1. education

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THE OKLAHOMA CLEVELAND COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
RESOLUTIONS
SUBMITTED for Consideration and Adoption To The
Cleveland County Democratic Party Convention
On April 11, 2015
Unanimously Submitted by the Members of the Resolutions Committee:
Eric H. Hermansen, Chair
Amber L. Hurst, Vice-Chair
Connie Alagood
Troy Green
Diane Hardersen
Sandra Rose
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Contents
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Preamble…………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4
What it means to be an Oklahoma Democrat............................................................................................. 4
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Education ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
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Health Care ................................................................................................................................................... 7
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Americans with Disabilities .......................................................................................................................... 8
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Economy/Labor ........................................................................................................................................... 9
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Unemployment Insurance…………………………………………………………………………………….……….……………………..10
Human Rights ............................................................................................................................................. 11
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Families ....................................................................................................................................................... 12
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American Indian Cultural Center and Museum…………………………………………………………………………………….12
State Taxes……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..12
Immigration ................................................................................................................................................ 13
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Environment ............................................................................................................................................... 14
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Water .......................................................................................................................................................... 15
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Rural Oklahoma .......................................................................................................................................... 16
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Criminal Justice........................................................................................................................................... 17
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Gun Rights .................................................................................................................................................. 17
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Drug Laws ................................................................................................................................................... 18
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Civil Justice…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...18
Federal Issues ............................................................................................................................................. 19
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Promoting National Security.................................................................................................................. 19
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Preventing the Spread and Use of Nuclear Weapons ........................................................................... 19
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Reducing Nuclear Weapons Stockpiles ................................................................................................. 19
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Preventing Nuclear Proliferation ........................................................................................................... 20
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Military and Veterans Affairs................................................................................................................. 20
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Civil Rights in the Face of Terrorism ...................................................................................................... 21
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Protection of Economic Democracy and Freedom ................................................................................ 21
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Predatory Lending Practices .................................................................................................................. 22
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Protection and Strengthening of Social Security, Medicare and Economic Assistance Programs ...... 22
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Promoting Tax Reform ........................................................................................................................... 23
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Combating the Debt and Deficit Deception .......................................................................................... 24
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Commending President Obama for Saving the Economy ..................................................................... 24
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Opposing the 2015 Republican Budget Plan………………….…………………………………………………………………24
Combating Human Trafficking ............................................................................................................... 25
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Promoting and Protecting Voters Rights ............................................................................................... 25
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Restoration of a Democratic, Free and Fair Media and Public Communications Network and Support
for (PBS) Public Broadcasting Systems. ................................................................................................. 26
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Public Funding for Elections ................................................................................................................... 27
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Promoting the Democratic Party and Educating the Public on the Negative Policies of the Republican
Party............................................................................................................................................................ 28
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Preamble
As delegates of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, we declare that the Democratic Party is a party of
inclusion that welcomes people with differing opinions on issues confronting our democracy as we work
together to find solutions. We believe in shared rights and responsibilities. We, the delegates of the
Oklahoma Democratic Party, adopt these resolutions to further the mission of the Oklahoma Democratic
Party, which is to elect Democrats. We, the delegates, hereby assert that the following issues comprise
the heart and soul of what we believe as Democrats as it relates to the following topics:
We, the members of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, believe that all persons should be given an
opportunity to fulfill their dreams in an open and fair democratic society. We believe in the Constitution,
the Bill of Rights, and the amendments to the Constitution, and we will fight to safeguard the
constitutional rights of all Americans.
In order to ensure that all Americans are guaranteed their fundamental rights, we present the following
statements of beliefs and principles of the Oklahoma Democratic Party.
Therefore, we adopt the Articles of Resolution contained herein as a strong statement of our hopes and
our unswerving dedication to create a brighter future for the people of Oklahoma.
THE OKLAHOMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY PROPOSES ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS AND
THE CREED OF THE OKLAHOMA DEMOCRAT.
What it means to be an Oklahoma Democrat
We believe all Democrats should be proud of our democratic beliefs and should firmly and with
outspoken courage pursue the goals of the Oklahoma Democratic Party as set forth in the statement
below:
The Oklahoma Democrat
Oklahoma Democrats declare that we the people are our government and that we the people can create
our government and change the government to do what is best for us. Democrats believe that we can
use our government to make a better life for all of us through free public education for everyone,
through affordable health care for all, through equal rights for all people, especially women and
children, through protection of workers and their rights to bargain collectively, through protection of
the environment and a just tax system.
Oklahoma Democrats believe in equal opportunity for all people and that means public education for all
pre-school through college, it means health care for all, it means a fair tax system for all where wealth
and non-work related income are taxed just like work income is taxed. Equal opportunity means
everyone should be treated equally under the law and the few should not get special privileges or tax
breaks. Working people should get the same tax treatment as the so called “job creators.”
Oklahoma Democrats declare that America should be a nation of fairness and equality for everyone, and
that we ought to be a nation where everyone feels comfortable living, working, and raising a family.
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Democrats have a long and strong record of promoting fairness and equality for all Americans regardless
of age, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
Oklahoma Democrats declare that every worker should be treated with fairness and respect in our
economy, and that we ought to provide safety nets for the most vulnerable members of our society.
Democrats have a long and strong record of defending organized labor and supporting government
programs to help society's most vulnerable.
Oklahoma Democrats declare that every American is entitled to clean air, safe food, and clean healthy
drinking water. Democrats have a long and strong record of protecting our environment and making
ourselves accountable for our actions.
Oklahoma Democrats declare that every American who wants a job should have one, that government
policies can grow our economy in a way that benefits everyone, and that the government can effectively
fix harmful skews in the market. Democrats have a long and strong record of strengthening our
economy in a way that benefits everyone.
Oklahoma Democrats declare that the government should ensure the safety and security of its citizens
through responsible long-term strategies. Democrats have a long and strong record of strengthening our
security by supporting the removal of illegally owned guns off the streets, hiring new police officers, and
promoting our national interests.
Oklahoma Democrats declare that the rest of the world does matter, and that we should work hard to
promote a positive image of Americans abroad. Democrats have a long and strong record of reaching
out to the rest of the world to show that we not only welcome our membership in the international
community, but that we can lead it responsibly.
Education
The Oklahoma Democratic Party:
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Supports higher salaries for our Oklahoma educators, which salaries should exceed the regional
average;
Supports increased pensions for retired educators so as to offset inflation and enable them to
live in dignity, providing no less than an annual increase based on the Consumer Price IndexUrban (CPIU); and Supports a fiscally sound Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System (OTRS),
opposing any efforts to convert the OTRS from a defined benefit to a defined contribution
retirement system;
Supports full funding of our public education system, including OTRS;
Opposes financial cutbacks or eligibility cutbacks to the Oklahoma Promise Scholarship Program;
Supports the election of a qualified candidate Superintendent of Public Instruction including a
requirement that the State Superintendent of Public Instruction must have a minimum of five
(5) years’ experience as a public school teacher or administrator; furthermore, Supports the
State Board of Education members serving staggered terms;
Opposes a voucher system or any other taking public tax revenue from public schools to fund
charter schools, home schools, or private schools; if any school entity receives public funding,
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such entity should be required to follow the same guidelines, regulations, mandates and laws as
public schools;
Supports equalized funding of public schools per pupil across the state;
recognizes the valuable educational value of OETA and Supports continued, increased funding
for OETA as well as for the Oklahoma Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the
National Endowment for the Humanities and for programs providing art and music education in
our public schools;
Supports curricula that promote critical thinking, decision-making, and creativity;
Supports STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) curricula at all levels
for all students;
Supports teachers’ involvement in textbook selection and the requirement that textbooks be
scientifically and historically accurate;
Supports the right of teachers to join a union, to bargain collectively and to obtain a legally
binding collective bargaining agreement;
Supports the idea that Oklahoma teachers should be recruited from the top ranks of our
Oklahoma schools, be given incentives to become professional educators and to make their
teaching careers in Oklahoma;
Supports free public education as a right to which all individuals are entitled, regardless of
ability, creed, gender, language, national origin, race, disability, sexual orientation or financial
status; this includes early childhood learning, special education, accelerated or honors
programs, instruction in arts, music, foreign languages and physical education as well as skills of
good citizenship, anti-bullying instruction, comprehensive sex education based on scientific
principles;
Opposes the passage of, or support for, any unfunded state or federal mandates in education,
such as the No Child Left Behind Act;
Opposes legislation that requires schools to compete for funds to meet state or federal
mandates, such as the “Race to the Top” program;
Supports a safe and healthy school environment, including healthy nutritional policies and plans
to encourage healthy lifestyles for all Oklahoma students;
Supports vocational education offered at public technology centers, making every effort to bring
distance learning to isolated Oklahoma communities, and making every effort to provide all
Oklahomans with the educational tools necessary to participate in the global marketplace;
Supports increased state funding for higher education so that sufficient salary and benefit levels
are in place to attract and retain high-quality faculty and support personnel and the creation
and retention of high-quality academic programs;
Supports the Oklahoma Higher Learning Assistance Program (OHLAP) and Oklahoma’s Promise
and their continued funding by state government;
Opposes forced consolidation of rural public schools;
Opposes parental “trigger” legislation (such as SB 1001, creating the Parent Empowerment Act)
which allows private individuals or groups to take control of public schools;
Supports elimination of any attempt to rank public schools with a letter grade;
Opposes the over-emphasis on standardized testing in our education system.
Opposes access to guns in schools other than those lawfully carried by law enforcement or other
security personnel.
Supports addition of fully funded intervention for Title I schools.
Supports reinstatement of Transition programs.
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Health Care
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The Oklahoma Democratic Party:
• Supports the expansion of Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
261 Act (ACA) which would provide health care to Oklahomans who would otherwise remain
262 uninsured; the ACA would also function to prevent the closure of small and rural hospitals
due to uncompensated care that fall disproportionately on these Institutions.
• Supports the ACA and opposes efforts to undermine, weaken or opt out of its provisions and
programs;
• Supports the freedom of every woman to make her own decisions in her reproductive health
care and opposes any legislative effort which would curtail women’s access to health care,
including contraceptives; opposes the so-called “conscience clauses” by pharmacist and medical
providers, which are used to deny medication and/or health care based on political views;
• Supports access to affordable prenatal care from conception to birth;
• Supports increased funding and access to mental health care;
• Supports insurance coverage of mental health and treatment of addictions;
• Supports the right of an individual to make his/her own decisions involving end of life issues
without intrusion by the government or any health care provider;
• Supports the right of cities to regulate tobacco use;
• Supports greater inspection of food products both foreign and domestic and supports
mandatory labeling of all genetically modified ingredients in food products;
• Supports policies to make healthy food choices more affordable and accessible to all areas in a
community, including expanded markets for locally grown foods;
• Supports increased public education about the benefits of eating healthful, locally-grown food;
• Supports creation of a cancer registry to help track environmental causes of cancer;
• Supports requiring medical insurance companies to cover autism, birth control, preventive care,
and prescription medication;
• Supports embryonic stem cell research for the purpose of curing injuries and diseases;
• Supports development of a universal public health care option;
• Supports a requirement that businesses have clearly written and easily understood policy
statements about medical insurance benefits and that businesses honor their medical insurance
commitment to employees and retirees;
• Supports the full tax deductibility of health insurance premiums by all taxpayers, including those
who do not itemize;
• Supports the repeal of the portions of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and
Modernization Act that prohibits Medicare from bargaining with pharmaceutical companies for
discounted prescription drugs for senior citizens and persons on disability;
• Opposes governmental subsidies to pharmaceutical companies in the guise of prescription
medical benefits;
• Supports re-importation of affordable, medically safe prescription drugs and supports reform
and stronger supervision by the Food and Drug Administration of all our medicines, including
proper testing for the safety of all citizens;
• Supports state and federal efforts to eradicate AIDS worldwide;
• Supports efforts to lift Oklahoma to the top five states in the country in prevention of child
abuse and supports the need for children’s shelters in Oklahoma;
• Supports strong educational requirements and training for all public health care providers;
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Supports school-based health centers to include comprehensive health assessments, diagnosis
and treatment of minor, acute, and chronic medical conditions and referrals to follow up with
specialty care and oral health, including, but not limited to health care for medically
underserved children and adolescents;
Supports incentives for physicians to establish practices in rural communities and small towns;
Supports increased funding to train more physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals
and to increase the number and quality of community health care centers;
Supports the Older Americans Act;
Supports all people having full access to and information concerning:
o Reproductive health care;
o Human sexuality;
o Birth control;
o Reliable means of pregnancy prevention;
o The termination of an unintended pregnancy;
o Alternatives to termination of pregnancy; and
o Programs for both males and females designed to educate and instill reproductive
responsibility.
Americans with Disabilities
We believe no one should face discrimination based on disability status.
We support efforts to facilitate the access of Americans with disabilities to the middle class,
employment opportunities, and the ability to lead full, productive, and satisfying lives.
We are committed to assisting the approximately 50 million people in this country living with disabilities,
assuring their full integration into society.
We support President Obama’s commitment to hire 100,000 Americans with disabilities within the
federal government by 2015, and his proposed new rules to create employment opportunities with
federal contractors.
We are committed to expanding access to employment for people with disabilities and removing
barriers to work.
We confirm our support of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which is opening access to
health insurance to Americans with disabilities who were previously excluded because of pre-existing
conditions, expanding access to Medicaid, and helping Medicaid to support home- and communitybased services to keep people in their communities.
We support the executive order issued by President Obama repealing the restrictions on embryonic
stem cell research.
We applaud President Obama for signing into law the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first
piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at improving the lives of Americans living with paralysis.
We are committed to ensuring that Americans with disabilities can exercise their right to vote and have
access to the polls.
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We oppose all efforts to weaken the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, and vigorously support
the enforcement of laws preventing discrimination.
We fiercely oppose harsh cuts in Medicaid that would inevitably lead to no or significantly less health
care for millions of Americans with disabilities, workers with disabilities, and families raising children
with autism, Down Syndrome, and other serious disabilities.
We further support changes in housing children with special needs (DDSD) as they grow to adulthood.
Housing that will provide those (DDSD) adults with special needs more security and activity, as they
grow older.
Economy/Labor
The Oklahoma Democratic Party:
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Supports the right of all workers, public and private, to bargain collectively for better wages,
better working conditions and stronger rights in the workplace and opposes efforts in Oklahoma
to reduce these rights;
Supports the requirement that all employers, public and private, remain neutral during union
organizing campaigns, recognize a union voluntarily when a majority of their employees choose
to form a union, and bargain in good faith to reach a collective bargaining agreement;
Supports laws such as the Employee Free Choice Act, which provided employees their right to
form unions, and supports our continued and unswerving devotion to labor organizations and
the workers’ rights they espouse;
Supports an increase in the minimum wage, with an indexing to inflation so that the minimum
wage would automatically increase as the cost of living increases;
Supports adequate and fully funded pensions for all state employees, including annual Cost of
Living Adjustment (COLA) based on the Consumer Price Index-Urban (CPI-U);
Supports equal pay for equal work, fair wage standards and worker protection laws;
Supports job-training programs for unemployed and underemployed Americans;
Supports the repeal of Oklahoma’s “Right to Work” Law, which in effect is a Right to Work for
Less;
Supports paid sick leave for all workers;
Supports city employees’ right to campaign for a candidate, or an issue, without coercion or
threat, when on their own time and out of uniform;
Supports strongly the Davis/Bacon Act (prevailing wage law) to ensure continued safety and to
assure that skilled workers are awarded work on government or public projects and contracts;
Opposes “the Sequester” and supports the restoration of workers’ pay to that previously
promised;
Opposes cuts in small business programs;
Supports programs and policies to provide health care for business owners and employees;
supports the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and opposes any attempts to
undermine or repeal it;
Opposes any attempt by government to force employees to accept compensation time or
regular time in place of overtime pay;
Supports strong laws protecting whistle blowers;
Opposes forced arbitration that prevent employees from securing their rights in court;
Supports high standards and strong laws protecting occupational safety in the workplace;
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Opposes misclassification of “independent contractor” to benefit the employer at the expense
of the worker;
Supports the restoration of the right of injured workers and other Oklahomans to choose their
own doctors;
Opposes the recently enacted Workers’ Compensation “reform”, which lowers the benefits to
injured workers, ends coverage to cumulative damage injuries, and creates a horrendous, “four
different kinds” of workers’ compensation adjudication methods: (1) preserves the old, judge
system for the pending cases under that system; (2) arbitration; (3) a new system of
administrative “judges”; and (4) an “opt-out”, so that employers can decide to set up their own
workers’ comp system;
Supports increased incentives to protect American jobs and employees and supports federal
legislation that protects jobs from being moved overseas and removes any incentives to
businesses to do so;
Supports the use of collective tariff funds collected from off-shore companies, to assist in updating American industrial infrastructure and to help retrain displaced workers into new, stable
American industries;
Opposes corporations who move operations to avoid U.S. environment and labor standards;
Opposes flawed global trade policies that have cost the U.S. millions of manufacturing jobs since
1994;
Supports an increase in state employees’ salaries to a level comparable to the private sector;
Supports full funding of public employee pensions;
Supports the strengthening and enforcement of anti-trust, anti-monopoly laws and penalties for
those businesses that violate the public trust and eliminate the concept of “too big to fail”;
Opposes any reduction in state income tax at the expense of education, medical services,
infrastructure, and those who cannot help themselves;
Supports strong consumer protection laws and the enforcement of these laws, including strict
inspection of imports to ensure consumer safety;
Supports the ability to refinance mortgages as part of stabilizing housing;
Supports programs to end poverty;
Supports holding Wall Street (whether in New York City or Oklahoma City) accountable, bringing
new transparency to financial markets and ending taxpayer-funded bailouts and the era of “too
big to fail”. We support strengthening the new Consumer Protection Agency in its efforts to end
deceptive and unfair lending practices of mortgage brokers, payday lenders, debt collectors and
other financial institutions and urges the re-enactment of an up-to-date version of the Banking
Act of 1933.
Supports repeal of those portions of the 2011 Amendments to the Oklahoma AntiDiscrimination Act that limits the ability of victims of harassment, discrimination and retaliation
to collect damages including front pay, emotional distress damages, and punitive damages.
Unemployment Insurance
Whereas, unemployment is a serious menace to the economic security of all working people; and
Whereas, the unemployment insurance system has worked well to alleviate the harm to the economic
security of working people since the New Deal and at the same time lessened the impact of many
recessions since the Great Depression and most certainly the last Great Recession through the injection
of badly needed cash reserves into weakened economies and;
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Whereas, the arbitrary goal set by the current Governor of Oklahoma to decrease the average weekly
duration of benefits workers can be eligible for contributes to a national right wing effort to decrease
benefits to unemployed people in many ways, including unreasonable work search requirements,
decreased benefit amounts and onerous denial provisions designed to blame and shame the
unemployed.
Therefore, be it resolved that the State of Oklahoma reinstate the Oklahoma Employment Security Act
as it existed prior to November 1, 2011 and which provided a more equitable manner of addressing
unemployment disputes and determining “misconduct” than the present Act.
That unreasonable and arbitrary goals to reduce benefits to unemployed workers be replaced with
evidence based and fair goals to achieve employment of all workers unemployed through no fault of
their own and real retaining for those who need such training to obtain such in keeping with the
traditional goals of the employment security system in 1936 under the direction of a great Democratic
President, FDR.
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Human Rights
We support local, state, and federal laws which promote equal opportunity for all Americans by
prohibiting discrimination, based on race, socioeconomic status, religious, sex, age, religion, sexual
orientation, ethnic background, national origin, or disability.
The Oklahoma Democratic Party is committed to respecting and protecting the personal religious faiths
or beliefs of every individual and supports all efforts to defend the separation of church and state.
We respect and recognize tribal sovereignty of Native Americans and support all efforts to advance and
cherish Native American cultural heritage and language.
We support marriage equality and the full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
We support anti-bullying and hate crime programs and legislation.
We support the reinstatement of the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission as an independent state
agency.
We support the decision of Native American nations or tribes to permit the descendants of freedmen to
vote and have full citizenship rights.
We support efforts to increase and encourage voter registration and efforts to increase voter
participation with new practices, such as online voting and voting on Sundays. We oppose voting
impediments, voter intimidation, voter fraud and corruption, any law that would require identification
to vote or register to vote, and any politically-motivated attempt to purge voter rolls, or to limit voter
registration or suppress voting rights.
We support reforming the criminal judicial system to reverse the excessive incarceration of people of
color.
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We strongly support the decision in Roe v. Wade, which among other things allows a woman’s right to
make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay.
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We support the principles of the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
We support a renewed effort to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
We support policies and programs that truly value families. This includes maintaining family tax cuts,
upholding health care laws, expanding and reforming Head Start and similar programs and grants to
states to raise standards and improve instruction in their early learning programs. We support programs
that protect children from violence and neglect, expanding the foster care system and adoption
programs, and programs of public health including prevention and treatment for obesity. We believe in
strengthened rights of each person who co-parents and the rights of grandparents raising their
grandchildren. We request that the Oklahoma legislature investigate ways to improve the foster parent
system in Oklahoma.
American Indian Cultural Center and Museum
Whereas, constructing the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum began several years ago; and
Whereas, construction has stopped for lack of funds; and
Whereas, thousands of dollars each month are spent maintaining the Center; and
Whereas, the Center has the potential to increase tourism dollars to the state.
Therefore, be it resolved that we support the completion of the Center.
State Taxes – Enacting a Fairer, More Equitable and More Worker-Friendly Tax
System
WHEREAS,
1. State appropriation adjusted for inflation is below FY 2009 by about $700 million.
2. Oklahoma State and Local Taxes are among the lowest in the nation as a percentage of Personal
Income.
3. The Oklahoma Tax System is regressive—that means the poor pay more or a greater portion of
their income than the rich do assuming all taxes are counted including but not limited to
income, sales and property tax.
4. The greatest benefits from the income tax cuts go to the top 20% of income earning households.
5. The gross production tax on oil and gas production is declining because of tax credits to
producers.
6. State budgets have been cut sharply in recent years when adjusted for inflation and in particular
funding for public education and higher education is declining.
7. Our income tax rate tops out at $27,000.00 of income for a married person (changes with
inflation). That means if a taxpayer gets to that level, they do not pay any greater percentages
of their income more than 5.25% which is set to be reduced to 5.0%.
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8. Republicans use poll-tested words to mislead, hide and misinform us about our dysfunctional
tax system. Basically it takes away benefits from the needy and rewards the greedy. Robin
Hood in reverse.
9. You can learn everything you need to know about taxes by reading reports from the Oklahoma
Policy Institute, see okpolicy.org
BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
1. The proposed income tax cut to take effect this year should be canceled.
2. The income brackets should be raised to tax the lower income earners less and the higher
income earners more.
3. The top rate should be raised to 6.5% for taxable income above $200,000.
4. The double deductions for state income taxes should be eliminated.
5. Combined corporate reporting should be required.
6. Federal funds to expand Medicaid coverage should be accepted.
7. The Raining day fund should be used.
8. Tax credits for corporations should be limited or eliminated.
9. The gross production tax should be increased to comparable levels and we should repeal the
credit for horizontal drilling.
10. Democrats should promote or run on the issue of tax fairness and represent the average
working Oklahoman. Further we should criticize the Republicans for giving tax breaks to the
wealthy, to corporations and to the energy industry. Republicans do not own the tax issues
unless we remain silent.
11. We should demand that our legislators increase funding for public education and higher
education, provide more medical services for our citizens, fix our roads, give our state workers a
raise, and do the job of governing in a fair and equitable manner. If they can’t govern, resign.
12. We should repeal SQ 640 through the promotion of a State Question as it severely handicaps
the legislature to respond to budgetary needs.
Immigration
We support fair and comprehensive immigration reform, including an earned and consistent pathway to
acquiring U.S. citizenship. Democrats support common sense immigration reforms that are more
reliable, fair and more secure than in their present form; and oppose states and municipalities
unconstitutionally enacting their own immigration policies.
We support the provision contained in the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
that declares that, “all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United
States”.
We support the DREAM Act and oppose any legislation intended to penalize or deny educational
opportunities to children brought to the United States by undocumented immigrants.
We are opposed to the so-called “English Only” legislation.
We support President Obama’s immigration reforms.
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Environment
We believe that every person has the right to a safe and healthy environment and a responsibility to
ensure the same for future generations.
We recognize that global climate disruption is proven by sound scientific evidence and that we can take
practical steps to reduce greenhouse gases by increasing energy efficiency, developing alternative
energy sources, conserving energy, and promoting sustainable development.
We support local, national, state and international policies that are based on science rather than politics
in response to the demands and challenges of climate disruption.
We recognize that coal-fired power generation is a major cause of climate disruption as well as a source
of dangerous mercury pollution. We support replacement of coal facilities with alternative energy
power sources.
We support President Barack Obama’s and the U.S. Department of State’s continued rejection of the
toxic Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.
We support the creation of adequate regulation and oversight of hydraulic fracturing and disposal of
wastewater to ensure the safety of individuals and the protection of the surrounding land, animal, and
water resources.
We support the closing of nuclear power facilities and strongly oppose construction of any new nuclear
power plants, their funding or their approval due to the inordinate requirement for water and danger of
toxic, radiation waste that remains dangerous for tens of thousands of years.
We support the subsidizing of renewable energy to make a more favorable atmosphere to bring
renewable energy companies to Oklahoma.
We support the creation of a renewable energy standard (RES) setting a minimum requirement for the
share of electricity to be supplied from renewable energy sources by a specific date and year.
We support establishment of a renewable energy credit (REC) trading system structure to minimize cost
of compliance by allowing a producer who generates more renewable energy than required to meets its
RES obligation may either trade or sell REC’s to other electricity suppliers who may not have enough RES
eligible electricity to meet their requirement.
We support the expansion of mass transit and public transportation in rural and urban Oklahoma.
We oppose sale of Oklahoma state-owned rail and support development of passenger rail from Tulsa to
Oklahoma City and other passenger rail efforts.
We support the family farms approach to food production, which is a more sustainable and humane
system, and oppose corporate-controlled, large-scale Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are
responsible for animal wastes that pollute rivers and streams, contaminating our drinking water, and
fouling our air. We urge that the Environmental Protection Act, the State Department of Agriculture and
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the Governor of the State of Oklahoma fully enforce the Federal Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and
state law. We demand regular CAFO inspections and meaningful penalties for violations and adequate
funding of agencies that regulate these operations.
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Water
We support revisiting the Kyoto Treaty, the next report being done in 2013-2015, and employing
technical information developed since its adoption by the World Community. We support work to
increase the effectiveness of this protocol to further mitigate and reverse global warming.
We support preservation and protection of water needed to sustain the environmental, social
and economic interests within Oklahoma’s basins of origins for current and future generations
of Oklahomans.
We oppose efforts to privatize water and water resources. Water is a right, not a commodity.
We support protection and utilization of Oklahoma’s water in local communities and oppose
plans to pump and transport local groundwater supplies to distant communities.
We oppose plans to sell water to out-of-state interests and oppose the use of imminent domain
to force the sale of Oklahoma water.
While we oppose out-of-state water sales, if Oklahoma is forced to allow for such sales by
federal courts, we believe Oklahoma’s state-wide water needs should be met and take priority.
Proceeds of this sale should be used to invest in Oklahoma’s system of water infrastructure. We
recognize that several of Oklahoma’s sovereign tribal nations lay claim to surface water rights,
and those tribes should share in the proceeds of any forced water sales.
We support the comprehensive regulation of industrial, agricultural, and municipal use of water
in the state that is based upon, and does not deviate from, available scientific evidence, and
that recognizes the interrelatedness of ground water and surface water.
We support prudent water management that recognizes the value of interdependency of all
beneficial uses – both consumptive and non-consumptive – of Oklahoma’s pristine waters.
We support the establishment of science-based, peer-reviewed sustainable river flow policies
that protect both urban and rural water needs and promote regional economies.
We support conservation of and incentives to encourage conservation of Oklahoma’s water
resources and gray water collection systems for non-potable water uses.
We support and will uphold the principles of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Furthermore, we call for the Oklahoma legislature to adequately fund the Oklahoma
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Department of Environmental Quality to carry out the necessary work to uphold these
principles.
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We support the bipartisan Farm to School Act of 2015 that will expand the highly successful
USDA Farm to School Grant Program. The bill increases children’s access to fresh foods,
supports family farmers, and helps to build strong local food economies.
We support the preservation of family farms, ensuring economic opportunity for family
farmers, rural economic development, and improving rural quality of life.
We support federal programs that maintain and build upon the assets of rural communities
that improve and provide better access to health care.
We support the elimination of huge subsidies to large corporate agribusinesses, including
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) that pollute air, water and land.
We support the fight to enable family farmers to have fair access to markets, control over their
production, and fair prices for their goods. We want to ensure that farm programs help family
farmers, not giant corporations.
We urge Congress to pass a new Farm Bill immediately that is directed toward helping family
farmers and ranchers and not corporate farms and agribusiness.
We further support a rural revitalization program to attract and retain young people to rural
Oklahoma.
We support investing in education and the expansion of broadband for rural communities.
We support renewing crop disaster relief and maintaining strong crop insurance programs as
well as the creation of a permanent disaster relief program.
We support reinstatement of federal disaster programs for livestock production losses.
We support Congressional oversight with respect to the implementation of new federal
guidelines for the school lunch program.
We support the continuing efforts of conservation districts in our state.
We support banning meat packers from owning livestock, which results in manipulation of
prices and discrimination against independent farmers and we support better regulation of the
meat packing industry.
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Criminal Justice
The Oklahoma Democratic Party:
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Supports both adequate funding for the Department of Corrections and changes to sentencing
guidelines to reduce inmate population;
Opposes any new private prisons in the State, and opposes accepting out-of-state prisoners in
the State;
Supports funding of the Department of Corrections sufficiently to produce humane inmate
treatment, safety for staff and inmates and following the recommendations of the 2006 audit
conducted by MTG of America, to improve effectiveness and reduce costs of the corrections
system;
Supports adequate pay, training and support for correctional officers and Department of
Corrections employees.
Supports statewide use of Drug Courts, Mental Health Courts and Community Sentencing, which
have been successful in protecting public safety and greatly reducing recidivism at a much lower
cost than incarceration;
Supports a criminal justice system that seeks alternative sentencing for non-violent crimes
rather than felony convictions and prison terms. Violent crimes should be prosecuted vigorously
and those convicted should be imprisoned but the emphasis should be on rehabilitation for nonviolent offenders;
Supports a judicial system that applies the law in a consistent and equitable manner regardless
of race, creed, color, gender, or sexual orientation.
Supports a review and revision of imposing fines in criminal matters on those who do not have
adequate means to pay them. Further, interest should not be charged while the person fined is
incarcerated.
Gun Rights
The Oklahoma Democratic Party:
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Supports citizens’ rights under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution,
However, we believe that the following actions should be taken to improve Second Amendment
rights:
o well-financed, effective community mental health services;
o well-financed, effective substance abuse services;
o required gun-safety education prior to the purchase of a gun;
o required, universal criminal background checks prior to the purchase of a gun;
o license/registration that must be renewed every 10 years;
o a ban on the sale of automatic & military armaments, including but not limited to
armor-piercing bullets and assault weapons, to anyone but the military;
o a ban on the sale of ammunition clips holding in excess of 10 bullets to anyone but the
military;
o increasing and enforcing federal penalties for the improper sale and
stockpiling
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military-type assault weapons and ammunition; and
o limits on the ability of violent offenders to obtain firearms.
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However, we oppose allowing guns in Oklahoma schools, colleges or universities, excepting
specifically trained security personnel.
Supports the continuing right of private companies and public entities to ban firearms on their
premises.
Drug Laws
The Oklahoma Democratic Party:
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Believes that our state criminal justice system is expending too many resources in the
prosecution of minor drug offenses;
Therefore, the Oklahoma Democratic Party:
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Supports the safe and legal access to medicinal marijuana when prescribed by the patient’s
physician;
Supports the legalization, regulation and taxation of marijuana in a manner similar to that of
tobacco or alcohol, particularly removing or greatly reducing the penalties for possession of less
than 1.5 ounces of marijuana;
Also supports a legislative study to decriminalize other minor drug offenses.
Supports prevention and anti-drug education and programs that decrease the number of drug
offenders, drug-related crimes, and incarcerations.
Civil Justice
Oklahoma Democrats oppose every element of the so called “Tort Reform” legislation that would
threaten the rights of Americans to recover for physical and economic damage done by others and
would undermine the appropriate function of our jury system. We further support open access to the
courts for every person in the State and support relief and remedies that are equitable, just, and
consistent with those available from statehood.
We oppose any new limitations on attorney fees or awards to injured parties in contingency cases.
We oppose the diversion of insurance premiums and income from such premiums for the purpose of
supporting or funding any political party, candidate, or issue.
We support a viable and workable False Claims Act similar to that of Texas to recover money for the
State from those defrauding the State.
We oppose fees that preclude citizens from participating in the civil justice system.
We oppose passage of laws that limit or repeal the people’s right to relief, remedies or equity.
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Federal Issues
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Issues Related To Promoting National Security, Military and Veterans Affairs, Terrorism and Preventing
the Spread of Nuclear Weapons, Protection of Economic Democracy, Free and Fair Media, Protection of
Social Security, Medicare and Economic Assistance Programs, Tax Reform and Reducing the National
Debt, Combating Deficit Deception, Immigration, Human Trafficking, Voting Rights and Public Funding of
Elections.
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Promoting National Security
Oklahoma Democrats declares that the United States should promote strong, yet amicable relations
with other countries of the world in order to promote stability and peace. Where appropriate, the use of
diplomacy and other non-violent means comes before the use of military force.
We strongly support the men and women of America’s Armed Forces, both past and present, and
specifically demand that our government provide our personnel with all necessary supplies and logistical
materials to assure as much as possible their safety and success. Therefore, our troops should not be
deployed without proper equipment and training.
We support our continuing withdrawal from Afghanistan as set forth by President Obama.
We acknowledge that the United States of America is the world’s only superpower. This nation should
remain a fully committed member of the United Nations and all current defense alliances including
NATO and be respectful of the rights, sovereignty, independence, and political choices of other
countries.
Preventing the Spread and Use of Nuclear Weapons
The Democratic Party believes we must address the threat that nuclear weapons pose to our security
and to peace in the world. Despite the two decades that have passed since the end of the Cold War,
large stockpiles of nuclear weapons persist, and more nations are interested in acquiring them. Nuclear
testing and black-market trade in sensitive nuclear materials continue. And terrorists remain determined
to buy, build, or steal the ultimate weapon. President Obama and the Democratic Party are committed
to preventing the further spread of nuclear weapons and to eventually ridding the planet of these
catastrophic weapons. This goal will not be achieved overnight. It will require patience, perseverance,
and the steady accumulation of concrete actions. But real progress has already been made.
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Reducing Nuclear Weapons Stockpiles
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The Obama administration has moved away from Cold War thinking by reducing the prominence of
nuclear weapons in America’s national security strategy, and it has urged others to do the same. As long
as these weapons exist, the United States will maintain a safe, secure, and effective arsenal to deter any
adversary and guarantee the defense of our allies. But President Obama has taken important steps to
decrease America’s nuclear arsenal and is committed to further responsible reductions.
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To reduce our warheads and stockpile, lower the threat of a nuclear exchange, and lay the foundation
for future progress, President Obama negotiated and signed the landmark New Strategic Arms
Reduction Treaty (“New START“) with Russia, producing cuts in each side’s deployed nuclear stockpiles
and launchers and allowing us to monitor and verify Russia’s arsenal. Yet despite bipartisan consensus
among former National Security Advisors, Secretaries of Defense, and Secretaries of State that New
START makes America safer, Republicans strongly objected to the treaty. Moving forward, the President
will work with Russia to achieve additional reductions in stockpiles and nuclear delivery vehicles,
including tactical and non-deployed nuclear weapons. We will also work to ratify the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty and seek a new Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty that prohibits the production of fissile
materials intended for use in nuclear weapons.
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Preventing Nuclear Proliferation
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President Obama and the Democratic Party are also committed to strengthening the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty as the bedrock of international efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to
additional countries. As we work to uphold our obligations under the treaty by reducing stockpiles and
recognizing the rights of all rule-abiding states to peaceful nuclear energy, we will insist that countries
without nuclear weapons comply with their obligations not to develop them, and we will ensure that
violators face real consequences.
The Democratic Party supports President Obama’s efforts on behalf of the United States, France,
Germany, United Kingdom, China and Russia to negotiate a treaty with Iran requiring Iran to prevent the
production of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems.
Iran must stop its nuclear uranium enrichment activities and sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons of Nuclear Weapons. All agreements must be verifiable and enforceable.
The Democratic Party condemns the efforts of Senate Republicans to undermine negotiations between
the United States (includes France, Germany, United Kingdom, China and Russia) and Iran. It was
unprecedented and foolish for these 47 Senate Republications to undermine the ability of our
Commander in Chief to conduct foreign policy.
We are opposed to foreign aid to nations that do not advance the cause of democracy and that do not
advance the protection of human rights.
Military and Veterans Affairs
Oklahoma Democrats commit to the promises made to our service members and veterans, to include
support for:
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Military service pay adequate to support service members and their families, to include cost-ofliving increases.
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Family health benefits for all reserve and National Guard military personnel called to active
duty; and adequate family health care for veterans of all wars and peacetime service.
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Enhanced specialized treatment and psychological/medical research for conditions including,
but not limited to, mental illness, PTSD and other disabilities caused by mental and physical
injury, and chemical, biological, and radiological-related conditions.
Civil Rights in the Face of Terrorism
Oklahoma Democrats express their strong support for the freedoms guaranteed to all Americans by the
provisions of the United States Constitution and subsequent court rulings based on those provisions,
and will oppose all efforts to restrict or reduce those freedoms.
The U. S. Congress, in its zeal to prevent further terrorism after 9/11, enacted the USA Patriot Act.
Certain provisions (including National Security Letters) of the act have led to serious violations of
constitutional rights and injustices carried out against innocent people by government agencies. These
egregious actions have not made us more secure.
We question the use of unmanned surveillance vehicles and believe that a public commission should be
established to ensure that the peoples’ constitutional rights are protected.
Given the damage the USA Patriot Act and Military Commissions Act of 2006 (both acts have been
recently revised and amended) have done to our democracy and the future damage that may be done,
the Democratic Party of Oklahoma supports repeal of the USA Patriot Act and Military Commissions Act.
We support the institution of measures to secure our ports, including inspection and tracking systems
for all shipping containers entering US ports.
We strongly and unequivocally deplore the use of torture for any purpose in that it is inconsistent with
the principles and values of this nation and further condemn the practice of “extraordinary rendition”
which results in political prisoners being sent to foreign countries for the purpose of torture. Further,
we oppose military detention of American citizens without trial or proper due process hearings.
We support the closing of the Guantanamo Bay Facility.
We condemn all acts of terrorism and call for our government to immediately institute measures to
provide security for our nation while upholding all provisions of the United States Constitution.
Protection of Economic Democracy and Freedom
Oklahoma Democrats will fight against the threat posed by mega-enterprises and corporations and we
promote democratically governed market economies. Even though not mentioned in the Constitution or
the Bill of Rights, giant corporations often rule our democracy. When corporations govern, there is little
democracy. When we live in a culture defined by corporate values and corporate money, common sense
erodes. Therefore, we oppose corporate welfare to mega-corporations to the disadvantage of smaller
companies and believe that common-sense regulations should once again be enacted.
Democrats need to be wary of these new trade agreements that are being negotiated by both
Republican and Democratic Administrations. These trade agreements such as NAFTA, CAFTA and the
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World Trade Organization already take powers away from ordinary citizens and workers and give it to
corporations. Now there is a new plan called The Trans-Pacific Partnership that is being negotiated by
the Obama Administration, which will give multi-national corporations even more power over ordinary
people. For example, say we ordinary folks want food safety standards. Well not so fast, if those
standards harm the profits of corporations that are affected by the standards, then those corporations
can go before special tribunals and demand compensation for their loss to future profits because of
regulations that may cause a loss of profits. See Public Citizens Global Trade Watch for more
information.
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Predatory Lending Practices
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Oklahoma Democrats call for an end to predatory lending practices, which promote a hopeless cycle of
debt, bankruptcy, divorce and a decrease in personal savings.
We support legislation at the state and national levels to oversee and eliminate predatory lending
practices, to punish companies that create unfair and deceptive lending practices and to make it easier
for consumers to challenge these practices in state and federal courts in both individual and class
actions.
We support repeal of federal legislation giving special protection to credit card companies in bankruptcy
proceedings.
We support repeal of federal legislation prohibiting or limiting the ability of debtors to discharge in
bankruptcy proceeding student loan debt.
Protection and Strengthening of Social Security, Medicare and Economic
Assistance Programs
Social Security is the primary source of retirement for many older Americans and provides a stable
income base for over 46 million Americans of all ages. It is the backbone of retirement and family
protection in the United States, enabling vast numbers of senior citizens, persons with disabilities and
survivors to live independently.
Oklahoma Democrats support strengthening and extending Social Security without privatization. We
strongly support this safety net, which must not be compromised.
Social Security is in no immediate danger of going “broke.” Due to advanced planning, the Social Security
Trust Fund has at least $1.5 trillion in U. S. Treasury bonds that earn interest every year. Without any
changes, Social Security will be able to pay 100% of benefits well into the 2040s. We oppose the
proposal to lower social security benefits through a reduction in the Chained CPI calculation.
We support lowering the Medicare eligibility age to 55. However, we recognize those Medicare
recipients in the upper income levels should contribute more in premium support.
We oppose any efforts to privatize or voucherize Medicare.
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We support legislation that allows the state and the federal government healthcare programs to
negotiate the lowest price for prescription drugs.
We continue to support full funding for existing means-tested assistance programs for children, families,
veterans, people with disabilities, and the elderly that helps maintain quality of life for these groups.
We oppose efforts to eliminate the eligibility for food stamps.
We support the increase of the FICA tax level in order to increase funding of the Social Security Program.
At present FICA is capped at $117,000 a year. We believe that a slight increase in the income level will
protect Social Security for many years to come.
We support increased funding to provide low-income housing and to provide shelters to people who are
homeless.
We do not support drug testing of recipients of government economic assistance programs, finding such
initiatives fiscally irresponsible.
Promoting Tax Reform
Oklahoma Democrats declare that all citizens and corporations have the obligation to pay a fair share of
taxes to support government at all levels. We declare that our tax system should be fair and equitable to
the income each person earns. Oklahoma Democrats declare that wealth income should be taxed in the
same way as work income. Oklahoma Democrats declare that working people pay too much tax and the
extremely wealthy pay too little tax. Oklahoma Democrats declare that every time tax breaks are given
to corporations, working people make up the difference by paying more tax.
Oklahoma Democrats declare that we must maintain a strong and reliable tax base to allow us to pay for
services such as education, infrastructure, health care, and environmental protection. We realize these
and other services are needed from our government in order for us to function as a civilized society.
Oklahoma Democrats believe that additional tax revenue should be raised by tax reforms in three major
areas. Congress should raise tax revenue by: (1) ending tax breaks and loopholes that allow wealthy
individuals to shelter their investment income from taxation; (2) ending tax breaks and loopholes that
allow large, profitable corporations to shift their profits offshore to avoid U.S. taxes; and (3) limiting the
ability of wealthy individuals to use itemized deductions and exclusions to lower their taxes.
In reference to corporate tax breaks and loopholes, U.S. multinational corporations engage in complex
transactions and accounting schemes to make what are truly U.S. profits appear to be generated in a
country with no corporate tax or a very low corporate tax (a tax haven) in order to avoid the U.S.
corporate tax. It has been estimated that the very strongest reform possible in this category (ending
“deferral” of U.S. taxes on the offshore profits of U.S. corporations and reforming the foreign tax credit)
would raise over $500 billion in a decade.
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Combating the Debt and Deficit Deception
Republicans and right wing organizations have been propagandizing the public with a never-ending
word barrage that we must cut spending on entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare in
order to reduce the budget deficit and long term debt in the United States. The real problem is that we
have too little tax revenues being collected. While it is recognized that government spending should not
be wasteful, we should also not allow tax giveaways to the wealthy and to large corporations who do
not need them.
Democrats know what we really need is a pro-growth economy that includes expenditures to create
jobs, educate our people, provide research for the future, create infrastructure, and clean energy, all of
which will raise revenues in the long term.
Cutting spending will only slow growth and hurt those who need government services the most. Cutting
spending will raise unemployment thereby lowering tax revenues which will then bring more demands
to cut spending and on and on.
Democrats need to stand firm against these “Fix the Debt” deceptions and realize it is not about the
deficit but about cutting Social Security, Medicare, and other essential social programs that Republicans
have always opposed.
Commending President Obama for Saving the Economy
We commend President Obama for instituting economic policies that helped save the recovery for the
worst recession since the Great Depression. We condemn the Republican policies that caused the
recession. Further, the economic recovery that is now in place and is continuing would have occurred
much sooner and would have been much broader if the Republicans had cooperated in passing
legislation to create more employment instead of blocking President Obama’s efforts to save the
economy.
Opposing the 2015 Republican Budget Plan
While we commend President Obama for saving the economy we must now show opposition to the
newly elected Republican Congress that seems to be intent on destroying all the economic gains we
have made by returning to the failed policies of “trickle down” economics.
Republicans who were elected in 2014 by one-half of just slightly over one-third of all eligible votes now
think they have a mandate to dismantle the social safety net and give tax breaks to the wealthy and to
large corporations who helped them win in 2014.
Republicans have proposed a new budget plan that will cut social programs and give more tax breaks to
the wealthy, all under the guise of balancing the budget. Instead of raising revenues to balance the
budget, they cut investments in the future such as education. Their plan takes benefits from the needy
and gives tax breaks to the greedy.
Specifically the Republican House Budget plan seeks to do the following:
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1. Once again, tries to repeal the Affordable Health Insurance Act (Obamacare).
2. Cuts domestic spending programs such as education, Pell grants for students, alternative energy
programs, environmental protection, housing and more.
3. Cuts job training programs and no new money for infrastructure improvements such as roads
and bridges and no new investment in research and development.
4. Cuts Medicare and Medicaid. In fact Republicans want to get to a voucher-type Medicare
program for new enrollees starting in 2024. They want to ban the government from negotiating
lower drug prices. For Medicaid, the Republicans want to turn that program into block grants
and cut funding thereby letting the State drop recipients for lack of funding.
5. Republicans want to cut the corporate tax rate but do not offset that break by closing loopholes
on corporate earnings such as taxing foreign earnings.
6. Republicans want to phase out the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit that helps
working Americans and therefore they will pay more in taxes and at the same time Republicans
want to give more tax breaks to the rich by eliminating the Alternative Minimum Tax.
7. Inexplicably the Republicans want to cut food stamps (SNAAP Program) and turn that program
into block grants administered at the state level with of course lowered funding.
Combating Human Trafficking
Some 27 million women, men, and children around the world are victims of human trafficking.
We believe that trafficking in persons is both an affront to our fundamental values and, as a source of
funds for transnational criminals and terrorist organizations, a threat to national and international
security.
We support the use of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, targeted foreign assistance, training
programs, public outreach, and law enforcement to combat trafficking in persons across the globe.
We support efforts to provide annual assessments of the strengths and weaknesses of foreign
governments' efforts to address the issue, encouraging all countries to do more and calling out countries
that have failed to do enough.
We also support providing technical assistance to improve law enforcement and grants to support
grassroots prevention efforts around the world targeting sex and labor trafficking, child sex tourism,
forced child labor, and other abuses.
We are committed to actions at home to fight trafficking, including the sex trafficking of young girls.
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Promoting and Protecting Voters Rights
We support a voting system that allows for same day registration with minimal requirements for voter
identification and provisional ballots.
We support a voting system that will have instant checks for voter registration. We support a voting
system that allows for extended early voting, including weekend voting and provisional ballots.
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We support mail-in voting and/or on-line registration and voting.
We oppose barriers to voting that would require Oklahoma voters to purchase photo identification to
exercise their constitutional right. Such barriers particularly disenfranchise the poor and elderly and
amount to little more than a modern-day poll tax.
We call for a uniform voting system across this nation that uses foolproof voting machines with a paper
ballot that assures the integrity of the electoral process.
We support our current Oklahoma voting system of optical scan machines with a paper ballot in every
precinct and we suggest that all states adopt the same system.
We support efforts to eliminate the antiquated Electoral College and create a National Popular Vote for
presidential elections.
We support the creation of an independent, non-partisan redistricting commission. The commission
would draw competitive, compact districts that respect historical districts and communities of interests.
We support adoption of an Oklahoma Constitutional Amendment granting the people the right to recall
all elected public officials.
Restoration of a Democratic, Free and Fair Media and Public Communications
Network and Support for (PBS) Public Broadcasting Systems.
Oklahoma Democrats declare that democracy cannot succeed without an informed citizenry or the
active participation of informed voters. Most citizens rely on print and broadcast media for the
information they require to make their decisions, and they deserve to have full access to accurate
reporting along with genuine discussion of issues that clearly presents diverse points of view. The media
has been subverted from its true purpose of informing with clarity, accuracy and fairness by the effects
of deregulation and by the destruction of the Fairness Doctrine. Therefore, in order to fairly educate the
public, to win support for the party’s positions and elect candidates, the Democratic Party must:
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Work to reinstate protection of fairness in the media through federal regulations such as those
known as the Fairness Doctrine, which was adopted in 1949 by the FCC but removed in 1989.
Such regulations would, for example, insure that equal time be provided to all candidates
running for office and provide a counter balance to the controlling power of wealth.
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Urge that the restrictions on the number of media outlets owned by a single individual,
corporation, or entity be reinstated so that credibility, fairness and relevance are not stifled by
the power of wealth to control the public right to know.
•
Congress and the FCC should prevent the public entities from using public funds to pay for
editorial comments or advertising to promote partisan political agendas.
We realize that the Internet is becoming a major source of news and information as well as a source of
many other benefits to millions of users every day. We oppose any governmental effort to regulate the
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Internet except for any illegal activities, including those that might precede the posting of materials such
as child pornography or the illegal use of copyrighted materials. However, legislation intended to inhibit
illegal use of copyrighted materials should not impinge upon freedom of expression.
We support the recent decision of the FCC guaranteeing “net neutrality”.
We further believe that the meaning of the constitutional right to peaceably assemble should be
extended by statute to include the right to virtually assemble through the Internet and the use of emails.
We support the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, including television and radio, and the contribution
it makes to our lives and political understanding. We strongly oppose any attempts to decrease federal
or state funding, or impose politically biased mandates or impositions upon this institution of nonpartisan speech and press.
Public Funding for Elections
Oklahoma Democrats declare that elections should be fair and democratic. However, the power of
money and influence has skewed elections in favor of those with money and power to the disadvantage
of the average American. Therefore, we support a system of public funding for all elections to state and
federal offices similar to the Fair Elections Now Act currently before Congress. Oklahoma Democrats
support campaign finance reform that will accomplish the following:
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Secret money has no place in American democracy.
Corporations and unions should not be allowed to spend money in elections without full
disclosure to the American public. The role of the voter – not the corporation or organization –
is determining elections must be protected.
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Corporations and unions should have to stand by their ads.
When huge sums are spent to urge voters to take a certain action through advertisements, it
should be clear who footed the bill. The “stand by your ad” system in elections works for
candidates – we need it in place for corporate America too.
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Federal bailout money should stay out of electioneering.
Companies that receive federal bailouts should not be able to spend money in elections. This is
a clear conflict of interest that is even more damaging without full disclosure.
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Coordinated spending should be open spending.
When a candidate, corporation, or union get together to encourage voters to support or oppose
a candidate, it should be clear who paid for the advertising or media.
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Foreign corporations should never have a hand in American elections.
As it stands, the Citizens United vs. FEC ruling by the Supreme Court allows foreign corporations
to spend unlimited amounts of money, secretly, on campaign advertising to influence the
outcome of elections. A company controlled from outside the United States should not spend
huge sums to support or oppose candidates.
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THEREFORE the methods of financing political campaigns should ensure the public’s right to know,
combat corruption and undue influence by corporate wealth, enable candidates to compete more
equitably for public office, and allow maximum citizen participation in the political process. In light of
the Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission decision, we believe the best cause of action to
insure these goals is to amend the United States Constitution to limit the effect of this decision.
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Promoting the Democratic Party and Educating the Public on the Negative
Policies of the Republican Party
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WHEREAS, many voters including registered Democrats do not understand the differences between the
Democratic Party and the Republican Party, and
WHEREAS, THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF HOW THE Republican Party’s policies hurt working families,
women and minorities, which are reflected by the legislative actions of Republican members of the
House and Senate, and
BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE Democratic Party will:
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Monitor the bills introduced which are contrary to our philosophy;
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Train each of our local leaders about how to communicate these actions at a grassroots level by,
among other efforts:
o
o
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Letter writing campaigns;
Speakers bureaus;
Use of social media like Facebook and Twitter;
Leaflets at county fairs and public events.
Help organize such grassroots activities and develop materials for our Democratic Party leaders
to use to educate our citizens about the negative impact of Republican policies.
The Cleveland County Democratic Party believes that Democratic candidates should support and
promote the goals stated in this set of resolutions. We encourage all Democrats to support and
campaign for only those candidates who will strive to uphold this party platform.
Respectfully submitted,
Eric Hermansen, Chair