OCTOBER 9, 2017
At the recent Central Committee meeting in Gillette, the Wyoming Republican Party took a stand on two issues in Wyoming: two resolutions opposing tax increases, and one on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) legislation. Two resolutions spoke to Wyoming's budget problems. One expressed blanket opposition to recent proposals in the Interim Revenue Committee to raise taxes and fees on Wyomingites. The other made clear opposition to a proposal to a Gross Receipts tax (basically an income tax with no deductions).
The third spoke to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) legislation, including municipal and county ordinances. The three resolutions are:
SOGI
Whereas the Party of Abraham Lincoln was created to abolish slavery, recognizing the dignity and equality of every human being under the law; and this same Republican Party continued to lead the fight for the natural rights of our common humanity, against the Jim Crow laws of the southern Democrats; and still stands for the rights of all people regardless of color, culture, ideology, or religion, and
Whereas such equal protection under the law demands protection against personal injury or property loss, but cannot demand affirmation of personal ideas, choices, or behaviors without infringing upon the integrity and property rights of other persons; yet “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” (SOGI) laws obliterate this foundational legal distinction, and
Whereas, laws using undefined and undefinable terms are inherently unjust, depriving persons under the law of any reasonable opportunity to know in advance how the law will be applied to them; and “gender Identity” lacks any definite legal content such that even its proponents are unable either to list every current identity, or rule out the addition of new identities in the future, and
Whereas wherever the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” have been added to anti-discrimination laws, this ill-defined language has enabled unjust prosecution and legal harassment such as…
Forcing owners to use their own private property for objectionable uses…
Stripping owners of the right to protect the privacy, safety and dignity of patrons in showers, privacy facilities, etc…
Stripping owners of the right to hire persons of their own choosing…
Forcing the use of pronouns, titles, and other speech demanded by others…
Forcing artists to produce creative speech against their own views...
Stripping mental health workers of the right to treat patients according to the best standards…
Stripping physicians of the right to decide treatments according to their own judgment of what is best for a patient…
These and many other violations of personal integrity and property rights, are not only theoretical, but the actual ongoing results of SOGI laws which have closed businesses, confiscated savings, destroyed reputations, and costs millions in legal defense, and
Whereas even one use of a law that allows an unjust outcome is enough proof that it is a bad law; yet we have seen not one, but many cases where “sexual orientation and gender identity” language was used to materially harm law-abiding citizens depriving them of liberty, property and good name, therefore be it
Resolved that the Wyoming Republican Party stand opposed to the insertion of “sexual orientation,” and “gender identity” language into any policy, ordinance, guideline, or statute at every level of government, and be it further
Resolved, that the Wyoming Republican Party continue to protect the dignity, safety and integrity of every human being by advocating for just, defined, and limited laws which protect persons from injury and their property from loss while not punishing anyone for holding, expressing, or acting upon their sincerely held beliefs.
GROSS RECEIPTS TAX
WHEREAS Wyoming is in the midst of an economic downturn due to its reliance on mineral extraction, in particular coal; and
WHEREAS the Interim Revenue Committee of the Wyoming Legislature has now voted 11-3 in favor of the imposition of a gross receipts tax on businesses in Wyoming; and
WHEREAS tax increases are inimical to economic recovery and job growth; and
WHEREAS a gross receipts tax is akin to a business income tax inherently inequitable to businesses, is passed on to consumers, is regressive and, like all taxes, will not be repealed regardless of need; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that The Wyoming Republican Party opposes the imposition of a gross receipts tax; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Wyoming Republican Party requests that the all Republican Wyoming legislators oppose the imposition of a gross receipts tax; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be immediately provided to those legislators to make known to them the sentiment of the Wyoming Republican Party.
RESOLUTION AGAINST TAX INCREASE
The State of Wyoming and its people have long valued Liberty, self-reliance & conservative values. The Republican Party, from the National to State and to County, in their platforms and resolutions has long called for fiscal conservatism.
Whereas since 2000, Wyoming has had unprecedented growth in government, making Wyoming the #1 state in the ratio of government employees per capita; and
Whereas the current economy can no longer sustain the fiscal irresponsibility of our State Government; and
Whereas the State Legislature has recently raised fees & licenses and is discussing creating new revenue enhancements and tax increases; and
Whereas Wyoming’s economy & business climate has put a strain on the remaining citizens personal budgets; and
Whereas the State Republican Platform states: “Liberty is indivisible from economic freedom. The free market economy is the economic system most compatible with the requirements of personal freedom and constitutional government. Government’s undue interference in the market, as well as the fiscal irresponsibility of government, results in economic inequity. There exists no fundamental right to the fruits of another person’s labor”; and
Be it resolved that the Wyoming Republican Party calls upon the State Legislature and the Governor to practice fiscal restraint, reign in spending and cut unnecessary budget items rather than increasing revenue streams.