by Jim Sexton
This Saturday, April 30 is the date of the Vermont State GOP Platform meeting at the Double Tree (formerly the Sheraton) in South Burlington at 9:30 AM.
There is a great deal of division in the Republican Party because many feel betrayed by people who were elected to represent them. People that voted for or supported Republican candidates no longer participate because they feel hopeless or aren’t represented. Many have asked what can they do that will make any difference.
Go to this meeting on Saturday and make your voice count. You have the opportunity to make substantial changes to our Platform and hold Republican candidates and elected officials responsible for their votes and support of Bills that go against Republican and Conservative values. If you don’t stand for anything you will fall for everything.
Too many that have an R next to their name are supporting the left agenda when they vote for or support abortion without restrictions, sexualizing children and voting for the State to take control of your child. Supporting an open-ended law that will criminalize parents and medical professionals that refuse to physically, chemically and psychologically change the child for life.
I have submitted an Amendment to the Platform that would hold elected Republican officials and candidates accountable for their vote or support of Article 22 (formerly Prop 5). My Amendment would provide a method to remove all support and endorsement from the State GOP to any Republican that has voted for or does not support protections for the Sanctity of Human Life from conception to natural death. (Section 4, line 3 of our Platform)
As the Chittenden County Platform Delegate I was on the committee to write the language that is supposed to be the Guideline of what we expect from Elected Republicans and Candidates.
There are two other incredibly important Amendments that will be submitted:
Anya Tynio submitted an Amendment to provide for Conscious objections for Health Care workers, to not participate in elective procedures that they object to for Medical, Religious or Personal reasons. With the possibility of Article 22 becoming Law in November, a Health Care worker would be forced to participate in a procedure that will change a child biologically or face criminal charges.
Article 22 is specifically written ambiguously because, as the legislators supporting it have said, they won’t know how far it will go until a judge decides. Article 22 isn’t an abortion law. In fact abortion isn’t in the language. It doesn’t need to be, because when Governor Scott signed H57 it became Law in Vermont that abortion is legal until the moment of Birth.
If Article 22 becomes part of our Constitution it would become almost impossible to remove.
Anya had to submit this as an Amendment because members on the Platform Committee that did not want this to be a part of our Platform. Seven members of the Platform committee voted last night not to support this.
I also submitted an Amendment for the removal of State taxes on Military Pensions. This was also voted down by members of the Platform Committee during our meetings, but passed as an Amendment last night by Eleven members of the committee with one recusal.
Another member of the committee may submit an Amendment to remove “one nation under God” and replace it with “free expression of religion.” I don’t know if this will be submitted. I do not support this.
These Amendments and others will be voted on Saturday, along with the new proposed Platform. We need every member of the VT GOP to be there. Your voice matters, your vote matters. You are essential.
The author is an Essex Junction resident. He can be reached at jimsexton802@aol.com.