Page 1 of 14
1 2008 DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN RESOLUTIONS
2 Approved by Convention June 14, 2008
3
4 RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
5
6 08-AGE-01 Environmental Protection (75 Words)
7
8 WHEREAS, global warming is already a recognized international problem, but it is only one of a much broader
9 range of environmental problems caused by the twin factors of increasing population pressure and relaxing
10 environmental regulation and practices, including the current Republican administration of the United States,
11 to place corporate profits over environmental protection;
12
13 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW renew its efforts both nationally and internationally to control population
14 growth and place environmental protection over corporate profits.
15
16
17 08-AGE-02 Wind Energy (63 Words)
18
19 WHEREAS, some areas in Wisconsin that have enough wind have not wanted wind turbines in their neighborhood;
20 and
21
22 WHEREAS, we must curtail our dependence on foreign oil because of the consequences of global warming that the
23 use of oil and other fossil fuels bring;
24
25 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW request legislation to require a large part of our energy come from wind
26 energy.
27
28
29 08-AGE-03 Energy Independence (97 Words)
30
31 WHEREAS, reliance on imported oil has created serious economic, environmental and political/national security
32 problems for the United States;
33
34 WHEREAS, the world is reaching peak oil production; and
35
36 WHEREAS, there are many available options, including improved efficiencies, conservation, and renewable energy
37 sources, such as wind, solar, and hydrogen;
38
39 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW support legislation that provides tax incentives and funding for research and
40 development to reach the goal of having Wisconsin achieve 25% or greater renewable energy use by the year
41 2018; and
42
43 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the DPW supports U.S. full participation in future international environmental treaties.
44
45
46 08-AGE-04 Nelson-Knowles Stewardship Fund (73 Words)
47
48 WHEREAS, Wisconsin enjoys exceptional quality in its natural areas, many of which are increasingly threatened by
49 development, hindering Wisconsin's future development as a center for tourism, protection of natural areas and
50 outdoor recreation;
51
52 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, DPW will seek bipartisan legislative support for expansion of the Nelson-Knowles
53 Stewardship Fund to acquire lands of environmental and recreational value, and resist efforts to sell any lands
54 already protected in order to help meet state budget needs.
Page 2 of 14
1 08-AGE-05 In Support of the Great Lakes Compact (94 Words)
2
3 WHEREAS, the Great Lakes provide drinking water, recreational opportunities and serve as foundations for
4 manufacturing and agriculture in Wisconsin;
5
6 WHEREAS, these waters are challenged by climate change, drought, and pollution;
7
8 WHEREAS, there are increasing demands being made for water diversion in the state and nationally; and
9
10 WHEREAS, Wisconsin citizens have the right and duty to manage, protect, conserve and restore the Great Lakes as
11 an equal partner through a strong compact that will guarantee that our Great Lakes are preserved for generations
12 to come;
13
14 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports the Great Lakes Compact and applauds Governor Doyle for signing it.
15
16
17 08-AGE-06 Mass Transit (84 Words)
18
19 WHEREAS, individual vehicle use for routine transportation needs increases the consumption of fossil fuels;
20
21 WHEREAS, individual vehicle use for routine transportation needs increases traffic flow that contributes to accidents
22 and delays;
23
24 WHEREAS, heavy road use for individual routine transportation accelerates road wear and escalates repair costs;
25 and
26
27 WHEREAS, development of passenger rail transportation options will create well-paying jobs for our citizens;
28
29 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports initiatives to increase non-fossil fuel burning passenger rail options
30 within and between cities to meet individual transportation needs.
31
32
33 08-AGE-07 Clean Indoor Air (77 Words)
34
35 WHEREAS, health is a right of all citizens;
36
37 WHEREAS, prevention is less costly than medical treatment;
38
39 WHEREAS, there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco;
40
41 WHEREAS, second hand smoke is known to be dangerous and harmful; and
42
43 WHEREAS, Wisconsin tourism could be harmed if Wisconsin is known as the ashtray of the Midwest;
44
45 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports legislation to make all public buildings, public transportation, and all
46 workplaces (including bars) in the state smoke free.
Page 3 of 14
1 RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING FOREIGN AFFAIRS
2
3 08-FA-01 Opposing Nuclear Weapons (94 Words)
4
5 WHEREAS, a nuclear weapons free world is a long-overdue goal that enjoys bipartisan support among citizens of
6 the United States;
7
8 WHEREAS, Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly supported a nuclear weapons freeze referendum;
9
10 WHEREAS, Complex Transformation will spend billions refurbishing our nuclear weapons contrary to the Non
11 Proliferation treaty which the U.S. ratified; and
12
13 WHEREAS, the spread of nuclear weapons is a grave threat facing our nation and world;
14
15 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW calls upon our Congressional Delegation to defeat Complex Transformation, to
16 promote constructive policies to stop their proliferation, and work to eliminate all nuclear weapons.
17
18
19 08-FA-02 Fair Trade Not Free Trade (100 Words)
20
21 WHEREAS, the Bush administration is urging new free trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama,
22 using the failed NAFTA model;
23
24 WHEREAS, 3 million U.S. manufacturing jobs have been lost since 1994 as a direct result of that unfair model; and
25
26 WHEREAS, these three new agreements continue the damaging pattern of threatening U.S. jobs, hurting family
27 farmers, depressing food and product safety standards, polluting our environment, limiting access to affordable
28 medicines, and favoring foreign over US corporations;
29
30 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW opposes passage of any new free trade agreements based on the last 15 years
31 of the failed NAFTA model.
32
33
34 08-FA-03 End the Occupation of Iraq (98 Words)
35
36 WHEREAS, the invasion and occupation of Iraq were based on misinformation and unaccompanied by any plan to
37 prosecute announced objectives;
38
39 WHEREAS, more than 4,000 of our service members have been killed, tens of thousands have been wounded and
40 hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed;
41
42 WHEREAS, the Iraq occupation has cost our country many billions of dollars, and may cost three trillion, while
43 making us less safe; and
44
45 WHEREAS, we are fighting an undeclared war, that has destabilized the region and caused rifts with our allies;
46
47 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports early disengagement from and end to this occupation.
Page 4 of 14
1 08-FA-04 Transform the US Role in Iraq (86 Words)
2
3 WHEREAS, coalition forces valiantly served in deposing a violent dictator, so the mission was accomplished; and
4
5 WHEREAS, after accomplishing the mission, the real enemies in Iraq have become today devastation, lack of
6 essentials such as clean water and electricity, lack of jobs, lack of internal security, sectarian violence, vengeance
7 and hatred;
8
9 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW encourages the US government to transform its role in Iraq to support for Iraq
10 to (1) disarm, (2) secure its borders, and (3) rebuild the country, utilizing Iraqi citizens and companies.
11
12
13 RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING PARTY GOVERNANCE
14
15 08-PG-01 Platform and Resolutions (90 Words)
16
17 WHEREAS, our state platform and the resolutions we adopt represent beliefs we have about government and
18 the needs of people; and
19
20 WHEREAS, we as a Party are instrumental in many ways in electing Democrats to office;
21
22 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW Platform and Resolutions Committee choose 10 major issues and instruct
23 state and national legislators to vote on these issues in accordance with our state platform and resolutions or
24 be called upon to explain to the delegates of the subsequent State Convention why they voted in opposition
25 to approved Party views.
26
27
28 08-PG-02 Super Delegates (59 Words)
29
30 WHEREAS, DPW Resolution 07-PG-02 called for reform of the primary process for democratic presidential
31 candidates by the 2012 elections;
32
33 WHEREAS, it appears "super delegates" will determine the 2008 candidates; and
34
35 WHEREAS, the powers given to the "super delegates" over the selection of candidates is not democratic;
36
37 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports elimination of "super delegates" in the nominating process.
38
39
40 RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING EDUCATION, LABOR, AND ECONOMICS
41
42 08-ELE-01 Fully Funding Wisconsin's Public Schools (100 Words)
43
44 WHEREAS, Wisconsin schools have faced yearly budget deficits of 1.7%, causing cuts in school staff and
45 services and leading to hundreds of referendums, often failures;
46
47 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports enacting new school finance reforms during the 2009-2011
48 legislative session with the following key components: Funding levels based on the actual cost of what is
49 needed to provide an education for all students; State resources sufficient to satisfy state and federal
50 mandates, and to prepare all students for citizenship, post-secondary education, employment, or service to
51 their country; The "cost of education" should be financed based on a fair tax structure.
Page 5 of 14
1 08-ELE-02 Support Public K-12 Schools (61 Words)
2
3 WHEREAS, public school education is a responsibility of the state; and,
4
5 WHEREAS, revenue caps and declining enrollments are limiting the ability of many state school districts to maintain
6 their quality of education; and
7
8 WHEREAS, lack of adequate funding is causing many districts to seek additional money to maintain their diminished
9 programs via referendums;
10
11 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports the Governor and his proposals to provide adequate school funding for
12 all public schools.
13
14
15 08-ELE-03 Solutions To Students’ Issues (88 Words)
16
17 WHEREAS, our college and technical students face issues of access to affordable higher education, quality
18 affordable health care, and assistance for students’ loans;
19
20 WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 779 authorizes student health benefit purchasing cooperatives to be organized
21 geographically;
22
23 WHEREAS, AB714 creates a non-refundable individual income tax credit for interest paid on student loans; and
24
25 WHEREAS, AB780 indexes higher education grants to Wisconsin students enrolled in nonprofit post-high school
26 institutions;
27
28 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports legislation AB 779, 714, and 780 that allow our children better access
29 to higher education.
30
31
32 08-ELE-04 Protecting American Workers (63 Words)
33
34 WHEREAS, Americans are losing an increasing number of jobs due to bad trade agreements; and
35
36 WHEREAS, American companies are declining to stay in the United States and are choosing to leave and be
37 rewarded by tax credits;
38
39 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin supports protecting American workers from foreign
40 competition and promoting domestic employment by corporations that stay in the United States.
41
42
43 08-ELE-05 American Enterprises With Foreign Addresses (68 Words)
44
45 WHEREAS, there are many US companies that avoid paying taxes by having foreign addresses;
46
47 WHEREAS, these companies have all the advantages that come to US companies; and
48
49 WHEREAS, it is important for all people and companies to pay their fair share of the funds our country needs to
50 operate;
51
52 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW urges Congress to enact laws to end tax evasion of companies that move
53 overseas.
Page 6 of 14
1 08-ELE-06 Revitalizing Our Economy (71 Words)
2
3 WHEREAS, the US trade deficit continues to rise, with millions of jobs lost, resulting in the destruction of America’s
4 middle class;
5
6 WHEREAS, manufacturers outsource production of good, and benefit from tax breaks;
7
8 WHEREAS, health and safety issues have arisen with foreign-made products; and
9
10 WHEREAS, consumers struggle to locate Made-in-America options;
11
12 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW support legislation to provide economic incentives to establish stores and
13 warehouse outlets that sell only Made-in-America products.
14
15
16 08-ELE-07 State Versus State (100 Words)
17
18 WHEREAS, businesses often pit states and communities against each other when locating new plants and offices;
19 and
20
21 WHEREAS, an increasingly greater share of taxes on individuals, which pick up that cost, is being paid by middle
22 income rather than high income individuals;
23
24 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW promote a plan to ban state or community taxes on, and tax breaks for,
25 businesses. Corporate tax would be collected at the Federal level at a rate not less than 35% of total Federal taxes
26 collected with a minimum of 50% of that revenue returned to state government, shared on a population basis.
27
28
29 08-ELE-08 Corporations Not Paying Fair Share of Taxes (54 Words)
30
31 WHEREAS, current Wisconsin tax laws allows corporations to shift income to other jurisdictions; and
32
33 WHEREAS, some corporations end up paying little or no taxes to the State of Wisconsin;
34
35 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports revisions to the State Tax Code that result in corporations paying a
36 more equitable share of the overall tax burden.
37
38
39 08-ELE-09 Corporate Taxes (59 Words)
40
41 WHEREAS, 61% of American corporations paid no corporate income taxes between 1996 and 2000; and
42
43 WHEREAS, in 2007 corporations paid 14% of the total US taxes compared to about 50% in 1940;
44
45 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW demands the Congress pass bills to end the tax breaks for large corporations
46 and cut the corporate loopholes in the current tax rates.
Page 7 of 14
1 08-ELE-10 Repeal Bush Administration Tax Cuts for Those With High Incomes (over $250,000.00) a
2 Year (93 Words)
3
4 WHEREAS, the Bush administration tax cuts favor the wealthiest 1% of the population, causing a widening income
5 disparity, increasing the national debt, and depleting resources for essential public services;
6
7 WHEREAS, the cuts deregulate capitalism and provide legal loopholes enabling tax evasion for the rich; and
8
9 WHEREAS, the middle class, working poor and unemployed face increasing costs in gasoline prices, fuel costs,
10 health care, rising college tuition with little or no increase in income;
11
12 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW supports repeal of the Bush Administration tax cuts and enact a more
13 progressive tax code.
14
15
16 08-ELE-11 Importance of Taxes (96 Words)
17
18 WHEREAS, it is a privilege to live and work in a relatively free country;
19
20 WHEREAS, taxes are necessary to do those things best done together;
21
22 WHEREAS, a civilization is judged by how it treats its poorest and those least able to care for themselves;
23
24 WHEREAS, a balanced budget is important;
25
26 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, by the DPW that we encourage citizens to realize we must pay for important programs
27 such as repairing infrastructure, education, etc. It is not enough to have a knee-jerk reaction against taxes as
28 some of our leaders encourage. Democracy requires intelligence, dedication and courage.
29
30
31 08-ELE-12 Social Security Tax On All Earned Income (67 Words)
32
33 WHEREAS, there is consensus that Social Security must continue to provide a minimum retirement income as a
34 safety net for the aged, and handicapped and that benefits must be indexed for inflation, and;
35
36 WHEREAS, any increase in taxation to support continued Social Security benefits be borne proportionately as the
37 same percentage of income for all;
38
39 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that all earned income is subject to Social Security Taxation.
40
41
42 08-ELE-13 Minimum Wage to be Living Wage (82 Words)
43
44 WHEREAS, the United States, the richest country in the world, has seen poverty rise sharply in the past seven
45 years;
46
47 WHEREAS, our economic policy has enriched those with capital, and has impoverished workers and small
48 businessmen, widening the income gap and reducing the middle class in our society, and;
49
50 WHEREAS, our tax structure and economic policy seem weighted to accelerate the process;
51
52 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, to reverse this economic trend by boosting the minimum wage to a living wage and
53 indexing it to inflation.
Page 8 of 14
1 08-ELE-14 Excessive Interest Rates (50 Words)
2
3 WHEREAS, interest rates on credit cards have become excessive and even outrageous;
4
5 WHEREAS, student loans interest rates have become very excessive and confusing; and
6
7 WHEREAS, financial institutions have used deceptive ways of charging sub-prime home buyers spiraling rates of
8 interest;
9
10 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that Congress work to restore fair interest rates.
11
12
13 08-ELE-15 Consumer Credit and Usury (75 Words)
14
15 WHEREAS, lenders and check cashing outlets have booked record profits in recent years;
16
17 WHEREAS, consumer debt, bankruptcies and foreclosures have destabilized millions of citizens; and
18
19 WHEREAS, state laws have not protected consumers from usurious interest rates, changing loan terms, and
20 combinations of fees and penalties which financially cripple working families;
21
22 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports legislation to develop fair interest rates, fees, penalties, and terms and
23 full and complete disclosure of each to all consumers.
24
25
26 08-ELE-16 Prohibit Forced Overtime For Health Care Workers (84 Words)
27
28 WHEREAS, the law limits for the work hours of many professionals, e.g. truck drivers, and airline pilots; and
29
30 WHEREAS, there is patient risk associated with overworked health care workers that increases the chances for
31 medical errors, putting patients’ health in jeopardy;
32
33 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW supports Senate bill 512 to prohibit health care facilities from requiring
34 employees involved in direct care of patients or residents to work longer than agreed-upon shifts or no more than
35 40 hours without the consent of the worker.
36
37
38 08-ELE-17 Resolution Relating to Identity Theft Victims (96 Words)
39
40 WHEREAS, identity theft is on the increase;
41
42 WHEREAS, victims of identity theft must spend a significant amount of time attempting to recover their
43 losses;
44
45 WHEREAS, time spent to recover the losses may require the victims to be absent from their employment; and
46
47 WHEREAS, there have been cases where victims of identity theft have been fired for absences due to
48 attempting to recover their losses;
49
50 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW requests the enactment of legislation that would prohibit the firing of employees
51 who are victims of identity theft when they are absent due to attempting to recover losses.
Page 9 of 14
1 RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING JUSTICE, HUMAN CONCERNS, AND DEMOCRACY
2
3 08-JHD-01 National Health Care (92 Words)
4
5 WHEREAS, health care is, like public education, an important public good and a fundamental human right;
6
7 WHEREAS, the United States is the only industrialized society without a comprehensive national health care system,
8 including long-term and mental health protection; and
9
10 WHEREAS, the major cost of health care is borne in the United States by business, placing US business at a distinct
11 disadvantage in the global economy;
12
13 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW demands that Congress adopt a national single-payer comprehensive health
14 plan that includes prescription drug coverage, mental health services, preventative and dental care.
15
16
17 08-JHD-02 Supporting "Healthy Wisconsin: Your Choice, Your Plan" (95 Words)
18
19 WHEREAS, half a million people in Wisconsin have no health insurance for at least part of the year;
20
21 WHEREAS, the cost of health insurance is rising two to three times as fast as working families' income and costs
22 cannot be controlled in our current fragmented system; and,
23
24 WHEREAS, the current system is broken, cannot be sustained, and must be fixed;
25
26 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW enthusiastically and actively supports "Healthy Wisconsin: Your Choice, Your
27 Plan", a universal, affordable, and progressive health care plan which provides excellent health care to all for less
28 than we spend now.
29
30
31 08-JHD-03 Medicare Part D (77 Words)
32
33 WHEREAS, the Medicare Part D law does not allow negotiations for pharmaceutical prices;
34
35 WHEREAS, the out-of-pocket cost for pharmaceuticals is too high; and
36
37 WHEREAS, the process of participation in this program is too complicated;
38
39 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW asks our Congressional representatives to return to full Medicare funding for all
40 pharmaceuticals, asks government leaders to negotiate the lowest prescription prices, remove the “doughnut hole”,
41 reduce overall drug prices, and eliminate private insurance company participation in the program.
42
43
44 08-JHD-04 Social Security (45 Words)
45
46 WHEREAS, Social Security is a very successful social program benefiting retirees, survivors and the disabled;
47
48 WHEREAS, Social Security is the principal source of income for two-thirds of retirees; and
49
50 WHEREAS, privatization would weaken Social Security;
51
52 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW opposes the privatization of Social Security.
Page 10 of 14
1 08-JHD-05 Support Reproductive Rights (49 Words)
2
3 WHEREAS, the reproductive rights of women have been regulated and abridged to the point of threatening the
4 right of women to protect their own health, life and well being;
5
6 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW supports legislation to ensure every woman the right to prevent or manage
7 her own pregnancy.
8
9
10 08-JHD-06 In Support of Women’s “Reproductive Rights” (87 Words)
11
12 WHEREAS, some Democratic legislators voted for banning Partial Birth Abortion even when attempts to include
13 clauses for endangerment of the mother, rape, or incest were rejected from the final bill; and
14
15 WHEREAS, women have the right, by law, to govern their reproductive selves as set by Roe v Wade;
16
17 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, Democratic candidates funded by the party adhere to this basic
18 right of women to govern their reproductive selves; The Democratic Party reserves the right to publicly deny a
19 candidate Democratic Party support based on this premise.
20
21
22 08-JHD-07 Supporting Death with Dignity Legislation (84 Words)
23
24 WHEREAS, the dying process can be long and painful for some persons with cancer and terminal illness;
25
26 WHEREAS, all mentally competent, terminally ill people should have the right to choose a quicker and painless
27 death;
28
29 WHEREAS, physicians should have the right to prescribe medications that alleviate suffering and hasten death for
30 their patients without fear for prosecution; and
31
32 WHEREAS, surveys by Wisconsin legislators have found that the majority of voters support death with dignity
33 legislation;
34
35 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports death with dignity legislation.
36
37
38 08-JHD-08 Priority Status for Veterans (85 Words)
39
40 WHEREAS, we are failing to provide adequate opportunities for our veterans;
41
42 WHEREAS, we owe our rights and freedoms to the unselfish acts of our veterans; and
43
44 WHEREAS, the National Guard troops have been utilized to fight on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan;
45
46 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports full funding for veterans administration physical and mental
47 rehabilitation as well as assisting and prioritizing participation in educational programs; and
48
49 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the DPW supports the inclusion of National Guard troops under VA coverage.
Page 11 of 14
1 08-JHD-09 Repealing Section 13 of Article XIII of the Wisconsin Constitution, Wisconsin's
2 Constitutional Amendment Banning Gay Marriage and Civil Unions (96 Words)
3
4 WHEREAS, the amendment has attracted exactly zero skilled workers to Wisconsin but has driven many away,
5 needlessly stunting the growth of Wisconsin's economy;
6
7 WHEREAS, the amendment has strengthened or protected exactly zero marriages;
8
9 WHEREAS, it is widely acknowledged that the amendment will eventually be removed, when the younger and fairer
10 generation is in the majority; and,
11
12 WHEREAS, the amendment serves no purpose but to deny to a minority of Wisconsinites their inherent right of the
13 pursuit of happiness;
14
15 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW calls upon the Wisconsin Legislature to begin the process of reversing the
16 amendment immediately.
17
18
19 08-JHD-10 The Equal Rights Amendment (65 Words)
20
21 WHEREAS, the equal rights of women are needed today as in 1972 when first proposed; and
22
23 WHEREAS, inequalities exist in the treatment of women and in matters of law;
24
25 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW urges Congress to immediately reintroduce the Equal Rights Amendment of
26 1972, with no additions and urges all members of Congress to speed its passage at the state and national levels for
27 ratification.
28
29
30 08-JHD-11 Support the "Share the Sacrifice Act" (HR 3948) (the "Act") (93 Words)
31
32 WHEREAS, the Bush-Cheney Administration has been doing everything possible to hide the human and financial
33 costs of the Iraq War;
34
35 WHEREAS, the Administration immorally imposes nearly all sacrifice required for the war on military personnel and
36 their families and, by borrowing the war's financial costs, future generations of Americans; and
37
38 WHEREAS, Representative Obey, Representative Baldwin and others have introduced the Act, to diminish the
39 Administration's immoral deception in war-financing by imposing a progressive, income-based surtax on all but
40 military personnel to cover the war's current costs;
41
42 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports the Act.
43
44
45 08-JHD-12 Accountability of George W. Bush (45 Words)
46
47 WHEREAS, George Bush and his administration led an invasion into a country which had neither attacked the
48 United States and was not an imminent threat to the United States;
49
50 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that George W. Bush and his administration be held accountable to the World Court.
Page 12 of 14
1 08-JHD-13 Renewing Our Call to Impeach George W. Bush and Richard Cheney (96 Words)
2
3 WHEREAS, in 2007, the DPW adopted six resolutions demanding the Impeachment of Bush and Cheney, for
4 fabricating intelligence to invade a nation, illegally spying on Americans, eliminating Habeas Corpus, and condoning
5 torture, among other high crimes and misdemeanors; and,
6
7 WHEREAS, on 6-11-08 the U.S. House sent Representative Kucinich’s resolution (HR1258) calling for Bush’s
8 impeachment to the Judiciary Committee;
9
10 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW will emphatically call for Congressional Impeachment Investigations, request WI
11 delegation members cosponsor HR1258, will urge Democrats and the public to urge House members to co-sponsor,
12 and write to House Judiciary committee requesting hearings commence.
13
14
15 08-JHD-14 Support for the 35 Articles of Impeachment of President George W. Bush moved by
16 Representative Dennis Kucinich on Monday, June 9, 2008 (100 Words)
17
18 WHEREAS, the Bush administration has repeatedly violated the rule of law and Constitution, leading to
19 immeasurable suffering and financial losses;
20
21 WHEREAS, Rep. Kucinich has moved 35 Articles of Impeachment of President Bush containing credible,
22 researched evidence in their support;
23
24 WHEREAS, since 2005 the DPW has adopted 8 resolutions demanding the impeachment of members of the
25 Bush Administration; and
26
27 WHEREAS, Representative Baldwin and Representative Moore of WI have called for the impeachment of
28 President Bush;
29
30 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW emphatically supports Rep Kucinich’s articles of impeachment and calls upon our
31 Congressional Delegation to support them on the floor of the House.
32
33
34 08-JHD-15 Repeal The Military Commissions Act 2006 (MCA) (98 Words)
35
36 WHEREAS, the U.S. Constitution provides "The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended…”;
37
38 WHEREAS, in September, 2006, the Congress passed the MCA, which denies habeas corpus to individuals labeled
39 "unlawful enemy combatants," whether U.S. citizens or not;
40
41 WHEREAS, U.S. citizens can be arrested and detained indefinitely without charge if the President declares them to
42 be "unlawful enemy combatants"; and
43
44 WHEREAS, under the MCA, “enemy combatants” can be tried and executed on the basis of coerced testimony,
45 hearsay and secret classified testimony;
46
47 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW demands the immediate repeal of the Military Commissions Act.
Page 13 of 14
1 08-JHD-16 On Illegal Surveillance (71 Words)
2
3 WHEREAS, the National Security Agency’s (NSA) domestic wiretapping program violates federal law, the First and
4 Fourth Amendments, and the Constitution’s separation of powers;
5
6 WHEREAS, the domestic surveillance activities undertaken by government agencies including the NSA, the FBI, and
7 the Pentagon are antithetical to democracy; and
8
9 WHEREAS, secret and unregulated citizen-surveillance programs are characteristic of police-state repression;
10
11 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW urges Congress to aggressively investigate the illegal surveillance of U.S.
12 citizens.
13
14
15 08-JHD-17 Repeal of the USA-PATRIOT Act (99 Words)
16
17 WHEREAS, the USA-PATRIOT Act was hastily and poorly crafted, initiating the violation of citizen civil rights,
18 including unreasonable search and seizure, right to legal counsel, trial by jury and individual privacy and Habeas
19 Corpus;
20
21 WHEREAS, it limits judicial review of executive branch action and erodes the doctrine of the Separation of Powers
22 and instills a chilling atmosphere of fear; and
23
24 WHEREAS, free people oppose any proposal by government that suppresses the exchange of knowledge and
25 information through public libraries or private communications or that intimidates individuals exercising these
26 rights;
27
28 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the USA-PATRIOT Act be forthwith repealed.
29
30
31 08-JHD-18 Oppose Voter ID Cards (45 Words)
32
33 WHEREAS, voter identification card requirements would disenfranchise voters, particularly poor and minority voters;
34
35 WHEREAS, over 130,000 Wisconsinites do not have photo identification cards; and
36
37 WHEREAS, voter fraud is not a problem in Wisconsin;
38
39 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW opposes photo identification card requirements in all elections.
40
41
42 08-JHD-19 Advocating Paper Ballots and Random Audits (81 Words)
43
44 WHEREAS, voting systems should be transparent, recountable, and auditable;
45
46 WHEREAS, voters increasingly distrust electronic voting machines with non-transparent software that may be
47 incorrect or corrupted; and
48
49 WHEREAS, only the voter’s original paper ballots are recountable and auditable;
50
51 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports legislation requiring paper ballots and limiting future purchases of
52 voting systems to systems that provide a verifiable paper ballot, mandating random manual audits in all elections to
53 verify the machine accuracy, and requiring that recounts include some manual counts.
Page 14 of 14
1 08-JHD-20 Public Funding for Judicial Races (100 Words)
2
3 WHEREAS, judicial races are non-partisan;
4
5 WHEREAS, an unbiased and fair legal system is essential to effective democracy;
6
7 WHEREAS, it is harmful to residents if corporate and powerful interests are allowed to influence the election of
8 judges;
9
10 WHEREAS, the American Bar Association recommends funding judicial elections with public funds, to address the
11 perceived impropriety of candidates accepting contributions and support from individuals and organizations who
12 wish to influence the outcome of cases before these judges in the future; and
13
14 WHEREAS, other states have passed similar legislation;
15
16 THEREFORE RESOLVED, the DPW supports legislation requiring public campaign finance funding for all judicial
17 races.
18
19
20 08-JHD-21 Fundraising During Budget Period (65 Words)
21
22 WHEREAS, political fundraising during the budget development process by lobbying and campaign donations runs
23 contrary to the best interest of Wisconsin citizens because of legislative favoritism to outside interests; and
24
25 WHEREAS, legislators need to be present during the budget development process in order to conduct legislative
26 business;
27
28 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW presses the legislature to enact a moratorium on all fundraising during the
29 budget process.
30
31
32 08-JHD-22 Separation of Religion and Government (71 Words)
33
34 WHEREAS, the line between religion and government is becoming increasingly blurred as evidenced by the
35 commentaries of political candidates to revise the Constitution to reflect God and the Bush Administration faith
36 based initiatives;
37
38 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the DPW at all times adhere to the principle of separation of religion and government
39 and oppose any attempt to revise the constitution for religious purposes, and work to repeal Bush Administration
40 "Faith Based" initiatives.
41
42
43 08-JHD-23 Earmarked Funds (66 Words)
44
45 WHEREAS, earmarked projects exceed funding requested by government agencies and added over $18 billion
46 to the 2008 Federal budget;
47
48 WHEREAS, earmarked projects result in needless spending and leave less money available for real needs;
49 and
50
51 WHEREAS, earmarked funds are often tied to campaign contributions from the recipients to the legislative
52 sponsors;
53
54 THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW supports legislation at State and Federal levels to eliminate earmarking
55 projects.
To get a copy of the original 2008 DPW Resolutions adopted at the 2008 State DPW Convention, (from the DPW website
www.wisdems.org ), click on the link below: