Resolution 11 – Primaries Versus Caucuses
In Section VII, To Consider
Whereas, the caucus process is cumbersome and does not represent all the voters,
Therefore be it resolved, that in matters of presidential preference the Washington State Democratic Party not use caucuses and use only a primary to apportion delegates to the national convention.
Resolution 34 – Caucus Versus Primary
(submitted by SL of precinct 300)
In Section VII, To Consider
Whereas, the caucus is important to have additional influence, and
Therefore be it resolved, that we ask the Washington State Democratic Party to provide that our primary vote should determine no less than 75% of the delegates selected to the national convention.
[note: a clear-cut resolution concerning primaries and caucuses needs to be crafted here]
Resolution 23 – Eliminate Super-delegates
(submitted by TPM, EM, BM, JK, AM, K?, AS, JS plus others)
In Section VII, To Consider
Whereas, our democracy is founded on one vote per person; and
Whereas, the Democratic Party's system of allowing “Super-delegates” to make up 40% of the total vote at the Convention is, on the face of it, most unbalanced and unfair; and
Therefore be it resolved that, we ask the DNC to do away with the “Super-delegate” system.
[note: the stipulation in the second whereas is incorrect]
In Section VII, To Consider
WHEREAS, our political system at all levels is increasingly dominated by the influence of large sums of private money to finance electoral campaigns, whereby
large special interest donors have undue political access to lawmakers and influence over public policy; and
the current system of privately-financed campaigns actually selects for candidates who are proficient at raising money-regardless of their commitment or ability to represent voters in their district; and
Main Street desires or ordinary citizens are too often trumped by Wall Street influence, the demands and quid-pro-quos of large campaign donors; and
WHEREAS, until campaign financing is reformed so that voters and issues matter more than money, there is unlikely to be significant progress on issues that concern many Americans such as affordable health care for all, full funding for education, living wages, safety on the job, sustainable energy policies, respect for small business and family farms, protection of habitat and our ecosystem, and an environment we can proudly leave to our children; and
WHEREAS, several States such as Arizona and Maine have pioneered “Clean Elections” programs (public financing of campaign) whereby more diverse, qualified citizens can afford to run for office – and win -
without personal wealth, and where by elected lawmakers are less beholden to wealth special interests and their lobbyists, spend less time dialing for dollars” for election campaigns; and
WHEREAS, public financing of election campaigns would save taxpayers millions of dollars now wasted due to biased public policy decisions earmarking of tax dollars and corporate giveaways due in large part to the influence and quid-pro-quos demands of large campaign contributors; and
WHEREAS, in Washington State support for public campaign funding is being organized by Washington Public Campaigns, a non-partisan nonprofit organization, through a public awareness campaign, grassroots organizing and lobbying of State legislators, and planning for a ballot initiative in the future, if needed; and
WHEREAS, the Washington Legislature is considering proposals to allow cities and local jurisdictions to provide public financing for campaigns for local office; and for the State to provide public financing for statewide and legislative campaigns, similar to programs enacted in Arizona and Maine; and
WHEREAS, a comprehensive system of public financing of campaigns at al levels within the State would cost less than $4 per year per resident of the State – an amount totally affordable and reasonable to level the playing field for candidates who wish to represent the people’s interests; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we hereby call on public officials and lawmakers at local, State, and national levels, to enact public financing of political campaigns; that copies of this resolution be sent to appropriate lawmakers and public officials; that organizations be encouraged to adopt similar resolutions;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy be sent to Washington Public Campaigns, the statewide organization working for public financing of political campaigns at all levels which accepts mail at: P. O. Box 45088, Seattle WA 98415, and which can be contacted at www.washclean.org, 206-784-2522.
[Note:
the website has the address as wpc@washclean.org,
Phone: 206-784-2522, PO Box 70452,
Seattle WA 98127]
Public financing is optional for candidates; they may still choose to run the traditional way, using their own wealth or soliciting private contributions. The program is non-partisan; party affiliation does not matter.
In order to qualify for public financing, candidates must first demonstrate they are serious and have a basic level of community support, by gathering a set number of signatures in their district along with a small qualifying contribution (e. g., $5) from each signer. These contributions and signatures are validated by a state Clean Elections Commission. Then, upon certification, the Clean Elections candidate receives full public financing for their primary and general campaign-provided they agree to use only the public funds provided to pay for their campaigns, accepting no additional private contributions, and not using any of their personal wealth
The financial playing field remains level. If outspent by an opponent, Clean Elections candidates receive public Fair Fight or Matching Funds to match any spending-dollar for dollar, up to a set limit-by opponents who use their own or traditional private financing, and also to match spending for independent or “attack” ads by third party organizations.
Clean Elections programs may vary slightly state by state on details such as how the program is financed by state funds, how candidates qualify, the amount of funds provided to candidates, and regulations governing how campaign funds may be used. General, programs operate as outlined above.
Resolution 54 - Concerning Social Security and Medicare
(submitted by DF)
In Sections VII, VIII, To Pass
Whereas, Social Security benefits provide for the dignity of American seniors by enabling them to have financially secure and independent lives without fear of destitution; and
Whereas, American seniors have paid into the Social Security program, trusting that sufficient benefits would be available to them at their time of retirement; and
Whereas, Medicare provides health care overage for all eligible American seniors, many of whom would themselves otherwise be unable to pay for health insurance and medical care; and
Whereas, To cut and/or insufficiently fund Social Security and Medicare benefits for eligible American seniors would be a breach of faith with the American people; and
Therefore Be It Resolved, that we call upon the American government to continue to fully and sufficiently fund Social Security and Medicare benefits to all eligible American seniors.
Discussion: Earlier this year, President Bush attempted to cut an extremely large portion of the national budget, a cut he specifically aimed at reducing funds for the Social Security Program. He claimed he was trying to eliminate “wasteful spending”. Had he succeeded, this cut could have negatively impacted the financial circumstances of millions of American seniors. Through the efforts of Congress these seniors were spared the brunt of President Bush’s callous actions.
However, as Congress tries to come to terms with how to reduce our huge national debt, this scenario could be played out repeatedly in the future and perhaps without successful overrides because of those in government who are not particularly sympathetic to the Social Security OR Medicare Programs.
Therefore, it is with respect and with grave concern for the future of our National Social Security and Medicare programs, that I present my resolution proposal to the Benton County Democratic Party, hoping that this proposal will be included in the resolution information to be forwarded to the Washington State Democratic Party Platform Committee for further serious consideration
Resolution 61 – Keep America and American Jobs Strong
(submitted by RH)
Whereas, our country has suffered to large a trade deficit and our country has lost too many heavy industry factories and hundreds of thousands of factory jobs; and
Whereas, heavy industry is necessary for national security; and
Whereas, many U.S. corporations have moved their factories overseas and left us without means to supply ourselves in a national emergency or major conflict;
Be it therefore resolved, that all U.S. corporations who have moved more than 25% of their manufacturing facilities overseas shall have a 15% tariff put on all goods they send from or import into the United States of America; and
Be it further resolved, that the proceeds of these tariffs shall be used to create government industries for national security; and
Be it further resolved, that any abandoned steel or piping mill or foundry that is abandoned by U.S. corporations shall be purchased, retooled to modern standards, and run by the U.S. government; and
Be it further resolved, that the workers shall be government employees with the right to unionize; and
Be it further resolved, that these corporations shall have no legal recourse; and
Be it further resolved, that all U.S. imports in the interest of fair trade shall be taxed at the same rate; and
Be it further resolved, that the Benton County Democratic Party organization go on record as supporting this resolution.
Resolution 60 – Media Subscribers Bill of Rights
Submitted by PGH
Section III, To Consider
Whereas, because of communications deregulation, consumer rights for telephone and cable subscribers have seriously eroded in the last ten years,
Be it therefore resolved, that the State of Washington should enforce the following subscriber’s bill of rights through legislation and active enforcement through the office of the Attorney-General:
Right to a written contract. If a subscriber so desires, he can request a written contract be sent to him which he can review, sign, and return to initiate service.
Right to communicate with service provider in writing. The service provider must provide an address that a subscriber can use to direct written correspondence about service and billing.
Right to know cost and length of contract. The service provider must provide the total cost of the service in to contract and the length of time for which the contract is valid.
Right to unbiased mediation. If the service contract requires disputes between the subscriber and the service provider to be settled by a mediator, the mediator will be one that is approved by the Washington State Attorney General.
Resolution 62 - U.S. war in Iraq
(submitted by JS)
Whereas,
the United States has been mired in the war in Iraq for more than
five years; and
Whereas, the
cost of the war in Iraq already includes more than 4,000 dead
American troops, hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis, and is
approaching a trillion dollars; and
Whereas, U.S.
troops are besieged by exhaustion and combat stress due to extended
tours of duty and involuntary second and third tours; and
Whereas, the
U.S. occupation of Iraq is the main cause of the armed resistance,
termed an "insurgency"; and
Whereas, the
Bush administration has further increased the violence in Iraq with a
troop "surge" that provoked an equally violent response
from those wanting to drive our occupying forces from their country;
and
Whereas,
General David H. Petraeus, the commander of American forces in Iraq,
recently testified before Congress that there is no military solution
— i.e., "victory" — possible in Iraq;
Now,
therefore, be it resolved that we call for an immediate cessation of
all offensive military action by U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq;
and
Be it further resolved that we call for the United States government to relinquish control of Iraq to the United Nations, thereby initiating a process of diplomatic resolution of the conflict by the international community, allowing U.S. troops to leave, and the occupation to be brought to an end.
Resolution 14 – Robo-calls
In Section VII, To Consider
Whereas, the Democratic Party should not be in the position to offend potential voters,
Therefore be it resolved, that the Washington State Democratic Party and its candidates be prohibited from placing calls containing recorded messages.
Resolution 12 – Daylight Savings Time
In Section V, To Consider
Whereas, it has been shown that the shift between Daylight Savings and Standard time actually costs energy and money rather than saving either,
Therefore be it resolved, that we call upon our policy-makers at the national level to choose either Daylight Savings or Standard time change no more; and
Be it further resolved, that copies of this resolution be sent to appropriate lawmakers and public officials.
Resolution 29 – Audits of Publicly Traded Companies
(from Harrington Precinct – KMT)
In Section III, To Consider
Whereas, we need to have more honest markets; and
Whereas, we need to strengthen the free market economy by improving transparency on publicly traded companies and bond markets, and
Therefore be it resolved, that we hereby call on the SEC to immediately pay for and direct audits of all the publicly traded companies in the following manner. Funding for the audits would be provided by publicly traded firms. All fees paid to SEC for oversight by SEC shall remain in SEC control. No payments will be transferred to general revenues to protect the capability of the SEC to conduct oversight and enforcement.
And be it further resolved, that copies of this resolution be sent to appropriate lawmakers and public officials; that organizations be encouraged to adopt similar resolutions.
Resolution 28 – Pay for War with Surcharge and Draft
(submitted by KMT from the Harrington precinct)
In Section VII, To Consider
Whereas, even President Nixon instituted a income tax surcharge to pay for the war in Vietnam, and
Whereas, the person most responsible for starting the Iraq War is overwhelmingly supported by the rich, and
Whereas, when the bill is paid, the tax cuts will still be there, and
Therefore be it resolved, that we should pay for the Iraq War by an income tax surcharge for all incremental costs including care of the injured (over the entire lifetime of the injured); and
Be it further resolved, that the surcharge show up in every paycheck as a line item, and
Be it further resolved, that veterans and those at the 15% marginal tax rate are exempt, and
Be it further resolved, that the surcharge is same rate as the [income] tax rate (if you are at 20% the surcharge is also 20%), and
Be it further resolved, that we call upon our elected officials and policy-makers to institute this change immediately, and
Be it further resolved, that copies of this resolution be sent to appropriate lawmakers and public officials.
Resolution 61 – Keep America and American Jobs Strong
(submitted by RH)
Whereas, our country has suffered to large a trade deficit and our country has lost too many heavy industry factories and hundreds of thousands of factory jobs; and
Whereas, heavy industry is necessary for national security; and
Whereas, many U.S. corporations have moved their factories overseas and left us without means to supply ourselves in a national emergency or major conflict;
Be it therefore resolved, that all U.S. corporations who have moved more than 25% of their manufacturing facilities overseas shall have a 15% tariff put on all goods they send from or import into the United States of America; and
Be it further resolved, that the proceeds of these tariffs shall be used to create government industries for national security; and
Be it further resolved, that any abandoned steel mill, piping mill, or foundry that was abandoned by U.S. corporations shall be purchased, retooled to modern standards, and run by the U.S. government; and
Be it further resolved, that the workers shall be government employees with the right to unionize; and
Be it further resolved, that these corporations shall have no legal recourse; and
Be it further resolved, that all U.S. imports in the interest of fair trade shall be taxed at the same rate; and
Be it further resolved, that the Benton County Democratic Party organization go on record as supporting this resolution.
Resolution 62 - U.S. war in Iraq
(submitted by JS)
Whereas,
the United States has been mired in the war in Iraq for more
than
five years; and
Whereas, the
cost of the war in Iraq already includes more than 4,000
dead
American troops, hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis, and is
approaching
a trillion dollars; and
Whereas, U.S.
troops are besieged by exhaustion and combat stress due to
extended
tours of duty and involuntary second and third tours; and
Whereas, the
U.S. occupation of Iraq is the main cause of the armed
resistance,
termed an "insurgency"; and
Whereas, the
Bush administration has further increased the violence in
Iraq
with a troop "surge" that provoked an equally violent
response from those
wanting to drive our occupying forces from
their country; and
Whereas,
General David H. Petraeus, the commander of American forces in
Iraq,
recently testified before Congress that there is no military
solution
— i.e., "victory" — possible in Iraq;
Now,
therefore, be it resolved that we call for an immediate cessation
of
all offensive military action by U.S. and coalition troops in
Iraq; and
Be it further
resolved that we call for the United States government to
relinquish
control of Iraq to the United Nations, thereby initiating a
process
of diplomatic resolution of the conflict by the
international
community, allowing U.S. troops to leave, and the
occupation to be brought
to an end.
Resolution 63 - Employee Free Choice Act
(submitted by BT)
WHEREAS, In 1935, the United States established, by law, that workers must be free to from unions; and
WHEREAS, the freedom to form or join a union is internationally recognized by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a fundamental human right; and
WHEREAS, the free choice to join with others and bargain for better wages and benefits is essential to economic opportunity and good living standards; and
WHEREAS, unions benefit communities by strengthening living standards, stabilizing tax bases, promoting equal treatment and enhancing civic participation; and
WHEREAS, states in which more people are union members are states with higher wages, better benefits and better schools; and
WHERAS, union workers receive better wages and benefits, with union workers earning 29% more that workers without a union, 35% more likely to have access to health insurance, and are four times more likely to have access to guaranteed defined-benefit pension; and
WHEREAS, unions help raise workers pay and narrow the income gap for minorities and women, by increasing median weekly earnings by 31% for Union Women workers, 31% for African-American workers, 50% for Latino workers, 9% for Asian American workers; and
WHEREAS, workers across the nation are routinely denied the freedom to form unions and bargain for a better life with 25% of private-sector employers illegally firing at least one worker for union activity during organizing campaigns; and
WHEREAS, 77% of the public believes it is important to have strong laws protecting the freedom for workers to make their own decision about having a union, and 58% of workers would join if they had the chance; and
WHEREAS, employers often refuse to bargain fairly with workers after forming a union by delaying first contract negotiations for up to two years in 45% of successful organizing campaigns; and
WHEREAS, when the right of workers to form a union is violated, wages fall, race and gender pay gaps widen, workplace discrimination increases and job safety standards disappear; and
WHEREAS, a worker’s fundamental right to choose a union free from coercion and intimidation is a public issue that requires public policy solutions, including legislative remedies; and
WHEREAS, the Employee Free Choice Act has been introduced in the U.S. Congress in order to restore workers’ freedom to join a union;
WHEREAS, The Employee Free Choice Act will safeguard workers’ ability to make their own decisions with these abuses, provided for first contract mediation and arbitration, and establish meaningful penalties when employers violate workers’ rights.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party supports the Employee Free Choice Act which would authorize the National Labor Relations Board to certify a union as the bargaining representative when a majority of employees voluntarily sign authorizations designating that union to represent them; provide for first contract mediation and arbitration; and establish meaningful penalties for violations of a worker’s freedom to choose a union.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED/PROCLAIMED that we urge Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act to protect and preserve for America’s workers their freedom to choose for themselves whether or not to form a union.
Resolution # 64 - Drug Policy Reform (End the “War on Drugs”)
(Submitted by TG)
WHEREAS, U.S. federal, state and local governments have spent hundreds of billions of dollars attempting to create a “drug-free” America; and
WHEREAS, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and other illicit drugs are cheaper, purer and easier to obtain than ever before; and
WHEREAS, almost 500,000 Americans are imprisoned on drug charges; and
WHEREAS, the social consequences of the drug war have been widely criticized by such organizations as the American Civil Liberties Union as being racially biased against minorities and disproportionately responsible for the exploding United States prison population; and
WHEREAS, Children of inmates are at risk of educational failure, joblessness, addiction and delinquency; and
WHEREAS, the punitive War on Drugs is an utter failure; and
WHEREAS, Harm reduction is a public health philosophy that seeks to lessen the dangers that drug abuse and our drug policies cause to society. A basic tenet of harm reduction is that there has never been, is not now, and never will be a drug-free society; and
WHEREAS, Harm reduction is grounded in the conviction that people should not be punished for what they put into their bodies, but only for crimes committed against others; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we hereby call upon public officials and lawmakers at local, state and national levels to reform the current drug policy. Harm reduction principles should form the basis of a more effective, scientific and humane drug policy in our nation.