As Ratified By The 2008 Maine Republican Party State Convention on May 3, 2008

We believe the defense of our safety and sovereignty is the primary responsibility of the national government.

  • We believe we must protect our country and fellow citizens by supporting our military and the men and women who proudly serve our country in the defense of our nation against all enemies;
  • We believe in the individual’s right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Maine Constitution.

We believe that the strength of Maine and the United States lies with the individual and that every person’s dignity, freedom, liberty, ability and responsibility must be honored and protected.

  • We believe Maine’s college and university classrooms should be a marketplace of ideas where all individuals’ political and religious beliefs are respected;
  • We believe that the expression of religious faith must not be excluded from the public forum. Individual and corporate expression of faith while conducting public and government business is not an expression of governmental establishment.

We believe in free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative.

  • We believe in gaining economic prosperity and freedom for all Maine people by adopting responsible pro-business laws that will encourage investment and create higher paying quality jobs;
  • We believe all Maine people deserve access to affordable health care insurance that can be achieved through legislative reforms that allow free market solutions;
  • We believe private ownership of Maine lands is consistent with our economic system, limited government, good land stewardship and our Constitution, as such, we support the right of property owners to develop the Maine Woods in a responsible and lawful manner;
  • We support the preservation of the Maine Woods and open spaces through public and private initiatives;
  • We support a comprehensive energy policy that will increase supply, decrease demand and encourage alternative sources and conservation in order to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of fuel while ensuring the cost of energy is affordable for all Maine residents;
  • We recognize the importance of the Internet to our economy. We, therefore, support an internet free from government taxation and unreasonable regulation in order to promote innovation, economic growth, investment, job creation and opportunity.

We believe that the best government is that which governs least. However, we believe that the proper role of government is to help provide for those who can not help themselves.

  • We believe in the power of the individual over the power of the government to make personal decisions affecting their lives and their well-being and that the role of government is to serve the people, not for the people to serve government.

We believe that the most effective, responsive and responsible government is that which is closest to the people.

  • We believe in ensuring that our children have access to the best educational opportunities possible through fiscal and academic accountability and educational choice;
  • We believe that it is an affront to every Maine citizen when illegal and unmitigated incursion of our state border by aliens is allowed without repercussion: citizenship and the rights of citizenship become devalued.

We believe in fiscal restraint and accountability for all levels of government.

  • We believe it is imperative that spending at all levels of government, state, county and local, be controlled to ensure fiscal stability for future generations;
  • We believe the Maine tax burden is too high, and that reducing tax rates, including fees, will increase personal income and stimulate the business climate.

We believe the family is the foundation of a stable society.

  • We believe in the sanctity of life;
  • Parents, — not government – are most capable and responsible to make decisions in the best interest of their minor children, including medical, disciplinary and educational;
  • We define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Based on these principles, we support the following initiatives:

  • We urge all Republican candidates for state and national office to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and to vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes and fees;
  • A constitutional amendment that requires a balanced budget and no spending increases without a two-thirds majority vote of the state legislature;
  • Reform the regulations and the regulatory process that have a negative impact on private enterprise;
  • Ensure that regulations recognize the value of Maine’s outdoor heritage and promote responsible stewardship of the environment which is based on sound science;
  • Conform the state tax code to the federal tax code to achieve fairness and equity without continually increasing the tax burden on our citizens;
  • Promote competition in the health care system to lower costs for all Maine citizens by reducing regulations, thereby allowing Maine people to have the same health insurance choices as people in other states;
  • Create a statewide economic environment that helps Maine businesses grow new jobs to increase Maine’s competitiveness, and encourages new businesses to locate and stay in Maine;
  • We appreciate the service of active duty military and veterans, fire fighters, police officers and EMTs, and all those who serve for the sake of others;
  • We support meaningful mandatory minimum sentences to protect the innocent and the victims of crime;
  • We support OPEGA, Maine’s governmental oversight agency, and its mission to achieve effective and efficient state government;
  • We believe that English should be the official language of the State of Maine; and
  • We support legislation that would require a photo identification to be eligible to vote in the State of Maine.

Source: http://www.oobgop.com/Platform%20of%20the%20Maine%20Republican%20Party.htm (accessed June 3, 2010)

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