2024 CLALLAM COUNTY REPUBLICAN PLATFORM
Preamble
We, the Republicans of Clallam County, reaffirm our commitment to the timeless truths set out in our nation's Declaration of Independence that all people are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and that it is the fundamental duty of government, deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed, to secure these rights. We embrace without reservation the principles expressed in the Federal and Washington State Constitutions and pledge our party to fight for a freer and more prosperous county, state, and nation. To these ends, we, the Republican Party of Clallam County, adopt this Platform on the 24th day of February, 2024, to guide our candidates and share our vision with our neighbors.
Limited Government
I. The proper function of government is to do for the people only that which must be done, and cannot be done as well by individuals. The most effective government is government closest to the people. Therefore, we strongly support:
• Limiting Congress to the powers enumerated in Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution.
• Full adherence to the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which reserves to the States and the people all powers not specifically delegated to the federal government under the Constitution.
• Local control of land use policy and planning. Thus, we call for repeal of the Washington State Growth Management Act and returning to local planning under the Planning Enabling Act.
• Adequate funding for facilitating care for those who are truly unable to care for themselves or function in society, due to mental or physical disability.
• A robust economic environment, free from burdensome regulations and taxes, and that supports the creation of jobs that enable adequate support to all families and individuals, and reverses the flight of jobs and industries to other states and countries.
Rule of Law
II. The rule of law is the foundation of a government of laws and not of men. Public safety is one of the primary duties of government.
• Each branch of government must adhere to the United States and Washington State Constitutions.
• To maintain ordered liberty and a civil society, public and private virtue should be encouraged, and justice must be administered equally and impartially to all.
• Violation of law should reap appropriate consequences. The goal of rehabilitation shall be aimed at, but shall not be substituted for penalty as proscribed under law.
• Adequate funding and full staffing of Law Enforcement and Prosecutorial offices and giving them adequate tools to apprehend criminals is a must for expeditious justice and protection of the innocent.
• We oppose laws and sentencing guidelines that result in “catch and release” for serial offenders.
• Treatment for those who have broken the law and are mentally ill and/or suffer from drug and/or alcohol addiction should be funded and available as part of the sentencing package.
• In America, everyone who plays by the rules should get a fair shot, while those who flaunt the rules should be treated in accordance with the rule of law, with the order of priority in all matters being (a) retribution, (b) deterrence, (c) restitution, and (d) rehabilitation. Priorities must each be fully in order before the next priority is addressed.
• We support the death penalty
National Security
III. It is necessary and honorable for the United States to defend itself and its citizens against all attacks. Therefore, we support:
• All United States military forces, veterans and their dependents.
• Well equipped and trained armed forces capable of deterring, and if necessary defending us against, all foreign threats.
• A comprehensive missile, chemical, biohazard, electromagnetic pulse and cyber-attack defense program.
• Securing our borders against illegal immigration and those who pose a threat to this nation, and vigorously enforcing our current immigration laws.
• Immigration policy that welcomes those who will contribute to and assimilate into America legally.
• Maintaining full control of our national sovereignty and command of our armed forces.
• Energy independence for the United States.
PROPERTY RIGHTS
IV. We believe in the right of individuals to own and protect their property. Therefore:
• Government regulation of private property must be minimized, and restrictive rules and regulations must not be imposed or expanded through administrative department interpretation.
• We support facilitating the creation of affordable housing through the removal of unnecessarily expensive and burdensome regulations and requirements.
• Government policies and regulations must protect natural resources and the environment, based on valid peer-reviewed science, requiring the economic benefits of regulation to exceed the costs, while encouraging jobs and economic vitality.
• We oppose further government acquisition of privately owned properties, and encourage sale to U.S. citizens of excess government property.
• We favor strong federal and state legislation to prevent abuse of the eminent domain power and to clarify and reinforce the Fifth Amendment limitation that private property may be taken only for public use, with just compensation paid when property is taken or devalued by regulation.
• We oppose the selling of farmland to foreign countries or their agents
FISCAL PRUDENCE
V. Excessive tax burdens and governmental attempts to impose income equality or socialism violate the basic rights of a free people, encourage growth of repressive government, and discourage individual responsibility. Therefore, we support:
• Balanced budgets at all levels of government, except in time of a war declared by Congress.
• A federal balanced budget amendment.
• Eliminating government bailouts of any kind.
• Significant simplification of the federal tax structure.
• Abolition of death taxes, both state and federal.
• A presidential line item veto.
• The state constitution’s prohibition of state income tax.
• Lowering gas taxes and no pay-by-mile tax.
• A Washington State constitutional amendment requiring 2/3 legislative approval or voter approval to raise taxes, and simple majority legislative approval for fee increases.
• Ending unfunded and under-funded mandates.
• Ending strikes and collective bargaining for wages and benefits for public employees.
• Prohibiting legislative use of emergency clauses to circumvent the people’s power of initiative and referendum.
• Rollback of recording fee increases and future prohibition of county auditor recording fees and costs that are not strictly and directly related to the expense of recording and maintaining recorded documents by the County Auditor.
HEALTHCARE
VI. Responsible individual initiative and free enterprise best promote a strong economy. Therefore we support:
• Tort reform, particularly relating to personal injury and medical malpractice liability.
• Every patient’s right to be fully informed of, and consent to, all medical procedures and treatments.
• Free-market solutions to curtail health care costs, including health savings accounts, tax deductible private-pay medical insurance and health care services, allowing consumers to buy health insurance policies across state lines, and ending state health insurance coverage mandates.
EQUAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES
VII. We believe all United States citizens are guaranteed and entitled to equal rights and privileges. Granting of special rights or privileges to any ethnic or social group works to the detriment of that group and all citizens. Therefore:
• The privilege of voting should be reserved to those who can prove they are eligible to vote. Requiring reasonable proof of citizenship to register to vote is not discrimination.
• Voter lists should be timely managed, ensuring that only those who are legally entitled to vote in any given election are provided with a ballot.
• Only those ballots which are legally cast by eligible voters should be counted.
• Elections should be held on one day for all citizens, with the day recognized as a civic holiday for the preservation and exercise of our democracy, with in-person voting by only those who provide valid identification proving identity and current eligibility to vote, voting with paper ballots in the voter's precinct, to be tallied precinct by precinct. Allowance of absentee ballots should be restricted to those only who cannot appear in person for limited reasons such as employment or serious current illness or medical condition.
CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT
VIII. We support the United States Constitution as written and intended by the founders of our nation and as legally amended by the process set forth in Article V, as well as the Washington State constitution. Therefore:
• We oppose amendment, modification or limitation by judicial interpretation.
• We support requiring all lawmakers to abide by all laws imposed on the citizens.
• The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of—not freedom from— religion. We call on all school authorities and government officials to respect the rights of individuals and groups of individuals to engage in voluntary prayer and other religious speech and celebration of traditional religious holidays.
• We oppose allocating Washington’s Electoral College votes based on the national popular vote.
• We oppose using any non-U.S. laws or programs, whether sponsored by the United Nations, its affiliated organizations, or otherwise, as a basis for U.S. laws or regulations or court or administrative decisions.
• Schools shall not be sanctuary shelters for illegal immigrants.
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND EDUCATION
IX. We recognize the traditional family as the foundation unit of our society and support government policies that enhance and encourage family responsibility and rights. The primary responsibility for achieving educational goals rests, not with the government, but with parents, with whom school boards shall cooperate. Therefore:
• We support parents’ responsibility and authority for the education of, and healthcare decisions for, their children, including parents’ right to choose home-schooling, private schools, charter schools, or public schools. Educational funding should follow the child, thus we support tax credits and vouchers for those who choose alternatives to public schools.
• We support recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and intensive teaching of the Constitution, American and Washington State history, including our Judeo-Christian heritage, civics, U.S. Government, and economics, free of revisionist influence.
• Every student has a right, an obligation and a need to become proficient in the English language, both verbally and in written form. In addition, we support emphasizing rigorous academic skills in mathematics and sciences. When, as required by state law, students are instructed regarding the consequences and responsibilities of health-related choices, we support emphasizing informed abstinence regarding sexual behavior, and obedience to laws regarding drugs, tobacco, and alcohol.
HUMAN DIGNITY
X. All human beings have a right to life from conception to natural death, regardless of age, health or conditions of dependency. Therefore:
• We commend individuals, religious groups and private organizations who provide positive alternatives to abortion by meeting physical, emotional and financial needs of pregnant women, including adoption services, where desired. We condemn any violence directed toward persons or entities that support or oppose abortion.
• We support a requirement for parental consent for all services for minors, including any health care decisions, such as abortion or gender affirming care, with necessary protections for the minor’s safety, and pre-abortion informed consent for all expectant mothers after reasonable education of the adverse effects of abortion and alternatives to abortion.
• We recognize that life begins at conception and all life is sacred. Every human life has inestimable dignity and value, including unborn, elderly, and handicapped.
RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS
XI. We support the constitutional guarantee that the individual right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
• We support citizens’ rights to protect themselves, their property and their family and neighbors.
• We oppose mandatory gun registration, licensing of gun owners, and restrictions on lawabiding citizens’ rights to purchase, own and carry firearms, ammunition or their components.
CONCLUSION
XII. The Republican Party offers the political leadership and will to successfully implement these principles of government. We invite everyone, regardless of who they are, what they believe in, or where they come from, to join us in this endeavor.