Lewis County Democratic Central Committee Platform

• Widespread participation of the people in self-government is essential to a strong, enduring democracy.
• Education, jobs and economic opportunity for all.
• Accessible and affordable health care for all Americans.
• Tax dollars must be efficiently and effectively expended for the benefit of all citizens.
• We are all responsible for the ethical, economic, and environmental legacy we leave to our children.
• Civil liberties, including those provided in our state and national constitutions, must be continuously monitored and protected.
• Government shall not participate in the “taking” of private property under eminent domain except for the specific purposes and in accordance with the conditions contained in the state and federal constitutions.
• Government has a responsibility to provide for the basic needs of U.S. citizens who are otherwise unable to provide for themselves.
• World freedom depends on mutual cooperation with other nations to develop peaceful and respectful solutions to global problems.
• A healthy environment is vital to the health and welfare of our children, our economy, and future viability of our nation. We believe protection of the environment is a critical function of local, state and federal governments.

AGRICULTURE - Agriculture is recognized as an important industry in Washington.
We support:

• Caution regarding breaching, removing, compromising, or encroaching on waterways to ensure that decisions are based on sound, credible economic and scientific information.
• Federal dollars and policies for agriculture that prioritize family farms and the practices that sustain the productive value of the farmland.
• Effective programs that balance conservation and environmental actions, assure long-term economic viability of agriculture, availability of high quality food, and contribute to the economic security of the nation.
• Protecting agricultural lands and balancing that protection with the protection of private property rights.

BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY
We support:

• Corporations because they are vital to our economy and standard of living.
• Business friendly laws beneficial to the entire economy.
• County planning, investment and regulations that support locally created and owned businesses in Lewis County.
• Local government spending weighted to stay in Lewis County as another effort to grow our economy.
• Legislation to stop corporations from raiding pension funds and appropriating money promised to their retirees.

We oppose:

• The Supreme Court’s century old precedent that corporations are people, and further oppose corporation rights as persons under our constitution and their associated constitutional rights, including the First Amendment right to make political contributions in the corporate capacity;
• Tax breaks to corporations unless a plan exists to provide measurable economic improvement to relieve poverty and enhance opportunities such as employment and health care.

EDUCATION

We support:

1. A stable funding source for public education of all children as referenced in and provided for in Article IX of the state constitution which states that it is the state’s paramount duty to fund public education.
2. Schools safe from violence, bullying, harassment and retribution and providing training and support to develop conflict resolution skills.
3. The providing of a well-rounded education including but not limited to science, history, civics, the arts, English, geography, math, and programs that advance vocational and technology careers.
4. Access to post K-12 education for all who seek to expand their knowledge and opportunities using financial aid, work study programs and the additional incentive of tuition-free education for high achievers.

We believe:

• Public education is the cornerstone of democracy.
• Public education creates a level playing field for all students
• Public education shall be fully funded in order to provide a well rounded education for all students
• Washington State should rank in the top 15% of the nation in class size, per-student spending and teacher salaries

HEALTHCARE -- We believe access to affordable quality health care is essential for all U.S. citizens.
We support:

• Legislation such as HR 676, Medicare for all.
• Protection of a woman’s right to private consultation regarding reproductive decisions, access to legal drugs prescribed by a physician and the legal protection of free choice for her decisions,
• Preservation of existing VA hospitals and clinics, and increased funding for the long-term mental and physical care of veterans.
• Amending the Medicare prescription drug program to ensure that all prescriptions medications are covered under the plan at discount cost to subscribers.
• Federal programs to assist in funding HIV/AIDs prevention and treatment which shall include funding of the full spectrum of proven and effective prevention information and methods, including condoms and clean needles, for the full range of people affected by this epidemic.
• Effective testing and treatment for US citizens and US troops impacted by modified nuclear weapons and nuclear waste, and environmental clean-up or isolation at sites that have nuclear toxicity.
• The legalization of marijuana for medical purposes.
• Passage of the Death with Dignity Initiative I-1000.
• Keeping the Drug Court in Lewis County to effectively and compassionately break the cycle of drug abuse.
•  Developing and maintaining mental health courts in Lewis County to more effectively meet the needs of citizens with mental health issues and offering appropriate alternatives to incarceration.

HUMAN RIGHTS & CIVIL RIGHTS
We support:

• Equal protection for all including the right to form a civil union.
• Diligent monitoring of the Patriot Act to protect civil right protections.
• Re-establishing FEMA’s direct reporting status to the Executive branch, separating it from the Department of Homeland Security and adequately funding it to recruit and retain professional and qualified staff.
• Legislation for a Department of Peace to provide education on the power of conflict resolution and reconciliation.
• Withdrawal from Iraq as soon as possible.
• Defending the right of the people of Washington State to keep the initiative process.
• Requiring elected officials, local and state, to adhere to the directives in the state constitution regarding eminent domain (Article 16) including not using government power to transfer property from one private party to another.
• Priority legislation to ensure that no goods can enter US markets unless they comply with our wage standards, human rights standards and environmental standards.
• Making a formal request to the appropriate bodies to monitor the next US national election.
• Equal treatment and opportunity for all citizens without regard to ethnicity or gender.

We oppose:

1. Faith-based initiatives that use public tax money to promote or subsidize any religion.

MEDIA
We believe:

• Diversity of ownership is the centermost principle of broadcast licensing,
• The current commercial monopoly of our airwaves undermines our democracy, our free society and a well-informed electorate.
• Contributions and donations from the people are the preferred method of funding public broadcasting to ensure program accountability to its viewers.
• There should be no political interference with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

We support:

• Increased funding for public broadcasting including documentary films,
• Non-commercial news programs.
• Objective, comprehensive newspaper, radio and television coverage of local, state and federal issues.
• The enforcement of laws preventing artificial video news releases paid for and produced by governments or corporations from being used without clear identification of the sponsors involved,

TRANSPORTATION
We support:

1. In view of the nation’s dependency on oil, increased support given to public transportation, including high-speed rail between Eugene Oregon and Vancouver BC.
2. Encouraging the development and use of alternative energy.

2008 Resolutions: 

Restoring the commitment to public education  

Whereas Washington’s public schools are under funded, yet our academic standards are among the highest in the nation. Article IX of the Washington constitution makes public education the state’s paramount duty.   It is time to lead and insure that our public schools receive the funding they need to educate all children.
Whereas, Washington’s public schools are 47th in class size out of the 50 states and Washington DC

Whereas, Washington’s public schools are 43rd in education spending per student, adjusted for regional cost differences; and
Whereas, Washington’s public schools have $2 billion less to spend because funding hasn’t kept pace. Twenty five years ago, Washington spent 50.4 percent of the state operating budget on K-12 schools now we spend just 40.8; and

Whereas, Washington’s public schools are dead last in teacher pay among the five West Coast states; and
Whereas, Washington’s public schools regardless of location or population, must have the resources to allow every child the opportunity to succeed;

THEREFORE we call on our elected officials to restore Washington’s commitment to quality public education by increasing funding for public schools so that all children receive the well-rounded education they need to compete for good jobs in the global, high tech economy.

English Language

Whereas, English is the official language of the United States;

THEREFORE there must be educational provisions made to assist new immigrants coming to the United States to give them the opportunity to learn English.

Publicly Financed Washington Elections (Clean Money Campaigns)

Whereas, the cost of elections to public office have been escalating astronomically in Washington and the nations, including record-breaking spending on the last Washington Governors race; and

Whereas, other Washington Candidates seeking election are also forced to raise and spend record amounts of money; and
Whereas, large contributions from corporate interests and the wealthy often create a conflict of interest for legislators who need to return favors rather than cast votes in a manner that best serves the people of their districts; and

Whereas, this constant need for more and more money for the campaigns and the ability of one or a few individuals to threaten Congressional colleagues, by withholding millions and/or spending millions to defeat them, undermines our system of government; and

Whereas, elected officials must now spend a great portion of their time making phone calls and visits soliciting contributions in order to finance their past and future campaigns; and
Whereas, this resolution could double the efficiency of our governing bodies; and

Whereas, the important issues needing change and reform to better serve the people of the state and the nation ranging from improved care of military personnel, veterans benefits, the outsourcing of jobs and education are ignored or unsatisfactory solutions are crafted because of the aforementioned conflict of interest; and,
Whereas many highly qualified and motivated people who could serve in office cannot compete with the incumbents or the rich; and

Whereas, the public is becoming increasingly disenchanted with the candidates competing for offices; and
Whereas, publicly financed elections of Clean Money campaigns are currently in place and working well in Arizona, Connecticut and Maine, and

Whereas, the money it costs to pay for Clean Money Campaigns would be more than offset by stopping the hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money wasted annually on benefits to special interests; and

Whereas, the Clean Money system would make elected officials accountable to the people, not special interests;

THEREFORE be it resolved that the Lewis County Democratic Central Committee favors publicly financed elections, will press for their implementation, and will work with legislators and others to achieve this objective.

Funding and Assessment in Education

Whereas, funding for education in Washington State has decreased; and,

Whereas, class size in Washington State ranks 47th in the country; and,
Whereas, Washington State students need to compete in a global economy;

Therefore

• School levies should continue to require a simple majority for passage.
• The Washington Assessment for Student Learning (WASL) should not be the sole determining factor for high school graduation.
• Learning opportunities shall be provided for all children (pre-school – 12) including special needs students, delayed or advanced

Restoration of Infrastructure

WHEREAS, funding for the U. S. Forest Service in East Lewis County has been substantially decreased in the past decade, and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest suffered severe damage to roads, bridges, and culverts in the 2006 storms, and

WHEREAS, deterioration of main thoroughfares such as Forest Roads 52, 23, and 25 will adversely affect the economy and quality of life in East Lewis County,

THEREFORE, be it resolved that we support fully funding pertinent government agencies including the U.S.D.A., the U.S.F.S., and the Gifford Pinchot National forest to the end of restoring and maintaining needed infrastructure.

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