Proposed Resolution,

WHEREAS, Republicans, who stand for smaller government should also uphold and protect the civil rights and liberties of its citizens against the strong arm of government; and

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution prohibits legislative action which restricts humanity’s God-given-rights including freedom of religion, speech, assembly and privacy, protection from unreasonable search and seizure, due process and equal protection, equality before the law, the presumption of innocence, access to counsel in judicial proceedings, and the right to a fair, speedy and public trial; and

WHEREAS, all governments have a responsibility to protect these constitutional rights as well as to protect the public from terrorism; and

WHEREAS, provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56) and related executive orders, regulations and actions, as well as proposed legislation entitled the Domestic Security Enhancement Act (DSEA) threaten fundamental constitutional rights and civil liberties; and

WHEREAS, the USA PATRIOT Act expands the authority of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to secure access to many types of records, including paper records, stored electronic data, electronic communications and library records without having to show evidence of a crime and without a court order; and

WHEREAS, the USA PATRIOT Act expands the government’s ability to conduct secret searches, limits judicial supervision of telephone and internet surveillance, risks alienating immigrant communities from the police that protect them by encouraging involvement of state and local police in enforcement of federal immigration law; and

WHEREAS, federal, state and local governments, in their efforts to protect residents from terrorist attacks, should do so in a rational and deliberative fashion to ensure that any new security measures enhance public safety without impairing constitutional rights or infringing on civil liberties; and

WHEREAS, our nation has taken its strength from the freedoms guaranteed of all citizens and should set the example throughout the world in of how to protect itself without undue coercion of its citizens or resorting to government secrecy, violation of due process or invasion of privacy; and

WHEREAS, the Twin Falls Republicans believe there is no inherent conflict between national security and the preservation of liberty and maintains that it is possible to be both safe and free.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE TWIN FALLS COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY:

1. Affirms its strong support for fundamental constitutional rights as well as for the responsible exercise of governmental authority used to protect national security, and opposes Federal measures that infringe upon these rights; and

2. Affirms its strong support for the rights of immigrants and opposes measures that single out individuals for legal scrutiny or enforcement activity based solely on their country of origin, ethnicity or religion; and

3. Recognizes and will continue to advocate and support the importance of basic civil rights including the right to a trial by jury for all people, the right to counsel in all criminal matters, the right to a speedy and fair trial, the right to protection against illegal searches and seizures and the right for full and unfettered exercise of all Constitutional Rights especially those enumerated in the First Amendment; and

4. Requests that Idaho’s congressional delegates support and enact legislation to modify the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and other federal regulations, that threaten to undermine the fundamental rights of our citizens guaranteed by the United States Constitution and requests that Mike Simpson, Raul Labrador, Mike Crapo and James Risch oppose all measures that contain overly broad and unnecessary infringements of civil rights; and

5. Directs that copies of this resolution be sent to Idaho Republican congressional delegates Mike Simpson, Raul Labrador, Mike Crapo and James Risch.

---