STEVENS COUNTY REPUBLICAN PLATFORM
Forward
Stevens County Republican Platform
In order to fully understand the significance for the Stevens County Republican Party platform, one needs to understand the process by which that platform is created. A platform is the descriptive term that is used for the document that is used to express the core beliefs and principals of the political organization. It is the foundation on which the organization is built.
Every four years a process occurs that culminates in the county party convention. The process begins with precinct caucuses that occur in the early part of the year. Individuals who show themselves to be voting Republicans from the precincts, gather at identified and advertised locations to review the current county platform. Out of this precinct meeting comes suggestions about:
• Additional core principle statements
• Elimination of parts of statements or sections that may no longer apply
• To improve on existing wording or statements due to the issues of the day.
Delegates are elected from attendants at these same caucuses to go to the county convention that is then held. The suggestions made from the caucuses are compiled and folded into the current county platform as suggested changes. These suggested changes are presented to the delegates to be discussed, amended, and then voted on by the convention delegates. The
finished platform becomes the county party’s platform for the next four years. This process has a long history in the Republican party nationwide, because it is a bottom-up method of determining what the Republican party stands for at the local level. This process is repeated at the state level by delegates that are elected at the county convention to go to the state convention and then the National convention. It has its most representative characteristics at the county level by virtue of the grass roots involvement at the very basic stage of the process, at the precinct and county level.
Stevens County Republican Platform
2024
PREAMBLE: 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,- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.”
FREE ENTERPRISE: The engine of economic growth is privately held property, used productively with inspired resourcefulness, ingenuity and innovation.
1.1 We assert that the survival of the Republic depends on advancing the Founders understanding of the “Pursuit of Happiness” as the pursuit of moral, productive and enterprising lives.
1.2 Government’s responsibility is not to prop up, bail out, favor, or mandate any private industry or individual, but rather to support them through a minimal regulatory climate (with the exception of Monopolies), locally driven planning and the encouragement of the general spirit of industry throughout all levels of society.
1.3 We believe that the encouragement of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness was and is inextricably connected to an individual’s right to own private property. We reject the expansion of the doctrine of eminent domain to include non-essential public takings or takings for private use. We condemn the practice of civil forfeiture without trial. We do not support the sale or control of “property” to foreign governments, or businesses associated with foreign governments.
1.4 We oppose all mandates from unelected bodies. We oppose Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as a basis for economic decisions. We strongly believe that our country was founded on, and thrived because of merit-based hiring, advancement, and compensation.
1.5 We support simplification and modification of the Federal Income tax system.
1.6 We support a strong nationalistic monetary policy that takes immediate steps to discontinue use of fiat currency and return to a national gold and silver standard to be competitive with international economic systems.
1.7 We oppose the creation of the CBDC “Central Bank Digital Currency.”
1.8 In the interest of National Security and economic independence and stability, we the people and our elected officials will follow the original intent of the Commerce Clause, Article One, Section 8 in the Constitution which is “To regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several States and with the Indians tribes”. We further support that the states encourage local consumption and exportation of American products and services within all branches of the government.
1.9 We support a national, state, and local plan for energy independence, uniquely tailored to the resources available in each state, such as, but not limited to, oil, coal, biomass, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, and solar.
1.10 We support the elimination of mandated or coerced labor union membership and/or dues.
1.11 The proper role of any welfare program is to be innovative and compassionate while remaining accountable to the tax-paying public. The goal is to help people to help themselves. We support personal responsibility in securing a job and recognize that many non-profit and faith-based organizations are far more effective at helping people through their challenging times than government programs.
1.12 We support a two-thirds approval vote of registered voters of the State of Washington before any new state taxes can be levied on its citizens.
1.13 We oppose a Washington State income tax and support the abolishment of the Business and Occupation tax.
1.14 We recognize that Washington State’s trend towards the highest minimum wage in the nation places local small businesses at a significant competitive disadvantage with other States and the rest of the world. We support a plan that would gradually transition the minimum wage to a market-driven level instead of a government-regulated level. Furthermore, economic policy favoring the creation of long-term living-wage jobs should be favored over simply reducing unemployment numbers with low-paying temporary jobs or through government subsidies.
EDUCATION: We believe it is the ultimate responsibility and the inherent right of parents and legal guardians to direct and make use of the best educational resources available. We also strongly hold to the belief that parents are a child’s primary educator and have a right to direct their children’s education, health care and upbringing. No entity shall infringe upon this inherent right.
2.1 We support complete control and responsibility for public education through elected school board directors, implemented at the local level, as stated by RCW 28A.150.230, titled “District school directors’ responsibilities.”
2.2 We strongly support school choice whether that be public, private, charter or home-schooling for our children’s education. We strongly support vouchers and/or tax credits to fund educational options for children.
2.3 State Education funding should be decided in accordance with the state constitution and should not be garnered from property taxes, but by revenue generated from state trust lands and assets – such as natural resource income.
2.4 All of the funding for the US Department of Education is a violation of the Constitution and should be returned to local districts and states. The US Department of Education should be abolished.
2.5 We support an educational system that promotes knowledge-based education testing of students in areas of reading comprehension, writing, math, science, history, economics, and United States constitutional studies. We reject Critical Race Theory (CRT) that has infiltrated curricula that seeks to undermine mainstream American life and has great potential to cause divisiveness. Instead, we insist that it be replaced with shared American values of equality under the law, freedom, and opportunity. Additionally, we strongly believe that the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) should not be imposing social and cultural constructs and urge a return to the disciplines of academic education.
2.6 All students must be able to read and write the English language in order to graduate.
2.7 While we applaud our K-12 educators, we strongly call for RCW 28A.150.210, titled “Basic Education – Goals of school districts” along with RCW 28A.405.030, titled “Must teach morality and patriotism” to be emphasized in the classroom and shall be a component of evaluating public educators’ performance and effectiveness.
2.8 We emphatically urge repeal of the Washington “Obscenity Exemption” RCW 9.68.015 which allows K-12 harmful, explicit, or pornographic materials under the guise of educational materials. We oppose any such materials or content to be part of K-12 curricula, school libraries, or any other taxpayer-funded educational entity.
FAMILY: We assert that the cornerstone of any just and enduring society is the preeminence of strong, loving families, defined by the traditional view of marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman.
3.1 We oppose pornography and human trafficking in all of its forms as dehumanizing and destructive to individuals and society.
3.2 We oppose lifestyle orientation and sensitivity training in our schools.
3.3 We affirm that restroom use, and sports participation should be consistent with a person’s biological sex.
3.4 We affirm that parents are the authority of what, or if, their children receive teaching of sexually oriented subjects of any kind.
3.5 We insist that no child should be taken from a family and placed in a foster home over the objection of the parents because of transgender or abortion issues, nor shall any medical or surgical methods related to these issues be performed.
3.6 We affirm that parents should not be excluded from knowing the content of their children’s education.
3.7 We oppose any and all intrusions by the government into parent-child or family dynamics, without probable cause and due process.
LIFE: We recognize that every being of human origin is a person, and that all human beings possess the equal, inalienable, and a fundamental right to life. Government, having derived its legitimacy from the preservation of this and other inalienable rights, must protect the lives of the innocent and vulnerable among us.
4.1 We recognize the right to life of every innocent human being from the moment of conception until natural death. We hold that life is a gift of God and no one has the right to take or aid another in taking an innocent life. Therefore, abortion in the State of Washington should be illegal.
4.2 We recognize that the conditions bringing a woman to consider an abortion are often catastrophic and emotionally overwhelming. We therefore encourage the growth and presence of a variety of privately funded and faith-based counseling services that provide education and support to those who may be considering an abortion. Compassionate support should also be provided to those mothers who have had an abortion so that they can find emotional healing and empowerment for a better future.
4.3 As the party of Lincoln, we validate racial equality and categorically denounce racially prejudiced policies.
4.4 We support a culture that encourages all of its citizens to rise to the peak of their potential and reject those influences that would seek to devalue anyone through sexual exploitation, objectification, or discrimination.
4.5 We oppose Federal, State, or Local funding for organizations that participate in the administration of human abortion or the use of aborted human fetal tissue.
HEALTHCARE: It is the inherent responsibility of each citizen to provide and prepare for his or her own healthcare needs.
5.1 Doctor and insurance plan selection is the exclusive responsibility of each individual citizen and should in no way be mandated or assigned by any government agency. Health Savings Accounts, cost-sharing ministries, and other personally financed options should be encouraged to expand the array of choices available to consumers to promote cost savings and to facilitate individual accountability.
5.2 We categorically reject the implementation of government-mandated, socialized healthcare in any form. We assert private insurance options are far superior to any government or socialized healthcare program and strongly support the ability of insurance companies to do business across state lines, and to form “high-risk pools” for those with preexisting conditions. Small businesses and individuals should be encouraged to form or utilize insurance co-ops and other non-profit options. We support the option of a catastrophic health insurance model as well as innovative insurance options such as cafeteria plans. Individuals shall have the ability to opt in or opt out of benefits as they choose.
5.3 All medical insurance premiums should be tax deductible, and no healthcare benefit should be taxed.
5.4 We support Tort Reform legislation and other innovative solutions to reduce the waste, inefficiencies, and corruption within the medical, insurance, and tort systems.
5.5 We understand that the Constitution provides for equal opportunity, not equal outcomes. We oppose the use of disparities and equity to drive healthcare policy.
5.6 We believe in family and individual rights in healthcare, to choose or decline services, without coercion or penalty. All healthcare therapeutics, including vaccines, shall be based upon the informed consent and desires of the individual or their designee.
5.7 As there are only two biological sexes, we believe that transgender drugs or surgical treatments shall be prohibited to minors. No taxpayer funding shall be used for any transgender drugs or surgical treatments.
5.8 We believe that control of healthcare in the United States is a sovereign national right and control of our healthcare shall not be ceded to the World Health Organization nor any other supranational entity.
5.9 We support the repeal of liability protection for medical therapeutics companies.
5.10 We support the control of health care costs by curbing medical monopolies, prohibiting anti-competitive practices and cost-shifting, and encouraging cash-based health care systems. Health care pricing shall be transparent and equal irrespective of the payer.
5.11 With the goal of enhancing patient privacy, easing administrative burdens on health care practitioners, and enhancing the quality of service, we support deregulation of the healthcare industry and the elimination of government-mandated electronic records.
5.12 We oppose the use of federal, state, and local, funds and/or tax dollars being funneled through non-government organizations (NGOs) to provide free or subsidized healthcare services and/or programs to illegal aliens. We support the requirement for all persons seeking healthcare services and/or programs to provide proof of USA citizenship to be eligible for any state and/or federal health care funds and/or programs including Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) provisions.
5.13 We reject the State’s policy of disciplining healthcare providers who because of sincerely held religious convictions cannot administer gender transforming hormones that contradict the patient’s biological sex.
CRIME AND THE SECOND AMENDMENT: It is the natural right of every lawful citizen to secure the safety of their person, lawful liberty, families, and property. The primary intent of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution was to guarantee this right through the right to keep and bear arms. Furthermore, the Fourteenth Amendment, Section I, constrains all states from infringing on any privileges and immunities guaranteed by the Constitution. Therefore, it is the obligation of federal and state governments to ensure that no laws are passed that infringe upon these privileges and immunities.
6.1 The role of local, state, and federal law enforcement or military agencies should always be to support and enhance the basic personal right to keep and bear arms, and never to usurp, replace, diminish, or subjugate it.
6.2 We support swift and appropriate sentences commensurate with the crime. Criminals should pay for damage from or caused by their actions as well as the costs of their punishment. When appropriate, capital crimes should be swiftly punished with the death penalty, with a limit of three death row appeals.
6.3 We oppose the government regulation of the internet.
6.4 We oppose the legalization of marijuana, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other Scheduled drugs.
6.5 We oppose bathroom and locker room usage policies based on gender identification rather than biological reality. Policies based on gender identification have already led to criminal behavior.
6.6 We oppose any targeted tax on weapons, weapons components, or ammunition, or concealed carry permits.
6.7 We oppose restrictions on semi-automatic firearms.
6.8 We support prompt passage and enactment of Kate’s Law, House Resolution 3011, which provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for individuals who illegally re-enter the United States after having been convicted of an aggravated felony.
6.9 We are totally opposed to any sanctuary cities.
6.10 We support our law enforcement officers as they uphold the constitutional laws of the State of Washington.
6.11 We promote legislation to criminalize the defacement, desecration, destruction, or removal of historic artifacts or statues erected by local, county, state, or federal governments without due process.
6.12 We believe the Federal Bureau of Investigation is extremely corrupt and needs to be audited by the Inspector General and reorganized and brought back into their original legislative mandate.
6.13 No United States citizen should be punished for a crime unless they are convicted through just and speedy due process of law.
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES: The responsible use of our natural resources is the base from which all industries grow, and proper stewardship and utilization of these resources guarantee future economic growth and stability.
7.1 We support multiple use of all public lands, including but not limited to: resource development, recreation, shooting, hunting, fishing, and grazing.
7.2 We support policies that protect our fishing resources without detrimental drawdowns, bypass, or dam breaching, which harm the production of electrical energy, agriculture, and destroy jobs. We oppose any attempt to bypass, breach, or remove any dams under current conditions.
7.3 We affirm that hydropower is a cheap and clean form of energy and must be included as a source of renewable energy.
7.4 Government must compensate, without condemnation, property owners at market value when their property (e.g., timber, water, and mineral) rights are damaged, impaired, or taken by government action.
7.5 We believe that court cases involving public lands, environmental policy enforcement, and water rights conflicts should be heard only in the local jurisdiction where such public land is situated.
7.6 We support a policy of reduction of federal and state holdings of lands and assets and oppose the establishment of United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserves on American soil, Agenda 2030, the Yukon to Yellowstone buffer zones, or any other international or domestic plan designed or leading to the impairing of private property rights or the economically destructive under-utilization of public lands.
7.7 We believe riparian (water) rights should stay with the landowners and other water users and not be transferred to state or federal ownership.
7.8 Any land management standards imposed on private lands shall also be imposed on federal and state lands.
7.9 We give credence to the scientific geological record of a multi-year disaster cycle and variations in earth rotation cycles (Milankovitch cycles) as having major effects on earth climate. We therefore reject attempts to use Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW), which is the belief that human activities are the main driver of climate change as an excuse for the development of globalist plans, to levy taxes, regulate businesses or individuals, or implement government programs based on the AGW premise.
7.10 Wolves should not be listed as a state and/or federal endangered species. Further, the WDFW should immediately terminate the state Wolf Recovery Plan and not implement other predator programs.
7.11 Landowners shall be allowed to remove problematic or nuisance animals including listed endangered, threatened, or sensitive species using whatever means necessary on their own property without prior approval or authorization from any government bodies.
7.12 We support the return of all public lands held in trust by the federal government, apart from those holdings as enumerated by the United States Constitution, to the state governments.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AND FOREIGN POLICY: One of the primary responsibilities of the Federal government must be to return to the doctrine and policy of peace through strength, and the projection of national defense and national security resources of the United States should be deployed through the perspective of protecting and securing America’s interests first. We believe that ensuring our national security by protecting our nation’s borders is an integral part of ensuring our National Defense and is best guaranteed through a strong, well-prepared civil authority and United States military who are supplied with the best available leadership, technology, intelligence, and resources available. We affirm that our national defense and national security interests should never be subordinated to or breached by doctrine, rules, or laws of another nation or international organization.
8.1 In support of our National Defense, the Congress shall not abdicate the war powers to the Executive Branch except when under imminent threat and shall not to be used as a preemptive strike unless approved by congress.
8.2 In support of our National Defense, United States military personnel shall never be placed under foreign or United Nations command.
8.3 In the interest of National Defense and National Security, we insist that our nation’s critical assets and infrastructure be owned, operated, maintained, and controlled by domestically owned or controlled public or private interests.
8.4 As a matter of support of our National Defense and National Security, resources necessary to respond to any emergency must be produced and stockpiled in the United States.
8.5 In support of our National Defense, the military should be allowed to develop and implement its own policies regarding sexual orientation. DEI should not be taught in the military and should not be forced by any branch of government to adopt policies regarding these issues that may jeopardize our National Defense and National Security or in any way disrupt the order or chain of command.
8.6 In support of National Defense and National Security, we believe that access to the resources in the National Strategic Reserve should be limited to withdrawal for National Defense, National Security, or Presidentially Declared Disaster Emergencies as defined by congressional law.
8.7 In support of our National Security, we believe that Immediate action should be taken to bring a decisive halt to illegal immigration and trafficking of drugs, people, and other illegal substances across our borders. We believe that the use of military force, assets, or technology in support of civil authority shall be used where necessary. All existing immigration laws should be enforced, and any public entity or officials refusing to implement these laws should be tried as a criminal for refusing to do so. In pursuit of strong, secure borders, the border wall must be completed.
8.8 In support of National Security, we affirm that when the executive branch of the Federal Government abdicates it responsibilities to defend the country’s borders as required by law, the doctrine of federal supremacy no longer pertains, and the states are free to take such actions as they deem necessary to defend their own borders.
8.9 In support of National Security, we support the premise that immediate actions to curtail any and all funding of non-profit organizations (NGO) that enable the entry of illegal immigrants into the country, by facilitating their transportation, or resettlement, or provide services or financial support. We support the enforcement of federal legislation providing criminal penalties for the aiding and abetting of illegal immigration.
8.10 In support of National Security, we believe that refugee immigrants (refugees who have been forced to leave their home countries) should be prevented from entering the United States until thorough vetting processes are in place, and refugee placement should occur only in those jurisdictions where all local government has taken positive action to welcome said approved, legally recognized refugees.
8.11 In support of our National Security, illegal immigrants should not be afforded the rights and benefits of citizenship and should be returned to their country of origin upon discovery. Children born in the United States to persons who illegally enter or reside in the United States should not be granted the rights, benefits, and privileges of citizenship.
8.12 In support of our National Security, non-US citizens committing war crimes or acts of terrorism against the United States, or its citizens shall be tried in a military court and afforded the rights of the Geneva Convention but should not be given the rights of a U.S. Citizen or tried in a civilian court.
8.13 Foreigners who are living in this country on expired visas are here illegally and should immediately be deported.
LIMITED GOVERNMENT: In a Constitutional Republic, self-government can only be maintained when State and Federal Governments are restrained to their proper constitutional parameters, and local governments empowered to preserve the sacred rights of their sovereign citizens. The United States Constitution provides that the powers of the Federal Government are limited to those powers expressly enumerated. We affirm our commitment to the protection of individual rights and of states’ rights against the unconstitutional expansion of federal power. We are committed to actively resisting the overreach of federal power.
9.1 The Constitution is a contract created by and for the states. The states are the ultimate stakeholders of this compact. Therefore, the states are obligated and duty-bound to protect and defend the Constitution from all encroachments. Thus, the states must coalesce to audit the Federal Government to restrain it within the framework and scope of the Constitution.
9.2 We believe that we must oppose all bills, resolutions, or calls for a Constitutional Convention or Convention of States for the purpose of amending the U.S. Constitution. Such a meeting would be uncontrollable in its nature.
9.3 We support the downsizing of federal, state, local government, and bureaucracy at all levels. In addition, federal and state administrative agencies derive their authority and legitimacy solely from the express delegation of congressional or legislative power. We affirm that the duty of administrative agencies is to act strictly within the bounds of their delegated authority. We categorically reject the notion of a “fourth branch of government” composed of unelected officials exercising powers beyond those expressly delegated by Congress. We completely support legislative action at both state and federal levels to curb administrative overreach and to remove both elected and appointed officials who exceed their lawful or delegated authority.
9.4 We strongly support and encourage legislation that restricts the Governor of Washington State from operating under an “Emergency Declaration” for more than thirty days, or until the Legislature can convene, whichever is shorter.
9.5 The constitutional rights of the citizens of the Republic are meaningful only if there are adequate legal mechanisms for enforcing them. We support the enacting of legislation that would significantly expand the avenues for individuals to obtain legal redress against state or federal officials who violate the constitutional rights of the citizens. In particular, we commit to the enactment of legislation granting automatic standing to any citizen whose constitutional rights are infringed.
9.6 We support the elimination of unfunded mandates by all levels of government.
9.7 Growth management planning should be locally driven and controlled by County elected officials. A concerted effort should also be made to include public policy debates in the creation of propositions.
9.8 We support the Constitutional protections guarding private property from the threat of unjustified seizure by eminent domain. Neither should such properties be condemned for the purpose of the government taking control of them.
9.9 We strongly support and encourage the Washington State Legislature to enact legislation to protect citizens’ current and historic technologically available location data. Except in the case of an immediate, life-threatening situation, any government agency must be required to obtain a warrant based on probable cause before gaining access to this information. We also strongly support and encourage the Washington State Legislature to enact legislation to require appropriate policies regarding the disclosure of data collection when no criminal case has been filed.
9.10 We reaffirm that the United States Federal Government is a republic and not a democracy.
9.11 We affirm our unwavering support for the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and recognize that any infringement of this by the Federal Government is a violation of the Constitution.
9.12 All State government agencies (Child Protective Services, Department of Education, etc.) shall have their ability to enforce regulations, policy, and procedure strictly limited to Constitutional parameters and shall be held accountable to all local elected officials. All alleged violators of social, medical, environmental, or any other existing policy or law shall be considered innocent until proven guilty, and the burden of proof lies with the accuser.
9.13 All domestic government business shall be conducted exclusively in the English language.
9.14 We acknowledge Article 4 Section 3 of the Constitution allows for the formation of a new state, and that doing so may be in the interest of the people, culture, and values of Eastern Washington.
ELECTION REFORM: The Stevens County Republican Party recognizes that for the Constitutional Republic of the United States of America, or for any other form of representative government to exist, the citizens must be assured a voting and election process that is completely transparent and one in which the outcome can be agreed upon by all participating parties. Without policies and laws in place and rigorously enforced to guarantee a completely transparent, secure, and accessible election process, the nation will eventually and inevitably dissolve into tyranny, and chaos.
10.1 We recognize that any method of voter registration must employ a secure and transparent means of verifying the identification and qualifications of the applicant. Registrants must be able to prove they will be 18 years old by Election Day, a United States citizen, and a current resident of Washington State before they are allowed to vote.
10.2 Universal mail-in voting is widely recognized as being one of the voting methods most susceptible to fraud. Therefore, we strongly support and encourage the Washington State Legislature to enact legislation to eliminate universal mail-in ballots, with extremely limited exceptions for overseas military or absentee voters, requiring proof of identification, an official ballot request form, and a ballot containing a unique, currency-grade watermark.
10.3 Any election process that allows early voting or accepts and counts ballots beyond election day is highly vulnerable to fraud. We demand an election process of single-day voting and tabulating, with extremely limited exceptions for overseas military and absentee voters.
10.4 We recognize the need to return to a precinct-level election process. A voter must verify their ID, sign a poll book, and mark a paper ballot by hand. These ballots must then be tabulated manually with complete transparency and direct observation.
10.5 We believe it is absolutely critical to remove and eliminate any form of electronic poll books, ballot scanners, removable electronic storage devices, ballot tabulators, Wi-Fi routers, or internet-connected computers from all polling locations.
10.6 We believe we must return to a state primary system that will provide a partisan choice of candidates in the general election. It should also be required that each candidate identifies their party of choice.
10.7 State and local bond election ballots should be required to include the amount of debt currently outstanding, current debt service payments, current per capita debt obligations, the amount of new debt being proposed, estimated debt service for the new debt, and estimated per capita burden being proposed. The bond issue must obtain a yes vote of a minimum of 60 percent. No public funds are to be spent influencing a bond election.
10.8 We support full and immediate public disclosure of revenue and disbursement of campaign monies or other donations.
10.9 We affirm the value of the Electoral College and oppose any effort to dismantle it.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND MONETARY POLICY: For any form of government to be successful, it must be financially sustainable. History has provided us with numerous examples of nations that have suffered runaway inflation, currency devaluation, and economic collapse caused by excessive debt and deficit spending, and the excessive printing of currency. Unfortunately, the current financial policy of the United States is rapidly leading to this end.
11.1 We support a strong nationalistic monetary policy that takes immediate steps to reduce the national debt, eliminate deficit spending, and reduce the extent to which the country’s economy is dependent upon or vulnerable to manipulation by foreign nations.
11.2 We strongly support a federal-level balanced budget, whether achieved by way of constitutional amendment or otherwise.
11.3 We reject the Federal Reserve’s policies of unrestrained credit creation and monetizing debt by the excessive printing of money. These policies have devalued our currency, destroyed the nation’s creditworthiness, wreaked havoc with the financial markets, led to rampant price inflation, the massive transfer of wealth from the middle class to a small number of privileged insiders, and ultimately have jeopardized the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency.
11.4 We reject the idea that a taxable “gain” occurs when the value of property, expressed in dollars, increases as the result of the government’s devaluation of its currency. We strongly support the return to a commodity-backed currency and legislation that would authorize the use of gold and silver as legal tender.
11.5 We believe, as a privately held entity, the Federal Reserve must be accountable to the citizens of the United States through regular and thorough audits of its assets, liabilities, ownership, and performance. We oppose the Federal Reserve’s control over monetary policy, which is within the purview of Congress alone, and condemn its involvement in the manipulation of the currency and the financial markets through the unbridled creation of credit. We affirm the authority of Congress to coin money and regulate the value thereof.
11.6 We oppose the creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), which would give the federal government unfettered license to manipulate the nation’s economy and money supply, reallocate wealth, monitor and control every financial transaction in which citizens engage, and conceal these machinations from public view. We affirm the right to privacy in financial transactions and the right to engage in commerce free of government coercion. We support the right of ordinary citizens to transact business in cash.
11.7 We affirm the principles of transparency and public accountability for financial institutions. No institution should be permitted to be so systemically important as to be “too big” to fail. Financial institutions must be required to publicly disclose all assets and liabilities on a “mark to market” basis. A depository bank (i.e., one which takes deposits and makes loans) should not be permitted to speculate with deposits or use them as collateral. Depositors and investors must retain legal ownership of funds deposited or invested with financial institutions.
11.8 We support the immediate enactment of legislation nullifying Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board Statement 56 (“FASAB 56”), which expressly approved the obfuscation and outright concealing of the government’s finances from public scrutiny. We demand prompt and complete accounting from federal agencies, particularly the Department of Defense and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FOREIGN POLICY: We believe that the first responsibility in addressing foreign policy resides in an America First doctrine. Foreign policies should be framed through the negotiation of country-to-country treaties as established in our Constitution. All treaties, as outlined within the Constitution, shall be ratified by the United States Senate.
12.1 We support our constitutional obligation to uphold our treaties with allies provided that such treaties were lawfully entered into and only to the extent that they further legitimize constitutional objectives. Any treaty that has the purpose or effect of ceding the sovereignty or constitutional authority of the United States to a foreign nation, which represents the delegation of legislative or executive authority to a foreign power, or that enables a degree of foreign influence inconsistent with United States sovereignty and the constitutional form of government should be regarded as null and void.
12.2 With respect to matters of public health or any public health-related emergency, we categorically reject any proclamation of authority over the United States made by the World Health Organization (WHO). We regard any treaty, compact, executive order, or agreement, with or without the proclaimed force of law, as null and void should it attempt to subject the United States or its citizens to the authority of such a proclaimed world organization.
12.3 Any treaty or agreement entered into by the United States with any foreign government or international entity, such as a non-governmental organization, which is not ratified in accordance with the Constitution and by the United States Senate, is void and unenforceable.
12.4 No foreign law (including Sharia Law) or edicts from international organizations shall preempt the United States Constitution.
12.5 We support the United States of America’s withdrawal from the United Nations.
12.6 Congress should review, renegotiate, or withdraw the United States from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
12.7 We oppose the use of foreign aid by the Executive branch or any agency without the approval of the United States Congress.
12.8 We oppose any funding for international or national gain-of-function research.
This 2024 Platform was adopted on February 24, 2024, at the Stevens County Republican Convention.