Steven Latimer

It is often pondered by people what makes conservatives a different breed: they stand on principle.

I just received a fiery email this afternoon from Mike Wade, the chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia's 3rd Congressional District organization. Wade, of Hampton, and fifteen other conservative leaders in the Virginia GOP have signed onto a memo to all Republican members of the Virginia General Assembly.

Titled, "HB 1703 is Antithetical To Our Party Principles", as I started reading through it I was amazed at the clarity of thought and exposition. I am reposting it below, followed by commentary.

2/09/09

To Our Republican Members of the General Assembly,

As members of the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia, we wish to remind you of the following core tenet of our Party’s creed: We Believe: That the free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice. We write to remind you of this key element of our Republican Creed because we understand that HB 1703 is moving on a fast track to a vote on Tuesday, and as our duly elected Representatives we urge you to vote NO. The passage of such legislation is completely antithetical to our Party’s core free market principles. This not about smoking. This is about unnecessary government intrusion into the private sector. This unconscionable encroachment will cost those affected their ability to operate a free enterprise and further alienate our Republican base.

Because the proponents of the smoking ban cite huge public support for this type of legislation, we understand one’s inclination to support it. But you will find the owners and patrons of smoking establishments will disagree. This legislation will make it difficult,if not impossible, for many small businesses to operate in Virginia.As you must know, bar or restaurant owners will be forced to make expensive renovations to meet the requirements of HB 1703 in order to offer their patrons a choice. This is another unfunded mandate that will cut into businesses’ profits. How will you explain the loss of revenues from successful businesses that fail from their loss of smoking patrons? Who will enforce this legislation? Where will the money be found to add the needed bureaucracy? In a struggling economy, to increase government enforcement and decrease revenue is completely flawed logic, particularly in an election year.

Consumers already have the ability to decide if they wish to frequent an establishment based upon whether that establishment does or does not allow smoking. We urge you to allow the marketplace to influence private sector activity instead of relying upon heavy-handed, intrusive government regulation. As members of the General Assembly, we believe you should be particularly concerned about passing this bill in an election year. Supporting HB 1703 will discourage and demoralize the Republican base and confuse those that view us as the Party of free market principles. Our Gubernatorial nominee understands our principles and position in regard to the smoking ban, and we believe you should take heed of his position. Every member should reconsider their support of this bill, and we are proud of all members who have already voted no. To allow this legislation to pass will compromise the integrity of members who have stayed true to Republican principles and faithfully worked against this legislation.

As a Party we do not need to create a divide between members and the Republican base by supporting legislation that is inconsistent with our Party’s core principles. It is our greatest hope that this legislation will be voted down as to avoid intra-party conflict. Our goal is a Republican Party united on principles and vision, standing ready to win in 2009.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeff Fredrick [sic], RPV Chairman

Mike Thomas, 1st Vice- Chair

Kathy Hayden Terry, National Commiteewoman

Kevin Gentry, Eastern Vice Chairman

Juanita Balenger, Eastern Vice Chairwoman

Trixie Averill, Western Vice Chairwoman

Tom Foley, 1st District Chairman

Gary Byler, 2nd District Chairman

Mike Wade, 3rd District Chairman

Jack Wilson, 4th District Chairman

Tucker Watson, 5th District Chairman

Fred Anderson, 6th District Chairman

Lynwood Cobb, 7th District Chairman

Mike Ginsberg, 8th District Chairman

Michelle Jenkins, 9th District Chairman

Becky Steckel, 11th District Chairman

Major kudos go out to Chairman Jeff Frederick (whose name appears to have been misspelled in the letter) and his fifteen co-signers. It is nice to see the state party's upper brass remind its officeholders in the statehouse that intrusions in the marketplace are unconservative, unRepublican, and that House Bill 1703 cannot stand.

I felt the exact same way in 2007 (an election year) when the (then) Republican-majority General Assembly pushed through the regrettable HB 3202. Not enough can be said about how bad this bill was. It was unconservative, done in an election year, and on the aggregate hurt the Republican members in November.

It's now 5:15pm at the time of me writing this, and since offices are closed, I'm waiting till early tomorrow to call my delegate Glenn Oder (R-94, Newport News) to tell him that this cannot stand.