Why the Republican Party is Against Montgomery County Council Bill 35-25:

Because Compassion Without Accountability Can Be Extremely Expensive

By Stacey Sauter

One of the great virtues of Montgomery County is its diversity and the entrepreneurial spirit that our foreign-born population brings with it. Immigrants have made extraordinary investments here from which all of us have benefited. By and large most people here believe everyone should be treated with fairness, inclusion, and equality under the law. Protecting all residents from discrimination and ensuring government services are delivered with dignity should be a cornerstone of our governance. Those values are not in dispute.

What is at issue is whether the County Council can expand programs and protections for immigrants without being open about the cost, capacity, and consequences for taxpayers and communities already under strain. In July 2019, Marc Elrich’s Executive Order 135-19 was issued as a formal directive affirming and expanding existing County policy limiting local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement and guiding how County agencies interact with immigrant residents. In short, no county employee can inquire about an individual’s immigration status when that person is applying for county resources. In addition, the order strictly limits local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement. This executive order is the foundation for the current legislative effort in Bill 35-25, which aims to codify those policies into County law rather than leave them as an executive-branch directive subject to change with future administrations. In addition, Bill 35-25 doesn’t just limit future data collection -- it also allows the County to stop retaining and to delete certain immigration-related records, reducing transparency and the public’s ability to understand how and why policies are actually implemented. So, while expedited Bill 35-25, the Promoting Community Trust – Immigrant Protections Act, would significantly expand access to County benefits and services, the bill provides no clear, consolidated accounting of what these services currently cost, how demand may change, or which departments will absorb the impact. That is not a moral question — it is a failure of responsible governance.

Thanks to our readers who sent us their feedback on Empty Bike Lanes and Plastic Bags! Here are some of the responses:

_________

I feel this is actually  non-partisan item. The question now is how do we get rid of them?  No one asked us the voters and tax payers if we needed or wanted them. I feel like this is one topic we can get everyone on board on.

_________

I agree on the bike lanes. They were a terrible idea that I feel the people responsible for them should feel embarrassed spending the money to build, taking away a car traffic lane backing up traffic, and now seeing them unused.

_________

The Minneapolis Shooting

Saints and Sinners - Cops and Criminals

Things are not often black and white, life (and death) but are many shades of grey. We firmly Back the Blue, we're on their side and have hated the Defund the Police movement and racial stereotyping so many have used in the last decade. ...and some of the fiercest critics of bad cop behavior are other cops! They hate it in the rare instances when one of their own has a split second life or death decision. 

  News & Opinions

Montgomery County parents upset about newest boundary study options | ABC 7 News | Kellye Lynn | January 5, 2026, 4:30 am, Updated January 5, 2026, 7:00 am

______________________

MoCo property values increase by 12.2% in 2026 state reassessment  | Bethesda Today | Ceoli Jacoby | January 6, 2026, 9:14 am

______________________

After-school pedestrian safety under scrutiny after death and multiple child injuries | Montgomery Community Media | Fran Murphy |January 5, 2026  

______________________

Billions in the dark: Maryland won’t say how much taxpayer money flows to nonprofits | ABC 7 News | Gary Collins | January 7, 2026, 11:00 pm, Updated January 7, 2026, 11:23 pm

______________________

Maryland named most expensive state for utilities, report finds | Fox 45 News | Ashley Cusicanqui & Danny Tow | December 30, 2025, 10:10 pm, Updated December 31, 2025, 5:47 pm

Leisure World Republican Club celebrates

A New Year of Hope

On Wednesday January 14th @ 1:30 pm. in Clubhouse 1, in the Chesapeake Room Republicans will bring in a New Year of Hope with guest speaker Reardon “Sully” Sullivan, former Chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee. www.mcgop.com. He will present on topics including: election integrity, combatting high energy prices, addressing out-of-control County Council spending and tax increases, promoting a healthy economic environment to enhance our standard of living, a return of safety and security to our County by supporting law enforcement and the need to fight religious persecution and hatred. 

For the past 25 years, Reardon Sullivan is founder and owner of a consulting engineering company in Montgomery County. He attended Wootton High School, earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from University of Maryland and completed studies towards an MBA at George Washington University.

We are gearing up for midterm elections and feel very encouraged by tripling our growing numbers in the club, we have much to celebrate with continued growth, increased political knowledge and plans to take concrete action in making our voices heard. All are welcome to toast in a New Year. Although not required, we are asking for appetizers or desserts to share. Check out our Shadow Box #14 – Clubhouse 1. To donate, become, or renew membership ($15.00), send checks to: RCLW PO Box 12293, Silver Spring, MD 20908. For info contact Maria Dudish at [email protected]

Curious about why traffic's worse and bikes are absent? Here's an update on the Radical Left's EMPTY BIKE LANES. Two years ago we presented this story, still no bikes, only backed up cars! 

From 2 years ago... "We're all amazed that Maryland, DC and MoCo are taking away streets and adding empty bike lanes. We're forced to pay for them, forced to wait in more traffic, and forced to "Smile" pretending it's for safety and the environment. It's not.

The Road Diet is a type of coercion, one that one-party rules makes possible.

Enjoy this great video of an Empty Bike Lane Picnic that took place in Bethesda one weekend two years ago.

Watch the video HERE or tap on the Empty Bike Lane pix.

Click here to read about leaf blowers, plastic grocery bags and gas heat.