Minutes of the Operating Committee of the America First Party

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

BE IT REMEMBERED that the Operating Committee of the America First Party met on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at 9:00 p.m. East Coast Time, pursuant to the previous resolution of the Operating Committee.

The Chairman led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Hey delivered the invocation.

The Secretary called the roll of Operating Committee members:

Present:

• Dan Charles of Colorado, Chairman
• John Pittman Hey of Mississippi, Secretary/Treasurer
• Jon Hill of Massachusetts, Vice-chairman
• Romelle Winters of New Hampshire, Public Relations Committee Chairman
• Tom White of Massachusetts, Party Building Committee Chairman

Absent:

• Trey Golmon of Mississippi, Ballot Access Committee Chairman
• Larry Carroll of Colorado, Platform Committee Chairman

Mr. Joseph Spitzig, Convention Committee chairman, also attended as a guest.

A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 9:19 p.m.

Mrs. Winters moved the adoption of the standard Agenda. Mr. Hill seconded the motion. The Agenda was adopted by unanimous vote.

The Chairman delivered his report. He will be traveling to the nation's capitol tomorrow to make contacts with potential allies and speakers for the upcoming convention. He has been working on projects for standing committees, and on several resolutions for submission to the National Committee.

The Secretary reminded the members that he had previously circulated draft minutes for the February 7, 2006 meeting of the Operating Committee. Mr. Hey moved the adoption of the minutes as published. His motion was seconded by Mrs. Winters, and adopted by unanimous vote.

The Secretary reported that all of the thank-you letters, reminder letters, and packets that have been requested have been mailed out.

The Treasurer reported that the party's bank balance is $8544.84. There are no outstanding invoices. The January FEC report has been submitted and may be viewed on the FEC's public website.

Mr. Spitzig delivered the Convention Committee report. The Committee continues to meet and is making progress in drawing up the convention agenda and determining who will speak at the convention.

Mr. Hill delivered the Finance Committee report. The Committee is finalizing the form to be used in the next appeal, as well as the text of the letter. Additional ideas are being developed for funding party activities.

Mr. White delivered the Party Building Committee report. A discussion was held regarding the need to call the next Party Building Committee meeting for next Wednesday evening to take up the matter of the Michigan petition.

Mrs. Winters delivered the Public Relations Committee report. The Committee will be meeting Saturday to work on the next two issues of the newsletter.

Mr. Charles reported that the Rules Committee voted out a kit and resolution for consideration by the National Committee to direct the process of affiliation of a new state party. A discussion was held regarding these issues.

Mr. Charles passed the gavel to Mr. Hill.

Mr. Charles moved that a Resolution be forwarded to the National Committee for adoption. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Winters. Several friendly amendments were offered and accepted. The Resolution to be forwarded reads as follows:

RESOLUTION CALLING FOR ACTION ON THE RIGHT TO LIFE ACT

Whereas, The America First Party affirms in its platform that "principle espoused in the Declaration of Independence, that we are all endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights, and among them is the right to life;" and,

Whereas, we hold that "The right to life is not superseded by any foreign or domestic law;" and,

Whereas, "The America First Party recognizes that life begins at conception and continues until natural death;" and,

Whereas, "We support the overturning of Roe v. Wade and seek the passage and vigorous enforcement of legislation which protects the right to life, regardless of age or state of gestation;" and,

Whereas, Justice Harry Blackmun stated in section IX of the majority opinion in the case of Roe v. Wade, "If personhood is established, the case for legalized abortion collapses, for the fetus' right to life would be guaranteed by the 14th Amendment"; and

Whereas, "The Right to Life Act", House Resolution 552, was introduced more than one year ago and has languished in Committee ever since, with no action taken since it was referred to the Constitution Subcommittee; and,

Whereas, "The Right to Life Act" is a simply worded bill that, if enacted into law, would implement equal protection under law for the right to life of each born and preborn human person; and,

Whereas it is disgraceful that only 77 members of Congress have chosen to co-sponsor this important civil rights legislation, none of them Senators;

Now therefore be it Resolved by the America First National Committee:

That We call upon all members of Congress who claim to be Pro-Life or to be defenders of civil rights to provide proof of that claim through their co-sponsorship of "The Right to Life Act"; and,

That We call upon at least one Senator to introduce identical companion legislation in that body; and,

That we call upon Congress to take immediate action to bring "The Right to Life Act" to the floor of both chambers for a vote; and,

That we call upon all members of Congress who claim to be Pro-Life or to be defenders of civil rights to vote for this bill so that it may be presented to the President; and,

That we call upon President Bush to sign this bill into law as soon as he receives it; and,

That we condemn any member of Congress, the President, any organization, or citizen who claims to be Pro-Life who prevents these actions from being taken, either by opposition or negligence and apathy.

The motion was adopted by unanimous vote.

A discussion was held relating to several political issues percolating on the national scene.

There being no further business, upon motion made by Mrs. Winters, seconded by Mr. Hill, and there being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 10:51 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________
John Pittman Hey
National Secretary
America First National Committee