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Adopted in Convention on 6 March 2010 Agriculture Business and Economic Development Education Energy and Transportation Family Values Government Health and Human Services Homeland Security and Immigration Law and Justice National Defense and Foreigh Policy Natural Resources and Environment Right to Life Taxes and Spending 1. Agriculture 1.1.. We oppose the use of agricultural products as a foreign policy tool. We support less government interference in agriculture, the lifting of sanctions, and opening of foreign markets for our commodities. 1.2.. While we believe in the humane treatment of animals, we oppose attempts to impose additional restrictions on present animal-husbandry practices and the use of animals in medical research. 1.3.. We support farm programs that allow individuals to raise the legal crops they wish and sell them in free markets. 1. 4.. We oppose efforts to impose a surcharge or additional taxes on all forms of meat, poultry, fish, and dairy. 1.5.. We support assessment of agricultural land and buildings based on productivity. 1.6.. We favor strict enforcement of all Plant Variety Protection and Utility patents for seeds worldwide. We also believe that farmers should not be unfairly charged technology fees or prices that are not paid by farmers in competing countries that use the same technology. 1.7.. We support the science-based, cost/benefit-ratio impact studies and statements on issues, rules, and laws affecting agriculture. 1.8.. We support increased research and worldwide consumer education concerning the safety and benefits of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). 1.9.. Non-elected regulatory bodies like the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission should not be allowed to exceed the authority given them by the Iowa General Assembly. 1.10.. We oppose a mandatory National Animal Identification System (NAIS) which strips private property rights from farmers and would place exorbitant costs on producers and completely destroy family farms throughout Iowa. 2. Business and Economic Development 2.1.. We believe that the focus of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration should be to work with, not against, business. 2.2.. We believe that the market place, and not government, should set the minimum wage. 2.3.. We support Iowa's Right to Work Law and the passage of a National Right to Work Law. 2.4.. We support developing a better business climate and economic job growth in Iowa through reduced regulations and lower taxes. 2.5.. We support restructuring bankruptcy laws to make filing bankruptcy more difficult and to encourage instead the restructuring of debt. The use of bankruptcy to avoid paying debts should be discouraged. 2.6. We believe that landlords should have the same rights as other business owners. Nonpayment of rents should be considered a 'theft of service.' 2.7. We support a landlord's right to select tenants by an application process. 2.8. We support "paycheck protection" that would bar corporations from collecting or using employee's money for political purposes without express written consent, and that would prohibit unions from requiring members to contribute to a Political Action Committee. 2.9. Government should not be able to use eminent domain powers to confiscate property to be used for private development and not for use by the general public. The Kelo decision should be overturned. 3. Education 3.1. We oppose a federal- or state-run preschool system. 3.2. We oppose compulsory preschool, and any proposal to lower the age at which children are required to attend school. 3.3. We support the use of a school voucher system and/or tax credits to assist parents as they exercise their right to choose government, private, home, or alternative educational programs for their children. 3.4. We believe libraries must control access to objectionable content (print, audio, or video) by minors in keeping with acceptable community standards. 3.5. We believe that patriotism, citizenship, voter rights and responsibilities, and respect for our country and its symbols, along with an accurate portrayal of America's history should be taught in our schools. We specifically support the teaching of the documents and beliefs of our Founding Fathers, including its religious inspiration. 3.6. We support the abolition of the Federal Department of Education, and the removal of this position from the Cabinet. In addition, we call for the downsizing of the Iowa Department of Education. We believe that the control of education should be left to the parents, teachers, and local school boards. 3.7. We support voluntary prayer in the schools and the use of historical religious texts in the classroom as a local option. 3.8. We believe the state should prohibit school-based health clinics from providing or recommending abortion. We also oppose the distribution of condoms in tax-funded schools. 3.9. We believe that educators should stress abstinence outside of marriage as the surest way to prevent pregnancy, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and the associated psychological problems. 3.10. We oppose the teaching of homosexual behavior as a normal, acceptable, or alternative lifestyle, and believe that sex education must emphasize traditional heterosexual lifestyles. 3.11. We demand that the Board of Regents and the state government end the practice of allowing some of our state universities to offer instate tuition to illegal aliens. 3.12. We support fast-track teacher certification to allow competent professionals to teach in our schools. 3.13. We believe that teacher salaries should be based on performance rather than solely on tenure. We support programs that reward superior teachers and outline clear procedures to remove ineffective educators. 3.14. We believe Educators at all levels shall have comprehensive communication skills in English, and that English should be the official language used in the Iowa educational system. 3.15. We believe that any educational mandates not accompanied by sufficient funding should be declared null and void. 3.16. The Iowa legislature should allow educators more disciplinary tools or options when confronting disruptive student behavior. 3.17. We urge the Department of Education to eliminate the rule of proportionality, an unfair quota, as a test for Title IX compliance. 3.18. We believe that the ability of parents to open enroll their children should not be limited by the financial or ethnic concerns of the school they wish their students to attend. 3.19. We believe that "social promotions" of students who cannot read, write, and perform at the level of their peers should be abolished in Iowa schools. We do such students no favor by ignoring their need for remedial assistance to learn the skills necessary to flourish in today's technological society. 3.20. An American Flag should be present in, and displayed in proper manner and size, in every government-school classroom. 3.21. We believe in a strong local control over the accountability of a federal program (such as No Child Left Behind) for our school systems. 3.22. Out of concern for what we see as an ideologically imbalance in our tax-supported educational institutions, we call for a major effort, including laws where appropriate, to make our government schools, colleges, and universities ideologically neutral, including the correction of inaccurately portrayed history in government textbooks. 3.23. In order to best serve Iowa's 30,000 home-schooled students, we believe no further restrictions or regulations on the competent private instruction laws in Iowa code or Iowa Department of Education administrative rules should be created. 4. Energy and Transportation 4.1. In order to reduce our dependency on foreign oil, and to reduce the likelihood of dangerous tanker spills, we believe the environmentally friendly alternative of offshore drilling should be started, particularly in the oil-rich areas off Florida, Louisiana, and California. We also urge thedevelopment of the oil and gas fields in and around the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 4.2. We support the completion of the projects that would make U.S. Highways 20 and 30 divided four lanes across the state of Iowa. 4.3. We urge that all motor fuel taxes and motor vehicle registration fees be used to maintain both the rural and urban infrastructure of roads, streets, and bridges. We oppose any transfer of State Road Use Funds for other uses such as funding the Highway Patrol. 4.4. We believe the locks and dams on the Mississippi River need to be enlarged to enhance barge traffic and expedite barge movement, provided the entire cost is born by user fees and not general tax revenues. 5. Family Values 5.1. We support adoption as an alternative to abortion. We support legislation that would expedite adoption, and make it less expensive for both the biological parents and the adoptive parents. 5.2. To encourage adoption, we believe that an adoption where the natural father is not married to the natural mother may be carried out without the natural father's consent if the natural father is not known or cannot be found. 5.3. We support adoption only by heterosexual married couples, consisting of one man and one woman. 5.4. We believe that one accused by the Department of Human Services should be considered innocent until proven guilty. 5.5. We believe no group or individual should be accorded "minority" or protected class status, or given the existing statutory benefits that come with the designation, based solely on sexual behavior or so called "sexual orientation." 5.6. We support welfare reform and adjusting the tax code, to assist, preserve and encourage two-parent families. 5.7. We encourage decreased dependence upon the government for food, clothing, and shelter, and encourage faith-based organizations to become more involved in caring for the poor and needy. We support new and innovative approaches to encourage and prepare people to get off welfare. We affirm that welfare should be a short-term safety net designed to elevate the recipient to a self-sufficient status. 5.8. We support the elimination of no-fault divorce. 5.9. We support a constitutional amendment establishing that marriage can only be between one man and one woman. 6. Government 6.1. We call on our courts to interpret and apply the First Amendment as the Framers intended. We assert that the phrase, "the separation of church and state" as is commonly used, contradicts the original intent and practice of the Framers of the Constitution. The First Amendment prohibits the establishment of a state religion and permits the exercise of religious freedom. Neither the courts nor government agencies should misuse or misunderstand the First Amendment so as to create a barrier to the voluntary expression of religious belief. We advocate freedom of public prayer and religious expression for all. 6.2. We believe that voluntary prayer should be allowed in all public facilities. 6.3. We remind all Americans that the Republican Party was founded to fight slavery, and that a higher percentage of Republicans than Democrats voted for the 1965 Civil Rights Act. We stand for civility, tolerance, and equal rights for all, but oppose "special rights" based on social or economic grouping, or quota systems designed to favor one group over another, and oppose "hate crime legislation" and so-called "speech codes" which are really attempts to censor speech in the name of "political correctness." 6.4. We oppose further attempts to remove any mention of God from our government buildings, monuments, or currency. 6.5. We affirm that freedom of speech should not be abridged in efforts to achieve election reform. We commend the US Supreme Court's recent decision in this area. 6.6. We believe in the freedom for all organizations, especially student organizations, to not be discriminated against for exercising their First Amendment rights of speech, religion, and expressive association. 6.7. We urge the U. S. House of Representatives and Senate to consider whether federal judges who legislate from the bench by changing the Constitution are fulfilling the requirement of life service during "good behavior" contained in Article III of the U. S. Constitution. 6.8 Many Iowans believe the Iowa Supreme Court exceeded its lawful powers in finding a "right to homosexual marriage" in the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution. We urge Iowans who agree to exercise their own right to vote against the retention of Iowa Supreme Court Justices who they believe have exceeded the powers of their office. We further believe that the Iowa Legislature should let the people of Iowa vote on the question of the definition of marriage to be between one man and one woman. 6.9. All Federal Agencies must be prohibited from adopting or enforcing regulations that exceed the boundaries of the Constitution. 6.10. We support "American English" as the official language for the United States and for the state of Iowa. 6.11. We oppose infringement on Second Amendment rights. Law-abiding citizens should have the right to open or concealed carry without a permit. Free men and women don't need permission to own guns and protect themselves. 6.12. We oppose government ownership of any gambling facility or activity, or the use ofgovernment tax moneys to promote gambling. 6.13. We support the continuation of the Electoral College. 6.14. We call for requiring positive voter identification through such methods as a voter ID card or driver's license matching the voting roster before anyone is allowed to vote to ensure a fair and legal election process. 6.15. We call for a return to the previous process by which convicted felons had to individually go through an appeal process to have their voting rights restored, rather than the blanket "pardon" given by our Democrat Governor in hopes of partisan gain at the expense of the taxpaying Iowans. 6.16. We believe that any Government action which diminishes an owner's right to utilize private property constitutes a "taking" of that property as defined in our Bill of Rights. Therefore, the government must provide just compensation for the amount the owner's property has been reduced. 6.17. We support a 100% state and federal income tax deduction for health insurance premiums purchased by individuals -- but not those provided by employers -- so as to move us away from a "third-party payer" system to one where everyone owns their own insurance and can keep it as they move from job to job and place to place and never be subject to "pre-existing conditions" exclusions. Furthermore, consistent with free-market principles, individuals should be able to obtain coverage through any plan without state restrictions. Tort reform should be implemented to reduce malpractice insurance rates for providers, increase the number of providers (especially in high risk fields like obstetrics and neurosurgery), and reduce the need for "defensive medicine." 6.18. We support equal access for nonunion and union contractors to government and school district projects, without mandating that contractors sign project labor agreements. 6.19. We oppose the practice of lawmakers exempting themselves from legislation. 6.20. We support the principle that the businesses of sports, entertainment, and the arts should be funded by users and voluntary donors, not by tax dollars. 6.21. Earmarks in legislation should be outlawed. 6.22. We support giving the Iowa Governor and the American President the Line-item veto in order to help get budgets back in the black. 6.23. We support a full, detailed, and timely Congressional audit of the Federal Reserve, just as the Fed audited AIG. 6.24. Members of the US House and Senate should stay in their home districts and states and conduct their business and voting through electronic means so as to save on travel costs, office expenses, housing, and in order to keep them closer to their constituents and away from lobbyists. 6.25. We believe the US Census should be a head count only and should distinguish between citizens and others for the purposes of allocation of federal funds and congressionalredistricting. We object to the invasion of privacy of additional questions. Further, the census should be conducted only by an independent agency, not ACORN or the White House staff. 6.26. We believe health-care reform should not be totally revamped just for the small minority of people who are uninsurable. 6.27. We believe in a citizen legislative process and therefore support term limits for state and national offices. 6.28. We suggest the Iowa General Assembly assert state sovereignty under the provisions of the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution. 6.29. We support having the Johnson County Supervisors elected from five districts. Supervisors must live in the district they represent. 6.30. Considering the current $52,000 a year salary ($1000 per week) is steep, especially in these hard economic times, we call for the county compensation board to review the lowering the Supervisor's salary. 6.31. We support elections exclusively by districts for the city councils of Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty. 6.32. We believe that the top priority of the Department of Justice should be fighting crime and terrorism, and not trying to establish "political correctness." 7. Health and Human Services 7.1. We believe that life threatening contagious diseases such as AIDS or hepatitis should be reported to those who are at high risk of infection such as, but not limited to, immediate family, foster-care providers, and health-care and law-enforcement workers. 7.2. We support tax-free Medical Savings accounts that allow for personal control of medical care and saving for retirement at the same time. 7.3. We support changes that would allow citizens to opt out of the social security retirement system in favor of personal retirement accounts. 7.4. We believe that in order to receive social security benefits, including SSI, one must have paid in for a minimum of 40 quarters and must be a citizen of the United States, a legal resident, or beneficiary thereof. 7.5. We support measures to ensure that parents' permission is necessary for any medical testing or treatment performed on their minor children, except in situations that are serious, urgent, and where the parents cannot be contacted in time. 7.6. We favor spousal benefits for legal, heterosexual marriages only. 7.7. We believe that healthcare is a privilege and not a right. Therefore we strongly oppose the adoption of any socialized national health care system such as the current "Obamacare" being pushed in Congress. 7.8. We support requiring facilities performing abortions or distributing drugs such as RU-486, to be required to meet state medical clinic requirements. 8. Homeland Security and Immigration 8.1. We oppose the granting of amnesty to illegal aliens and the designation of "sanctuary cities." 8.2. We believe that current immigration laws should be enforced and strengthened. All police should be required to turn any illegal alien they stop over to the federal government, and the federal government should be required to immediately deport such individuals to the lowest cost location. 8.3. We oppose welfare support for illegal aliens and their dependents. We support elimination of unemployment benefits, schooling, drivers' licensing, or voting rights to illegal aliens. 8.4. We call for legislation which would prevent the automatic granting of citizenship and the benefits thereof to children born of mothers who are illegally in this country. 8.5. Foreign terrorists should be tried in military tribunals and not in our criminal courts with Constitutional "rights" accorded to citizens. 8.6. We believe the Homeland Security Agency had the right to profile travelers. 8.7. In order to reduce demand for illegal drugs, and to prevent funds from the sale of illegal drugs supporting terrorism, we recommend that anyone apprehended for the sale or use of such drugs be charged with the felony of "aiding and abetting." 9. Law and Justice 9.1. We support harsher punishments for violent crimes, including reinstating the death penalty. 9.2. We support legislation requiring juries to be informed of their sovereignty under the common law, and their duty to consider both the facts and the law in reaching just verdicts. 9.3. We support prison reform, including the limitation of prisoner "rights" and amenities. Convicts should be required to work and contribute towards restitution and the cost of their care. We recommend education and training in vocational, technical, and social skills. At the same time, every prisoner should be protected from sexual abuse, and those committing abuse should be liable to both harsh punishment and civil liability. 9.4. We believe all individuals, including juveniles, should automatically be required to make restitution for their crimes without additional action on the part of the victims. 9.5. We support faith-based initiatives and services for prisons and other rehabilitative service providers. 9.6. We oppose judicial favoritism in child custody cases, and encourage equal protection of paternal rights. 10. National Defense and Foreign Policy 10.1 . We call for continued research and immediate deployment of a strategic missile defense system. 10.2. We oppose foreign aid to any government involved in genocide, euthanasia, or forced abortion. 10.3. We urge continued support for Israel, our strong ally, and the only functioning democracy in the Middle East. We support Israel's right to use military force to protect itself from terrorists, including state terrorists such as the so-called government of Iran. 10.4. We support the war on terrorism (and calling it that!) and believe in the policy of confronting and defeating those who engage in terrorist acts along with those nations, groups, and individuals who harbor or support them. 10.5. We believe more restrictions should be placed on the transfer of sensitive technologies to foreign governments and corporations which want to develop nuclear weapons, or are suspected of supporting terrorism. 10.6. To ensure our continued national defense we commend the dedication and devotion of our military volunteers and civilian national security workers. We support better pay and benefits for our military, and the continuation of the all-volunteer military. 10.7. We call for an impartial evaluation of the consequences, including affordability and effectiveness, of our military presence throughout the world. 11. Natural Resources and Environment 11.1 . We oppose attempts to eliminate the hunting and humane trapping of wild game. Due to overpopulation of deer and turkey and the damage they do, their number should be reduced by longer seasons, encouragement of out-of-state hunters, doe-only hunting, and allowing landowners to harvest deer on their own land between October first and March first. 11.2. We should maintain an environmental policy that protects the rights of humans before other species. 11.3. We oppose confiscation of private property for environmental protection purposes, and oppose granting the Department of Natural Resources the power of eminent domain. 11.4. We oppose the UN sponsored treaties on the environment, as they would put the US, its jobs, citizens, and businesses at an economic disadvantage. We support responsible environmental policy that recognizes the importance of existing as well as alternative sources of fuel for both developed and developing countries. 11.5. We oppose adoption of the US House passed "cap and tax" bill. 12. Right to Life 12.1 . We believe all life is sacred, and that euthanasia, infanticide, and abortion other than to save the life of the mother, should be banned. Our history and culture entitles all to human life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We believe this right should be fully extended to the unborn child as well as the mother, and we as a party should utilize all constitutional processes to insure these rights are preserved and extended. 12.2. We support the reversal of Roe vs. Wade. 12.3. We support umbilical cord and adult stem cell research. 12.4. We support a Woman's Right to Know law whereby performers of abortion must provide complete factual information to the pregnant woman about the complications of abortion, the biological development of the unborn, and the availability of alternatives to abortion. 12.5. We support the confidential statistical reporting of abortion procedures to the State Health Department by all doctors and facilities performing abortions. 12.6 We believe parents should have the right to decide whether to immunize their children or not based on medical and/or religious reasons. The state forcing an immunization which may result in an adverse and even fatal reaction in the name of "the greater good" is immoral and contrary to the individual's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 13. Taxes and Spending 13.1. We support making the "Bush tax cuts" permanent, repeal of the federal estate tax, and retention of the stepped-up basis provision. 13.2. We support keeping federal deductibility on Iowa income-tax returns. 13.3. We encourage anyone who objects to any tax cut that has been enacted to give as much money as they desire back to the government's general tax fund. 13.4. We believe that state and federal capital gains taxes should be abolished. 13.5. We believe the marriage tax penalty should be eliminated permanently. 13.6. We oppose the imposition of sales or consumption taxes on e-commerce. 13.7. We urge the prompt adoption of a U.S. Constitutional Amendment to require a balanced budget, and a limitation of federal spending using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, unless an exception is approved by a recorded vote of two-thirds of both houses of Congress with the President's approval. We oppose "balancing budgets" by raising taxes, but rather call for cutting spending, especially on programs which are not authorized by section 8 of Article One of the Constitution. 13.8. We support discounting Iowa income taxes to 5.72% of EARNED income, with interest, dividends, pensions, and Social Security being tax-free, or the ability to file on the basis of current deductions. 13.9. We support adoption of the People's Right to Vote Amendment to the Iowa Constitutionwhich would require any increase in state taxes or fees, (including state laws that have the effect of raising property taxes) that exceed one percent of the state general fund, to not take effect until it is approved by a 60% majority of the people. 13.10. We support current Iowa law that requires a 60% voter approval for school or local government-bonding proposals. 13.11. We call for elimination of baseline budgeting and call for all government agencies to operate on actual and real budgets. No more bailouts. Taxing and spending at all levels of government should be transparent (post check registers on public websites). Governments must work with what revenue they have and set priorities, not seek more tax moneys to continue "business as usual" in hard economic times. 13.12. We support adoption of a "Taxpayers Bill of Rights Amendment" (TABOR) to the Iowa Constitution which would limit increases in spending and taxing to the growth in population plus inflation. 13.13. We support lowering the top income tax rates in the State of Iowa to be competitive with neighboring states, and their eventual elimination in order to make our economy more attractive to business and job creation. 13.14. We call for all funding legislation, grants, and regulations to include a five-year sunset clause. 13.15. We stand for the elimination of the income tax and the repeal of the 16th Amendment. We call for its replacement with the FairTax proposal at both the state and national levels, including an allowance for basic necessities. 13.16. Until the Fair Tax can be adopted and implemented, we call for the replacement of the current state and national tax codes with a "flat tax" which would greatly reduce the need for paperwork, would reduce the tax rates by eliminating deductions, and would simplify the system enough that most people could file their own returns without having to pay a professional preparer. 13.17. Before the County Board of Supervisors is allowed to increase the general levy to accumulate funds, they must come to the electorate for permission to build up reserves. 13.18. We oppose the Iowa General Assembly giving counties or cities the power to enact local wheel or income taxes, or to increase the hotel/motel tax limits. All parts of government need to spend less! Send questions and comments to jcrepublicans@hotmail.com | |