Orange County Democratic Party County

Convention Resolutions April 10, 2010

Local Resolutions

In Support of the New Proposed Men’s Transitional Housing Facility in Chapel Hill

Whereas over the past 20 years the Inter-Faith Council has been operating in the Town of Chapel Hill’s old municipal building by providing “warehouse” style emergency housing services to men suffering from homelessness; and

Whereas over the past 11 years the Inter-Faith Council has been actively searching for land to develop a new men’s transitional housing facility; and

Whereas the Inter-Faith Council provides critical social services to residents of Orange County who are socio-economically disadvantaged and voiceless; and

Whereas the Inter-Faith Council, in partnership with the Town of Chapel Hill, has been offered a tract of land to develop a men’s transitional housing facility by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and

Whereas the proposed transitional housing facility, the Community House, will provide long-term residential programs and a continuum of services for Orange County residents which will include:

• Safe, stable living accommodations

• Services, new skills and personal guides for independent living

• Substance abuse education and counseling

• On-Site medical, dental and mental health treatment

• 20 start-up beds (two 10-bed dormitories)

• 32 transitional housing beds

• Food services/dining for residents at the facility

• Job coaches, counselors, agency partners

• Referrals to community agencies

Whereas the proximity of this site has many advantages including close proximity to the Orange County Southern Human Services Center, accessibility to public transit, and the support and partnership of the United Church of Christ; and

Whereas this is a defining moment to stand up and provide for the most vulnerable members in our community; and

Whereas there are additional needs, particularly for emergency shelter, the proposed facility will not provide;

Be it therefore resolved that Orange County Democrats call on members of the Chapel Hill Town Council to support the Inter-Faith Council’s proposed transitional men’s homeless facility and to continue to work to support additional facilities beyond this proposed shelter.

UNC-CH Coal-Burning Cogeneration Power Plant Resolution

Whereas medical research has yielded compelling evidence that toxic chemicals, including mercury, arsenic, lead and particulate matter, emitted by coal-fired power plants can adversely affect human health:

1) by increasing the rate of hospitalization of children with respiratory disease by up to 300% (American Journal of Public Health, 79: 623, 1989); and

2) by causing an increase in the risk of death by heart attacks and strokes of up to 12 times, particularly in women of an age to be mothers and grandmothers (New England Journal of Medicine, 356:447, 2007); and

3) by causing conditions that can result in infertility, premature birth and miscarriage (Human Reproduction, 20:2776, 2005); and

4) by causing mental deficits and learning disabilities in children exposed to mercury in utero (Environment, 44:25, 2002); and

Whereas through their coal-burning cogeneration power plant on Cameron Avenue, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is polluting the air and threatening the health of its neighbors and the wider community; and

Whereas the UNC-CH cogeneration plant is responsible for more than 320,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year, and thus is a major contributor to global warming; and

Whereas coal mining is socially and environmentally destructive, and UNC’s coal may be extracted using mountain top removal, a method that causes egregious damage to the environment and communities of Appalachia; and

Whereas the UNC-CH cogeneration plant boilers are capable of burning a mixture of at least 50% of natural gas with a solid fuel, such as coal or a biofuel; and

Whereas the energy cost savings from burning coal are actually shifted to increased public health and environmental costs;

Therefore be it resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party calls upon the Town of Chapel Hill, the Town of Carrboro, and the Orange County Commissioners to do all in their respective powers in the interest of public health to cause the University of North Carolina at Chapel to take the necessary steps to reduce the burning of coal at its cogeneration plant as soon as possible and to completely eliminate the burning of coal by 2015 at the latest, by replacing coal-based energy

• temporarily with natural gas, and

• permanently with increased energy conservation, energy efficiency, and increased use of clean renewable energy sources

in order to protect the community from diseases related to coal-burning and in order to dramatically reduce UNC-Chapel Hill’s cogeneration plant’s contribution to global warming and larger social and environmental problems of coal mining.

References:

Barret, C L. (2005). Episodic air pollution and sperm. Human Reproduction, 20(0), 1-15.

Lutter, R, & Irwin, E. (2002). Mercury in the environment: a volatile problem. Environment, 44(9), 25-40.

Miller, K A . (2007). Long-term Exposure to Air Pollution and Incidence of Cardiovascular Events in Women. New England Journal of Medicine, 356(5), 447-458.

Pope, C A . (1989). Respiratory Disease Associated with Community Air Pollution and a Steel Mill, Utah Valley. American Journal of Public Health, 79(5), 623-628.

 

 Auditing Resolutions for Action by the Democratic Party and by Elected Representatives

 Whereas resolutions express our values and commitments to a democratic society with justice and equality and educate party members on vital issues and galvanize efforts to implement legislative and citizen initiatives; and

 

Whereas the resolutions process of the Orange County Democratic Party allows for each precinct to generate and pass resolutions for consideration at the party's annual convention; and      

 Whereas this bottom-up structure confers grassroots credentials on the party; and  

 Whereas a resolution adopted at the precinct level is the stated position held by that particular precinct and calls for action by its precinct members; and

Whereas a resolution adopted by the county party becomes the Orange County Democratic Party's stated position and calls for action by all Orange County Democrats; and

 Whereas the resolutions process rarely results in further actions beyond passing resolutions up through the North Carolina Democratic Party's organizational structure (i.e. district and state), and the same resolutions are often reintroduced the following year;

 Therefore be it resolved that each precinct audit each resolution it adopted to assess:

1. The degree of action taken by the precinct for the resolution;

2. The degree of action taken within the Orange County Democratic Party's organizational structure;

3. The degree of responsiveness of elected and/or appointed officials to the demands of the precinct as expressed by the resolution;

Be it further resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party also audit each resolution it adopted to assess: 

1. The degree of action taken by the OCDP for the resolution;

2. The degree of action taken within the North Carolina Democratic Party's organizational structure;

3. The degree of responsiveness of elected and/or appointed officials to the demands of the Orange County Democratic Party;

 Be it further resolved that that the County Executive Committee of the Orange County Democratic Party, which is composed of precinct officers and county party officers, will initiate and complete these audits before the annual precinct meetings each year in time for Democrats to receive feedback on the actions taken by the party at every organizational level and the responsiveness of our elected representatives and/or governmental agencies to the issues raised in the resolutions so that the following year’s resolutions may reflect a continuity of accountability to the grassroots.

State Resolutions

Include abortion benefits in all North Carolina municipal employee benefits plans

Whereas municipal governments need to offer competitive benefits packages to employees to attract qualified individuals in public service; and

Whereas broad-spectrum reproductive benefits, including legal abortion, are part of usual and customary benefits packages in the private sector; and

Whereas access to full reproductive services is a constitutionally protected right for every woman and to deny female employees abortion benefits may constitute gender discrimination;

Be it therefore resolved that municipal governments in North Carolina should not be prohibited from offering abortion benefits to their employees, nor should such benefits be specifically excluded from municipal employee benefits plans.

Amendment to the North Carolina State Constitution

Whereas women constitute 51% of the population, 51% of voters, a large percentage of the workforce, and more than half of college graduates; and

Whereas it took North Carolina 52 years (1919-1971) to pass the 19th amendment to the US Constitution, giving women the right to vote; and

Whereas North Caroline is now, and should continue to be, a leader amongst the 50 states;

Therefore be it resolved that the Orange County Democratic  Party  call upon the NC State Legislature to pass a state constitutional amendment supporting equal rights for women to read:

The state of North Carolina shall not deny or abridge equality of rights under law on account of gender. Any existing law using an exclusive gender reference shall be construed to include protection and/or benefits for both men and women, without further change or amendment.

 

Resolution in Support of Canceling Duke Energy’s Proposed New Coal Plant at Cliffside

Whereas Duke Energy has proposed and been approved for a new, and much larger coal-fired unit at Cliffside, 60 miles west of Charlotte; and

Whereas said facility will discharge 6 million tons of uncontrolled carbon dioxide each year — more than 12 times more than the four small units to be retired — along with 10 times more mercury, and 13- to 50-fold increases of toxic metals such as arsenic and cadmium; and

Whereas medical research has yielded compelling evidence that toxins emitted by coal-fired industry can adversely affect human health

• By increasing the rate of hospitalization of children with respiratory disease by up to 300% (Amer. J. Pub. Health, 79:623,1989),

• By causing an up to 12 times increase in the risk of death by heart attacks and strokes, particularly in women of an age to be mothers and grandmothers (New Eng. J. of Med., 356:447, 2007), and

• By causing conditions that can result in infertility, premature birth and miscarriage (Human Reproduction, 20:2776, 2005); and

Whereas a coal fired plant is no longer the cheapest option when the health costs imposed on NC Citizens are considered; and

Whereas the new Cliffside plant would double the amount of water presently evaporated from the Broad River to 21 million gallons a day – more than that used by the City of Durham; and

Whereas every statewide environmental organization in North Carolina that works on energy or climate change issues opposes the plant; and

Whereas even though Duke Energy has agreed to build a highly sophisticated and state of the art environmental facility and to eliminate several older plants there is no such thing as truly “ clean coal”; and

Whereas Duke Energy’s CEO Jim Rogers has stated that: “As the third-largest coal consumer in the United States, and one of the largest greenhouse-gas emitters, Duke Energy has a responsibility to be part of the solution”; and

Whereas Dr. James Hansen, the head of NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies and the nation’s foremost climate change expert, has stated that “stopping this new coal plant is the best thing North Carolina can do to slow global warming;” and

Whereas energy experts have repeatedly brought before the N.C. Utilities Commission and legislative bodies data that demonstrate that the new generation capacity from this plant is not necessary and that proven methods of energy conservation, cogeneration, and wind and solar power can meet projected energy demand for the plant;

Therefore be it resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party strongly support cancellation of the Cliffside coal power plant unit 6 and urge the state and local Democratic parties, upon passage of this resolution, to notify Duke Energy’s CEO Jim Rogers of their views and to strongly urge Governor Perdue, legislative leaders and North Carolina Democratic candidates for office to halt construction and/or operation of the plant.

Therefore be it further resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party insist that our government leaders actively pursue transition to real, meaningful, and substantial renewable and environmentally sound energy choices, such as wind, water, and solar power.

 

Resolution Supporting the Creation of an Independent Statewide Energy Efficiency Program, NC SAVE$ ENERGY (House Bill 1050)

Whereas energy costs for residents, business and industry are rising, and don’t reflect all of the externalized health and environmental costs of centralized power plants or fossil fuel combustion by vehicles;

Whereas the only truly clean energy is energy that is not used;

Whereas the cost of implementing energy efficiency and conservation measures is much lower than the cost of current centralized power production, lower than renewable sources and still lower as compared to centralized power plants being constructed or planned; and

Whereas low income residents of NC are disproportionately impacted by living in older and less efficient homes, and paying a higher percentage of income for energy costs;

Whereas installation of energy conservation and efficiency improvements would generate thousands of new local “green collar” jobs in North Carolina;

Whereas energy efficiency and other “demand-side” programs implemented by the investor-owned utilities create a built-in conflict with the purpose of those power utilities to sell power, and

Whereas NC SAVE$ ENERGY has been endorsed by 40 environmental, social justice, and business organizations and local governments, and

Whereas six other states (ME, VT, OR, NY, NJ and WI) have demonstrated the effectiveness of independent efficiency programs that have saved millions of dollars in energy costs for ratepayers and natural gas customers, while substantially reducing greenhouse gas and toxic emissions, and

Whereas legislation known as NC SAVE$ ENERGY (H 1050) to create an independent energy efficiency non-profit administrator financed by a small fee (less than $2.00/mo.) on residential power bills and focused on

• creating energy savings for low and moderate income residents,

• retrofitting publicly owned buildings such as schools and non-profit hospitals, and

• creating green jobs

has been introduced in the NC General Assembly and is expected to move either in the upcoming short session or, after re-introduction, in next year’s long session;

Therefore be it resolved by the North Carolina Democratic Party that the General Assembly of North Carolina and Governor Perdue should strongly support NC SAVE$ ENERGY (H 1050).

For more information see http://www.ncsavesenergy.org/

Collective Bargaining Rights to Public Employees

Whereas the Platform of the North Carolina Democratic Party states: “We reassert our fundamental belief in the collective bargaining process as a means of serving the interests of both public and private employees and employers. Those interests include better productivity, fair and adequate employee compensation and benefits, and safe, harmonious, and healthy working conditions;” and

Whereas public employees in our state have long been denied by General Statute 95-98 this fundamental right to collectively bargain for improvement of their wages and working conditions;

Whereas only North Carolina and Virginia continue to deny their public workers this fundamental human right of collective bargaining;

Therefore be it resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party supports General Assembly bills S427 and H750, which repeal the prohibition on contracts between governmental entities and labor organizations for the purpose of collective bargaining and restore that right, as a major priority in this coming legislative session and strongly urges our state legislators to pass such legislation and for the Governor to sign it.

Be it further resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party urge our local governments – Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Orange County – to pass resolutions in support of collective bargaining for public employees and to restore fairness and respect to those who serve the public.

Legalize marijuana for medical purposes in North Carolina

Whereas marijuana has proven singularly efficacious in the treatment of Glaucoma and Multiple Sclerosis - even to the extent of reversing deterioration of the optic nerve and slowing MS degeneration - and in providing relief for those suffering from several forms of arthritis, chronic pain, and nausea; and

Whereas marijuana may be a beneficial alternative treatment for a variety of cancers (including breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, brain cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, and prostate cancer), and is also found to alleviate symptoms associated with traditional cancer treatment; and

Whereas there are indications deserving further study that marijuana may help those with seizure disorders and diabetes; and

Whereas its use by responsible adults is without significant risk, especially as compared to alcohol and to the great number of pharmaceutical drugs;

Be it therefore resolved that cultivation, sale, and possession of marijuana for medical purposes be legalized in North Carolina.

In Opposition to the Privatization of Medicaid

Whereas Medicaid provides critical health care for North Carolina's least advantaged citizens; and

Whereas the recession has placed enormous pressure on the State to reduce its budget; and

Whereas privatizing Medicaid has been a strategy that some states, including Florida and Colorado, have adopted to cut costs; and

Whereas privatizing the public mental health system in North Carolina has been a failure; and

Whereas the privatization of Medicaid in other states has resulted in reduced care; and

Whereas the Community Care of North Carolina (CNCC) network is a nationally recognized program to improve care and reduce costs in Medicaid and should not be replaced; and

Whereas scarce public resources should be directed toward patient care and not toward the administrative costs, executive pay, and Wall Street profits of private companies;

Be it therefore resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party request that Gov. Beverly Perdue and our representatives in the N.C. General Assembly oppose any efforts to privatize Medicaid in North Carolina.

 

Maintain Funding Support for Mental Health Services in North Carolina

Whereas North Carolina currently ranks 43rd in per capita funding for mental health and the current status of inadequate resources and funding for services provided to citizens of North Carolina who struggle with mental illness, developmental delays or substance abuse issues should not be exacerbated with additional funding cuts.

Whereas in last year’s budget, new positions were established at institutions in order to correct the problems that led to loss of federal accreditation. To cut those same positions is unwise as we will lose more than we will gain. As a result of the loss of accreditation, at Broughton Hospital, we lost roughly $l million per month and at Cherry Hospital, we lost $800,000 per month.

Whereas emergency rooms and sheriffs search for an open bed for admitting involuntary commitment patients into psychiatric facilities and spend in excess of 24 hours without finding a treatment facility;

Whereas these services and programs should receive parity of financial support from both public and private healthcare insurance (as has been passed in recent legislation from the U.S. House of Representatives);

Whereas North Carolina continues to under-fund community services, and

Whereas Gov. Perdue’s budget plan of $26 million in cuts to the community perpetuates the disparity in funding that is causing most of the ills in our system. Our community services must be built up.

Therefore be it resolved that the North Carolina Democratic Party instruct our county and state elected officials to

1) Maintain funding to the Wright School or the Whitaker School. These programs and the services they provide to families in North Carolina are vital to essential behavior modification/re-training for youth who already struggle at home, in school and in their communities;

2) Maintain funding to state budgets that serve people who struggle with mental illness, developmental delays or substance abuse issues and to find a way to increase funding sources to these vital programs.;

3) Maintain funding to educational programs that provide services and supports to special needs children in North Carolina and to find a way to increase funding sources to these vital programs; and

4) Place the mental health care of NC citizens as a high priority for funds, provision of services and accountability.

 

Restore Educational Courses Offered by Community Colleges in NC Prisons

Whereas the NC Legislature has effectively eliminated by July 1 all educational courses provided by community colleges in NC prisons; and

Whereas prisoners who earn secondary and college degrees in prison have demonstrated far higher success in obtaining jobs and in staying out of prison (a prisoner who earns a GED in prison is 25.9% less likely to reoffend; those who earn a college degree while incarcerated are 50% less likely to return to prison); and

Whereas the average cost per prisoner for NC taxpayers is $75.00 per day and more than $27,310 per year; and

Whereas the Community College courses offered in prison are cost effective and can help North Carolina save at least a portion of the millions of dollars a year in the costs of building new prisons (more than $1 billion now needed for new prison construction) and in operating costs (more than $200 million per year) for the 8,000 new prisoners projected for 2018 [the Fiscal Research Div. of NC Leg.];

Be it therefore resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party urge the NC Legislature to restore the $35.9 million for educational courses offered by community colleges in state prisons.

North Carolina Ex-Offender Reentry Study Bill

Whereas North Carolinians depend on its government to maintain their safety and security and expect it to be reliable and fair in addition to being effective at deterring crime and punishing offenders;

Whereas nearly 1 million individuals in North Carolina have a criminal record;

Whereas approximately 40,000 individuals are currently in North Carolina prisons, the vast majority (80%) non-violent offenders;

Whereas 98% of incarcerated individuals will eventually leave prison and return to their communities;

Whereas North Carolina’s prison population has more than doubled over the past 25 years;

Whereas approximately 28,000 individuals entered and 27,000 were released from North Carolina prisons in 2008;

Whereas approximately 50% of those leaving prison will be re-arrested within three years;

Whereas the Department of Corrections has an annual budget of $1.3 Billion, which includes the cost of $27,000 to incarcerate an individual per year of confinement;

Whereas, the cost of prison construction is approximately $80,000 per bed;

Whereas the North Carolina Department of Corrections projects a 6,000 shortage of beds within the next ten years if incarceration continues at its current rate; and

Whereas the current system of incarceration and re-incarceration is failing too many, including victims of crime, costing too much, and helping too few;

Be it therefore resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party of NC support the Ex-offender Reentry Study Bill House Bill 527 (=Senate Bill 496) of Representative Garland E. Pierce for the General Assembly to create a Committee to study and report to the General Assembly by 2011 on effective means to facilitate the reentry of prisoners to civilian life.

Regulation of Propane (LPG)

Whereas non-regulation of propane is a national concern; and

Whereas unregulated propane pricing leads to price gouging on consumers; and

Whereas this non-regulation presents a hardship for seniors citizens and other consumers on fixed, moderate or low income; and

Whereas natural gas is regulated by the State Utilities Commission which sets rates that are fair to rate payers and give natural gas companies an opportunity to earn what the Commission determines to be a fair return on investment and to recover the costs of providing utility services if those costs are prudently incurred;

Therefore be it resolved the Orange County Democratic Party request that the State Legislature take all steps necessary to regulate pricing of propane companies for all goods and service; and

Be further it resolved that the State Utilities Commission, or other agency that the Legislature may create, regulate all goods and services of propane companies in a manner similar to the way the Commission regulates natural gas companies.

Ending United States Use and Sponsorship of Torture

Whereas acts of torture violate United States criminal laws, specifically the federal Anti-Torture Statute and the Federal War Crimes Act of 1996, and they violate international treaties to which the United States is a party, including the Geneva Conventions, the Convention Against Torture, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and

Whereas all acts of torture, regardless of circumstance, are immoral, unjustified, and illegal; and

Whereas torture has been demonstrated to be ineffective and even counterproductive in obtaining accurate information to be used in a court of law; and

Whereas the right to be free of torture is a fundamental human right recognized in both constitutional and international law; and

Whereas United States sanctioned torture is not justified by our national security needs, as it engenders hatred against the nation, does not keep the country safe, shames the nation, endangers United States troops abroad and citizens at home and is proven not to work; and

Whereas sub-contactors of the United States Government including Aero Contractors Ltd. and Blackwater (Xe Services LLC) of North Carolina among others, acting on behalf of the United States, have been implicated beyond reasonable doubt in the practices facilitating torture by providing services and illegal activities in support of torture;

Therefore be it resolved that the North Carolina Democratic Party calls on the national leadership to eradicate current torturous practices by the United States in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo as well as in United States controlled prison facilities elsewhere; and

Be it further resolved that the North Carolina Democratic Party calls on United States Senators Kay Hagan and Richard Burr and the North Carolina delegation in Congress to ban the United States policies and practices of torture through appropriate and immediate legislative restraints,

Be it further resolved that the North Carolina Democratic Party calls upon the Governor, the Attorney General of North Carolina and the NC State Legislature to investigate, to report to the People of North Carolina, and to prosecute if any of these alleged activities have violated N.C. law:

Whereas, the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution protects our privacy, the Sixth Amendment provides for the right of Counsel, and the Eighth Amendment forbids cruel and unusual punishment;

Therefore be it resolved that the North Carolina Democratic Party calls for an end to warrantless wiretapping, the withholding of legal counsel from any prisoners under United States control, and the torture of prisoners and calls for the strict adherence to the Geneva Conventions.

Federal Resolutions

Financial/Banking Structural Reform

Whereas the recent deep recession was caused by several unregulated practices of banks and other financial institutions; and

Whereas the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), and the Security & Exchange Commission (SEC), all have regulatory authority over corporations which hold depositors funds and make loans, with the choice of which agency regulates left largely up to the corporation; and the rules and resource of the various agencies are vastly different, and institutions could select which agency would regulate it independent of the loans being made; and

Whereas the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, in testimony before the Congress and in repeated statements before the public – including most prominently by the current and previous Chairmen of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke and Alan Greenspan – have consistently, repeatedly, and aggressively argued that the financial markets and banking system are best left to regulate themselves[Alan Greenspan, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, "Government regulation and derivative contracts" Coral Gables, FL, February 21, 1997]; and

Whereas the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, not only failed to regulate the financial markets and banking system before the financial collapse, but continues to refuse to perform its regulatory function, and in fact refuses to provide Congress information Congress has lawfully and dutifully requested; and

Whereas since the repeal of parts of the Glass-Steagall Act by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (which allowed bank holding companies to own other financial companies), these bank holding companies were allowed to become “too big to fail”; and a policy, which encouraged corporations to buy failing institutions rather than allow them to declare bankruptcy, further reduced the number of banks and made each even larger; and

Whereas many of these companies were involved in many different types of financial activities, i.e. traditional banking, investment banking, insurance, hedging, issuing of derivatives, credit default swaps and many others, with each activity having very different risk levels associated with it; and

Whereas many of the hedges, derivatives, and credit default swaps are extremely complicated, are not transparent to anyone except the parties to the contract, and can become a significant portion of the capitalization of the financial sector; and

Whereas if these large complex companies were required to submit plans for their rapid and orderly shutdown should the company go under; these plans would help regulators understand the structure of the companies they oversee and serve as a roadmap for shutting them down if the company fails; and

Therefore be It resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party advocate the re-enactment of the portions of the Glass-Steagall Act repealed by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and application of anti-trust laws to financial institutions; and

Be it further resolved to incorporate the OTS under the FDIC where all institutions which hold deposits and make loans would be regulated and would pay into a government-run insurance fund with the rates based on the risk of the loans;

Be it further resolved that any new approach, structure, or agency, designed and intended to regulate the financial markets and banking system ought and should be carefully insulated and separated from any pressure or influence from the Federal Reserve system, and from companies and individuals earning their livelihoods in the financial markets and banking system, to make the agency as independent as possible;

Be it further resolved that resolution authority to oversee failing institutions (until they are solvent and under new management or shut down) be given to the FDIC along with the authority to require large, complex companies to periodically submit plans for their rapid and orderly shutdown should the company go under; if they fail to submit acceptable plans, they would have higher capital requirements and restrictions on growth and activity, as well as divestment;

Be it further resolved that tighter capital and leverage regulations, and new derivatives regulations and proprietary trading bans, be placed on financial institutions;

Be it further resolved that there be transparency and accountability with regard to derivatives, credit default swaps, and any other new financial instrument by having them issued and traded under the regulatory authority of the SEC;

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to our representatives in Congress urging them to support the changes in the regulation of the lending institutions, and that this resolution be forwarded to the North Carolina State Democratic Party, asking each to join in this resolution.

In Support of U.S.Representative Peter Defazio’s proposed H.R. 4191: “Let wall street pay for the restoration of main Street”

Whereas U.S. Representative Peter Anthony DeFazio (D-Oregon) has introduced H.R. 4191 “Let Wall Street Pay for the Restoration of Main Street Act of 2009” to impose a small tax of around one- half of one percent on all transaction in U.S. financial markets (“Wall Street”); and

Whereas the dollar volume of trading in U.S. financial markets is now some fifty times larger, as a multiple of Gross Domestic Product, than it was in the 1960’s; and

Whereas less than five percent of the dollar volume of trading in U.S. financial markets represents actual activity undertaken to provide funding to real companies providing real services or producing real goods; and

Whereas 95 percent or more of the dollar volume of trading in U.S. financial markets is created by various trading schemes, such as arbitrage, program trading, or high-frequency trading, which would immediately be recognized as “churning” if done with an individual’s account by that individual’s broker;

Therefore be it resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party call upon our NC elected representatives in Congress to co-sponsor and support H.R. 4191 “Let Wall Street Pay for the Restoration of Main Street Act of 2009.”

Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA)

Whereas many consumer financial products such as credit cards, student loans, auto loans, payday loans, and others have proliferated without effective regulation; and

Whereas many of these products create - and frequently update - lengthy, obscure documents setting - and changing - the terms of the loans; and

Whereas many of these products are contributory to the recent economic problems faced by middle class Americans; and

Whereas in the absence of regulation the consumer loan industry has developed increasingly predatory practices and usurious interest rates, creating a treadmill of debt from which many can never escape; and

Whereas payday loans charge interest rates higher than 450% APR, rates to make loan sharks blush;

Therefore be it resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party advocate the establishment of a federal Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) as an independent agency not under the Federal Reserve Board (which is NOT a federal agency and not subject to the usual review processes of a federal agency); and

Be it further resolved that this agency be charged with requiring consumer lenders to offer only clear, reasonable loan terms, with interest rates within 12 percentage points of the prime rate.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the North Carolina congressional delegation to urge them to sponsor the formation of a federal CFPA, and that the North Carolina State Democratic Party instructs its elected representatives to pursue the creation of a CFPA.

Elections: Opposing Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Jan 21, 2010: a divided Supreme Court ruled on the basis of the free speech principle of the First Amendment that government cannot regulate political speech by corporations.

Whereas the decision is an egregious case of judicial activism, overturning established precedent and numerous federal and state laws and greatly expanding the concept of corporate personhood; and

Whereas the decision erroneously treats the common-sense regulation of the flow of money in politics as a restriction on free speech; and

Whereas the influence of corporations and other special interests has already largely overwhelmed the democratic process; and

Whereas the torrent of corporate money unleashed by this decision will further drown out the voices of ordinary Americans and threaten our democracy;

Be it therefore resolved that the North Carolina Democratic Party hereby registers its firm opposition to the ruling; and

Be it further resolved that the North Carolina Democratic Party instructs its elected representatives to pass forthwith legislative remedies to this assault on our democracy, such as the following:

• A constitutional amendment stating that corporations are not persons entitled to constitutional rights;

• The Fair Elections Now Act (HR 1826) that calls for voter-owned elections of members of Congress, and for voter-owned election programs at other levels of government.

• Requiring detailed disclosure of all contributors, and their contributions, for political ads and other electioneering communications;

• Requiring shareholders and union members to review and approve any spending campaign drawn up by corporate chiefs or union leaders;

• Requiring CEOs of corporations to appear in their corporations’ political ads - print and online as well as broadcast - to identify themselves and state that they approved the ad;

• A strict ban on all foreign intrusion in federal elections;

• Use of the state’s power to grant and renew corporate charters to curtail the intrusion of corporations in the political process;

• Restricting campaign spending by companies that do business with federal, state or local governments.

Support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Now

Whereas we are a nation of immigrants founded on the ideas of human rights and equality with a long tradition of welcoming immigrants and recognizing the importance of their many contributions to our nation’s rich and varied economic, cultural, social, political and religious life; and

Whereas Congress has failed in its responsibility to overhaul our broken and out-dated immigration system, and the current enforcement-only approach not only falls far short of addressing the complex economic and social realities of immigration but has led to unequal protection under the law, which is contrary to our belief in the fundamental fairness and proportionality in governmental actions; and

Whereas the resulting criminalization of a large portion of our immigrant community has resulted in civil and human rights violations that are unconstitutional, are contrary to our values and traditions, and are needlessly harsh; and

Whereas the systematic dismantling of the social safety net in lieu of real reform, by denying undocumented immigrants drivers licenses, non-discriminatory police protection, fair and safe working conditions, access to higher education and basic health care, threatens the public safety and public health of all our communities; and

Whereas programs and practices that attempt to solve the immigration problem in a piecemeal fashion often do more harm than good because they create an environment of fear and distrust in our immigrant communities and put the most vulnerable populations--women and children, the elderly and the disabled--at greater risk as domestic violence, child abuse, gang activities, robberies and other serious crimes will go unreported, and thereby destabilize and endanger the whole community; and

Whereas history shows that new waves of immigrants pose far less danger to America than do the accompanying efforts to compromise our constitutional rights in order to block the integration of the latest wave of immigrants into our communities; and

Whereas Representative Luis Gutierrez has introduced H.R.4321, Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP), which includes most of the steps that are necessary to achieve comprehensive immigration reform;

Therefore be it resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party calls on President Obama and the US Congress to make it a top priority to pass comprehensive immigration reform on the model of H.R. 4321 that honors our laws, our heritage as a nation of immigrants, and our shared humanity and which includes:

• effective and humane immigration enforcement at the borders and in the interior;

• a steep reduction in the immigration backlogs to help speed up family reunification goals;

• a path for undocumented youth who entered the U.S. as children to adjust their status such as the DREAM Act provides;

• a realistic path to earned legal residency and eventual citizenship for immigrants in good standing already living and working in the US using a broad criterion of contribution to U.S. society through education, employment, military service, or community/volunteer service;

• increased funding for ESL classes in public schools, community colleges and community-based adult English literacy programs as well as tax incentives for teachers pursuing ESL certification and employers who provide adult English literacy and basic education programs to their workers;

• a means for bi-national LGBT couples to petition for each other as delineated in the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) initiative;

• an improved immigration process for future immigrant workers that does not create the kind of permanent underclass of workers a guest worker program would produce;

• a moratorium on ICE raids on the workplaces and homes of immigrants until new legislation is enacted;

• an end to the criminalization of immigrants for misdemeanors;

• the repeal of 287(g) and Secure Communities programs and similar memorandums of understanding between local law enforcement and Homeland Security and the implementation of rigorous restrictions on joint ventures to limit detention and deportation efforts to the removal of dangerous criminals who pose a real threat to the community;

• an overhaul of immigration detention center practices to provide oversight and transparency to ensure that the human rights and human needs of detainees are protected at all times and that grievances will be addressed promptly and effectively;

• community-based alternatives to detention facilities, especially for families with children;

• effective and rigorous sanctions against employers who profit from exploiting immigrant workers by:

• outright wage theft;

• failing to pay a livable wage or pay overtime;

• refusing to comply with occupational and health standards;

• failing to carry workman’s compensation insurance or offering medical benefits;

• excluding immigrant workers from receiving pensions and other benefits accorded non-immigrant employees; and

• support for immigrant workers' rights to organize into unions to protect their rights as established by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and sanctions for corporations who deny these rights.

Be it further resolved that the North Carolina Democratic Party strongly urge elected officials, Governor Perdue, legislative leaders and North Carolina Democratic candidates for office to take a public stand in support of this resolution and to halt practices and programs that are contrary to the 14^th Amendment of our Constitution which affirms the inherent dignity and humanity of foreign-born US residents, regardless of their immigration status.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Withdrawal of U.S. Troops, Halting of Offensive Operations, Promoting Regional Diplomacy, and Channeling Aid through Indigenous and Multilateral Agencies

Whereas the US is involved in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and

Whereas war brings death and destruction and often plants the seeds for future aggression and hostility; and

Whereas war does not create understanding and resolution of underlying problems; and

Whereas national leaders have not always provided truthful reasons for entering war; and

Whereas wars rob nations of peoples’ lives, of both militants and increasingly civilians, destroy cultures and drain finances; and

Whereas survivors are often emotionally and physically crippled for life; and

Whereas wars can lead to the increased risk of the use of nuclear weapons with the power to destroy our planet; and

Whereas the emphasis on the use of U.S. contractors has deprived Iraqis and Afghans of jobs and led to excessive fraud and waste; and

Whereas these wars have been going on for almost nine years, have caused billions of dollars to be diverted from dire domestic needs including hunger, homelessness, lack of medical care, impoverished public education, and left millions unemployed;

Be it therefore resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party calls for an exit strategy to:

• Continue withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq and begin withdrawal in Afghanistan; and

• Halt offensive operations and support political reconciliation among all Iraqi and Afghan groups; and

• Engage Iraq’s and Afghanistan’s neighbors, including Iran and Pakistan, to promote reconciliation and regional security; and

• Channel U.S. development aid through Iraqi, Afghan and multilateral organizations

Medicare for All

Whereas every person in Orange County, in North Carolina and in the United States deserves access to affordable, quality healthcare which is becoming increasingly unavailable because health insurance premiums and deductibles have increased consistently in excess of inflation in the last decade and will likely continue to increase; and even Americans who are now insured often experience burdensome medical debt and sometimes life-threatening delays in obtaining healthcare; and

Whereas many Americans live in terror of becoming sick since medical debt is a leading cause of bankruptcy and causes approximately 500,000 bankruptcies annually affecting 2 million Americans; and

Whereas private health insurance systems typically spend approximately 33 percent of their cost on administration, in contrast to less than 3 percent typically spent to administer universal "single-payer" systems such as Medicare; and

Whereas other industrial countries are able to cover all their citizens and report better medical outcomes on many measures yet spend half of what America spends per person on medical care; and

Whereas the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that at least 45 million Americans did not have health insurance in 2008; and

Whereas many studies have shown that the uninsured are less likely to get necessary health care and drugs than those with insurance, and a recent Harvard study attributed ~45,000 deaths to this lack of healthcare each year; and

Whereas the number of preventable hospital stays (preventable if people received proper medical care) has increased in the last two decades, and that number is increasing faster among the uninsured; and

Whereas a 2008 Urban Institute report showed 27,000 excess deaths in 2006 from cancer alone among uninsured Americans; and

Whereas in 2008 Archives of Internal Medicine reported that almost 60 percent of US physicians supported government legislation to establish National Health Insurance; and

Whereas COBRA is unaffordable, as it takes over 30% of a laid-off worker’s monthly unemployment benefits to buy individual coverage and 82% to buy family coverage; and the 24.7 billion dollars of tax payer money allocated in the stimulus to provide a 65% subsidy of health care insurance premiums paid to for-profit insurers for the unemployed under the COBRA program for the next nine months would be better invested in expanding Medicare to include the unemployed in a publicly-funded, not-for-profit program;

Whereas “Medicare for All” would remove $350 billion - $400 billion per year from health care costs, nationwide; and save ~45,000 Americans from premature death;

Therefore be it resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party support permitting all residents of the United States to purchase health insurance through Medicare;

Be it further resolved that in the interest of smooth transitions that this program be 1) voluntary, 2) staggered by age (e.g. decrease the age of eligibility by 5 years every year over a period of 14 years until it achieves universal coverage);

Be it further resolved that in the interim, as long as the insurers provide supplemental insurance, the Secretary of State of NC and the Commissioner of Insurance should immediately demand full public disclosure of the financial position and administrative costs structure of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, which holds 53 percent of our state’s commercial market; and UnitedHealth Group Inc., which holds 20 percent of our state’s commercial market;

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the NC Congressional Delegation to urge them to cosponsor “Medicare for All” legislation.

Support for Peace Initiatives in the Middle East

Whereas President Obama is determined to restore a strong economy at home and address the social calamity too many Americans face today; and

Whereas the President's commitment to Americans at home is deeply dependent on helping end wars abroad, including in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East; and

Whereas reducing the overall cost of the military budget and ending overseas conflicts are essential if the country is to have productive jobs at home and expand investments for the public good; and

Whereas President Obama has appointed a nationally respected emissary, George Mitchell, to help bring an equitable and just resolution to the Middle East Conflict and assure justice and security for both Israelis and Palestinians; and

Whereas the conflict has brought loss of life and even greater insecurity to Israelis and has exacted untold suffering and death among Palestinians living in Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank and those living within Israel; and

Whereas voices in Congress and in the faith and social justice communities are now saying that any peace accord will depend upon

• ending the occupation of Palestine,

• removing the Israeli settlements in the West Bank,

• lifting of the blockade of Gaza,

• redirecting the current US billions for military aid toward social and economic development for both Israeli and Palestinian neighbors,

• ending Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes, and

• bringing all interests to the table to negotiate a just solution; 

Therefore be it resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party of North Carolina urge the support of President Obama's peace initiatives in the Middle East based upon the principles enumerated above and call on Congressional leaders to raise their voices and direct their votes toward this effort.

Phasing Out the Use of Military Contractors

Whereas more than 22.000 U.S. Government Contractors are operating in Iraq and Afghanistan, where some have killed civilians and participated in torture at Abu Ghraib and other detention facilities; and others have been employed for tasks not legally contractible under US Law; and

Whereas contractors have wasted billions of taxpayer dollars while engaging in legally and ethically questionable activities and outright theft and fraud; and

Whereas oversight of contractors is desperately needed for economic, human rights, and security reasons; and

Whereas Senator Bernard Sanders has introduced S3023 and Representative Janice Schakowsky has introduced HR 4650, a companion bill, that would ban private security contractors from performing military, security, law enforcement, intelligence, and armed rescue functions; and

Whereas these bills also impose better transparency requirements on existing contracts, so firms that still have contracts, would be forced to report their activities more frequently and would be under better Congressional oversight;

Therefore be it resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party of the Democratic Party of North Carolina calls on Senator Kay Hagan to support S3023 and the Democratic Congressional delegation co-sponsor HR 4650, bills to phase out the use of private military contractors.

Redirect Military Spending to Create Domestic Jobs in Education, Health, and Infrastructure

Whereas the Administration has called for increasing the FY11 baseline Pentagon budget by 3.4% but freezing $447 billion in discretionary spending; and

Whereas many proposed weapons programs are duplicated, unnecessary, untested, and subject to massive cost overruns; and

Whereas public dollars invested in clean energy, education, health care, and rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure will create up to twice as many jobs as Pentagon spending in Iraq and Afghanistan and far more jobs than equivalent dollars spent on military weapons systems [Robert Pollin, “How to End the Recession,” The Nation, Nov. 24, 2008];

Therefore be it resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party urge the NC Congressional delegation to support measures to end the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and redirect military spending to create more domestic jobs through clean energy, education, health care, and rebuilding infrastructure for the U.S., Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nuclear Arms Control & Reduction

Whereas nuclear weapons constitute a threat to the national security of the United States of America; and

Whereas nuclear weapons present a unique threat to the climate and the security of the American people and the peoples of all nations on Earth; and

Whereas nuclear weapons present a hazardous threat that could potentially lead to the eradication of life on Earth; and

Whereas maintenance of America’s nuclear arsenal of 5,500 warheads and supporting installations costs US taxpayers $52 billion per year that could be invested to job creation, economic stimulus, education or health care; and

Whereas the Jason Defense Advisory Report by an independent group of scientists found no evidence that aging of nuclear weapons compromised their certification and that upgrading the US nuclear arsenal is not necessary to maintain weapon reliability [“Lifetime Extension Program” JSR-09-334E, Sept. 9, 2009, The MITRE Corp., McLean, VA]; and

 

Whereas the unique threat inherent in nuclear weapons has been recognized by a bipartisan succession of presidents of America who have negotiated a series of treaties to limit the dangers of nuclear weapons; and

Whereas President Barack Obama announced his joint initiative with President Dmitriy Medvedev of the Russian Federation to reduce the number of nuclear weapons and to achieve the goal of “a nuclear free world;” and

Whereas the United States of America is the only nation ever to have used atomic weapons in war, she is uniquely obligated to take the lead in freeing all peoples from the ominous threat of nuclear weapons by setting an example for other nations to follow; and

Whereas President Obama has announced that the United States and Russia have agreed to

• Reduce the number of long-range warheads to 1,500;

• Convene a summit conference to prevent the diversion of nuclear arms to terrorism and

• Strengthen the global non-proliferation regime.

Therefore be it resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party urge the Obama Administration to:

• Pursue the total elimination of nuclear arsenals in the USA, the Russian Federation and all nuclear powers including: China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

• Replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with a new legal and binding treaty that will require the total elimination of nuclear weapons on a global basis.

• Strengthen the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the international protocols for the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.

• Secure all nuclear weapons and materials while safer, sustainable sources of energy.

• Support the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the IAEA Safeguards System.

• Intensify international cooperation to combat nuclear terrorism and promote the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.

• Work for the Congressional ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

• In accordance with the Jason Report affirming current nuclear weapon reliability, delete the budget item to upgrade nuclear weapons; and

Be it further resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party urge the North Carolina Democratic Party to support this resolution.

In Support of President Barack Obama

Whereas President Barack Obama was elected on an agenda of change after years of policies that have lowered the living standard of most Americans, put our environmental future at risk, enmeshed us in foreign wars, disregarded human rights, and damaged our international reputation; and

Whereas President Obama has been addressing these crises, particularly in health care, jobs and the economy, and advancing on a path of constructive change; and

Whereas President Obama's path has been continually obstructed by increasingly disingenuous and divisive congressional Republicans, and his bridge-building and consensus seeking have been met with rejection, even of policies earlier proposed by Republicans themselves; and

Whereas we believe in President Obama's sincere aspiration for the well-being of all and are inspired by his leadership; and,

Whereas no one person can enact such change alone, even a President;

Be it resolved therefore that the Orange County Democratic Party actively support President Obama by advocating explicitly for desired change, with him, our legislators, and our fellow citizens, to provide a counter-balance that enables him to accomplish more of his stated goals and provide a mandate to clear his way; and

Be it further resolved we urge all Americans to be politically active in their communities and invite them to volunteer with the Democratic Party and/or Organizing for America, President Obama’s grassroots organization, and/or other relevant grass roots organizations to work for the change we seek; and

Be it further resolved this resolution be transmitted through every available communication immediately after its adoption; and

Be it further resolved this resolution be transmitted to President Obama and those office holders elected by North Carolina voters.

In Support of Tobacco Farmworkers

Whereas the fact that farmworkers are excluded from the worker protections of the National Labor Relations Act, are often paid sub-poverty wages and yet still survive at subsistence level is not only a tragedy but a moral disgrace hidden from the eyes of most Americans; and

Whereas farm work remains the second most dangerous type of work in the US due to exposure to deadly pesticides, heat stroke and the additional threat to tobacco farmworkers who can absorb the amount of nicotine found in 36 cigarettes each day during their work; and

Whereas tragedies which occur in the fields are due to industry-wide problems that must be addressed by those who have control over the tobacco market;

Whereas Reynolds Tobacco’s billion dollar profit comes as a direct result of those who labor in the fields planting, tending and harvesting their tobacco;

Be it resolved The Orange County Democratic Party joins the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) in its call for Reynolds Tobacco to take responsibility for the oppressive conditions in which tobacco farmworkers labor and work with FLOC to create changes that will improve the lives of growers and farmworkers alike; and

Be it further resolved that the Orange County Democratic Party will continue to demonstrate our support until Reynolds addresses the injustices that farmworkers endure in their supply chain and give these workers the respect they deserve.