Party Platform

I. Statement of Principles

We stand as the party of all the people.

We the People of the Democratic Party affirm the following as the principles and foundations of our political platform.

Individuals, businesses, and a smart, efficient, fair government must work cooperatively to provide for individual prosperity, strong communities, and the common good.

We stand in a world faced with environmental, economic, and political challenges. We affirm that our physical environment sustains and enriches our people and that the protection and preservation of the earth’s environment is the overwhelming political, scientific and technological challenge of our time. We promise to work for a peaceful, clean, and safe world for future generations.

We believe that the United States Constitution guarantees all people the right to be treated fairly and equally under the laws of this nation. We support a government that actively promotes, protects, and enforces civil rights laws, and we condemn all forms of discrimination based on age, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, immigrant status, gender, and disabilities.

We affirm that our country’s wealth lies in its people. We have stood with the working men and women of this country when they were exploited, and we stand with them now as they seek to organize for fair wages, health and retirement benefits, and a safe workplace.

We have stood by all families in their pursuit of well-being, and we stand with them now in their desire to become healthy, educated, and contributing citizens. We support the freedom to choose family planning as a means to these ends.

We have stood with children to ensure that they are not abused either by employers or people who seek them harm. And we stand with them now, as they represent the future.

We have stood with educators to make education a top priority, and we stand with them now in their quest for a quality public education system, second to none.

We have stood by the elderly when they were forgotten, and we stand with them now in their need for dignity, income, and health-care security.

We have stood by farmers and small businesses when they faced hard times, and we stand with them now in their striving for prosperity and economic security.

We have stood by all the people of the earth in working for a clean environment. We must take a stronger stand with them now in trying to achieve a quality, sustainable existence in balance with nature.

We have stood with people all over the world who are demanding freedom, justice, and opportunity. We must take a stronger stand with them now, applauding their peaceful progress and extending a helping hand to support new, fragile democracies.

We will always work for social justice and political equality among ourselves and among the peoples and countries in the larger world.

To build a strong future for this platform, we accept a measure of genuine debate and dissent within the Democratic Party.

II. Statement of Issues

Government and Law

Fair Elections

We support:

• Direct Presidential Elections.
• Instant-run-off voting for candidates in all elections.
• Using only paper ballots, tallied by optical scan machines.
• Random audits of voting results.
• The use of open-source voting software.
• Allocation of sufficient state funds for counties to replace all direct-recording electronic voting machines with optical scanners and ballot marking devices for voters with disabilities, by the 2008 election.
• Passage of the Voter Owned Iowa Clean Election (VOICE) legislation.
• Passage of the US Congress' Fair Elections Now Act.
• Enforcement of the Voting Rights Act.
• Federal legislation allocating funds to reimburse states for purchase of optical scanners and ballot marking devices.
• Eliminating the monetary influence of lobbyists employed by industry PACs.

Access to Government

• The reestablishment and funding of the President's Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Relations
• Transparent government that is accessible and accountable to ordinary citizens.
• Expedient access to open government records at cost.
• Appropriate representation in Congress for the residents of the District of Columbia.

Social Security

• Social Security remaining a universal, non-privatized, mandatory, contributory, social insurance system.
• We oppose the use of Social Security funds to balance general budgetary items.

Taxation

• Rescinding tax cuts for individuals making more than $200,000.
• Reestablishing the Estate Tax with appropriate exemption limits.

Church and State

• Dismantling the Office of Faith-based & Community Services and reallocating all associated public funds and responsibilities to the appropriate governmental department.
• Ensuring that public funds for the provision of government services be allocated only to nonsectarian entities. Faith organizations must be required to establish a separate, non-sectarian organization to provide government services.
• That the reference to God be removed from our Republic's Pledge of Allegiance.

Corporations

• Requiring US companies to ensure fair wages and working conditions at home and abroad.
• Reforms that discourage US corporations from moving operations abroad expressly to avoid paying US taxes.
• The active enforcement of anti-trust laws.
• Distinguishing the rights of corporations from the rights of individuals.
• Wresting our Republic from the clutches of corporations.

Gun Control

• Requiring background checks in all places where guns are sold.
• Requiring liability insurance and gun licenses for all gun owners.

Civil Liberties

• Amend the PATRIOT Act to ensure civil rights protection.
• The immediate restoration of Habeas Corpus.
• Repealing Federal legislation preventing non-violent rehabilitated drug offenders from returning to full participation in society
• Equitable sentencing of drug users.
• Establishing a Human Rights Commission to evaluate complaints by inmates and those released from prison against the Federal and State Probation: Sexual Crimes Divisions of the Dept. of Corrections.
• That organized bicycling events be allowed access to all non-interstate Iowa roadways.

Civil Rights of GLBT

• amending civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, beginning with the adoption of The Employment Non-discrimination Act and the addition of sexual orientation, trans-gender, and disability to all anti-hate crime, anti-bullying, and anti-discrimination laws/legislation.
• Adopting the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (The Matthew Shepard Act), making Federal resources available to State Law Enforcement.
• Full and equal integration of GLBT people into the military, ending the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.
• Amending the Uniting American Families Act to specifically allow same-sex, bi-national couples sponsorship rights in U.S. immigration policy.
• Marriage equality for same-sex couples.

Immigration Reform

• Comprehensive immigration reform legislation that:
• Expands legal channels to enter the U.S.
• Creates an efficient, fair and timely process for undocumented persons already in U.S. to obtain legal status
• Creates pathways for the resident children of undocumented persons to gain legal status
• Eliminates the backlog in processing immigration applications.
• Upholds the human rights and dignity of all people and preserves families regardless of immigration status.

We also support:

• Term limits of 18 years for U.S. Supreme Court Justices.

• Resolution of all military conflicts in which the US is involved.

• Encouraging our nation to engage in fair trade practices that not only benefit our country, but that do not harm the people of other nations.

• Improving control of pollution and ensuring that food is safe through Federal regulation and oversight.

We oppose

• Voter caging; and other discriminating acts intended to disenfranchise qualified voters.
• Picture IDs other fee-connected voter identification requirements
• The erosion of our 4th Amendment protections in the conduct of government surveillance.
• Any form of national identification card.
• All informational stonewalling procedures used by the executive branch of the US to thwart Congress.
• The erosion of separation between church and state.
• Any form of the death penalty.
• Privatization of public utilities.
• A US-Mexico Border Wall.
• Any form of torture.
• The sale of assault weapons and conversion kits.
• Legislation that denies cyclists the right to sue government entities.

International Affairs

International Relations

• We support the right of all people to self-determination.

The Role of the United States in International Affairs

We believe the U.S. should:

• Devote resources to eliminate global poverty, hunger and disease to make the world more stable and secure.
• Engage in diplomacy with all nations, including those it has previously sought to isolate, as the primary means of resolving international disputes
• Actively promote and support human rights throughout the world
• Cooperate with other nations in addressing the threats and challenges of terrorism

Support for the United Nations

We support:

• Active participation in the U.N. and its agencies in reconciling international issues and dealing with mutual concerns facing the global community.
• Full payment of dues to the U.N.
• U.S. cooperation with the U.N. on the issues of nuclear non-proliferation and global climate change.

Iraq

We believe the US should:

• Withdraw U.S. troops as quickly and safely as possible from Iraq
• Support reconstruction efforts in Iraq
• Seek peaceful solutions to sectarian and ethnic conflicts in the region
• Expedite the process for Iraqi asylum seekers
• Invite cooperation with the world community towards these ends.

Afghanistan

• We call for a renewed commitment to combating terrorism in Afghanistan.

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

We believe the US should pro-actively support:

• Ongoing negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders as the primary means of resolving conflict.
• Universal recognition of the state of Israel
• Establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state

Darfur

• We believe the US should cooperate with the international community in ending the genocide in Darfur.

Trade Agreements

• The U.S. should engage in fair trade practices that encourage mutual benefits and do not harm people and environments.

Health and Human Resources

We support:

Health Care Plans

• A cost-efficient and medically-effective national health care plan, to include:
• coverage for all U.S. residents
• guaranteed equal access to affordable, quality healthcare
• mental, physical, optical and dental health services, supplies, and medication
• preventative care
• a choice of doctors and plans
• no gaps in access or coverage
• financing fairly shared by employers, individuals and government
• Efforts of the Legislative Commission on Affordable Health Care Plans for Small Businesses and Families to provide universal health care in Iowa.

Public Health

• Iowa legislation allowing for local control over smoking in all public places.
• Accelerating improvements in the quality and availability of health information technology
• One half of sin taxes should be spent on treatment, education, and research regarding health hazards caused by the related activity.
• We support Chronic Disease Management

Public policy:

• redirecting health care system's focus towards disease prevention, health condition management and targeted positive incentives which encourage individual health care management.
• promoting healthy lifestyles and disease prevention and management on a community-wide basis.
• increasing financial investment in medical research, allowing innovative treatment and management of chronic diseases.
• recognizing brain disorders as medical illnesses and promoting appropriate medical treatments.
• mandating coverage of long-term care expenses such as doctor visits, prescription medications, home health aid services and housing for all individuals.

Mental Health

• Full and equal coverage for mental and physical health by insurance companies.
• Inclusion of all FDA-approved mental health medications in insurance company formularies.
• Incentives to ensure adequate availability of mental health care professionals in Iowa.
• Treatment programs as alternatives to prison for individuals committing non-violent crimes due to mental illness or addiction.
• Alternative incarceration options for individuals committing violent crimes due to mental illness or addiction.

Child Protection and Health Care

• Increased funding for child protective services
• Increasing funding to the foster care system and allowing individuals 18-21 to remain in the system.
• Ensuring access to quality public pre-kindergarten and after school programs for all youth.
• Providing health insurance to all of Iowa's children including mental, physical care, and preventative care
• Wellness education which encourages healthy lifestyles and helps prevent childhood obesity.
• Replacing the ineffective 2,000-foot residency restriction for sex offenders with effective measures to protect children.

Reproductive Rights

• Roe v. Wade
• State funding of family planning services, including contraceptives, for low-income individuals.
• Reinstating federal funding to organizations for voluntary international family planning.
• State and federal funding for comprehensive, medically accurate, and age appropriate sex education services allowing safe and full access to family planning information and counseling.
• Increasing the availability of over-the-counter emergency contraception for all Iowa women.
• Lifting abortion service restrictions for women in the military and on federal Medicaid funding.
• We believe in requiring
  • the inclusion of all FDA approved contraceptive options in insurance company formularies.
  • All hospitals to offer emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault.

Regarding end of life issues, we support:

• An individual's right to self-determination/autonomy
• An individual's right to choose or refuse any treatment, including a right to select from available alternative treatments and refuse any medical treatment for the purpose of sustaining life.
• An amendment to the "Patient Bill of Rights" similar to Oregon's 1997 "Death with Dignity" statute.
• Living wills, allowing individuals to choose a "responsible party" to speak for them and to choose/refuse medical treatment when they are incapacitated.

Affordable Housing

• Increasing quantities of affordable housing stock in urban, suburban and rural areas via State and Federal incentives.
• State and Federal legislation assisting individual households in obtaining affordable housing at 30% or less of their income

Veterans Benefits

• Veteran’s Health coverage to include access to local hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.
• Recognition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders as covered medical conditions.

Government Regulatory Bodies

Independent federal agencies such as the IRS, FDA, FCC, EPA, OSHA and the SEC must be fully funded and staffed to protect the common good.

Economy Commerce and Labor

We support:

• Living Wage
• Increasing minimum wage to a living wage for all workers.
• Annually adjusting the minimum wage for a COLA.

Trade Agreements

• minimizing the US trade deficit
• transparency in trade negotiations
• development of internationally accepted standards to protect nations against exploitation.
• improved protection of human rights, labor rights and the environment in all trade agreements
• the development of ecologically sustainable farming practices within the borders of all nations to prevent the degradation of farm lands.
• We oppose: trade agreements that knowingly create hardship for peasant farmers and damage their agrarian communities.

Economic Development

We support:

• increased state support to encourage the formation of owner-operated businesses
• sufficient funding of the Small Business Administration

We oppose the use of eminent domain for private economic development.

• Care should be taken that the American economic base remain diverse with strong representation in all sectors.

Strong Unions

• A political climate which revitalizes the union movement.
• The Employee Free-Choice Act
• Enforcement of Pro-Labor Laws
• the right to unionize without penalty
• repealing the Right-to-Work law.

Fiscal Responsibility

• fiscal responsibility in government to reduce the national debt burden on our children.
• minimum 15% reduction in Pentagon spending by primarily cutting cold-war-era weapons systems.
• restructuring of state and federal tax codes toward a more progressive system
• Corporations paying their fair share.
• strong regulation of the securities and banking industries for the protection of the individual and the stability of our economy

Physical Infrastructure

We propose a fully funded, comprehensive multiyear program to modernize:

• public schools
• freight and passenger rail system
• roads
• airports
• bridges
• water supply systems
• wastewater drainage
• runoff system capabilities of our public works and parks

Predatory Lending

• capping annual interest rates on small consumer loans and credit cards at an all-inclusive 20 percent.
• providing alternative micro-loans by the State (last)
• additional enforcement and consumer education activities to curb such abusive practices.

Workers Rights and Safety

• equivalent pay on a percentage basis for all part-time public employees.
• funding of training and development programs to enhance employment opportunities, professional growth and continuous learning.
• allowing employees and unions greater participation in OSHA.
• adequate funding and staffing of OSHA, MSHA, and NIOSH.

Retirement

• funding for the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS) to ensure its solvency in a manner that keeps it competitive with private employers’ plans.
• Social Security remaining a financial safety net for our elderly and disabled.

Whistle-blower

• whistle-blower protection.

Education

Pre-Kindergarten to 12th

We support:

• The licensing and registration of all early care and education settings in Iowa.
• Daily mandatory physical education in all grades.
• Health and wellness education in all grades.
• Certification of all teachers in the subjects they teach.
• Increasing State and Federal funding to improve children's access to quality pre-kindergarten and after school programs.
• Funding and access to child care during scheduled school time-off and before and after school.
• Full funding of special education.
• Professional salaries for educators and increasing the wages of support professionals in our public schools.
• The long term sustainability of IPERS with an appropriate COLA for all retirees and creating an independent board of trustees.
• A greater emphasis in the sciences and mathematics in US education.
• Empirical science education instead of intelligent design-based science;
• Inclusion of the arts as K-12 curricula requirements to foster critical thinking and creativity
• We oppose use of public money for vouchers, tuition tax credits, or private schools.

No Child Left Behind

We support:

• Amending the No Child Left Behind act to allow the use of multiple sources of evidence, in addition to standardized tests, to assess student learning and school effectiveness;
• Restoring a class size reduction program to give students more individualized attention
• Increasing the number of highly qualified teachers in our nation's public schools
• Fully funding its obligations to America's public school students.
• We oppose funding contingent upon performance

Higher education:

We support:

• Fully state-funded tuition for Iowa residents.
• Affordable, well-funded public schools, which reduce student costs so that all interested can attend.
• Collaboration between community colleges and universities so that credits transfer smoothly.
• Eliminating disqualification for student financial aid due to charges, arrests, convictions, and/or incarceration related to drugs.

Agriculture and the Environment

Agriculture

Be it resolved the Iowa Legislature:

• adopts land use zoning designed to require development and redevelopment inside cities and towns whenever reasonable sites are available.
• eliminate taxpayer subsidies of new development on tillable farmland and natural areas
• create phased tax subsidies to organic farmers.

We support:

• Enacting a national meat packer ban to stop the industry's vertical integration
• Limiting farm subsidies to $250,000 per farming entity.
• Reforming and expanding FDA food inspections of domestic and foreign origin foods
• Requiring and enforcing Country of Origin labeling on all foods.
• High-speed internet service to rural areas.
• Net billing

CAFOs

• An immediate moratorium of new or expansion to existing CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations) until local zoning permit regulations are implemented.
• Legislation giving sole power to local zoning authorities through a permit process to site new CAFOs and/or to expand existing CAFOs; establishing enforceable odor regulations.
• Requiring the State of Iowa to enforce the Clean Air and Water Act to clean up and prevent point/non-point CAFOs and Industrial pollution.

Global Climate Change

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2020.
• Increasing Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency Standards (CAFE Standards) to 50mpg by 2020
• Development and production of alternatively powered vehicles
• Energy conservation in the operations of all levels of government including new construction and transportation.
• Expanding public transportation and facilitating the use of bicycles
• The use of renewable energy sources including wind, solar power and biomass to generate 35% of the nation's electricity by 2025.
• Requiring energy generators and suppliers to generate and purchase a greater percentage of their supply from renewable energy sources
• Establishing a primary schedule that reduces candidate travel in order to reduce our party's greenhouse gas emissions.