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Delaware County Platform
Committee
January 2008
Education
l Resolved, eliminate No Child Left Behind. SP
l Resolved, support affordable postsecondary
education and lower interest rates on loans. SF
l Resolved, no interest rates on postsecondary l=
oans
until after graduation. SA
l Resolved, support a living wage for educational support staff in schools. SF<= o:p>
Internal Affairs
l Resolved, end the war in Iraq and support the
Biden-Gelb Five Point Plan for Iraq.
ME
l Resolved, no amnesty for illegal aliens. RL
l Resolved, keep jobs in America and penalize
companies that take American jobs to other countries by repealing NAFTA and
CAFTA. TP
l As Democrats, we recognize the devastation cau=
sed
by global hunger and poverty. We believe it is our moral obligation to help
those in extreme poverty. We encourage the next President to pledge to fight
global poverty through international assistance that helps and empowers
individuals through education, clean water, and fighting HIV/AIDS,
Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
Govern=
ment
and Law
l Resolved, repeal the Bush tax cuts to the
wealthy. TS
l Resolved, do away with special interest groups
that lobby politicians. GL
l Resolved, institute term limits on national and
state representatives and senators. GL
l Resolved, elected officials must wait half as =
many
years as they served in office before becoming a lobbyist. PG (Example: official ser=
ved in
office for 12 years; must wait 6 years before becoming a lobbyist).
l Many elections and taxing votes are held every
year. These are expensive and have a low voter turnout. Be it resolved, all
elections in Iowa shall be held on one common date statewide. The exception
being an election to fill a vacancy.
CE
l Resolved, stop the mercenary or private hired =
help
for the military. GS
Health and Human Services
l Resolved, provide universal health care covera=
ge. UH
l Resolved, provide good affordable health care =
and
mental health parity based on a percentage of income with a cap of
approximately 10%. CI
l We believe human life is a sacred gift from our
Creator and is a fundamental right as outlined in the Constitution and the
Declaration of Independence. This right is innately valuable in every stage=
of
development from conception to natural death. This includes the unborn and =
the
elderly, the terminally or chronically ill, and the mentally or physically
handicapped. No human life should ever be diminished, or arbitrarily taken.=
The
government and its people should affirm into the Constitution of the United
States that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life, which cannot =
be
infringed. CP
l Resolved, determine when life begins to clarify
where life and citizenship begins. CP
l Whereas, Alzheimer's disease is a major driver=
of
health care costs for older Americans; and Whereas, Alzheimer's disease is =
the
biggest threat for millions of baby boomers; and Whereas, Americans 55 and
older fear Alzheimer's more than any other disease. Therefore, be it resolv=
ed
that presidential candidates and caucuses take note that addressing Alzheim=
er's
is the key to success in improving our nation's health care and the economic
security of millions; and Therefore, commit to take action to improve cover=
age
for the uninsured, including long-term care coverage; and Therefore, commit=
to
make changes to Medicare to improve quality and affordability of care for
beneficiaries with Alzheimer's disease; and Therefore, commit to increase o=
ur
nation's commitment to solving the problem of Alzheimer's disease before we
lose another generation – the boomers-- to the disease. ES
l Two of every five Iowans has a chronic disease=
. Nationally,
45 out of every 100 are living with a chronic disease. One in three babies =
born
in Iowa will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Chronic disease is the #1
driver of rising health care costs, as well as the #1 cause of death in
America. Therefore, be it resolved that as a party we support public policy
that:
Refocuses our health care system on keeping people healthier through
disease prevention, care management, and targeted incentives to encourage s=
elf
management and prevention.
Improves the quality of care for those with chronic diseases by
encouraging innovation in the treatment of diseases at the research and bed=
side
levels, as well as encourage continued American investment in pioneering
science that will result in better treatments to prevent and lessen the tol=
l of
chronic disease.
Accelerates improvements in the quality and availability of health
information technology through the health system.
Reduces access barriers to health care for all populations.
Therefore, we urge every
presidential candidate, senator, congressman, state senator, state representative, mayor, city
councilman, school board member, and =
citizen
to make the prevention and treatment of chronic disease a major issue in
Economy, Commerce and Labor<= o:p>
l The IPERS fund should have its contribution ra=
te
determined by its actuary and a reasonable limit of 0.5% per year adjustment
will allow for prudent financial management of the trust fund and government
resources. The IPERS trust fund currently does not have an independent boar=
d of
trustees that represent the fiduciary responsibility of the members. This is
key to proper oversight of this valued asset to the governments of Iowa and=
its
employees. As for COLAS and the FED, it is incumbent upon the Legislature a=
nd
Governor to make sure IPERS retirees can sustain a quality of life that isn=
't
jeopardized by inflationary increases outside of their control. Be it resol=
ved,
we support allowing the IPERS contribution rate to be determined by the
system's actuary within a limit of 0.5% per year, creating an independent b=
oard
of trustees, and funding to make the COLA for pre-1990 retirees and the
favorable experience dividend for post-1990 retirees sustainable forever.
l Whereas, under Chapters 731 and 20 of Iowa sta=
tues,
it is unlawful and prohibited to collect fair share fees as a prerequisite =
to
employment. Whereas, under Chapters 731 and 20 of the Iowa statues, the sta=
te
of Iowa prohibit unions from negotiating union security clauses and service
fees in collectively bargained contract. Whereas, Iowa has a collective
bargaining law. Whereas, service fees are found in 85% of the states that h=
ave
a collective bargaining law in the public and private sector. Whereas, it is
reasonable to allow arrangements that provide that employees contribute to =
the
costs associated with their collective representation. Whereas, such
arrangements counteract dues paying members subsidies of employees who are
represented and benefit from the union but do not contribute to their union=
representation.
Whereas, there is no cost to Iowa taxpayers. Therefore, be it resolved that=
the
Iowa Democratic Party be on record urging the legislature to amend the
pertinent sections of Chapter 731 and Chapter 20 in the Iowa statues which
prohibit the collection of union security or fair share fees.
Agriculture and Environment<= o:p>
l Resolved, address environmental issues such as
global warming, alternate fuels, and electric cars. SE
l Resolved, require ethanol to be a fuel of choi=
ce
in all states. SE
1 Resolved, we supp=
ort
the Natural Resources funding bill the IA legislature to provide a percenta=
ge
of sales tax directly to conservation use.