Current News

Queens GOP Chair Ragusa Announces Voter Registration Committee

Queens County Republican Party Chairman Phil Ragusa, as part of his pledge to rebuild and grow the Party, has announced the formation of a Republican Voter Registration Drive Committee, which will be vested with the all-important task of signing presently unregistered voters as Republicans and getting conservative-leaning independents and discerning Democrats and others to switch their registration to the GOP. (more)

Phil Ragusa Elected Chairman

Thursday night at the Queens County Republican Party Headquarters, Queens County Republican Party Chairman and State Senator Serphin R. Maltese before a packed house of Republican Party leaders and officials opened the meeting with words of praise and gratitude while speaking at length about his 10 years serving as Queens County Chairman. Senator Maltese then explained he would be voluntarily stepping down as Chairman so that he could spend all his energies and efforts serving his constituents in the Queens County-based 15th Senatorial District which covers Forest Hills Gardens, Glendale, Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach, Maspeth, Middle Village, Old Howard Beach, Woodhaven, and parts of Elmhurst, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Ozone Park, Rego Park, Richmond Hill, South Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Sunnyside and Woodside, serving over 300,000 constituents. (read more)

Ragusa on Education Science Initiative

Newly elected Queens County Republican Party Chairman Phil Ragusa, as part of his pledge to advance Republican principles and single-out policies and initiatives that deserve Republican Party backing, expressed his strong support for New York City’s first-ever core science curriculum, recently announced by Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel Klein. Starting in the 2007-2008 school year, $30 million will be invested in classroom materials for schools to implement this program for grades 3, 4, and 6, with an additional $30 million earmarked the following year for grades K-2, 5, 7, and 8. Perhaps most importantly the new citywide science curriculum will be accompanied by rigorous new standards that will help schools assess the success of their students in mastering scientific concepts and inform parents how well individual schools teach science. (read more)

Ragusa meets Rudy, announces Candidate initiative

Newly elected Queens County Republican Party Chairman Phil Ragusa, as part of his pledge to focus his energies on rejuvenating and growing the Queens GOP’s grassroots infrastructure, has been tirelessly touring the County visiting local Republican clubs, stopping by to discuss and share his plans for the future of the Party with the Queens Village, Northeast Queens, Whitestone, and Frank Kenna Republican clubs, with visits to the Rego Hills, Women’s Club and Rockaway clubs already scheduled. In a whirlwind of activity the Chairman also met with Senator Marty Golden and NYC’s other four GOP County Chairs to discuss State Senate strategy. The Chairman then met privately with America ’s Mayor Rudy Giuliani before the Home Team Fundraiser at the New York Sheraton this Wednesday. On Thursday, the Chairman had a powwow with Assembly Republican Leader James Tedisco and his top aide J.C. Polanco. With 18 Assembly Districts and seven State Senate Districts in Queens County and populations exceeding that of most cities in New York State and indeed the nation, Chairman Phil Ragusa is off to an impressive start. (read more)

Chairman Ragusa’s Healthcare Reform Plan

1) Expand EPIC participation. – link increased income eligibility to savings from curbed waste and corruption.

2) Lawsuit Abuse Reform- curtail damage awards that bankrupt hospitals and drive up costs.

3) Better Policing of Bad Doctors. – repeat offenders should not be practicing in New York.

4) Improve Disclosure of Bad Doctors. – we should know if our doctor has a bad record.

5) Stop Underwriting Bad Doctors. – New York's policy in this area just does not make sense.

6) Enough Partisan Rhetoric – Enough Politics and Usual. (read more)

New Queens County GOP Chair Ragusa Praises Senate Republicans for Fighting Back for Seniors

New Queens County Republican Party Chairman Phil Ragusa lauded the Republican-led State Senate for unanimously approving the "Granny Bill" (S.3684) to increase penalties for attacks against senior citizens, making it an automatic felony to assault someone older than 70, following the recent heinous attacks on two Queens seniors who were brutally beaten and mugged. (read more)

Queens County GOP Chair Ragusa Praises Senate Republicans for Fighting for Tuition Tax Deduction

New Queens County GOP Chair Phil Ragusa, as part of his pledge to highlight policies deserving of Republican Party backing, praised the Republican majority in the State Senate, especially Queens’ own Senators Padavan and Maltese, for fighting for the interests of middle-class families by strongly supporting a $1,000 tuition tax deduction, which, unfortunately, Democrat Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver killed in the Assembly. (read more)