jokingly added “Define friends.” Kathy Hussey, Legislation Committee Chairman ​ PHOTO ABOVE: SRW Members and Associates visit with Sen. Ted Cruz in Llano, including (from left) President Gennie Ward, Secretary and VP of Legislation Kathy Hussey and Associate Jay Ward. PHOTO TO LEFT: Representing SRW at the Cruz Rally in Llano were (from left) Tomi MacDonald, Ellen Miller, Scarlett Reimer and Marsha Lovelady. Help Us Recruit New Members! It is never too late to join Star Republican Women. The Membership Challenge continues! Please ask your friends, neighbors and family members to join Star Republican Women -- as members or associates. Bring them to our next meeting. And if you haven't renewed your membership it is time to do so! Dues are $25 for members and $15 for associates. Remember, spouses can join as an associate member and attend all of our meetings. Click on the button below to download the membership form and recruit family and friends to become new members! Please mail completed membership form & your dues check to: STAR Republican Women P.O. Box 8675, Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 Please don't delay! We need to act NOW! Please mail your membership forms as soon as possible. Emily Tobin, VP & Membership ​ 2018-2019 SRW Membership Form Red Shoe Book Club To Meet September 25 Star Republican Women's Red Shoe Book Club will meet Tuesday, September 25, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Lantana Room at the Horseshoe Bay Resort. The featured book selection is “Next Year in Havana” by Chanel Cleeton. Synopsis of book: After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity and unearths a family secret hidden since the Revolution. The discussion will be led by our 2018 Literacy Committee Chairman Dee Patterson. The book review will be followed by a C.H.A.T. (Chicks Having an Awesome Time) about a timely topic and led by Legislation Committee Chairman and Secretary Kathy Hussey. We hope you will wear your red shoes and join us for a lively time of sharing our thoughts and views about this intriguing book. Dee Patterson, 2018 Literacy Committee Chairman SRW Patron and Sponsor Programs To Help Candidates & Communities Star Republican Women thank those who have become sponsors and patrons in 2018, providing funds for Star's political contributions for