No

Yes, prefer change

Yes, as is

importance (0 low)

EAGLE COUNTY DEMOCRATS

PLATFORM, 2006 Final (with straw poll results)

The Eagle County Democratic Party firmly believes that the priorities listed below serve the best interests of our country, state, county and the Democratic Party.

 (the 2nd column vote was labeled “Yes, but prefer change”. Uncertainty is inherent in its interpretation.)

LOCAL:

Senior Citizens:

E003

1

4

31

10

The ECDP supports the development of services for the senior citizens of Eagle County including meals on wheels, home care, elder day care and long-term care and assisted living facilities.

Housing:

E005

9

9

17

3

The ECDP applauds the efforts of our county officials, and the results that they have achieved in addressing the difficult problem of providing affordable housing. 

E006

0

1

35

6

The ECDP endorses the continuation of ‘green,’ environmentally friendly construction practices.

Elections:

E201

voted at assembly

Be it resolved that the ECDP take an active role in recruiting candidates for local positions and mobilize a GOTV campaign for local elections.

Environment:

E008

2

6

28

12

The ECDP supports the efforts of our County Commissioners to preserve the environment in critical areas by purchasing open space.

E009

0

2

33

13

The ECDP supports the interpretation of the Eagle County Master Plan in such a way as to preserve wildlife corridors and riparian ecosystems.

E010

2

2

32

4

The ECDP advocates expanding inexpensive public transportation throughout Eagle County to reduce traffic and improve air quality.

E011

0

2

34

6

The ECDP is committed to ensuring that government policymaking and decision-making on public lands and resources are made with full public participation and review, especially local government and citizens directly affected by the policies and regulations.

E013

0

2

34

7

We encourage Eagle County to make the buses (and also County vehicles) as fuel-efficient as possible, and to pursue the use of alternative fuels.

E014

2

3

31

6

The ECDP supports the green building code.

Home Rule Charter:

E016

16

4

13

10

The Eagle County Home Rule Charter Committee has proposed that county elections should be non-partisan. For various reasons, the ECD Platform Committee recommends that the Committee put partisan elections back into the Charter. *

E017

9

2

23

9

The ECDP prefers a charter which calls for commissioners who represent a district to be elected by the electors within that district and not at-large.*

E018

2

9

22

3

Home Rule Charter should include a provision for instant run-off voting for Eagle County Officials.

Growth:

E202

voted at assembly

Standards and statistics shall be used to guide approval or disapproval of development projects. For example: population trends, economic trends, income levels, population densities, public and private traffic patterns, environmental impact, and many others. Subjective issues become quantifiable with the intention of insuring that growth does not negatively impact the quality of life of existing residents.

E021

2

7

27

9

The ECDP believes that growth, though inevitable, should be limited to projects that support the well being of Eagle County residents.

STATE:

Education:

E025

0

2

34

10

In order to improve the overall academic achievement the ECDP endorses strong efforts aimed at early childhood education including pre-school programs.

E026

3

5

27

3

Teaching the English language should be emphasized as it is essential for improving students’ ability to access rewarding, well-paying jobs.

E027

8

7

20

1

Each child should be able to be fluent in their native language as well as English.

E028

1

6

28

4

The educational system should make every effort possible to increase parental involvement. 

E029

1

3

31

1

Clear standards and expectations for each grade should be given to all parents at the beginning of the school year.

E030

4

3

27

5

The ECDP endorses public funding of public schools and opposes vouchers.

E031

1

3

32

4

The ECDP believes the No Child Left Behind Act should be repealed if not fully funded.

E032

0

1

35

5

We encourage the broader use of scholarships, loans and grants to enable all qualified students to attend higher education and vocational programs.

Children's Services:

E203

voted at assembly

The ECDP supports early childhood development, not just early childhood education. Early childhood development includes health services, mental health supports, safety, etc.

Immigration:

E204

voted at assembly

The ECDP strongly opposes the ‘Colorado Anti-Immigration Initiative’ with its proposed constitutional amendment, and supports allowing immigration reform and border security to remain in the hands of Congress and not the Colorado General Assembly.

E205

voted at assembly

The ECDP supports the resolution in opposition to the Colorado Anti-Immigration Initiative passed unanimously by the Colorado Democratic Party Executive Committee, the Democratic Party Latino Initiative, the DNC Hispanic Caucus and the DNC membership.

Health Care:

E034

0

2

34

10

The ECDP encourages our legislators to form a multi-state co-op to negotiate with drug companies for prescription drug purchases for publicly funded health programs (Medicare and Medicaid).

E035

2

8

26

3

The ECDP supports increased funding for mental health.

E036

4

2

29

3

The ECDP supports the use of physician prescribed marijuana for medical uses.

E037

4

9

23

0

Drug treatment and rehabilitation services should be mandated for those convicted of drug offenses.

E038

0

3

32

3

Insurance companies must not be allowed to drop prescription drugs from their formularies without allowing patients to switch to a plan that covers their medications immediately instead of waiting until year-end.

Environment:

E040

5

4

26

6

The Eagle County Democrats believe recreational in-stream water use is a beneficial use and should have the same status in the water rights system as more traditional uses.

E041

0

3

32

3

The Eagle County Democrats support the efforts of our neighbors to the west to protect the rights of surface owners whose land is impacted by gas and oil extraction.

Separation of Church and State:

E043

0

5

31

15

The ECDP strongly endorses the separation of Church and State. Issues such as civil unions, physician assisted suicide, and women's reproductive rights could then be resolved in favor of personal privacy and the civil liberties that are guaranteed by our Constitution and it's amendments.

E044

0

2

34

12

The ECDP supports efforts to ensure access to safe, legal reproductive health services, including abortion services, contraception and family planning, emergency contraception, cancer screening, and associated health services, and that the Colorado Democratic Party opposes all efforts to restrict access to safe abortion services or other necessary reproductive health services needed by the women of Colorado. 

E045

1

5

30

5

The ECDP supports Civil Unions for all couples wishing to declare their commitment to each other, including same sex couples. Civil Unions must include all the rights and privileges currently reserved for marriage. Marriage is a religious sacrament. If couples want to be married in the eyes of the church, they may do so.

E046

0

3

32

1

The ECDP opposes the discriminatory “marriage amendment.”

E047

7

3

26

0

The ECDP endorses physician-assisted suicide.

I-70 Corridor:

E206

voted at assembly

Whereas the public identified serious flaws in the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Draft, be it resolved that the ECDP supports the Clear Creek County Democratic Party's resolution that a supplemental Draft PEIS be prepared addressing these flaws. The supplemental study should address the critical technical issues, the new information and the public participation issues so that the citizens of the State of Colorado will have faith in both the PEIS process and outcome.

PERA:

E108

3

2

29

0

We oppose any attempts to abolish or undermine the Public Employees Retirement Act.

E109

1

6

26

0

The PERA board should continue to be comprised of those who have a direct stake in the health of PERA.

E110

2

4

28

0

Any changes that may be needed to insure the actuarial health of PERA should be done with the consent of its membership.

E111

5

5

23

0

We oppose any attempt to create a two-tier plan for old and new members.

NATIONAL:

Medical/Social Security:

E051

1

4

31

3

We expect our elected officials to work toward a single payer health program for everyone in the United States based on the efficient Medicare model.

E052

0

2

34

3

The ECDP endorses federally funded stem cell research.

E053

2

2

32

10

We support a single payer healthcare system that is not tied to employment.

E054

1

2

33

1

The ECDP advocates an immediate, bipartisan debate on resolving the long-term solvency of Social Security without resorting to private accounts that would be at the mercy of the financial markets.

E055

0

2

34

2

The ECDP endorses a prescription drug plan for seniors in which Medicare negotiates prescription medication prices with the drug companies.

Minimum Wage:

E058

3

2

30

4

The minimum wage should be substantially increased to  a living wage.

E059

2

2

32

2

Annual increases in the minimum wage should be tied to the Cost of Living Index.

Fair Trade:

E061

0

2

34

3

We support fair trade agreements that guarantee worker protections, a reasonable living wage, environmental protections and limitations on child labor.

E062

0

6

28

0

Fair trade requires eliminating subsidies that undermine fair competition.

E063

4

2

27

0

Free trade should be reasonably balanced between imports and exports.

Media:

E207

voted at assembly

Information is the most powerful tool for influencing peoples' opinions. The ECDP will encourage and support independent print and video news media.

E208

voted at assembly

The ECDP will condemn corporate commercial print and video news media for not reporting accurate and unbiased news and for slanting the information of or the benefit of their commercial sponsors.

E209

voted at assembly

The ECDP will condemn corporate commercial print and video news media for being 'embedded' in the federal government.

Budget:

E065

0

3

32

9

The ECDP endorses balancing the budget and paying down the national debt.

Taxation:

E067

4

2

29

2

A progressive tax system is the fairest way to support governmental services.

E068

6

3

26

1

The estate tax is an essential part of a fair tax system, but with higher minimums.

E069

1

2

33

7

Recent income tax cuts for upper-income Americans must be repealed.

E070

1

3

32

0

Eliminate tax incentives to move jobs off shore.

Unions:

E072

3

3

29

0

The ECDP endorses the formation of collective bargaining units to ensure that people receive fair treatment and fair wages.

Environment:

E074

0

0

36

3

We must consider the wide-ranging effects of our actions and support global environmental and economic sustainability.

E075

0

1

35

5

We support the restoration of critical environmental protections which have been removed by the Bush Administration.

E076

0

2

32

6

The US should ratify the Kyoto Treaty and follow its procedures.

E077

10

4

18

1

Be it resolved that Yucca Mountain, Nevada shall not be the depository of nuclear waste for the nation.

Immigration:

E079

3

8

21

4

The ECDP endorses the McCain-Kennedy proposals on immigration.

E080

2

6

25

1

We strongly support securing our borders to deter terrorist infiltration.

E081

4

7

23

3

The ECDP endorses a 'path to citizenship' for all undocumented workers and their families.

Energy:

E083

0

0

36

4

The ECDP endorses the continued development of renewable energy sources. To augment wind, solar and hydro-electric power.

E084

0

2

32

4

We endorse significant increases in CAFE standards for automobiles and light trucks.

E085

1

4

29

1

We should consider imposing “a ‘resource tax’ on pollution, development, and fossil fuel to pay for development of renewable energy and environmental restoration.

E086

8

5

19

0

Consideration should be given to nuclear energy as an alternative to the use of coal or gas in future power plants.

Censure,  Impeachment and Indictment:

E089

7

4

24

1

President George W. Bush has publicly admitted authorizing electronic surveillance inside the United States in violation of the FISA act, therefore; It is resolved by the citizens of this precinct, present at this caucus, that the President of the United States be Censured by the United States Senate. *

E090

7

5

22

1

We urge the US Senate and the House of Representatives to investigate members of the Bush Administration and to pursue impeachment and prosecution if found to be appropriate.

E091

6

1

28

0

We support Senator Feingold’s call to censure the President for disregarding the FISA law.

Civil Liberties:

E093

1

4

31

4

We support repealing portions of the Patriot Act that have undermined our privacy.

E094

1

1

32

1

We support requiring court orders for domestic surveillance and the right to habeas corpus.

Ethics in Government:

E096

1

2

31

1

The ECDP expects that our elected officials at every level of government be committed to the highest standards of behavior, personal integrity, honesty and a commitment to open government.

E210

voted at assembly

The ECDP supports closing down so called legislative 'office accounts'. Legislators should not be able to accept unlimited donations from lobbyists and others with scant disclosure.

E211

voted at assembly

The ECDP recommends creating a two year cooling-off period to stop the revolving door of legislators leaving office and immediately taking lucrative jobs lobbying the General Assembly.

E212

ditto

Create an independent ethics commission to oversee the application of ethics laws.

E213

ditto

The EDCP supports banning gifts to legislators including free meals, tickets or trips.

Elections:

E098

2

2

28

0

The ECDP endorses proposals to join with other western states in holding western primary elections on a single date early in the election calendar.

E099

2

6

25

0

The order of first primaries should vary from cycle to cycle, including some western states early in the calendar.

E100

2

6

25

1

The ECDP endorses the concept of ‘preferential,’ or instant run-off voting in local,  county and state elections.    

E101

2

5

26

0

All political debates should follow the standard debate format, not a format dictated by the participants or the media.

E214

voted at assembly

The ECDP endorses the use of an independent blue ribbon committee to write election finance law which will include all the necessary checks, balances and enforcement needed to prevent special interest lobbying groups, corporate associations and individuals from influencing our elections.

E215

voted at assembly

The ECDP supports an amendment to the US Constitution to put strict spending caps on campaign financing for all federal offices similar to what has been implemented in the State of Vermont, including limits on a candidate's personal financing of their own campaign .

E102

2

3

30

3

We support free, fair and publicly financed elections.

E103

1

4

30

1

The ECDP endorses a voting system that is anonymous, secure, verified by the voter and counted as intended by the voter.

E104

2

3

30

0

We should elect the President of the US by popular vote, not through the Electoral College.

E105

0

7

26

1

We also oppose privatization of any area of the voting system.  Should secure systems not be in place by then, we support a system that uses a human countable paper ballot system as is done in countries such as Canada.

E106

2

4

29

3

The ECDP declares that accurate voting should be the main priority for the Democratic party and full reform should occur before the next election.

Independent Investigations:

E216

voted at assembly

The ECDP supports creating laws and prosecuting public officials for negligence in performing their job duties. It's not enough to just uphold the US Constitution. (This will help resolve problems like poor design of the New Orleans levies and the FEMA debacle.)

E114

3

7

20

1

We hereby declare that the investigations into 9/11, the illegal invasion of Iraq, Abramoff and other lobbyists, the Hurricane Katrina response, and other major issues were grossly inadequate and need to be done by independent entities with George W. Bush, Richard Cheney, and all others testifying under oath.

September 11th Attacks:

E116

5

9

18

0

Whereas many disturbing facts were consciously ignored by the 9/11 Commission; Be it resolved, therefore, that the ECDP calls for the establishment of a truly independent Grand Jury and public investigation into these and other anomalies in order to find the truth of the September 11, 2001 attacks, so that we have a greater probability of preventing attacks of this nature in the future.

School of the Americas:

E119

4

5

25

1

The institution formerly known as the School of the Americas, located in Fort Benning, GA, should be closed as it teaches Latin American military how to torture, assassinate and murder.

Commendations for Howard Dean:

E121

5

5

21

0

We commend Democratic National Party Chairman Howard Dean for his actions in reforming the Democratic Party and making it more responsive to the electorate and state organizations. We also commend him for having a strong voice and speaking up on urgent issues when other Democrats have remained silent.

The Democratic Party:

E124

9

7

15