2008 LYON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

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National Issues

 

Healthcare

 

The United States faces a health care crisis caused by increasing numbers of uninsured people, sky-rocketing costs and limited access, even for those who are insured, and unfair health disparities that hurt the well-being of our communities.  Therefore be it resolved:

 

  • Quality health care be available for everyone with a choice of doctors and plans, without gaps in access or coverage, including Medicare Part D

  • Preventative care as part of any basic benefit plan that promotes health and eliminates economic and racial disparities

  • Controlled costs by providing care and medications that are cost-efficient and medically effective

 

National Security

 

In order to secure the domestic safety and welfare of our citizens and restore our standing with other nations, be it resolved:

 

  • Disengage from the conflict in Iraq in a manner that will not further destabilize the region

  • Provide all veterans with needed medical and psychiatric care without cost to them

  • Reject the doctrine of preemption in favor of diplomacy

  • National guard units are not subjected to continuing deployments which harm the health and morale of our first defenders

  • Open a national dialogue to find equitable solutions to the growing immigration dilemma

  • Adequately fund the vital infrastructure of our country.  This includes providing for our first responders and their equipment, building, maintaining and protecting our highways, local roads, railroads, waterways, ports and borders.

  • Move away from our dependence on foreign oil by conserving our existing resources and moving toward clean, self-generating, and renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal

 

Environmental Issues

 

As a world faces diminishing resources and growing environmental destruction, it is imperative that environmental issues be addressed.  Therefore be it resolved:

 

  • Whereas the Congressional Delegation is attempting to save Walker Lake by purchasing water rights in Mason and Smith Valley and transferring them to the lake and whereas by doing this the economy of these valleys will be greatly adversely. This convention strongly urges the delegation to look at the effects of this on these two valleys and not make the decision unless it is made on sound scientific data and will not adversely effect the economy of the two valleys.  The delegation should look at alternative sources such as importation, desalinization, cloud seeding, and any other method to increase the water going to the lake.

  • Existing technologies such as recycling and vitrification be examined as alternatives to long term storage of spent nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.

  • Dependence on fossil fuels be limited by development of affordable, renewable resources

  • Climate change be recognized as a reality, occurring now, and is influenced by human activity

 

Education

 

An educated populace is a successful and engaged populace and is vital to a functioning democracy. Therefore be it resolved: 

  • The No Child Left Behind Act be reformed in ways to provide schools with adequate funding to hire more educators, reduce class sizes, offer more programs to educate on future careers, and increase the resources available to every student. Assessments also need to be reformed to accurately reflect state standards as well as measure individual student growth. These Assessments should accurately measure each individual student’s improvement and growth through the continuing of their education. The results should provide an average to show a school’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).  Finally The No Child Left Behind Act should be reformed to extend accountability for student success equally among students, parents, educators and administrators.

  • Support  the concept that public monies should not be used for students to attend sectarian schools or other institutions in order to obtain educational services available to them in public schools to which they have reasonable access

  • Restore funding to student loans and grant programs and increasing these programs to expand the opportunity of post-secondary education to any American who wished to go to college

  • Support federal programs which will fund universal preschool and full-day kindergarten for children across the country

 

Election and Campaign Finance Reform

 

Elections are the life-blood upon which our Democracy survives.  Therefore our elections must be as transparent and trust-worthy as possible.  Therefore be it resolved:

 

  • We support full public financing for election campaigns.

 

  • We support lobbying reform which eliminates any potential for, or the appearance of, a conflict of interest or quid pro quo by elected officials and lobbyists. 

 

  • Lobbying on behalf of foreign governments should be limited.

 

Ethics in Government

 

The people of the United States have an expectation that their representatives will serve with honor upholding their oath of office and fulfilling their public trust.  Therefore be it resolved:

 

  • If any congressional legislator violates their oath and the public trust, they shall forfeit any and all claim to salary, benefits, medical coverage, insurances, and future retirement benefit.

 

Fiscal Responsibility

 

  • We support a balanced budget

  • We support the revision of the Bankruptcy Act to provide for increased protections for citizens from predatory lending practices

  • We urge Congress to raise the threshold for the Alternative Minimum Tax for individual taxpayers to protect middle income earners: those earning $125,000 and less.  We also urge Congress to annually review this threshold and make adjustments by November 1 of each year so the IRS may implement forms and paperwork by January 1 of the following year.

 

Gun Control

 

We support and defend the right of each state to develop and enforce its own gun laws as it sees fit for the safety and well-being of its citizenry.

 

Human Rights

 

To restore the dignity and constitutional rights of American citizens we resolve that:

 

  • Patriot Act be abolished

  • FISA be restored to pre 2000 levels

  • Right to Habeas Corpus be restored

  • Torture be clearly defined and outlawed

  • Guantanamo Bay Detention Center be closed

  • Support strong hate crime legislation

  • The Federal Government support the right to privacy and reproductive freedom

  • Military personnel not be subject to discrimination based on sexual orientation

  • Application for asylum be available to foreign nationals who are subject to persecution in their homeland.

  • Tolerance be promoted for all individuals without regard for race, creed, sexual orientation, or status of citizenship

 

Immigration

 

As a growing nation, immigration has become a major issue.  Therefore be it resolved:

 

  • That current immigration laws be enforced

  • A substantive dialogue be opened to establish pathways to citizenship

 

Social Security

 

Social Security provides an essential safety net for our aging population.  Therefore be it resolved:

 

  • Social Security funds only be used for Social Security programs

  • Equitable steps be taken to ensure the continued funding of Social Security

 

Economy

 

Due to the shrinking United States economy, we resolve that:

 

  • Trading practices between the United States and other nations be fair and equitable to all parties

  • Lending practices be fair and equitable

  • In order to stimulate the economy, an expedited withdrawal from Iraq be undertaken and some funding be redirected to domestic infrastructure

 

Labor

 

  • The National Labor Relations Act should be amended to allow for “card check” recognition of a union with a majority of bargaining unit members signing authorization cards.

 

State Issues

 

Yucca Mountain

 

We oppose not only Yucca Mountain for the storage of the nation’s nuclear waste, but also the storage of mercury in Hawthorne.

 

Health Care

 

In the absence of a national health care plan, we encourage the legislature of the state of Nevada to look into the development of a state-wide health plan for all residents.

 

Labor

 

We support the fair and equitable treatment of public and private employees in the State of Nevada.  We resolve that:

 

  • Public and private retirement funds be fully funded and these funds be protected

  • Collective bargaining rights be available to all public employees

 

Wild Horses

 

We support the humane maintenance of a healthy wild horse and burro population in Nevada

 

Environmental Issues

 

Given the rising costs of fossil fuels, we support local alternative solutions.  We resolve that:

 

  • The State of Nevada partner with private enterprise to support the retrofitting of existing structures with environmentally friendly technologies

  • The State of Nevada partner with private companies to encourage renewable energy production and public transportation

  • The technology purported to make coal a clean fuel does nothing to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and heavy metal release.  We oppose the construction of the proposed alleged “clean” coal burning power plant in White Pine.

 

Nevada National Guard

 

The extended deployment of National Guard personnel in combat zones overseas creates an undue burden on them and their families, and also leaves valuable duties they have to perform undone.  Therefore be it resolved:

 

  • Overseas deployments in combat zones of the National Guard, without the formal declaration of war by Congress, be limited to one year per term of enlistment.

 

Elections

All elections should be fair, open, and transparent therefore we resolve that:

  • Presidential Caucus rules be reviewed toward finding ways to be more inclusive

  • All election campaigns be publicly funded

 

 

Education

 

Education is vital to the future prosperity of Nevada.  Therefore be it resolved::

 

  • The State not include education in current budget cuts

  • The State fund education at least at the national average

 

Water

 

Ground water is a limited and vital resource in Nevada.  Therefore be it resolved:

 

  • The State fund and execute a statewide Water Resource Study to include ways to limit loss of stored water to evaporation and explore the uses of desalinization to increase available water resources

  • Transfers of water between water basins be limited to the natural recharge of the contributing basin

 

Lyon County Issues

 

Environmental Issues

 

Environmental conditions profoundly impact the lives of Lyon County residents.  Therefore be it resolved:

 

  • The Lyon County Commission continue to address dust control throughout the county

  • The Lyon County Commission investigate and/or control the emissions created by the Nevada Wood Products plant in Silver Springs

  • The Lyon County Commission will actively support the development of alternative sources of renewable energy by using federal grants and loan programs to set up pilot projects that make use of wind and solar power within Lyon County.

 

Infrastructure

 

We support planned growth with attention to infrastructure impact before approving development, either residential or business, with particular attention to water, roads, schools, emergency services, and environmental protections.  Therefore be it resolved:

 

  • The Lyon County Commission creates an updated and enforceable master plan for Lyon County to include at minimum: water, public transportation, sewer, libraries, schools, parks, criminal justice, arts, the environment, and health care.

 

 

Adopted at the Lyon County Democratic Convention, February 23, 2008, Silver Springs, Nevada

 

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