Results of Voting on Resolutions
at the 2010 SD41 Democrat Convention

 

Results of the voting on resolutions at the March 6, 2010 are presented below in two sections:
1) the first section shows the thirty-eight resolutions that were approved (by having at least 60% support) and which, by being the top 38 in % of support, are forwarded to the state DFL for consideration for inclusion in the state DFL platform or action agenda. 

2) below that, the second section shows the outcome of the vote on each of the 53 resolutions that were considered at the 3/6/2010 convention, including a) the 38 that advance to the state DFL, b) those that were approved by the SD41Dem convention but don’t advance to state DFL because they weren’t in the top 38 by % of approval, and c) those which were not approved at the SD41Dem convention. 

 

38 Resolutions Approved and Forwarded to State DFL

 

In the list immediately below, of the 38 resolutions being forwarded to state DFL, the resolutions are shown with the numbers that they had on the ballot at the convention. In various spots, the numbering skips ahead. This is due to the fact that at those spots there were one or more resolutions that were on the ballot but did not achieve the level of support to be advanced to the state DFL convention.  The bracketed section after each resolution below shows the % of support for the resolution at the 3/6/2010 SD41Dem convention and its rank position in % of support.

 

Business & Community Development

 

1. Restore regulations separating commercial (FDIC-insured) banks from investment banks and securities firms (similar to the Glass-Steagall Act that was repealed in 1999).

[93.5% approval – 6^th highest approval]

 

Civil, Human & Constitutional Rights

 

2. Seek adoption of a federal constitutional amendment to define that corporations are not “persons” entitled to the same free speech rights as actual persons.
    [85.2% approval – 24^th highest approval]

 

3. Support passage of a constitutional amendment for gender equality in the Minnesota and US constitutions.  [89.2% approval – 17^th highest approval]

 

4. Support comprehensive reform of U.S. immigration law that provides:

¨     A road to legalization and the option of citizenship for all immigrants

¨     The prioritization of family reunification in all policies

¨     The protection of workers’ rights and civil liberties for all

¨     An end to the immigration enforcement and detention policies that tear apart      families and communities.

      [77.2% approval – 38^th highest approval]

 

Consumer Issues

 

7. Support efforts to provide the appropriate supports and services required by people who are at risk of losing their housing. [88.8% approval – 19^th highest approval]

  

Education

 

8. Ensure that every Minnesota high school graduate have an equal opportunity to receive a higher education in Minnesota through grants and scholarships as needed.
[81.7% approval – 33rd highest approval]

 

9. Support responsible sexuality education programs that require the curriculum to include accurate information about abstinence, contraception and disease prevention.
[95.0% approval – 5^th highest approval]

 

10. Reaffirm the DFL’s commitment to Minnesota’s public education system by providing equitable, sustainable, predictable and sufficient funding. 
[97.6% approval –  highest approval of all]

 

11. Fund special education programs to fulfill state and federal mandates.

[92.4% approval – 9^th highest approval]

 

12. Adequately fund the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU) by requiring the state to meet its legally stipulated 67% share of college instructional costs.  [91.5% approval – 13^th highest approval]

 

13. Support increased state investment in a comprehensive system for early childhood development and education, including parent education, and childcare.

[89.8% approval – 15^th highest approval]

  

Energy

 

16. Implement a statewide feed-in tariff program, which obligates electric utilities to buy electricity from renewable sources and guarantees grid access, to encourage development of solar and other renewable electricity sources.  [86.3% approval – 21st highest approval]

   

Government Accountability to the Public

 

17. Support the recommendation of the Governor Quie Commission that judicial elections be retention elections (vote only on whether to renew terms of sitting judges, with initial appointments made by Governor from candidates nominated through a merit selection process) rather than wide-open, undignified election battles.

[82.3% approval – 32nd highest approval]

 

20. Adopt Instant Runoff Voting (IRV, also known as Ranked Choice Voting) for state and local elections in Minnesota. [82.8% approval – 30^th highest approval]

  

Health & Human Services

 

22. Support full funding of the entire continuum of homeless services to end homelessness in Minnesota, with particular attention to youth. [84.1% approval – 26^th highest approval]

                                                                                                                              

23. Support the following reforms of Medicare part-D:

¨     Give consumers the choice between a cost effective public plan and a private for-profit plan;

¨     Allow the federal government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare Plan D drug plans;

¨     Eliminate the donut hole known as "the gap" (which causes coverage for medications to stop when a certain dollar limit has been reached, and then start when another spending threshold is reached) as soon as possible.

    [96.0% approval – 3rd highest approval]

 

24. Allow individuals, pharmacies and wholesalers to re-import prescription medications from other industrialized countries. [82.5% approval – 31st highest approval]

 

26. Fully fund GAMC reimbursements to providers. [87.9% approval – 20^th highest approval]

 

27. The state should compensate HCMC so that quality emergency medical care will continue to be available. [91.6% approval – 12^th highest approval]

 

28. Support meaningful healthcare reform, to include a public option, no denial of coverage or rate increases for pre-existing conditions, no dropping of coverage related to a medical condition, coverage of dependents on family policies until age 26, 100% coverage of preventive care. [95.7% approval – 4^th highest approval]

 

30. Legalize physician aid in dying, similar to what exists today in Oregon and Washington: a terminally ill, mentally competent adult whose diagnosis is verified by two physicians can request and receive from his physician a prescription for lethal medications that will end his life quickly and painlessly.  [80.3% approval – 35th highest approval]

 

31. Support and protect the right of any patient (or his healthcare agent when the patient cannot speak for himself) to refuse or to discontinue artificial nutrition and hydration, recognizing that this is a medical treatment and not basic care. [92.3% approval – 10^th highest approval]

 

 

Labor & Employment

 

33. Pass legislation recommended by the HIRE Minnesota campaign ensuring that:

¨     Publicly funded green jobs and training opportunities reach low-income people and people of color;

¨     Agencies in charge of public investments meet their women and minority hiring, contracting and training goals;

¨     Our government is accountable and transparent in its processes and reporting.

[79.9% approval – 36^th highest approval]

 

 

Natural Resources & the Environment

 

35. Support a Complete Streets policy that considers the needs of children, seniors, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and others who use our streets, in order to maximize the long-term benefits from our transportation investments by working towards safety, access, affordability, local needs, public health, alleviating traffic congestion and protecting the environment. The Complete Streets policy must incorporate stormwater best management practices to reduce pollution, increase infiltration and reduce runoff and erosion.  [85.8% approval – 22nd highest approval]

 

36. In view of the risk to Minnesota’s water from nonferrous mining in our state, strengthen Minnesota’s financial assurance regulations to ensure that mining companies fulfill their obligations to fund mine clean-up activities by requiring them to set aside the funds up front, to be used for clean-up even in the event of bankruptcy or other unforeseen events. [93.0% approval – 8^th highest approval]

 

37. Declassify prescription medications as “hazardous materials” in order to allow these chemicals to be incinerated safely in incinerators located in Minnesota rather than having them shipped to Illinois for disposal or ending up in the water table after having been disposed of by being flushed down the toilet.  [82.9% approval – 28^th highest approval]

 

38. Promote strong climate change policies that are designed to reduce and stabilize atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide at no more than 350 PPM (the upper safety limit according to many scientists; we are now at about 388 PPM).  [93.0% approval – 7^th highest approval]

 

  

Public Safety & Crime Prevention

 

39. Reform police forfeiture laws to prevent abuse (as in recent metro gang strike force fiasco).  [85.3% approval – 23rd highest approval]

 

41. Extend the background check requirement to firearm sales made by unlicensed sellers at gun shows. [96.8% approval – 2nd highest approval]

 

42. Apply stiffer penalties to criminal vehicular homicide involving the influence of alcohol, and subject it to the same stigma as any other case of negligent manslaughter, with similar sentencing guidelines. [79.1% approval – 37^th highest approval]

 

 

Tax & Budget Policy

 

44. Oppose balancing the state budget by cutting state supports for persons with disabilities that enable them to live healthier lives, develop their skills, and increase their participation in their communities. [84.9% approval – 25^th highest approval]

 

45. Oppose cuts to public education funding, including Gov Pawlenty’s plan to raid school district reserves. [91.8% approval – 11^th highest approval]

 

46. Protect special education from cuts that would reduce services and legal rights for students with disabilities. [82.9% approval – 27^th highest approval]

 

47. Make future unilateral unallotment by the governor unlawful except in clearly specified emergencies. [89.6% approval – 16^th highest approval]

 

49. Give the same tax treatment to employee benefits for same sex couples as that given to benefits for married couples. [91.5% approval – 14^th highest approval]

 

50. Raise revenue fairly and progressively to solve the budget deficit and save the vital public services that Minnesotans want and need most during tough times.  [89.0% approval – 18^th highest approval]

 

51. Reinstate the tax refund for political contributions to Minnesota political parties and candidates for Minnesota public offices up to $50 per person and $100 per couple.

[82.8% approval – 29^th highest approval]

53. Increase tax credits for working families to pay for childcare and to businesses that provide or subsidize childcare. [81.4% approval – 34^th highest approval]