Muscatine County Democratic Platform - 2002
Principles
Agriculture & Environment
Sustainable Economic Development
Government
Education
International Affairs
Law
The
2002 Platform of the
MUSCATINE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Adopted March 16, 2002
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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, a quality education commensurate with our abilities,
and opportunities for meaningful work.
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.
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PLATFORM RESOLUTIONS
ADOPTED BY THE
MUSCATINE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
2002 COUNTY CONVENTION
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| 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. |
I. AGRICULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
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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 rain forests 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 chemicals, 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. |
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| A. FARM
POLICIES. WE SUPPORT: |
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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
bred 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 ground water from contamination.
6.The use of sound crop rotation practices, integrated pest management,
soil enhancement, organic enrichment, and inter-cropping in agricultural
production.
7. Incentives for oil -seed based agriculture.
8.The availability of land at reasonable prices through the elimination
of federal subsidies and other supports for producers with net crop
income larger than $100,000.00.
9. Preservation of our farmland, wilderness, rain forests, wetlands,
and other threatened ecosystems through:
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a. Educating
members of the fanning and agricultural community in the use of organic
fanning practices thereby
discouraging the use of environmentally, unsafe practices, such as the
use of toxic and non-biodegradable chemicals.
b. 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.
c. Prevention of the disposal of dangerous untreated wastes by discharge
into the atmosphere, rivers, and oceans, through appropriate regulation.
d. Zoning
e. Comprehensive land use planning. |
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10.
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.
c. Giving county boards of supervisors and/or county zoning boards authority
to set more restrictive regulations than state law in the siting of large
livestock confinement operations. |
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11.
State research into and marketing of new agricultural products
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| B. TOXIC
SUBSTANCES: WE SUPPORT
FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATION: |
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1. That will enact accurate and honest labeling
requirements on all household, industrial, and farm chemicals as to their
content and reactivity (i.e., MSDS= Materials Safety Data Sheet).
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.
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| C. WASTE
REDUCTION. WE SUPPORT: |
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1. 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.
2. Economic incentives to process waste rather than dispose of it in landfills.
3 .Landfill fees which reflect all the costs of using landfills, including
the costs of managing them after they are closed.
4. 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.
5. Removing toxic materials from the waste stream and managing separately
from waste that is incinerated or processed in other ways.
6. Expanding Iowa's Container Redemption Law ("Bottle Bill") to include
bottles and cans used for tea, water, fruit and
vegetable juices and drinks, and other non-carbonated beverages excluding
milk; the per -container handling fee paid to grocery stores and redemption
centers should be adjusted to support the essential role these handlers
play.
7. Extending the Bottle Bill concept to other recyclable materials.
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| D.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. WE SUPPORT: |
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1 .Increasing funds for
the Iowa Resource Enhancement and Protection Program.
2. Encouraging the development and market place use of corn seed -based
and other biodegradable products for packaging and fuels.
3. A congressional ban of the environmentally detrimental gasoline additive
MTBE.
4. The continuing elimination of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) production and
use, and providing technical assistance to
developing countries toward faster elimination of CFC's.
5. Reinstating the wetlands review process with consideration for geographical
differences and preservation/expansion of wetlands through the federal
Conservation Reserve Program or other farm/non-farm programs.
6. Assigning a specific federal agency to monitor activity in the area
of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), authorizing this agency to alert
the public to potential dangers, and funding research of measures to avert
those dangers.
7. Strengthening toxic emission limits on all incineration processes.
8. Imposing a moratorium on the construction of nuclear fission plants
until hazardous materials and by -products can be neutralized.
9. Zoning floodplain areas for land -use activities (parks, open space,
recreation, wildlife preserves, agriculture) which facilitate flood prevention
and control and mitigate economic damage.
10. Funding research for identifying and implementing reasonable measures
to avert potential disasters resulting from world overpopulation.
11. Prompt implementation of the Kyoto agreements on global warming.
12. Requinng the World Trade Organization to improve its standards for
fair labor, trade, and environmental protection
.WE OPPOSE:
1. drilling in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge.
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| E. CLEAN
WATER. WE SUPPORT: |
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1. The reauthorization of
the Clean Water Act and reject any amendments that may weaken it.
2. More funding to local governments to build appropriate wastewater infrastructure.
3. An increase in provisions that deal appropriately with nonpoint source
pollution - runoff from fields, city streets, and
construction sites.
WE OPPOSE:
1.Making it easier for landowners and developers to obtain permits
to dredge and fill wetlands.
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| F .
ENDANGERED SPECIES. WE
SUPPORT: |
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1 .The Endangered Species
Act.
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 who
enter into conservation agreements with the local, state, or federal government
to protect wildlife habitat.
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| G. RECREATION.
WE SUPPORT:
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1. 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.
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II. SUSTAINABLE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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| WE SUPPORT: |
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1. An economy in which industrial
waste becomes a raw material for another process, an economy which encourages
use of alternatives to fossil fuels 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.
3. A tariff status called Most Sustainable Nation (MSN), in addition to
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. Severance taxes on virgin resources.
5. Programs that mandate percentages of packaging that has to be reused
and/or recycled by producers of consumer products thereby limiting the
amount of packaging that can be thrown away. Companies not meeting those
standards would face fines.
6. Legislation that requires all manufacturers of durable goods to a)
label product parts as to their recyclability and b) to establish resource
recovery centers.
7. Changing the wording from the GATT to allow countries to "discriminate
between like products on the basis of the
method of production." This current provision essentially prohibits countries
from using their own domestic environmental, labor, health, safety, or
social welfare regulations to prohibit or regulate products from other
countries.
8. Defining commercial crime so that corporations are held more accountable
for environmental damage.
9. Repeal of the tax law that allows the cost of litigation to be tax-deductible
as a business
expense.
l0. International institutions to regulate the activities of transnational
corporations and other transnational actors.
11. Sustainable development principles as part of urban and rural development
efforts.
12. Economic analysis which takes the long-term rather than short-term
view and considers costs and benefits to the entire community.
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The
free -spending policies of Republican administrations took us from the
world's largest creditor nation to the world's
largest debtor. Under the recent Democratic administration, the massive
federal deficits were reduced.
Federal spending must emphasize the conversion of our military -industrial
complex 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.
We must protect 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. At the federal level the Hatch Act
should be reformed to allow federal and postal workers to participate
fully in the political process. Federal legislation should be enacted
that protects private sector workers' rights to picket, strike, and earn
the prevailing wage. Furthermore, the collective bargaining process should
provide fair and reasonable protection for employees engaged in labor
strikes. Efforts to undermine this process by applying racketeering laws
must be stopped.
In order to provide a fair environment in which business may compete,
we support the enforcement of antitrust laws. We support the reduction
of incentives that encourage the purchase and dismantling of one company
by another .
We support corporate and accounting ethics. Investor security and effective
operation of financial markets depend o n
transactional transparency and accurate public disclosure of financial
information. Auditors of publicly traded companies should be prohibited
from providing consulting or transactional advice to their audit clients,
and they owe a fiduciary duty to the shareholders. Publicly traded companies
should be required to provide more detailed information in audits regarding
related -party transactions.
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| A . ECONOMY. WE SUPPORT: |
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1. A Federal government jobs programs and vocational training and retraining
.
2. Incentives for companies and factories to remain in the United States
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3. Federal guidelines to limit state and local government competition
in the use of incentives to attract and retain business.
4. Fair trade agreements that ensure participating nations will offer
decent wages, humane working conditions, and sound environmental policies.
5. Economic development that focuses on improving Iowa's infrastructure,
and creating good paying jobs .
6. Investjnents in new technology within the State of Iowa and the marketing
of Iowa products abroad .
7. Legislation giving preference to Iowa firms in the purchase of goods
and services by state and local governments.
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| B.TAXATION. WE SUPPORT: |
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1. A progressive income tax without any loopholes for the wealthy .
2. A cap on personal residential property tax for citizens over 65 years
of age who live on low fixed incomes.
WE OPPOSE:
I .The use of IPERS or other retirement funds for any purpose other than
benefits.
2. In 1998, the voters of Iowa rejected amendments to the Iowa constitution
proposed by David Stanley to set limits on local government taxing ability
by complex formulae. We oppose the legislature now trying to pass this
as law and further including restrictions on fund balances.
3. President Bush's irresponsible tax cuts.
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| C. BUDGET. WE SUPPORT: |
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1. Continued reduction in military spending to reduce the deficit .
2. Iowa DOT Road Use Funds should not be transferred to the General Fund.
3. Full funding of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Corporation
for Public Broadcasting.
WE OPPOSE:
1 .Using tax money to promote gambling.
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| D. LABOR WE SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: |
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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.
f. Separate Worker's compensation premium into two parts: one part based
on medical costs and the other part based on wage replacement.
g. Enact legislation that will
prevent the release of worker's
compensation records to firms which blacklist workers and appropriate
penalties in the event worker's medical privacy rights are violated.
h. Enforce current law requiring that first reports of injury and claim
activity reports be timely filed and that insurance
carriers name in-state claims representatives.
i. Enact legislation that provides for reasonable, but specific, time
frames within which worker's compensation cases
must be decided.
2. Unemployment compensation measures that:
a. Enact legislation that would change the current formula for qualifying
for unemployment compensation in order to
allow more Iowans who are unemployed through no fault of their own to
receive benefits.
b. Extension of unemployment benefits to victims of domestic violence.
c. Oppose the use of unemployment trust fund money or the interest generated
by the fund for anything other than
benefits to unemployed Iowans.
3. 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
4 .Employee terminations under the employment-at-will doctrine must be
for good cause (misconduct or due to economic conditions), and must allow
workers to have access to courts for adjudication of discharge cases.
5 .The State of Iowa abiding by labor contracts and arbitrator's decisions
.
6. Payment of unemployment insurance and extension of other employment-related
benefits to strikers.
7. The right of migrant workers to unionize nationally and internationally
.
8. Child labor laws enforced among migrant workers.
9. Repeal of the "Right to Work" law.
10. Iowa drug testing laws should be changed to permit testing for probable
cause only, and rights of workers should not be diminished.
11. Ending the exemption from protection of health and safety statutes
for agricultural workers.
12.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.
13. Discouraging the continued use of temporary employees in lieu of permanent,
full-time employees.
14. Federal legislation that requires that part-time employees receive
at least proportionate wages and benefits.
15. Pensions that follow the worker in his or her name, similar to the
way that IRAs and Social Security Pensions do now. The individual should
not lose what has been contributed in his or her name.
16. 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.
17. We support "the Rule of 85" regarding IPERS benefits.
18. That Iowa minimum wage should be indexed to the cost of living.
19. Passage of legislation requiring companies selling products to state
and local government to pay a "living wage" to their employees.
20. Hatch Act reform.
21. The right of workers to organize in unions. We advocate reform of
the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to include meaningful penalties
to punish employers who violate the rights of workers.
22. In organized workplaces, all wages, hours, terms and conditions of
employment should be mandatory (not permissive) subjects of bargaining.
23. Including core worker's rights and environmental protection in all
trade agreements.
24. Legislation that reflects the distinction between employees and independent
contractors and prohibits employer avoidance of their obligations.
25. A requirement that public entities entering into contracts for buildings
or improvements valued at over $2,000 should pay prevailing wages to workers.
26. Programs that train inmates for work after their release, provided
that such programs comply with prevailing wage
requirements, that there is no adverse impact upon public or private sector
workers, and that no displacement of employed workers occurs.
27.Progranis that train welfare recipients for work, provided that such
programs comply with prevailing wage requirements, that there is no adverse
impact upon public or private sector workers and that no displacement
of employed workers occurs .
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| WE
OPPOSE: |
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1 .Loss of quality
public employees or services through the contracting out of public work.
2. The privatization/commercialization of the post office.
3. Deregulation of the electric utility industry unless there is full
protection for utility workers' jobs and wages and benefits, assurances
of affordable, reliable, and safe electric service for consumers and adequate
protection for the environment.
4. Indiscriminate, random, or harassing drug testing of employees.
5. WTO rules that undermine legitimate national, state, and local laws
and regulations protecting public health, the
environment, and social programs . |
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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 do not tolerate the social and economic inequities that are worsening
under Republican administrations. We support activist roles by government
in solving problems of our state and nation .
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A. 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. Develop a national insurance program to cover all
Americans, regardless of age, economic status, or country of origin. |
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1. Health Care Reform, which
should include:
a. Individual choice of physician and hospital.
b. Increased emphasis and expansion of prenatal and child health care.
c. Increased emphasis and funding for HIV disease research.
d. Long term care at home and in nursing homes.
e. Dental, eye, and chiropractic care.
f. Covering prescription drugs.
g. Minima! co-payments and minima! deductibles.
h. Strong prevention programs.
i. Strict cost controls.
j. Increase all substance abuse funding to include education, research,
and treatment.
k. Women's Health Equity Act.
1. Disability funding to include traumatic head injury.
m. A fair review of medical claims associated with Agent Orange and other
military-related exposures, and when a
presumption exists, victims should receive fair compensation.
n. Make health care coverage transferable with the worker when they move
from one employer to another.
2. A system of arbitration and mediation for fair and equitable settlement
of legitimate claims.
3. Strengthemng the Medicare system so that it continues to provide affordable,
high quality care including prescription drugs for current and future
beneficiaries.
4.Revising the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement system to achieve equity
in levels of reimbursement from state to state, such that low cost hospitals
in states such as Iowa will be treated
more fairly.
5 Increased funding for research into and prevention of life threatening
diseases, and access to treatment.
6. Equal insurance coverage for persons with mental health disorders.
7. Provision of the same basic patient protections for all managed care
consumers as those provided by the Medicare program.
8. That the Older Americans Act be better funded in order to provide the
needed support and services to enable older citizens to remain in their
homes and to receive proper care.
9. That our elected officials pursue the adoption of a program assuring
affordable and quality health care for all people in the US, regardless
of age or income.
10. That the Social Security program be preserved as a social insurance
program, strengthened by ensuring the long term financial stability of
the program for future generations.
11. That a systematic plan be developed to phase in development of a coordinated,
comprehensive long -term care program for the United States that would
cover all Americans regardless of age or income.
12. Parity in insurance coverage for
persons with brain disorders .
WE OPPOSE:
l . Amy limits on discussions
of health care issues at women's health clinics.
2. Any reductions in funds to women's health clinics.
3. Health care restrictions based on earned income.
4. Limits on medical malpractice lawsuits.
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| B.HOUSING/HOMELESS.
WE SUPPORT: |
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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 poor and low income
people.
3. Providing homeless people with food, shelter, financial intervention,
educational opportunities, greater access to social services, job and
training opportunities.
4. Instituting tenant -based management of HUD projects.
6. Broademng the dissemination of public information
concerning housing programs.
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| C. SOCIAL
SECURITY. WE SUPPORT: |
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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. Elimination of the income tax on Social Security benefits.
WE OPPOSE:
1. The privatization
of social security.
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| D. POLITICAL
PROCESS. WE SUPPORT: |
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1.
Electoral College abolition.
2. Same day on -site registration with strict safeguards to prohibit voter
fraud.
3. Change in registration requirements to allow persons without permanent
addresses to register.
4. Saturday/Sunday election periods for general elections.
5. Holding multiple elections at the same time whenever possible.
6. Keeping Iowa Secretary of State an elective office.
7. Change in elections of the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors so
that all members either run at -large and are elected at -large or else
all run by district and are elected by district.
8. Statehood for the District of Columbia.
9. Single issue legislation, passed on its own merits with only germane
riders or amendments.
10. Requiring government policy -making boards to include representatives
of those affected.
11 .Efforts to increase and include minorities at all levels including
elected offices.
12. Stronger consumer-protection regulation.
13. Investigating the integrity
of financial institutions investing public/private funds .
WE OPPOSE:
1. Automatic pay raises for elected officials.
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| E. CAMPAIGN AND FINANCE REFORM. WE SUPPORT: |
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1.
We support campaign finance reform that limits the influence of money
from corporations and wealthy individuals.
2. A system of public financing of state and federal elections.
3. Limitations on the length of presidential campaigns.
4. A cap on campaign spending.
5. A national system of voting to assure that eligible voters are allowed
to vote and their votes get counted .
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| F. ETHICS:
WE SUPPORT: |
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1. Strict regulation and reporting
of direct and indirect compensation of public officials of all gifts and
honoraria.
2. Absolute separation of campaign and personal funds.
3. Conflict-of-interest disclosure by all elected officials.
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| G. HUMAN RESOURCES.
WE SUPPORT: |
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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 breakfast and lunch programs, and Meals on Wheels.
7. Title XIX (Medicaid).
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.
1l. The concept of the living will and
the individual's right to have input during terminal illness.
12. That federal standards be established that would allow welfare recipients
to work while receiving benefits.
13. That approved parent training be made available to the parents of
newborns while they are in the hospital.
14. Funding for high -quality child care to make it more available and
affordable for Iowa's working families and provide living wages for child
care providers.
15.That affordable housing be provided, through Iowa dedicating real estate
transfer tax revenue for local housing programs. These funds would be
controlled at the local level and used to meet the low - and moderate-income
housing needs of that area.
16. Increasing funding for Iowa's Emergency Assistance Program (EAP),
which provides grants to low -income families with children to pay for
rent and /or utilities, essential home repair or a mortgage payment.
17. Adequate funding of Legal Services.
18. Funding for programs combating physical, psychological, and sexual
abuse of children, adults, elderly, spouses, ex-spouses, or cohabitants.
WE OPPOSE:
1 . Proposals for multiple classes of marriage (so -called "covenant
marriage").
2. Providing state or federal funds to religious ("faith based") organizations
unless they are held to the same standards of delivery of services, accountability,
and licensing as any private organization and there is no religious content
in their programs. In doing so we support the continued separation of
church and state.
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| H. EDUCATION.
WE SUPPORT: |
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1 .Full funding of Head Start.
2 Increased funding for campaigns against illiteracy.
3. Greater effort in teaching English as a second language in the schools.
3. Increased federal funding for veterans' educational benefits.
4. Moving toward funding Iowa public schools entirely from income tax
revenues.
I. REGARDING K-12 EDUCATION. WE SUPPORT:
1. Decentralized decision -making in schools.
2. New technology in schools.
3. Curriculum designed to challenge every child.
4. Retention of the calculation of an allowable growth rate.
5. Retention of the standing unlimited appropriation for financing school
districts.
6. The appropriation of adequate state funds for competitive salaries
for all Iowa school employees.
7. Timely delivery of school aid payments.
8. Special education programs.
9. Public alternative education programs.
10. Programs for "at risk" students.
11 .Requiring teacher certification or verified satisfactory educational
progress for those who instruct children.
12. Multi-cultural, non-sexist curricula with a global emphasis.
13. Expanded vocational education curricula and program funding.
14. Educational programs in family life responsibility.
15. Changing the state standards to start foreign language at early elementary
years (kindergarten).
16. Lower student-teacher ratio.
17. The use of multiple criteria, as opposed to the sole use of standardized
testing, for educational assessment and school funding.
18. The per pupil property tax allotment should stay in the school district
that a student resides in.
WE OPPOSE:
1 .Public funding for nonpublic schools, voucher programs, and increasing
private education tax credits to avoid further
deterioration of public schools.
2. Cutting art, music, and counseling programs
first in attempts to balance school budgets.
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| J.REGARDING
HIGHER EDUCATION. WE SUPPORT: |
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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.
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V. 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. The United
States should promote deeper understanding among cultures to build a stronger
world community. |
| A. FOREIGN
POLICY. WE SUPPORT: |
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1. Sanctuary for all refugees
fleeing oppressive political conditions.
2. Assisting impoverished nations in meeting their long term food, housing,
and employment needs.
3. Expanding economic assistance to promote the continued viability of
the Republic of South Africa in its democratic
evolution and all other emerging democracies.
4. Full funding of family planning information and implementation without
coercion.
5. Continued evolution of diplomatic openings with Vietnam and other nations
with which the U.S. has been in conflict.
6. Eliminating economic sanctions that hurt populations without affecting
their leaders.
7. Limiting the CIA and other intelligence agencies to legitimate information-gathering
and analysis.
8. Redirecting foreign aid from military to humanitarian objectives.
9. Participation by U.S. officials and non-governmental organizations
in independent monitoring of foreign elections.
10. U.S. ratification of the establishment of the International Criminal
Court.
11. U. S. adherence to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
12. U. S. ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW).
13 .Implementation of U.S. commitment made in Beijing to establish a White
House Council of Women with express
purpose of carrying out the goals of the Platform of the 4th World Conference
of Women.
14. Condemnation of Russian behavior in Chechnya
and Chinese behavior in Tibet.
WE OPPOSE:
1 .Using the fight against
terrorism as an excuse for undeclared acts of war .
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| B. THE
MIDDLE EAST. WE SUPPORT:
|
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1 .The U.S. role in the Middle
East as an involved and impartial broker.
2. Direct negotiations among Israel, all of her Arab neighbors, and the
Palestinians.
3 .Humanitarian aid to the successful partners in any sustained peace
in the Middle East.
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| C. ARMS CONTROL.
WE SUPPORT: |
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1. A worldwide enforced
ban on all testing and production of nuclear weapons, as well as the elimination
of all chemical and biological weapons.
2. U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
3. Retraining workers and retooling military-industrial facilities to
make cuts in military spending less injurious to
individuals and communities.
4. The U.S. should reject aggressive international arm sales as an economic
remedy to domestic unemployment due to the decline in the defense industry.
5. Using savings from reduced military spending to meet human needs and
to rebuild the infrastructure.
6. Multilateral, verifiable reduction of the
world's arsenal of nuclear weapons.
7.U.S. ratification of the Landmine Treaty.
WE OPPOSE:
1. Modernization of existing
nuclear weapons.
2 .All research on new nuclear weapons.
3 .Unilateral withdrawal from existing arms-control treaties, specifically
the ABM treaty.
4. Any further expansion of NATO.
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| D. FOREIGN
TRADE AND AID. WE SUPPORT: |
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1 .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 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, including treaties, that
provide adequate environmental, health, safety, and worker protection.
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| E, MILITARY
POLICY. WE SUPPORT:
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1. A peace dividend through
a reduction in military spending. 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.
2. Continued cooperation with the Vietnamese
to achieve the fullest possible accounting of all POWs and MIAs, and return
of any American MIAs and recoverable remains of Americans.
3. Closing of the Ft. Benning
"School of the Americas," involved for many years in training for torture
and atrocities.
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| F. UNITED
NATIONS. WE SUPPORT:
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1 .Full funding of the United
States' treaty obligation for the United Nations.
2. U.S. support of U.N. peacekeeping operations including our share of
funding training and logistics.
3. Return to full U.S. membership in all U. N.
agencies, such as UNESCO and the world family planning programs.
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VI. LAW
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.
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| A.CIVIL RIGHTS.
WE SUPPORT: |
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1 . Direct access to courts
by individuals seeking remedies under 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 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 WV status.
8. Education on universal precautions against
contracting blood-borne pathogens.
WE OPPOSE:
1. The Bush administration's
use of the fight against terrorism as an excuse for trashing constitutionally
protected freedoms.
2. Any law that establishes
English as the official language of the United States, or any part thereof.
We specifically oppose making English the official language of Iowa because
it is divisive, discriminatory and implies that those who speak another
language are somehow inferior.
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| B.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 community -based sanctions, including, but not limited to,
early release of non-violent offenders whose
probation would be supervised. Education, training and/or employment would
be a mandatory requirement for early release.
WE OPPOSE:
1. The death penalty.
2. The present system of minimum mandatory sentencing because it fills
our prisons with people who could be tax paying productive citizens.
3. Property forfeiture from persons without criminal conviction.
4. Property forfeiture from innocent third parties.
5. Racial profiling.
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| C. GUN CONTROL. WE SUPPORT: |
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1 . Responsible ownership
and care of weapons, with this care to be spelled out by law.
2. Prison or community service sentences in cases where accidental shootings,
especially of minors, involves use of a gun improperly cared for.
3. Better regulatory controls on gun dealers and rigorous enforcement
of current regulations.
4. A 30-day waiting period for purchase of all firearms.
5. Background checks on all applicants to purchase firearms.
6. A ban on detection proof weapons and armor piercing and exploding ammunition.
7. A requirement that guns used in crimes be destroyed, not sold.
8. That no handgun can be sold or delivered to any individual under the
age of 21 or any convicted criminal.
9. A ban on assault weapons and automatic
weapons, except for law enforcement personnel .
MINORITY REPORT.
On the issue of Firearms we support:
1 Responsible ownership and care of firearms by all owners.
2. The rigorous enforcement of current regulatory controls and measures
for firearms dealers.
3. The current firearm laws, regulations, and "The Brady Bill" with possible
expansions in waiting periods.
4. Community service and educational outreach sentences in cases where
accidental shootings take place, minors are involved, or firearms are
improperly stored.
5. The Second amendment of the United States which states: "A well regulated
militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of
the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
6. Education including both
firearms safety and hunting safety classes. Responsibility begins in a
home where guns are kept; the degree of safety a child has rests squarely
on the child's parents. Parents who accept the responsibility to learn,
practice and teach gun safety rules will
ensure their child's safety to a
much greater extent than those who do not. Parental responsibility does
not end, however, when the child leaves the home .
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| D. IMMIGRATION RIGHTS. WE SUPPORT: |
| |
1. Abiding by international
treaties, of which the US is a signatory, which recognize official documents
issued by other
countries' governments as legal proof of identity.
2.Establishnient of a civilian oversight committee composed of citizens
of any community where an INS quick response team will be operating.
3. Repeal of the Iowa law making a felony, and returning to the original
status of
misdemeanor, the possession of false identification for the purpose of
carrying out daily survival activities.
4. Re-establishment of the right to appeal Board of Immigration Appeal
decisions to the judicial branch of the government.
5 A shift in INS priorities from enforcement to processing documentation.
6. Amnesty and the opportunity to become naturalized citizens for all
undocumented persons brought to the US as minors.
7. Revision of immigration policies to reflect the reality that
our country depends on an immigrant labor force to perform essential work.
We should make provision to assure basic rights for these workers to come
here legally and return freely to their home countries.
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| E. EQUAL RIGHTS.
WE SUPPORT: |
| |
1. Passage of an equal rights
amendment to the United States Constitution and the passage of the Iowa
Equal Rights Amendment. which states: "All men and women are, by nature,
free and equal and have certain inalienable rights - among which are those
of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and
protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness."
2. The addition of sexual orientation to Iowa Civil Rights law as a protected
category.
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| F. REPRODUCTIVE
RIGHTS. WE SUPPORT: |
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l . The right of reproductive
freedom for all individuals including freedom from government intrusion
in personal moral
decisions. We respect the ability of people to determine if and when to
become parents .
2. Full access, including public programs, to family planning information
and all materials and procedures appropriate to each individual's needs,
without coercion.
3 . Implementation of educational programs to promote a healthy concept
of self for all persons in order to ensure that every pregnancy is a wanted
pregnancy and to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.
4. Funding of effective family planning services to prevent unplanned
pregnancy.
5. Full disclosure of information about all options regarding unplanned
pregnancy to all people regardless of age or economic circumstances.
WE OPPOSE:
1 .Mandatory parental and spousal/partner notification prior to the
exercise of any reproductive option.
2 Forced sterilization or contraception as a condition of employment,
receipt of social services, or parole.
3 .Government restrictions that impede access to abortion or adequate
contraception.
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| G. CONSUMER
PROTECTION. WE SUPPORT: |
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1 .Mandatory enforcement of
inspection of domestic and imported food.
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