Republicans have approved a party platform at their national convention in Tampa, Florida, that would ban all abortions and gay marriages and reject federal spending as a way to help the nation's ailing economy and create jobs.

The platform says congressional Republicans are committed to repealing the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, adding that a Republican president would “halt its progress” and then “sign its repeal.”

The platform aims to tackle “the longest and most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression” by reforming the tax code to help small businesses and extending the 2001 and 2003 tax relief packages, commonly known as the Bush tax cuts. It also promises to reduce the corporate tax rate to “level the international playing field” and “spur job creation” in the states.

In addition, it approves the rights of states and the federal government not to recognize same-sex marriage.

Its anti-abortion plank promises to protect “the sanctity of human life” by banning all abortions. But Republican nominee Mitt Romney has said he would allow abortions in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is threatened.

To accent that plank, Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, an opponent of Mr. Romney during the race for their party's nomination, told convention attendees Tuesday that “America still has one party that reaches out their hands in love to lift up all of God's children, born and unborn.”

Both parties approve platforms at their national conventions held every four years.