- PLATFORM
“In all that the people can individually do as well for themselves,
Government ought not to interfere.”
~Abraham Lincoln
PREAMBLE
We, the Republicans of Chelan County, reaffirm the words of our Founding Fathers embodied in the Declaration of Independence: “…We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
Our Constitutional Republic was founded as one nation under God on principles that are clearly and simply outlined in the Constitution. Chelan CountyRepublicans believe this document shall be interpreted according to the original intent of the Founding Fathers, and are dedicated to promoting these principles, preserving their integrity and their importance on the national level, and in our daily lives.
Chelan County Republicans believe good government is based on the individual and family, that each person’s ability, dignity, freedom and responsibility must be encouraged, honored and recognized, and that the role of the traditional family as the basic unit of our community must be respected and enhanced. We believe that free enterprise and the encouragement of the individual incentive are fundamental to our free society.
Because elected officials derive their authority from the people, we believe during election campaigns, candidates should freely express their agreement or disagreement with the platform of the Chelan County Republican Party.
Economic Opportunity
1. Chelan County Republicans believe government must practice fiscal responsibility, while individual citizens should enjoy an atmosphere of free enterprise, unfettered by burdensome government regulation. In Chelan County, we support:
A. Requiring the government to maintain a fiscal policy responsible to the citizens.
B. Eliminating or preventing federal inheritance tax, state income tax, capital gains tax,
and unfunded mandates.
C. Reducing the size of state government through performance audits and the
privatization of services when possible.
D. The complete reform of the Business & Occupation taxes and the Department of
Labor and Industry, to make Washington State more business friendly.
E. The complete reform of the Department of Social and Health Services to insure
tax payer money is being spent in an efficient and not wasteful manner. That
services are given only to those in true need. That services are given only to those
who are citizens of the United States.
F. Transportation plans that are developed and funded regionally.
G. Re-imposing tax and spending limitations passed by the voters of Washington
State (I-601) which was repealed in 2005.
Campaign, Congressional and Election Reform
2. Chelan County Republicans believe in free and fair elections, and in the continuing responsibility of elected officials to abide by those laws and principles which regulate the daily behavior of all citizens. In Chelan County we support:
A. The enforcement of requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
B. Eliminating the Federal MotorVoter program.
C. Stricter proof of identification on mail in ballots.
D. The requirement of all Counties in Washington State to release final election
results at the same time.
E. The enforcement of auditors to match the number of ballots that are mailed out to
the number of ballots that are counted.
F. The idea of not changing, modifying or enhancing any original ballot.
G. Immediate and full disclosure of all candidate economic support.
H. Private rather than government support of candidates and parties.
I. Allowing union members the right to choose whether dues may be used by political
action committees (paycheck protection).
J. Public access to information on pending Congressional legislation.
K. Eliminating automatic raises in pay/pension for members of Congress.
Crime
3. Chelan County Republicans believe a society must seek to protect its citizens from criminal acts, while acknowledging those fundamental rights inherent in our free society. We are ever vigilant to protect the constitutional provisions providing for our individual liberty. We understand we must first and foremost protect our children and the most vulnerable. In Chelan County we support:
A. Jessica’s Law Plus Initiative which would give the harshest sentence to sex
offenders in the country.
B. Better notification to the public of identified sex offenders
C. Swift and just sentences for those found guilty of any crime.
D. Death penalty for capital crimes, with a limited right of appeal.
E. Preventing the decriminalization of drugs.
F. Stronger penalties for drug traffickers and drug users including maximum
sentences for repeat offenders
G. The rights of victims to restitution for losses from crime.
H. Stricter sentences and penalties of those convicted of more than one DUI.
I. Stricter sentences and prison time of those convicted of a DUI causing the death
or injury of another.
National Defense/Homeland Security/Foreign Policy
4. Chelan County Republicans believe in a strong and free America, a nation leading the world in the expansion of peace, freedom and human rights. We believe to maintain the strength of our Nation we must strive for fair trade and the elimination of foreign trade deficits. In Chelan County, we support:
A. President Bush in his unwavering and decisive leadership in the war on terror.
B. A stronger policy of securing our borders using more border patrol agents and
advanced technology to identify those who enter.
C. Immigration reform that includes a Guest Worker program but does not include
amnesty for those who are here illegally already.
D. Maintenance of superior military strength, as one of the higher priorities
of government.
E. The men and women of our United States Armed Forces and their sacrifice and
courage in all they do to protect our Country and freedom in the War on Terror.
F. Limiting foreign aid and government insured loans to foreign governments.
G. Placing no US troops under U.N. or foreign command.
H. Israel, as a sovereign state, with the right to self-defense against foreign
enemies and state sponsored terrorism.
I. The Patriot act and the need for a strong Homeland Security Dept.
J. The President in wire tapping a call between a person from another country and
someone in this country, in which either party is considered a part of a terrorist
group or a threat to our country.
Right to Keep and Bear Arms
5. Chelan County Republicans believe in the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms as guaranteed in the state and federal constitutions. In Chelan County we support:
A. The defeat of any legislation that seeks to diminish the rights of law abiding
citizens to acquire, keep and bear arms, ammunition and arms-related accessories.
Natural Resources and Energy
6. Chelan County Republicans believe that a clean and healthy environment is important and people are part of the environment. We believe a balance must be achieved between economic health and environmental health. In Chelan County we support:
A. Environmental policies serving the needs of the people supported by sound, peer
reviewed scientific method.
B. Multiple use of public lands and all natural resources.
C. Support drilling for oil on the ANWR reserve to help the U S become more self
sufficient in our consumption of oil.
D. The preservation of hydro power for the good of the people and we oppose any
Effort to breach dams in the Columbia and Snake River systems.
E. Limiting the power of the government agencies to the scope of their enabling
Legislation.
F. Repeal of the Endangered Species Act.
G. Actions that increase energy self-sufficiency.
H. Water rights that stay with the landowners and other water users and not transfer to
State or federal ownership.
Private Property Rights
7. Chelan County Republicans believe private property rights are fundamental to personal freedom. In Chelan County, we support:
A. Property taxes based on actual use.
B. The reform of the current one-size-fits-all mandatory Growth Management Act
C. Local control of land use issues.
D. Eliminating needless government regulations which violate private property rights.
E. Legislation that will prohibit the state’s use of eminent domain for the
development of private property in order to increase revenue.
F. Compensate regulatory impacts on private property
G. Property that is taken to be offset by full and fair compensation, consistent with
our state and federal constitutions.
Education
8. Chelan County Republicans believe education is both a privilege and a responsibility. The parents of American children have the responsibility to equip children with basic academic and vocational skills, while maintaining an atmosphere of discipline and accountability. Our schools must be made safe. In Chelan County, we support:
A. State set minimum graduation requirements, but leaving curriculum decisions to
local school boards.
B. Education reforms that provide vouchers, giving parents the freedom to choose
their child’s school-public or private.
C. Educational priority before other state programs.
D. Having local education decisions left to the locally elected school boards.
E. Non interference by government in individual religious expression in school.
F. English language teaching as primary and official.
G. A policy that prohibits public schools from promoting homosexuality as a healthy,
morally acceptable, or alternative lifestyle.
H. Current Washington State laws prohibiting teachers strikes.
I. A program of teacher accountability for academic performance of their students.
Agriculture/Rural
9. Chelan County Republicans believe agriculture is the economic foundation of our economy, and government should seek to assist rather than restrict the American farmer. In Chelan County, we support:
A. Permitting agricultural operation to continue unabated despite the encroachment
of residential development.
B. Use of water resources that permit the farmer to achieve the most productive
and efficient agricultural operation without loosing water rights.
C. That all imported food and fiber must meet all U.S. standards and regulations
imposed upon domestic production, and must be inspected at point of entry.
D. Ensure that water rights stay with landowners and other water users and not
Transferred to state ownership.
E. Ensure that regulations adopted for public lands are not imposed on private lands.
Washington Families
10. Chelan County Republicans believe the traditional family unit is critical to the moral, ethical and economic success of our nation. In Chelan County, we support:
A. The reformation of government policy wherever possible to strengthen rather than
divide the American family.
B. Parental responsibility for the care and upbringing of children, including full
enforced child support laws and penalties for non support.
C. More equitable custody rights in divorce cases.
D. Promotion and encouragement of adoption through the simplification of
adoptive laws and process.
E. Stronger and enforceable laws against pornography and obscenity.
F. Permanent removal of the marriage tax penalty.
G. President George W. Bush in his request for a Constitutional Amendment
making marriage between one man and one woman, thus protecting traditional
marriage.
H. Discontinuing the use of tax payer money for sex change operations.
Equal Protection
11. Chelan County Republicans believe in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all. In Chelan County, we support:
A. Abolishing affirmative action.
B. Making a ban on partial birth abortion permanent.
C. Parental notification and consent for minors seeking abortion.
D. The prohibition of the use of public funding to promote or provide abortions.
E. State Constitution laws and oppose the prohibition on the creation of special
rights or protections based solely upon sexual preference or sexual conduct.
F. Prohibition on euthanasia or assisted suicide.
Health Care/Welfare/Social Security
12. Chelan County Republicans believe that government should provide assistance only when individuals or private organizations are not able to. Furthermore, health care is a personal and family issue. We also believe that welfare should be temporary and not be a permanent economic choice. In Chelan County, we support:
A. “Medical Savings Accounts” that allow people to invest in tax-free accounts to
be used to pay for health care costs.
B. Portable health care permitting patient choice in health care providers.
C. Identifying HIV/AIDS as a public health concern.
D. The reduction of welfare costs and fraud through independent audits.
E. Eliminating the unwarranted intrusion or interference by the government in health care
F. The reorganization and partial privatization of social security.
G. A climate that encourages medical insurance companies to do business in
Washington State.
|
