Calling for censure of Senator Larry Hicks and Representative Steve Harshman.
WHEREAS, the ability to disagree while respecting the humanity of those with whom we find disagreement is paramount to effective debate and proper representation; and
WHEREAS, recognizing that the dehumanization of those with who we find disagreement leads to disfunction and counter productivity in an effective debate; and
WHEREAS, the ability to hold passionate disagreement while still maintaining the decorum that befits good order and impactful debate being necessary skill of any legitimate and effective representative of the people; and
WHEREAS, Senator Larry Hicks and Representative Steve Harshman, while in their official capacity, acted in an unacceptable and uncouth manner toward a fellow member of the Wyoming Republican Party, and did in fact violate the tenants of the decorum that befits good order and impactful debate and had brought into question their standing as a legitimate and effective representative of the people under the republican brand; and
WHEREAS, it is incumbent upon the members of the Wyoming Republican Party State Central Committee to embrace and apply or posture as a grassroots organization as we condemn such abhorrent behavior perpetrated by fellow members of the Wyoming Republican Party, yet recognizing that none of these individuals are members of this body, and so requiring that a resolution of censure is submitted from the local representative level in the counties that have elected these individuals, lest we choose to begin engaging in processes that would redefine us as a “top-down” organization tantamount to a dictatorship; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Wyoming Republican Party State Central Committee recommends that the Carbon County and Natrona County Parties set their agenda for their next regularly scheduled meeting to include discussion and debate on proper disciplinary considerations in regard to the actions of Senator Larry Hicks and Representative Steve Harshman, respectively. Only then shall the grassroots supported recommendations from the appropriate counties of these individual elected representatives of those people be considered by the Wyoming Republican Party State Central Committee; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Wyoming Republican Party State Central Committee hereby calls on Speaker of the House Eric Barlow and President of the Senate Dan Dockstader to reissue their earlier statements of: “Attacking a state legislator through use of violent, lewd and derogatory language cannot and will not go unanswered in Wyoming,” and “These statements are the antithesis to constructive discourse in a civil society and are especially repugnant and intolerable when made by an elected official,” and “We will be assisting the Republican Party in ensuring there are appropriate statutory means to remove an elected official for such egregious behavior in the future.” These official statements must be repeated as a matter of principle, lest the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate choose to engage in a concerning act of hypocrisy in dealing with their own members in the legislature.
Passed:
Wyoming Republican Party, 21 Nov 13 SCC