20070609 State Convention 1

This convention was held in South Towne Center in Salt Lake County.

6/9/2007 10:30:19 AM Call To Order Enid Greene “Thank you for coming to the 2007 Utah Republican party organizing convention.
We forgot my normal gavel, I only have this hammer that might break the podium.”
6/9/2007 10:30:19 AM Prayer Bishop Wester
6/9/2007 10:30:19 AM Anthem Cindee Roberts Mother of 11
6/9/2007 10:30:19 AM Business Enid Greene “We have men and women protecting our freedoms. They allow us to do this here in Salt Lake city this morning. Despite concerns about war decision, we stand behind the brave men and women who are serving us.
As the Utah party meeting this morning we wish to unite behind the military past and present. We would like to honor each branch of the military. As I list the branches please stand. First the United States Army. The United States Navy. (bringing in each of their flags). United States Marines. United States Air Force. United States Coast Guard.
Any time we pay tribute to our military we need to recognize their family here at home. Please stand.
We would like to introduce congressman bishop.”
6/9/2007 10:30:19 AM Business Rob Bishop “I have been to every one of these conventions since 1970.
I have something in common with you that I am poor. Conventions used to be subsidized by the state. Now the state does not help these conventions. With a few poorly passed campaign finance laws, we can’t use it sometimes.
The kind of money that you give is the most valuable money that we can get. 25-100.00 from individual members. If you are serious about holding our values we must put our money where our mouth is.
I am matching right now. This is the time that we need the help. This is the cycle that we raise the money.”
6/9/2007 10:30:19 AM Business Enid Greene We are going to let Senator Bennett go out of order so that he can attend a funeral in Wyoming.
6/9/2007 10:30:19 AM Report Bob Bennett “Thank you for letting me do this. Orrin is on his way to the funeral now. This is a loss. Craig Thomas was a great senator and friend. I have heard from a lot of you. We have strong feelings about immigration. I alos know that you have heard my stand from the media. I would like you to hear it from me. There are sometimes when they might get things wrong.
We face a disaster on our borders of the country. Our patrol is unable to deal with the flood. Something must be done to return us to control. As I have looked at that situation I have asked ‘how did we get here?’ I look back in history to a time that some of you remember. In the 1950s there was a program dealing with immigrant labor called the presaro program. A farmer could go across the border to recruit from the south. Back then many Americans were beginning to make more money and would not do the labor. There were people south of the border who liked the jobs. The program allowed the farmers to do that. They could bring them across the border and use them for the harvest. They could then take them back home.
There were roughly 1 million people who would come north and then be returned south.
The border patrol would arrest 40-50 k per year. Then later a choice happened. A Kennedy made a choice to overturn the program so that the Union would be on his side. He told them that he would let them make the terms if they voted him in. Kennedy kept his pledge and the program was replaced with a temporary worker program that was designed to fail. It removed the safety valve from the border patrol. There was a push from the South and a pull from the North. The valve let the traffic flow freely with the harvests.
Today without the valve and the labors problem. The border patrol now arrest 1 million and allow in 40-50k workers. We have shredded our patrol. I realize that if we are going to get control, we must recognize the wisdom of the Eisenhower administration to allow temporary workers.
One of the reasons we now have 12 million illegally is because they came and can’t go home because they know they won’t get back to be able to work. Ronald Reagan gave them amnesty, but did not recreate the safety valve. So the number has grown. I want to secure the borders and one of the ways to do it requires the safety valve. This way the patrol can go back to what they need to do.
This is easy to say, but it is very hard to design a bill to produce that result. It is not simple and there are many difficulties. We said to our friends across the aisle that we would work with them. We must have a solution that works. One of the arguments is ‘chain migration’, one member wants to bring more family members. What is the definition of a family. This means everything to Democrats. To Republicans it means spouse and dependent children. There are many other aspects of the bill that we are debating. I have heard from many of you.
Many have said secure and that’s it, some say turn our backs, some say open the border and that is it. I am looking at the whole problem for a solution to the border, labor and 12 million.
I did not see anything in the media that reflected what is going on in the senate correctly. During the past few months we have been working together. This bill has not been just a Staff written bill. We have been working hard on this.
We have defined the chain migration. We are going to build the fence before anything else is done. We will have a point system for the people that we would like here. Of the 12 million we need to know who they are. We need to do something to help them come forward. Half of them came here legally as students, tourists and other ways. They have overstayed and we would like to take care of this.
The left says that the law is too harsh. A majority generally agree. If we don’t pass this bill we will get no answer and more debate. The amendments were shut down except the deal breaker amendment. We couldn’t vote for the new version.
We still want to work on this issue. Cloture didn’t work. Finally Harry Reid says the bill fails because the President is a failure. He patted the 7 Republicans and then we patted the backs of the 12 Democrats who got it right.
I understand and appreciate your opinions. I hear you when you say that we must control the border only. I am convince that history will repeat itself. I do not disagree with your desires. The answer is incomplete without the safety valve. We must find one that will work.
We must do something about ALL 3 problems. I am doing my best to work on them. I understand how strongly you feel with your petitions with tousands of names. Ideas on both sides. I close by thanking you for your willingness to let me try. If we don’t get this solved it will be years before we address this again. We will spend more and more money trying to solve it. In the end it is all up to Harry Reid.
Enid Greene has served long and well in this party. She knows the pressures of public office. She knows the pressures of public scrutiny. She understands how the media can distort things. She will finish her service in this position and we thank you with a picture, flowers and plaque.”
6/9/2007 10:54:53 AM Information Chris Cannon Enid Greene, Utah GOP would like to honor you for getting us out of debt.
6/9/2007 10:55:33 AM Report Enid Greene “I am overwhelmed. Thank you. Senator Bennett needs to leave so we will let him go.
I spoke to Senator Hatch yesterday. About a week ago Elaine Hatch had an unexpected surgery so in order for her to make it to the funeral he needed to be with her. Senator Thomas has served for a number of years. We would like to give Senator Hatch an excused absence. Thank you to the Teenage Republicans for helping us with the collections.”
6/9/2007 10:58:50 AM Business Enid Greene Please move forward and have a seat. Please quiet the cell phones. We will now have the credentials report.
6/9/2007 10:59:41 AM Credential Curt Bramble “2 items to take care of 10:15 this morning 1433/3374 in then for about 44%.
There is a matter of business that we have to address. On June 4 2007 there was a Ridgeway challenge brought forth. I am sorry for the length but this is a contentious issue. After receiving the challenge the committee held a call to determine what should be done. It determined that it should not continue with the challenge.
We have found that there is no position that he should be able to hold. Nancy Lord stated that the challenge was not being respected.
I move that this preliminary report and that the actions be accepted.”
6/9/2007 11:05:36 AM Second
6/9/2007 11:06:54 AM Motion Dave Duncan I move to amend the report to restore Mike Ridgeway.
6/9/2007 11:06:57 AM Second
6/9/2007 11:07:03 AM Discussion Dave Duncan “Keith Ridgeway was left off the list and appointed Mike Ridgeway who was seated as a delegate. Mike Ridgeway was removed and was re-appointed. State party rules require the Chair to appoint replacements. The committee has overridden the choices of the precinct. The rules allow anyone to fill the vacancy. It does not say that the position can be filled by a person who has previously been left out.
Delegates this is an unprecedented issue. Restoring one persons position will protect the integrity of the situation.”
6/9/2007 11:09:57 AM Opposition “I am the vice chair of the Salt Lake County. We have the right to determine our delegates and submit them to the State. We approved this measure by 90% and would like to bring this issue to closure.
We do not wish the State to mandate the county’s decision.”
6/9/2007 11:10:58 AM Favor Tammy Coleman “I feel obligated to address this. I can not sit and listen to the contradictions. In 2001 the credentials wanted to remove 14 county delegates from the state level. There have been other situations where the state has tried to remove the individuals chosen through grassroots precinct decisions.
I have never agreed with this delegate personally.”
6/9/2007 11:13:10 AM Business Enid Greene We have a timekeeper. Please help us move forward on this issue.
6/9/2007 11:13:32 AM Against Curt Bramble We deliberated on this. We relied on the Salt Lake County party. This was an action that was taken by their committee. What we are hearing and what the credentials committee is anticipating is that the County should submit to the State. The question is whether the county should be able to control this. We found that the challenge was void.
6/9/2007 11:15:08 AM Point of Information Nancy Lord Only a delegate has standing to challenge. I am not a delegate from my position. I did not use my title. I challenged based on my precinct position.
6/9/2007 11:15:44 AM Favor I keep hearing that the County should be able to choose the delegates, but I understood that it was the precincts job. I feel uncomfortable about a precinct without representation.
6/9/2007 11:16:36 AM Against I appreciate the care. I have experienced the intimidation and negative behavior from this specific delegate. I would like the County to be able to do what it needs to do. I personally experienced this problem. I am sorry that I have had to say that.
6/9/2007 11:17:36 AM Call the Question Enid Greene Ayes have it.
6/9/2007 11:17:50 AM Vote Enid Greene All in favor of the proposed amendment. Ayes / Nays. The nays have it.
6/9/2007 11:18:14 AM Call the Question Enid Greene Accept the credentials report
6/9/2007 11:18:23 AM Vote Enid Greene Ayes have it. The credentials report is accepted.
6/9/2007 11:18:47 AM Credential Curt Bramble We have 2 more calls. We have been asked to delay for Representative Brad Dee and a few other people due to late flights. We ask that they be accepted.
6/9/2007 11:19:50 AM Motion Curt Bramble
6/9/2007 11:19:53 AM Second
6/9/2007 11:19:56 AM Vote Enid Greene Ayes have it.
6/9/2007 11:20:20 AM Credential Curt Bramble A few other individuals as well who are standby delegates due to confusion.
6/9/2007 11:21:09 AM Motion Curt Bramble
6/9/2007 11:21:13 AM Second
6/9/2007 11:21:23 AM Discussion Dana Dixon These delegates are part of the alternate list that we have put in.
6/9/2007 11:21:52 AM Vote Enid Greene Ayes have it.
6/9/2007 11:22:15 AM Credential Curt Bramble Brian Cane had to leave early. He has sealed his ballot and I move that we accept it.
6/9/2007 11:22:40 AM Motion Curt Bramble
6/9/2007 11:22:46 AM Second
6/9/2007 11:22:48 AM Vote Enid Greene Ayes have it.
6/9/2007 11:23:23 AM Rules Todd Weiller “As chairman of the committee on rules, we used 2005 as a template. We tried to do the best to accomplish improvements. We forgot to go back to the standing bylaws to make sure that we were consistent. Some of the changes to the Rules were overwriting the bylaws. We wish to conform to the Bylaws.
Debate on issues needs modification.”
6/9/2007 11:29:16 AM Motion Todd Weiller
6/9/2007 11:29:21 AM Second
6/9/2007 11:29:23 AM Vote Enid Greene Ayes have it.
6/9/2007 11:29:40 AM Motion To accept amended rules.
6/9/2007 11:29:53 AM Second
6/9/2007 11:30:01 AM Vote Ayes have it.
6/9/2007 11:30:37 AM Motion Clair Ellis I move that the Constituion and Bylaws amendment move up before the speeches. These are things that can only be done with the majority. We need a quorum and want to move forward on these issues. I would like the delegates to have a chance to review them. We can appropriately limit debate and move forward.
6/9/2007 11:31:45 AM Second
6/9/2007 11:32:36 AM Point of Order There may be a conflict in the rules. We do not have the written version of the changes to the Rules.
6/9/2007 11:32:42 AM Discussion Todd Weiller The rule is that we had to have the informaiton in but we can still consider them.
6/9/2007 11:33:26 AM Point of Information It sounds like the committee got the information and we are adopting all the changes that we proposed.
6/9/2007 11:34:03 AM Call the Question Enid Greene In favor of this amendment to change the Order.
6/9/2007 11:34:19 AM Vote Enid Greene Ayes have it.
6/9/2007 11:34:27 AM Business Enid Greene Governor Huntsman would like to come forward immediately after the order of business.
6/9/2007 11:35:23 AM Motion Paul Steve
6/9/2007 11:35:30 AM Second
6/9/2007 11:35:43 AM Vote Enid Greene Ayes have it.
6/9/2007 11:36:33 AM Credential Curt Bramble Final report: 1691 delegates of 3374. Just over 50.1%.
6/9/2007 11:37:08 AM Motion Curt Bramble Accept report
6/9/2007 11:37:12 AM Second
6/9/2007 11:37:15 AM Vote Enid Greene Ayes have it.
6/9/2007 11:37:55 AM Introductions Enid Greene This is one of the greatest friends of the committee who attends all the time. Lt Gov Gary Herbert.
6/9/2007 11:38:33 AM Report Gary Herbert “It is great to be here with so many of you. It is great to be Republican. I know first hand your enthusiasm and I applaud you for your support. The issues we deal with are not always exciting, but they are important.
We have been given a mandate with the Vote America act. We have had your help from the ground up. Thank you.
We appreciate all those clerks out there who have helped us put this together. I have home land security issues that I am supposed to deal with. We have come with a bottom up approach. We have done what we need to across the state to help the first responders.
We also work on transportation and other areas. The man who is leading out on all these issues. He has led us to a new day here in Utah and is helping us to raise the bar. We have people looking at us as a unique place because we have Governor Jon M Huntsman. Please welcome him.”
6/9/2007 11:42:45 AM Report Jon Huntsman “Thank you for being here on a Saturday by doing what you were elected to do. I would like to pay tribute to the greatest first lady this state has had. We have been married for 24 years now. She is out there at the schools and reaching out to kids and your families.
PowerInYou.org is one of the most powerful programs in this country.
I just want to tell you that it is great to be Governor. We are profoundly honored to serve in this state. I have come from a funeral of someone who died in the theater of combat. I want you to hold your applause. There are real families sending real neighbors and sons and daughters to difficult and forgotten places in this world. These are real people and as we walked in to the church as a family we met his family. He served in Afghanistan in a helicopter. We are still sending real humans to a dangerous world to protect our freedoms. Please give them a hand.
I want to be honest and square on the party chairmanship. I asked somebody to serve and they opted out. When they opted out I reflected on what you said. It is not always good for the Governor to pick the party chair. I wanted to listen to you so that you could do what you wanted without me stepping in to micro manage it. This means that we will have 3-4 candidates that have met all of you and we will cast our votes on who we think is best.
We will sit down and chart a course as a party. We will have a strong party because of it. All I ask is that you show up and do what you are supposed to do. I am not going to tell you who you should vote for. Whomever wins we will work with.
Lastly I want to thank Enid as a friend for her leadership, tenacity, service and public service. Thank you.
3 years ago I went all around this state. I got some important messages. I heard about Legacy Highway. Legacy Highway will be completed next year. I also want you to know that there is record money for transportation because we are earning it.
We have changed our taxes as well where people were saying that it couldn’t be done. I want you to know that with the help of the legislature we have delivered a great tax cut. 7%->5% and sales tax changes. We are now below the national average for the taxes that we pay.
Third is the job market weakness that I heard about. There are greener pastures elsewhere then. Today we have been named by the Kauffman Foundation as the most dynamic state in the United States. Number one in dynamism. 100,000 new jobs since 2005. These are higher paying and compensated jobs. We need to pay the bills and have a lot of great kids that want to stay.
Fourth was education and choice. We signed in to law a bill and here is what we have now. We have a chance to have an up or down vote. This is not going to be a free vote. For kids in public schools we have record support to all the schools. My kids are all in public school and I want them to be competitive. I would like to say to all the teachers thank you for taking me seriously.
As we move on you have your responsibilities and I will keep working on making this the greatest state in America. We have the hotest economy, great schools and families.
Thanks you so much for being here.”
6/9/2007 11:54:40 AM Business Enid Greene “The Sergeant at Arms is James Tracy. I do need to thank some people. I was pleased to work with Joe Cannon who has served this party well for over 5 years. I did not want to be Party Chairman. Joe Cannon’s grandfather and great grandfather. It would be impossible to avoid this. I believe in what we stand for.
This is about living within our means and other Republican principles. Our fellow Americans are watching to see if we live up to the principles. We are going to disagree from time to time. We each have personal beliefs and need to be able to disagree with each respectfully. There is room in our party about vouchers and presidents. When we come together we can make amazing things happen.
There is no room for curruption and use of power. There is no room for cutting off funding for political reasons. There is a need for us to work together. I am grateful to you for your contributions in time, energy and finances. The fact is that we ar not funded solely by companies. We have checks that are written out by widows living on fixed income.
I am as grateful for those checks as for other larger checks. It is importatnt that we recognize the contribution of every single person. We got a bit off course, but with your help we have gotten back on track and the Utah Republican party is not just debt free but, excluding todays input we will have 40,000.00 in the bank.
If that doesn’t sound like a lot, just ask the Treasurer. I would like to thank a number of people who have come forward.
First the Central Committee volunteering support.
Lee Olafson who was a former fund raiser who took her time off to help us get things back in place. Thanks for former directors who helped us map a strategy to get out of debt. We have cleaned the entire office as well. Things are ready for us to go to work.
I need to also thank our wonderful financial team that keeps our reports straight. We have been financially clean.
Also, for this convention, Ivan Dubois went to work on May 2, 2007 to help with the credentials etc. He has done a marvelous job. Lan Ray has been another great helper to get the website and office going. We also have some volunteers who did not get paid anything. Dana Dall with the phones, Christy Oxsigger has helped us put together the volunteers. Finally because she is retiring, Cary Dixon has been one of the greatest volunteers and is retiring to be a grandmother. She has promised for years that she would return home when the baby came. I would like to give her one of these flags.
Patty Florence took over selling our booths and she has done a great job. Finally our numbers. We faced a debt. It was never as big as Lavar said it was but now we have money in the bank for the new sherrif. When we got to the last 20,000.00 Orrin Hatch responded with Robert Litchfield from St. George. They raised us over 50,000.00 last week alone. I have to thank Senator Hatch who helped put us over the top. We also need to thank . . . . Finally I say thank you to my family. My daughter is ready to have her mom back. I am grateful for my fiancee who is still willing to marry me after these last few weeks. Thank you for allowing me to lead our party.”
6/9/2007 12:12:16 PM Report Dana Dickson Constitution and Bylaws report. The meetings are always open to delegates. Please stay long enough to discuss amendments and resolutions. These make up the foundation of our state party. This is the last convention report of this committee. I would like to thank . . . And wish well to the new incoming committee members.
6/9/2007 12:15:04 PM Business Enid Greene I know you are restless and warm. I am not willing to open the ballots until after the candidates have been heard.
6/9/2007 12:15:56 PM Motion Enid Greene Mike as Treasurer and Patty as Secretary adopt by acclamation.
6/9/2007 12:16:15 PM Second
6/9/2007 12:16:26 PM Vote Enid Greene Ayes have it.
6/9/2007 12:16:46 PM Business Enid Greene Candidates for Vice Chair. We drew for speaking order.
6/9/2007 12:17:23 PM Introductions Todd Weiller “I am proud to be here as a Republican and to run for Vice Chair. 2 years ago I ran against Enid Greene. As things have turned out I have been working with her. I am going to challenge us to keep the 11th commandment put forth by Ronald Reagan. Leaders talk about vision, not their opponents. Enid is a strong leader who took 50,000 from her own pocket to help retire our debt.
When you elect a new Chairman you will be electing me a new boss. I will do what the chair asks me to do. Leaders inspire people. Volunteers poured in when Enid was in the position. We don’t need a leader who is alone we need a leadership who makes us proud to be republicans not just 1 day but 365 days. Please elect us a good leader.
You are frustrated as delegates about immigration and bickering. I want us to stick with the principles.
I have been forwarding your email to Senator Bennett. The party’s job is not to go out and criticize but to work together. In terms of finances we need to raise enough money to get the message out. We can not afford to spend like Edwards in the beauty salon. We have to walk our talk. I will make sure that happens.
I don’t want to step on the Chairs toes but support him as a go to guy.”
6/9/2007 12:22:55 PM Introductions Jack Powers “I am Jack Powers. We need campaign experience. I have been working in this party since 1968. We need to win campaigns. This way our platform becomes part of our society. I know because I have nearly 50 years in campaigns. State senator Howard Stephenson and others. There is nothing like experience to help win campaigns. Experience and issues on rural issues and Wasatch front issues are important. I am the only one who has been elected in one of these organizing conventions. I realize that the issues of San Juan and Tooele are different than Salt Lake and Davis counties.
Because of the successful experience I had was was given two terms of service (4 years). I have the experience with McDonnell Douglas and bringing in funding. I can share with them how our platform makes a difference in their families lives. This will get us a check from them. We can get these new sources of funding. Leavitt administration brought in new funds for the state of Utah.
We have a lot of discussions on rules and details and we have moved forward the resolution of concerns. We all received our call to convention. I wish to move us forward. Please vote for Jack Powers.”
6/9/2007 12:28:06 PM Introductions Drew Chamberlain “Hello and welcome. I am Drew Chamberlain and live in South Jordan which is a conservative place in Salt Lake. I own and operate 2 successful businesses and I have the integrity to represent you well. I encourage you to vote for officers who believe in the platform 365 days a year.
I love freedom and have enjoyed my grassroots work. I have worked with grassroots.org. We are concerned about the proper role of government. I am grateful for those who here that represent us. . . (list of people). These are the real heroes of our party. They deserve our recognition and assistance to keep them in office. I will do my best as party chair to elect precinct officers on principles. I support the delegates rights to amend the rules and bylaws.
I am pro-life. I will hire party officials with integrity. I will work for fairness on all levels. I ask for you vote.”