Democratic Party - Good News
Posted 6/21/16
Politico by Burgess Everett and Seung Min Kim 6/21/16
A growing number of senators back changes to a system critics say gives party bosses undue sway to decide the nominee.
Politico interviewed nearly 20 of Sanders’ colleagues over the past week and found a surprisingly strong appetite for change, including among influential members of the party establishment such as Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a top prospect for vice president.
A growing number of senators back changes to a system critics say gives party bosses undue sway to decide the nominee.
Politico interviewed nearly 20 of Sanders’ colleagues over the past week and found a surprisingly strong appetite for change, including among influential members of the party establishment such as Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a top prospect for vice president.
Posted 6/20/16
Virginia Democratic Party Unanimously Votes for Progressive Resolutions the inform the goals of the Party
The Virginia 2016 Democratic Convention Permanent Resolutions Committee Report June 18, 2016
Index of Resolutions
The Virginia 2016 Democratic Convention:
Index of Resolutions
The Virginia 2016 Democratic Convention:
- Supports Legislation to Remove the Pernicious Influence of Money on Government
- Endorses Virginia’s Restoration of Ex-Felons’ Voting Rights
- Urges Investment in Transportation Infrastructure and the Establishment of an Independent Agency to Audit Transportation Infrastructure Built through Public/Private Partnerships
- Calls for Increased Funding for Job-Creating Infrastructure Projects
- Endorses Bold Policies to Fight Climate Change and Protect Virginia’s Environment
- Calls for Criminal Justice Reform
- Opposition to the Proposed Constitutional Amendment on Right to Work
- Calls for Media Fairness and Disclosure
- Asserts that Privatization of Public Schools Does Not Equal “Choice”
- Opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership Treaty
- Opposes the Death Penalty
- Condemns Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
- Condemns Gun Violence in America
- Supports Nonpartisan Redistricting
- Approves the Resettlement of Refugees in the United States
- Supports Improved Relations with Cuba
- Supports Voting Rights for All
- Supports College Access and Affordability
- Urges Reform of Veterans Benefits and Claims
- Supports Wall Street Reform
- Supports Medicaid Expansion
- Proposes Changes in Federal Prescription Drug Policy to Balance Cost, Innovation, and Availabilit
- Calls for Medicare For All
- Endorses Raising the Federal Minimum Wage to $15 per Hour
- Supports a Democratic National Committee Study of the Role of Unpledged “Superdelegates”
- Supports Women’s Reproductive Rights
- Endorses Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment
- Supports Equality for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community
- Memorial Resolution Celebrating the Life of John C. Miller
- Memorial Resolution Celebrating the Life of Madison Ellis Marye
The Virginia 2016 Democratic Convention Opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership Treaty
Whereas,
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement was negotiated in secret between the United States and 12 or more Pacific Rim countries and largely influenced by multinational corporations. Its full text did not become publicly available until after Congress granted “fast track” trade approval to the deal, forcing themselves to vote on the complete document without the possibility of amendment.
The TPP is designed to prioritize corporate profits rather than workers in each of the partner nations. Claims that the TPP includes the strongest protections for workers in any trade deal are moot without an enforcement mechanism. Additional claims that the TPP provides US businesses and products a competitive edge are unfounded. Among others, the TPP has the following potentially negative ramifications:
Whereas,
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement was negotiated in secret between the United States and 12 or more Pacific Rim countries and largely influenced by multinational corporations. Its full text did not become publicly available until after Congress granted “fast track” trade approval to the deal, forcing themselves to vote on the complete document without the possibility of amendment.
The TPP is designed to prioritize corporate profits rather than workers in each of the partner nations. Claims that the TPP includes the strongest protections for workers in any trade deal are moot without an enforcement mechanism. Additional claims that the TPP provides US businesses and products a competitive edge are unfounded. Among others, the TPP has the following potentially negative ramifications:
- The Investment Chapter of the TPP would allow foreign corporations to sue the United States and its individual States over any law or regulation that could reduce or obstruct their future profits.
- U.S., state and local food safety rules could be challenged by foreign corporations as “illegal trade barriers” if higher than the standards in other TPP nations, thus threatening the health and safety of consumers everywhere.
- The TPP would provide large pharmaceutical firms with new abilities to extend patent rights, increasing prescription drug prices, limiting competition and halting access to cost efficient generic drugs. This would further increase health care costs.
- TPP financial rules would weaken or prevent regulation of risky financial products, such as “interest rate swaps,” and threaten the financial stability of our economy.
- Under the TPP, the US would be forced to waive “Buy American” or “Buy Local” requirements specifically aimed at enhancing our local economies and the ability to create new local jobs.
- Our Elected Officials to faithfully present the elements of this resolution and to:
- Reject the Trans Pacific Partnership, and negotiate a fair trade agreement that prioritizes working people instead of profits;
- Protect and grow good, middle class jobs right here in the United States; and
- Declare the Commonwealth of Virginia a TPP-Free Zone, and enact and enforce the TPP-Free Zone to the maximum extent allowed by law, and, in consideration of the best interests and livelihoods of all our citizens, workforce, local businesses and health of our environment and ecology.
- The Democratic Party of Virginia to send a copy of this Resolution to all Elected Officials in the Commonwealth of Virginia Democratic Party, the National Democratic Party, members of both Chambers of the US Congress, and to President Obama to seek a better way forward on future trade deals.