County Republicans prepare for convention

Big Bend Community College the site for Saturday's event

With an eye on the state's troubles and another on national challenges, Grant County Republicans are preparing for their convention Saturday.

Marilyn Bertram, chair of the Grant County Republicans' platform committee, said that during the event, which will start at 9 a.m. at Big Bend Community College's administration building, the discussion regarding the creation of the county's party platform will include topics of national, state and local interest.

Nationally, Republican delegate Warren Greeley mentioned topics such as the Defense of Marriage amendment and the party's opposition to partial-birth abortions.

"It's a barbaric situation," he said. "That baby is about to be born, there is no reason to go and kill that baby."

Greeley said something should be done to avoid "downgrading" marriage.

"It has been an institution for thousands of years. They can call it whatever they want," he said of same-sex unions, "but not marriage."

Both Bertram and Greeley said the party should act in support of President George W. Bush and the war against terrorism.

"We will reaffirm our belief that our government cannot appease or negotiate with terrorists," she said. "We firmly support the President in is unwavering and decisive leadership."

Greeley described Bush as a man with a purpose and a strong leader.

"He recognizes the potential harm that comes from terrorism," he said, advising that the administration should stay on its current course.

"If we can establish a democracy in Iraq it will be a message to that whole area and it will strengthen our position there."

Statewide, the focus will be on topics such as reforming the state's business climate.

"Helping business is vital for the economic recovery," Bertram said. "The state must create a climate that encourages the growth of small business and reduces the barriers to success."

Bertram endorsed what she saw as the state's return to Republicanism through the promotion of smaller government, low taxes and freedom from regulation.

"We ought to make regulatory decisions based on scientific data," rather than making a regulation based on emotion, like so many environmental issues."

Education and health care reform will be discussed, as well, particularly the accountability of teachers and the prospect of putting a cap on non-economic damages awarded in lawsuits. Regarding the former, Bertram said teachers had to be accountable for the performances of the students. She added that curriculum decisions should be left up to the local school districts.

Concerning the latter, Bertram asked "How can you judge a person's pain and suffering as far as paying them money? It's such an ambiguous thing."

Locally, a myriad of possible platform topics were mentioned, from the relicensing of the Priest Rapids Project, to allowing counties to write their own growth management policy, to protecting the farmers' water rights.

"Water issues should be paramount in our platform," Greeley said. "We need to protect the rights of the farmers and the people."

Bertram discounted the possibility of endorsing all the Republican candidates. "We will stay out of that fray until the primaries," she said.