Resolutions passed at Senatorial Conventions - list 'em here!

I've been told . . . (0.00 / 0)

That the
Safe Schools and
Non-Discrimination

resolutions passed in SD 8, as well.

The Non-Discrimination Resolution also passed in Hays County.

I'm sure there's more. Thanks for telling us about SD 16.

I'd very much like to know about those two resolutions becaue we're pushing them across the state.

Any contact information for State Convention delegates who support these resolutions would also be greatly appreciated.

I'm Randall-AT-EqualityTexas-dot-org.

Thanks, folks.

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by: DyspepTex @ Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 16:31:52 PM UTC

Mason County adopted my resolution (0.00 / 0)

For the TDP to endorse the rotating regional primary plan for 2012 developed by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS)

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by: Steve Wilson @ Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 17:00:07 PM UTC

SD15 (0.00 / 0)

Who knows?  We passed our resolutions in toto, without anyone reading them.  It ostensibly was to hurry along the convention, but no one could hear anybody rising to debate the motion.  

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by: Michael Redding @ Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 17:45:26 PM UTC

SD15 (0.00 / 0)

My son, Benjamin Craft-Rendon, tried to make the point of order that the motion to accept the not yet completed committee report without knowing even the titles that were being considered in the report was an illegal motion, to no avail.

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by: JudyKayCraft @ Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 20:10:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

He wasn't the only one. (0.00 / 0)

I was too.  I don't think it was a plot (just because I know Ken Yarborough well enough), but rather a well-intentioned (but stupid) attempt to move things along.

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by: Michael Redding @ Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 20:19:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wood County... (5.00 / 1)

passed the following:

1.) Resolution against Voter ID.
2.) Resolution supporting the Employee Free Choice Act.
3.) Resolution Against the Trans-Texas Corridor.
4.) Resolution in support of community college students (the one about the drop rule)
5.) Resolution for the DNC to seat the delegates from Florida and Michigan (this one came from the floor @ the convention and was a bit more complicated than this, and controversial).
6.) Resolution in support of voter-verified paper trails.
7.) Resolution supporting public employee fairness act regarding public employees (i.e. teachers) and Social Security.  

Vince Leibowitz

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by: Vince Leibowitz @ Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 19:04:38 PM UTC

Fairness Doctrine (0.00 / 0)

Any resolutions or discussion regarding the Fairness Doctrine? I know it was introduced in the House last year and defeated ~ I've always liked this quote from Texas Democrat and Congressman Luther Johnson way back in 1927.

American thought and American politics will be largely at the mercy of those who operate these stations, for publicity is the most powerful weapon that can be wielded in a republic. And when such a weapon is placed in the hands of one person, or a single selfish group is permitted to either tacitly or otherwise acquire ownership or dominate these broadcasting stations throughout the country, then woe be to those who dare to differ with them. It will be impossible to compete with them in reaching the ears of the American people.

- Rep. Luther Johnson (D.-Texas), in the debate that preceded the Radio Act of 1927.

 

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by: Elsbeth @ Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 19:54:09 PM UTC

Fairness Doctrine (5.00 / 1)

I managed to get this in the National Convention Platform beginning in 2000.  I'm interested in including it again this year.

We passed it in the 16th Senate District. Here is the text:

- - -

FCC FAIRNESS DOCTRINE

We call for a full reinstatement of the fairness doctrine by the Federal Communications Commission.  Broadcast stations that enjoy exclusive rights to frequencies must also have the responsibility to air competing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance.

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by: Tom Blackwell @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 15:24:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Excellent! (0.00 / 0)

Thank you, Tom. I hope it makes it to the national platform this year. And into law soon after.

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by: Elsbeth @ Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 03:25:32 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

SD 6 resolutions (0.00 / 0)

SD 6 received preliminary reports of resolutions recommended by the resolutions committee while waiting for the temporary roll to be established by the credentials meeting.  We had some interesting debates, both in the discussion group when we couldn't vote on anything because we didn't have a roll, and then again during the actual report while waiting for the permanent roll.  

We did the resolutions serially -- we pulled those that we knew who have discussion since they had in the preview,
read the titles of the others, read the resolves if requested, and wound up passing all the resolutions recommended by the resolutions committee.  There was a problem where two resolutions that failed in the committee made it to the floor, one of them I think had a minority report from the committee and was passed by the floor. That one called for 5 copies of the rules for a precinct convention to be available, and for the name of the permanent chair, permanent secretary, and delegation chair be posted prominently as soon as those offices were elected.
( Why yes, this was the result of a credentials challenge that failed because the challengers didn't know the names of the above people)

 The other one,  which wanted to abolish the caucuses was suggested as a substitute for the "provide the rules" resolution and had failed as a substitute before someone from the resolutions committee pointed out that both had failed in the resolutions committee, and wondered how it got to the floor at all.  All resolutions at SD or county conventions must go to the resolutions committee and get at least a 20% minority report in favor of presenting it to the floor to be considered.

We had two GLBT non-discrimination resolutions --they both passed.   One dealt with employment issues which had little discussion.   One had the word marriage in it, and was amended from the floor to include ending the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military.

Both passed, but we did get people out of the committees to come down and vote, and we had hand counts with our voting cards.

We had some very interesting discussions on the GBLT resolutions  And I'm only being semi-sarcastic.  Some of it was of the Mr Spock "fascinating" class of interesting though.  I'm accustomed to   hearing quotes from Leviticus and Romans, condemnation of childless marriages as not being "real" families, fears about attacks on marriage, and ignorance about HIV in heterosexuals  because I have a brother who is a promise keeper and parents who think Ronald Reagan was not only a great president but also a great actor.  But I was chagrined to see that in the 12 years since I last attended a Senate District convention, the tension between the GLBT caucus and some of the deeply religious African Americans is still present.  More than one person said that homosexuality was a choice.  Sigh.

That debate contributed to my crankiness, but it was a long day.  I left the SD 6 Convention at 1:25 am, after the at large delegates were selected/appointed/elected, but before the alternates were selected, because I was exhausted and the Convention Ctr staff said they would be turning off the escalators and the lights at 1:30 am.

The SD 6 steering committee worked hard, but there weren't enough volunteers, because in 2006 less than 400 people attended the convention.  This year there were 1242 delegates who signed in.  Delegation chairs had to wait in line to get the credentials packets, but delegates and alternates got to go to their areas and sit in chairs in air conditioning.  We did get voting cards and distinguished delegates from alternates.  Aside from the incident with closing the nominations for permanent secretary before people could get to a mike, the steering committee did a good job considering the circumstances.    As someone who does process engineering as part of my primary job, I saw a lot of ways to improve the process.  I'd love pda's with scanners that could read the voter registration card bar codes -- they would speed sign in greatly.  And a team of supervisors who checked sign in sheets for problems as they were turned in before passing them to data entry volunteers would help the credentials committee easily produce the slice and dice reports that the nominating committee needed from them, and let them concentrate on dealing with challenges rather than reporting demographics.

Obviously, I need more rest.  I'm still lagging.

But I am an at large delegate to state.  

From the White House to the Court House,
Let's turn Texas Blue!

 

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by: JudyKayCraft @ Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 20:59:30 PM UTC

Just a few of the Bastrop County Resolutions (0.00 / 0)

You can read all of them here:
http://www.bastropcountydemocr...

But I'll just highlight a few...

* Impeachment of George W. Bush & Richard Bruce Cheney
* A Federal investigation of the Texas Trans Corridor
* Resolution to support and End to the Iraq war
* Resolution Opposing Accreditation of the Institute of Creation Research
* Resolution against Abuse of Imminent Domain for Toll Roads
* Resolution in Support of Teaching on Pure Science in Public School Science Classes

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by: TXDem08 @ Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 21:00:48 PM UTC

SD4 / Montgomery County (0.00 / 0)

Here are some that I know were passed (I was on the Resolutions Committee, can't get to my resolutions package right now):

* Establish a Cabinet-level Department of Peace
* Abolish the Death Penalty
* Repeal the Patriot Act

As I recall we had 20+ resolutions passed. I'll try to get a more complete list over the next few days ...

C

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by: cyberchucktx @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 05:27:21 AM UTC

SD 14 (0.00 / 0)

These are the ones I can remember from being there. There were quite a few (several dozen), and most passed with no discussion, so I probably missed most of them:

- Oppose coal power plants and support renewable energy.  Original language included opposing nuclear power but we voted in a close vote to edit it out.
- Oppose trans-Texas corridor and toll roads
- Begin withdrawing troops from Iraq immediately or within 180 days of President's term.
- Support Universal Health Care
- Oppose torture
- Support gay marriage
- Support anti-discrimination laws for gays
- Impeach President Bush (this resolution is a waste of time, IMO)
- Oppose cluster bombs
- End the war on drugs and allow medicinal marijuana
- Oppose voter ID laws
- Abolish the death penalty
- Increase pay for government workers

"I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually."- James A. Baldwin

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by: Timothy @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 06:45:59 AM UTC

SD 2 (0.00 / 0)

Resolution opposing Real ID

Resolution against the National Animal Id System (NAIS)

Resolution for a non-binding vote on TTC

These resolutions received almost unanimous support; it was a good end to the convention. Regardless of our feelings for Clinton versus Obama, the resolutions changed the dialog to our opposition of Perry/Bush/Cheney policies.

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by: horsepatsy @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 13:29:22 PM UTC

some more in the 16th (0.00 / 0)

* Improved Medical and Mental Health Care in the County Jails (called for determination as to whether each inmate had mental health contacts at intake, expanded budget for Texas Commission on Jail Standards, black grants to improve these services)
* Allowing Michigan and Florida's "voices to be heard" (appeared that the house opposed this resolution, but supporters prevailed on procedural grounds in compelling an up or down vote on all 41 resolutions)
* Public Financing of Texas Elections
* Accelerated Social Security Payments for Terminally Ill Beneficiaries
* Abandoning Prima-Caucus
* Lifting Restrictions on the Importation of Monkeys to Keep Treaty Oak Company

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by: Joel @ Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 00:13:51 AM UTC

Could you please (0.00 / 0)

explain that last one? Thanks.

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by: Elsbeth @ Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 03:29:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

humor (2.00 / 1)

not a real resolution

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by: Joel @ Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 14:11:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

SD7 (0.00 / 0)

I'm a precinct chair and was so busy after the polls closed that I had no time to introduce my resolution.  At SD7 convention, the resolution committee concluded its work early and there was no resolutions entertained from the floor of the convention, up to when I left.  I had a resolution to abolish torture and would like to post it here for consideration by others:  

Whereas Liberty has survived just more than a scant 200 years in the United States of America, and throughout history, is usually but a short and transient grace and is never guaranteed

Whereas the current administration's acceptance of, what can be described as full fledged torture: approving water-boarding, sleep deprivation and stress positions and alike as is recounted by many human rights organizations.

Whereas this represents the end of the America experiment of a political society based on inalienable human freedom protected by the rule of law

And whereas when a government announces its support for torture, they aren't talking about intelligence gathering: they are simply saying "Fear us"

Whereas the people in this land are supposed to be the shareholders in our government; when a process of oppression is endorsed by our legislators and president, we should recognize that they are trying to set themselves apart from the ordinary citizenry

Let us resolve the following:

To renounce and abolish all torture to secure our Liberty from its greatest taking

That torture be abolished as a state tool and that we be again a nation of Liberty and Freedom

And in conclusion be it resolved that we remember the Nuremberg process, which investigated past war crimes, and that this party's convention call upon the Congress to conduct a full investigation into the use of torture by our government and bring to account those responsible

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by: Jarrett Smith @ Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 02:35:24 AM UTC

Resolutions Adopted by the Delegates at the Bastrop County Convention, March 29: (0.00 / 0)

"Resolution Opposing Trans-Texas Corridor and Resolution of Support for the Bastrop County Commissioners Court"

"Combined Resolution Opposing Toll Roads and the Trans-Texas Corridor, Opposing Market-Based Tolls, Opposing the Tolling of Existing Texas Public Roadways and Supporting Traditional Public Funding of Public Highways Accessible to All Texas Citizens"

"Resolution in Support of an Austin Community College Campus in Bastrop County"

"Resolution in Support of Open and Honest Elections and Public Ownership of Elections"

"Resolution on Tibet"

"Resolution to Reform Social Security Benefits: Based on a Mean Range and Available to a Surviving Spouse"

"Resolution Calling for Statewide Initiative and Referendum (I&R) Rights for Texans in 2009"

"Resolution to Impeach President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard B. Cheney"

"Resolution to Support an End to the Iraq War"

"Resolution to Repeal the 32nd Amendment to the Texas Constitution and the Defense of Marriage Act"

"Resolution for Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer Protection and in Support of the Lost Pines Ground Water Conservation District and Bastrop County Government"

"Resolution to Omit Personal Information from Precinct Convention/Presidential Caucus Sign-In Sheet"

"Resolution in Support of Public School Students Serving as Poll Workers"

"Resolution to End the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS Test)"

"Resolution Opposing Accreditation of the Institute for Creation Research"

"Resolution to Repeal the Bible Study Course in Public High Schools"

"Resolution in Opposition to Private School Vouchers and Funding for Charter Schools"

"Resolution in Support of the Repeal of the Religious Viewpoints Anti-Discrimination Act"

"Resolution to Repeal HB 1034, the Texas Pledge of Allegiance"

"Resolution to Phase Out State Funding for Religious Organizations"

"Resolution Against Eminent Domain Abuse for Toll Roads"

"Resolution Calling for a Vote on the Trans-Texas Corridor"

"Resolution in Support of a National Electoral Vote"

"Resolution in Opposition to Texas Governor Rick Perry's Unilateral Tax Cuts and Resolution to Re-Direct Surplus Funds"

"Resolution on Career Technology Education"

"Resolution in Support of Rigorous Science Curricula in Public Schools"

"Resolution Calling for a Federal Investigation Into the Trans-Texas Corridor"

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by: coffeeffoc @ Thu Apr 03, 2008 at 14:23:57 PM UTC