Balance between responsive yet limited government

Empowering people

Strengthening Washington families

Transparency and trust
 

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. . . for Washington

     Republicans believe in common sense ideas that serve the needs of families and communities. We envision a government that belongs to the citizens and serves under their authority to meet the collective good where no other solutions exist.

     We reject the approach to Democrat governing that assumes the best answer to every problem is a government program. Republicans understand that every dollar government spends came from someone who earned it.

     Good government should always resist the inclination to assume power and interfere in the lives of those who simply want to earn a living, own a home and raise their families. Our state government can cultivate opportunity without interfering unnecessarily in the day-to-day endeavors of free people.

     Republicans will meet those needs of citizens in the most efficient and least intrusive manner, we will resolve to take care of our most vulnerable, and we will work to protect the freedom of those we serve.

BEST for Washington Policy Examples

• Constitutional spending limit
   
• Sunset reviews of state programs
   
• Support comprehensive regulatory reform
   
• Pass anti-Kelo legislation prohibiting eminent domain for the purposes of economic development and guaranteeing the "first right to recover" if property goes unused
   
• Provide a tax rebate to the citizens of Washington
   
• Provide Property Tax Relief
• Restore 1% property tax limit by reenacting I-747 (House Bill 1170)
• Change the burden of proof on assessed value increases from taxpayer to County Auditor
• Implement a value averaging cap on yearly assessed value increases of 5% and 15%

• Allow more affordable health care options in the private insurance market so families and individuals can afford insurance.
• Enact small group reforms
• Allow Washingtonians to purchase affordable health insurance any place in the nation, much like car insurance
• Reform state purchased health programs
• Exempt over the counter drugs/medicines from the sales tax
   
• Education 
• Maintain standards-based reform
• Create a system of accountability for schools that persistently fail to reach student academic progress
• Fund Education First (House Bill 1019/House Joint Resolution 4200)
• Address outstanding school finance issues (grandfathered salaries, levy lid, transportation)
• Develop an incentive-based teacher compensation system
   
• Protect the Initiative Process

• Safe communities
• Make third DUI a felony offense (House Bill 1191)
• Protect all victims of sex crimes
• Fight gang violence
• Eluding an officer penalty increase (House Bill 1198)
• Auto theft penalty increase
• Addition the manufacturing of methamphetamine to the Three-Strikes law
• Reduce identity theft crimes (House Bills 1271, 1272, 1274)
• Fight for Truth in Sentencing
   
• Transportation
• Prioritize mega-project funding for a six-lane 520 bridge and keep I-405 improvements on schedule. Use the most cost-effective alternative for keeping the viaduct safe
• Maintain transportation performance audits as promised to the voters
• Hold the governor and DOT accountable for delivering all projects on time and on budget
   
• Protect marriage - Support DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act)
   
• Parental rights
• Allow parents to access their children's medical records, if they are required to pay for the services
• Support parental rights omnibus bill
   

• Truth in Budgeting
• Fund Education First (House Bill 1019/House Joint Resolution 4200)
• Constitutional spending limit
• Constitutional reserve fund
• Constitutional requirement of 60% vote to raise taxes
• Sunshine law for state budget
• Stop the flow of earmarks
   
• Election Reform
• Require picture ID of poll voters
• Prohibit forwarding of mail ballots
• Make contested judicial races be on the general election ballot
• Automatically cancel voter registration if a juror declaration of non-citizenship is made
• Require random audits of optical scan voting counting machines and of questionable ballots
   
• Government integrity
• Audits of personal services contracts and recommendations for new rules governing PSCs
• Allow regulations from state agencies to be appealed in Spokane County
   
• Pay current bills that are due before creating new programs - Pay down pension
   
• Require legislative approval of compacts between the governor and tribes - (House Bill 1257)
   
• Require two-thirds vote for emergency clauses