ISSUES CONFERENCE REPORT
The reports below are a summary of the discussion and proposed actions by the attendees of the Issues Conference and are being recommended to the El Paso County Republican Party for adoption as its official position and action. They are not the official position of the Party until adopted by a vote of the El Paso County Republican Central Committee. We will update this page when portions or all of the proposals are adopted.
Thank you to all who participated for their ideas, comments and commitment to coming up with recommendations to make a better future for our country. Thank you, especially to Don Gierard, Issues Committee Chairman; Frank Shannon and Mark Bogosian, Economy Subcommittee Chairmen; Marla Crane and Bruce Nozolino, Taxes Subcommittee Chairmen; Marc Dippold and Ken Bull, Healthcare Subcommittee Chairmen; and Robyn Cafasso, Law and Order Subcommittee Chairman for your hard work to make this conference a success.
Economy Report
We are Republicans because the spirit of free enterprise in America is alive but needs to be unchained by:
1. Taxing consumption – not production, jobs or income (We get less of what is taxed and more of what is not taxed so current tax structure discourages production, jobs and income – the opposite of what we want)
2. Limiting government and supporting state’s rights (sovereignty)
3. Unburdening employers of ‘the wedge” between them and their employees
4. Returning to a sound monetary policy – reform the Federal Reserve
5. Privatizing government assets (example: Memorial Hospital or the Post Office)
6. We want the government to serve the American people – not the other way around
Actions:
1. State legislation to eliminate the business personal property tax. State legislation to eliminate state income tax. Federal legislation to eliminate the federal income tax. Legislation to tax consumption at point of sale instead.
2. Legislation at state level to refuse federal mandates.
3. Repeal government mandates on employers.
4. Legislation to get rid of Federal Reserve and return to hard currency standard.
5. Ballot initiative to sell Memorial Hospital, Patty Jewett Golf Course, Valley Hi Golf Course. Federal government to sell post office and power companies (TVA, Southwest Power, BPA, WAPA).
6. Make Colorado a Right-to-work state and make the United States a Right-to-work country.
Healthcare Report
1. Insurance
a. Non-profit insurance co-operatives in communities
b. Insurance tax credit per person/family to be used to purchase their own healthcare policy
c. Reform Medicaid – reimburse doctors for actual cost of doctor visit or give physicians tax credit for donation of time at Medicaid clinics. Also reduce corruption and fraud and help with medical school cost for those who serve Medicaid patients.
d. Portability of insurance – personally purchased policy and can take across state lines
e. Increase insurance competition – state or national availability and reduce barriers and increase freedom of choice.
f. Reform pre-existing conditions exclusions and insurance cancellation through ability to shop policies before dropping old policy
g. Give doctors incentives to cover Medicare patients by covering actual costs.
2. Legal – Tort reform- reduce liability premiums for physicians.
a. Set limits on judgments for liability lawsuits
b. Pursue policies and actions to reduce fraud, waste and abuse.
c. Develop reforms to aggressively pursue fraudulent billing, insurance fraud, waste and abuse. Establish consequences for fraud and promote independent audits of insurance and billing.
3. Cost reductions
a. FDA screen drugs in a better or safer way which will reduce costs
b. Eliminate restrictions on doctors, practicing natural alternative therapies. Allow naturopaths and holistic doctors to be licensed in Colorado.
c. Allow free and open communication of benefits of natural therapies
d. FDA relinquish stranglehold on prescription drugs and U.S. medicine as the only authorized therapies
e. Assist with the cost of medical school in exchange for service in rural and needy areas.
f. Encourage high school students in rural areas to study medicine.
g. Transparency in pricing for service to be rendered – price list- and quotes available to be able to shop care and services. Show actual costs and service rendered in line-item breakdowns. Truth in pricing will increase and improve competition.
h. Narrow requirements on emergency room access versus clinic visits as option
i. Illegal aliens. Charge for services rendered to the individual or to the country of origin. Non-payment is a criminal offense.
4. Educate public on Republican health care plan
a. Combat misinformation with website listing plan and publish the truth
b. List insurance Q & A – help people learn how to choose insurance that best fits their lifestyle and needs
c. Teach outreach programs – help people teach others how to choose healthcare- answer questions
d. Grassroots outreach – education program to teach – options
e. Radio, churches, doo-to-door, rallies and personal relationships.
Taxes Report
- Local Issues – Direction for local government
- Focus on enumerated charter and mandates
- Adopt fiscal responsibility
i. Do more with less
- Expand liberties
i. Individual rights
ii. Property rights
- Market the city
i. Bring in business
- Accountability
i. Checkbook online
- Ballot Issues
- Issue 300
i. Committee consensus is wording is misleading – may not achieve intended purpose
1. Enterprise still collects money
2. Just would not transfer to the city
- Issue 2C
i. Committee recommends an absolutely NO. Tax increase without justification
ii. Existing literature may not be accurate
Law and Order Report
Coming shortly
