SOUTH DAKOTA REPUBLICAN PARTY - 2010 Resolutions

Proposed Resolution 1:

WHEREAS, U.S. Senator John Thune is a source of pride as U.S. Senator for South Dakota; and

WHEREAS, Senator Thune has been a tremendous leader in the United States Senate, serving on the Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee, the Armed Services Committee, the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, and the Small Business Committee; and

WHEREAS, Senator Thune has fought hard to promote South Dakota’s ag economy and to protect the way of life for South Dakota’s farming families by actively engaging in creating sound agricultural policies; and

WHEREAS, Senator Thune is committed to our national defense and winning the war on terrorism, as evidenced by his continual support of our troops currently serving overseas and those veterans who have served before them; and

WHEREAS, Senator Thune has worked tirelessly toward maintaining Ellsworth Air Force Base as a vital link in the nations defenses has resulted in an expansion of the mission at the base bringing Remotely Piloted Aircraft (drones) to South Dakota along with 280 airmen and their families, sustaining the viability of the base into the future, and

WHEREAS, Senator Thune has worked to provide our veterans the benefits they are entitled to and as such has worked successfully to create the Office of Rural Health within the VA to better serve the veterans of South Dakota; and
WHEREAS, Senator Thune is focused on strengthening our national security and reducing America’s dependency on foreign oil, increasing opportunities for South Dakotans; and

WHEREAS, Senator Thune has long been a supporter for ethanol, bio-diesel and other alternative fuels and has worked tirelessly to advance alternative fuel research and technology to make bio-fuels more readily available to the general public; and

WHEREAS, Senator Thune supports increasing the use and availability of E-85, increasing domestic refining capacity, and opening a small portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for environmentally responsible oil and gas exploration; and

WHEREAS, Senator Thune recognizes that ours is a nation of immigrants and believes this is also a nation of laws that need to be enforced; that an effective national immigration policy should begin with secure borders and be fair to those immigrants coming to the United States via the lawful process and not reward unlawful behavior;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Dakota Republican Party thanks and
commends Senator John Thune for all the work, dedication and leadership he has given.

Proposed Resolution 2:

WHEREAS, our State’s many veterans have served their country with honor and a sense of duty earning our admiration and respect,

WHEREAS, a strong national defense helps to promote and preserve freedom for Americans at home and abroad and for all people throughout the world; and,

WHEREAS, many South Dakotans serve our country in the United States Armed Forces; and,

WHEREAS, those who serve our country in the military put their lives on the line time and time again in defense of freedom; and,

WHEREAS, those who served before and those who are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces are tremendous sources of pride; and,

WHEREAS, our beloved World War II veterans are deserving of the tremendous response of our state’s people and the communities to the Honor Flights earning all of them our recognition and commendation, and

WHEREAS, many of the husbands and wives, sons and daughters of South Dakota went off to defend freedom and never returned giving their last full measure of devotion for our liberty earning our eternal respect and leaving us to mourn their loss.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the South Dakota Republican Party supports and honors our military women, men, veterans, and their families.

Proposed Resolution 3:

WHEREAS, Governor Mike Rounds has served as South Dakota’s 31st governor since January 2003 with honor and dedication; and,

WHEREAS, Governor Rounds has worked for increased economic development opportunities for all communities in South Dakota and his efforts have been rewarded with increased opportunities for South Dakotans; and

WHEREAS, Governor Rounds has shown his tremendous vision for South Dakota by designing and implementing his 2010 Initiative to spur economic development; and,

WHEREAS, Governor Rounds’ commitment to economic development is not only bringing in new businesses, but is also helping existing businesses expand; and,

WHEREAS, Governor Rounds’ recognition of South Dakota natural beauty and attractions compelled his to promote and aggressively market the state to guest from around the world, and

WHEREAS, Governor Rounds took the lead in negotiating the transfer of the Homestake Gold Mine in Lead to the State to create a national underground science laboratory. Governor Rounds worked with the South Dakota Legislature to secure the funds needed to create a mid-level lab propelling South Dakota to the site for a national lab; and,

WHEREAS, Governor Rounds has shown his commitment to the young people of South Dakota by budgeting increased funding for education, awarding more scholarships to our best and brightest students and developing world class research facilities at our universities; and,

WHEREAS, Governor Rounds leadership qualities have been recognized nationally culminating in his selection as President of Council of State Governments and Chairman of the Western Governors Association, and

WHEREAS, Governor Rounds is a loving husband, devoted father, loyal son and adoring grandfather;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the South Dakota Republican Party that we
commend and thank Governor Rounds for his years of service as Governor of South Dakota.

Proposed Resolution 4:

WHEREAS, the South Dakota Republican Party auxiliaries, the South Dakota Federation of Republican Women, Young Republicans, College Republicans and Teen-Age Republicans of South Dakota are valued partners of the party and its candidates, and in the political affairs of our state; and

WHEREAS, the auxiliaries provide enormously valuable resources to our candidates and campaigns by providing a volunteer base for the hard work of campaigning, and

WHEREAS, the auxiliaries are the foundations of the grassroots efforts of our party, providing wonderful opportunities for growth and activity in politics, and

WHEREAS, the ideas, programs and activities they bring to the State’s people are valuable in our democracy;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the South Dakota Republican Party commends and
thanks the South Dakota Federation of Republican Women, Young Republicans, College Republicans, and Teen-Age Republicans of South Dakota for their contributions to the State of South Dakota, and the party pledges to them its continued encouragement and enthusiastic support.

Proposed Resolution 5:

WHEREAS: The Missouri River main stem dams and reservoirs, built and maintained by the federal government under the Flood Control Act of 1944, commonly referred to as the Pick-Sloan Plan, provide approximately one billion dollars per year in benefits to the states adjacent to the Missouri River and to the people of the United States of America, and;

WHEREAS: These benefits include flood control, hydropower, navigation, municipal and industrial water supply, irrigation, recreation, improved water quality and fish and wildlife benefits, and;

WHEREAS: These benefits are being adversely affected and endangered by the continued flow of sediment into the reservoirs, and the accumulation of that sediment in the reservoirs, and;

WHEREAS: That sediment accumulation has already damaged public and private properties, and has reduced water storage capabilities of the reservoirs for flood control and water supplies, and;

WHEREAS: The agency designated by Congress to manage the dams and reservoirs on behalf of the American people is the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and;

WHEREAS: The continued accumulation of sediment in the reservoirs will ultimately destroy the reservoirs and their associated benefits if the sediment problem is not addressed:

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: The Republican Party of South Dakota does fully support efforts to reduce the amount of sediment entering the reservoirs, and does fully support a plan for, and implementation of removal of sediment that does enter the reservoirs in order to protect and retain the many benefits these dams and reservoirs provide, and;

FURTHER: The Republican Party of South Dakota hereby requests the federal government immediately provide to the managing agency funding necessary to develop a plan or plans to control the amount of sediment entering the reservoirs and steps necessary to remove sediment that accumulates in the reservoirs, and provide, on a continuing basis the funding necessary to
accomplish said control and removal in order to preserve and enhance the many benefits provide by these dams and reservoirs to the people of South Dakota and the citizens of the United states of America.

Proposed Resolution 6:

Whereas, the health of our state’s citizens is of paramount importance to them, their families and friends; and

Whereas, the State has a compelling interest in the health, welfare and safety of its citizens; and

Whereas, access to health care is an essential safeguard to the establishment and maintenance of human dignity; and

Whereas, our health care system in the United States is clearly the class of the world in its technology, its levels of innovation and models of delivery of care, leading our citizens to enjoy the many and varied benefits of access to such tremendous tools and abilities; and

Whereas, the merits and principles of limited government and individual responsibility lead to increased personal freedom, economic opportunity, strong families and communities, and a prosperous nation; and

Whereas, we believe that a health care system which hews to these merits and principles will result in the most benefit for the most Americans by driving down costs and increasing options for consumers;

Now, Therefore, Be it resolved that the South Dakota Republican Party opposes government run health care, individual mandates, tax inequity in health care, government interference in the physician patient relationship, and proposals that undermine health care quality, choice, and free market competition; and

Be it further resolved that the South Dakota Republican Party supports common sense and free market health care reforms that would lower costs, limit abusive lawsuits, preserve quality, encourage competition, increase choices and accountability, and maintain the integrity and quality of health care in the United States.

Proposed Resolution 7:

WHEREAS, Cap-and-Trade is a proposed regulatory program under which the Federal government would 1) set a limit (cap) on the volume of carbon emissions that would be permitted, and 2) distribute the rights to allowed emissions so that firms would be free to buy and sell those allotments after initial distribution; and

WHEREAS, Cap-and-Trade is a huge tax on our natural energy resources including coal, oil and natural gas, totaling $846 billion in the first 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office; and

WHEREAS, Cap-and-Trade may bankrupt the coal industry – one that employs thousands of Americans – and the threat of Cap and Trade has caused South Dakota to lose billions of dollars in expected investments in our state in the form of electrical generating plants; and

WHEREAS, Cap-and-Trade will dramatically affect American farmers; it is estimated this legislation will cause farm income to drop 94 percent, or over $50 billion, by 2035; and WHEREAS, the cost for hard-working American families will be staggering, totaling $890 per family per year according to the Congressional Budget Office, and at least $1,218 per average annual household burden, or approximately two percent of the average household income; and

WHEREAS, under a Cap-and-Trade system, once carbon emissions allowances are distributed, entities will be free to buy and sell allowances, creating a billion dollar commodity and derivatives market subjecting energy prices to Wall Street speculation and market volatility; and

WHEREAS, the Waxman-Markey bill expands the realm of the Federal government over energy utilities and manufacturers, establishes new Federal agencies, and allocates tax payer funds to be handed out at the discretion of the EPA Administrator and the Secretary of Energy; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that we recognize that Cap and-Trade is a tax on energy that falls on hard-working American families and that the cost of this tax greatly exceed any benefit, especially in this time of economic crises; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we urge the Congress to vote no on Cap-and-Trade; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we support the use of all energy sources that will reduce carbon emissions, especially nuclear, clean-coal and renewable energy technologies.

Proposed Resolution 8:

WHEREAS, some courts and jurisdictions around the world have recognized and adopted and used extraterritorial law to decide disputes between persons; and

WHEREAS, the US Constitution, State Constitutions, and the laws, statutes and rules made under them in this country have served us for over 200 years; and

WHEREAS, the South Dakota Republican Party believes in the rule of law and the Constitutions of the United States and South Dakota;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the South Dakota Republican Party supports the use of the United States and South Dakota Constitutions, and laws and rules made thereunder, and no laws of foreign countries or United Nations resolutions which conflict with the legal principles found in our constitutions.

Proposed Resolution 9:

WHEREAS, Chris Nelson is a proud son of White Lake and of South Dakota, a graduate of White Lake High School and South Dakota State University, a loving husband and devoted father, and

WHEREAS, Chris entered service on behalf of the State of South Dakota in 1987 and has served in various capacities within the Secretary of State’s Office since that time; and,

WHEREAS, Chris was elected in his own right in 2002 and has guided the affairs of the Office of Secretary of State with a sure hand having been a vocal proponent of fairness and the rule of law in matters pertaining to elections;

WHEREAS, Under Chris's leadership the secretary of state's office was awarded the Election Center's 2009 Professional Practices Program State Award, given as recognition for the most outstanding election administration professional practice in the nation, and

WHEREAS, Chris’s government service in the Secretary of State’s Office is coming to an end and it is altogether fitting and highly appropriate that we should thank him;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the South Dakota Republican Party that we thank and honor Chris Nelson for his years of service to South Dakota and for his work, dedication and leadership in establishing fairness and the rule of law as continuing guiding principles for the Office of Secretary of State.

Proposed Resolution 10:

WHEREAS, Vern Larson is a loyal son of South Dakota, a devoted son and a loving father, and a graduate of Vivian High School and Northern State College who went on to become the State’s Treasurer and Auditor, becoming South Dakota’s longest serving executive office holder, and

WHEREAS, Vern has appeared as a Republican candidate on every general election ballot since 1978, and has won every election; and,

WHEREAS, Vern’s leadership qualities have been recognized nationally, culminating in his selection as President of National Association of State Comptrollers, and

WHEREAS, Vern has invested hundreds of hours of his time, over twenty plus years, in our state’s youth, as the advisor to Teenage Republicans, and

WHEREAS, Vern has been a fixture at our Lincoln Day Dinners across our state for many years and has been a tremendous supporter of the State Fair Republican Booth, and

WHEREAS, Vern’s service to South Dakota has been longstanding and exemplary, and his trustworthiness has been beyond reproach; and,

WHEREAS, Vern has so very ably served his community in so many ways, through his membership and affiliations with the Elks and Kiwanis Club, among other organizations; and,

WHEREAS, it appears that Vern service to South Dakota as an office holder is coming to a close, it is highly appropriate and altogether fitting that we should honor him,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the South Dakota Republican Party that we thank and honor Vern Larson for his years of service to the people of the South Dakota, keeper of our checkbook and watcher over our expenditures for these many years.

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