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OfficialIdahoRepublicanPartyDocumentIDGOP2016

2016 APPROVED RESOLUTIONS This document contains the resolutions passed by the 2016 IDGOP State Convention held on June 4, 2016.

OfficialIdahoRepublicanPartyDocumentIDGOPJANUARY2016

TableofContentsResolution 2016-7................................................................................................................................................................2

A Resolution for Awarding a Military Occupational Specialty to the Graduates of the United States Army Sniper Course...................................................................................................................................................................2

Resolution 2016-8...............................................................................................................................................................4

A Resolution supporting information on judicial candidates....................................................................................4

Resolution 2016-9...............................................................................................................................................................5

Resolution to oppose transgender bathroom guidelines in Idaho public schools..................................................5

Resolution 2016-10.............................................................................................................................................................7

Resolution supporting an amendment in Driver’s License Procedures...................................................................7

Resolution 2016-11..............................................................................................................................................................8

Resolution Supporting the Amendment of the Idaho Constitution, Article IX, Section 6.....................................8

Resolution 2016-12............................................................................................................................................................10

Resolution Supporting Implementation of Provisional Voting Procedures..........................................................10


Resolution 2016-7 A Resolution for Awarding a Military Occupational Specialty to the Graduates of the United States Army Sniper Course

WHEREAS, Snipers are becoming an increasingly valued weapon in the mountains and deserts of Afghanistan. A definite renaissance of sniping is being seen across the front lines of war. The sniper was such an effective tool in Iraq that the sniper’s tactical comeback in Afghanistan is being facilitated by the mounting concerns over the number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan caused by collateral damage from coalition air strikes. This has made the sniper the military’s most cost effective, discriminating fighting machine in the Global War on Terror. As the military draws down and budget cuts loom, the military will place additional dependence on affordable force multipliers.

Two of the most effective force multipliers currently in the war on terror are unmanned aerial drones (UAVs) and the modern military sniper. Both are relatively inexpensive and fit well into the military’s transformation to a smaller, more agile force.

WHEREAS, The missions, tactics, capabilities, limitations, training and doctrine differ completely from the standard Infantry (11B) Military Occupational Specialty;

WHEREAS, The current rate at which Snipers are removed from positions within a Company or Battalion is far too fast to adequately pass on knowledge;

WHEREAS, The ability of a soldier to stay in the Sniper position for more than two or three years is vital to the continuity of the Sniper's future role in the United States Army, given the level of training and experience offered by not being forced out of the Sniper role due to rank;

WHEREAS, The current Additional Skill Identifier of B4 that is given to graduates of the United States Army Sniper Course is not enough to guarantee the Sniper a Sniper-coded billet within a Company or Battalion, and is easily overlooked by Commanders, First-line supervisors and other Leaders,

WHEREAS, The Sniper's skill set is adversely impacted by the current system of being placed temporarily in a Sniper-coded position by forcing him to adhere to the 11B career-progression model and sacrifice expertise in either the Infantry tasks or Sniper tasks for mediocrity in both,

WHEREAS, Adoption of this proposal would ensure: continuity of knowledge, creation of true subject-matter experts, rapid dissemination of experience-driven tactics, improved morale, improved combat capability for Company- and Battalion-level Commands, and a corps of Non- Commissioned Officers and Soldiers that are completely capable of operating with minimal supervision under adverse and dangerous conditions in any environment.

WHEREAS, The United States Army would benefit from a formal career progression for Sniper qualified personnel to become Sniper Employment Officers through a Warrant Officer program. This position would create an incentive for Sergeants and Staff Sergeants who have exhausted their Sniper Team Leader and Section Leader time in a Brigade Combat Team to become United States Army


Warrant Officers. The move to adopt a Warrant Officer Sniper MOS would open the door for snipers to work in the field longer, receive and disseminate better training, and improve the overall quality of the Army sniper. The Sniper Employment Officer would be able to advise and assist combatant commanders on the employment, training and equipment needs of snipers. This career field would be highly competitive and cost effective for individual units and the United States Army.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the United States Army implement a course designed for Officers at the Platoon and Company levels, to provide instruction on the capabilities, limitations and missions of Snipers. This course will be taught by current Sniper Non-Commissioned Officers and cover the following topics: capabilities, limitations, typical employment, mission planning considerations, and training considerations. This course will feature time working alongside the students at USASC during their final Field Training Exercise from the Planning Phase to Recovery, with the Sniper Employment Officer students acting as Commanders and Headquarters elements to better personally understand the requests, information and approaches Snipers take to accomplishing missions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Idaho’s Congressional Delegation introduce to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees the proposal that the United States Army grant the graduates of the United States Army Sniper Course a Military Occupational Specialty of 11S, the creation of a Sniper Warrant Officer Program and the reintroduction of the Army Sniper Employment Officer Course.


Resolution 2016-8 A Resolution supporting information on judicial candidates

WHEREAS, The judicial branch of government is important to the lives of the people of Idaho. Unfortunately, the voters of Idaho have little knowledge of the various candidates for judicial office within the state. Access to more information on judicial candidates would be helpful to the voters of Idaho, and promote better government.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Idaho Republican Party will work to help facilitate greater access to information on judicial candidates throughout the state. The state party’s efforts to facilitate voter education on statewide judicial races shall focus on hosting candidate forum(s).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that county central committees will be encouraged to host candidate forums to educate voters about district level judicial candidates.


Resolution 2016-9 Resolution to oppose transgender bathroom guidelines in Idaho public schools

WHEREAS, on May 13, 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Education issued to the State of Idaho a joint letter of “significant guidance… to inform recipients about how the Departments evaluate whether covered entities are complying with their legal obligations” and “[a]s a condition of receiving Federal funds, a school agrees that it will not exclude, separate, deny benefits to, or otherwise treat differently on the basis of sex any person in its educational programs or activities;” and

WHEREAS, said letter specifies that students may change their “gender identity” at will (aka “transgender”, see “Terminology,” p.1), and that “when a student or the student’s parent or guardian, as appropriate, notifies the school administration that the student will assert a gender identity that differs from previous representations or records, the school will begin treating the student consistent with the student’s gender identity;” and

WHEREAS, said letter also states that Title IX “requires schools to provide transgender students equal access to educational programs and activities even in circumstances in which other students, parents, or community members raise objections or concerns;” and

WHEREAS, said letter states that “When a school provides sex-segregated activities and facilities, transgender students must be allowed to participate in such activities and access such facilities consistent with their gender identity” including “restrooms, locker rooms, and housing and overnight accommodations;” and

WHEREAS, such guidelines are unconstitutional and an abuse of executive authority; that Idaho has a right to direct its own educational programs, institutions, and policies under Amendments IX and X of the U.S. Constitution and as specified in the Idaho Constitution; and

WHEREAS, natural biological gender is a part of the moral fabric of our society, including the role of the natural family; and the State has an obligation to protect the health, safety, and moral well-being of students attending Idaho’s public schools; and boys accessing girls’ facilities and vice versa is repugnant to the moral and psychological well-being of students; and

WHEREAS, such fundamental and broad alterations in traditional gender roles across all of Idaho’s public schools would significantly impact students’ experience at public schools, including causing considerable negative impacts to the students’ learning process and lives

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Idaho’s constitutional officers responsible for public education, school boards, superintendents, and educators in this State are hereby requested to oppose all guidelines specified in said letter; to work with Idaho’s educational and legal institutions to develop a coordinated response; to immediately direct Idaho’s school districts, school boards, superintendents, and educators to not implement these guidelines and wait for


future direction from the State; also, to actively join the efforts of other states to oppose such guidelines.


Resolution 2016-10 Resolution supporting an amendment in Driver’s License Procedures

WHEREAS, only U.S. citizens who are residents of the State of Idaho are legally eligible to vote in Idaho elections, and

WHEREAS, Idaho law allows U.S. citizens and lawfully present non-citizens to obtain an Idaho driver's license; and

WHEREAS, only some categories of first-time or renewing driver's license applicants must show proof of U.S. citizenship when applying for a driver's license (learner's permit applicants, CDL applicants); and

WHEREAS, all other first-time or renewing driver's license applicants only check "yes" or "no" to the U.S. citizenship question, with no written proof of citizenship required; and

WHEREAS, an Idaho driver's license has no information indicating whether the license holder is a U.S. citizen or a lawfully present non-citizen; and

WHEREAS, Idaho law requires electors to present a form of photo identification such as a driver's license when requesting an election ballot (see 34-1113); and

WHEREAS, it is currently possible for a non-citizen to register to vote without presenting proof of U.S. citizenship AND to use an Idaho driver's license as a form of photo identification in order to receive a ballot and vote

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Idaho Secretary of State and state legislature shall reduce the potential for non-citizens to use an Idaho driver's license as a form of photo identification to fraudulently obtain an election ballot by (1) requiring all first-time applicants and initial renewal applicants for an Idaho driver's license to present written proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status; and (2) revising the printed driver's license to specify whether the license holder is a U.S. citizen or a lawful immigrant.


Resolution 2016-11 Resolution Supporting the Amendment of the Idaho Constitution, Article IX, Section 6 WHEREAS, the current wording of the Idaho Constitution, Article IX, Section 6 can be interpreted to prohibit use of the Bible for reference purposes to further the study of public school subjects; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court (Abington v. Schempp) has held that public schools may teach students about the Bible as long as such teaching is “presented objectively as part of a secular program of education” and

WHEREAS, Idaho citizens sought to pass legislation during the 2016 legislative session to clarify that the Idaho Constitution does not intend to deprive public school teachers and students of their First Amendment right to freedom of speech, including freedom to use the Bible as a reference source; and

WHEREAS, Idaho citizens successfully introduced legislation during the 2016 session, namely S. 1342, to clarify that the Bible is not a censored document in Idaho public schools and can be used as a reference source for public school subjects; and

WHEREAS, S. 1342 passed the House and Senate committees and also passed both chambers of the 2016 legislative session with 81% of legislators in support of the bill, and the Idaho legislature provided the bill to the Governor on the second to last day of the 2016 session for his signature; and

WHEREAS, Governor Otter held the bill until after the session had ended and vetoed the bill on the last day before it would have automatically been enacted; and

WHEREAS, these actions by the Governor prevented the legislature from over-riding the Governor's veto, even though there were potentially enough votes to secure a veto over-ride; and

WHEREAS, the Idaho Constitution is still unclear regarding use of the Bible in Idaho public schools; and

WHEREAS, the Idaho Constitution, Article XX, Section 1 provides for an amendment to the Idaho Constitution to be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the legislature and ratified by a majority vote of the Idaho electorate, without action by the governor;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED first, that the 2017 Idaho legislature is requested to consider an amendment to the Idaho Constitution, Article IX, Section 6 to establish that the Bible is expressly permitted for use in Idaho public schools as a reference source, consistent with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court rulings; and

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the proposed amendment might read as follows:

SECTION 6. RELIGIOUS TEST AND TEACHING IN SCHOOL PROHIBITED. No religious test or qualification shall ever be required of any person as a condition of admission into any public educational institution of the state, either as teacher or student; and no teacher or student of any such institution shall ever be required to attend or participate in any religious service whatever. No sectarian or religious tenets or doctrines shall ever be taught in the public schools, nor shall any


distinction or classification of pupils be made on account of race or color. No books, papers, tracts, or documents of a political, sectarian or denominational character shall be used or introduced in any schools established under the provisions of this article, nor shall any teacher or any district receive any of the public school moneys in which the schools have not been taught in accordance with the provisions of this article. Voluntary use of the Bible by teachers and students is expressly permitted for reference purposes to further the study of literature, comparative religion, English and foreign languages, United States and world history, comparative government, law, philosophy, ethics, world geography, archaeology, music, sociology, and other topics of study where an understanding of the Bible may be useful or relevant. No student will be required to use any religious text for reference purposes if the student or parents of the student object.


Resolution 2016-12 Resolution Supporting Implementation of Provisional Voting Procedures

WHEREAS, Idaho citizens deserve to have fair elections; and

WHEREAS, Idaho's same day voter registration procedures currently permit a newly registered voter to receive a ballot and have that ballot tallied before verifying that the voter's registration is valid and the voter is a qualified elector as per 34-104; and

WHEREAS, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 "creates new mandatory minimum standards for states to follow in several key areas of election administration" and "requires that the states implement the following new programs and procedures: Provisional Voting.."; and

WHEREAS, Idaho is one of only three states deemed "exempt" from implementing provisional voting procedures, precisely because Idaho allows same-day registration (see https://ballotpedia.org/State_by_State_Provisional_Ballot_Laws); and

WHEREAS, same-day registration statistics for Idaho's 2016 and 2014 elections indicate an enormous use of this voter registration process and a corresponding need for provisional balloting procedures (the May 20, 2014 primary had 11,019 election-day registrants; the November 4, 2014 General Election had 41,358 election-day registrants; and the March 8, 2016 Presidential preference primary had 29,069 election-day registrants); and

WHEREAS, two other aspects of Idaho election code also indicate a need for provisional ballot procedures, namely acceptance of an affidavit in lieu of photo identification (34-1114), and a requirement for electors to fill out a new registration card if their current address does not match their address in the poll book and/or registered voters database (34-413); and

WHEREAS, in December 2015 Idaho citizens crafted legislation to establish provisional voting procedures in Idaho, and provided this draft legislation to the Idaho Secretary of State; and

WHEREAS, the Idaho Secretary of State brought the citizen-drafted legislation for provisional balloting to the legislature for consideration during the 2016 session, but the legislature did not advance this proposed legislation during the 2016 session;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that (1) The Governor is requested to call a special session of the Idaho legislature to write and pass legislation defining provisional voting procedures for same day registrants. (2) The legislature is requested to pass and the Governor is requested to sign provisional voting law into effect prior to September 1, 2016. (3) The Idaho Secretary of State and County Clerks are requested to implement provisional voting procedures in Idaho for the 2016 General Election and all subsequent elections. (4) If the Idaho legislature does not pass and the Governor does not sign provisional balloting into law, same-day registration and affidavits in lieu of photo identification


should be abolished, since the integrity of Idaho's voting process cannot be safe-guarded without provisional balloting.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that (5) provisional ballot procedures for same-day registrants might read as follows:

Definitions: “Provisional Ballot” refers to a ballot provided to a voter who is registering to vote on election day, and whose right to register and to vote in that precinct cannot be immediately determined at the polls or verified at the election office. This will allow the voter to cast a ballot at the polls which shall only be counted if the voter is a qualified elector as provided in 34-104.

Procedures: Any same-day first-time registrant or registered voter whose current address does not match the address in the poll book and/or the registered voters database shall vote by provisional ballot at the applicable polling place based on his or her current residence, and his or her registration shall be stapled to the outside of the sealed ballot. The new registrant's provisional ballot shall only be counted with other provisional ballots after his or her registration is inspected, deemed valid, and entered into the voter registration database by the county clerk or his/her deputy clerks. Once the registration is validated, the registration form shall be separated from the provisional ballot, with the provisional ballot placed with other provisional ballots for later tabulation. Provisional ballots with invalid registrations shall not be opened or counted.

Implementation: This bill shall be effective upon signature by the Governor of Idaho. Upon enactment of this bill, the Secretary of State is directed to establish guidelines for county clerks to implement a provisional ballot voting process at the next scheduled election within their counties.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that (6) The Idaho legislature is requested to enact and the Governor is requested to sign into law, provisional balloting procedures for electors who sign an affidavit in lieu of photo identification. This election code shall define the means by which the person's identity will be verified in lieu of photo identification before the provisional ballot is counted.

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