NOT AUTHORITATIVE!
Not in final form! If anyone sees this, please understand that I've just scanned it and am still editing for accuracy and web presentation.
--Dan Clark

      We, the Democratic Party of Muscatine County, believe that the principal purpose of all governments is to do as a society that which we cannot do as individuals and to assure that each of us as individuals enjoy all the freedom possible without encroaching on the freedoms of others.

      We also support the concept that each of us has the right to the basics of a good life, including an adequate diet, decent shelter, access to competent health care, and a quality education commensurate with our abilities.

      Along with these rights, we also believe that those of us blessed with talents that allow us to acquire wealth beyond our needs have an obligation, accepted since before recorded history, to share a portion of our surplus with those less fortunately endowed. We believe an equitable tax system is the fairest way to assure that all of us meet this obligation.

      We want our government to work with the world community for the elimination of armed conflict among nations, and the establishment of guarantees of basic human rights for all peoples.

      For these reasons we support an activist government which intervenes on behalf of the individual when others, with the power to do so, attempt to encroach on our individual liberties or create a privileged position for themselves.

      This is why we support strong protection of the rights of all minorities, the free expression of ideas (no matter how far from the mainstream they might be) and free choice in our individual actions so long as they do not interfere with others.

      This is also why we oppose those who seek power, money, and influence for their own selfish purposes at the expense of others or who try to impose their own particular narrow set of values upon the rest of us.

      The remainder of this platform is an affirmation of these broad principles.

      Our common beliefs in the good that citizens and government can do gives us our purpose. Our diversity in opinions is our strength. Together they form the character of the Democratic Party. This Platform Report embodies those characteristics.

      Agriculture is the bedrock of Iowa's economy, culture, and heritage. Farming as a way of life has suffered under federal farm policy during the last decade. Current policy has allowed a loss of farm income and farm families, with a resulting concentration in the ownership of farmland and control of our natural resources. The Iowa Democratic Party offers its support to Iowa's family farmers and beginning farmers. The economic circle in Iowa begins with these farmers who must be able to competitively purchase and sell agricultural products, which in turn supports both urban and rural Iowa businesses.

      The environment has been under continuous attack by wasteful human exploitation of its resources for centuries through the dumping of hazardous wastes into its air, land, and waters, by human encroachment into natural wildernesses, and the systematic elimination of some of the earth's valuable species. The United States should become a world leader in rescuing the environment. Internationally, the President should attend environmental summits and lead the way in preserving rainforests and other threatened ecosystems, and ending air and water pollution. At home, the conservation of resources must be a national priority. Our national forests belong to all Americans, and economic production from them should be limited to providing U.S. jobs, not foreign exports. The problems of toxic chemical·s, ozone depletion, clean air, and water pollution must be met with consistent, scientific, and ecological management practices that recognize the links between our environment and our health. Environmentally-caused diseases must be reportable.

FARM POLICIES. WE SUPPORT:

1.      The use of sustainable and organic agricultural production methods with research and funding through agricultural programs and the Extension Service.
2.      Aid for crop diversification by farmers and horticulturists.
3.      Education programs for farmers and livestock breeders to encourage the increase of livestock genetic diversity so that animals will be breed with the characteristics that will enable them to thrive in different conditions.
4.      Research and education that assists and encourages farmers to minimize the use of chemicals and control farm runoff.
5.      The use of appropriate vegetative filter strips to reduce erosion and protect surface and groundwater from contamination.
6.      The use of sound crop rotation practices, integrated pest management, soil enhancement, organic enrichment, and intercropping in agricultural production.
7.      The availability of land at reasonable prices through the implementation of subsidies and other supports for producers with net income larger than g00,000.00; b. an increase in the price of oil through a carbon tax and imposition of tariffs thereby putting oil-based agriculture at a disadvantage; c. taxing farmers for the deterioration of their land and for pollution of air and streams thereby making agribusiness noncompetitive with farms practicing careful husbandry.
8.      RESOLVED: That preservation of our farmland, wilderness, rainforests, wetlands, and other threatened ecosystems should be mandatory, and:
      a.      Rotation in use of farm ground should be encouraged.
      b.      "Sustainable" farming should be encouraged by educating members of the farming and agricultural community in the use of organic farming practices thereby discouraging the use of environmental unsafe practices, such as the use of toxic and nonbiodegradable chemicals.
      c.      Retail chemical suppliers should be solely responsible for accepting empty farm chemical containers for the purpose of safe and responsible recycling and should provide a sufficient deposit to encourage recycling.
      d.      Prevention of the disposal of dangerous untreated wastes by discharge into the atmosphere, rivers, and oceans, through appropriate regulation.
9.      RESOLVED: If hog lots are to be a future contribution to Iowa's economy, they must find solutions to waste and odor problems. More secure impoundment of animal wastes is needed along with waste treatment that includes capture of methane gas at large operations, utilization of waste as fertilizer where possible, and partnering with local neighbors and communities so that they can become a part of the industry's future success.

WE SUPPORT:

         a.      The repeal of the prohibition of "nuisance" lawsuits against livestock operations passed by the Legislature in H.F. 519.

         b.      The adoption of Federal and State standards for hog confinement facilities. We need to restore to local governments control over agricultural operations.

10.     a.      An increase in state funding for farm to market road improvements.

         b. State research into and marketing of new agriculural products.

TOXIC SUBSTANCES. WE SUPPORT FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATION:

1.      That will enact accurate and honest labeling requirements on all household, industrial, and farm chemicals as to their content and reactivity.
2.      Which strengthens the content and enforcement of current laws applicable to the treatment, transportation, storage, and disposal of radioactive, hazardous, or toxic industrial and agricultural wastes.
3.      Enforcement of existing legislation to reduce toxic emissions.
4.      Strengthening regulations on the shipment of hazardous wastes and increasing checkpoints for wastes transported by air, water, rail and truck.
5.      See also policies under Sustainable Economic Development.

WASTE REDUCTION. WE SUPPORT:

1.      Measures, including taxation, to reverse patterns of overconsumption and unsustainable patterns of production.
2.      Greater responsibility on waste generators to recycle and reduce the amount of waste they produce including efforts to expand recycling-collection service and establishing trash-collection fees based on the weight or volume of waste produced.
3.      Economic incentives to process waste rather than dispose of it in landfills.
4.      Landfill fees which reflect all the costs of using landfills, including the costs of managing them after they are closed.
5.      When appropriate the development and operation of waste facilities as regional systems so that all solid waste is handled in the most appropriate and cost-effective way.
6.      Removing toxic materials from the waste stream and managing separately from waste that is incinerated or processed in other ways.
7.      A preference among waste management methods ranked as follows: waste reduction, materials recovery, composting yard and food wastes, resource recovery, and last, landfilling or land disposal.
8.      Expanding the Iowa container/bottle deposit regulations to include single serving glass and plastic juice, milk, and other sealed noncarbonated beverage containers, and other recyclable materials such as, disposable batteries, tires and non-food containers.
9.      See also policies under Sustainable Economic Development.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. WE SUPPORT:

1.      Increasing funds for the Iowa Resource Enhancement and Protection Program.
2.      Encouraging the development and market place use of corn-based and other biodegradable products for packaging.
3.      The continuing elimination of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) production and use, and providing technical assistance to developing countries toward faster elimination of CFC's.
4.      Reinstating the wetlands review process with consideration for geographical differences and preservation/expansion of wetlands through the federal Conservation Reserve Program or other farm/nonfarm programs.
5.      Opposing all open incineration and strengthening toxic emission limits on all incineration processes.
6.      Imposing a moratorium on the construction of nuclear fission plants until hazardous materials and by-products can be neutralized.
7.      Zoning floodplain areas for land-use activities (parks, open space, recreation, wildlife preserves, agriculture) which facilitate flood prevention and control and mitigate economic damage.
8.      The aggressive implementation of energy efficiency policies which would "produce" the same amount, if not more, oil than found in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Such an effort would be less expensive than the proposed drilling effort and would create more jobs nationwide.
9.      RESOLVED: That the Muscatine County Democratic Party supports energy and resource conservation, recycling, waste reduction, and research into additional ways to achieve a clean and safe environment.

CLEAN WATER. WE SUPPORT:

1. The reauthorization of the Clean Water Act and reject any amendments that may weaken it.
2. Efforts to prevent amendments to the Act that will make it easier for landowners and developers to obtain permits to dredge and fill wetlands.
3. More funding to local governments to build appropriate wastewater infrastructure.
4. An increase in provisions that deal appropriately with nonpoint source pollution - runoff from fields, city streets, and construction sites - which account for 50% of all wetland pollution.

ENDANGERED SPECIES. WE SUPPORT:

1. The existing Endangered Species Act and do not support any weakened version.
2. Legislation that protects natural areas and open spaces which support unique ecological systems and crucial habitat.
3. A modification in the tax system to give tax breaks to landowners that enter into conservation agreements with the local, state, or federal government to protect wildlife habitat.

RECREATION. WE SUPPORT:

That all existing and future monies collected by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on behalf of recreation should remain under the control of the Department rather than the State's General Fund.

      The demands placed on our environment, especially since the Industrial Revolution, have reached such a level that both the well-being of our economic system as well as our environment are in jeopardy. The two are inextricably linked. However, this
Interdependency is not readily acknowledged

      Business believes that if it does not continue to grow, it will destroy itself. Ecologists believe that if business continues its unabated expansion, it will destroy the world around it. Business also has two contradictory forces operating upon it: the need to achieve the lowest price in the marketplace and increasingly the demand from society that it internalize the expense of acting more responsibility towards the environment. Compounding the problem is that the consumer has conflicting desires. He or she may want to make environmentally wise decisions but understandably wants to pay the lowest price for products in the marketplace. The marketplace currently cannot assist the consumer because it is not equipped to recognize the true costs of producing goods, therefore, prices of some goods are artificially low the single most damaging aspect of the present economic system is that the expense of destroying the earth is largely absent from the prices set in the marketplace - yet the consumer pays the true price of the goods eventually but through other mechanisms.
Finally, if an entrepreneur wants to be environmentally responsible, he is financially handicapped since he bears the the additional costs which his competitors avoid them,

      We are now reaching a critical juncture on the road to our future. We can continue as in the past, despoiling the environment as well as wing down our resources and, thereby, placing our economic future in jeopardy, or we can develop a new approach to business management.

placed upon the environment by people and commerce can be met without reducing the capacity of the environment to provide for future generations. In other words, leave the world better than you found it and take no more than you need. A good example of sustainable development is the forest management practices of the Menominee Indians. For 135 years, the Menominee have implemented a deliberate, sustained-yield practice on their 234,000 acres of forested tracts in northeastern Wisconsin. Each year the forests has been inventoried its volume has increased in size although the forest has~ produced over 2 billion board-feet of sawn timber.

      Sustainable economic development unites ecology and commerce into one sustainable act of production and distribution. For instance, the issue of waste. We are concerned with the disposal of wastes. Yet.the real problem is with the creation of the wastes. Nature is by definition cyclical; there is virtually no waste in the natural world that does not provide food for other living systems. Let us rethink our industrial systems of production to minimize the amount of toxins required to provide citizens with decent and sustainable lives. Companies should re-envision and re-imagine themselves as cyclical corporations whose products either disappear into harmless components or have such a specific function that there is no waste. 3M's program of Pollution Prevention Pays is a good example of an integrated, intracompany approach toreducing pollution from the manufacturing process. However, we must go beyond this. Industry must re-calibrate its inputs and outputs to adapt to the carrying capacity of the environment through dematerialization, thereby, using less material per unit of output and hydrogen fuel rather than carbon-based fuels.

      To encourage the adoption of a sustainable economy, the cost of waste and environmental degradation during the manufacturing or production process must be reflected in the marketplace via revenue-neutral green fees or taxes. For every dollar collected in green taxes, income and payroll taxes wouldbe reduced. This new approach to pricing would then allow consumers and businesses to make environmentally and economically wise decisions. Business would have incentives to design products that would not degrade the environment, consumers would be able to purchase products that are less environmentally damaging, and businesses that wanted to be environmentally responsive would have a better chance of competing against those which pollute. Finally with the demand for new and better designed products, job creation would increase.

WE SUPPORT:

1.      An economy in which industrial waste becomes a foodstock for another process, an economy which uses hydrogen and sunshine rather than carbon as an energy source, and an economy with systems of feedback and accountability that support and strengthen behavior that restores the environment.
2.      The gradual imposition over a 20-year period of revenue-neutral green taxes on emissions, products, or activities that are to be discouraged so that consumers are provided with accurate information about product costs. Integrating cost with price will not raise the over-all expenditures of consumers but will place costs where they belong so that the consumer and producer can respond intelligently. To ensure that the green taxes are revenue-neutral, every incremental dollar collected from green fees should reduce equally income and payroll taxes.
3.      A tariff status called Most Sustainable Nation (MSN), replacing Most Favored Nation (MFN), for countries that practice sustainable harvesting of resources, that do not despoil the environment, and that do not exploit workers. Such a tariff status would also help prevent companies from circumventing national green taxes.
4.      A tax on the carbon content of fuels.
5.      Severance taxes on virgin resources.
6.      Programs similar to those in Germany that mandate percentages of packaging that has to be reused and recycled by produces of consumer products thereby limiting the amount of packaging that can be thrown away. Companies not meeting those standards would face stiff fines per package.
7.      Design packaging that is reusable as opposed to merely recyclable giving a cost advantage to durability and non-wasteful cyclical processes.
8.      Legislation that requires all manufacturers of durable goods to label product parts as to their recyclability and to establish resource recovery centers.
9.      The removal of the wording from the GATT that countries cannot "discriminate between like products on the basis of the method of production." This provision essentially prohibits countries from using their own domestic environmental or social welfare regulations to prohibit or regulate products from other countries, i.e., the US would probably not be able to ban foodstuffs containing levels of residue considerably higher than those allowed in this country or unregistered pesticides, the use of which is forbidden here, in or on imported foods.
10.      A defining of commercial crime so that corporations are held more accountable for environmental damage,
11.      The repeal of the tax law that allows the cost of litigation to be tax-deductible as a business expense.
12.      Institutional and legal enabling frameworks for guaranteeing that the activities of transnational corporations and other transnational actors work to support sustainable economic development.
13.      Sustainable development principles as part of urban and rural development efforts.
14.      Economic analysis which takes the ~ong-run rather than short-run view and considers costs and benefits to the entire community.
15.      Eliminate the GNP as a policy guide for the economic well-being of the nation.

COMMERCE AND LABOR

      We, the Democratic Party, are well aware that the economy and good jobs are the most vexing concerns of Americans today. The economic policies of the Reagan and Bush administrations have taken us from the world's largest creditor nation to the world's largest debtor. The massive federal deficit is preventing growth and must be reduced. Federal spending must emphasize the conversion of our defense economy to a civilian industrial economy. We must have a fair, progressive taxation system that encourages savings and minimizes the effect of regressive taxes on low and fixed income Americans,

      We of the Democratic Party are proud of our long association with our union brothers and sisters. Many of the workplace practices that Americans take for granted today were hard fought victories of organized labor. The intent and purpose of the National Labor Relations Act and Iowa's Public Employment Relations Act to allow men and women to organize and bargain collectively must be protected. At the federal level the Hatch Act should be reformed to allow federal and postal workers to participate fully in the political process, and federal legislation should be enacted that protects private sector workers' rights to picket (repeal the prohibition against situs picketing), strike (freedom from replacement by temporary or permanent workers), and earn the prevailing wage (Davis-Bacon Act), Furthermore, the collective bargaining process should provide fair and reasonable protection for employees engaged in labor strikes, and efforts to r undermine this process by applying racketeering laws (Hobbs Act) and allowing separate entity companies and double-breasted companies and corporations to operate must be stopped.

      In order to provide a fair environment in which business may compete, we support the enforcement of antitrust laws so that business competition is not eliminated, and we support the reduction of incentives that encourage the purchase and dismantling of one company by another.

ECONOMY. WE SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING:

1.      A federal government Jobs Program and a Public Works Program including vocational training for high school age persons.
2.      Incentives that will entice companies and factories to remain in the United States with Federal guidelines on state and local government use of incentive limits (tax powers) to attract and retain business.
3.      Fair trade agreements that ensure participating nations will offer decent wages, humane working conditions and sound environmental policies.
4.      Economic development that focuses on improving Iowa's infrastructure, and creating good paying jobs.
5.      Iowa being competitive in economic development (attract and retain business).
6.      That the state government should encourage and facilitate investment in new technology within the State of Iowa and help the marketing of Iowa products abroad.
7. RESOLVED:

te
1~4Lnderin
pavment of taxer Jr,S, Currency be redesigned to make it more resistant to counterfeiting and or copying. The old currency shall be recalled one denomination at a time, with a 60 to 90 day redemption period. Any bills not exchanged in that time period would be worthless. This would restore confidence in the U.S. and it's monetary system. This would not pose a problem for law-abiding citizens but would make it very difficult for criminals to profit by their illegal activities.
The IRS is already notified whenever a cash transaction of more than g0,000.00 is completed.

TAXATION. WE SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING:

1.      Income tax increase should be limited to those making over $100,000 annually.
2.      A graduated income tax without any loopholes for the wealthy.
3.      A property tax freeze on personal residential property for citizens over 65 years of age using a reasonable income threshold.
4.      We oppose passage of the Taxpayers Rights Amendment to the Iowa Constitution.
5.      Restructuring of capital gains tax.
6.      Any Tax Surplus should be used for Iowa schools for repairs and supplies.

WE OPPOSE:

1.      We oppose the use of IPERS or other retirement funds for any purpose other than benefits.
2.      We oppose the continuation of the property tax freeze imposed by State on local governments.
         Local governments are better able to control it.

BUDGET. WE SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING:

1.      We support a continued reduction in Defense spending to reduce the deficit.
2.      No State tax money should be used to support Gaming Establishments.
3.      Our legislators should identify the source of funding for any new or increased spending, prior to passage of a bill.
4.      Iowa gambling revenue should be used only for educational needs, environmental protection, or economic development.
5.      Iowa DOT Road Use Funds should not be transferred to the General Fund.
6.      Full funding of the national Endowment for the Arts and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

LABOR. WE SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING:

1.      Workers Compensation measures that:
         a)      Allow an injured worker to select their treating physician.
         b)      Increase work-related death benefits.
         c)      Require insurers to pay all bills directly that result from an on-the-job injury,
         d)      Require all employers to provide unemployment insurance and workers compensation coverage to include rehabilitation services.
         e)      Allow workers to redress their worker compensation cases through the courts.
2.      Strengthening of plant closing and bankruptcy laws to protect employees. A revision of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy laws to prohibit companies from canceling their union contracts before a federal bankruptcy judge has made a ruling.
3.      Employee terminations under the employment-at-will doctrine must be for good cause (misconduct or due to economic conditions).
4.      The State of Iowa should abide by labor contracts and arbitrator's decisions,
5.      Payment of unemployment insurance and extension of other employment-related benefits to strikers.
6.      Nationally, migrant workers should be allowed to unionize, and should be provided the same educational benefits by the State.
7.      Child labor laws should be enforced with migrant workers.
8.      Repeal the "Right to Work" law.
9.      Iowa drug testing laws should remain unchanged, and rights of ~ workers should not be diminished.
10.      Ending the exemption from protection of health and safety statutes for agricultural workers.
11.      Workers health and safety measures that:
      a)      Allow employees and unions greater participation in OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) enforcement procedures, plus additional protection against discrimination for exercising rights-granted under the Acts.
      b)      Grant employees the right to inspect unsafe workplaces, refuse unsafe work, and stop unsafe operations in the workplace.
      c)      Consider a bidder's safety record for government contracts.
      d)      Make available federal low-interest loans for cleaning up asbestos and other workplace hazards.

of permanent employees.

13.      Federal legislation that requires that part-time employees receive at least proportionate wages and benefits.
l4.      Pensions that follow the worker, in their name, similar to the way that IRAs and Social Security Pensions do now. The individual can not lose what has been contributed in his name,
15.      That private pension coverage should be expanded so that pensions are more available and reliable sources of retirement income for all Americans with early action being taken to ensure the integrity of all private pension plans and the timely payment of pension benefits.
16.      Lowering the IPERS rule from one of 92 to 88.

[What happened to 17-20?]

21.      We support "the Rule of 85" regarding IPERS benefits.

GOVERNMENT

      Democrats must remember Hubert H. Humphrey's words "The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped."

      We will not tolerate the social and economic inequities that have evolved under the Reagan/Bush/Branstad/Republican administrations.

      We support activists roles by all governments in solving the problems of poverty and prejudice, The plight of the homeless is a national disgrace. Food and shelter must be immediately provided with commitments to provide financial intervention, educational opportunities, greater access to social services, and increased emphasis on job creation, training, and placement to aid homeless and low income citizens.

      We demand funding for programs combating physical, psychological, and sexual abuse of children, adults, elderly, spouses, ex-spouses, or cohabitants, We urge reform of the welfare system to encourage self-sufficiency and self-reliance.

      Education must be returned to the forefront. We must have adequate funding and universal access for all levels of education and standards which demand excellence.

      Government ethics must be reformed. We call for officials of both parties to come together in responsibility to the people to develop a code of ethics which is above reproach.

HEALTH CARE. WE SUPPORT:

      Comprehensive reform of health care systems (mental and physical) must be major priorities of government and requires immediate attention. Affordable, accessible, and quality health care are basic human rights and not privileges.
immediately develop a national insurance program to cover all Americans, regardless of age, economic status, or country of origin.

1. Health Care Reform, which should include:
Individual choice of physician and hospital.
Increased emphasis and expansion of prenatal and child health care.
Increased emphasis and funding for HIV disease research,
Long term care at home and in nursing homes.
Dental, eye, and chiropractic care.
Covering prescription drugs.
Minimal co-payments and minimal deductibles.
Strong prevention programs.
Strict cost controls.
Increase all substance abuse funding to include education, research, and treatment.
Women's Health Equity Act.
Disability funding to include traumatic head injury.
A fair review of medical claims associated with Agent Orange and other military-related exposures, and when a presumption exists, the veteran and their agency should receive fair compensation.
Make health care coverage transferable with the worker when they move from one employer to another.

2. In an effort to restrain medical spending due to defensive medicine being practiced to prevent exorbitant malpractice awards by judges, and or juries RESOLVED: that a system of arbitration and mediation be established to reach a fair and equitable settlement of legitimate claims without resorting to dependence on the court system.

WE OPPOSE:

1. Any limits on discussions of health care issues at women's health clinics.
2. Any reductions in funds to women's health clinics.
3. We oppose health care restrictions based on earned income.

3. Persons with brain disorders have faced discrimination in health insurance coverage. Persons with brain disorders demand parity in insurance coverage. (Same health benefits as for their medical illnesses.)

HOUSING/HOMELESS. WE SUPPORT:

1. Construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of affordable housing, targeting inner-city neighborhoods and rural communities, through increased investment by federal, state and local governments and the private sector.
2. Creative programs which encourage home ownership for poverty level, low income, and middle income people.
3. Providing shelters now for homeless men, women, and children.
4. Instituting tenant-based management of HUD projects.
5. Broadening the dissemination of public information concerning housing programs.

SOCIAL SECURITY. WE SUPPORT:

1. Protection of the Trust Fund from any use other than benefit payments.
2. Separation of the Trust Fund from the unified federal budget.
3. Cost of living adjustments.
4. Increasing earned income limits.
5. Removal of FICA payroll wage caps.
6. Any national surplus should be applied to Social Security.

Minority Report:
1. Resolving the Notch Baby problem.

POLITICAL PROCESS. WE SUPPORT:

Electoral College abolishment.
Same day on-site registration with strict safeguards to prohibit voter fraud.
Change in registration requirements to allow persons without permanent addresses to register.
Saturday/Sunday election periods for general elections.

Holding multiple elections at the same time whenever possible.
Keeping Iowa Secretary of State an elective office.
Reduce number of elected county officials.
Statehood for the District of Columbia.
Single issue legislation, passed on its own merits with only germane riders or amendments.
Requiring government policy-making boards to include representatives of groups affected by these policies.
Efforts to increase and include minorities at all levels including elected offices.
Stronger consumer-protection regulation.
Investigating the integrity of financial institutions investing public/private funds.
14· AI~~D WE DEMAND state/federal governments issue no mandates requiring monies to county/local government without funding.
l5.

WE OPPOSE:

1. The Line item veto.
2. Automatic pay raises of elected officials.

REGARDING CAMPAIGN AND FINANCE REFORM. WE SUPPORT:

A system of public financing of state/federal elections.
The remaining monies of campaign committees reverting to
the middle of that candidate's term of office.
Campaign length limitations.
A cap on campaign spending.
That Congress should establish a system of public financing
of elections paying out and allowing to be spent so many
cents per registered voter.

REGARDING ETHICS. WE SUPPORT:

Strict regulation and reporting of direct and indirect compensation of public officials of all gifts and honoraria.
Absolute separation of campaign and personal funds.
Financial disclosure of liabilities and assets for all elected officials similar to Congress.
One nonpartisan state ethics commission consisting of a majority of members who are not elected officials or official holding a governmental appointment in addition to the ethics commission, or paid lobbyists.
Ethics codes which are not ambiguous.
Ethics commission and code application to all branches and
That no person appointed to any state or federal position shall be allowed to represent or act on behalf of any foreign entity as a lobbying consultant, representative, or influencing regulatory change in any federal or state agencies within five years of departure from said agency.

HUMAN RESOURCES. WE SUPPORT:

1. No penalization for working one's way out Of the welfare system.
2. Broadening the number of people covered by Family and Medical Leave Act.
3. Higher income tax deductions for child care.
4. Increased enforcement of restraining orders in domestic abuse situations.
5. Increase funding for additional safe houses for victims of domestic abuse.
6. Full funding for the Women, Infant, and Children feeding Programs (WIC), school breakfasf?~tnd lunch Droarams. and Meals on Wheels.~c D'J " ~`C. ~i " ~`c '3 P 3 :' C T Y~C', Et'rura: n~c~~~
7. Title XIX.
8. Stricter enforcement of payment of court-ordered child support.
9. Interstate reciprocity for child support/visitation/custody rights.
10. Mandatory anonymous disclosure of an adoptee's birth-family medical history.
11. Death with dignity and the individual's choice to determine how one dies including the concept of the living will and an emphasis on quality of life as opposed to length of life.
12. RESOLVED that federal standards be established that would allow welfare recipients to work while receiving benefits.
13. We support amnesty and the opportunity to become naturalized citizens for all illegal immigrants over the age of 18 who were brought into the United States as minors.

EDUCATION. WE SUPPORT:

1. Full funding of Head Start.
2. Increased funding for campaigns against illiteracy.
3. Increased federal funding for veterans' educational benefits.
4. State of Iowa to move toward funding public schools entirely from income tax revenues.

REGARDING K-12 EDUCATION. WE SUPPORT:

Individualized Education Plans be expanded to include special needs and gifted children.

2. Decentralized decision-making in schools.
3. New technology in schools.
4. Curriculum designed to challenge every child.
5. The retention of the calculation of an allowable growth rate.
6. Retention of the standing unlimited appropriation for financing school districts.
7. The State of Iowa appropriating adequate. funds for competitive salaries for all school employees.
8. School aid payments delivered on time.
9. Special education programs.
10. Public alternative education programs.
11. Programs for "at risk" students.
12. Requiring only certified teachers to instruct children, except when satisfactory educational progress is verified.
13. Curricula emphasizing a global philosophy.
14. Multi-cultural, non-sexist curricula,
15. Expanded vocational education curricula and program funding.
16. Local decision-making as to school district size and merger/consolidation efforts.
17. Educational Programs in family life responsibility.
18. Change the state standards to start foreign language at early elementary years (kindergarten).

1. Public funding for nonpublic schools,
2. Tuition tax credits,
3. Art and music programs being the first cut in attempts to balance a school's budget.
4. Increasing the student/teacher ratio.

REGARDING HIGHER EDUCATION. WE SUPPORT:

1. Standardization of workload determination for community college instructors.
2. Fully funding the foundation plan for community colleges while guaranteeing that no school receives less funding than the previous year.
3. Renewed emphasis on undergraduate instruction.
4. Increased student aid for college education through grants, scholarships, and loans expanding eligibility,
5. Programs of public service for student loan repayment.
6. Uniform collection of student loan repayments.
7. Low interest loans based on family income.
8. Programs which fight "brain drain" through loan forgiveness for graduates who stay in Iowa.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

The foreign policy of the United States, in accordance with the principles expressed in the Helsinki Declaration, ought not to sacrifice human rights and needs for reasons of political or economic expedience. We support forms of conflict resolution that avoid the use of arms. We must work to eliminate terrorism as a political tool in the modern world. The U.S. should support efforts to eliminate human rights violations, world hunger, illiteracy, and environmental degradation. We are encouraged by the support for the growing movement toward democratic governments throughout the world.

All persons without exception have fundamental human rights including life, fair public trial, health care, shelter, nutrition, education, reproductive choice, and freedom from arbitrary arrest, torture, summary execution, and exile.

FOREIGN POLICY. U.S. POLICY SHOULD SUPPORT:

1. Sanctuary for all refugees fleeing oppressive political conditions.
2. Assisting impoverished nations in meeting their long term food, housing, and employment needs.
3. Real peace, which the United States has defined as peace treaties, security, diplomatic relations, economic relations, trade, investment, cultural exchange, and tourism.
4. Policy should support expanding economic measures to promote the continued viability of the Republic of South Africa it its democratic evolution.
5. Fully funding of family planning information and implementation (not by coercion).
6. Continued evolution of our diplomatic opening with Vietnam and the immediate pursuit of similar initiatives with Cuba.
7. We should limit CIA and other intelligence agencies to legitimate information-gathering and analysis.
8. The redirecting foreign aid from Military to humanitarian objectives.
9. Maintaining participation by U.S. officials and non-governmental organizations in operations of the Independent Electoral Commissions in foreign elections, especially where the U.S. Agency for International Development is involved.
10. In order to reduce international violence and terrorism, U.S. needs to promote the establishment of international criminal court, able to charge and sentence individuals (not governments) guilty of international narcotics promotion, kidnapping of diplomats, hijacking of international transport and genocide of minorities (ethnic cleansing).
11. Close attention to the implementation of U.S. commitment made in Bejing to establish White House Council of Women with express purpose of carrying out the goals of the Platform of the 4th World Conference of Women. See appendage on next page to see summary of Bejing Platform.

REGARDING THE MIDDLE EAST. The U.S. role in the Middle East should be that of an involved and impartial broker, which:

Encourages and supports the current peace process of direct negotiations between Israel and all of her Arab neighbors and the Palestinians which offers an opportunity for peace and security for Israel and the realization of legitimate rights for all people in the region. We also support a peaceful resolution which supports only those solutions agreed upon by all parties involved (Israel, the Arab nations, and chosen representatives of the Palestinians).
Continues to support humanitarian aid to Israel, Egypt, Jordan and PLO as successful partners in a sustained peace in the Middle East.

ARMS CONTROL. WE SUPPORT:

1. A world wide enforced ban on all testing and production of nuclear weapons, as well as the elimination of all chemical and biological weapons.
2. The United States signing and ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
3. Full cooperation between NATO and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
4. Retraining workers and retooling military-industrial facilities to make cuts in military spending less injurious to individuals and communities.
5. The U.S. should reject aggressive arm sales to Third World countries as an economic remedy to domestic unemployment due to the decline in defense-industry procurement.
6. Savings from reduced military spending should be used to meet human needs and to rebuild the infrastructure,
7. We support the destruction and/or conversion to peaceful purposes of the existing arsenal of nuclear weapons.
8. Support ban on construction, sale and use of land mines.
9. We insist that human values must outweigh military claims as governments determine their priorities and that the manufacture, sale and deployment of armaments must be reduced and controlled. we support national legislation to curb the sales of arms worldwide.
10. Given the ligering mutual distrust between Russia and her Cold-War neighbors,we oppose using as a remedy the expansion of NATO to Hungary, Poland and Czech Republic.

WE OPPOSE ANY FUNDING FOR:

All research on new nuclear weapons.
The B-2 Bomber.

FOREIGN TRADE AND AID. WE SUPPORT:

Help for the peoples of the Newly Independent States and all other former Warsaw Pact countries to achieve and build democratic political institutions and viable economic mechanisms through emergency food and medical aid, technical assistance, credits for grain/producer/investment purchases and goods, loans from the IMF, and retooling of their military-industrial facilities as well as retraining of the workers.
2. The practice of fair and free trade as the best policy for advancing the economic welfare of the U.S. by reciprocity with our trading partners (open markets for our products, services, and investments) while avoiding both quotas and formulas that seek to impose ceilings on our bilateral trade Ci deficits with any country.
3. The reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers in the various bilateral talks in which the U.S. is engaged, such as those with the European Community and Japan.
4· Trade policies that must include adequate environmental, health, safety, and labor union protection.

MILITARY POLICY. WE SUPPORT:

A peace dividend through a reduction in military spending by 1/5, however, since national security remains a deep concern, the U.S. must provide and maintain an adequate military force for the protection of U.S. security interests, as well as continue basic and applied research.
The fullest possible accounting of all POW's and MIA's and all American MIA's and recoverable remains of Americans must be returned.
Discontinuation of the Ft. Benning "School of the America" (spending over $18 billion annually, ostensibly to professionalize the Latin America military, but probably involved

UNITED NATIONS. WE SUPPORT:

We support full funding of the United States' treaty obligation for the United Nations System because 1) the UN is based on nations working together to solve problems, 2) the UN has improved the human condition by promoting economic and social development through its past 50 years, 3) the UN is creating an agenda for the 21st Century through international conferences, and 4) nations and peoples must continue to work together to solve global problems in our interdependent world.
That the U.S. support U.N. peacekeeping operations including our share of funding training and logistics.
Return to full U.S. membership in all U. N. agencies, such as UNESCO and the world family planning programs.
An International tariff on all weapons manufacturers world-wide, under the auspices of the UN, which would be used to support U)i~ activities.

We believe that each person should be enabled to live as full and independent a life as possible and be viewed as an equal and contributing citizen. We oppose discrimination on the basis of, but not exclusive to age, gender, creed, race, physical characteristics, sexual orientation, mental, physical or medical impairment, ethnicity, national origin, homelessness, or political affiliation. We support an activist government which intervenes on behalf of the individual when others, with the power to do so, attempt to encroach on individual liberties or create a privileged position for themselves.

CIVIL RIGHTS. WE SUPPORT:

federal and state civil rights acts.
2. Restoration of full funding and staff for the Iowa Civil Rights commission.
3. The addition of political affiliation and sexual orientation as protected categories in federal and state civil rights acts.
4. Legislation prohibiting discrimination by employers, based on lawful activity or use of lawful products off the job.
5. Implementation of and dissemination of information about the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
6. Demands that all caucus, polling locations, conventions, and other official functions be mandated by statute to be accessible and equipped with facilities for persons with disabilities, and we affirm the commitment of the Democratic Party to actively integrate persons with disabilities into the party at all levels, including the addition of a disability caucus with voting representation on the Democratic State Central Committee.
7. Efforts to ensure the confidentiality of any individual's HIV status in order to encourage individuals to seek counseling, testing, and medical care, and to provide through state funding free, anonymous sites for HIV testing. Furthermore, employees must not be subjected to forced HIV testing nor the forced disclosure of their HIV status.
8. Education on universal precautions against contracting blood-born pathogens.
9. We oppose any law that establishes English as the official language of the United States.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE. WE SUPPORT:

1. Equal justice for all.2. The continued aggressive enforcement of Iowa's drunk driving laws.
3. The extension of federal, state, and local programs dealing with substance abuse, including alcohol abuse, since unreasonably severe criminal penalties have not proven an effective deterrent to substance abuse-related crime.
4. Better identification, enforcement, and greater penalties for hate crimes; and training, including sensitivity training, for law enforcement personnel.
5. Change in the law so that it is easier for the user of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol to sue for and collect damages from their suppliers, distributors, and producers, i.e. privatized drug enforcement through the Civil Courts.
6. We support a wide array of community-based sanctions, including, but not limited to, early release of non-violent offenders whose probation would be supervised through electronic monitoring. Education, training and/or employment would be a mandatory requirement of such an early release.

WE OPPOSE:

1. The death penalty,.
2. Property forfeiture from persons without criminal conviction.
3. Property forfeiture from innocent third parties.

GUN CONTROL. WE SUPPORT:

A thirty day waiting period for purchase of all firearms.
Background checks on all applicants to purchase firearms.
A ban on detection proof weapons and armor piercing and exploding ammunition.
A requirement that guns used in crimes be destroyed, not sold.
That no handgun can be sold or delivered to any individual under the age of 21 or any convicted criminal.
We support a ban on assault weapons and automatic weapons, except for law enforcement personnel.
Better regulatory controls on gun dealers,
We call upon owners of firearms to be responsible for care of their weapons with this care to be spelled out by law.

call for prison sentences in cases where accidental shootings, especially of minors, involves use of a gun improperly cared for,

EQUAL RIGHTS. WE SUPPORT:

Passage of an equal rights amendment to the United States Constitution and the passage of the Iowa Equal Rights Amendment which states:

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REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. (These become No. 4 and No. 5 under this section on page 40.)

WE SUPPORT: Freedom from government intrusion in personal moral decisions. We respect the ability of people to determine if and when to become parents. We support funding of effective educational programs and family planning services to prevent unplanned pregnancy. We support full disclosure of information about all options regarding unplanned pregnancy to all people regardless of age or economic circumstances.

WE OPPOSE: We oppose government restrictions that impede access to abortion. we oppose forced sterilization or contraception as a condition of employment, receipt of social services, or parole.