Resolutions and your precinct convention

Resolution in Support of Single-Payer Health Care (0.00 / 0)

The following resolution, initiated by the San Antonio Healthcare Now Coalition, was approved in a similar version (intended for placement on the Texas primary ballot, an effort that was defeated by a committee within the SDEC) by the Northwest Democrats (of Bexar County), in addition to being approved unanimously by the County Executive Committee of the Bexar County Democratic Party and the Northeast Bexar County Democrats

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE

WHEREAS health care costs have grown enormously in the past five years to more than two trillion dollars annually;

WHEREAS expenditures per capita on health care in the U.S. are more than twice that of most other countries, and yet the World Health Organization ranks the U.S. health care system as only the 37th best in the world, considering such factors as quality, affordability, access, and outcomes;

WHEREAS 47 million Americans have no health insurance at all, approximately 50 million are under-insured, and Texas ranks first in the nation with the percentage of uninsured persons, including the highest rate of uninsured children;

WHEREAS administrative expenses amount to 31% of the total cost of health care in the current, for-profit insurance-based system, as opposed to only 3% of the total cost of health care administered by Medicare;

WHEREAS expansion of the Medicare system to cover all Americans would save more than $100 billion annually while at the same time protecting Americans from the catastrophic financial consequences that millions of Americans face every day as a result of the current system;

WHEREAS universal, single-payer health care based on an expansion of the current Medicare system is provided for in The United States National Health Insurance Act (H.R. 676), which was introduced in Congress in 2003;

WHEREAS presidential candidates have drafted plans that claim to provide "universal health care" while retaining the for-profit nature of the health insurance industry, thereby failing to address the larger problems with the current system, instead merely mandating that everyone buy health insurance; and

WHEREAS the mere provision of universal health insurance does not guarantee that all Americans will be provided the health care that they need, but leaves them subject to the whims of insurance companies who profit from denial of needed treatment,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that we, the delegates assembled in Convention, representing the highest level of authority within the Texas Democratic Party, call upon our Democratic Congressional delegation to advocate and support legislation to establish a universal, single-payer health insurance program of publicly financed and privately delivered health care as an improved and expanded Medicare for all Americans, covering all medically necessary services by the physician of their choice, without any co-pays or deductibles.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ____ in ____________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ____ on March 4, 2008.

__________________________________
Convention secretary

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by: MarkCamann @ Sun Feb 10, 2008 at 04:51:30 AM UTC

Resolution Requiring Verifiable Voting (5.00 / 1)

This resolution was approved by the TDP state convention in 2006, but due to inaction on the part of legislators, is still a current issue.

RESOLUTION REQUIRING VERIFIABLE VOTING

WHEREAS computerized voting equipment is inherently subject to programming error, equipment malfunction, and malicious tampering, with demonstrations, tests, and investigations having shown numerous cases across the U.S. where electronic voting machines, from all major equipment manufacturers, were tampered with or malfunctioned, causing votes to be lost or counted incorrectly;

WHEREAS people of all political parties distrust electronic voting machines, and polls show that huge majorities favor government rather than private ownership of voting technology;

WHEREAS voting experts universally agree that it is essential to have a voter-verifiable paper ballot or audit trail to allow true recounts, to verify vote counting, and to determine when voting machines were tampered with;

WHEREAS at least thirteen counties in Texas are already using non-verifiable voting machines, and in many other counties election authorities are currently purchasing electronic voting machines that do not satisfy these requirements even though equipment manufacturers provide paper ballot printing as an option for their machines;

WHEREAS funds promised from the federal level have not materialized in a timely manner to comply with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA); and

WHEREAS the certification hearings of electronic voting machines by the Secretary of State and the Attorney General's office are no longer open to the public, thereby denying public scrutiny,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party advocate a national strategy to provide adequate federal funding for voter-verifiable systems to be used in all elections;

BE IT RESOLVED that voting machines should not be purchased nor used unless they provide an individual paper ballot, which is a permanent record of each vote, which can be checked for accuracy by the voter both before and after the vote is cast, which is difficult to alter after it has been checked, and which is readable both by voters and by independent ballot-counting machines;

BE IT RESOLVED that where non-verifiable voting machines are already in use, they should be replaced or modified to print an individual paper ballot that meets the above requirements;

BE IT RESOLVED that providing an individual paper voter-verifiable audit trail should be one of the essential requirements for certification of new voting systems, and that election procedures mandate that the individual paper ballots (whether hand marked or machine-generated) shall be the official vote of record, and that electronic counting of votes without the paper ballots shall be considered only an unofficial preliminary count;

BE IT RESOLVED that certification of electronic voting machines must be open to public review and comment;

BE IT RESOLVED that any electronic vote counting equipment which operates on preliminary electronic records or official paper ballot records should use only open-source, verifiable software, and that proprietary secret software code should be banned for all vote-counting;

BE IT RESOLVED that the privacy and voting rights of the disabled shall be protected; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that until State or U.S. law is changed to require such voter-verifiable ballots, the Democratic Party shall implement these requirements in all future primary elections that it conducts.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ______ Senatorial District ___ of __________________________ County, Texas on March 4, 2008.

______________________
Convention secretary

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by: MarkCamann @ Sun Feb 10, 2008 at 04:55:34 AM UTC

how about a resolution (5.00 / 1)

calling on all elected Dem reps to vote for a Democrat for speaker?

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Sun Feb 10, 2008 at 05:23:02 AM UTC

Good idea (0.00 / 0)

It would be a good idea to have a resolution calling on Democrats in the Texas Legislature to elect a Democrat as their speaker.

Incidentally, at the state convention in 2006, the Resolutions Committee considered and approved a resolution on precisely this topic.

Unfortunately, that resolution had not come from any county convention, senatorial district convention, or precinct convention. It was introduced by precisely the same Democratic legislator who wanted to be elected as speaker. And it went straight to the head of the line, while hundreds of resolutions that had come through the process legitimately were never considered because most of the Resolutions Committee didn't understand what their job was, instead wasting nearly an hour debating whether they could suspend the rules, or whether they needed to abide by Robert's Rules of Order.

That was one of the most shameful usurpations of a grassroots process that I ever witnessed.  The resolutions process in the conventions is our opportunity to tell legislators what we expect from them, and not the time for them to push us aside and promote their own self-interest.

If you would draft a resolution urging Democratic state legislators to vote for a Democrat as speaker, and if you would then share your resolution so that we can bring it to our precinct conventions, following the process properly, I would wholeheartedly support your efforts. And the few Craddick Democrats who remain in office after the primary had better wise up and pay attention.

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by: MarkCamann @ Sun Feb 10, 2008 at 05:43:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I have printed these and will bring them to my precinct caucus NT (0.00 / 0)

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by: morgan @ Sun Feb 10, 2008 at 06:37:09 AM UTC

Resolution for Clean Campaigns (0.00 / 0)

A Texas Public Campaign Financing Resolution

WHEREAS, campaign funding at all levels of government has soared in recent decades; and

WHEREAS, potential candidates are usually not considered viable without wealthy and economically powerful supporters; and

WHEREAS, under the current system of campaign financing, the average citizen cannot match the political influence of the economically powerful; and

WHEREAS, candidates and elected officials are required to spend a huge proportion of their time, energy, and staff raising funds rather than meeting with constituents; and

WHEREAS, the public interest has taken a back seat to the private and special interests which are influencing decisions made by our elected representatives; and

WHEREAS, public financing of campaigns has been successfully implemented in seven states and two cities;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Democratic Party finds and declares that the unique factual circumstances in the State of Texas require that provisions for publicly financed elections be enacted to promote the compelling interests of democracy in Texas;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that to this end the Texas State Democratic Party meeting in convention insists that the Texas legislature during its next session commencing in January 2009, enact a law and/or pass legislation providing for such a constitutional amendment election necessary for the establishment of a publicly financed elections system in Texas. Such system would provide public financing for all state legislative and statewide elective office candidates who refuse to take any private interest or special interest campaign contributions and agree to certain spending limits. This public financing would be used by candidates to campaign for elective office adhering to all election and campaign reporting laws.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct Number____________,

________________________County

Precinct Convention Secretary: __________________________________
Date: _______________

Can de downloaded in Adobe pdf format for printing here.

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by: sonia @ Sun Feb 10, 2008 at 18:50:22 PM UTC

Six resolutions on civil rights, foreign policy, and international law (0.00 / 0)

These six resolutions were written by Shakil Zaman.

RESOLUTION DEMANDING THE CLOSURE OF GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

WHEREAS all citizens of the world, regardless of their military or civilian status are entitled to equal protection under the law, including the right to trial in accordance to the U.S. Constitution and International Law;  

WHEREAS the detainees of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba are entitled to a fair trial meeting all standards of U.S. and International Law, which includes humane treatment, facing their accusers, right to examine the evidence against them, and a speedy trial;  

WHEREAS it is wrong for the current Republican administration to bypass the U.S. Constitution and International Law and hold the detainees without due process or incarcerate them for an indefinite amount of time;  

WHEREAS by holding trials for the detainees, we can prosecute the guilty, allow the innocent to go free and show the International community that the United States is a beacon of freedom, justice and equality; and

WHEREAS in 2009, the new administration will have the opportunity to review and amend the current policies regarding the status of the detainees;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party encourages the safe, fair and speedy trial of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party encourages the trial of the detainees by an International Court, which should be monitored by the United States and International observers from the United Nations;  

BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party should demand that detainees who have been found guilty of crimes against Americans and other world citizens be held indefinitely in a secure facility in their country of origin; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party urges the Democratic Congressional delegation from Texas to draft and support legislation calling for the permanent closure of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and other detention centers operated by any government agency, including the Central Intelligence Agency.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ____ in __________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008.

___________________
Convention Secretary

RESOLUTION CONDEMING ALL FORMS OF TORTURE

WHEREAS all forms of torture (regardless of severity) violate the spirit of the U.S. Constitution and International Law, more specifically, the Geneva Convention;  

WHEREAS the current Republican administration has violated all provisions of the U.S. Constitution and Geneva Convention by openly advocating the use of torture in places like Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in third world countries who violate the rule of law and rendition of prisoners to countries who use torture;

WHEREAS by condemning all forms of torture, we are sending a clear message to all terrorists, that although they refuse to adhere to International Law, the United States will always rise above their brutal acts; and

WHEREAS in 2009, the new administration will have the opportunity to review and amend the current policies regarding torture in all its forms;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party urges the Democratic Congressional delegation from Texas to draft and support legislation calling for the abolishment of torture in all its forms and regardless of severity in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and for cessation of the rendition program of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ____ in ___________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008.

___________________
Convention Secretary

RESOLUTION DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY OF BLACKWATER WORLDWIDE AND OTHER CONTRACTORS

WHEREAS companies like Blackwater Worldwide, contractors and mercenaries have been operating above the law due to "protective" policies of the current Republican administration;  

WHEREAS contractors like Blackwater Worldwide and others will continue to operate above the law as long as there is no fear of accountability, civil or criminal prosecution;  

WHEREAS contractors like Blackwater Worldwide and others have operated death squads and have continuously used excessive force in a majority of the cases;

WHEREAS it is a violation of International criminal law to provide any protection to firms who knowingly risk the lives of civilians for monetary gain; and

WHEREAS in 2009, the new administration will have an opportunity to review, amend and reverse any decision to continue to protect companies like Blackwater Worldwide and contractors from civil and criminal prosecution;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party urges the Democratic Congressional delegation from Texas to draft and support legislation removing all protective statuses for firms like Blackwater Worldwide from any civil or criminal prosecution.    

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ____ in_____________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008

___________________
Convention Secretary

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A JUST AND EQUAL PEACE PROCESS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE

WHEREAS every Israeli and Palestinian citizen has the right to self-determination, freedom, dignity and respect;  

WHEREAS by implementing a lasting peace process, we can affect changes and bring about stability and peace in the entire Middle East;

WHEREAS Palestinians and Israelis suffer psychological and physical damage, as a result of no hope for a secure homeland or any prospect of a future state;  

WHEREAS the result of the damages are further heightened by the refusal of some in the International community to act as just and balanced peace brokers;  

WHEREAS it is wrong that the current Republican administration has taken a hands-off and uneven approach to the peace process;  

WHEREAS it is wrong for the current Republican administration to encourage peace on the one hand while fostering hatred, distrust and extremism on the other hand;  

WHEREAS it is wrong for the current Republican administration to block all attempts by the International community and the United Nations (through the use of its veto power) from acting as just and honest brokers in fostering a peace accord; and

WHEREAS in 2009, the new administration will attempt to broker a peace accord between the governments of Israel and Palestine;  

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the United States should act as a just and honest broker in the peace process;  

BE IT RESOLVED that the United States should not use its power either in the United Nations or International community to block any nation from participating or assisting in a peace accord;  

BE IT RESOLVED that the peace accord should be brokered or legislated through diplomatic means rather than through the use of force, threats, military action or sanctions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party urges the Democratic Congressional delegation from Texas to draft and support legislation calling for a just and balanced peace accord between the governments of Israel and Palestine.  

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ____ in ________________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008.

___________________
Convention Secretary

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE RETURN OF AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS AND ADHERENCE TO INTERNATIONAL LAW

WHEREAS the U.S. Constitution and International Law are the framework for a just and civilized society;  

WHEREAS adherence and respect for the U.S. Constitution and International Law and specifically for guidelines on civil and human rights demonstrate our commitment to Democracy;  

WHEREAS, the current Republican administration has violated the spirit of the U.S. Constitution and International Law by reversing safeguards for our civil rights, including rights guaranteed to us as American citizens;  

WHEREAS the current Republican administration has removed these safeguards for the sole purpose of assisting their political and corporate allies;

WHEREAS in 2009, the new administration will have the opportunity to review, amend and reverse decisions that violate the civil rights of Americans and resident and non-resident aliens;  

BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party encourages the safeguards of our civil and human rights as citizens by reversing provisions of the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and other legislation that violate those rights;  

BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party continue to ensure the safeguards of our civil and human rights by instituting specific legislation barring any branch of the U.S. government from implementing martial law that violates any provision of the U.S. Constitution; and

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party urges the Democratic Congressional delegation from Texas to draft and support legislation protecting the rights of all U.S. citizens, resident and non-alien citizens (including the reversal of the enemy combatant designation).

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ____ in __________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008.

___________________
Convention Secretary

RESOLUTON CONDEMNDING HATE SPEECH AND CALLS FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST ALL MINORITIES

WHEREAS every American has the right to freedom of speech, but it must be done without inciting hatred and violence;  

WHEREAS it is wrong to condemn any minority population for the act of a few bad seeds;  

WHEREAS it is wrong for the American media to focus only on the negative aspects of our minority populations;

WHEREAS the current Republican administration has exploited 9/11, the economic woes of America, and other events for the sole purpose of condemning, spreading hate and calling for acts of violence against the minority population in the United States and citizens worldwide;

WHEREAS it is wrong to use derogatory terms to describe minorities in the United States; and

WHEREAS in 2009, the new administration will have the opportunity to open frank and honest dialogues with the minority population in the United States and world leaders to combat hatred, terrorism and other cancers that impact the global community;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party encourages the new administration to distance itself from media outlets, politicians and others who openly spread hate and call for acts of violence against any minority group (regardless or race, nationality, religion and other federally protected statuses);  

BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party encourages the passage of legislation removing all federal funding from any organization that spreads hate or calls for acts of violence;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party encourages the passage of legislation that removes the FCC license of any radio or television outlet that spreads hate or calls for acts of violence;  

BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party encourages the passage of legislation removing the 501(c)3 status from any non-profit organization that preaches hate or calls for acts of violence; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party urges the Democratic Congressional delegation from Texas to draft and support legislation demanding accountability from organizations that spread hate and calls for acts of violence.  

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ____ in ________________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008.

___________________
Convention Secretary

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by: MarkCamann @ Sun Feb 10, 2008 at 19:51:13 PM UTC

Expand the Blackwater resolution (0.00 / 0)

If I could suggest expanding the Blackwater resolution to include Dyncorp - particularly it's anti-coca/poppy contracts in Latin America and Afghanistan. They've also been pushing to replace Border Patrol Agents along the TX border with private mercenaries, as well as pushing for a role in the $1.4 billion Bush giveaway to Mexico for anti-drug war measures. That gets a lot closer to home here in TX, even, than the Blackwater scandals in Iraq. See:

http://gritsforbreakfast.blogs...
and
http://gritsforbreakfast.blogs...

I'm not a fan of the one on "hate speech". What "spreads hate" is subjective, and there are already laws forbidding speech that "calls for acts of violence."

My two cents.  

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by: Gritsforbreakfast @ Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 21:07:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ack! I cant speel! (0.00 / 0)

In the title of one resolution I put "condeming" and in another I put "condemnding."  The coorect spealing is "condemning."  I regreet the errer.

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by: MarkCamann @ Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 03:49:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Resolution in Support of Community College Students (0.00 / 0)

The following resolution was approved by the Faculty Senate of Northwest Vista College (in a version with a different title, and reading "Faculty Senate of Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas" in place of "Texas Democratic Party"):

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS

WHEREAS in the Spring of 2004 the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board issued a new rule denying community colleges the state share of funding for students who enrolled in a course for the third time (excluding remedial or developmental courses, and courses taken prior to the Fall semester of 2002), and

WHEREAS in June 2005 the Texas Legislature passed a law allowing community colleges to charge students a higher tuition rate to make up for this loss of state funding, to the effect that most community colleges now charge out-of-state tuition for courses that fall under this "three-repeat" rule, and

WHEREAS students who withdraw from a course after census date subject themselves to the possibility that in the future they may be penalized for enrolling in the same course two more times, and

WHEREAS the "three-repeat" rule does not provide any exception for students who drop a course due to serious illness, death in the family, financial hardship, change in work schedule that causes a conflict with the course meeting time, or any other reason, and

WHEREAS for the students who have already attempted a required course twice without completing it, the "three-repeat" rule adds a financial burden that may influence them to drop out of college altogether instead of completing their studies, and

WHEREAS the "three-repeat" rule when it was implemented did not make exception for courses taken in the preceding two years, so that students who had withdrawn from courses in those two years had no knowledge that they might later be penalized by a rule that at the time had not yet been written,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party encourages the Texas Legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to revoke the "three-repeat" rule (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Rules § 13.25a and Texas Education Code § 130.0034),

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party urges the Texas Legislature to establish a process by which students and former students who have been penalized under the three-repeat rule may petition their community college for a refund of the excess tuition that they have paid, whereupon the community college shall be reimbursed accordingly through state appropriations.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ____ in _______________ County, Texas, Senatorial District _____, on March 4, 2008.

____________________________________
Precinct convention secretary

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by: MarkCamann @ Sun Feb 10, 2008 at 22:00:28 PM UTC

Resolution Calling for an Investigation on the Israeli Attack on the USS Liberty (0.00 / 0)

This resolution was written by a veteran who served on the USS Liberty.  For more details on the incident, click here.  I wish to reiterate the statements on the USS Liberty Memorial website that anti-Semitism is reprehensible, but that there is nothing anti-Semitic about the necessity of establishing what happened in this attack and why.

RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION ON THE ISRAELI ATTACK ON THE USS LIBERTY

WHEREAS on June 8, 1967, the USS Liberty, while operating in international waters in the eastern Mediterranean, was the target of an attack by Israeli war planes and torpedo boats;

WHEREAS this attack killed 34 members of the USS Liberty's crew and wounded 171 other United States personnel on board in addition to causing extensive damage to the ship;

WHEREAS a controversy continues to surround the attack on the USS Liberty in that some Americans believe the attack was deliberate while others believe the attack was a mistake by the Israeli military;

WHEREAS aircraft dispatched from U.S. aircraft carriers to aid the USS Liberty were recalled, and this action may have resulted in the death and injury of additional American service members;

WHEREAS the sailors and Marines and their families should have closure of this tragic attack and its aftermath; and

WHEREAS the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty is the only such naval incident to have never been investigated by Congress,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the delegates of the state convention of the Texas Democratic Party, urge our Democratic Congressional delegation to draft and support legislation compelling the Department of Defense to initiate a complete and comprehensive public investigation of the attack on the USS Liberty that was perpetrated by the armed forces of the State of Israel on June 8, 1967, in order to determine the truth behind the attack.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ___ in ___________________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008.

__________________________________
Precinct convention secretary

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by: MarkCamann @ Sun Feb 10, 2008 at 22:38:31 PM UTC

Supporting Prison and Jail Diversion (5.00 / 1)

I was so taken with your post I took a stab at drafting a resolution on prison and jail diversion on Grits using your model.

http://gritsforbreakfast.blogs...

RESOLUTON CALLING FOR PRISON AND JAIL DIVERSION

WHEREAS Texas prison and jails are full everywhere in the state, costing taxpayers' billions of dollars;

WHEREAS Texas cannot hire enough guards to staff current prisons, even when money is budgeted;

WHEREAS the majority of people in county jails have not been convicted and are only in jail because they cannot afford bond, and the majority of people in prison are non-violent offenders;

WHEREAS 30% of Texas prison inmates are prior clients of the state's indigent mental health system;

WHEREAS 70,000 offenders leave Texas prisons and re-enter our communities every year;

WHEREAS the state of Texas incarcerates a higher percentage of our citizens than any totalitarian dictatorship on the planet; and

WHEREAS 90% of Texas' corrections budget is spent on operating prisons holding 155,000 inmates, while just 10% is spent on less expensive community corrections departments, which supervise more than 500,000 people combined on probation and parole;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party encourages the Texas Legislature to stop building expensive new prisons and instead expand funding for community corrections, including drug and alcohol treatment, drug courts and mental health services;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party encourages the Legislature to support shorter, stronger probation that gives offenders a real chance to earn their way off of supervision early through good behavior and completion of required programming;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party encourages the Legislature to fund all programming it requires of offenders so they don't take up prison space while on a waiting list, particularly for mandatory drug and alcohol treatment in adult prisons;

BE IT RESOLVED that Texas must fund mental health assessment for the mentally ill in county jails, competency restoration for the mentally ill who have committed serious offenses, and alternatives to incarceration for people whose mental illness is their primary reason for landing in jail, wherever practical;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party urges county governments to reduce pretrial detention for those who cannot afford bond, and adequately fund legal representation for indigent defendants.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct __ in ______________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008.

_________________
Convention Secretary

Good job. Excellent post.

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by: Gritsforbreakfast @ Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 23:31:49 PM UTC

Resolution Calling for Statewide Initiative and Referendum for Texans in 2009 (0.00 / 0)

Initiative and Referendum (I&R) are procedures through which citizens can revoke unpopular laws and initiate new laws.  This resolution grew out of a non-partisan collaboration of three members of the Initiative for Texas coalition who work to obtain Initiative and Referendum Rights for the Texas voter.

RESOLUTION CALLING FOR STATEWIDE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM (I&R) FOR TEXANS IN 2009

WHEREAS Article I of the Texas Constitution confirms that "All political power is inherent in the people";

WHEREAS initiative is the right of citizens to propose laws or Constitutional Amendments for approval or rejection by the voters;

WHEREAS use of the initiative in various states has brought such reforms as term limits, campaign finance reform, the eight-hour work day, voter approval of taxes, and the right for women to vote;

WHEREAS the initiative was first adopted in South Dakota in 1898, and the initiative process is now established by the Constitutions of twenty-four states;

WHEREAS voters have the right through the referendum process to repeal legislation passed by the Texas Legislature; and

WHEREAS initiative and referendum make government more responsive to its citizens, neutralizing the power of special interests, and stimulating public involvement in legislative issues,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party calls on the Texas Legislature in its 2009 session to propose a Constitutional Amendment establishing a procedure for binding statewide initiative and referendum both for Constitutional Amendments and for Texas State Statutes.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ___ in _____________________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008.

_________________________________
Convention secretary

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by: MarkCamann @ Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 03:56:49 AM UTC

I like them short and sweet (0.00 / 0)

RESOLUTION FOR IMPEACHMENT

WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney have:
Knowingly used fraudulent information to persuade Congress and the American people to support the war in Iraq;

WHEREAS, They repeatedly violated people's civil liberties and due process - including the use of torture on captives;

WHEREAS, They illegally spied on U.S. citizens without a warrant;

WHEREAS, They violated their oaths of office to "preserve, protect and defend the United States Constitution";

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Democratic Party urges the Democratic Congressional delegation from Texas to draft and support legislation demanding the U.S. House of Representatives to begin impeachment proceedings against George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct __ in ______________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008.

_________________
Convention Secretary

In Top 5 on Google for Liberal News

Easter Lemming Liberal News

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by: Gary Denton @ Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 18:51:29 PM UTC

Trans- Texas Corridor (0.00 / 0)

Even though opposing the Trans-Texas is a part of our Party Platform, under Agricultural and Rural issues we need to reinforce the language with a strongly worded relolution. It is the major issue in the northern part of my district which would be devasted if this project is ever built. To see the dramatic impact look at the Shelby County Today web newspaper to connect to a map of what it would destroy. My editorial there is Toll Roads Represent Double Taxiation. I would appreciate any help and input on this. Sincerely, Kenneth D. Franks Democratic Candidate for State Representative District 9 frankskd@windstream.net

Kenneth D. Franks

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by: Kenneth D. Franks @ Sun Feb 17, 2008 at 11:32:14 AM UTC

resolution (0.00 / 0)

sorry about the spelling error KF. Still sleepy I guess.

Kenneth D. Franks

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by: Kenneth D. Franks @ Sun Feb 17, 2008 at 15:30:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

More from DFW on toll roads (0.00 / 0)

I am lifting these from DFW Concerned Citizens.

DFW Regional Concerned Citizens concurrs with TURF that these resolutions should be passed by precinct conventions across Texas on March 4th. Please print them out and take them to your Party's Precinct Caucus election day at 7:15 p.m. Present them at the Precinct Convention and urge passage of these resolutions.

By Terri Hall - TURF - Feb. 18, 2008

PLAN TO GO TO YOUR PRECINCT CONVENTION WHEN THE POLLS CLOSE
Resolutions to bring to precinct convention / caucuses that convene at your precinct immediately after the polls close on March 4:

- Eminent Domain -

RESOLUTION
Against the eminent domain abuse for toll roads

Whereas, private Texas land can be taken through eminent domain for roadways; and

Whereas, the Texas Transportation Commission, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Turnpike Authority, and Regional Mobility Authorities in
the State of Texas have proposed and signed Comprehensive Development
Agreements (CDAs), also known as public-private partnerships, that would allow
land taken through eminent domain to be leased by private companies including
foreign consortiums/entities, for private and/or commercial gain; and

Whereas, the existing Texas eminent domain law has so many loopholes andexceptions that any new or existing public roadway and road right of way canbecome part of a public-private partnership (CDA) leased and operated by
private companies, including foreign consortiums/entities, for private and/or
commercial gain;

Now, therefore, be it:
Resolved, that we urge the Legislature to close any loopholes in our
eminent domain laws that allows ANY government agency to take our private land for toll roads to be operated, leased, or managed by private companies, including foreign companies, for profit; and further be it

Resolved, that the laws of the State of Texas should be amended to, without exception, prohibit the use of any portion of any new or existing, publicly-owned roadway facility or right of way to be operated, leased, or managed by private
companies, including foreign companies, for profit.

Adopted this __day of _____, 20_ _ , at the Precinct Convention of Precinct

#_______,_ __________ County of the__________________Party of Texas.

______________________________________
Name of Officer

______________________________________
Signature

- Tolling Existing Roads -

RESOLUTION
Against the Tolling of Existing Roadways in Texas

Whereas, we have already paid for our public roads and public road rights of way through the various local, State and federal taxes spent on road construction and maintenance; and

Whereas, the Texas Transportation Commission, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Turnpike Authority, and Regional Mobility Authorities in
the State of Texas have proposed the conversion of portions of existing road
facilities and/or rights of way into tolled road facilities and rights-of-way; and
Whereas, existing Texas law has so many loopholes and exceptions that any existing public roadway and road right of way can be tolled without a vote of the citizens of the county in which the facility or right of way is located; and

Whereas, the conversion of any portion of an existing public road or road right of way into a tolled roadway constitutes the double taxation of the Citizens of the State of Texas;

Now, therefore, be it:
Resolved, that we oppose the tolling of any portion of any existing, publicly owned roadway facility or right of way; and further be it

Resolved, that the laws of the State of Texas should be amended to, without exception, prohibit the use of any portion of any existing, publicly-owned roadway facility or right of way as part of a tolled roadway facility and/or tolled right of way without the majority vote of the citizens in the county in which the existing public roadway facility or right of way is located; and further be it
Resolved, that this measure be applied immediately to ANY and ALL roadways not currently open to traffic as a toll road to prevent any proposed conversions from occurring without such a vote of the residents of the affected county.

Adopted this __day of _____, 20_, at the Precinct Convention of Precinct

#_______,_____________County of the__________________Party of Texas.

______________________________________
Name of Officer

______________________________________
Signature

______________________________________________________________

- Market-based tolling - download resolution

RESOLUTION
Repeal Market-Based Tolling

Whereas, market-based tolls determine the highest possible toll "the market can bear;" and

Whereas, market-based tolls do not determine the toll rate based on the actual cost of construction, maintenance, and debt retirement but rather on how much profit the government can make off a given roadway; and

Whereas, this method of tolling allows the government to siphon money from motorists on one road segment to pay for other road segments;

Whereas, this method of tolling essentially applies the same problematic provisions as private equity toll roads (that are currently under a moratorium in Texas) to government toll roads by having private companies determine how much money the government can make off a roadway as if a private firm were
tolling the road;

Whereas, this method of tolling is to maximize revenue and gouge motorists with unnecessarily high toll taxation rather than about providing transportation;

Now, therefore, be it:
Resolved, that we oppose market-based tolling; and further be it
Resolved, that the laws of the State of Texas should be amended to, without exception, prohibit the use of "market valuation" and any form of market-based
tolls; and further be it

Resolved, that this measure be applied immediately to all roads where bonds have not already been sold.

Adopted this __day of _____, 20_ _ , at the Precinct Convention of Precinct

_____,_ __________ County of the__________________Party of Texas.

______________________________________

Name of Officer________________________________________
Signature

- Privately-controlled toll roads -

RESOLUTION
Against the Ownership, Leasing, Operation, and Management of
Public Facilities by Private Entities

Whereas, the public facilities owned by the agencies and units of government of the State of Texas are owned, in fact, by the citizens of Texas; and

Whereas, proposals have been made to turn over the ownership, leasing, operation and/or management of existing and future public facilities in Texas to agencies, companies and/or private consortiums which are lead and primarily owned by private entities; and

Whereas, we believe that the collective public and private resources exist within the United States of America to safely, securely and efficiently own, operate and manage the public facilities owned by the citizens of the State of Texas; and

Whereas, we see no need for private firms and governments to profit from the public facilities owned by the citizens of Texas; and

Whereas, turning over for lease or ownership, the operation or management of public facilities to privately-controlled organizations represents an unnecessary financial and security risk to the citizens of the State of Texas;

Now, therefore, be it:
Resolved, that we oppose any contract between any agency or unit of government of the State of Texas and any private company or government or any private consortium including foreign firms; and further be it Resolved, that the laws of the State of Texas should be amended to, without exception, to prohibit agencies and units of government of the State of Texas from entering into any contract with any private company or government or any private consortium including foreign firms for the purposes of transferring the ownership, leasing, operation and/or management of any Texas public facility;

and further be it
Resolved, that this measure be applied immediately to prevent any such contracts under consideration from being executed and to cancel any such existing contracts.

Adopted this __day of _____, 20_ __ , at the Precinct Convention of Precinct

#_______,_ ____________ County of

the__________________Party of Texas.

__________________
Name of Officer

______________________________________
Signature

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Easter Lemming Liberal News

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by: Gary Denton @ Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 20:05:59 PM UTC

Toll Roads (0.00 / 0)

Thanks for the model resolutions for stopping toll roads in Texas. Kenneth D. Franks Democratic Candidate for State Representative District 9 Nacogdoches, Shelby, Sabine, San Augustine, and Jasper Counties frankskd@windstream.net  

Kenneth D. Franks

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by: Kenneth D. Franks @ Wed Feb 20, 2008 at 02:50:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

From True Courage Action Network (0.00 / 0)

A Texas Public Campaign Financing Resolution

WHEREAS, campaign funding at all levels of government has soared in recent decades; and

WHEREAS, potential candidates are usually not considered viable without wealthy and economically powerful supporters; and

WHEREAS, under the current system of campaign financing, the average citizen cannot match the political influence of the economically powerful; and

WHEREAS, candidates and elected officials are required to spend a huge proportion of their time, energy, and staff raising funds rather than meeting with constituents; and

WHEREAS, the public interest has taken a back seat to the private and special interests which are influencing decisions made by our elected representatives; and

WHEREAS, public financing of campaigns has been successfully implemented in seven states and two cities;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Democratic Party finds and declares that the unique factual circumstances in the State of Texas require that provisions for publicly financed elections be enacted to promote the compelling interests of democracy in Texas;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that to this end the Texas State Democratic Party meeting in convention insists that the Texas legislature during its next session commencing in January 2009, enact a law and/or pass legislation providing for such a constitutional amendment election necessary for the establishment of a publicly financed elections system in Texas. Such system would provide public financing for all state legislative and statewide elective office candidates who refuse to take any private interest or special interest campaign contributions and agree to certain spending limits. This public financing would be used by candidates to campaign for elective office adhering to all election and campaign reporting laws.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct Number____________, ________________________County

Precinct Convention Secretary: __________________________________

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by: Gary Denton @ Wed Feb 20, 2008 at 20:36:11 PM UTC

Resolution for Alternatives to Detention of Immigrant Children at T. Don Hutto (0.00 / 0)

This one should be included in all Williamson County (and I believe Travis County as well) precinct packets. More information on the T. Don Hutto detention center in Taylor at tdonhutto.blogspot.com.

Resolution for Alternatives to Detention of Immigrant and Asylum-seeking Children

WHEREAS, The Texas portion of the border between the United States and Mexico comprises more than half of the nearly 2,000-mile boundary between the two countries; as a result of this proximity, the State of Texas is uniquely aware of the importance of border protection to the security of the nation as a whole and sensitive to the impact of immigration on the economic and social well-being of both countries; and

WHEREAS, The Office of the Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security estimates the costs of detaining illegal immigrants to be $1.2 billion annually, and current research indicates that detaining immigrant and asylum-seeking families does not deter illegal immigration;

WHEREAS, Homeland Security recently re-opened the T. Don Hutto Residential Facility in Taylor, Texas, operated by private prison firm Corrections Corporation of America, for the purpose of detaining immigrant and asylum-seeking families who are awaiting immigration proceedings; Of the families detained, approximately half are children; and

WHEREAS, the United States house and senate committees on appropriations have each expressed concern about children of families detained at the center, particularly about reports that some children have been removed from their families and placed in separate facilities; and

WHEREAS, Children who have had no decisive role in their migration or flight should not be exposed to avoidable trauma; it is clearly within our means to provide these children and infants a safe environment without disruption to their families, nutrition, education, and exercise while their parents await immigration proceedings; and

WHEREAS, A valid alternative to detaining immigrant families would be to release and reunite these children and their parents but closely monitor them under the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, thereby reducing the emotional consequences to young children and the financial burden to taxpayers; Considering the apparent consequences of family detention, every possible alternative to family detention should be examined, considered, and exhausted before such action is taken; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, This Democratic Party caucus respectfully requests the Democratic Party of Texas to adopt and add to its platform that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security consider all alternatives to the detention of immigrant and asylum-seeking families with children; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Democratic Party of Texas forward official copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate of the United States Congress, all members of the Texas delegation to the congress, and the secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, with the request that this resolution be officially entered and adopted by the Democratic Party of the State of Texas.

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by: BobL @ Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 16:15:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Resolutions on non-discrimination legislation and safe schools (0.00 / 0)

These two resolutions originated with Equality for Texas.

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING SAFE SCHOOLS FOR ALL CHILDREN

WHEREAS every Texan has the right to participate fully and equally in society and enjoy its benefits and freedoms;

WHEREAS all children should be safe and feel safe while at school, regardless of their ability, color, country of origin, disability status, economic status, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, parental marital status, physical appearance, race, religion, or sexual orientation;

WHEREAS a survey documented that up to 40% of all Texas school children were verbally harassed or bullied at least once during the previous year, and that 17% of Texas school children were physically abused or bullied at school during the preceding year;

WHEREAS simple school programs to discourage bullying and harassment have been shown to be inexpensive and effective; and

WHEREAS the State of Texas does not have a statewide model policy or statute setting minimum standards or policies for schools to adopt or implement,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party supports the passage of legislation to protect all school children from bullying and harassment by requiring the State of Texas to promulgate, and Texas school districts to adopt, a model policy on bullying and harassment setting forth minimum acceptable standards and the highest aspirations for student safety.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct _____ in ____________________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008.

___________________________________
Precinct Convention Secretary

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING NON-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION

WHEREAS every Texan has the right to participate fully and equally in society and enjoy its benefits and freedoms;

WHEREAS lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Texans suffer pervasive discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and education because of homophobia and a lack of legal protections;

WHEREAS protecting vulnerable members of our state from unwarranted discrimination is fully consistent with the goals, aspirations and values of the Texas Democratic Party and Texans in general;

WHEREAS non-discrimination laws help to ensure that LGBT people have equal access to the same opportunities and protections granted to others, such as the ability to work in an environment where people are judged by their job performance, not by their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression; and

WHEREAS the State of Texas does not have a statewide non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation and gender identity or expression,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party supports the passage of comprehensive non-discrimination legislation that would make discrimination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity or expression illegal in employment, housing, insurance, education and public accommodations.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct _____ in ____________________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008.

___________________________________
Precinct Convention Secretary

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by: MarkCamann @ Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 23:19:20 PM UTC

A rules change making it easier to appoint new precinct chairs (0.00 / 0)

Precinct chairs are elected in the primary in even-numbered years. After the primary, vacancies can be filled by appointment by the County Executive Committee (CEC).  The Texas Election Code requires that a majority of the CEC participate in the vote, and it takes a majority of those voting in order to fill the vacancy.  The TDP rules impose the additional stipulation that the vote can only take place at a meeting where a majority of the members are present.  In counties that have only a small number of precincts, that's not a big deal.  But in large counties, getting 70 or more people to show up at a meeting isn't easy.  Reinvigorating the party means, in part, bringing in new people, but if the rules make it hard to bring in new people, it's a vicious circle.

Proposed rules changes are rarely exciting, but this one would fix a very big problem.

RESOLUTION FOR PARTY RULES CHANGE ON FILLING VACANCIES ON THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (CEC)

WHEREAS a functional County Executive Committee (CEC), consisting of precinct chairs who are elected in the Democratic primary in even-numbered years, is essential to the effective operation of the Texas Democratic Party;

WHEREAS the Texas Election Code (§ 171.024) provides a procedure for filling vacancies on the CEC that occur between primaries, stipulating that the CEC "shall fill by appointment any vacancy on the committee," that "a majority of the committee's membership must participate in filling a vacancy," and that "to be elected, a person must receive a favorable vote of a majority of the members voting";

WHEREAS the only exception to this requirement that a majority of the CEC must participate in filling the vacancy is provided by "Subsection (c)" of the Texas Election Code, § 171.024, which applies only when a former precinct chair, after being elected in the most recent primary, has moved out of that precinct and into a new precinct that has no current precinct chair, providing that said precinct chair may be reinstated in that new precinct if there is no other candidate for precinct chair in the new precinct;

WHEREAS the Rules of the Texas Democratic Party, Article III, Section E.5(b), in an attempt to interpret the Texas Election Code, § 171.024. by specifying that "any vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by majority of the County Executive Committee at a meeting at which a majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum," have inadvertently added the additional requirement that such an appointment can only take place at a meeting of the CEC;

WHEREAS in Bexar County and other large counties, this statutory quorum of a majority of the members has proven difficult to achieve at a single meeting (the quorum for all other purposes being only a quarter of the membership), to the effect that as of March 4, 2008, more than twenty consecutive meetings of the Bexar County CEC have failed to reach the statutory quorum so that no precinct chairs have been appointed since the 2006 primary unless they met the circumstances described in "Subsection (c)"; and

WHEREAS the inability to appoint new precinct chairs has hindered the Democratic Party,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that Article III, Section E.5(b) of the Rules of the Texas Democratic Party be amended to read that "any vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by majority of the County Executive Committee at a meeting at which a majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum, or the County Executive Committee may at its discretion conduct a vote outside of a meeting, listing the precinct chairs to be appointed on a published ballot sent to all of its membership, to be signed and returned by a stated deadline, in keeping with the requirement that the vote cannot be taken in secret, providing that the vote cannot be closed until a majority of the membership have returned their signed ballots."

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ______ in _______________________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008.

__________________________________
Precinct convention secretary

 

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by: MarkCamann @ Wed Feb 27, 2008 at 18:10:03 PM UTC

Resolution opposing the six-drop law in colleges and universities (0.00 / 0)

A new law aimed at keeping college and university students from dropping courses is not only vastly unpopular with the students, but is so ill-conceived that in some cases it actually makes students more likely to drop out of school altogether.

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

WHEREAS in May 2007 the Texas Legislature passed a law prohibiting undergraduate college and university students from withdrawing from more than six courses during their ENTIRE undergraduate career, including courses transferred from other institutions (not counting laboratory courses separately from regular courses that require concurrent enrollment in the laboratory course);

WHEREAS this law does not apply to all students, but only those who entered college or university in the Fall of 2007 or thereafter, and it does not apply to courses dropped before the "census date";

WHEREAS this law provides certain exceptions that do not count toward the "six-drop" limit if they are properly documented, such exceptions including (1) severe illness or debilitating condition; (2) care for a sick, injured or needy person; (3) death of a family member or person in close relationship with the student; and (4) active duty of the student or a family member in the armed forces or National Guard;

WHEREAS this law does not apply when students withdraw from all of their courses in order to drop out of the college or university;

WHEREAS many students will reach this "six-drop" limit long before completing their undergraduate degree, to the effect that if they feel they must again withdraw from a course for any legitimate reason not listed above, they will have no mechanism to do so short of withdrawing from the college or university altogether;

WHEREAS it is short-sighted for the Texas Legislature to give students additional incentive to abort their undergraduate education without completing a degree; and

WHEREAS the problem of students withdrawing from courses too often could be handled more appropriately by providing that the college or university, under certain conditions to be determined by the college or university but not by the Texas Legislature, may require students to consult with an academic counselor or academic advisor who may approve or deny the request to withdraw from a course,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party urges the Democrats in the Texas Legislature to draft and support legislation that would rescind the "six-drop" law and instead allow colleges and universities to provide student counseling or academic advising before the college or university will determine whether to permit an unpenalized withdrawal from the course.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ______ in _____________________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ______, on March 4, 2008.

________________________________
Precinct convention secretary

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by: MarkCamann @ Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 03:08:15 AM UTC

Three resolutions concerning veterans: VA hospitals, health care, and tuition benefits (0.00 / 0)

RESOLUTION FOR MORE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITALS IN TEXAS

WHEREAS in 2005 there were about 24.4 million living U.S. veterans, including 1,667,000 veterans living in Texas;

WHEREAS the 2000 U.S. Census specified that numerous veterans were living in the Brownsville and Harlingen area (19,394), Corpus Christi (38,186), Laredo (6,825), and the McAllen and Edinburgh area (25,013), comprising 5% of the veterans in Texas, currently not served by a Veterans Administration Hospital;

WHEREAS in many cases these veterans must now travel hundreds of miles to the V.A. hospital in San Antonio, where an additional 178,198 veterans live;

WHEREAS the Veterans Administration has also announced plans to contract out short-term care to local providers and convert the Kerrville VA facility into one focused on long-term care and move inpatient care to San Antonio when renovation there is complete;

WHEREAS the Veterans Administration currently serves 16,000 veterans in the Hill Country of Texas who will now be forced to seek treatment in San Antonio; and

WHEREAS almost half of the veterans receiving care in Kerrville reside outside the primary service area, while the Valley of South Texas has never had a Veterans' Administration Hospital,

BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party demand that the Veterans' Administration construct a Veterans' Administration Hospital in South Texas and restore the Kerrville Veterans' Administration Hospital to its past status of general medical facility to care for veterans in the Hill Country

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party binds all of their candidates for the November election to work with the State of Texas, the Texas Legislature, and the Texas Congressional Delegation in the creation of a Veterans' Medical Hospital in South Texas and the restoration of the Kerrville facility.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ___ in _______________________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ______, on March 4, 2008.

_____________________________
Precinct convention secretary

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF VETERANS' HEALTH CARE

WHEREAS John Rowan, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America, testified before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs that the FY 2007 VA budget, which would open the VA healthcare system to all eligible veterans, was short by at least $4.2 billion;

WHEREAS Mr. Rowan further testified that even if the VA continued its exclusionary policy that has denied health care to hundreds of thousands of veterans, the budget for health care was still short by some $2.3 billion;

WHEREAS Mr. Rowan noted that the continuing and increasing burden on the health-care system is caused not only by the influx of veterans fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, but "because Vietnam veterans are getting sicker at an earlier age with diseases and maladies that can be traced back to our service in Southeast Asia";

WHEREAS even with recent funding increases, cost-cutting moves have locked more than a quarter million veterans out of the system, those excluded having no illnesses or injuries attributable to their military service and earning more than the average wage in their community;

WHEREAS more than 11,000 veterans who served in the Persian Gulf have died from various injuries and illnesses, and more than 256,000 have filed claims against the government for veterans compensation or medical care;

WHEREAS nearly 120,000 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have sought treatment at Veterans' Health Administration hospitals for a wide range of illnesses;

WHEREAS the U.S. Senators from Texas did not vote in favor of two amendments that were both defeated, namely Senate Amendment 2735, which proposed additional funding to shore up the failing infrastructures at Veterans' hospitals all over the country, and Senate Amendment 2737, which would have purchased much-needed equipment for troops serving in the Middle East,

BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party does hereby instruct the Democratic Congressional Delegation to work with members of the Congressional Delegations of other states to ensure full and adequate funding for Veterans' Benefits and for the immediate and complete equipment for our troops, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan, to facilitate their safety and their safe withdrawal from their current theater of operation even if this must be accomplished with an increase or rollback of current taxes.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct _____ in ____________________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ____, on March 4, 2008.

_________________________________
Precinct convention secretary

RESOLUTION FOR HAZELWOOD ACT EXTENSION

WHEREAS the Texas Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations during the 78th Interim had as its main charge to study the possibility of extending unused Hazelwood hours to the children and grandchildren of a veteran and, in order to keep the program as simple and limited as possible, this bill only allowed one child, and no grandchildren, to use the benefit;

WHEREAS S.B.1227 (which included the Uresti Amendment allowing Texas Veterans entitled to exemptions of tuition at state-funded Universities to assign these exemptions to their children) did not pass out of the Texas House and Senate Conference committee;

WHEREAS even though Texas is home for 1.7 million veterans, only about 8,000 to 9,000 veterans are currently using the Hazelwood exemption;

WHEREAS a legacy student, just like the veteran, would have been required (1) to have exhausted any federal benefit available to him or her before using Hazelwood, (2) to "make academic progress" as defined by the school including a minimum GPA, and (3) to work for the school for a third of the number of legacy hours they used and volunteer for a veteran organization for a third of the number of legacy hours;

WHEREAS the original intent of the Hazelwood benefit being to reward wartime veterans because the Texas Legislature has never declared the Cold War over, peacetime vets since June 27, 1950 have been able to use the Hazelwood Act;

WHEREAS S.B. 774 recognized the end of the Cold War, ended the Hazelwood Legacy program after ten years, and also instituted an age limit of under 28, unless some medical issue prevents the student from completing the education before that age;

WHEREAS the Joint Senate/House Committee failed to include the Uresti Amendment allowing Texas Veterans to pass their Hazelwood Act benefits to their children;

WHEREAS in the 78th Legislature the Texas Legislature extended to members of the Army of the Republic of South Vietnam Texas State benefits creating a new class of veteran for the first time in Texas history;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party calls upon the Legislature of Texas to once and for all pass a bill allowing Texas Veterans entitled to exemptions of tuition at state funded Universities to assign these exemptions to their children.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct _____ in _____________________ County, Texas, Senatorial District _____, on March 4, 2008

_________________________________
Precinct convention secretary

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by: MarkCamann @ Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 03:33:18 AM UTC

Responsible Electronics Recycling Resolution (0.00 / 0)

Responsible Electronics Recycling Resolution
Expand our Texas Producer TakeBack Recycling Law to TVs and Other Electronics and Stop the Dumping of Toxic Electronic Waste on Developing Countries

WHEREAS;  The Texas State Legislature unanimously passed House Bill 2714 in 2007 which was signed by the Governor and which requires the producers of computers and some other electronic products to set up free and convenient recycling programs for their products by September 1, 2008, and

WHEREAS; Producer takeback recycling of electronic waste should relieve the burden of diverting and recycling toxic electronic waste off of the shoulders of local governments and tax-payers, and

WHEREAS; Producer takeback recycling of electronic waste provides electronics manufacturers with an incentive to redesign their products so that they are easier to upgrade and recycle because the price of a product will reflect how efficiently companies can not only manufacture and market their products, but also how efficiently they can be recycled, and

WHEREAS; On February 17, 2009 the over-the-airwaves signal to televisions in the U.S. will switch from an analog to the digital signal and House Bill 2714 does not cover televisions, and

WHEREAS;  Old-style cathode ray tube televisions contain an average of four to eight pounds of lead and other toxic material that should not be put in our landfills to potentially leak into water suppliers in Texas.  Nor should hazardous electronic waste be exported to developing countries where crude scrap operations are poisoning people and the air, land and water of countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, India and China, and

WHEREAS; State governments are restricted in their ability to stop the export of toxic waste across international borders,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the ___ Precinct (Pct #) of the Democratic Party of Texas that the Texas State Legislature should pass legislation in 2009 which expands the scope of the producer takeback recycling law to cover obsolete televisions and other electronic waste, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by the ___ Precinct (Pct #) of the Democratic Party of Texas that the U.S. Congress and President should act to stop the export of toxic materials to developing countries in accordance with the international laws designed to prevent trade in toxic waste.

Signed, this 4th day of March, 2008, by

___________________________________, Precinct Chair

Resolution can be downloaded here.

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by: sonia @ Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 17:24:58 PM UTC

Opposing Expansion of Dumps in N/E Travis County (3.00 / 1)

RESOLUTION OPPOSING EXPANSION OF DUMPS IN NORTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY

WHEREAS; There is no landfill capacity crisis in Travis County at the present time and a serious regional Zero Waste plan will extend the life of the permitted landfill space, and

WHEREAS; landfills are a major source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and these landfills have no on-site diversion of organic materials which create methane, and

WHEREAS; More than 1000 complaints regarding odor and nuisance problems over a five mile radius have been registered with the TCEQ complaint database since late 2001 by residents surrounding the northeast landfills, and more than twenty violations and areas of concern have been issued against the northeast facilities by the TCEQ Enforcement Agency since 2002, and

WHEREAS; putrid odors from the northeast landfills continue to be reported by nearby residents and the northeast landfills seem unwilling or unable to address their operational problems to the satisfaction of the surrounding residents, and

WHEREAS; the cumulative operations of two regional landfills operating side-by-side for the past 25 years have overburdened the northeast Travis County communities with heavy truck traffic, dust, blight, nuisance trash, odors, water runoff, and land use interferences, and

WHEREAS; the expansions of the two northeast landfills are not compatible with existing and projected population, economic, housing, and land use trends, and

WHEREAS; the northeast landfills lack adequate buffers and any lateral and/or vertical expansions of their landfills would further jeopardize the health of the children at the day care center and the elementary school located in close proximity of the landfills, and

WHEREAS; the northeast landfills drain into a recreational lake area on the east and into a large tributary of Walnut creek on the west, further aggravating an area of Walnut creek projected to have the most erosion in Travis County, and

WHEREAS; the Waste Management landfill has over 21,000 barrels of toxic waste buried in an unlined ten acre pit located next to two creek beds, and monitoring of this industrial waste site may not be adequate and could cause the region to have to pay for a massive clean up of this site;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the ___ Precinct (Pct #) of the Democratic Party of Texas urges all affected public agencies, including the Travis County Commissioners Court, to adamantly oppose any expansion permits for both of the problem landfills in Northeast Travis County.

Authored by Texas Campaign for the Environment Austin
512-326-5655     www.texasenvironment.org

Resolution can be downloaded here.

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by: sonia @ Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 17:28:26 PM UTC

An excellent resolution (0.00 / 0)

I'm very glad to see this issue being addressed through a resolution. I believe however that when it rises to the level of the state convention, the Resolutions Committee there (or the Temporary Resolutions Committee) would find that it does not meet the criteria for statewide significance. My recommendation is that if you intend for this resolution to be acted upon at the state convention, you rewrite it to broaden the scope. Or if, as the resolution seems to imply, it really is just a local issue, then people who go to the Senatorial District Conventions in Travis County should make sure that if those conventions do adopt the resolution, a specific person should be designated who would send it to the Travis County Commissioners and the other relevant agencies, along with a cover letter explaining how significant it is that the resolution is adopted by that convention.

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by: MarkCamann @ Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 18:23:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I didn't write it (0.00 / 0)

The people at TCE did.  And I imagine that they first want to show support for limiting them here in Travis.

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by: sonia @ Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 00:17:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Clean Skies/ Clean Energy Resolution (0.00 / 0)

Clean Skies/ Clean Energy Resolution
For an Energy Efficient/ Renewable Energy Economy for Texas

WHEREAS; Texas skies should be clean and pristine, but the air in the Dallas/Forth Worth, El Paso, Houston and Beaumont/Port Arthur areas fails to meet health based standards, and air quality in Austin, San Antonio and Tyler-Longview is close to violating health based standards, and the state air plans for these regions remain inadequate,

WHEREAS; Five additional coal plants are under construction and three more are proposed for Texas despite opposition and the fact that studies show strong links between air pollution and asthma, respiratory illness, strokes, and deaths from lung cancer and heart disease, and 1160 Texans die prematurely every year from power plant particle pollution, and

WHEREAS; Coal-burning power plants are the state's largest industrial sources of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and toxic mercury emissions, which contaminate fish and damage the developing brains of babies and children, and coal-burning power plants also emit sulfur pollution, that causes acid rain and increased deaths from lung cancer and heart disease; and Texas coal plants rank first in the nation for carbon dioxide emissions, which contribute to global warming, and

WHEREAS; Seven additional commercial nuclear reactors are being proposed for Texas and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is fast-tracking reactor licenses through a new combined licensing process, although Texas has as much wind energy potential as all 104 nuclear reactors in the United States, and

WHEREAS;   Nuclear reactors are not an answer to global warming, and reactors in South Texas came in six times over budget and came online eight years late, and unsolved economic, security, safety, weapons proliferation, water use and radioactive waste problems make nuclear power unviable, putting the health of Texans at risk, and uranium mining for nuclear fuel has contaminated drinking water in some parts of South Texas, and

WHEREAS; Texas can and should meet future energy needs and lead the nation by developing wind and solar power technologies, greenbuilding standards and improved building codes, capturing waste energy through combined heat and power,  and by increasing energy efficiency, which benefits consumers, businesses and industries while reducing power demand,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the ___ Precinct (Pct #) of the Democratic Party of Texas that a moratorium on coal and nuclear plants should be immediately enacted and strongly enforced in order to protect our economy and our climate, and to protect the health of all Texans, especially our children, and that Texas should lead the nation into a clean, sustainable energy future through pursuing energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Signed, this 4th day of March, 2008, by

___________________________________, Precinct Chair

Resolution can be downloaded here.

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by: sonia @ Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 17:31:27 PM UTC

Promote Green Jobs and Businesses through Recycling - Limit Landfills (0.00 / 0)

Promote Green Jobs and Businesses through Recycling and Strengthen the Standards on Texas Trash Facilities Resolution
Natural Resources Should Not Be Wasted and Our Public Health Should Not be Put at Risk by Weak Standards on Trash Facilities

WHEREAS; Landfilling 10,000 tons of trash produces one job, and composting 10,000 tons of organic material creates 4 jobs, and recycling 10,000 tons of material creates 10 jobs and reusing the material creates 75 to 250 jobs, and

WHEREAS; Landfills are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases, in particular methane which is at least 21 times more potent a climate change gas than carbon dioxide, and

WHEREAS; Many businesses are leading the way with 90% diversion of waste from landfills such as Toyota, Subaru, and HP while saving money in the process, and

WHEREAS; These businesses provide great examples for how more businesses and residential recycling rates can be dramatically improved, and

WHEREAS; Recycling conserves precious natural resources, and

WHEREAS; The laws and standards for trash facilities in Texas, which are often located near water supplies, are generally weaker than in other states even though Texas has more landfill capacity now than in any year since statewide statistic were available, and

WHEREAS; Permits for trash facilities unlike almost all other environmental permits issued by the state environmental agency have no time limits and renewal process that provide the state and the public with an opportunity to review such permits, and

WHEREAS; Of the roughly 190 active landfills in Texas, half have permits that the landfills report have more than 50 years of capacity and half of those have at least 100 years of capacity.  In addition, three landfills reported having more than 2000 years of capacity left,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the ___ Precinct (Pct #) of the Democratic Party of Texas that the Texas State Legislature should prioritize legislation in 2009 which requires trash facilities to renew their permits every ten years and provides concerned Texans with an opportunity for public participation, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by the ___ Precinct (Pct #) of the Democratic Party of Texas that the Texas State Legislature should pursue efforts to increase the reuse and recycling rates in Texas in order to promote the development of green jobs and businesses, conserve natural resources and reduce the creation of climate-changing gases.

Signed, this 4th day of March, 2008, by

___________________________________, Precinct Chair

Authored by Texas Campaign for the Environment
Austin: 512-326-5655     Dallas: 214-599-7840      www.texasenvironment.org

Resolution can be downloaded here.

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by: sonia @ Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 17:35:52 PM UTC

Resolution Supporting The Constitutional Separation of Powers (0.00 / 0)

The following resolution was derived from Emmett Sheppard's testimony on behalf of the Texas AFL-CIO against Senate Bill 1204 and from the Texas AFL-CIO judicial candidate questionnaire submitted in advance of the COPE endorsements:

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CONSTITUTIONAL SEPARATION OF POWERS

WHEREAS the Separation of Powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution;

WHEREAS the Separation of Powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government is enshrined in the Texas Constitution;

WHEREAS the Texas Legislature specifically considered Senate Bill 1204, legislation supported by anti-consumer and anti-civil justice groups to undermine the Texas civil justice system;

WHEREAS the Texas Legislature specifically rejected Senate Bill 1204 after hearing overwhelming testimony that the proposed dismantling of the Texas court system would unnecessary delay the administration of justice, would distort the judicial system so that it would be less responsive to the local electorate, and would improperly transfer authority residing in other courts and other branches of government to the Texas Supreme Court; and

WHEREAS, after the Texas Legislature specifically considered and rejected the proposed dismantling of the Texas court system, the Texas Supreme Court has undertaken to abuse its rule making grant of authority from Texas Legislature in order to impose new rules adopting many of the same ideas rejected by the Texas Legislature when it rejected Senate Bill 1204,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that we, the delegates assembled in Convention, representing the highest level of authority within the Texas Democratic Party, call upon the Texas Legislature to revoke the Texas Supreme Court's rule making authority to the extent that the Texas Supreme Court seeks to use such authority to pass rules which aim to accomplish the same goals which were first unsuccessfully sought and expressly rejected in the Texas Legislature,

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct __ in __________ County, Texas, Senatorial District __ on March 4, 2008.

________________________________
Convention secretary

http://yanezhoustonjordanfortx...

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by: Take Back the Texas Supreme Court @ Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 19:29:06 PM UTC

Resolution in Support of the Second Amendment Rights of Law-Abiding Texans (0.00 / 0)

Courtesy of Amendment II Democrats:

A RESOLUTION
IN SUPPORT OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
OF LAW-ABIDING TEXANS

WHEREAS, in the case of US vs. Emerson, the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, on October 16, 2001, that "to give the Second Amendment's preamble its full and proper due there is no need to torture the meaning of its substantive guarantee into the collective rights or sophisticated collective rights model which is so plainly inconsistent with the substantive guarantee's text, its placement within the bill of rights and the wording of the other articles thereof and of the original Constitution as a whole," thus affirming that the "well-regulated Militia" enumerated in the Second Amendment does not restrict private ownership of firearms to collective state militias such as the National Guard, and

WHEREAS, in the same case of US vs. Emerson, the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals further affirmed that "the right of individual Americans to keep, carry, and acquaint themselves with firearms does indeed promote a well-regulated militia by fostering the development of a pool of firearms-familiar citizens that could be called upon to serve in the militia," and that "All of the evidence indicates that the Second Amendment, like other parts of the Bill of Rights, applies to and protects individual Americans," and

WHEREAS, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 contained provisions banning sales of numerous semi-automatic firearms to civilians based almost solely on an arbitrary list of safety features found on such firearms, and

WHEREAS, support by Democratic Party legislators for the firearms ban contained in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 has eroded support for Democratic candidates across America and exacerbated confusion in the general public concerning the stance of Democrats on gun legislation, and

WHEREAS, it has not been conclusively demonstrated that the provisions for the firearms ban in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 have had any measurable success in reducing violent crime rates within the United States of America since passage of the Act, and

WHEREAS, the firearms ban provisions of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 have been allowed to expire on September 13, 2004,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party urges the Democratic Congressional delegation from Texas to draft and support legislation to reaffirm our commitment to protection and defense of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution, including the Second Amendment;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party urges the Democratic Congressional delegation from Texas to oppose attempts to enact or reauthorize any ban on the sale, transfer, and/or possession of semi-automatic firearms by law-abiding Texans.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct __ in __________ County, Texas, Senatorial District __ on March 4, 2008.

________________________________
Convention secretary

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by: derby378 @ Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 01:07:01 AM UTC

Resolution Supporting Non-Discrimination Legislation (0.00 / 0)

The following resolution is being promulgated by Equality Texas and is backed by a number of Stonewall Democrat chapters.

RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING NON-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION

Precinct #____________

Senate District #__________

__________ County, Texas

WHEREAS, we believe every Texan has the right to participate fully and equally in society and enjoy its benefits and freedoms, and

WHEREAS, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Texans suffer pervasive discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and education because of homophobia and a lack of legal protections, and

WHEREAS, protecting vulnerable members of our state from unwarranted discrimination is fully consistent with the goals, aspirations and values of the Texas Democratic Party and Texans in general, and

WHEREAS, non-discrimination laws help to ensure that LGBT people have equal access to the same opportunities and protections granted to others, such as the ability to work in an environment where people are judged by their job performance, not by their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, and

WHEREAS, the State of Texas does not have a statewide, non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation and gender identity or expression,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party supports the passage of comprehensive non-discrimination legislation that would prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity or expression illegal in employment, housing, insurance, education and public accommodations.

Adopted by Precinct # _____ in Senatorial District # ___

of __________ County, Texas on March 4, 2008.

___________________________

Precinct Chair # ______________

_______________ County, Texas

Telephone ____________________  

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by: DyspepTex @ Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 17:56:40 PM UTC

Resolution Supporting Safe Schools (0.00 / 0)

The following resolution is being promulgated by Equality Texas is supported by a number of Stonewall Democrat Chapters (and a republican version by the Log Cabin folks.

RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING SAFE SCHOOLS FOR ALL CHILDREN

Precinct #____________

Senate District #__________

__________ County, Texas

WHEREAS, we believe every Texan has the right to participate fully and equally in society and enjoy its benefits and freedoms, and

WHEREAS, all children should be safe and feel safe while at school, regardless of their ability, color, country of origin, disability status, economic status, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, parental marital status, physical appearance, race, religion, or sexual orientation, and

WHEREAS, one survey documented that up to 40% of all Texas school children were verbally harassed or bullied at least once during the previous year, and that 17% of Texas school children were physically abused or bullied at school during the preceding year, and

WHEREAS, simple school programs to discourage bullying and harassment have been shown to be inexpensive and effective, and

WHEREAS, the State of Texas does not have a statewide model policy or statute setting minimum standards or policies for schools to adopt or implement,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party supports the passage of legislation to protect all school children from bullying and harassment by requiring the State of Texas to promulgate, and Texas school districts to adopt, a model policy on bullying and harassment setting forth minimum acceptable standards, and the highest aspirations, for student safety.

Adopted by Precinct # _____ in Senatorial District # ___

of __________ County, Texas on March 4, 2008.

___________________________________

Precinct Convention Chair # ____________

________________________ County, Texas

Telephone ___________________________  

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by: DyspepTex @ Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 17:59:39 PM UTC

Resolution in Support of a Simpler and More Democratic Delegate Selection Process (0.00 / 0)

We are all dealing with our "Texas Two-Step" primary/caucus procedure.  Everyone I speak with finds it confusing and cumbersome, and I'm sure you all have read news reports and commentary suggesting that some voters have difficulties getting back to the polling place to participate in their Precinct Conventions.

In my own family, my partner is retired on disability.  Some days he's fine, others he cannot get out of bed.  There are many others -- seniors, disabled, single mothers, those who work at night -- who likewise may not be able to join us in our delegate selection process.

No matter which candidate you support, please consider joining us in introducting and supporting the following resolution at your Precinct Convention.  If you can redraft the resolution for better wording, please feel free to do so.

Consider this: Many of the other resolutions you will be asked to approve deal with issues that we cannot control, many of which require co-operation by the other party or by officials in Washington.  This is one particular issue that we, as Texas Democrats, can control.  Real change begins with you.  Thank you!

WHEREAS Texas is experiencing an unprecedented level of voter interest and participation in the 2008 Presidential Primary Election and delegate selection process; and

WHEREAS the State of Texas has encouraged the expansion of participation in the Primary through the use of Early Voting; and

WHEREAS it is in the interest of the Texas Democratic Party to maximize participation in the delegate selection process by all Democrats and to remove impediments to participation; and
WHEREAS many Texas are unable to participate in their Precinct Conventions due to family or child-care issues; work or other scheduling conflicts; lack of transportation; health-related issues for seniors, the disabled, and others; or other reasons;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party will revise the delegate selection process for 2012 in such manner that all pledged delegates to the National Convention will be allocated solely according to the results of the Primary, and the Party will no longer utilize the Precinct Convention system to determine a portion of the delegate allocation.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ____ in _______________ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 4, 2008.

_______________________________
Convention Secretary

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by: Robert Angelo @ Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 20:30:11 PM UTC

Work schedule should not keep you from the convention (0.00 / 0)

A law says that your employer cannot keep you from attending the precinct convention.  Read more about it here.

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by: MarkCamann @ Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 21:11:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Be that as it may... (0.00 / 0)

...no one should be forced to choose between making a living and exercising their right to full participation in our political process.  Not to mention those who attend night school, those who cannot find childcare, those who have health and transportation issues, etc, etc.  Please consider supporting my resolution.  As Democrats, we should always be seeking to maximize participation.

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by: Robert Angelo @ Mon Mar 03, 2008 at 01:31:33 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Clarification (0.00 / 0)

Mark, your link indicates that a worker cannot be penalized by their employer, where a

"penalty" means a loss or reduction of wages or other benefit of employment other than a deduction for the actual time of absence from work.

My argument is that many people will choose to work their assigned shift rather than facing that loss of pay.  That's a awful choice to expect from people who are struggling to make ends meet.  We need a better, more "user-friendly" system.

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by: Robert Angelo @ Mon Mar 03, 2008 at 01:39:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes, we need a better system (0.00 / 0)

I agree that the system needs to be improved to make it more inclusive, and I would support comprehensive rules changes in 2010, after we've had the time to reflect on this year's conventions more thoroughly.

There's a lot that I like about the convention system and caucuses, and I am not in favor of scrapping the whole thing.

So, here's where I stand on your resolution. I appreciate very much that you posted it on this thread, where it may be found by like-minded Democrats. As a convention participant and delegate (assuming I'll be elected), I would vote against it. But if I'm on a Resolutions Committee at the Senatorial District Convention and/or the State Convention, I'll vote for your resolution in order that the entire body of the convention should have their say on this very important issue.

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by: MarkCamann @ Mon Mar 03, 2008 at 19:53:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Resolutions website: Progressive Action Alliance (0.00 / 0)

The Progressive Action Alliance as a website with numerous resolutions (Click here). Excluding resolutions already listed on this thread, the following topics are included so far:

Abolish the Death Penalty in Texas
Banking, Credit Card, and Bankruptcy Reform
Change Party Rules to Give Platform and Resolutions Committees Time to Meet
Climate Protection Measures for Texas
Corporate Personhood
Department Of Peace: A Renewed Commitment To Peace And Diplomacy
Disabilities Civil Rights
End U.S. Intervention Overseas
Environmental Initiative Resolutions (7)
Free Quality Education from Pre-K through College
GLBT Rights
Health Care Coverage for Employees and Associates within Texas
Immigration Reform and Immigrants' Rights
Impeach Bush and Cheney
Living Wage
Needle Exchange
No Border Wall in Texas
Promote the Preamble to the US Constitution
Proportional Allocation of Texas Presidential Electoral Votes
Protect Reproductive Rights
Reform Drug Policy to Decrease Harm and Increase Public Safety
Reform the Media and Restore the Fairness Doctrine
Reform U. S. Energy Policy
Repeal NAFTA, CAFTA and Withdraw From WTO
Repeal the USA Patriot Act
Resolve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Restitution to Innocent Iraqi War Victims
Restore Rural Communities and Family Farms
Restore the U.S. Constitution
Social Security and Pension Protection
State Income Tax
Strengthen Environmental Safeguards
Strengthen Public Education in Texas
Universal Single-payer, Not-for-profit Health Care
Voter Confidence Resolution (verifiable voting)
Withdraw from Iraq Now
Workers' Rights are Human Rights

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by: MarkCamann @ Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 22:10:53 PM UTC

Thanks (0.00 / 0)

I appreciate your response, Mark.  It's very thoughtful.  Could you share with us what aspects of the convention/caucus system you like?

FWIW, I don't advocate doing away with caucuses and conventions entirely, and that is not stated in my resolution.  The caucuses still have a very important role in developing local party leaders and encouraging grassroots participation.  Likewise, the caucus role in shaping the party platform is significant.

My main beef is that the caucus should not be used as a method to select candidates for public office (and in fact, it is not -- we use the primary for that).  Nor, by extension, should we use the caucus to apportion the delegates to the National Convention who select our candidates for President and Vice-President.  This is what I find most undemocratic and exclusionary.

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by: Robert Angelo @ Mon Mar 03, 2008 at 21:37:07 PM UTC

Convention Resolutions by Tom Blackwell - www.DemocraticResearch.Org (0.00 / 0)

As a party volunteer from Dallas County, I expect to offer these items at our conventions.

I prefer to leave out the "whereas" language, to make these initiatives easier to incorporate into platforms as we proceed.

Here is my web page, with my archive of previous platforms:

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/tom...

- -

Here are my suggested resolutions for 2008 - -

FCC Fairness Doctrine:

http://www.n5gar.com/FCC_Fairn...

Trans Texas Corridor:

http://www.n5gar.com/Toll_Road...

All Volunteer Military:

http://www.n5gar.com/All_Volun...

No New Sales Taxes:

http://www.n5gar.com/No_New_Sa...

The Economy / Republican Redistribution fo Wealth:

http://www.n5gar.com/Economy_R...

Additional Federal Funding for Education:

http://www.n5gar.com/Federal_F...

Freedom to research issues:

http://www.n5gar.com/Freedom_t...

Oppose No-Bid Contracts:

http://www.n5gar.com/Oppose_No...

Oppose Vouchers:

http://www.n5gar.com/Oppose_Vo...

Patriot Act:

http://www.n5gar.com/Patriot_A...

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation:

http://www.n5gar.com/SLAPPs.doc

Stem Cell Research:

http://www.n5gar.com/Stem_Cell...

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by: Tom Blackwell @ Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 16:40:25 PM UTC