RPK Convention: Resolution and delegate round-up

BOWLING GREEN -- Despite some particularly visible dissent on the convention floor on Saturday, Republican Party of Kentucky leadership was not abated from approving a package of nineteen resolutions and their favored slate of at-large delegates to the Republican National Convention.

One effort by a handful of Ron Paul delegates attempting to extract one resolution for debate was beaten back from the Chair on procedural grounds during Saturday's Kentucky Republican convention in Bowling Green. Otherwise, all the resolutions recommended by the convention's Resolutions Committee passed easily by voice vote.

Among those passed were:

• A resolution honoring Abraham Lincoln
• A resolution supporting energy independence through expanded use of coal and new domestic drilling "with appropriate safeguards to protect the environment."
• A resolution in support of "traditional family values" wherein the party noted it was "opposed to any granting of special legal entitlements, recognitions...or privledges including, but not limited to, marriage between persons of the same sex, custody of children by homosexuals, homosexual partner insurance or retirment benefits."
• A measure concerning immigration that voices support for Federal 287G legislation, which the party says "gives local law enforcemnet officers the power to enforce immigration law" through checks of immigration status during routine police activity.
• An "American values" resuolution calling for English to be the nation's official language.
• A resolution declaring "this party believes it is a violation of the Constitution to take private property from one private entity under the guise of eminent domain only to transfer it to another party."
• A resolution on law enforcement including a clause that declares "we recognize the common-sense proposition that when a crime of violence against a pregnant woman kills or injures her unborn child, there are two offences that should be punished."
• A resolution favoring a "rotating regional primary" foir the presidential election process, noting "the party must not penalize or promote any region, state or faction of the party."

The RPK's at-large delegate slate - officially approved at the convention - passed without amendment as well. Among those chosen to go to Minneapolis for the Republican National Convention was the entire Kentucky Republican U.S Congressional delegation - with the exception of retiring U.S. Rep Ron Lewis (R-Cecilia).

Lewis' hopeful replacement in the 2nd Congressional District, state Senator Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green) was taken as a delegate as was former U.S. Rep and current 3rd Congressional District candidate, Anne Northup (R-Louisville).

Here is a complete list of at-large delegates:

• U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, of the 1st Congressional District

• State Senate President David Williams

• State House Minority Leader Jeff Hoover

• Faith Mercke

• Hardin County Judge-Executive Harry Berry

• Dr. Michael Harris of Elizabethtown

• State Senator and 2nd Congressional District Candidate Brett Guthrie

• Robin Mercer

• DeAnna Brangers

• Former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup, currently seeking the 3rd Congressional District nomination

• U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell

• Scott Jennings, former White House deputy political director and current consultant in KY

• U.S. Senator Jim Bunning

• U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis of the 4th Congressional District

• Kevin Sell , 4th Congressional District GOP chairman

• Secretary of State Trey Grayson

• U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers of the 5th Congressional District

• Cynthia Rogers

• Nelda Barton-Collings

• Kelly Knight

• Lois Ann Disponett-Hyatt, 6th Congressional District GOP chairwoman

• Ellen Williams

• Michael Goins

• Jay McChord