The Democratic Party of Denver Party Platform

2010 Adopted
Democratic Party of Denver
Platform
 
Plank: AGRICULTURE
  1. We support sustainable agriculture, including organic farming and low-impact agriculture.
  2. We support safe food practices, including labeling of genetically modified food and place of origin. 
  3. We support protection for farmers whose crops have been contaminated by genetically modified organisms.
  4. We support ending food subsidies that result in the high-fructose saturation of our food system.
  5. We support revising standards for federal food distribution programs to conform to latest health guidelines.
  6. We support the humane treatment of agricultural animals, including limits to factory farming.
Plank: CRIMINAL JUSTICE
  1. We support creating realistic drug policy to replace the failed “War on Drugs”. 
  2. We support the treatment of mental illness and drug addiction as opposed to incarceration.
  3. We support individual inmate assessment and rehabilitation to reduce recidivism, including simplifying the incentives for hiring former prisoners. 
  4. We support the elimination of the death penalty.
  5. We oppose privatizing the penal system.
  6. We support ending mandatory sentencing.
  7. We support more in-home detention with the use of ankle bracelets for non-violent offenders.
  8. We support the right of people on parole to vote.
  9. We support the application of best practices for women in prison, especially mothers, including women who give birth while in prison.
  10. We support the criminal investigation and prosecution of war crimes and treasonous offenses of any person, including elected officials, where there is evidence of such offense.
  11. Pertaining to juvenile offenders:
    1. We support separate trial and sentencing procedures for juveniles who commit serious offenses.
    2. We support mandatory treatment programs for juveniles convicted of sex crimes. 
    3. We support dedicated juvenile facilities (not prisons) for rehabilitation.
    4. We support an opportunity for parole for juveniles serving life in adult prisons. 
Plank: ECONOMY
  1. We support keeping jobs in the U.S.
  2. We support a reform in regulation of the national and international financial system based on transparency and the principle that no bank or financial institution is to "too big to fail."
  3. We support public funding at both the federal and local levels for essential services such as infrastructure, health care, and education.
  4. We support prioritizing essential services in the United States before military expenditures.
  5. We support a state constitutional amendment modifying or eliminating TABOR and giving the Legislature more room to adapt to year to year needs of the State.
  6. We support establishing programs that are revenue neutral.
  7. We support the repeal of NAFTA, CAFTA, and other treaties that do not protect U.S. manufactured goods.
  8. We support re-regulating banks by restoring the Glass-Steagall Act.
  9. We support protecting Social Security.
  10. We support a full audit of the Federal Reserve.
  11. We support a return to a more progressive tax structure.
  12. We support the restoration of reasonable tariffs.
  13. We support capping payday loan interest rates at 36%.
Plank: EDUCATION
  1. We demand an educational system which is inclusive of our diverse population, guarantees funding, encourages community involvement, and educates the whole individual through academic rigor, athletic competition, artistic endeavor, and career/technical training.
  2. Public education is a right and we are against attempts to privatize it; therefore we oppose vouchers and public funding of religious schools.
  3. We insist that all educational professionals earn a living wage and have the right to organize.
  4. We support the repeal of No Child Left Behind including its philosophy of "teaching to the test.”
  5. We support public higher education and the adequate funding thereof.
  6. We support in-state tuition rates for all graduates of Colorado public schools.
  7. We support access to early childhood education for all children.
  8. We oppose the re-segregation of public schools being caused by the charter school movement.
  9. We support foreign language instruction beginning in grade school.
Plank: ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY
  1. We support the reassessment of oil shale leases granted by the previous administration.
  2. We support the enactment of a cap and trade bill without exemptions for large sources of emissions. 
  3. We support the use of cap and trade allowances for natural resource restoration.
  4. We support incentives for individuals and companies to switch to renewable energy.
  5. We support sustainable energy production and the businesses that create the new energy economy.
  6. We support the repeal of the severance tax exemption for resources extracted from Colorado lands.
  7. We support the disposal of toxic materials in a manner safe and non-threatening to the environment; proposals for disposal of toxic waste must be made public.
  8. We support water conservation and stream flow restoration efforts.
  9. We support the conservation of natural habitats and healthful management of forests.
  10. We support reducing our reliance on corn-based ethanol.
  11. We support programs and policies that encourage recycling, composting, and energy conservation.
Plank: FOREIGN POLICY & MILITARY
  1. We support use of good intelligence and all technological means to combat potential attacks on the United States without compromising the civil rights of any individual. 
  2. We support the reduction of U.S. military force abroad.
  3. We support promoting peace by means other than military.
  4. We support the timely withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, while promoting good self-governance, helping the people rebuild and encouraging economic independence.
  5. We support our government’s efforts to bring an equitable peace to the Middle East, including a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
  6. We support ending the U.S. embargo on Cuba. 
  7. We oppose the privatization of the military including the use of private contractors for jobs traditionally done by military personnel.
  8. We support full financial transparency and accountability of military spending and oppose the awarding of no-bid contracts.
  9. We support anti-landmine treaties.
  10. We support closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  11. We oppose the use of torture under any circumstances.
  12. We support a Department of Peace at the federal level.
  13. We support the closing of the U.S. military's Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (previously the School of the Americas).
  14. We support the reinstatement of military personnel who have been discharged because of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
  15. We support nuclear non-proliferation and demand all nations, including the U.S., be accountable to the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA).
Plank: GOOD GOVERNANCE
  1. We support repealing the Patriot Act and abiding by original FISA regulations.
  2. We support the central thesis that only humans are persons.  "Artificial persons" (corporations) are not persons and therefore we support a constitutional amendment to repeal corporate personhood.
  3. We support an addendum to corporate charters requiring majority shareholder approval of all political advertising.
  4. We encourage local and diverse ownership of the media, and oppose the concentration of media ownership.
  5. We support policies that ensure the full separation of church and state.
  6. We specifically direct Congress to condemn presidential signing statements that contravene the clear intent of duly enacted legislation.
  7. We support public funding of political campaigns.
  8. We support free, fair and transparent elections using voter verified paper ballots and/or verifiable voting machines.
  9. We believe personhood begins at birth.
  10. We support strict regulations on guns, including closing any gun-show related loop-holes and a ban on openly carried firearms.
  11. We demand the National party not endorse or support any candidate in a contested primary race.
  12. We support the Colorado Democratic Party Platform as the basis for CDP policies.  We require all party candidates to state publicly their positions on adopted planks.
Plank: HEALTH CARE
  1. We believe that Health Care is a right. We support efforts to reform health care, both on the state and national level, to lower health care costs by providing incentives for wellness, preventive measures, and models based on best practices of cost effective, sensible allocation of resources. 
  2. We support a universal, single-payer, "Medicare for All" healthcare system that will ensure affordable coverage for all, not linked to employment and with no denial of access for any reason.
  3. We support a healthcare system which includes prescription coverage, dental, hearing and vision care, mental health, and addiction treatment.
  4. We support Congressional action that includes a strong public option run on the premiums it collects and which removes anti-trust exemptions for the health care industry. 
  5. We support adequate funding for evidence-based services for people with mental illness or developmental disabilities.
  6. We support actions to protect necessary Medicare and Medicaid funding and services.
  7. We support wellness initiatives such as school lunch programs focusing on healthful food in school breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. 
  8. We vigorously support access to reproductive choice, including abortion, as part of health care, while discouraging unintended pregnancy through family planning, comprehensive sex education, and emergency contraception.
  9. We support the creation of "Right to Die" or "End of Life" legislation for terminally ill patients to allow them to choose when to die.
Plank: HUMAN RIGHTS
1.      LGBT Issues
A.     We support same sex marriage and repeal of "The Defense of Marriage Act."
B.     We support ending the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
C.    We support the human rights of LGBT people throughout the world.
2.      Americans with Disabilities
A.     We support the accommodation of Americans with disabilities in their efforts to participate fully in our political processes.
B.     We support the rights of the disabled to live in the least restrictive environment possible and the right to direct their own medical care.
C.    We support Colorado's efforts to end the wait list for services for people with disabilities.
D.    We call for the full implementation of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. 
3.      Housing
A.     We support a permanent reliable State source for affordable housing funding, such as Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHAFA) and other similar mortgage programs.
B.     We support homeowner protection statutes including the ability to sue for damages.
4.      Equal Opportunity
A.     We support all current affirmative action programs.
B.     We support equal pay for equal work.
5.      Human Trafficking
A.     We support the fight against human trafficking, modern slavery and forced labor, and we support the victims of human trafficking whatever their legal status is in the United States.
 
Plank: IMMIGRATION
  1. We support an immigration reform bill that promotes a more direct path toward citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
  2. We support streamlined immigration regulations to allow for a rational, just and humane process, including the restoration of judicial review.
  3. We support family reunification.
  4. We support efforts to end isolation and fear of immigrants.
  5. We support substantial penalties on businesses that hire undocumented workers.
  6. We support taking down the border wall. 
Plank: LABOR
  1. We support workers’ right to participate in union elections where a majority supports collective bargaining; we support penalties against non-complying employers.
  2. We support the Employee Free Choice Act.
  3. We support a fair minimum wage for all workers and urge Congress to pass a minimum living wage that enables fulltime workers' families to live above the poverty line.
  4. We support the right of guest workers to unionize.
  5. We support regulations that require all bidders on public contracts to show that their employees have appropriate training and experience and have adequate retirement and health care benefits.
Plank: VETERANS AFFAIRS
  1. We support full and adequate funding for our veterans’ programs including, but not limited to, physical and mental health care, care givers, rehabilitation, and education for the veterans and their dependents.
  2. We support the full enforcement of existing laws requiring the rehire of military personnel returning from deployment.
Plank: TRANSPORTATION
  1. We support a comprehensive multi-modal transit system that takes into consideration environmental impacts.
  2. The public transportation system should remain in the public domain; we oppose efforts to privatize any part of our publicly-funded system.
  3. We support the build out of FasTracks.
  4. We support a statewide transit system, especially along I-70 and I-25.
Plank: LOCAL ISSUES
  1. We commit to ending homelessness in Denver.
  2. We support efforts to promote the sustainability and livelihood of all Denver neighborhoods - particularly "at risk" neighborhoods such as Elyria and Swansea, including tunneling the .8 mile segment of I-70 through the Elyria neighborhood. 
  3. We support the use of local vendors/businesses wherever possible.
  4. We oppose the re-segregation of Denver Public Schools being caused by the charter school movement.
  5. We support well-regulated, taxed, medical marijuana facilities.
  6. We support full legalization of marijuana.
  7. We support full funding of the Denver Public Library system.