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Republican Party on Government Reform
Party Platform
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Keep Electoral College; no national popular vote
We oppose the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact or any other scheme to abolish or distort the procedures of the Electoral College. We recognize that an unconstitutional effort to impose "national popular vote" would be
a mortal threat to our federal system and a guarantee of corruption as every ballot box in every state would become a chance to steal the presidency.
Source: 2012 Republican Party Platform
, Aug 27, 2012
Repeal McCain-Feingold; no contribution limits
The rights of citizenship do not stop at the ballot box. They include the free speech right to devote one's resources to whatever cause or candidate one supports. We oppose any restrictions or conditions that would discourage Americans from exercising
their constitutional right to enter the political fray or limit their commitment to their ideals. As a result, we support repeal of the remaining sections of McCain- Feingold, support either raising or repealing contribution limits, and oppose passage of
the DISCLOSE Act or any similar legislation designed to vitiate the Supreme Court's recent decisions protecting political speech in Citizens United. We insist that there should be no regulation of political speech on the Internet. By the same
token, we oppose governmental censorship of speech through the so-called Fairness Doctrine or by government enforcement of speech codes, free speech zones, or other forms of "political correctness" on campus.
Source: 2012 Republican Party Platform
, Aug 27, 2012
Require photo ID to fight voter fraud
Honest elections are the foundation of representative government. We support State efforts to ensure ballot access for the elderly, the handicapped, military personnel, and all authorized voters. For the same reason, we applaud legislation to require
photo identification for voting and to prevent election fraud, particularly with regard to registration and absentee ballots. We support State laws that require proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration to protect our electoral system
against a significant and growing form of voter fraud. Every time that a fraudulent vote is cast, it effectively cancels out a vote of a legitimate voter.Voter fraud is political poison. It strikes at the heart of representative government. We call on
every citizen, elected official, and member of the judiciary to preserve the integrity of the vote. We call for vigorous prosecution of voter fraud at the State and federal level.
Source: 2012 Republican Party Platform
, Aug 27, 2012
No statehood for the District of Columbia
The nation's capital city, a special responsibility of the federal government, belongs both to its residents and to all Americans, millions of whom visit it every year. D.C.'s
Republicans have been in the forefront of exposing and combating the chronic corruption among the city's top Democratic officials. We join their call for a non-partisan elected
Attorney General to clean up the city's political culture and for congressional action to enforce the spirit of the Home Rule Act assuring minority representation on the City Council.
After decades of inept one-party rule, the city's structural deficit demands congressional attention. We oppose statehood for the District of Columbia.
Source: 2012 Republican Party Platform
, Aug 27, 2012
Stop activist judges from banning Pledge & Ten Commandments
In some states, activist judges are redefining the institution of marriage. The Pledge of Allegiance has already been invalidated by the courts once, and the Supreme Court�s ruling has left the Pledge in danger of being struck down again-not because the
American people have rejected it, but because a handful of activist judges threaten to overturn commonsense and tradition. We believe that the self-proclaimed supremacy of these judicial activists is antithetical to the democratic ideals on which our
nation was founded. There are different ways to achieve that goal, such as using Article III of the Constitution to limit federal court jurisdiction; for example, in instances where judges are abusing their power by banning the use of �under God�
in the Pledge of Allegiance or prohibiting depictions of the Ten Commandments. Additionally, we condemn judicial activists and their unwarranted and unconstitutional restrictions on the free exercise of religion in the public square.
Source: 2004 Republican Party Platform, p. 78-79
, Sep 1, 2004
Reduce inefficient government, reward results
- Create a line item veto for the president.
- Prevent government shutdowns.
- Define legislatively the conditions for �emergency� spending.
Bureaucracy will be reduced. If public services
can be delivered more efficiently through the private sector, they will be privatized. A Republican president will establish accountability, reward performance, put civility back into the civil service, and restore dignity and ethics to the White House.
Source: Republican Platform adopted at GOP National Convention
, Aug 12, 2000
Reform politics to encourage participation
We have one principle in the development of laws to regulate campaigns: encourage Americans to participate- Enact �Paycheck Protection,� ensuring that no union member is forced to contribute to anybody�s campaign
- Preserve the right of every
individual to express their opinions
- Require full & timely disclosure on the Internet of all campaign contributions.
- Update for inflation the limits on individual contributions
- Preserve access to the Internet for political speech & debate.
Source: Republican Platform adopted at GOP National Convention
, Aug 12, 2000
Federal government should not interfere with states� rights
We must acknowledge that the federal government�s role should be to set expectations in policies, then get out of the way and let the states implement and operate those policies as they best know how. Washington must respect
that one size does not fit all states and must not overburden states with red tape attached to its policies.
Source: Republican Platform adopted at GOP National Convention
, Aug 12, 2000
OpEd: GOP matches agenda of wealthy & corporate leaders
Today, the Republicans understand that tax breaks for the rich, cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, education, and environmental protection, and support of NAFTA, GATT, and other disastrous trade policies are not exactly a winning ticket.
Of course, it IS the agenda of rich folks and corporate leaders, and what the Republicans are paid to deliver. But there are only so many millionaire voters, and Republicans know that this agenda is not going to win points among middle-class and
working people--the people who determine the outcome of elections.
Their real ideology--not the sham philosophy of "states' rights" or "personal responsibility" created for public consumption--reflects the interests of a tiny and very privileged
segment of the population. Republicans are faced with the dilemma: How to convince working people and the middle class to vote AGAINST their own best interests. Or, equally important, how to get them not to vote at all.
Source: Outsider in the House, by Bernie Sanders, p.128-9
, Jun 17, 1997
Page last updated: Jan 01, 2016