2009 7th District Resolutions (Adopted)

Saturday, April 18, 2009

7th Congressional District Resolutions

Adopted in Convention – April 18, 2009

Note: Bold Face resolutions were chosen to be submitted to the State Convention per State rules.

RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING JUSTICE, HUMANS CONCERNS, AND DEMOCRACY

09-JHD-01 Restore Fair Elections (Portage County – 95 words)

WHEREAS, democracy depends on the verifiable tabulation and audit of votes;

WHEREAS, nonpartisan studies have reported more than 120 potential threats to the three most commonly used electronic voting systems;

WHEREAS, electronic voting machines do not allow the voters to see how their votes are recorded and do not allow for an independent recount;

WHEREAS, voter-marked paper ballots, counted by optical scanners or by hand, provide the most reliable record of voter intent.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that DPW supports state and national legislation and funds mandating the use of optical scanners and paper ballot marking devices.

09-JHD-02 Regional Primaries (Wood County – 59 words)

WHEREAS, the cost of the presidential primary is prohibitive; and,

WHEREAS, the scheduling is very inefficient, time- consuming and exhausting for any candidate; and,

WHEREAS, we the people simply are often not able to get good information on the candidates (especially early when there are more running);

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that we support a geographically rotating regional presidential primary system.

09-JHD-03 Studying Electoral System (Washburn County – 97 words)

WHEREAS, cross party raids in primary elections have perverted the democratic process; and,

WHEREAS, primaries of greater than three candidates allow election of a less popular candidate further perverting the democratic process; and,

WHEREAS, innocent voters are sometimes required to brave vicious storms, expend valuable worktime, and waste time in lines in order to vote; and,

WHEREAS, these and other perversions in our primary system might be remedied by multiple preference internet voting and other procedures.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the Executive Committee of the DPW is requested to study our electoral system and suggest changes to DPW members.

09-JHD-04 Campaign Finance Reform (Chequamegon Dems - 67 words)

WHEREAS, campaign contributions often influence behavior of elected officials; and,

WHEREAS, excessive campaign spending, “issue ads” and undue influence are increasingly affecting elections; and,

WHEREAS, candidates should be able to compete on an equitable basis to better protect the public interest; and,

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports reforms in public financing of elections that provides full and accessible disclosure and promotes informed participation in the political process.

09-JHD-05 Public Funding of Elections (Langlade County – 90 words)

WHEREAS, the influence of money and lobbyists on legislators and the legislative process in Washington has evolve in a corrupt culture in Washington;

WHEREAS, the cost of campaigns force public servants to spend more time on raising money than on the affairs of constituents;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports public financing of political campaigns.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that greater transparency be attained by requiring members of congress to keep a web page log of the text of all e-mail, faxes, phone calls, and regular mail that pertain to contributions.

09-JHD-06 Election of Senators to U.S. Senate (Langlade County – 94 words)

WHEREAS, Recent corruption has become manifest in the appointment of people to fill U.S. Senate vacancies;

WHEREAS, Election of replacement senators is necessary to make the U.S. Senate as responsible to the people as possible.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports the Feingold amendment to the 17th amendment to read "No person shall be a Senator from a State unless such person has been elected by the people thereof. When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of state shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies."

09-JHD-07 In Support of Sentencing Reform (Clark County – 73 words)

WHEREAS, the number of Wisconsin citizens incarcerated in Wisconsin prisons and jails is higher on a per capita basis than most states and;

WHEREAS, Wisconsin has almost 1/3 more prison inmates than Minnesota and;

WHEREAS, states with lower prison populations do not necessarily have higher crime rates;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW calls for an immediate re-examination of Wisconsin’s sentencing guidelines and supports Governor Doyle’s plan for early release of prisoners convicted of non-violent crimes.

09-JHD-08 Ban on Assault Weapons (Burnett County – 66 words)

WHEREAS, assault weapons have no necessary and safe civilian use, other than for law enforcement, and are too frequently used by criminals and obtained by drug cartels;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the U.S. ban on assault weapons, which expired in 2004, be reinstated, as backed by President Obama during his election campaign, and as recently endorsed by Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

09-JHD-09 Restore 911 Grant Program (Clark County - 67 words)

WHEREAS, the wireless 9-1-1 grant program provided money to local communities to upgrade emergency dispatch services through a small surcharge on cell phone bills and;

WHEREAS, the wireless 9-1-1 grant program was allowed to expire;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW will call on the Wisconsin legislature to renew the wireless 9-1-1 grant program to provide funding for needed upgrades for 911 centers and public safety radio communications.

09-JHD-10 Investigate and Prosecute Bush Administrators (Portage County – 73 words)

WHEREAS, Dick Cheney, Alberto Gonzales, Karl Rove, and the former President are implicated in criminal wrongdoing including authorizing torture, warrantless wiretapping, interfering with prosecutorial authority, and refusing to apply legal regulation;

WHEREAS, such crimes are fully prosecutable under law;

WHEREAS, prosecution of criminal wrongdoing will help restore the public's faith in government.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that Congress should act now to prosecute all members of the Bush administration who were involved in criminal wrongdoing.

09-JHD-11 In Support of Investigations into the Subversion of the Constitution of the United States (Clark County – 85 words)

WHEREAS, certain members of the Bush Administration created, approved, and enacted documents that violated various portions of the Constitution of the United States including the First and Fourth Amendments and;

WHEREAS, unrestricted power in any branch of our government seriously weakens the democratic foundations of this country and;

WHEREAS, those responsible for these actions should be made known and prosecuted;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW supports investigations by the United States Department of Justice and the United States Congress into the subversion of our Constitution.

09-JHD-12 Scientific Integrity (Langlade County – 67 words)

WHEREAS, the American people depend o federal agencies to promote scientific research to protect the nation's health and welfare;

WHEREAS, political interference with science has led to suppression and reinterpretations of the scientific facts to suit commercial, ideological or political agendas;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW support legislation to protect scientific integrity by restricting political interference and manipulation of scientific data to support ideological, commercial, or religious agendas.

09-JHD-13 Science Education, Evolution, and Intelligent Design (Langlade County – 89 words)

WHEREAS, evolution is a scientific fact of biology on equal standing with the facts of chemistry, physics or mathematics;

WHEREAS, religious groups and individuals have and continue to assert that intelligent design is a scientific theory of equal standing with evolution and should be taught in our schools on the basis of first amendment rights;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports the teaching of evolutionary biology in our school science classes and the first amendment rights of intelligent design proponents be expressed in religious arenas lie churches or Sunday schools.

09-JHD-15 Population and Global Warming (Langlade County -73 words)

WHEREAS, the prevailing consensus is that global warming is produced by green house gases released by human activity;

WHEREAS, increasing human populations result in increased environmental degradation, unsustainable demands for food and decreased quality of life;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports national and international family planning and sex educations to humanely control population growth.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the DPW supports the rights of women nationally and internationally to control their own reproduction.

09-JHD-16 Protection of Social Security and Medicare (Langlade County – 94 words)

WHEREAS, trillions in federal debt as a result of bailouts of financial institutions are feeding conservative policies to cut Social Security and Medicare and to use social Security and Medicare funds to reduce deficits in the name of fiscal responsibility;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW protect Social Security and Medicare from spending cuts.

BE IT FURTHE RESOLVED, the DPW oppose deficit reduction that falls on the backs o Social Security and Medicare recipients who are counting on benefits especially in times when inflation is driving the costs of food, housing, healthcare, and energy ever higher.

09-JHD-17 Medicare Advantage Plans (Langlade County – 62 words)

WHEREAS, Medicare Advantage plans cost the taxpayer 12% more than regular Medicare and increase the costs of regular Medicare by diluting the insurance pool;

WHEREAS, Medicare Advantage plans are corporate welfare and a backdoor attempt to privatize Medicare.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW not only repeal subsidies for Medicare Advantage plans but support HR676 for universal health care and eliminate Medicare Advantage Plans.

09-JHD-18 Health and Services (Langlade County – 80 words)

WHEREAS, forty seven million Americans are uninsured driving the cost of health care up for the insured, causing millions to postpone or go without medical care thereby putting themselves and the health of the nation at rise;

WHEREAS, health care is a basic human right;

WHEREAS, we are already indirectly taxed for a universal health care system vie insurance premiums and increased cost of goods;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports HR676 a comprehensive bill for single payer universal health care.

09-JHD-24 Indoor Workplace Smoking Ban (Wood County – 93 words)

WHEREAS, the dangers of second hand smoke are well documented by the 2006 U.S. Surgeon General’s report, this smoke containing hundreds of chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic, including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic, ammonia and hydrogen cyanide;

WHEREAS, not one credible peer-reviewed study has ever shown a negative economic impact after an areas has gone smoke free;

WHEREAS, 25 states have now passed smoke-free legislation, including many of Wisconsin’s neighboring states.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW is in support of a strong, comprehensive state-wide smoke-free measure, as outlined in the governor’s budget.

RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING FOREIGN AFFAIRS

09-FA-01 The United Nations and Democratic Ideals (Langlade County – 60 words)

WHEREAS, the United Nations is the world's democratic forum to debate and peacefully resolve the world's problems;

WHEREAS, the world's leading democracy, the United States, has not always lived up to its democratic ideals.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW encourages the U.S. to pay it U.N. dues and fully support the United Nations and its ideals for a more peaceful world.

09-FA-02 Department of Peace and Security (Chequamegon Dems - 72 words)

WHEREAS, conflicts, wars, insecurity, abuse, social injustice, and economic inequality abound in our world today;

WHEREAS, there is increasing need for peaceful conflict resolution, sophisticated peace-making strategies and communication between people and nations;

WHEREAS fairness and mutual respect in personal, political and world relationships foster good will, peace and justice;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports the U.S. Congress establishing a DEPARTMENT OF PEACE AND SECURITY which would address international and domestic concerns.

09-FA-03 Military Spending (Burnett County – 78 words)

WHEREAS, the cost of our military is a major component of our deficit spending, beyond the need for our national security, and plagued with waste and unnecessary expenditures;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that this nation reduce the size of our military to that which is necessary for military alliances and the protection of this country; and that there be stringent implementation of proper oversight over military expenditures, including due consideration to purchase contracts, and elimination of unnecessary, costly weapons systems.

09-FA-04 Military Intervention (Burnett County – 37 words)

WHEREAS, military intervention is unwise and costly, and being that our resources would be better utilized for humanitarian aid rather than military excursions;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that this nation pursue a foreign policy of peace not war, with no military intervention unless necessary to defend this country or comply with military alliances, such as NATO.

09-FA-05 Foreign Policy (Burnett County – 48 words)

WHEREAS, it is in the interest of this country to have peace throughout the world, and to encourage responsible government and human rights;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the foreign policy of this nation be directed towards maintaining peace among nations, respecting human rights, and encouraging self-rule in all nations.

09-FA-06 Nuclear Disarmament (Burnett County – 52 words)

WHEREAS, the threat of horrible nuclear devastation remains a dark cloud that hangs over all humanity;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the efforts of the Obama administration to curtail nuclear arsenals be applauded, with continuing efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons, prevent further nuclear proliferation, and establish United Nations inspection of all nuclear weapon sites.

09-FA-07 Opposing Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Power (Chequamegon Dems - 65 words)

WHEREAS, the spread of nuclear weapons is a grave threat facing our world; and,

WHEREAS, the risks from nuclear energy are real, inherent and long lasting and pose unacceptable dangers to the environment and humanity; and,

WHEREAS, nuclear energy is not a sustainable technology.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW encourages our legislators to promote constructive policies regarding nuclear proliferation and work to eliminate all nuclear weapons.

09-FA-08 Normalize Relations with Cuba (Clark County - 65 words)

WHEREAS, the country of Cuba does not pose a threat to the United States and;

WHEREAS, the lives of many Cuban families have been disrupted by current U. S. policy toward Cuba and;

WHEREAS, Cuba and the United States would benefit from normalized relations;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW calls on Congress and President Obama to normalize diplomatic, economic, and social relations with Cuba immediately.

09-FA-09 Reduce the Risk of Widening War in Afghanistan (Portage County – 100 words)

WHEREAS, our federal legislators and President Obama are on a path of escalating the war in Afghanistan;

WHEREAS, expansion of that war risks exhausting our already stressed military, draining our treasury, irritating our allies, and bolstering Islamic extremism in Pakistan;

WHEREAS, part of “The Hope” in the last presidential election was based on our getting out of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as quickly as feasible.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW encourage our federal legislators and President Obama to recognize that the solution to turmoil in Afghanistan requires new diplomatic and economic commitment from Washington rather than more military conflict.

09-FA-10 Support for Diplomacy in Afghanistan (Chequamegon Dems - 72 Words)

WHEREAS, the situation in Afghanistan is dire; and,

WHEREAS, military intervention in other countries is often unappreciated and unsuccessful; and,

WHEREAS, humanitarian assistance, economic aid and diplomacy will go a long way in promoting conflict resolution and stabilizing the situations and regions.

5THEREFORE, RESOLVED, we offer support of President Obama’s strategy in Afghanistan with great emphasis on humanitarian aid, reconstruction and joint cooperation in the region while downplaying military engagement.

09-FA-11 Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Resolution (Chequamegon Dems - 62 words)

WHEREAS, the Israeli-Palestine conflict has devastated countless lives; and,

WHEREAS a majority of Israelis and Palestinians prefer the two-state solution to resolving the conflict and have expressed desire to have President Obama become more involved in solving the conflict.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW encourages our legislators and President Obama to help bring peace to Israel and Palestine through the two-state solution.

RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

09-AGE-01 Addressing Climate Change (Chequamegon Dems - 79 words)

WHEREAS, climate change poses a severe threat to future generations and the diversity of life on earth; and,

WHEREAS, strong measures are urgently needed to effectively curb climate change by reducing carbon emissions; and,

WHEREAS, President Obama has proposed the implementation of a cap-and-trade program, which will provide an effective, market-based means of reducing such emissions;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW strongly supports the implementation of President Obama’s proposed cap and-trade program and urges that it be given top priority.

09-AGE-02 Energy Independence (Chequamegon Dems - 96 words)

WHEREAS, the world is reaching peak oil production and there are many alternative energy options available, including solar, wind and conservation practices;

WHEREAS, we must work to preserve Earth’s environment by promoting clean air and water and emphasizing the protection of natural resources;

WHEREAS, nuclear energy is not an option;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports legislation that will make Wisconsin a more energy independent state, stressing the need for alternative and sustainable energy while promoting energy conservation and energy efficiency.

FURTHER RESOLVED, investing in renewable sources of energy will lead to new jobs and new businesses.

09-AGE-04 Conservation and Land Preservation (Langlade County – 50 words)

WHEREAS, preservation of wilderness areas, national parks, National Monuments and Scenic Rivers is essential for future generations and a livable planet;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW continues to seek bipartisan support of ongoing efforts such as the Omnibus Federal Land Bill now before Congress to preserve Federal Lands for future generations.

09-AGE-05 Wisconsin Should Move to the Forefront in Protecting Our Environment (Portage County – 91 words)

WHEREAS, there is a renewed interest from our state’s residents in protecting the environment.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW support legislation to:

1) protect our drinking water supplies by protecting our groundwater by safely disposing of agricultural, municipal and industrial waste;
2) protect the quality of water in our lakes, streams and wetlands;
3) address the threat of global warming through the use of clean, renewable energy and energy conservation while also increasing employment associated with clean energy technology;
4) return authority to appoint the DNR secretary to the Natural Resource Board.

09-AGE-06 Environmental Initiatives (Burnett County –58 words)

WHEREAS, global warming is a threat to the existence of life on earth as we know it, and has been caused largely by our pollution of the planet after the commencement of the industrial age;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that our government forcefully continue with its efforts to curb pollution, and to encourage lifestyles and developments that are environmentally friendly.

RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING EDUCATION, LABOR, AND ECONOMICS

09-ELE-01 No Child Left Behind (Wood County – 91 words)

WHEREAS, a well-educated citizenry is a most critical aspect of a democracy; and,

WHEREAS, an under-educated citizenry will be more vulnerable to abuses of power; and,

WHEREAS, an under-educated citizenry will only add to most of our “problems” and “issues”, due to an inability to do critical analysis;

WHEREAS, the national dropout rate is catastrophic; and,

WHEREAS, the “No Child Left Behind” policy is ineffective at best and more likely a disaster for our school systems’

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, we recommend that the “No Child Left Behind” policy be abolished or amended.

09-ELE-02 Superintendents and Business Managers (Washburn County – 90 words)

WHEREAS, while the ideal student-teacher ratio may be uncertain, evidence seems to support the claim that a small class size is generally better for good learning, and

WHEREAS, the least negative impact on learners would be to reduce administrators rather than the number of classroom teachers.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED ,that districts within a prescribed area combine the offices of school superintendents and those of business managers so that one (1) qualified individual as a superintendent and one (1) individual as a business manager be hired by a group of school districts.

09-ELE-03 Support Our Public Schools (Chequamegon Dems - 67 words)

WHEREAS, quality public education is critical for the wellbeing of individuals, the economy and a healthy democracy; and,

WHEREAS, declining enrollment and revenue caps are limiting the ability of many school districts to maintain
opportunities for quality education; and,

WHEREAS, public school education is the responsibility of the state.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports the Governor and proposals to provide adequate funding for all public schools.

09-ELE-04 Restore Department of Public Instruction Environmental Education Consultant (Portage County – 91 words)

WHEREAS, Wisconsin is a world leader in environmental education, passing the first conservation education requirements for public schools in 1935;

WHEREAS, widespread understanding of conservation, environmental problems, and natural resources provide the basis for a just and sustainable society;

WHEREAS, the statewide environmental education supervisor position, first established in 1969, was eliminated by Governor Thompson in 1994;

WHEREAS, the Department of Public Instruction’s proposed budget includes funding to reinstate this position.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the Wisconsin Legislature should continue to work to reinstate the Department of Public Instruction’s environmental education position.

09-ELE-05 Make College More Affordable (Portage County – 100 words)

WHEREAS, growing numbers of Wisconsin students are losing the opportunity to obtain college educations, due to current economic struggles;

WHEREAS, public higher education should be made affordable and accessible to all citizens of the state of Wisconsin, insuring an educated and employed citizenry;

WHEREAS, the DPW supports making college more affordable for Wisconsin Citizens, as promoted in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) through Opportunity Education Tax Credits and Pell Grants.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that DPW supports national initiatives for higher education funding, ensuring means for students to claim tax benefits and receive improved financial assistance through these federal laws.

09-ELE-06 Hold Public School Districts Harmless Under State Budget Deficit (Portage County – 98 words)

WHEREAS, Wisconsin faces a huge state budget deficit in this biennium;

WHEREAS, the Legislature will be making difficult decisions on how to fill this shortfall;

WHEREAS, revenue controls over past decades, have already forced school districts to cut programs and lay off staff, damaging the quality of education;

WHEREAS, school districts cannot withstand additional budget cuts without harming education;

WHEREAS, for our state to prosper in the future, it needs to adequately and equitably fund K-12 public education;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW encourages legislators to preserve funding for education as they consider ways to cover the budget shortfall.

09-ELE-07 Employee Free Choice Act (Portage County – 98 words)

WHEREAS, wages, pensions and health care plans are evaporating and the middle class is diminishing;

WHEREAS, employees are fired for promoting a union in one-quarter of private-sector union organizing campaigns;

WHEREAS, 78 percent of companies require supervisors to deliver anti-union messages;

WHEREAS, after workers form a union, 44 percent of the time they are not able to get a contract mostly due to the employer’s techniques coercion of intimidation.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW support the federal Employee Free Choice Act to strengthen penalties against companies that illegally coerce or intimidate employees to prevent them from forming a union.

09-ELE-08 Budget (Wood County – 99 words)

WHEREAS, it is incumbent on the State Senate and Assembly to get a budget passed on time; and,

WHEREAS, it is important that new legislators gain experience and knowledge before being asked to vote for a budget bill; and,

WHEREAS, the first year of the legislative session should be used for bipartisan discussion of goals and priorities for the state and the second year for financing those agreed upon goals,

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that we propose and support a reversal of the two-year legislative cycle, with the first year a discussion of goals and the second year passing the budget.

09-ELE-09 Long Range Plans for Mass Transportation (Chequamegon Dems - 47 Words)

WHEREAS, America is currently dependent to a very large degree on finite fossil fuels for transportation;

WHEREAS, population growth will continue to place pressure on the transportation needs of both people and commerce;

WHEREAS, current means of transportation are wasteful of resources and costly, without providing proper transportation of people and materials;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that there be proper efforts to develop and create public transportation systems that are efficient, dependable and cost effective.

09-ELE-11 Fiscal Restraint (Burnett County – 68 words)

WHEREAS, necessary federal expenditures continue to enlarge the huge federal deficit, it is necessary to reduce federal expenditures by better oversight, curtailing unnecessary expenditures, and eliminating unworthy programs, such as the proposed NASA mission to mars;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that there be better control and transparency of congressional "earmarks," and that priority be given to entitlements and health care, and with elimination of costly projects of little immediate utility.

09-ELE-12 Taxation (Burnett County – 92 words)

WHEREAS, there had been an inordinate increase in the disparity between the rich and poor, augmented by a current tax code that used to provide for progressive taxation based on ability to pay; and

WHEREAS, the Obama administration’s proposed taxation legislation is a good start towards having truly progressive taxation;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the Obama administration deserves support for its efforts to create more equitable taxation, including increasing taxation of the wealthy, individual and corporate, duly taxing capital gains and dividends, retaining the estate tax, and eliminating business and corporate tax loopholes.

Last Updated (2009-04-20 01:04:22)