Most platform amendments rejected

After hours of the debate, the Maine GOP Platform made it through with just a few changes.

The proposed platform supported a strong national defense, protection of freedom of the individual, free enterprise, small government, fiscal responsibility and government accountability. The platform states that the party opposes gay marriage and abortion.

Also, “Parents, -- not government – are most capable and responsible to make decisions in the best interest of their minor children, including medical, disciplinary and educational,” the platform states.

Four of the 25 proposed amendments passed. Two of those were minor word changes.

One approved amendment added the phrase: “We urge all Republican candidates for state and national office to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, and to vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes and fees.”

Following the words “A Constitutional amendment that…” under proposed initiatives, the final approved amendment took out the phrase “will ensure state spending never grows faster than per capita income” and added “requires a balanced budget and no spending increases without a 2/3 majority vote of the state Legislature.”

Rejected amendments sought to make “right to life” a bigger priority in the platform, promote free market health care, and prevent criminal acts by private contractors.

Other rejected additions to the platform:

“We oppose fighting undeclared wars under United Nations’ authorization without obtaining a Congressional declaration of war as required by the U.S. Constitution.”

“We support the restoration of the U.S. Constitution at all levels of the federal government.”

“We oppose a central bank, as there is no Constitutional authority for the federal government to create one.”

“We believe in the sanctity of human life. The highest priority of government is to protect innocent human life from fertilization to natural death.”

“Abolishing the IRS, Department of Education, Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Reserve”