Kudos to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA) who delivered the official Republican response to President Obama’s State of the Union address last week. Columnist Robert Costa, in his The Washington Post article of January 30, reported that her being selected to deliver this response “…was driven in part by a desire to highlight Republican women, hoping to combat Democrats’ aggressive criticism of the GOP’s approach to women’s issues…It was as if a Republican pollster had created a politician with the exact profile that Republicans are looking to promote as they head toward this year’s midterm elections.”

Costa went on to say that she has the full support of Boehner and, now, new interest from the media. In addition, she remains the only woman in the elected Republican leadership in Congress.

-The next General Meeting of the St. Mary’s County Republican Central Committee will be held on Thursday, February 6 at the F.O.P. Lodge #7 located at 21215 Chancellor’s Run Road. The focus of this month’s meeting will be on precinct organization and preparing for future Super Saturday door-to-door endeavors. This is an open meeting; it is free and all are welcomed to attend.

-The St. Mary’s County Republican Central Committee has begun a new fund-raising initiative – please consider becoming a member of the Century Club. You may choose an annual contribution of $100 or a recurring monthly donation of $8.34. Benefits will include receiving a 25 percent discount of the St. Mary’s County’s Republican Central Committee annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner. You may mail your check, made out to: St. Mary’s County Republican Central Committee to:  SMC RCC at Box 126, Hollywood, Md. 20636. For more details or to use PayPal, you may contact www.smcrep.org or Facebook at SMCGOP.

St. Mary’s County RCC Chair Mary Burke-Russell has this to say about the new Century Club endeavor: “Your contributions and support in the past helped us become a Republican majority in St. Mary’s County in 2011. We are proud to say we continue to grow and maintain that lead. In order to win in November and beyond we need your contribution today. Please consider becoming a supporting memb