Wright County Republicans Discuss Party Platform

At recent Wright County and Iowa district conventions, the Republican Party refined its platform, which states the guiding principles of its political philosophy. 

“Iwould like it to be shorter, but we do feel we should specifically instruct our legislators,” said Herb Schreur, Chair of Wright County’s platform committee, of the local 14 page document.According to Schreur, the primary purpose of the County document is to encourage the adoption of planks at the district level, and from the district level to encourage adoption by the state Party.

Schreur said that at a preliminary district convention, primary points of discussion were Obamacare (which the convention was uniformly against), the Environmental Protection Agency’s reduction of the renewable fuel standard (which the County platform is against), and the proposed statewide gas tax increase – a point which Wright County’s Republicans were in support of, but the district Republicans came out against. “People aren’t arguing if there are needs, but if the way to address them is to raise taxes,” Schreur said.

“I don’t think we’ve actually changed a whole lot,” said Bob Dishman, Wright County platform committee member. “What we’ve been talking about is what Wright County has been ever since I’ve been here.”

At district conventions throughout the state on April 26, 16 new people were elected to the Republican Party of Iowa State Central Committee. These new members mostly replaced 2012 elect-ees associated with the Ron Paul-inspired libertarian wing of the party, none of whom were re-elected. The local platform shares points of kinship with libertarian ideologies, including elimination of the minimum wage and federal regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency.

The 2014 additions and modifications to the Wright County platform are:

3.07: “We call on Republican legislators and executives to oppose the Common Core State Standards plan, which limits the academic freedom and achievement of Iowa’s teachers, students, and schools.”

      4.11: “We oppose the EPA’s reduction of the renewable fuel standard.”

5.07: To “we support efforts to reduce the influence of gambling in our state,” added “including the elimination of all state subsidies and protection.”

6.12: “Encourage the Congress and Supreme Court to hold the President responsible (accountable) for carrying out laws – not making them through executive orders.”

9.12: “We believe that everyone who swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution must do so.”

10.24: “We support Israel in their natural and God-given right of self-governance and self-defense upon their own lands, recognizing that Israel is neither an attacking force nor an occupier of the lands of others; and that peace can be afforded the region only through a united Israel governed under one law for all people.”

12.31: “We support raising the Iowa gas tax 10 cents per gallon.”

      13: A six-point section in support of “Religious Liberty.”

Dishman estimated Wright County as having 3,500 Republicans, 2,500 independent voters, and 1,500 Democrats. He defined the platform “as we’ve always done it,” outlining a platform of small government, de-regulation, self-reliance, and religion positivity.  “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” he stated as guiding principles, defining “self-evident” as “what’s on everybody’s heart and that they really truly deep down know.”  

Schreur noted the challenges of the party and the U.S. government, citing a survey that said the majority of Republicans do not trust legislators in both parties.  “Who knows better about what’s going in Wright County?” he said, praising local control. “What’s going on in Iowa is not the same as what’s going on in Alaska.”

“There’s a lot of changes that could take place in government,” said Larry McBain, committee member. “We’re the grassroots. This is where it starts.”

Dishman, McBain, and Schreur discussed the platform’s individual planks in detail, which the Monitor will further explore in the coming weeks. Read more in the May 22 issue, on newsstands now!

Read the platform in its entirety here.