Bellevue, WA - 7/1/02 -  Approximately 900 delegates gathered June 29th to vote on the 2002 platform for Washington State.

Although there were many colorful and busy concession booths inside and out at the Bellevue Campus, the Republican delegates were anxious to get down to business.

The Preamble expresses the desires and beliefs of the delegates. Several amendments and resolutions were added to the platform; however, this reports the platform as presented to the delegation. Most of the delegates were satisfied with the platform as presented to the body.

Republicans believe that good government is based on the individual and family, that each person’s ability, dignity, freedom and responsibility must be honored and recognized. Our basic freedom, the value that makes our country unique in the world is rooted in Free Enterprise and the basic right to Private Property. The role of Government is to preserve and defend our ability to live in a free and peaceful society.

We reaffirm the words of our founding fathers as written 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.”

A Republican Vision for Washington State. . . We believe in:

Government must practice fiscal responsibility, while individual citizens should enjoy an atmosphere of free enterprise, unfettered by burdensome government regulation. Excessive taxation is a loss of personal freedom. We need a better balance between the use of tax dollars for public benefit and allowing people to keep more of what they earn, allows opportunity and wealth created in the private sector to give hope and relief to those ill-served by government, and gives families and communities the resources to confront wider social problems. Reductions in taxes, requiring independent performance audits, and zero-based budgeting will restore government accountability to the people. A flatter and fairer federal income tax, ending death taxes, reducing bloated B&O taxes, ending marriage penalties, and ending un-funded mandates will stimulate economic activity and create better paying jobs. Expanding international trade will create domestic prosperity and provide more opportunity.

The current Department of Transportation should be exclusively refocused on the constitutional obligation of state government (Article II, Section 40) to the “administration of public highways, [ferries], county roads, and city streets.” This focus will concentrate the efforts of such a refocused “Highway Department” to such a degree as to minimize the need for further tax increases. All other matters related to transportation are best left to free market solutions. Conducting a thorough review of how we administer our transportation system, including prioritizing highway projects and efficient use of public money to reduce congestion and maintain infrastructure will provide greater economic opportunities for business and value to consumers.

The Department of Transportation and Sound Transit need to be subjected to thorough and continuous independent financial and performance audits. There needs to be a thorough review of how we govern and administer our transportation system.

We believe no sales tax should be levied on materials used on publicly funded transportation projects.

We re-affirm our firm opposition to amending the state constitution to allow gas taxes to be used for mass transit. The gas tax should only be used to expand and maintain the state highway system and Sound Transit should only be funded by those who live in the Sound Transit district.

We believe in a strong and free America, a nation leading the world in the expansion of peace, freedom and human rights. We must gain control of our borders and win the War on Terrorism. Under no circumstance should the national sovereignty of the U.S. be subjugated to any foreign or international body. We continue to call for the Strategic Defense Initiative. We will continue to honor all past and current promises to our troops and veterans.

In Defense of Israel…

Israel, as a sovereign state, has the right to self-defense against foreign enemies and state sponsored terrorism. The Bush Doctrine clearly includes supporting Israel, which is being targeted by terrorists. For a peaceful, democratic Palestinian state to exist, we must support Israel in winning their war against terror in their homeland.

The best use of natural resources is for the direct benefit of people. We can achieve a healthful environment and continued economic growth and prosperity when government works with property owners in a positive cooperative fashion. Property owners implementing environmental practices that are supported by sound, peer-reviewed scientific method are a model of responsible natural resource stewardship. Efforts to reasonably limit the scope and rule making ability of environmental agencies will insure that legislative intent is followed. Achieving energy self-sufficiency can be environmentally sound and requires market driven solutions using American ingenuity, technology and carefully opening new areas for exploration. Private timber owners deserve a set of responsible, reliable, and consistent government rules under which to operate. Growth management and shoreline rules are best determined at the local level. In our efforts to save our dams, it is necessary to fund improvements in fish passage, improvements in spawning habitat, and ocean survival and to reduce regulations and costs that may hinder re-licensing of many of our State’s dams.

Washington’s economy and the health of many of our communities are based on farming, fishing, mining, and the timber industry. Years of government over-regulation have cost Washington families thousands of jobs and devastated communities supported by natural resource industries. Republicans will reverse this slide and offer real relief to rural Washington.

Natural resource industries are the economic foundation of our economy. By allowing economic opportunity for America’s farmers and family farms of all sizes we will secure our domestic food supply and strengthen the rural economy. We can make our products competitive in the free market by reducing trade barriers, competitively pricing our agricultural products, and improving efficiencies in our ports and on our transportation routes. These reforms are essential for farmers and farms to be viable and sustainable.

Tax policies that recognize fluctuations in farm income assist farmers in surviving low-income years. As a matter of urgent national security, imported food must meet all U.S. standards, have equal production regulations and country of origin labeling requirements so American Consumers can choose for themselves how to safely feed their families. We must protect the individual water rights of farmers and value using water resources in food production.

Republicans understand that a primary responsibility of government is to respect traditional institutions, such as family, which are its foundation. We support the parental right and responsibility to direct the upbringing of their children, and to provide care, discipline, and moral training. We support the protection of innocent human life in all stages. Our commitment to protecting the life of innocents from conception through the infirmities of age must be nurtured in both our culture and our laws. Republicans reaffirm the Washington State Legislature’s decision to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The traditional family unit is the cornerstone of our society and that it is the primary responsibility of parents to guide and discipline their children.

The primary authority and responsibility for educating children resides with parents.

The Federal Government, based on the 10th Amendment of the U. S. Constitution, may not determine expenditures and curriculum. Schools shall be free from all federal regulations. School boards should be free to determine priorities, focusing on basic academics, teaching of the constitution and civics, history, opportunities for vocational and technical training, and the promotion of traditional American values. We support a policy that public schools not promote or identify homosexuality as a healthy, morally acceptable, or alternative lifestyle. Schools should be free to develop instructional approaches to prepare our youth to be independent, responsible, and productive citizens. Schools should be free to recognize and reward teachers by retaining and paying them based on ability and performance. The state should replace the WASL and the “Certificate of Mastery” with clearer back-to-basics academic standards and statewide graduation requirements so students can achieve a standardized level of competency. Allow teachers and principals to discipline disruptive students and create a more secure learning environment. English is the language of World Commerce. To ensure successful job skills in a diverse, but overwhelmingly English speaking population, we believe in teaching English as our official and primary language, concentrated English instruction for non-English speaking students and regular instruction in English for all other subjects. Requiring second language education benefits all students.

The primary role of government is to protect its citizens’ freedoms and their property from both foreign and domestic crime. Accepting risks inherent in a free society, we wholeheartedly support those constitutional protections, which safeguard our individual liberty, due process, and equal protection under the law. Crime threatens our ability as individuals to exercise our right of self-government. The rule of law is protected by policies that punish, reduce and deter crime.

We support and value the efforts of law enforcement officers and firefighters who serve and protect our communities.

We support zero tolerance for sexual exploitation of minors.

Health care is a personal issue, and individuals can make better decisions about their own care than government. Republicans believe in free market solutions that reduce health care costs by offering more and better choices for consumers. We support personal/private tax-exempt medical savings accounts. Accountability to patients can be created by increasing competition among health care providers. We support the reduction of regulation in order to reduce the cost of health care and prescription drugs. All prescription drugs purchases and health insurance premiums should be fully tax- deductible. We support research of adult and placenta stem cells and oppose human cloning.

We have a moral obligation, a minimum debt owed, as free Americans, to defend and preserve our freedoms: Free Speech, Freedom of Assembly, Defense of Life, the Right to Vote, Private Property Rights, Parental Rights, the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and protect competitive free enterprise. Government exists by the consent of the governed. Smaller and more effective government will restore civic responsibility and individual freedom.

Ours is a nation created not by force, but by unifying ideals. People came here to be free to worship God as they choose without State restriction. For ours to remain one nation, where the source of our rights derive from God, not the state, we have the duty and obligation to teach our children the profound meaning behind the simple statement of allegiance to our flag and the ideals our nation was founded upon and to which so many have sacrificed their lives.

We re-affirm the Proper Role of Government is to protect our inalienable rights, including:

• Proof of United States citizenship for voting eligibility protects our right to vote.
• Protecting the integrity of the vote of our overseas military personnel.
• Campaign finance law that in no way prohibits free expression.
• The initiative process provided for by the Washington State Constitution.
• Compensating property owners when government actions reduce the value of their land secures our right to own property.
• Parents’ right to choose their children’s schools, be it public, charter, private, or home, with tax credits or vouchers protects our right to equal opportunity.
• Protecting individuals’ first amendment right of religious expression in our public schools does not conflict with the Establishment Clause.

To preserve individual economic freedoms and goals set forth in this platform, we support an amendment to the Washington State Constitution requiring a vote of the people to authorize new taxes or tax increases.

We support the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms as guaranteed in both the State and Federal constitutions. We oppose any attempt by government to diminish the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms, including ammunition and accessories.

We encourage personal responsibility in exercising these rights.