Howard-Minor 2016
"We've listened to the people and the goal of our campaign is to provide alternative views to make sure that everybody can make the most morally informed decision possible." -Abby Howard
Official Platform for BFA Republican Party
Policy Platform
Social
LGBTQA+
According to the Chief Justice John G. Roberts in Obergefell v. Hodges, the federal government has no place deciding the legality of marriage. According to the Constitution, because it fails to mention gay marriage, it should be delegated to the states. The electorate should be directly asked about defining what marriage is, in order to let their voice be heard. States are also the ones who issue marriage licenses, and for this reason only the states should have the right to decide marriage rights. On gender neutral bathrooms, we do not see a need to mandate all public locations to have one. An establishment may create or otherwise delegate one, but a government mandate for this measure should only be presented by the states. Regarding the transgender bathroom policies, we believe that is also a state issue, but advocate for everyone’s safety and comfort by incentivizing creating private, or gender neutral bathrooms at public locations.
Abortion
As the Republican Party, we respect the multitude of religions and different beliefs that are held by american citizens. We live in a country where freedom of religion was the primary foundation for everything we believe in, described in the very first Amendment in the Bill of Rights. The fact that abortion clinics like Planned Parenthood are funded by taxpayer dollars is blatantly disrespectful to the religions of many taxpayers. While it is the choice of each individual woman and their unique circumstances on whether they would like to undergo an abortion procedure, the taxpayers do not have a say on whether they are funding it. Millions of Americans are fundamentally against abortion because it may go against their religious beliefs or personal morale, were forced to fund organizations like Planned Parenthood when they pay federal taxes. We believe taxpayers should have a bigger say in where their money is going. This can be achieved by state legislatures making decisions on whether on not their taxpayers should pay for abortion.
Gun Control
We believe that the current restrictions in place on guns are sufficient. Particularly in Vermont, where guns laws are already more relaxed than most places in the United States, gun violence is very low. We believe this is a case of nothing being broken. Certain states have opposing needs and interests, so we leave the issue to be controlled by the states. We don't want to upset the current balance gun control has, therefore we neither wish to restrict guns nor make them more present.
Maternity Leave
In order to maintain and protect small business, paid maternity leave should not be mandated by the government. However, maternity leave without pay should be allowed for up to 12 weeks after a new child has entered the house. We can give incentives to the within states based on values. This ensures that a parent can keep their job while. going on maternity leave. Companies are encouraged to offer maternity leave to their employees and benefits will be available in the form of tax breaks to those who do. Companies may also be encouraged to give incentives to a more limited maternity leave to ensure their employees It will not be a mandate in order to make sure companies that can not afford maternity leave can still function.
Black Lives Matter
The Republican Party values the lives of African Americans and all other minorities. It also values law enforcement and the risks that they take each day. In order to foster a better relationship between law enforcement and minorities, we believe officers should be required to wear body cameras. Research has shown that both parties are more comfortable with this change than the alternative. Anecdotes of officers asking when they could have body cameras again after trial periods show the comfort it gives not only to minorities, but officers as well.
Environmental
Progress
Over the past several decades the environment has been improving rather than declining. We believe that we shouldn't try to fix a system that currently works, so we wish things to remain the same as they currently are. We value the environment and wish to see it continually improve. However, we don't want to impose conditions and restrictions that would eliminate jobs or hurt the economy if possible. As long as conditions remain positive and improving we don't see any action that must be taken.
Renewable Energy
We support the current uses of renewable energy. We support clean renewable sources of energy. We recognize fossil fuels as still abundant and a resource that can be used, but is slightly unstable. We support coal miners out west in order to help secure their jobs. We oppose carbon tax that would increase the cost of energy and therefore the cost of living for an American. We also believe in incentives for companies to use clean energy, because mandates have a tendency to encourage falsified progress.
Economic
The Cost of College
We believe that education is the cornerstone of civilized society. It should be affordable and accessible to all who wish to pursue their education. We believe in merit based scholarships rather than income based, and will provide incentives to schools who advocate for financially assisting students. Scholarships should have a heavier basis on the hard work that it takes to achieve scholastic excellence, rate than where you stand financially. This will ensure that colleges are effectively filled with motivated and deserving students. There should be multiple ways to access financial help, without the use of government loans. Schools and education should also reflect what the local community wants. We want to eliminate ideas like common core so students can instead be taught what is more important to them for their community. The subjects taught in school should reflect and be chosen by the local communities in which these schools are located.
Universal Healthcare
Obamacare premiums are higher than they have ever been, with the Obama Administration confirming a average 25% increase in premiums, and well as 20% of people being forced into a singular option for healthcare. It failed to reach the young and healthy crowd that would have been used to help pay for everyone else’s healthcare services. On this fundamental level Obamacare hashtag failed and should be replaced. Our new healthcare system will not require everyone to have healthcare. Instead it will focus on ensuring that everyone who wishes for healthcare can and will be provided. This healthcare system will avoid the government and instead focus on privatizing the business of healthcare in order to be able to supply jobs and foster the economy. We support keeping regulations such as not denying healthcare to people with Pre-Existing Conditions. This will be accomplished along with universal healthcare plans.
Wage Gap
The Republican Party recognizes that two people who complete the same job should be allowed the same pay. We will work to make sure this occurs. Although many factors can lead to a difference in pay, overall we believe everyone should be allowed the same opportunities when it comes to pay. We do not mandate that everyone who has the same job should have the same pay, but we will require businesses to send wages along with gender information so we can understand the differences in pay and act accordingly so everyone can be treated equally.
National Debt
We recognize the rising and high national debt as issues. We wish to cut federal spending across the board, so we can reach a surplus in the national budget. This would turn around the rise of the debt and instead replace it with lowering numbers as we are able to pay off the loans and debts our countries have over time. As a side effect of cutting spending, we are also able to lower taxes for everyone while still maintaining a surplus and lowering the debt. We can cut federal spending by easing into private social security, so we can get away with increasing federal and state tax, while the people are choosing whether or not to put their money into social security. We can also create incentives for setting up family trusts and help banks to set up private accounts, which pay into retirement, as well as setting up estates that are only earned by support from the available working class.
Foreign
Refugee Entrance
The best way to improve circumstances of the citizens in developing countries is to help solve crisis' and aid the building of infrastructure at their home country. This ensures that they may maintain their values, and culture in the country they were born, while being safe and unopposed. By taking in refugee populations, we are not helping to develop countries. The refugees we take in are a small portion of the population, and are people who advocate to change their own lives. By encouraging people to leave their own country, we are removing the advocates of change. We will never be able to take in entire suffering populations because in 2013, 10.7 percent of the world population lives on less than $1.90 a day. We can't bring 10.7 percent of the world into America to live, (World Bank). However, we can improve a larger number of lives by aiding countries abroad, and showing them the path to becoming like the thriving nation which America is today. This would include having larger humanitarian support, and increasing the size of military.
Illegal Immigration
We believe in a path that leads towards citizenship. It is unbeneficial to have people in the country being represented and treated differently because of a lack of citizenship. Citizenship should be encouraged and made easier for all those who wish to be a part of the United States. It is convenient for a country to have all people living within it be citizens. This ensures everyone is paying taxes, and that those taxes are similar. This idea extends to voting as well. We support deportation only in the cases where the individual has already been expressed as a problem or threat to the rest of the country. These include but are not limited to major crimes like felonies.
Counter-Terrorism
The first Amendment protects our freedom to practice religion. Islamophobia is a negative force which is only encouraging terrorism. Rather than putting restrictions, and denying Islamic people services and freedoms, we need to protect and respect their constitutional right to practice their religion. We can enlist Muslim, and other communities to identify when certain individuals practice of religious freedom infringes on the freedom and well being of others, and when there are impending terrorist threats. This could extend past simple acts of terror, towards exclusion, and general racism from any religious or cultural group. It is also the job of the government to trust in the innocence of citizens until they have proven negative intentions, this means that counter-terrorism that infringes on the Fourth Amendment rights to privacy is not okay, in the eyes of our campaign.
Humanitarian Aid Abroad
Providing humanitarian aid and development to countries we have previously taken refugees from is crucial to the balance of the Republican plan. This justifies our large military, and defense budget, as well as the better alternative for supporting world poverty, to taking refugees. We limit the number of refugees we take in, but when we advocate for change abroad, not only are we protecting the culture and nationalism of refugees, but we are improving the welfare of more people within a developing, and revolutionized nation.
Military
We support our troops and veterans of this great nation. We believe that the army should receive sufficient funding to accomplish all the goals we have set for it. Veterans should be treated with respect and should have opportunities to reintegrate with society. College should come at a very reduced cost to encourage young citizens to serve their nation. Funding of the military should be plentiful, but only as necessary to help maintain a surplus.
Policy Platform
Social
LGBTQA+
According to the Chief Justice John G. Roberts in Obergefell v. Hodges, the federal government has no place deciding the legality of marriage. According to the Constitution, because it fails to mention gay marriage, it should be delegated to the states. The electorate should be directly asked about defining what marriage is, in order to let their voice be heard. States are also the ones who issue marriage licenses, and for this reason only the states should have the right to decide marriage rights. On gender neutral bathrooms, we do not see a need to mandate all public locations to have one. An establishment may create or otherwise delegate one, but a government mandate for this measure should only be presented by the states. Regarding the transgender bathroom policies, we believe that is also a state issue, but advocate for everyone’s safety and comfort by incentivizing creating private, or gender neutral bathrooms at public locations.
Abortion
As the Republican Party, we respect the multitude of religions and different beliefs that are held by american citizens. We live in a country where freedom of religion was the primary foundation for everything we believe in, described in the very first Amendment in the Bill of Rights. The fact that abortion clinics like Planned Parenthood are funded by taxpayer dollars is blatantly disrespectful to the religions of many taxpayers. While it is the choice of each individual woman and their unique circumstances on whether they would like to undergo an abortion procedure, the taxpayers do not have a say on whether they are funding it. Millions of Americans are fundamentally against abortion because it may go against their religious beliefs or personal morale, were forced to fund organizations like Planned Parenthood when they pay federal taxes. We believe taxpayers should have a bigger say in where their money is going. This can be achieved by state legislatures making decisions on whether on not their taxpayers should pay for abortion.
Gun Control
We believe that the current restrictions in place on guns are sufficient. Particularly in Vermont, where guns laws are already more relaxed than most places in the United States, gun violence is very low. We believe this is a case of nothing being broken. Certain states have opposing needs and interests, so we leave the issue to be controlled by the states. We don't want to upset the current balance gun control has, therefore we neither wish to restrict guns nor make them more present.
Maternity Leave
In order to maintain and protect small business, paid maternity leave should not be mandated by the government. However, maternity leave without pay should be allowed for up to 12 weeks after a new child has entered the house. We can give incentives to the within states based on values. This ensures that a parent can keep their job while. going on maternity leave. Companies are encouraged to offer maternity leave to their employees and benefits will be available in the form of tax breaks to those who do. Companies may also be encouraged to give incentives to a more limited maternity leave to ensure their employees It will not be a mandate in order to make sure companies that can not afford maternity leave can still function.
Black Lives Matter
The Republican Party values the lives of African Americans and all other minorities. It also values law enforcement and the risks that they take each day. In order to foster a better relationship between law enforcement and minorities, we believe officers should be required to wear body cameras. Research has shown that both parties are more comfortable with this change than the alternative. Anecdotes of officers asking when they could have body cameras again after trial periods show the comfort it gives not only to minorities, but officers as well.
Environmental
Progress
Over the past several decades the environment has been improving rather than declining. We believe that we shouldn't try to fix a system that currently works, so we wish things to remain the same as they currently are. We value the environment and wish to see it continually improve. However, we don't want to impose conditions and restrictions that would eliminate jobs or hurt the economy if possible. As long as conditions remain positive and improving we don't see any action that must be taken.
Renewable Energy
We support the current uses of renewable energy. We support clean renewable sources of energy. We recognize fossil fuels as still abundant and a resource that can be used, but is slightly unstable. We support coal miners out west in order to help secure their jobs. We oppose carbon tax that would increase the cost of energy and therefore the cost of living for an American. We also believe in incentives for companies to use clean energy, because mandates have a tendency to encourage falsified progress.
Economic
The Cost of College
We believe that education is the cornerstone of civilized society. It should be affordable and accessible to all who wish to pursue their education. We believe in merit based scholarships rather than income based, and will provide incentives to schools who advocate for financially assisting students. Scholarships should have a heavier basis on the hard work that it takes to achieve scholastic excellence, rate than where you stand financially. This will ensure that colleges are effectively filled with motivated and deserving students. There should be multiple ways to access financial help, without the use of government loans. Schools and education should also reflect what the local community wants. We want to eliminate ideas like common core so students can instead be taught what is more important to them for their community. The subjects taught in school should reflect and be chosen by the local communities in which these schools are located.
Universal Healthcare
Obamacare premiums are higher than they have ever been, with the Obama Administration confirming a average 25% increase in premiums, and well as 20% of people being forced into a singular option for healthcare. It failed to reach the young and healthy crowd that would have been used to help pay for everyone else’s healthcare services. On this fundamental level Obamacare hashtag failed and should be replaced. Our new healthcare system will not require everyone to have healthcare. Instead it will focus on ensuring that everyone who wishes for healthcare can and will be provided. This healthcare system will avoid the government and instead focus on privatizing the business of healthcare in order to be able to supply jobs and foster the economy. We support keeping regulations such as not denying healthcare to people with Pre-Existing Conditions. This will be accomplished along with universal healthcare plans.
Wage Gap
The Republican Party recognizes that two people who complete the same job should be allowed the same pay. We will work to make sure this occurs. Although many factors can lead to a difference in pay, overall we believe everyone should be allowed the same opportunities when it comes to pay. We do not mandate that everyone who has the same job should have the same pay, but we will require businesses to send wages along with gender information so we can understand the differences in pay and act accordingly so everyone can be treated equally.
National Debt
We recognize the rising and high national debt as issues. We wish to cut federal spending across the board, so we can reach a surplus in the national budget. This would turn around the rise of the debt and instead replace it with lowering numbers as we are able to pay off the loans and debts our countries have over time. As a side effect of cutting spending, we are also able to lower taxes for everyone while still maintaining a surplus and lowering the debt. We can cut federal spending by easing into private social security, so we can get away with increasing federal and state tax, while the people are choosing whether or not to put their money into social security. We can also create incentives for setting up family trusts and help banks to set up private accounts, which pay into retirement, as well as setting up estates that are only earned by support from the available working class.
Foreign
Refugee Entrance
The best way to improve circumstances of the citizens in developing countries is to help solve crisis' and aid the building of infrastructure at their home country. This ensures that they may maintain their values, and culture in the country they were born, while being safe and unopposed. By taking in refugee populations, we are not helping to develop countries. The refugees we take in are a small portion of the population, and are people who advocate to change their own lives. By encouraging people to leave their own country, we are removing the advocates of change. We will never be able to take in entire suffering populations because in 2013, 10.7 percent of the world population lives on less than $1.90 a day. We can't bring 10.7 percent of the world into America to live, (World Bank). However, we can improve a larger number of lives by aiding countries abroad, and showing them the path to becoming like the thriving nation which America is today. This would include having larger humanitarian support, and increasing the size of military.
Illegal Immigration
We believe in a path that leads towards citizenship. It is unbeneficial to have people in the country being represented and treated differently because of a lack of citizenship. Citizenship should be encouraged and made easier for all those who wish to be a part of the United States. It is convenient for a country to have all people living within it be citizens. This ensures everyone is paying taxes, and that those taxes are similar. This idea extends to voting as well. We support deportation only in the cases where the individual has already been expressed as a problem or threat to the rest of the country. These include but are not limited to major crimes like felonies.
Counter-Terrorism
The first Amendment protects our freedom to practice religion. Islamophobia is a negative force which is only encouraging terrorism. Rather than putting restrictions, and denying Islamic people services and freedoms, we need to protect and respect their constitutional right to practice their religion. We can enlist Muslim, and other communities to identify when certain individuals practice of religious freedom infringes on the freedom and well being of others, and when there are impending terrorist threats. This could extend past simple acts of terror, towards exclusion, and general racism from any religious or cultural group. It is also the job of the government to trust in the innocence of citizens until they have proven negative intentions, this means that counter-terrorism that infringes on the Fourth Amendment rights to privacy is not okay, in the eyes of our campaign.
Humanitarian Aid Abroad
Providing humanitarian aid and development to countries we have previously taken refugees from is crucial to the balance of the Republican plan. This justifies our large military, and defense budget, as well as the better alternative for supporting world poverty, to taking refugees. We limit the number of refugees we take in, but when we advocate for change abroad, not only are we protecting the culture and nationalism of refugees, but we are improving the welfare of more people within a developing, and revolutionized nation.
Military
We support our troops and veterans of this great nation. We believe that the army should receive sufficient funding to accomplish all the goals we have set for it. Veterans should be treated with respect and should have opportunities to reintegrate with society. College should come at a very reduced cost to encourage young citizens to serve their nation. Funding of the military should be plentiful, but only as necessary to help maintain a surplus.