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PLATFORM OF THE 2006 GUTHRIE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

Agriculture & Environment

  1. Be it resolved that public land acquisition be restricted and limited to lands with CSR 50 and below.  Support 3  Opposed 11  FAILED 
  2. Be it resolved that a Task Force be appointed to review ground water resources and rights in Iowa.  Support 21  Opposed 0  PASSED 
  3. Be it resolved that we improve tax incentives for small-scale wind energy projects.  Support 21   Opposed  0  PASSED 
  4. Be it resolved that clean water standards be fairly implemented in Iowa.      Support  21   Opposed 0    PASSED 
  5. Be it resolved to support DNR administrative rules proposals to provide the Iowa DNR some discretionary authority in citing confinement feeding operations.  Support  9   Opposed 1   PASSED 
  6. Be it resolved that E85 fuel availability continue to be expanded.      Support 21   Opposed 0  PASSED 
  7. Be it resolved that the state of Iowa be a leader in the search for alternative means of energy and renewable fuels.    Support  21  Opposed 0   PASSED 
  8. Be it resolved that there be full funding for REAP.  Support 21  Opposed 0  PASSED 
  9. WHEREAS experience has shown that factory farms which locate in rural communities across the state can be “bad neighbors” and have a negative impact on people’s quality of life, health, tourism and our environment (air, water and land); and   WHEREAS rural residents should have the right of local control, which embodies our country’s historic tradition and which would allow residents to stop “bad neighbor factor farms from locating in their community, or hold them accountable for the problems they create;   THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Iowa Legislature support legislation and other effort which give urban and rural Iowans the opportunity to exercise democracy and local control over factory farms in their communities and counties. Support 14, Opposed 3   PASSED 
  10. WHEREAS, evidence has shown that factory farms emit hydrogen sulfide and ammonia into the air and that these chemicals can negatively impact the health of neighbors who are exposed to them.  In addition the University of Iowa and Iowa State University just released a report that shows evidence of health effects from factory farm pollution; and WHEREAS, rural residents should have the right to breathe clean air and protect their health against harmful substances by means of setting enforceable standards to limit exposure to these substances; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Iowa Legislature and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources should support legislation and a rulemaking process that established enforceable ambient air quality standards for factory farms.   Support 18  Opposed 0  PASSED 
  11. WHEREAS, factory farms have negatively impacted our health, environment, and quality of life and Iowa Department of Natural Resources does not have enough staff to effectively enforce factory farm regulations; and  WHEREAS, there has been an unprecedented number of new applications for permits and manure management plans, and the DNR is unable to effectively review and regulate existing manure management plans and Iowa’s water has been negatively impacted due to over-application of manure and manure spills and that the University report which was released February 8, 2002 states that concentration of these facilities adds to health and environmental problems; and WHEREAS, the people of Iowa have the right to clean air, clean water and a good quality of life, and the people of Iowa have the right to have a regulatory body that has the ability to enforce Iowa’s environmental laws for factory farms; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,  that the Iowa Legislature implement a moratorium on new construction permits until which time that the DNR has the ability to effectively regulate factory farms and has thoroughly reviewed all existing manure management plans and new regulations and safeguards have been put in place to protect the health and quality of life of Iowans and our environment.  Support 17  Opposed 2   PASSED 
  12. WHEREAS, evidence shows that factory farms are creating pollution problems and a recent study shows that factory farm manure lagoons leak and pollute our groundwater and factory farms are causing excessive damage to our roads and because of existing tax breaks, Iowa residents are forced to foot the bill for problems that factory farms create; and WHEREAS, Iowa residents have the right to clean air, clean water and good roads and should have the right to hold factory farms accountable for the problems they create;  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Iowa Legislature support legislation that eliminates the existing pollution control property tax breaks for factory farms and allow counties the opportunity to recoup costs for road maintenance from factory farms.  Support  11  Opposed 4  Abstain 3  PASSED 
  13. WHEREAS, evidence shows that factory farms are continuing to pollute our environment (air, land and water)  and that current fines and penalties havenot been a deterrent for factory farms to stop polluting; and WHEREAS, the people of Iowa have the right to clean air and clean water and should have the ability to hld factory farms accountable for the problems they create;  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Iowa Legislature support a bill that would increase the fines and penalties for factory farm violations to reduce air and water pollution.  Support 15  Oppose 0  PASSED

International Affairs

  1. Be it resolved that we support the formation of a network to study the root causes of terrorism.  Support 7  Oppose  3      PASSED 
  2. Be it resolved the KYOTO protocol be approved in this country.  Support 21  Opposed 0   PASSED 
  3. Be it resolved that we eliminate no bid federal contracts in Iraq and the United States.  Support 16  Opposed 3  PASSED 
  4. Be it resolved that we establish a clearly defined exit strategy to withdraw from Iraq.  Support 18  Opposed 1  PASSED 
  5. Be it resolved that the US government fully fund its dues to the United Nations.  Support 21  Oppose 0  PASSED

Government & Law

  1. Be it resolved that we repeal the Patriot Act.   Support 18  Oppose 2  PASSED 
  2. Be it resolved that we support the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Support  20  Opposed 0  PASSED 
  3. Be it resolved that we oppose the death penalty.  Support  14  Opposed 5  PASSED 
  4. Be it resolved that we support a woman’s right to make her health care decisions.  Support  19  Opposed 1   PASSED 
  5. Be it resolved that we repeal the Bush tax cuts.  Support  20  Opposed 0  PASSED 
  6. WHEREAS,  big money and special interest contributions unduly influence our state’s election process and legislative policies; and WHEREAS, this influence violates the rights of all Iowans to equal and meaningful participation in the democratic process; and WHEREAS, voluntary voter-owned election laws in other states havehelped to restore democracy and public confidence in the election process;   

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED  that Iowa pass a voluntary voter-owned elections law.  Under this law an election system will be established in which candidates could choose to no longer raise money from private sources.  Instead, each participating candidate would receive a set amount of money from a publicly financed election fund.  Spending by the candidate would be limited to the amount they get from the election fund.   Support 14  Oppose 4    PASSED 
  7. Be it resolved that the State of Iowa require all real estate appraisers to be certified with the Iowa Real Estate Appraisal Examining Board (IREAEB) and provide the necessary resources to the IREAEB to carry out their duties. Support 16 Oppose 0   PASSED 
  8. Be it resolved that the current Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board reporting rules should be simplified for small political committees spending less than $2000 annually:  1. Require only one financial report each year.  2.  Require only the names and addresses for contributors who gave $250 or more per calendar year.   Support 20  Oppose 0  PASSED 
  9. Be it resolved that all computer systems used for voting in Iowa elections must produce a paper copy of the ballot that is verifiable by the voter before it is cast and that will be countable by human eyes.  Support 19  Oppose 0  PASSED 
  10. BE it resolved that the Iowa Legislature restrict the use of eminent domain for private use.  Support  19  Opposed 0  PASSED 
  11. Whereas one of the main attractions of this country for illegal aliens is the concept of “anchor babies,” which is the idea that if you are born here, you are automatically a citizen. This was not the original intent of Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution. Therefore, we support doing by whatever means necessary to return to the original intent of Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution. 
  12. Whereas one of the main attractions of this country for illegal aliens is the jobs that are available here, and one of the problems for employers is knowing who is here legally. Be it resolved that we support making it easier for employers to be able to determine who is here legally, and we support meaningful punishment for those employers who hire illegal aliens.

Economy, Commerce & Labor

  1. Be it resolved that we increase the minimum wage.    Support  20  Opposed 0  PASSED 
  2. Be it resolved that local soil and water conservation districts support local business.  Support 18  Oppose 0  PASSED 
  3. Be it resolved that non-resident any-sex deer licenses be increased from 6000 to 12,000.  Support  14  Oppose 3   PASSED 
  4. Be it resolved that the Iowa Legislature support funding for Great Places Communities.   Support 19  Opposed 0   PASSED 
  5. Whereas more and more people are working in jobs that still qualify them for social welfare programs, Be it resolved that we support making a “minimum living wage” a requirement for any job created by Vision Iowa Funds. For this purpose the “minimum living wage” means that a family of four with one wage earner would be paid enough as to not qualify for any social welfare program.

Education

  1. Because teacher’s pay has dropped nationally to the lower ¼ of the states.  BE IT RESOLVED that teacher salaries be raised to the national average.  Support 20  Opposed 0  PASSED
  2. Because, all public schools are required by federal law to implement “No Child Left Behind” policies which require additional test expenses. Resolved, that the state of Iowa pay for those local costs. PASSED 
  3. Because, “No Child Left Behind Act” has not made the most effective use of tax dollars. Resolved the act should be repealed. PASSED

Health & Human Services

  1. Be it resolved that the health care system be reformed to make health care more affordable to everyone including but not limited to self-employed and sole proprietors of small business.  Support 19  Oppose 0   PASSED 
  2. Be it resolved that the government recognize and support the value of the parents in a child’s life.   Support 17  Oppose 0  PASSED

 

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