NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
Report of the Standing Committee on Resolutions
WHEREAS, On Friday, April 24, 2015, North Carolina State Party Chairman, Claude Pope, appointed
Hunter Murphy of the 11th District as the new Chairman of the Standing Committee on Resolutions
(“the Committee”).
WHEREAS, the Committee consisted of the following persons:
Hunter Murphy, Chairman
Rosemary Stein, Vice Chairman
Jacqueline Esslinger, Secretary
Carolyn Justice, At Large
Mike Garris, 1st District
Michael Thurlow, 2nd District
Liz Berg, 3rd District
Pam Stevens, 4th District
Rick Woods, 5th District
Laura Piedad, 6th District
Denise Rentz, 7th District
Tom Hicks, 8th District
Roger Stanton, 9th District
Jordan Barnes, 10th District
Adam Love, 12th District
WHEREAS, the Committee considered proposed Resolutions coming from individuals, county
conventions and district conventions.
WHEREAS, the Committee passed eleven Resolutions for consideration at the North
Carolina Republican Party Convention to be held in Raleigh on June 5-7, 2015.
NOW THEREFORE, the following eleven Resolutions are submitted for the consideration of the
Delegates.
Respectfully submitted,
Hunter Murphy, Chairman
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION 1
IN MEMORY OF CONGRESSMAN CASS BALLENGER
WHEREAS, Cass Ballenger was a native of Catawba County, North Carolina, and
WHEREAS, Cass Ballenger served for 38 years as an elected Republican public official, never losing an
election, and
WHEREAS, Cass Ballenger was a former chairman of the Catawba County Republican Party and always
gave selflessly of his time and resources to help build the Catawba County GOP into a majority party,
and
WHEREAS, Cass Ballenger served two terms on the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, during
which both Catawba Memorial Hospital and Catawba Valley Technical College were established, and
WHEREAS, Cass Ballenger was selected as North Carolina County Commissioner of the Year in 1974, and
WHEREAS, Cass Ballenger went on to serve in both the North Carolina House of Representatives and
North Carolina Senate, and
WHEREAS, during his service in Raleigh, he served as the Minority Leader in the North Carolina Senate.
He also introduced and guided to passage the “Government in the Sunshine Act,” the first substantive
open meetings law in North Carolina’s history, and
WHEREAS, Cass Ballenger served nine terms in the United States House of Representatives, was a
member of the House leadership, and authored several pieces of notable legislation, and
WHEREAS, Cass Ballenger served in a leadership role in many campaigns in North
Carolina, including the Reagan-Bush and Martin for Governor campaigns, and
WHEREAS, Cass Ballenger and his wife Donna worked for decades to help fight poverty and establish
democracies in Central and South America, and
WHEREAS, Cass Ballenger served in the U.S. Naval Air Corps during World War II,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Republican Party expresses its deepest sympathy
to the Ballenger family on the passing of Congressman Cass Ballenger and expresses its appreciation for
his years of dedicated service to the State of North Carolina, and the nation.
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION 2
DE-FUND THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND
WHEREAS the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was authorized by Congress in 1964 and
provides funds to federal, state, and local governments in order to purchase land, water and wetlands;
and is funded primarily by fees paid by companies drilling offshore for oil and gas; and,
WHEREAS when first established, the LWCF was not an automatic or permanent budget allocation; and
WHEREAS recent proposals in Congress call for $900 million per year to be automatically allocated to
buy private land and place it under governmental ownership; including forcible acquisition by eminent
domain from land-owners unwilling to sell their land; and
WHEREAS the United States national debt currently exceeds $18 trillion; and
WHEREAS the federal land agencies have experienced budget shortfalls resulting in maintenance
backlogs and poor stewardship of land under their control; (with the National Park Service alone
reporting an $11.5 billion maintenance backlog, according to the General Accounting Office); and
WHEREAS current federal and state government ownership of land exceeds 40% of the United States
total land; and
WHEREAS, America was founded on a system of private property ownership; and
WHEREAS excessive governmental ownership of land erodes the taxable land base in many rural
counties, which limits economic development opportunities; and
WHEREAS the LWCF is a threat to private property ownership in the United States and North Carolina;
now therefore, be
RESOLVED, the North Carolina Republican Party actively opposes further funding of the Land and Water
Conservation Fund, and therefore be it further
RESOLVED, that all future governmental land acquisition be from willing sellers; and therefore it be
further
RESOLVED, that any monies appropriated to federal land agencies should be used to maintain land
already under federal ownership, not to acquire additional lands from private ownership; and therefore
it be further
RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be delivered to Governor Pat McCrory, elected Republican
North Carolina Members of the General Assembly, and all North Carolina Members of Congress.
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION 3
CHANGE THE DATE OF THE NORTH CAROLINA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY TO AFTER MARCH 1, 2016
WHEREAS, the North Carolina General Assembly has separated the scheduled date of the Presidential
Primary election from other scheduled primaries; and
WHEREAS, the Republican National Committee rules provide a “carve-out” for February primaries for
only four states: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, and any state party violating the
abovementioned RNC rule, by conducting a February primary, will forfeit all but 12 delegates; and
WHEREAS, there are no exceptions to the above-mentioned party rule, and, therefore, North Carolina
remains out of compliance with this rule; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Presidential Primary will be a significant primary, quite possibly deciding
who the Republican nominee will be; and
WHEREAS, in the event the North Carolina Republican Presidential Primary is held as presently set, the
North Carolina Republican Party delegation to the Republican
National Convention of 2016 will be severely impacted when the delegation is drastically reduced from
72 to 12; and
WHEREAS, lawmakers with good intentions, but incorrectly assuming, that setting the Presidential
Primary in February, but after South Carolina, the North Carolina Republican Party would avoid RNC
penalties, and, subsequently, our state would enjoy national media exposure, along with money and
other economic benefits flowing to North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the RNC will not waive the rule which will penalize the NCGOP for holding the Presidential
Primary in February, and North Carolina will certainly lose its position as one of the leading state
delegations to nominate our presidential candidate when our penalized delegation shrinks from 72 to
12; and
WHEREAS, consequently, the numerous Republican presidential candidates for nomination will expend
little or no time, money, or energy campaigning in North Carolina during the Presidential Primary season
in pursuit of only 12 delegates;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the North Carolina Republican Party supports changing the 2016
Presidential Primary election date to March 1,, 2016 or later.
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION 4
RESOLUTION TO SUGGEST A DATE RANGE FOR THE 2016 NORTH CAROLINA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
WHEREAS, RNC rules dictate that states holding a Presidential Primary between March 1, 2016 and
March 15, 2016 must allocate their delegates proportionally; and
WHEREAS, RNC rules dictate that states holding a Presidential Primary after March 15, 2016 may decide
to have their delegates allocated proportionally or as winner-take-all.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Resolution Committee Chair shall call for discussion and a vote as to the date
range preference of the delegates in attendance at the 2015 North Carolina State Convention.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Convention Secretary record the result and deliver a copy of the
resolution and the results to NC Governor, Pat McCrory and the Republican NC Members of the General
Assembly.
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION 5
SUPPORTING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 10THAMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION
WHEREAS: The 10th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States reads: “The powers not
delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the
States respectively, or to the people.” And that the 10th Amendment defines the total scope of federal
power as being that specifically granted by the United States Constitution and no more; and
WHEREAS: Every elected official has sworn to or affirmed the oath: “I will support and defend the
Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; that you will bare true faith
and allegiance to the same: that I will take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or
purpose of evasion; and that you will faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about
to enter - so help me God.” and,
WHEREAS: According to the United States Constitution, the entire Federal Government is limited to only
fifty-two powers and duties, and that the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States
prohibits the Federal Government from abusing those rights of the American people which have not
been enumerated in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights; and
WHEREAS: Former Governor of North Carolina (1795-1798) Samuel Ashe, the person for whom Ashe
County was named, while serving on the North Carolina Superior Court (1777-1795) participated in an
historical and landmark decision which was the precedent used by the United States Supreme Court for
Marbury v Madison 5 U.S.137 (1809) which stated that: The Constitution of these United States is the
supreme law of the land. Any law that is repugnant to the Constitution is NULL AND VOID OF LAW.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the North Carolina Republican Party petitions North Carolina
Legislators to restore state sovereignty by upholding their oaths of office and to abide by the 9th and
10th Amendments to the United States Constitution; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That our North Carolina Legislators seek only Constitutional solutions to
“Big Government” and a “Balanced Budget” by gradually eliminating all Federal funding coming into our
state and that the North Carolina State Legislature end all programs that require Federal funding; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That North Carolina Republican Party affirms that the Federal Government
does NOT have the right to usurp the legislative processes of the states, and it is the right of the states
to choose not to enforce any federal act that fails to conform to the constitutionally established limits
on the authority of the Federal Government by the use of fines and penalties, litigation, and intercession
imposed on any Federal intrusion which violates state sovereignty or jurisdiction; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the North Carolina Republican Party is opposed to the deliberate
erosion of our constitutional rights, granted to the individual states and respectively to the people, by
the Federal Government. We hereby claim sovereignty under the 10th Amendment to the Constitution
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government
by the United States Constitution; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That We, the North Carolina Republican Party, hereby exhort our duly
elected North Carolina State Representatives and Senators to embody the will of the North Carolina
Republican Party as described in this resolution by enacting legislation to restore the proper balance of
state and federal powers, and that this declaration serves as notice and demand to the Federal
Government, as our agent, to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates that are beyond the
scope of its constitutionally delegated powers.
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION 6
COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
WHEREAS, the Central Committee of the North Carolina Republican Party is charged by the North
Carolina Republican Party Plan of Organization with the responsibility and the authority to make
decisions concerning the operations and policies of the North Carolina Republican Party in the time
periods between the meetings of the Party in Convention; and
WHEREAS, members of the Republican Party are constantly solicited by the North Carolina Republican
Party and its officers for financial support of Party operations and salaries; and
WHEREAS, members of the State Central Committee and others volunteer their time, talent, and
treasurer at their own expense; and
WHEREAS, those persons who contribute generously to the Party expect the Party and its State Central
Committee to practice good stewardship; and
WHEREAS, decisions have been made at the behest of some Party officers concerning salaries and
benefits paid to officers without the approval of the State Central Committee and unbeknownst to
members of the said State Central Committee;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Republican Party proposes that any compensation
paid to the Chairman and any other officer of the Party for his or her service shall be limited to a salary
and/or benefits negotiated and approved by the North Carolina Republican Party State Central
Committee. Sole responsibility for negotiation and approval of said compensation shall rest with the
State Central Committee. In addition to said salary, the Chairman and any other officer of the Party may
receive standard reimbursement for travel, food, and accommodations expenses which are necessary to
carry out his or her official duties.
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION 7
OPPOSITION TO FINANCIAL INCENTIVES AND CORPORATE WELFARE AND SUPPORT FOR FURTHER
REDUCTION OF TAXES AND REGULATIONS
WHEREAS, it is contrary to the free-enterprise system to recruit or retain businesses with targeted tax
and other financial incentives when other businesses bear the full burden of taxation; and
WHEREAS, higher tax rates on the many to provide preferential treatment for the few is fundamentally
unfair; and
WHEREAS, it is contrary to the free-enterprise system and Republican principles, to take money in the
form of taxes or fees from citizens and businesses, or create mandates, in order to give money to certain
businesses for the purpose of funding said enterprises, or, to otherwise, give certain businesses a
marketplace advantage; and
WHEREAS, corporate welfare arrangements cause market imbalances, resulting in unintended
consequences such as short-term government subsidy of products and services, fewer choices, higher
prices, lower quality, and business and project failure; and
WHEREAS, Article V of the North Carolina Constitution prescribes a system of uniform statewide
taxation and explicitly prohibits jurisdictions other than the General Assembly from making exceptions in
classifying property for taxation or granting tax relief; and
WHEREAS, the use of financial incentives is an intrusion of government in the exercise of free
enterprise, resulting in reduced freedom, efficiency, and innovation in state commerce; and
WHEREAS, the governor and some legislators have advocated funding corporate welfare arrangements
through state appropriations—for example, the expansion of the Job Development Investment Grant
program (JDIG), a corporate welfare fund which moves taxpayer money to select corporations meeting
specific criteria; and new targeted tax credits for investments redeveloping structures deemed historic;
and
WHEREAS, the best way to promote economic growth is to reduce the overall tax burden and
unnecessary regulations for businesses and citizens in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, buyers and sellers in a free marketplace, not government, make the best decisions about
creating and sustaining jobs and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the free market, rather than so-called “investment” by government, is the best way to
produce a strong and vibrant state economy; and
WHEREAS, Republican candidates are elected to office to reduce the scope and reach of government,
and this conservative mandate does not include financing certain businesses with grants, loans, tax
credits, or other means on the backs of other businesses and individuals; and
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, the North Carolina economy has greatly improved through commendable Republican-led
solutions to reduce the burden of taxation and regulation—not through centralized control of the
marketplace—and much more tax and regulation cutting remains to be done;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, we, the North Carolina Republican Party, oppose targeted financial
incentives and corporate welfare; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, we, the North Carolina Republican Party, call upon the Governor, General
Assembly, and local governments to cease developing and/or maintaining all forms of targeted financial
incentives and corporate welfare, and, instead, work to build a stronger North Carolina economy by
further reducing the heavy burden of taxes and regulations on all businesses and individuals.
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION 8
FOR THE PRIVATIZATION OF LIQUOR SALES
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Republican Party supports the growth and intrinsic merit of private
enterprise; and therefore cannot support policy that places the government as the sole provider of a
service or product that could otherwise be provided by the private sector; and
WHEREAS, privatization of certain government services can result in a cost savings to the taxpayer when
the performance of selected services transfers from the public sector to the private sector; and
WHEREAS, such transfers relieve pressure on tight state budgets; and
WHEREAS, divesting government of performing selected services does not necessarily result in loss of
state control over those services; and
WHEREAS, with privatization, vendors, not the taxpayers, would be responsible for the over $500
million in overhead; and
WHEREAS, private vendors would pay income and sales tax, while creating jobs further expanding the
tax base; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina Liquor Tax proceeds should still be distributed to our counties and cities,
which are dependent on those funds to sustain their budgets and hold down property tax increases; and
WHEREAS, studies have shown that the rate of consumption is not dependent upon who sells the
alcohol – the state or private licenses; and
WHEREAS, deregulation in West Virginia and Iowa resulted in less per-capita alcohol consumption; and
WHEREAS, state control of liquor sales enables public corruption and is a remnant of the Prohibition Era.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Republican Party works toward the
privatization of liquor sales in North Carolina, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that We, as North Carolina Republicans, request to allow private companies
and businesses to purchase and sell alcohol in a free market, providing the best choice and value for
North Carolina citizens above the age of 21.
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION 9
ENHANCING THE PARTY’S VOICE TO ITS ELECTED OFFICIALS
WHEREAS, our elected Republican officials should be following the principles of the Republican Party as
set out in Republican platforms and resolutions of the state and national Republican Party, and
WHEREAS, there seems to be less attention paid in recent years by elected officials to party principles
and
WHEREAS, an official body of the Republican Party which can point out key legislation that either
conforms or does not conform to official positions taken by the Republican Party will help keep our
elected officials in line with party policy and identify those elected officials who frequently disregard
official party positions,
BE IT THEREFORE, RESOLVED that the First District Republican Party calls for amendment of the state
Republican Plan of Organization to create a Republican Policy Committee, composed of one member
elected by each Congressional District Republican Executive Committee and one member elected by the
state Republican Central Committee, which shall review state and federal legislation and take official
positions on legislation that either conforms to the official positions of the Republican Party as
represented in state or national platforms or resolutions, advise elected officials of those positions, and
keep a running tally of votes by FOP elected officials for or against those official GOP positions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these tallies be made available to GOP voters and show percentages on
which each Republican US Senator, US congressman, and state legislator voted in accordance with the
official Republican position on legislation.
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION 10
SUPPORT OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND KEEP THEM INDEPENDENT
WHEREAS, Our local law enforcement is our last line of defense and are willing to put their lives on the
line to ‘protect and secure’ our local communities; and
WHEREAS, The United States is the only country to retain a local police system instead of having a
national system. No country can become a dictatorship as long as the local citizens maintain direct
responsibility and control of their local law enforcement through their duly elected officials; and
WHEREAS, The US military would lack the ability to seize control of our country, Federalization of all the
law enforcement agencies would have the ability to seize control of our citizens; and
WHEREAS, Federal control of local law enforcement would be used by progressive politicians to hamper
or restrict the work of local police, making their work more difficult and risk legal action against local
police thus making them ‘the criminal’; therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, The NCGOP State Convention supports our local law enforcement, especially when
they come under attack while performing their duties; and let it be
FURTHER RESOLVED, That we fight to keep them independent and strongly oppose any attempts to put
our local law enforcement under any form of Federal control, or merging with any Federal agencies, or
any North Carolina State fusion centers, and/or any militarization of police.
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION 11
RENEWING AMERICA’S STAND WITH THE NATION OF ISRAEL
WHEREAS, the nation of Israel was founded on May 14, 1948, as a democratic state holding regular free
elections for its public offices; and
WHEREAS, the Israeli people as a whole prosper under its current form of
government while many of its neighbors live under substandard conditions lacking basic human services
due to oppressive activities led by their governments; and
WHEREAS, on a daily basis Israel faces threats and acts of aggression from neighboring countries
intending to harm its people and its properties; and
WHEREAS, Israel has been and is one of America’s greatest global allies; and
WHEREAS, it is now time for America to renew its support of the nation Israel and its right to defend its
borders and its people against all acts of aggression from enemies both foreign and domestic.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the North Carolina Republican Party proclaims in agreement herein
that America renews its stand with the nation of Israel by supporting its right to defend its borders and
its people against all acts of aggression from enemies both foreign and domestic.
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NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY
2015 REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION 12
REJECTING MEDICAID EXPANSION IN NORTH CAROLINA
WHEREAS, North Carolina already has a serious shortage of physicians who accept Medicaid patients,
and Medicaid expansion would further exacerbate the overcrowding and understaffing in medical
services, resulting in fewer services at greater cost; and
WHEREAS, The federal government only covers the cost of new enrollees for the first three years, after
which North Carolina would have to pay an increasing percentage of the additional costs; and
WHEREAS, The federal government does not, and will never, pay North Carolina’s additional
administrative costs, and conservative estimates are that these additional costs would be $3 billion over
the next ten years; and
WHEREAS, Medicaid costs for North Carolina have increased by 42% in the past ten years, and North
Carolina is already in debt for Medicaid services and cannot afford the additional administrative burden
nor the extra medical expenses incurred by an expansion of the Medicaid program; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Health and Human Services has not demonstrated the most basic ability
to manage the current patient load already enrolled in the MEDICAID system which has impacted the
ability of providers to deliver care to their patients: and
WHEREAS, It is foreseen that the Medicaid system will be overwhelmed by the addition of ICD-10 as
evidenced by the multiple documented and continuing problems with NC FAST and NC TRACKS: and
WHEREAS, Several recent studies published in major medical journals have shown that patients on
Medicaid have no better (and sometimes worse) medical outcomes than patients who are uninsured;
therefore
BE IT RESOLVED: That the North Carolina Republican Party strongly opposes any Medicaid expansion for
the State of North Carolina; and let it be
FURTHER RESOLVED: That we shall diligently support Governor McCrory and our elected
representatives in their continued rejection of any Medicaid expansion.