Presented March 10, 2012

To The Washoe County Republican Party Convention

Respectfully Submitted by Thomas F. Dickman, Chairman,

Washoe County Republican Party Platform Committee

 

PREAMBLE AND PRINCIPLES

As Washoe County Republicans, we establish this platform of our common beliefs, which are grounded in the time-proven principles that have made America the greatest nation on earth:

• Our Constitution is the Supreme Law of the land; and we believe this precious document demands that government at all levels be limited in power and authority.
• This nation was established by men humbly seeking the guidance of Almighty God.
• We believe in equal rights, equal justice under law, and equality of opportunity for all.
• The strength of our nation lies with the individual acting in self-restraint, leaving an inheritance of freedom for future generations.
• Individual initiative through a free enterprise system has brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.
• The power of the federal government should be strongly constrained by the limitations of the Constitution and the consent of the governed to allow maximum individual achievement through freedom.
• Private property rights are fundamental to our freedom.
• Whenever American citizens are attacked, it is the duty and responsibility of our government to ensure that the perpetrators and any sponsoring organization are brought to justice.
• The individual’s right to keep and bear arms is fundamental to deterring tyranny and must be preserved without political interference.
• All Americans should keep more of the money they earn, spending as they deem proper by eliminating excessive taxation.
• The best government is that which governs least, while protecting fundamental Constitutional rights.
• As Americans, we recognize American exceptionalism and we should preserve our own national strength while working to extend freedom throughout the world.

 

The Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideas into successful self-government.

March 10, 2012

WCRP Adopted Platform

 

Budget and Taxation, State and Federal

 

We strongly support those in public office who resist higher taxes and fees, and seek to reduce the size, cost and scope of government at all levels.

 

We believe the residents of the State of Nevada are not under-taxed and that state government is not under-funded, and our current budget crisis is the result of years of overspending. We oppose raising taxes or fees of any kind to fund the current budget shortfall. We do not believe government can tax the state or the residents into prosperity.

 

All government mandates should be fully funded by the mandating authority. The mandating authority should not raise taxes to fund those mandates. Any tax increase will ultimately fall on the backs of Nevada residents and visitors who are already in economic distress.

 

We support the current Nevada constitutional prohibition on personal income tax, and the same prohibition must continue to apply to business. Gross receipts taxes and selective taxes on specific businesses will ultimately drive business away from our state.

 

True tax revenue growth can only be accomplished by reducing taxes on the private sector and allowing the engines of commerce to grow and employ people. A growing and prosperous private sector will result in higher tax revenues.

 

In a free market economy, risk taking results in rewards and failures. We strongly oppose government interference through excess regulation as it impedes the creation of prosperity. Private business should always be encouraged to succeed and prosper, but must also be allowed to fail, no matter how large.

 

We oppose bailouts and stimulus spending that add to the federal deficit and debt. We believe the practice of quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve devalues our currency and results in high inflation and lower standards of living.

 

We encourage entitlement reforms that will effectively address the issues instead of passing them along to become larger issues for future generations.

 

The current federal budget deficit amounts to generational theft and is fundamentally immoral. The federal budget should be balanced.

 

Nevada should promote an environment whereby our state is the most attractive state in which to do business. A vibrant business environment will draw employers voluntarily and not require programs such as Star Bonds that use taxpayer dollars and divert tax resources.

We support the United States Treasury distribution of gold and silver legal tender monetary coins. We encourage the Nevada Board of Equalization to reclassify U.S. Treasury monetary coins as currency rather than personal property so as to avoid taxation on gold and silver coin transactions.

 

We support elimination of the inheritance tax, alternative minimum tax, double taxation of corporate dividends, capital gains tax and taxes on interest bearing savings accounts.

 

The Bush tax cuts should be made permanent.

 

 

Constitution

 

We believe the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution with its amendments are obvious and self-explanatory as written and should be interpreted according to original intent. The Constitution is as relevant today as when adopted. We believe government must operate within limitations of the Constitution and not exceed its specifically enumerated powers. We reaffirm the Constitution’s declaration of the rights bestowed upon us by our Creator and any infringement upon these rights cannot be condoned.

 

All elected public servants should be held accountable to the oath they take to uphold and defend the Constitution.

 

We believe the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was intended to prevent a state sponsored religion rather than a separation of God from government. Religious freedom is the first of our constitutionally protected rights. Attempts to force religious institutions to violate their conscience is contrary to the Constitution.

 

We cherish the Second Amendment guarantee that our individual right to own firearms shall not be infringed. We oppose legislation or regulation that harms this crucial right and we will support legislation or regulation that serves to strengthen and protect it.

 

Law enforcement and government officials should not be exempt from any laws and restrictions on firearms and ammunition that apply to the common citizen.

 

We strongly support the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States that protects the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures. We request Congress to immediately repeal the U. S. A. Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act, the Defense Authorization Act and similar legislation that clearly violate fundamental privacy rights afforded by the Constitution.

 

We expect the Nevada Attorney General to defend the rights of the State of Nevada and the people as defined by the Tenth Amendment, to whit “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

 

Education

 

We believe that education is a state and local issue best directed and controlled by parents, individual choice and the free market. We support the immediate elimination of the U.S. Department of Education. We support legislation revoking the charter granted by Congress to the National Education Association.

 

We support charter schools, private schools, home schools, vocational schools, vouchers and other means of competition with the current public school system. Competition will raise the level and quality of education just as competition provides the best products in the private sector.

 

We believe eliminating Federal regulations, mandates and laws such as No Child Left Behind will result in higher quality education for our children. We support returning authority for educating our children primarily to parents and local educators who are closest to the education process. Options and flexibility at the local level will result in our children having a higher quality education and test scores.

 

In order to remain globally competitive and ultimately maintain the highest level of education in the world, our students deserve and need access to the most qualified personnel, without exception. Principals must have the authority to select and assign teachers without regard to collective bargaining agreements, and to recruit, reward and retain the best teachers. Because the most qualified teachers are often not available through traditional routes, proven mastery in subject matter should qualify an individual to teach without being required to hold a teaching certificate.

 

 

Elections

 

The foundation of our Democratic system of government rests on accurate and honest elections.

 

The Registrar of Voters is charged with maintaining accurate voter records and the integrity of every election. We encourage the Registrar of Voters to update the voter rolls and aggressively purge inaccurate records.

 

A government issued photo ID should be required at the polling places to maintain election integrity.

 

We do not support same day voter registration.

 

 

 

Energy

 

The United States is facing a critical energy crisis which conservation alone cannot resolve. Our continued dependence on foreign oil directly threatens our national security and fragile economy. Without immediate attention solving this major issue we risk losing our quality of life now and for future generations.

 

To ensure an abundant and affordable domestic energy supply, we believe our nation has the right and moral obligation to immediately access existing energy resources including, but not limited to, petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear and alternative sources.

 

Moving forward on projects such as the Keystone Pipeline, Bakken oil reserve, Marcellus play, ANWAR and similar projects will not only enhance energy availability and lower costs, but will also create thousands of high paying skilled American jobs.

 

We believe the free market should determine the development of all energy resources, free from government planning, regulation, subsidy or mandate.

 

We support positioning Yucca Mountain as a world class, high-tech nuclear research and science facility predicated upon sound, safe and proven scientific principles.

 

 

English as Official Language

 

We support legislation affirming English the official language for conducting business at all levels of government.

 

We also encourage our citizens to learn foreign languages to enhance our perspective and to better appreciate our neighbors and friends around the world.

 

 

Global Warming, or Climate Change

 

Throughout time, the earth has experienced multiple natural warming and cooling cycles. We do not agree with the concept that global warming is a man-made disaster resulting from increased carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.

 

We view any kind of cap and trade legislation as a punitive tax and a revenue redistribution scheme that will only benefit those directly involved in trading the false currency of carbon credits. We oppose worldwide carbon credit treaties that demand the United States surrender its sovereignty.

 

 

 

 

 

Health Care

 

Americans enjoy the highest possible quality of health care available, made possible by the private sector and free market, not government mandate.

 

We support the immediate defunding and repeal of the 2010 health care package (Obamacare), and support the right to choose in all areas of health care, treatment, providers and facilities.

 

We support a program that includes tort reform, purchase of insurance across state lines, creation of tax credited personal health savings accounts and expanded client pools. We oppose any further defunding of Medicare.

 

We believe that any government control, regulation and/or intervention in health care will diminish quality and availability, and will directly result in increased cost.

 

 

Immigration

 

We welcome people from all nations, races and cultures who enter our country legally and support the freedoms, principles and language of the United States of America.

 

We applaud those who become naturalized citizens through the legal process and do not condone those who enter this country illegally.

 

We oppose amnesty, government benefits or other special treatment for those who enter the United States illegally.

 

We strongly support securing our borders for purposes of protecting national health, welfare, security, and prevention of illegal immigration and criminal activity. Failure to enforce our border security has led to life threatening conditions and deaths in our border states as well as an overall rise in criminal activity across our country.

 

We support effective enforcement of visa timelines for those who are visiting, studying or working in the United States.

 

Federal, state and local agencies should be empowered and required to enforce immigration laws. We support individual States rights to be able to enforce their border security and immigration laws.

 

We do not support automatic citizenship for children born in the United States to foreign visitors or to those who are here temporarily or illegally. We do not believe the original intent of the Fourteenth Amendment (adopted in 1868) was to confer citizenship on children born to non-citizens.

 

 

Military and Veteran Issues

 

The primary role of our military is to protect and defend the Constitution and the citizens of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic. To achieve that purpose, the United States must have and maintain the most capable and technologically advanced military in the world.

 

We urge our government to fully fund and support our military as necessary to meet the demands of modern warfare. Continued cuts to military budgets will reduce our readiness and ability to protect and defend our national security.

 

We reiterate our strong support for military personnel. We strongly support improved care and continued fiscal support for our military families and veterans.

 

 

National Security

 

We support the efforts to eliminate anti-U.S. terrorism at home and abroad. We support taking the fight to those who seek to harm the United States by aggressively targeting terrorists as well as those who support them.

 

Intelligence is truly America’s first line of defense and an essential tool in defending our nation. We should incorporate new technologies and strategies that will increase the effectiveness of the military, intelligence agencies and the Office of Homeland Security.

 

 

Private Ownership of Nevada Land

 

Nevada’s future economic prospects reside with the ability to acquire and enhance private sector ownership and utilization of land.

 

Increasing the availability of land for private ownership and business will expand and diversify Nevada’s economy and tax base.

 

 

Protection of Marriage

 

We support Nevada’s Protection of Marriage Amendment that defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman. We support the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

 

 

Recognition of Israel

 

We support Israel as a sovereign State and a valuable democratic ally, and recognize her right to exist and defend herself.

Sovereignty

 

We believe protecting the sovereignty of the United States is one of the highest duties of our government. Any organization, country, treaty or effort that would seek to compromise or weaken our sovereignty is contrary to our national interest.

 

We support our national sovereignty and reject the concept of global governance. No treaty should override the U.S. Constitution nor should international or foreign law replace constitutional law at any state or federal level. No other entity should have authority to supersede our laws or impose any taxes on our citizens.

 

We oppose usurpation of State sovereignty by Federal mandate or economic coercion. We also oppose usurpation of United States national sovereignty by the United Nations.

 

We oppose implementation of Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations in 1992. It leads directly to central control over private property, energy, water use, food production, ownership and use of automobiles, population control, heat and air conditioning in our homes and many other issues.

 

 

Sanctity of Human Life

 

We affirm the sanctity of life and the inherent dignity of each human being from conception to death. The unborn child has a fundamental right to life and should be welcomed into life and protected under law.

 

We believe every woman considering abortion deserves to be fully informed about the procedure including ultrasound, developmental stages of life and the physical and emotional health risks.

 

We support the ban on partial-birth abortion.

 

We support legislation that recognizes as a legal victim any “child in utero” who is injured or killed as the result of a crime.

 

We oppose taxpayer funding of abortion and for organizations that advocate or provide abortions. Medical professionals, health care facilities and insurers should not be forced to participate, provide or pay for abortions or conscience-violating or life-ending procedures.

 

We support parental notification for minors considering abortion and enforcement of statutory rape reporting laws.

 

We support the revision of current adoption legislation to facilitate the adoption of children by loving parents as an alternative to abortion.

 

We oppose assisted suicide, euthanasia and the non-consensual withholding of medical treatment.

 

We support scientific research that utilizes adult stem cells and/or stem cells recovered from the byproducts of live births for treatment and cure of disease and oppose embryonic stem cell research.

 

We oppose cloning of complete human beings. However, we encourage the development of cloning techniques to grow organs and tissue material that support life saving and life enhancing medical procedures.

 

Term Limits

 

We support term limits for federal offices just as we support term limits for local and state officials in Nevada. Government should be of, by and for the people, not by career politicians.