2004 Platform for the 34th District Democrats
King County, Washington
Adopted at the Legislative District Caucus
May 1, 2004

The entire platform is below. You can also view this platform as an Adobe Acrobat PDF (136kb).

Preamble and Summary
We have a dream, a dream of a society in which each of us is judged by the content of our character, and in which each of us lives in a community that is characterized by opportunity, personal responsibility, compassion, appreciation of diversity, safety and freedom.
We work together to make this dream a reality because we believe that we are all responsible for the ethical, economic, and environmental legacy we leave for our children. We believe participating in self-government is our duty as citizens, and that our democratic traditions and institutions are positive forces that promote the common good and protect individual rights.
Democrats take pride in the American tradition of self-government, and take responsibility for promoting citizen involvement and government accountability and openness. We believe our democratic traditions and institutions can continue to shape a free and prosperous society, if we act to preserve and, where necessary, reform them. Like President Lincoln, we believe government exists to accomplish for us collectively those things we cannot accomplish individually.
The nine major planks of our platform may be summarized as follows:

1. Economy and Labor
Democrats believe economic justice for America’s working families is the foundation upon which healthy families, healthy communities, and a free and prosperous nation rest.
2. Education and Children
Democrats believe education is the most important function of government.
3. Civil Rights and Criminal Justice
Democrats reaffirm their commitment to civil, equal, and human rights.
4. Health and Human Services
Democrats believe in universal basic health care regardless of age, employment status or prior condition.
5. Energy and Environment
All Americans have a right to clean air and water, uncontaminated food, and a healthy natural environment.
6. Privacy and Individual Freedom
Democrats believe citizens, not government, are the proper custodians of our moral and spiritual beliefs and personal choices.
7. Foreign Policy and Defense
Democrats pursue multilateral foreign policies that genuinely represent the values of the American people.
8. Tax Policy
Democrats favor a progressive tax system at both state and federal level.
9. Government and Elections
Democrats work for waste-free, efficient, and responsive government with elections that are inclusive, accessible and open. The details of our platform are below:

 Platform details and Resolutions

1. Economy and Labor
Democrats believe economic justice for America’s working families is the foundation upon which healthy families, healthy communities, and a free and prosperous nation rest. We deplore and will work to reverse the growing gap between rich and poor, and the downward trend in American wages. We recognize financial insecurity tears families apart and that the American dream is in danger when health insurance, home ownership, and even retirement are beyond the means of millions of hard-working Americans. We support economic policies and business practices that promote the creation of family-wage jobs, the rights of employees to organize and to bargain collectively, and the creation of sustainable economic growth that does not damage our environment. Democrats will protect workers from any form of slave labor. Democrats believe that immigrants should be informed of their rights so they can be protected from exploitation.
Economy
Our first economic priority must be to eliminate the deficit and pay down the debt.
* We support an environmentally sustainable economy. To this end, we propose an end to subsidies for fossil fuel and nuclear power development, a transition to safe renewable sources of energy, an increase in vehicle gas mileage standards, stringent energy codes for construction, and stronger energy efficiency standards for appliances.
Labor
A strong labor force, using the talents and skills of all people, is fundamental to the United States’ ability to compete in the world economy. The only way to ensure the long-term success of our nation is to focus on, protect, invest in, and have loyalty to our workforce.

· We believe the sections of the Taft-Hartley Act that permit “right to work” laws and prohibit secondary boycotting should be repealed.
· We support a worker’s bill of rights that includes basic rights of association and free speech, due process, disclosure of toxic substances in the workplace, and democracy within unions.
· We support equal pay for equal work, equal pay for work of comparable worth, and affirmative action hiring programs.
· We support flexible work programs that result in employment and benefits extending to more people. Workers should have a right to overtime pay for overtime work and the right to refuse overtime work.
· We support programs putting unemployed or displaced people to work on publicly needed projects such as housing construction, infrastructure repair, and environmental clean-up.
· We support setting the minimum wage at least five percent above the official poverty level and indexing it to inflation. All employers should be required to pay a minimum wage that is a locally indexed living wage, sufficient to purchase the basic needs of life at the local market rate.
· We support adequate, advance notice of plant closures given by employers to employees and the community, severance pay and retraining, employee buy-out negotiations conducted in good faith, and protection of pensions.
· We support cost of living adjustments to pension benefits.

Summary of Resolutions
11-183-We support more restrictions on dominant media ownership.
18-113- We support bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U. S. by raising human rights and working standards and pay for workers worldwide.
We support working wages for more people rather than low paying jobs for the majority.
We support narrowing the compensation gap between the highest and lowest paid people in each company.
8-199- We oppose granting corporations “personhood” under the constitution; allowing off-shore tax shelters; and U.S. government contracts (current or future) with companies that maintain off-shore tax shelters or companies that do business with designated enemies of the United States or which sponsor, practice or export terrorism.
We support corporations who institute strong policies of responsibility to public interests.
The U. S. should reverse tax cuts that benefit the already well-to-do, retain an estate tax, and invest $500 billion to rebuild schools, roads, bridges, ports, and sewage, water and environmental systems.
We support substantial cuts in the budget for the Department of Defense of at least 20% per year until it has reached the $250 billion level.

2. EDUCATION AND CHILDREN – Democrats believe education is the most important function of government. universal access to excellent schools is the surest path to equality, opportunity, prosperity, and the continuing preservation of our democratic heritage. All Americans should have those skills needed to access and evaluate information in order to be an active and responsible participant in the positive growth of the community. We believe all Americans – children, young people, and adults – should have access to high-quality education and job preparation programs; our educational institutions should accommodate all learners; and our schools and student should be held accountable for meeting rigorous academic standards and for abiding by the doctrine of separation of church and state. Programs that affect readiness to learn are critical components to the quality of education. This includes quality of life issues affecting the child’s readiness to learn, especially those programs addressing children’s health and poverty. Government must ensure all persons have equal access to an educational system offering this learning environment.

Education

Quality public education should be available to allow each person to develop to his or her full potential as a contribution member of a democratic society.

· We believe parents/guardians are an essential partner in education and should be encouraged to participate in school activities and decision-making.
· We support full state funding for a comprehensive education program from early childhood through 12th grade. Funding should ensure the same quality program for poor districts as rich districts.
· We believe the state should provide a well-funded system of quality higher education both for academic and vocational purposes.
· We support adequate funding for the special needs of particular school districts.
· We support literacy programs for all functionally illiterate adults.
· We support teacher salaries commensurate with those of other comparable professionals. Teachers should be well prepared and well paid; the educational environment should be conducive to learning for all students; and quality integrated education should be available to all.
· We support an education system that includes open enrollment at community colleges.
· We specifically support continuation of education in the arts in public schools.

Children

Policies at all levels should place a higher priority on children.

· We support programs to ensure health care, safe and affordable housing, education and a safe environment for all children and young people.
· We support efforts to provide pre-natal, medical care, and nutrition programs to those who need them.
· We support children and family service to prevent family separation and alienation by providing counseling and intervention services that promote family stability and health. Prevention of child, domestic, and sexual abuse should be a high priority.
· We support funding for programs to reduce dropout rates by helping children with learning problems at elementary and middle school levels.
· We support funding of foster care, transitional housing, and other programs to meet the special needs of children. We support programs that address the problems of teenagers who need special help in education, employment, parenting, and treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.
· We support parenting education in school curriculum and for adults.

Summary of Resolutions
12-179- We support additional state funding for public schools at a level commensurate
with high expectations of students and school employees; adequate funding for decreased class sizes, increased teacher salaries, renovation of decaying facilities, hands-on job training for those not going to college, pre-kindergarten and after-school programs, and reversal of the soaring costs of college.
13-176-We oppose the No-Child-Left-Behind Act and support its repeal to, returning control of education to the state.

3. CIVIL RIGHTS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE – Democrats reaffirm their commitment to civil, equal, and human rights. We oppose discrimination of all kinds, and believe those who suffer the burden of discrimination must be afforded the legal means and economic opportunities to overcome such injustices. We support affirmative action and other legal civil rights remedies for those Americans who have suffered discrimination. We oppose laws that discriminate based on race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, physical or mental challenges, marital status, immigration status or political affiliation.

Civil Rights

Federal, state and local governments should enforce laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, gender, religion, age, metal or physical disability, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or political ideology in all areas of education, employment, housing, public accommodation, licensing, insurance, immigration and voting.

· We reaffirm support for the Bill of Rights.
· We affirm that food, shelter, medical care, education and jobs are basic human rights.
· We support the Freedom of Information Act.
· We support the right to freedom of association and oppose spying on American citizens to collect information about religious, political or other personal activities.
· We oppose use of AIDS, drug, or polygraph testing as a condition of employment or continued employment.
· We support the separation of church and state. We oppose mandatory prayer in publicly-funded schools. The power of the state should not be used to impose or sanction religious beliefs or practices.
· We reaffirm our support for equal rights. We support legislation to protect the rights of lesbians and gays. We support efforts to extend the rights of marriage to nontraditional, domestic partnerships. We reaffirm support for the Equal Rights Amendment.
· We oppose any attempt to unilaterally abrogate Native American treaty rights.

Criminal Justice

The goals of the criminal justice system should be to protect the public, maintain the civil rights of the accused and convicted, and to provide justice for crime victims.

· We support repeal of the death penalty.
· We support the legal right to plead innocent by reason of insanity.
· We support the right of mentally ill and addicted offenders to receive treatment in an appropriate treatment facility during incarceration.
· We support de-emphasizing criminal prosecution of personal drug use.

Summary of resolutions
4-261- We affirm our belief that any efforts to end terrorism should abide by fundamental rights and liberties of the American people. We join with the hundreds of municipalities and civil liberties organizations that oppose the Patriot Act and Executive orders that threaten our rights and liberties. We support restoring the fundamental right of attorney-client privilege; revoking various Department of Justice secrecy orders and repealing provisions harmful to the rights of immigrants; restoring transparency of Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security administrative procedures by revoking Freedom of Information Act secrecy orders; and pledging to pass no future law or amendment that in anyway alters or compromises the Bill of Rights.
20-99-We support maximum punishment for major corporate fraud.

4. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES – Democrats believe in universal basic health care regardless of age, employment status or prior condition. We support adoption of a comprehensive health care system, including, prenatal care and through the last years of life, disease prevention, mental healthcare, treatment and care for catastrophic illness, long-term care, alternative forms of health care, and reproductive choice. We support a national health care system that provides high quality medical care to all members of our society, emphasizing preventive medicine. We support funding of such a health care system for Washington State citizens until a national and international health care plan is funded.

Health and Human Services

A healthy society is one that meets the basic human needs of individuals. Among those needs are health care, food, shelter, and clothing.

· We support a national health care system that provides quality medical, alternative, and holistic health care services as provided by licensed or certified practitioners to all members of our society. The system should emphasize good nutrition, preventative medicine, environmental safeguards, and mental health care. Until a national health care plan has been funded, we support funding such a health care system for the citizens of this state.
· We believe a high priority should be placed on funding of research into the prevention and cure of AIDS. We support frank and open discussion of AIDS and educational programs encompassing all ages and groups. We believe all levels of government and the private sector should ensure the availability of appropriate medical care and housing for those suffering from the disease.
· We support protection of the right of every person to make decisions about his or her body in any medical procedure. We support adoption of state laws that protect the rights of individuals to reject medical treatment or procedures they believe to be intrusive.
· We affirm a woman’s constitutional right to privacy in making reproductive choices. We support state funding for low income women to choose safe, legal, and accessible medical procedures. We oppose the suppression of information about any available medical procedures.
· We support efforts to fund programs for early diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, basic research into the causes and cures of mental illness, and appropriate services for housing and care of mentally ill persons who are in acute, recovering, or transitional stages of their disease.
· We support properly funded, humane community and institutional services for groups with special needs, including the physically, mentally, and developmentally disabled.
· We believe the government and private sectors should address the needs of homeless individuals, families, and children by funding housing, health care, and opportunities for employment and education.
· We support a welfare system that respects the dignity and provides for the basic needs of the individuals it serves. We support government and private programs that help individuals who require education or retraining to obtain gainful employment and leave welfare rolls.
· We support government and private sector programs providing family leave for any employee, with retention of job rights, and providing child care as an employee benefit.
· We support efforts to institute a needs assessment beginning with establishment of neighborhood service centers.
· We believe investment in early childhood care will reduce life-long costs to our society and support programs to provide quality care for children.
· We support laws outlawing tobacco smoking in public places

Summary of Resolutions
19-101- Every person in the United States has a right to quality health care. The Congress should act immediately to pass legislation to protect and implement this right.
15- 165- We support passage of The United States Health Insurance Act (HR 676), which calls for a universal, single-payer system of health insurance that expands and improves Medicare to cover all Americans.
· We call on the newly elected Democratic president to: declare all persons living in the United State and U.S. Territories eligible with no co-pays or deductibles, convert to a not-for-profit health care system over a 15-year period, establish funding for the U. S. Health Insurance (USNHI) Act through an annual entitlement; all current expenditures for public health will be placed into the USNHI program to be operated under the Department of Health and Human Services, and administered through the former Medicare offices.
· We support a universal health care for all Americans. The new Democratic president should direct his efforts at carefully reviewing the impact of current health care practices and existing legislation and work toward the goal of universal health care and affordable medications for all Americans.
17-129-We support a streamlined national health insurance, universal health care with a single payer plan. It should be publicly financed health care, privately delivered, providing affordable prescription drugs through bulk purchasing.
· We support efforts to provide health care for Washington workers by requiring employers of 50 or more employees to either provide health care coverage or pay a fee to the Health Care Authority that would amount to 80 percent of the cost of the BHP. The fees paid by the employer would be used to provide workers of these employers and the dependents of these workers, health care coverage through the BHP.
· We support using any savings achieved by forcing these large employers to no longer use the taxpayer funded health care programs to help subsidize health care coverage for employees of small employers.
9-196-We call upon state and federal elected officials to enact laws to guarantee access to health care for every person in the US – with benefits and choices like those our federal officials enjoy; bring pharmaceutical, insurance, administrative, and other costs under control; strengthen our system of hospitals, clinics, mental health services, nursing homes and home care services; and fairly finance improvements to our health care system.
21-98-We also call upon our state elected officials to fund our state’s health care, mental health, and long term care system. All Washington employers should provide quality and affordable health insurance to their employees.
· Seniors and people with disabilities must have access to quality, reliable home care services by enacting the home care workers’ contract.
· We support strict regulations and sufficient enforcement of by inspection of food production.

5. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT – All Americans – those alive today and the generations that will follow – have a right to clean air and water, uncontaminated food, and the shared heritage of a healthy natural environment. We believe that all levels of government must act to ensure the preservation of our ecosystems, and that we must not allow personal or corporate gain to take precedence over the importance of the health of the natural legacy that belongs to our descendants. We believe that good citizenship includes making informed, responsible decisions about the resources we consume and the environmental impact of our lifestyles.

Energy and the Environment

Everyone has a right to a healthful living and working environment. Collectively and as individuals, we have a responsibility to protect the earth and the living things that inhabit it, not only for the long-term benefits of all people, but because we face the destruction of our planet if we do not curtail pollution and the degradation we are now causing.

· We support state funding for land use and transportation management at the local level to preserve environmental diversity such as fish and wildlife habitats, wild and scenic areas, wetlands, and natural resource lands for sustainable uses such as forestry and agriculture.
· We oppose attempts to undermine legislation and administrative protection of our environment for whatever reasons, but especially for the short-term financial benefits of individuals, corporations, and governments.
· We support research into development of, and use of, the best available technologies to manage sewage, solid wastes, toxic and hazardous materials and wastes, and other air, water, and land polluting substances.
· We believe industries responsible for creating pollution in the past or now should pay for its clean-up.
· We strongly support the efforts of the state of Washington to force clean up and restoration of the land, facilities, and environment at Hanford by the U. S. Energy Department. We support full disclosure of and reparations for human and environmental degradation caused by past or current practices at the Hanford Reservation.
· We believe energy conservation should be a top priority in all energy planning. We support funding, development, and use of alternative and renewable energy sources. Emphasis on recycling and reuse of materials will reduce demand for energy, resources and landfill space. Government should promote and employ the use of products made of recycled materials.
· We support efforts that will decrease reliance on old-growth timber and increase reliance on recycled wood products.
· We support policies that require products and activities to bear their full environmental costs from manufacturing through disposal.
· We urge U. S. involvement in world environmental efforts, such as those aimed at controlling and correcting global warming and ozone depletion and efforts to control population growth.
· We support local, regional, national, and international programs to deal with water quality and quantity issues. Surface and ground waters must be protected; we must plan for conservation and sharing of water supplies.
· We support legislation that requires double hulls on all oil tankers. We support funding and power for the Coast Guard to monitor and respond to oil spills throughout U. S. navigable waters. We support company funding of teams and equipment needed to contain and clean up environmental hazards they have created.
· We support continued programs to control auto emissions and expand these programs statewide. We support state legislation requiring sale/availability of zero emission automobiles. We also support increased funding and expanded governmental efforts to prevent and control air pollution caused by wood burning.
· We support a regional transportation system that provides safe and convenient alternatives to the automobile.
· We support programs that retrain people displaced from their jobs because of the need to protect resources and the environment.

Summary of Resolutions
7-224- We need to develop alternative energy sources to oil to create a new source for American jobs and brain power.
We believe in reducing energy use and thus less dependence on Middle East oil.
16-146-We support the creation of tax policies with an emphasis on encouraging renewable energy
· We oppose the use of Hanford as a National Radioactive Waste Dump; and, commit to: end dumping in unlined trenches; put cleanup first; and, support Initiative 297, the “Protect Washington” Initiative on the November 2004 ballot.

6. PRIVACY AND INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM – Democrats believe citizens – not government – are the proper custodians of our moral and spiritual beliefs and personal choices. Every citizen bears personal responsibility for helping to create strong communities that promote individual responsibility and mutual respect, and teach our children the American traditions of pluralism, civic participation and civility. We recognize America’s democratic tradition rests on respect for regional, cultural and religious diversity. We work to create harmony from diversity rather than to silence any voice. We celebrate loving families in many forms and respect all Americans’ right to privacy in personal matters. All women – not government – have the responsibility and right to sovereignty over their bodies and reproductive lives.

· We support a woman’s constitutional right to have an abortion as interpreted in the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision and oppose any amendment, statute or method to limit this right.
· We support vigilant and vigorous separation of church and state.

Summary of Resolutions
2-264- We will intensify our vigilance to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancies, bearing healthy children and choosing legal abortion.
3-262- Marriage is a basic human right and individual personal choice; the state should not interfere with same-gender couples who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities and commitment of civil marriage.

7. FOREIGN POLICY AND DEFENSE – Democrats pursue multilateral foreign policies that genuinely represent the values of the American people. Those values include respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, workers, and women, responsible stewardship of natural resources, and expectation of reasonable regulation of trans-national corporations, and a steadfast desire for peace and justice. We support America’s paid participation in the United Nations and other organizations that promote international law, human rights, democracy, health and safety, peaceful commerce, cultural understanding, and preservation of our planet’s ecosystems. We support universal free public education and family planning efforts that allow all people to make informed choices about family size and global population growth.
Foreign Policy and Defense

United States foreign policy should promote peace by seeking to eliminate nuclear weapons, protecting human rights, and respecting the right of all peoples to choose their own governments free of external interference.

· We support efforts to eliminate nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and to reduce conventional weapons.
· We support international efforts that include the United States assisting countries in Eastern Europe, Central and South America, Africa and elsewhere to promote representative democratic and stable governments responsive to their peoples’ needs.
· We support foreign aid commensurate with a nation’s protection of human rights.
· We support a comprehensive negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts based on Israel’s right to exist within secure and internationally recognized borders and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and a homeland.
· We support suspension of China’s Most Favored Nation trading status until repression of internal democratic political activity ceases. We support continued pressure to end occupation of Tibet.
· We support a policy of economic sanctions against U. S. trading partners who restrict the development of democratic institutions within their countries.
· We support a policy that would prohibit weapon sales to any country that abuses the human rights of its people and countries that wage wars of aggression or fail to participate in the U. N. Arms Register.

Summary of Resolutions
6-228- We support a more multi-lateral approach to world issues and less unilateral decision-making by the U. S.
10-185-We oppose the policy of pre-emptive war in all circumstances.
The U. S. should recognize the damage it caused by the invasion of Iraq and commit to giving resources to rebuild the Iraq infrastructure through the U. N.
1-265- We oppose the continuing occupation of Iraq by U. S. forces and support a position of “U. N. in and U. S. out of Iraq.”
· We support the end of both development and deployment of destabilizing weapons systems; the re-establishment of treaties with other nuclear powers that result in the gradual elimination of nuclear weapons; an end to government assistance to military contractors selling weapons systems abroad that contribute to the international arms race; and reform of the Defense Department’s system of weapons procurement to prevent military contractors from overcharging the government.

8. TAX POLICY – Democrats favor a progressive tax system at both state and national level. We are committed to reducing the national debt and the deficit and balancing the federal budget while continuing to provide a strong safety net for those in need, intelligent investment in our country’s future, and services that strengthen our communities and preserve our natural heritage. We favor a progressive tax system at both the state and national level.

The national debt and interest paid on it are draining away federal tax dollars needed for education, health care, social services and infrastructure construction and maintenance.
· We support equitable taxation including a progressive income tax at a level sufficient to eliminate the deficit and redirect funds to needed services and programs.
· Off-budget programs should be included in the budget as a line item without endangering national security.
· We support a change in the Federal budget priorities and reforms that reduce waste and promote economic and political democracy. We believe the key to implementing these proposals is a well-informed and politically mobilized people working within a revitalized Democratic Party.
· We support conversion of the United States budget to civilian spending commensurate with reduced need for military expenditures as a result of world peace efforts.
· We support a state tax structure based on the ability to pay. We believe a reformed tax structure should be fair in its distribution of tax responsibility, balanced in its ability to provide revenue for all public needs. We believe the state should adopt a progressive, simple system of corporate and personal income tax, abolish the business and occupation tax, and eliminate sales tax on necessities.
· We support universal first class service provided to every community by the U. S. Postal Service.
· We support removal of income tax on unemployment compensation.
· We believe the legislature must provide a stable and continuing source of revenue to local government to protect and serve its citizens. We support a renewed emphasis and a shift of public money from police and prisons to public education and health.

9. GOVERNMENT AND ELECTONS – Democrats work for waste-free, efficient, and responsive government. Elections must be inclusive, accessible and open. We support creative efforts to “reinvent” government to reduce red tape, make agencies more flexible and responsive, and save money.

The Democrats of the 34th Legislative District support public meetings of party organizations as well as open legislative committee hearings where all witnesses will be allowed either to speak or submit written testimony if time prevents oral testimony.

· We support simultaneous closure of polling places throughout the U. S. in presidential election years.
· We believe all caucus and polling places must be handicapped accessible.
· We favor recorded votes by the state legislature in committee and the whole body.
· We support limitations on individual and corporate contributions and on candidate spending, and public financing for elections for national office.
· Filing for office as a Democrat shall mean the candidate is in general agreement with the adopted Democratic platform for the jurisdictional level of the office sought.
· We support Democrats who truly serve the public interest, not corporate special interests; immediate and positive action to reveal the full terms and taxpayer costs of the state’s deal with Boeing; rollback of unwise and harmful special-interest giveaways; our state constitutional ban against special corporate privileges; and a progressive economic policy for the state of Washington based on putting our workers, families, communities and future FIRST. We oppose unwise and harmful special-interest giveaways.

Summary of Resolutions
We support the use the Canadian system to count and verify each ballot cast in elections. (Each voter marks the ballot by hand by and the counting by hand can be observed by voters, press, etc. In a recent election over seven million ballots were counted and verified within three hours.)
14-166-We support open democratic voting systems that make all voting machines (and software) available to inspection by auditors, candidates, their representatives, and interested members of the public. All voting machines (by 2004 general election) should produce actual paper that voters can view to check the accuracy of their votes at the time they cast their votes and that election officials can use to verify votes in the event of computer malfunction, hacking, or other irregularity. Voter-verified paper ballots would be the legal ballot tally in the event of inconsistent results obtained when ballots are tallied by computer. At least 2% of votes cast would be randomly audited.
· We support efforts to reform public policy and laws to reap the full benefit of advances in technology, while keeping it under close surveillance.
· We support creation of a Department of Peace.
· While we encourage vigorous debate of issues, we support abolition of costly and low attendance off-year caucuses (non-presidential year) unless there are burning issues that need to be resolved.
· We support limiting appointed delegates in the Presidential nominating process to no more than 13% of the state’s Democratic delegation.
· We support an amendment to the U.S. constitution to limit campaign contributions (individual or corporate, direct or indirect) to $10,000 (either cash or in-kind) to any candidate for federal office.