Mission and Principles
Mission Statement
The Butler County Republican Committee demonstrates its commitment to the Republican Party through its various duties. Those duties, as outlined in the committee’s bylaws, shall include:
- Registering voters as Republicans and encouraging them to vote.
- Assisting Republican voters by providing information, absentee ballot applications, and other services.
- Advancing Republican principles in Butler County, including finding, nominating, and electing diverse well qualified Republican candidates for office.
- Assisting Republican candidates who affirm the Committee’s traditional Republican values in election campaigns.
Statement of Principles
Moral Principles
Our Creator has granted us incontrovertible moral principles which are the foundation of our society. It is incumbent upon us to uphold, strengthen and safeguard religious and other institutions which protect and embody these principles. Government policy which negates these principles or diminishes these institutions is inherently unsound.
Non-Discrimination
As the party of Abraham Lincoln, we abhor discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity, or religion.
Immigration
As a nation of immigrants, we support responsible legal immigration of persons of all nationalities. The sovereignty of our nation must be preserved through adequate border security.
Freedom
Freedom is based on fundamental rights including those embodied in the Pennsylvania and U.S. Constitutions. Government is a means of securing freedom and maintaining a system of justice.
Limitations of Government
Government, to be effective, must operate efficiently and economically, and must be restricted to essential public functions. Therefore, government must be limited, and it must recognize and encourage private individual and collective responsibility. Government must function with integrity, and must be accountable, transparent, and responsive to the people that it represents.
Taxation and Regulation
The government power to tax and regulate, if used irresponsibly, imposes unacceptable costs upon society. The levying of taxes must be limited. Excessive taxation retards economic growth and prosperity and diminishes personal freedom. Regulation and mandates by government should be restricted to essential public health, welfare and safety issues.
Free Market Economy
A private, free market economic system is the basis of prosperity. The power of free enterprise to create jobs is the best means to eliminate poverty. The forced redistribution of wealth and the over regulation of the free enterprise system – even under the guise of law for the purpose of advancing misguided notions of social or economic justice – is destructive of the fabric of society.
Right to Keep and Bear Arms
The right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by our constitutions shall not be infringed. All persons have the right to be safe and secure in their homes and communities.
Justice
Justice demands an honest and impartial application of the law. It is a perversion of justice to deny equal opportunity to any individual. A strong system of criminal justice, which metes out sure and swift punishment to those who break the law, while protecting the constitutional rights of the innocent, must not be compromised.
Individual Responsibilities
Individual rights carry with them individual responsibilities. Included is the obligation to work to provide for oneself and one’s family, thereby securing freedom through economic empowerment.
Energy Independence
Our nation’s independence is to a large extent based on our energy independence. We enthusiastically support the exploration and development of our energy resources.
Voting and Electoral System
The integrity of our electoral system is vital to ensuring the continuation of our constitutional republic. We therefore support strong security and safeguards to prevent voter fraud, including verification of citizenship in our census and voter identification at polling places.
Social and Educational System
The development of social and educational policy should recognize the primacy of the family. Parents should have the freedom and ability to choose strong and appropriate educational opportunities for their children. Educational quality, including school choice, is instrumental in guaranteeing America’s future. Quality in education depends on a working partnership between students, parents, educators and communities. The future of our republic is dependent on a well-educated citizenry. We therefore support and endorse the instruction of civics and government in our schools.
Human Life
Human life, beginning at conception, has inherent dignity and value. All life must be protected.
Conservation
The conservation of our environment and its natural resources must be protected, but not at the expense of constitutional rights of private property owners.
Defense
American world leadership has been built upon and will continue to depend upon a willingness to defend and promote freedom. Support and recognition must be afforded to those men and women who are serving and have served in the defense of this country. A strong national defense secures the blessings of liberty to our posterity. We support the nation’s war on domestic and international terrorism.