Friday, August 29, 2008

Report From a Wisconsin GOP Delegate

Here’s a report from GOPconvention from Wisconsin delegate Jennie Frederick.

   It’s was a hectic couple of days on Tuesday and Wednesday this week as we worked hard to get the Republican Platform completed.  The draft platform was handed out at the organizational meeting Monday evening.  On Tuesday morning, we broke into 6 sub-committees to work on each of the sections of the platform.
    
   I served on the “Economy” subcommittee chaired by Haley Barbour and co-chaired by Santa Mendoza of CT and Tony Sutton of MN.  There were quite a few amendments offered for consideration.  I submitted 8 or 9 (I lost track).  I was batting a thousand on losses as each of my amendments went down until we got to the final 2.  One that passed in subcommittee was about government bailouts.  The amendment read, “We do not support government bailouts of private institutions.  Government interference in the markets exacerbates problems in the marketplace and causes the free market to take longer to correct itself.  We believe in the free market as the best tool to sustained prosperity and opportunity for all.”  The other amendment I offered in subcommittee that also passed is “The U.S. government should end mandates for ethanol and let the free market work.”
    
   I was pretty happy with the end product that we took to the floor of the entire Platform Committee on Tuesday afternoon.  The section we submitted, “Expanding Opportunity to Promote Prosperity” was pretty conservative and the great news is that both of my amendments withstood the full committee.  So, as one would imagine, I feel pretty good for a first timer.
    
   While nothing is ever perfection in the eyes of all, I believe this platform is a very good reflection of free-market, American principles.  It is pro-life, limited government, supports a positive energy strategy that includes drilling for oil, supports patient-focused health care reforms (not government-run healthcare), supports education policy that keeps parents in control and offers broader educational options that focus on what’s best for kids, honors and respects the role of our Military and supports the needs of returning military personnel, appreciates the contributions of our First Responders, emphasizes border security while respecting the contributions of our legal immigrants and lays out an agenda to keep America safe.
    
   Two whirlwind days that started early and went late but the general consensus of platform participants I talked to last night was that this is the most conservative Republican platform in many, many years.  I personally believe the platform reflects the general views of most Americans, whether they consider themselves conservative or not.
    
   So, our job is done until next Monday.  When the full convention reconvenes, the Platform Committee will meet and vote to approve the final product before it is voted on by the full assembly of delegates.

(1) Comments
Posted by Owen at 0750 hrs
Politics + Politics - General + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. I hear recognition of global warming made it in?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 29, 2008 at 1736 hrs


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