2008 RESOLUTIONS
40 CAN BE PASSED TO THE STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
National Security and International Policy
Be it resolved that
1. The U.S. Congress modify the Patriot Act and its effects on the World Wide Web, and to preserve internet neutrality and anonymity presently afforded to American citizens non-convicted as felons in US courts of law.
2. The U.S. establish the Army Field Manual for Interrogations (FM 2-22.3) as the minimum standard of treatment for all detainees during interrogations conducted by U.S. personnel, including the CIA and government contractors.
3. The USA follow the Geneva Convention and cease torture of prisoners
4. The practice of waterboarding shall be considered torture and banned under Federal Law for all detainees regardless of offense.
5. The United States end the extraordinary rendition of prisoners to countries that use torture and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.
6. Congress ensure that all individuals are guaranteed all rights under Habeas Corpus.
7. The United States government seek conflict resolution through diplomatic and multi-national means.
8. The United States government create a multi-national coalition for transition in Iraq.
9. The U.S. Postal Service shall not subcontract the delivery of U.S. mail.
Labor and Employment
10. The Minnesota Legislature and the U.S. Congress create new policies and incentives for employers, in order to prevent more jobs from being shipped overseas, and bring back those jobs already outsourced. Corporate outsourcing and offshore capabilities need to be tied to unemployment rates.
11. In 2008, the Minnesota Legislature pass the Green Jobs for the Future Plan, including the following:- Incentives and tax credits for the manufacture and installation of solar, wind, geothermal, and energy efficiency products on public and private buildings
- Requirements for utilities to buy solar, wind, geothermal energy
- High green building standards,
- State loan funds available to schools and local governments for green energy conversions and efficiency improvements, such as insulation and new windows
- Creation of Green Manufacturing Parks, which will attract green companies to areas which have lost manufacturing jobs
- Investment in public transit and adoption of "clean car" global warming pollution low emissions standards for new car manufacturing
- Workforce training for green collar jobs and requirements for prevailing wages or living wages for publicly subsidized jobs.
- Prevailing Wage Protections on all legislation providing any public funding (including tax benefits, grants, loans, loan guarantees, rebates or other taxpayer funded incentives) for green or renewableenergy projects.
12. The DFL party expects its endorsed candidates and elected officials to support the extension of Unemployment Insurance Benefits for unemployed construction workers.
13. Protect those workers injured on the job, though enforcement of existing laws and rewriting those laws struck down by the Supreme Court.
14. The DFL party supports the expansion of the Mall of America (projected to create 7,000 construction jobs, 7,000 permanent jobs, and stimulate Minnesota's economy).
Health and Human Services
The DFL supports
15. Medicare Part D co-pays and premium costs be reduced so that all eligible citizens can afford prescription drugs without hardship.
16. Single payer Minnesota Health Act HF2522/SF2324, which establishes universal, comprehensive and affordable single-payer health care.
17. a National Medical History Record system
18. Passage of the Children’s Health Security Act which ensures that all children in Minnesota gain access to health care services.
19. Domestic partnership benefits for all state employees as nontaxable income or as a pre-tax deduction.
20. The MN legislature amend MN Statute 471.61 to permit local units of government to determine for themselves the scope of their employment benefits packages, particularly to offer domestic partner benefits.
21. Support creation of permanent endowment using a portion of tobacco industry payments to address tobacco use and prevention of other youth risk behaviors. 22. Enact policies and resources that strengthen the social services system, ensure economic security, and provide stable housing to effectively prevent homelessness. 23. Amend DFL Platform on health care be to read “ Private and public funding for health care programs that include mental health care (including suicide prevention.)” 24. Official state forms requesting racial identity include multi-racial as an option to check off. 25. Mandatory medical screening and temporary health insurance provided by employers for migrant workers and those with work visasGovernment Accountability to the Public
26. The Congressional branch keep its constitutional responsibility to declare war by rescinding any laws that allow the President to be the sole authority to use force against other countries or U.S. citizens.
27. Voter-verifiable paper ballots be required in all National elections and are deemed to be official ballots, whether or not their production and use is in addition to, above or beyond any voting system improvements required. 28. The paper ballots, machines and entire process by which we decide our city, state, and national elections shall be owned and operated by We the People and under the complete control and supervision of our elected officials (Office of Secretary of State) and not sourced to private corporations 29. We support legislation that allows Minnesota’s voters to cast ballots through the U.S. mail 30. The DFL Party opposes legislation that would institute a “Do Not Mail” registry.The DFL supports:
31. Adoption of Instant Runoff Voting for state and local elections.
32. Creation of a non-partisan process for redrawing Congressional and Legislative districts that ensures a timely process and gives a role to the representatives of the people. 33. Public financing of elections. 34. The DFL Party support our present election procedures which do not require a registered voter to present a government-issued photo I. D. in order to vote.Local and Party Issues
35. DFL party rescind the 280 preferred delegates (Super Delegates) to the National Convention.
The DFL supports
36. A statewide proportional Presidential Primary in conjunction with the precinct caucuses. Polling places shall be open 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
37. The renewal of the levy referendum for the Minneapolis Public Schools in the fall of 2008 in order to ensure a quality education for all students.
38. The MN DFL party will support funding and extension of the NRP (Neighborhood Revitalization Program) in Minneapolis.Public Safety and Crime Prevention
39. The Democratic Party supports background checks before the purchase of any firearm, extending the requirement to any unlicensed seller, including sellers at gun shows.
40. The Democratic Party urges Minnesota legislators to oppose SF446 / HR498, which defines and allows the use of deadly force in self-defense situations, expanding the location of the use deadly force in self defense. 41. The Democratic Party urges the removal of the Tiahrt Amendment prohibiting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from disclosing data about crime guns and rogue gun dealers.Energy
42. We enact a plan that would allow for accelerated depreciation or tax credits for purchasing or leasing energy efficient vehicles.
43. We eliminate all subsidies and tax breaks for the production of ethanol.Transportation
44. One percent (1%) of the federal budget be set for transportation budget for bridges, roads, etc
45. Work to provide a new revenue source for public transit, bicycling and walking to enable the region to expand bus service and build a system of rail corridors with stations and stops connected by sidewalks and off-road trails
46. Work to achieve more sustainable growth patterns with an emphasis on more compact development and redevelopment, a mix of uses (shopping near housing), and development along public transit corridors.
47. Work to reduce an over-emphasis on roadway expansion in the Twin Cities, when maintenance of our current assets and more sustainable alternatives would use our transportation dollars ore efficiently
48. Supports a steady, predictable and adequate mix of funding (sales, gas, wheelage taxes) to ensure that transportation infrastructure needs are met and transit options in both the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area and in Greater Minnesota are developed.
49. The Minnesota Senate act to remove Carol Molnau from her position as Commissioner of Transportation
Civil, Human, and Constitutional Rights
50. That we end the requirement for an immigrant’s Visa expiration date to be included on the driver’s license. (Every time an immigrant has a Visa renewed there’s a cost to changing the driver’s license.)
51. Affirmative action programs continue State and nationally
52. The Minnesota DFL supports the right of same-gender couples to marry and share fully and equally in the rights of civil marriage.
53. The DFL support legislation aimed at strengthening Minnesota families by creating “civil unions” for its GLBT citizens to make the 500 statutory protections currently given to married couples available to them.
54. President Bush has done nothing to help single parents to get affordable homes for their families
55. We oppose efforts to amend the MN constitution to forbid the legal recognition of same-sex marriages
56. The DFL party supports legislation ensuring that convicted felons who have been rehabilitated will not be denied employment, licensure, or housing if the conviction is unrelated to the specifics of the job, license or housing location.
Retirement Security
57. Social Security should be managed with the current operating process in which it is handled today.
Tax and Budget Policy
58. We challenge the current administration’s $3.1 trillion budget which calls for $515 billion increases in military spending and cuts of $200 billion for the needy, totaling $556 billion in reduced Medicare in 10 years
59. The United States government SECURE funding for the safe redeployment of its troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for national defense, CUT all funding for the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and for unnecessary weapons systems, and CONVERT that funding to Iraqi reconstruction, $10 billion annual increase in funding for renewable energy and "green collar" jobs in the next five years, Medicare for everyone, access to education from early childhood through university, and voting access with 100% verified paper ballot.
Veteran’s Affairs
60. State wide smoking ban exempt non-family oriented establishments such as VFW’s, American Legions and private clubs.
61. Funding to ensure all veterans are provided necessary health, education, welfare, and housing.
62. That all veterans who served in combat zones receive an automatic disability. (30% for designated combat zone, 50% for direct combat, 70% for medics caring for wounded veterans, and 100% for any major injury or trauma).
63. Monthly compensation to veterans with disabilities increase 25% for ratings of 70% disability to match the cost of living increases equal to Social Security.
Natural Resources and the Environment
64. The DFL platform include doing something about global warming and climate change.
65. We enact a plan to give incentives to homeowners for energy, water and resource efficient home improvements.
66. The Minnesota DFL supports passage of a federal law which mandates that all coal-fired power plants in the United States remove a total of ninety (90) percent from their initial baseline level of mercury emissions with no time extension clauses and with strict and swift enforcement measures.
67. Minnesota and other great lakes states should aggressively protect their fresh water supplies in the event of a national water shortage.
68. The DFL party supports immediate action to stop global warming based on the principles of environmental justice, which mandate policies that compensate for negative impacts of climate change where they are disproportionately felt by communities of color, indigenous populations, and low income workers; and which further mandate policies that call for inclusion of these communities in facilitating the development of and just transition to a new "green" energy economy.
Education
69. We hold the Minnesota State College and University System (MNSCU) accountable for oversupplying the job market with electrical construction graduates while failing to meet the needs for occupations facing a shortage of skilled workers. They will direct MNSCU to:
- significantly reduce the number of graduates from its electrical construction programs until such time as the market is able to absorb those graduates,
- assess which industries are in need of skilled workers and
- invest its resources to meet those needs.
THE DFL Supports:
70. fully funding Head Start at levels that permit all eligible families that want to participate to do so.
71. lowering the cost of education for state colleges and universities.
72. the application of tax revenues dedicated to education to fund the “general and uniform system of public schools” mandated by the state constitution, as a public expenditure for the common welfare of all Minesotans.
73. Minnesota’s need to invest in its public schools and fund the per pupil formula to make up for past under funding as well as keep pace with future inflation.
74. that by the end of 2009, a comprehensive sex education program be funded and instituted in Minneapolis and wider Minnesota public schools.
75. the comprehensive, age appropriate, and medially accurate sexuality education programs that include information about abstinence and contraception.
76. all school districts binding together to buy insurance for all employees.
77. reduction in class sizes in Minnesota schools through state legislative funding, monitoring, and enforcing.
78. Minnesota public education system, including professional salaries & benefits for education employees, appropriate state funding for all education programs in early childhood, K-12, Special Ed. and higher education.
Business and Community Development
79. The DFL party support the expansion of public works projects, and jobs created.
Consumer Issues
80. We support the reversal of the new bankruptcy laws.
81. We support annual inspections including funding for enforcement and regulation for commercial cat and dog breeders. 82. We protect the rights to own, train, care for, and responsibly breed dogs, cats, and other companion animals.