The ‘Platform’ is a metaphor for what we as Republicans represent. You stand on a platform. Our platform represents the principles we stand for. Various issues, topics, and items we think are important now are used to structure the platform. They are the PLANKS, used to build our platform. These planks are declarations that speak to each specific issue and represent ideals and principles; it’s a snapshot in time. It was constructed to convey our belief in a Constitutional Republic and our Traditional Culture, written to show what is most important now.
Keep in mind there are many problems and issues that concern us. Reason dictates that we cannot include every item of interest in our platform. So, we must be content to state our desired goals, knowing that these statements show, to anyone interested, what we stand for, what we are about, and who we are. In creating our platform, we followed the consensus of the hundreds of Skagit Republicans who attended their Jan 13, 2024, Precinct Caucuses. We took stock of our caucus goers’ concerns and addressed those issues that garnered the most support, and kept it down to a manageable four pages, organized in parallel with our government’s structures: National - State - Local.
SKAGIT COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM
March 9, 2024
PREAMBLE
America is more than just a country, or a place on a map. It began as an idea, something never tried before, with the concept that man has Natural, God-Given Rights, and that people should govern themselves. America was founded on the principles of the Rule-of Law, Economic Freedom, Limited Government, Individual Liberty, and Private Property. A new model of government was established with three co-equal branches. A Republic if we can keep it. As Republicans and Conservatives, we cherish and want to conserve (preserve) these Foundational Principles and follow the Constitution, to "Secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and our Posterity." If this Republic is to stand, our government must have Limited Powers, as put forth in the Constitution: but it must also be strong enough to provide our National Security and to protect our Individual Rights and Traditional Values.
Our GOALS are to allow every American Citizen an equal opportunity to strive for the American Dream, each having Natural, God-given Rights; among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Therefore, as Americans and members of the Republican Party, we hereby stand by these declarations and the following pledges.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
1. CONSTITUTION: Uphold the Rule of Law in America, as directed by the U.S. Constitution, with no deference to the United Nations, the World Court, or any other international, foreign, or religious laws. Advocate for strong support of our Bill of Rights, in particular the 1st and 2nd Amendments. Resist the regulatory state by overturning abusive administrative law, repealing judicial legislation, and stopping regulatory overreach by unelected bureaucrats.
2. IMMIGRATION: Close the border. Reinstate the Remain-in-Mexico policy. End Catch- and-Release. End Parole Release. Ban funding to Non-Government Organizations assisting in the trafficking of individuals into the US. Deport all individuals in the country illegally. End “Birthright Citizenship.” Oppose any form of Amnesty for those here illegally. Preserve the Privileges of Citizenship for Citizens, especially voting rights and entitlement benefits.
3. WEAPONIZATION OF GOVERNMENT: Repeal §230 immunity. Ban Government contact with Tech Companies in the removal and throttling of Politically Involved Persons from the Internet. Ban de-banking of Politically Involved Persons. Defund agencies using their office to target political opponents with abusive investigations and prosecutions. End the FISA court and repeal §702 of FISA.
4. NATIONAL DEFENSE: Provide for Strong National Defense by rebuilding our military and maintaining it with a reasonable defense budget going forward. Oppose all nuclear proliferation. Secure our borders and enforce our current laws to allow legal immigration to proceed in a safe and meaningful way that is good for America. Remove CRT and DEI from the military and its academies.
5. FISCAL: Reform the IRS. Department of Treasury to administer a low and simple FLAT TAX on earned income, interest, dividends, capital gains, and corporations. NO TAX on Social Security benefits, death, or inheritance. Reform entitlements to keep Social Security and Medicare solvent. Establish a plan to retire the national debt.
6. ECONOMY: Support Free Market Enterprise, Free Trade, and provide Equal Opportunity employment for all citizens, with no discrimination ever allowed for sex, race, or religion. Repeal/oppose Net Zero policies that impose mandates destabilizing the economy and negatively affecting liberty rights. Oppose Regulations that impair economic development.
7. FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Pursue “Peace Through Strength” policy. Re-impose trade sanctions on China to punish theft of intellectual property, currency manipulation, and unfair trade practices. Prevent the nuclear ambitions of Iran through deterrence. Oppose American tax-payor funding of the Ukraine War. Demand NATO members maintain their minimum funding obligations. Exit the Paris Accord. Pursue security partnerships with Middle Eastern allies including Israel. Crackdown on drug cartel activity in the Western Hemisphere.
8. INFORMED MEDICAL CONSENT: Neither the Government nor private entities may enact any mandate to force or allow any medical procedure, therapy or preventative measure without individual informed consent. Oppose ALL action taken by, or in coordination with, Government or private entities to induce or influence consent, such as suppressing dissenting or differing opinion.
STATE GOVERNMENT
1. ELECTION INTEGRITY: The public has a right to assurance of election security and integrity, and our elected officials have a duty to provide verifiable data and information so the public can readily obtain that assurance. Clean voter rolls and voter roll maintenance are paramount (no more “inactive” registered voters). All election management needs to be fully transparent. Outlaw mail-in voting, with only rare valid exceptions (such as overseas military and disability). Make Election Day a Holiday. Require in-person voting at precinct-level polling places on Election Day with Voter I.D. Hand Count ballots. No voting machines tabulating ballots. Hand Count Audits. Ban ballot harvesting! No private money like "Zuckerbucks" and no federal agency or foreign interference in our elections.
2. BUDGET: Repeal the capital gains tax. Repeal the carbon gas tax. Repeal the death tax. Repeal the long-term payroll tax. Repeal the paid family medical leave tax. Oppose state income tax and state gift tax. Amend WA State Constitution to make the 2/3 Legislative rule to raise taxes permanent. Ban the practice of using pre-COVID enrollment figures to set school levies. Reduce profligate spending. Utilize surplus to grant tax relief on a means-tested basis to those most in need. Allow “advisory votes.”
3. CRIME: Abolish and oppose Sanctuary Cities. Re-criminalize and prosecute the possession and public consumption of drugs. Re-institute police pursuit and conditional bail. Give law enforcement all tools to enforce the law, mandate prosecuting agencies and judges to apply charging and sentencing laws, including enhancing penalties. Support our Police and Sheriffs, encouraging them to stand for the Constitutional Rights of the citizens.
4. PARENTAL RIGHTS: Establish School Choice - Home School, Charter School, and Christian School vouchers available to mid and low-income families. Provide parents access to curriculum, with opt-out rights for gender and sex-focused lessons. Oppose mandatory COVID mRNA vaccination as a condition for attendance. Parents are the prime, legal guardians, mentors, and caregivers of their children, not the state. Their wishes and requests, when reasonable, must be addressed regarding the healthcare and education of their own children.
5. PROPERTY RIGHTS: Protect our constitutional right against government takings of private property and water rights. Restrict eminent domain to proper use, only for the Public Good with just compensation. Prevent urban sprawl, and reform the Growth Management Act (GMA).
6. EDUCATION: Reduce salaries and benefits to a sustainable level. Re-establish a basic curriculum, including Reading, Writing, Math, Civics & History. Reject frivolous and sometimes dangerous Politically Correct Agendas. Prohibit school health staff from authority to prescribe medications to students. Separate restrooms, toilets, locker rooms, and sports teams based on birth sex, not voluntary gender selection. Ignoring, overriding, and demonizing valid parental desires with woke ideology is not acceptable.
7. HEALTH CARE: Dismantle State Exchange for Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), and limit Medicaid expansion. Open health insurance across state lines. Give patients their choice in a free and open market.
8. INITIATIVES: Fully support the six (6) certified Initiatives: I-2113 (Reasonable Police Pursuit), I-2117 (Stop the Hidden Gas Tax), I-2124 (Opt-Out of State-Run Long Term Care Coverage Act), I-2109 (Repeal the Capital Gains Tax), I-2111 (No State Income Tax), I-2081 (Parental Notification).
COUNTY / LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY: Expose and punish government corruption. Enact fiscally conservative policies. Eliminate needless government regulations, red tape, and bureaucracy. Elected officials must take responsibility and be held fully accountable for their actions.
2. TAXATION: Never-ending increases in Property Taxes are not sustainable and must be curtailed. The bloated bureaucracy benefits neither the students in our schools nor the citizens of our county.
3. ZONING: Decisions shall be based upon citizen input and needs, not driven by GRANTS. No changes to Shoreline Master Plan unless requested by The People. Down Zoning and any other land use regulation that diminishes property value constitutes a "Taking" which must be compensated. Permanently bury "Envision Skagit 2060".
4. WATER RIGHTS: Oppose all Bureaucratic Rules (WAC's) that seek to change or hamper WA State Law (RCW's). Groundwater Permit Exemption, RCW 90.44.050, should be enforced as written into state law, allowing domestic use for single-family dwellings without requiring a State Water Right Permit. Redirecting the surface flow of any stream or river is not permissible.
5. HOMELESSNESS: “Hand-up, not Hand-out” government policies. Prohibit camping on public property. Impose/enforce overnight parking ordinances. Oppose any rent control ordinances or measures. Ban local government agencies from accepting (or allocating to NGOs/Charities/Churches) any funding to house illegal immigrants. End pay-per-needle grants. Fund drug task force and jobs participation programs. Prosecute drug use. Promote residential and business block watch areas.
6. AGRICULTURE: Oppose the taking of agricultural lands for other uses such as elk wildlife habitat, fish habitat, and dam re-licensing mitigation. Demand better scientific management from Dept. of Fish & Wildlife to avoid preventable damage to property, crops, livestock, and humans from wildlife. Respect all Irrigation and Water Rights, including allocation of an adequate water supply from the Skagit and Samish Rivers.
7. TRANSPORTATION: Properly direct our limited funds to the required maintenance of essential roads before the desired construction of recreational trails. Improve and maintain adequate 24/7 Emergency Medical Services (911) in all areas of Skagit County. Skagit Council of Governments (SCOG), to be restructured to allow meaningful citizen input at all stages or be disbanded.
To each generation falls the responsibility to uphold the values that have made the United States the freest, most prosperous, compassionate, and successful civilization in history. As we confront security threats from international unrest and terrorism, economic threats from ever-increasing state intervention, and social and political threats from liberal cultural elites, we must also see these times as an opportunity to return to those principles that have made us great.
Affirmation
The Washington State Republican Party reaffirms the principles of The American's Creed.
The American's Creed by William Tyler Page, 1917
I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a 'democracy in a republic,' a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which Americans patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.
Washington State Constitution Article 1, Section 1 says: "All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.”
LINK TO WAGOP WEBSITE - WAGOP.ORG
LINK TO 2024 WAGOP BYLAWS, RESOLUTIONS & PLATFORM
LINK TO SCRP MARCH 9, 2024, COUNTY CONVENTION RESOLUTIONS
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