2008 Caucus Resolutions (as adopted)
February 2, 2008
Fond du Lac County Republican Party
2008-1 Commendation of Elected Officials and Volunteers Resolution
WHEREAS, U.S. Congressman Tom Petri, U.S. Congressman James Sensenbrenner, U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan, and Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen have served all the residents of the state in an outstanding manner; and
WHEREAS, we are proud to have the outstanding leadership of Sen. Glen Grothman, Sen. Luther Olson, Sen. Carol Roessler, Sen. Joe Liebham, Rep. John Townsend, Rep. Carol Owens, Rep. Steve Kestell, Rep. Dan Le Mahieu, and Rep. Joan Ballweg; Republican elected County Office Holders; and the many wonderful and dedicated volunteers who work for our party each year:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, supports and thanks these Republican office holders and volunteers for their leadership.
2008-2 Support for President George W. Bush Resolution
WHEREAS, President George W. Bush has displayed strength and determination as our commander-in-chief, and
WHEREAS, President George W. Bush has reclaimed American pride in the presidency and the principles our country was founded upon, and
WHEREAS, the citizens of the United States of America have been thrust into yet another war situation by the dictators of oppressed countries, and
WHEREAS, the personnel of our military are charged with defending the citizens of the United States in armed conflict, and
WHEREAS, such protection includes the prevention of future attacks against the citizenry by terrorists, and
WHEREAS, President Bush was reelected in 2004 because of his commitment and perseverance in defending our country, and
WHEREAS, President Bush has continued on this path despite fierce criticism from those who would undermine the effort for political reasons:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled supports, “Our Hero of Peace,” President George W. Bush and his advisors in their actions against any parties who commit terrorist acts against the United States of America.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, supports the President’s continued resolve to create an Iraq that has defeated the terrorists and neutralized the insurgency; an Iraq that is peaceful, united, stable, democratic, and secure, where Iraqis have the institutions and resources they need to govern themselves justly and provide security for their country; and an Iraq that is a partner in the global war on terror and the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, integrated into the international community, an engine for regional economic growth, and proving the fruits of democratic government to the region.
2008-3 National Defense Resolution
WHEREAS, the principal duties of the government of the United States are the defense of our nation, promotion of our national interests and protection of the security of our citizens from those whose objectives or purposes run counter to those of the United States of America, including terrorists, individual tyrants and governments, and
WHEREAS, the priorities of our federal government under non-Republican administrations have tipped from defense to social programs; and
WHEREAS, among those in today’s world with designs of evil and ill intent toward the people and government of the United States are terrorists such as those of the al Qaeda network, and other tyrants and rogue states.
WHEREAS, nuclear, chemical, and biological weaponry has been produced, procured or is sought by these enemies of America and liberty, and
WHEREAS, these facts of today’s world demonstrate unequivocally the importance of a strong and ready military force, not to be weakened by social pressures, backed by an intelligence capability unparalleled, with the full support of the American people it defends and protects:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled:
A. Supports the actions of President George W. Bush in his efforts to rid the United States and the world of the scourges of terrorism, ill-intended weapons of mass destruction, and instability fomented by men and women of evil designs, and
B. Supports a strong national defense, achieved in part by increasing the size of the United States Military and by diligent and continued development of weapons systems and technologies, and increasing the training and compensation of the American fighting forces, the finest military personnel in all the world, as may be necessary for the United States to defend itself against all enemies and to honor our commitment to our allies, and
C. Encourages and supports a heightened awareness for and action to provide a solid and ready homeland defense against conventional, nuclear, chemical, biological or cyber-attack, or means not yet contemplated or demonstrated, and
D. Supports the continued development and deployment of the Missile Defense System to safeguard our nation against missile attack, and
E. Supports the wisdom, knowledge, and experience of our military’s leadership to develop and implement personnel decisions consistent with the development and deployment of a military force that is disciplined, orderly and effective, such that it remains the preeminent force without equal or threat, and
F. Opposes the sale or transfer of technology or weapons or information that offer the potential compromise of our nation’s defense to unfriendly parties or unreliable nations, and
G. Supports an improved development and procurement effort to enhance the ability of our nation to defend itself in a cost-effective manner that is consistent with accomplishing the objectives as noted in this resolution.
H. Supports the use of domestic surveillance to monitor contacts between foreign terrorists and their accomplices in the United States.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled calls upon the President and members of Congress to do all that is necessary, including but not limited to using military force, preemptively, if necessary, to protect the citizens of the United States and those other country’s citizens that are threatened by terrorists, terrorist organizations or countries that harbor, fund, or give any aid and comfort, whatsoever, to terrorists.
2008-4 Supporting our Armed Forces
WHEREAS, our military is comprised of hundreds of thousands of dedicated volunteers that uphold our freedom and way of life, and
WHEREAS, many men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice in the war on terror and many have been wounded while defending our freedom and to keep us safe, and
WHEREAS, the families of our service men and women do bravely endure separation from their loved ones, and
WHEREAS, the valiant service of our military resulted in fair and historic democratic elections in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and
WHEREAS, elections in Iraq proved that we can achieve success by limiting the abilities of the enemies of freedom to terrorize the Iraqi people and our soldiers:
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, extends our heartfelt gratitude to the men and women who serve in our armed forces and vows to forever remember you and your families in our hearts and prayers, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, supports a military policy that allows our service men and women to defend themselves without fear of reprisal and regardless of where the terrorists are found, even if they are hiding in mosques, schools, or other places presumed to be off limits, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, humbly asks God to bless and protect our troops and bring them home to us as soon as their job is done.
2008-5 Election Reform Resolution
WHEREAS, Wisconsin has a long tradition of fair and reliable elections, it has become increasingly clear that recent elections conducted in the state have been seriously flawed by inappropriate and illegal behavior and inadequate procedures, and
WHEREAS, irregularities ranging from the improper handling of marked ballots, voter deception, multiple ballots cast by the same voter, and improper voter registration procedures have allowed some voters to vote multiple times in different locations while other voters have been disenfranchised by deceptive and intimidating poll workers, and
WHEREAS, deliberate destruction of property and intimidation tactics have been used to disrupt the voting process, and
WHEREAS, such cases may represent only a portion of the problems encountered statewide, and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin is one of only a few that permit same-day voter registration at the polls, and
WHEREAS, many school districts schedule referendums on odd days hoping to get a smaller turnout, and
WHEREAS, informed voting is a responsibility of every eligible citizen in our democracy:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled:
A. Urges that Republicans and Democrats alike be called upon to preserve our state’s history of clean and fair elections and to see that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast a ballot that counts equally with any other vote cast, and
B. Urges that our state legislators act quickly and fairly to reform Wisconsin’s election laws in order to avoid the above noted irregularities in future elections, and
C. Urges that the Wisconsin Legislature make changes in Wisconsin’s election laws to make voting fair and more secure by enacting laws that would ensure:
1. A picture ID (current Wisconsin Driver’s License or official Wisconsin
Identification Card); which provides a current residential address of the
prospective voter at the time of voting on election day, and
2. That prospective voters be registered at least (30) days in advance of any
Election day, and
3. That voter fraud be eliminated, and
4. That workshops for poll workers be conducted in each county, and
5. No special election can be held if it falls within 90 days of a regularly
scheduled election, and
6. A referendum can only be held on a regularly scheduled election day, and
7. That a statewide voter database be established and maintained for the purpose of ensuring the integrity of the system, and
8. That the option of voting a straight ticket on the ballot be removed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if an investigation finds that election laws have been broken, those law breakers be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
2008-6 Paycheck Protection/Right to Work Resolution
WHEREAS, millions of dollars spent on elections and political issues are derived from compulsory dues paid by labor union members who do not universally support the union’s political philosophy, and
WHEREAS, mandating the joining or not joining of a labor union as a condition of employment violates the individual’s liberty to seek gainful employment and may force the individual, through dues payments, to support political activities with which the individual disagrees:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled urges passage of Right-to-Work legislation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled calls for the State legislature to pass a Paycheck Protection Act that will require written consent by individual union members before their union can levy dues for political purposes and which forbids employers from deducting non-voluntary political monies from employees’ paychecks.
2008-7 Education Resolution
WHEREAS, quality public and private education is at the heart of economic development, prosperity, and happiness, and
WHEREAS, parental authority over the educational experiences of their children is being slowly eroded and the direction of public education should be a cooperative effort among the educational systems, the parents, and directed by the taxpayers of the community, and
WHEREAS, parents’ rightful moral authority have been undermined and marginalized, and
WHEREAS, many schools now emphasize social behaviors at the expense of academics, and
WHEREAS, the public schools, since the 1963 court ban on school prayer, have severely deteriorated in safety, conduct, academics, and morality:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled urges Department of Public Instruction and local school boards to reinstate discipline, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled urges that a greater emphasis be placed on a back to basic approach with curricular changes toward the sciences, social science, geography, history, mathematics, reading, phonics and technical subjects, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du La County, in caucus assembled urges that libraries in all publicly-funded schools have a balance of reading materials that reflect conservative values as well as liberal values, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled calls upon the Governor and the state legislature to examine changes in our education process, including virtual schools and the use of parental choice in choosing the schools their children attend regardless of where they live, and vouchers and tax credits for those who select private or home schooling over government schools, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, supports adoption of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to allow and guarantee voluntary student-led prayer or private prayer in public schools.
2008-8 Affordable Higher Education Resolution
WHEREAS, the cost of higher education continues to rise at a rate well beyond inflation and growth of personal income, and
WHEREAS, the ability of low and middle-income families in the state of Wisconsin to afford higher education has become a near impossibility, and
WHEREAS, college graduates are in increasing numbers entering the work force with a heavy burden of large debt payments from college loans, and
WHREAS, post secondary education has become a near necessity in the modern workforce:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, supports congressional passage of Congressman Tom Petri’s Income Dependent Education Assistance (IDEA) Act, which would provide a new, cost-effective option for students borrowing for post-secondary education, and his Student Aid Reward (STAR) Act, which would encourage colleges to utilize the less expensive of the federal government’s student loan programs and provide over $10 billion in additional college scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students at no additional cost to the taxpayers.
2008-09 Protect Nation’s Borders Resolution
WHEREAS, our nation’s boundary is overwhelmed on a daily basis with the illegal entry of individuals from other countries, and
WHEREAS, the illegal alien population in the United States has increased from an estimated five million in 1994 and continues to increase with each passing day, and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USIS) has been exposed as being grossly ineffective in performing its established mission, and
WHEREAS, an amnesty program which has been advanced will reward the very people who have violated America’s laws at the expense of those who are patiently waiting in line for legal entry, and
WHEREAS, public resources or taxpayer expenses have been extended to reward the illegal alien population for said violations, and
WHEREAS, Middle Eastern terrorists have recently been captured crossing into our borders, and
WHEREAS, illegal immigration not only creates social, economic, and educational problems, but also threatens our national security.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled seeks a thorough overhaul of our nation’s immigration policy to include:
A. An emphasis on furthering the cultural, social and economic interests of the
United States.
B. The strengthening and enforcement of current immigration laws.
C. The establishment of an adequate force to secure the borders as a policy goal
of our government.
D. The imposition of severe penalties on individuals, industries, and government
bodies that are found knowingly employing illegal aliens.
E. The establishment of an impenetrable physical barrier along the entire
Mexican-American border.
F. The prohibition of all forms of amnesty for illegal aliens in this country.
G. The adoption of a Constitutional amendment that would prevent the automatic
granting of “anchor baby” citizenship to children born in the United States
whose parents are illegally in this country.
H. The prohibition of any “path to citizenship” for illegal aliens currently in this
country.
I. The prohibition of “sanctuary cities.”
J. The establishment of “secure the borders” as the first priority of our overall
policy.
K. The creation of a reasonable process of legal immigration and implementation
a workable and controlled guest worker program.
2008-10 Wisconsin Gaming Compacts with Tribal Indians Resolution
WHEREAS, gaming compacts with the various Wisconsin Indian tribes effects all the citizens of the state of Wisconsin, and
WHEREAS, millions of dollars are being dumped into casinos and other Indian owned gambling establishments which would otherwise be spent in local business establishments, and
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin State Treasury loses millions of tax dollars annually due to the loss of sales by legitimate local business throughout the state, and
WHEREAS, the loss of these taxes is wreaking havoc on the efforts of our city and other local governments to provide necessary services and to maintain infrastructure, and
WHEREAS, gaming is far too important an issue to be decided by one branch of our state government and be left in hands of one elected official, and
WHEREAS, Governor Doyle negotiated compacts in secrecy with no input from citizens of Wisconsin or their elected representatives, and
WHEREAS, the compacts entered into by Governor Doyle are not competitive financially compared to similar arrangements in other states, and
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court found the compacts entered into by Governor Doyle exceeded his constitutional authority and found fault with the manner in which said compacts were negotiated, including the terms of those compacts:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, demands that the Wisconsin Legislature take whatever steps are necessary to bring a stop to the present way of conducting the negotiations leading to the signing of compacts, and we urge the legislators to place these negotiations in the hands of bi-partisan committee subject to approval of the legislature to conduct the people’s business regarding the annual revenue collected and types of gambling by the tribes, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in fairness to all, tribal income should be taxed at the same rate as all others, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any compacts negotiated with the tribes should have reasonable durations, such as five years, to permit periodic adjustments depending on economic conditions.
2008-11 Taxes Resolution
WHEREAS, high and punitive tax rates hamper economic growth, discourage entrepreneurial efforts and innovation, and diminish an individual’s or family’s ability to realize the American Dream, and yield a greater reliance on the government for support, and
WHEREAS, our young people leave Wisconsin for careers with businesses that thrive in states with a lower tax rate, and
WHEREAS, married couples unfairly pay higher taxes at both the state and federal level, and
WHEREAS, the taxation of dividends is nothing more than the taxation of the same money twice, and
WHEREAS, the taxing of Social Security benefits is nothing more than a fee collected by the government to cover the expense of mismanaging moneys it has taken by threat of force from working Americans, and
WHEREAS, the money collected by the state in the form of taxes and fees fare property of the individual citizens of Wisconsin:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled supports:
A. The elimination of the “marriage penalty”, and
B. The elimination of the estate tax, and
C. The elimination of the gift tax, and
D. The elimination of the tax on capital gains, interest, and dividends, and
E. The elimination of income tax on Social Security benefits, and
F. The elimination of the Personal Property Tax in Wisconsin.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled opposes any and all efforts to increase the sales tax or increase or create new fees, and
BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled demands the reduction of Wisconsin state taxes with the goal of removing Wisconsin from the list of highest tax states in America, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled demands that our entire tax code be replaced with a simpler, more fair tax system, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, supports making the Bush tax cuts permanent.
2008-12 2nd Amendment Resolution
WHEREAS, the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of all law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms, and
WHEREAS, this fundamental right is in extreme jeopardy under the current state executive branch, and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin does not allow law-abiding citizens to obtain permits allowing them to carry concealed weapons for self-defense, and
WHEREAS, most states have adopted legislation allowing their citizens to obtain permits to carry concealed weapons for self-defense, and
WHEREAS, in those states which have such legislation there was a significant drop in crime as criminals realized they could no longer count on finding easy (unarmed) prey, and
WHEREAS, in those states which have adopted such legislation the number of incidents of misuse of concealed weapons has been negligible, and
WHEREAS, reforms to the criminal justice system, not gun control, are the keys to reducing violent crime in our society, and
WHEREAS, lawsuits have resulted from damages caused by illegal acts and have damaged legitimate businesses:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled urges the Wisconsin State Legislature and the United States Congress to pass legislation to prohibit individuals or organizations from suing manufacturers of guns and ammunition for damages caused by illegal acts committed by armed individuals or gangs, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled urges the Wisconsin State Legislature and the governor to immediately pass and sign into law legislation permitting law-abiding citizens without felony records or serious mental health problems to obtain permits to carry concealed weapons after completing a suitable firearms familiarization, use and safety course, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled recommends that individual rights to keep and bear firearms by law-abiding citizens be upheld and strengthened to include:
A. Prohibiting all attempts to confiscate legal firearms, and
B. Reinforcing individual rights to protect themselves, their home, their families, and property from criminal intrusion, invasion, or harmful attack, and
C. Enforcing existing laws that make the commission of crimes with the aid of firearms subject to severe penalties.
2008-13 Family Values Resolution
WHEREAS, personal responsibility and traditional family values are to be encouraged, and
WHEREAS, a marriage based on a two-parent, heterosexual family is the best opportunity for parents to instill personal responsibility, morals, and family values in children, and
WHEREAS, the nuclear family is the foundational structure of any society, and
WHEREAS, married couples need to be empowered with the means to have healthy, lifelong marriages, and to raise the standard for two parent families in our communities, and
WHEREAS, governments need to foster an environment that ensures the well-being of the people, especially our children, and
WHEREAS, governmental policies have often become adversarial to the family, and
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Constitution has been amended to recognize marriage in Wisconsin as being between a man and a woman only:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, urges:
A. That legislation be enacted to recognize “family” as people related by blood, marriage, or adoption and to not recognize heterosexual cohabitants or homosexual partners as “family” entitled to family privileges or to have the ability to adopt, and
B. That we oppose any existing or proposed law or any official government practice that provides special privilege, financial support, or forfeiture of religious beliefs to meet the demands of homosexuals and heterosexual cohabitants, and
C. That there should be no extension of government paid family plan health insurance benefits to persons not meeting the definition of “family” (above) and that the private sector be urged to pursue the same policy.
2008-14 Crime & Punishment Resolution
WHEREAS, justice, the protection of law-abiding citizens, and the maintenance of civil order is primary duty of government, and
WHEREAS, certainty, swiftness and severity of punishment are very important in deterring crime, and
WHEREAS, the value society places on the sanctity of human life is reflected in the severity of punishment imposed for wrongfully taking human life, and
WHEREAS, those incarcerated for life for capital crimes can pose danger to guards and fellow prisoners, and
WHEREAS, a true “change of heart” in criminals is needed to lower the recidivism rate, and
WHEREAS, there should be more concern for the victims of crime and for the rights of law-abiding citizens to be safe in their communities than for the rights of law breakers to be free on bail, and
WHEREAS, there is an ongoing effort to deter crime with enhanced investigation and changes in punishment (truth in sentencing) that have caused a need for more prisons, and
WHEREAS, the referendum in favor of the death penalty during the 2006 election was overwhelmingly passed:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled:
A. That we stay the course in this effort and use DNA and other testing where appropriate,
and
B. That the death penalty be reinstated for first-degree intentional homicide, and
C. That the legal system be revised to limit the number of appeals, restrict judge substitutions, and restrict the filing of frivolous lawsuits by prisoners, and
D. That existing prisons owned by the state be fully utilized, and
E. That alternative forms of punishment be explored for our nonviolent criminals, and
F. That all crime should be punished equally and not some to be designated as special hate crimes, and
G. That faith-based programs that reduce the recidivism rate be supported, and
H. That criminals be barred from suing their victim if said criminal was injured while committing a crime.
2008-15 Pledge of Allegiance Resolution
WHEREAS, the legal system of the United States is based on the Judeo-Christian values found in the Ten Commandments, and
WHEREAS, the Constitution of the United States and our form of government was inspired by those same Judeo-Christian values, and
WHEREAS, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the words ‘Under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance are un-Constitutional, and:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled support the continued inclusion of the word ‘Under God’ in our Pledge of Allegiance.
2008-16 Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Resolution
WHEREAS, our country is founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and
WHEREAS, our current state government and University of Wisconsin are giving preferences based on race and gender:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, believes that neither the State of Wisconsin nor any of its political subdivisions or agents shall use race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin as a criteria for discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to any individual or group in the operation of the State’s system of public employment, public education, or public contracting, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, urges the State of Wisconsin to pass a Constitutional Amendment forbidding the use of race or sex in government hiring, contracting, or educational admissions.
2008-17 Desecration of the American Flag Resolution
WHEREAS, the American flag is the banner to which loyal Americans regularly pledge allegiance to our great country, and
WHEREAS, the American flag is the banner which represents our “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled urges enactment of state and federal legislation to ban desecration of the American flag.
2008-18 English as the Official Language Resolution
WHEREAS, the English language is the most commonly used language in the United States of America and the state of Wisconsin, and
WHEREAS, the ability to communicate in the most commonly used language is necessary for the members of society, and
WHEREAS, it has become commonplace in some government agencies to adopt the costly practice of according special privileges which circumvent the adoption of English, and
WHEREAS, the lack of elementary knowledge of English often results in the impairment of a person’s ability to become productive in American society:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled supports efforts to declare English as the official language of the United States and the state of Wisconsin.
2008-19 Freedom of Religion Resolution
WHEREAS, our founding fathers, in an effort to encourage and guarantee freedom for religion, incorporated this right into our Constitution, and WHEREAS, as an example for future generations, they freely expressed their religious views in their writings, government laws, government functions, and government property; yet, did not force religious actions upon others with differing views, and
WHEREAS, the term “separation of church and state” does not reside in the U.S. Constitution, but rather says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled encourages elected Republican officials to allow and encourage citizens, including elected and appointed government officials, employers, and school district personnel to freely express and discuss their religious convictions, providing only that they do not force actions on others or misuse their office to discriminate against other persons with differing religious beliefs, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled encourages the courts to apply the principle of religious freedom within the state as originally intended, and not to encourage government-sponsored exclusion of religion from public discourse.
2008-20 Social Security Reform Resolution
WHEREAS, Social Security is actuarially on the road to bankruptcy, and
WHEREAS, the Social Security system, as it exists, will begin to lose money due to the changing proportion of retirees to workers, and
WHEREAS, if nothing is done, benefits will be cut and taxes will be raised in order to maintain the current system, and
WHEREAS, the current system forces workers to pay into Social Security without guaranteeing benefits upon their retirement:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled supports reforms to the Social Security system that will give workers more freedom to invest in personal retirement accounts while maintaining benefits to retirees who faithfully paid into the system without raising taxes.
2008-21 Pornography Resolution
WHEREAS, pornography is offensive to a majority of citizens, is readily available to children, especially on the Internet, is an assault on traditional moral values, and fosters social problems:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled supports the maximum restriction of pornography within the Constitutional limits established by the courts, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled advocates the elimination of access to pornographic sites on the Internet at schools and libraries.
2008-22 Tort Reform Resolution
WHEREAS, the legal and judicial systems have become increasingly misused, and
WHEREAS, frivolous lawsuits tie up the system, increasing cost for local and state governments, and
WHEREAS, the costs of frivolous lawsuits and extraordinary damage awards cause burdens for all citizens because they result in increased costs for services and products:
NOW, THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled supports the Tort Reform and the limiting of awards for punitive damages, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled supports the enacting of a “loser pay” provision for certain suits, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled supports a change in the Joint and Several Liability concept that would limit the award to the actual percentage of liability and elimination of the so called “deep pockets” concept.
2008-23 Campaign Finance Resolution
WHEREAS, political campaigns have long been an integral and vital aspect of democratic elections in a free society, and
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of the United States has interpreted the First Amendment of the Constitution in a way that defines political contributions as free speech, and
WHEREAS, involvement in political campaigns must be an individual and voluntary decision if campaigns are to reflect the will of the interested people, and
WHEREAS, the McCain-Feingold campaign reform act precludes special interest groups, within 60 days of an election, from media advertising discussing candidates’ voting records; such provisions violate the First Amendment:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled opposes any campaign finance reform proposals that will diminish First Amendment free speech rights and will consider support of such a restricting proposal by GOP legislator as a major breach of GOP platform, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled believes any campaign finance reform law should allow for unlimited campaign spending and unlimited campaign contributions by individuals and require prompt and full disclosure by every candidate of the source and amount of each campaign contribution received, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, supports Congressional passage of Congressman Tom Petri’s “Citizen Involvement in Campaigns Act,” which would provide a $200 tax credit or a $600 deduction for small political contributions, to encourage smaller political contributions and dilute the influence of big contributors.
2008-24 Pro-life Resolution
WHEREAS, our founding fathers held as self-evident truth that we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights and among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and
WHEREAS, abortions violate the first and most basic of human rights:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled:
A. Urges Federal and State Legislators to support alternatives to elective abortions, including adoption laws which make adoption a positive and viable option for birth parents, adoptive parents, and the children, and
B. Urges our Federal and State Legislators to reaffirm the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death through legislation and a human life amendment, and
C. Urges our Federal and State Governments not to directly or indirectly fund elective abortions;
1. By direct aid to persons seeking elective abortions, and
2. By allowing elective abortions to be performed at tax supported facilities, and
3. By including elective abortions as a standard “benefit” in government health plans (abortion riders, if included, should be the financial responsibility of the individual insured), and
4. By providing support to agencies or organizations which perform or counsel for abortions; and by school based clinics that make abortion referrals (reducing risks of abortion complications).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled:
A. Urges our State Legislators to support and pass legislation allowing those in the health care field to exempt themselves from abortion procedures, and
B. Urges the United States Congress to support and pass legislation banning research on fetal tissue and human cloning, while recognizing the potential of adult stem cell research, and
C. Urges the United States Congress to make a Constitutional Amendment prohibiting abortions for minors without true parental consent.
D. Urges our legislators to ban partial birth abortion and calls upon the Republican Party at all levels to refuse support to any candidate who does not oppose partial birth abortion.
E. Urges our legislators to mandate that abortion providers inform their patients seeking a 2nd or 3rd trimester abortion that their baby will feel extreme pain.
2008-25 Father’s Rights/Pre-born Resolution
WHEREAS, fathers activate the conception of a new human child and in fact determine the gender of that child, and
WHEREAS, the father normally has a deep emotional, psychological, and spiritual responsibility in and identification with the baby, and
WHEREAS, paternity and fathering legally, socially, and financially begin at conception:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled supports action leading to legislative guarantees and protection of the father’s inalienable right to decide against any decision to terminate his child’s developing life.
2008-26 Elimination of Funding for Four-Year-Old Kindergarten Resolution
WHEREAS, we, as Republicans hold to the principle that educating and caring for young children is an issue of parental responsibility, and
WHEREAS, 4K or taxpayer funded preschool pressures parents to relinquish responsibility of their young children and we hold to the belief that parents are the first and best teachers of young children, and
WHEREAS, there is no credible evidence to suggest that public 4K benefits any child beyond a solid private sector day care program, and
WHEREAS, taxpayer funded preschool with bus service creates an unfair advantage over private sector preschools and childcare facilities and drives these businesses out and monopolization of 4K by public schools removes the beneficial forces of competition, and
WHEREAS, cost analysis’ show that privately operated preschools are a bargain because they operate without unionized employees, their generous benefit packages, and absent of school administrators’ six figure salaries, and
WHEREAS, public school 4K is over-funded and becomes a moneymaker for school districts, wrongfully driving the adoption of this program and irresponsibly raising taxes:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled calls for the state legislature to eliminate funding of 4-year-old kindergarten.
2008-27 Revisionist History Resolution
WHEREAS, a people’s history and their sound understanding of that history are essential to that people’s identity, vitality, and preservation, and
WHEREAS, our form of government and the welfare of a free people is dependent upon an informed electorate where being informed requires a sound understanding of our nation’s history and founding principles, and
WHEREAS, the strength and vitality so necessary to maintain our form of government, our national identity and our very freedom is dependent upon the honest and accurate presentation and teaching of our history and founding principles to all students, and
WHEREAS, there exist efforts to rewrite, revise, and distort our nation’s history and founding principles to support anti-American political and economic ideologies, rather than presenting our history truthfully and in full, inhibiting an informed electorate and threatening the vitality and preservation of our nation and this union of a free people, and
WHEREAS, these revisionist efforts have been prevalent in our major educational institutions and popular textbooks for at least three decades, causing not only a distorted view of the United States, but also encouraging attitudes and positions that are antithetical to our founding principles and fostering hatred of the very principles that our country was founded upon, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Part of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled urge our elected officials to support educational leaders in their efforts to reinstate the teaching of America’s true history and our nation’s principles that are detailed in America’s founding documents in all of our educational institutions, including those of higher learning.
2008-28 Elimination of Funding for Family Planning Demonstration Project
WHEREAS, the Doyle Administration has supported a Family Planning Project for women ages fifteen to forty-five, including all children ages fifteen to seventeen, and
WHEREAS, this project requires no parental consent for children as young as age fifteen, and
WHEREAS, studies have shown that family planning for teenagers without parental consent results in increased sexual activity and increased pregnancies, and
WHEREAS, in the United States of America we trust the parents to instill values in their children, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled asks the State Legislature to not fund family planning programs for minors without parental consent.
2008-29 Conservative Direction for the GOP Resolution
WHEREAS, the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County has passed numerous resolutions of a conservative nature: favoring a smaller, less intrusive government, a right to bear arms, and a directive to secure our borders, and
WHEREAS, these resolutions are the direction that the people of the party want their representatives to adhere to, and
WHEREAS, the people of the party recognize that while they cannot compel their representatives to vote in this manner, they can and do expect them to:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, urges Republicans to withhold all promotional and financial support of those candidates that do not consistently subscribe to this overall conservative agenda, be they incumbent or new candidate, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County will actively and vigorously seek candidates that will go in this conservative direction and respect the wishes of party members.
2008-30 Reduced Government Spending Resolution
WHEREAS, the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County favors a smaller, less intrusive government, and
WHEREAS, while the preservation of core government services is of undisputed importance, and
WHEREAS, government at all levels has continued to expand its scope and spending beyond areas of core government services, and
WHEREAS, this expansion of government spending has been funded by expanded tax revenues and expanded borrowing, and
WHEREAS, it is morally wrong and fiscally unsound to require future generations to pay for the spending obligations of today, and
WHEREAS, individual taxpayers are in a better position to decide how to spend their money than the government is, and
WHEREAS, less government spending means more money in the hands of individual taxpayers,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, in caucus assembled, calls for elected officials at all levels to reduce government spending.
