PREAMBLE

We believe that democratic principles are the foundation of a safe, stable, and prosperous future and that these principles must be woven into the fabric of our social, cultural, and economic lives. We declare our commitment to human rights, justice, and opportunity for all. Our platform is supported by our belief that government exists to accomplish for us collectively that which we cannot accomplish individually.

We believe:
we are responsible for the ethical, economic and environmental legacy we leave for our children we are individually responsible for our moral and spiritual beliefs and personal choices diversity and mutual respect strengthen our society That together we can do more than we can alone
We adopt this platform to ensure that democratic candidates for public office understand and support our goals.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is a domestic strategic resource vital to American independence and to the Eastern Washington economy.
We recognize:
the need for economic sustainability in rural areas the role of farmers as 'stewards of the land'

We believe:
the government is responsible for ensuring the safety of our imported and domestic food supply any decisions about the future of Pacific Northwest dams and waterways should be based on sound, credible economic and scientific information
We support:
local food production funding for agricultural commodity programs conservation incentives that help conserve agricultural land development of domestic and international marketing opportunities for crop and animal products land grant college funding of research adequate governmental support for agricultural research and extension

ECONOMY, CORPORATE POWER & MEDIA

We believe a strong and stable economy is essential to the workings of a democracy. In a global market, government has a role to ensure that markets are free of special interest manipulation.

The Economy
We support:
international trade based on fair trade including living wages and environmental protection oversight and regulation of investment banks return to fair bankruptcy laws elimination of predatory lending and the re-instituting of "usury" laws

Corporate Power
We believe:
corporations are vital to our economy and standard of living but corporations are not people business-friendly laws can be beneficial

We support:
substantial penalties against corporations that violate our laws the growth of entrepreneurship and small business by giving tax incentives to those who create jobs within our borders

Media
We believe:
in internet neutrality the Internet should be managed to serve the public interest a diversity of media benefits a free society

We support:
media ownership regulations to avoid domination of our airwaves by only a few corporate entities laws requiring all major media outlets provide free and equal access to political candidates encouraging minority and community media ownership funding for public broadcasting and support for nonprofit, and non-commercial radio and TV, and
cable access to broadband internet in all areas

EDUCATION

We believe public schools are integral to a strong democracy by bringing together people with diverse experiences, abilities and backgrounds for the common purpose of learning.

We believe:
It is a parent's responsibility to oversee the education of their child from available public options it is the paramount duty of the state to make provision for the education of all it is imperative that physical facilities support quality learning environments

We support:
stable and appropriate funding for all education, and for governmentally mandated programs including gifted, and special education programs
simple majority votes for all school levies and bond issues funding for small class size allowing for individual instruction and support age-appropriate, evidence-based education school and student assessment and accountability that rejects "one size fits all" high stakes testing

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY

Every individual has a fundamental right to clean air, safe food and water and a healthy natural environment. No government should make any law, regulation, treaty or agreement infringing upon these rights.

We support:
efforts to make energy security a reality for our nation conservation and development of clean, efficient, renewable sources of power policies that give priority to the preservation of biodiversity, and the protection of ecosystems and
watersheds strong public policy that restores and preserves wilderness, and other environmentally sensitive areas state and local land-use regulations Spokane River and Spokane Valley/Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer cleanup and protection the Growth Management Act, and support neighborhood and community planners in their efforts to
protect our quality of life restoration and cleanup of contaminated lands and water; especially in the Hanford Reach programs to reduce polluted urban and rural run-off into waterways, wetlands and aquifers efforts to reduce the use of persistent toxic chemicals pesticides the reuse and recycling of materials utilizing biomass conversion to convert biobased materials, farm products and byproducts into biofuel science conducted without the interference of politics maintaining public lands preventing waste disposal and oil exploration in any environmentally sensitive area opposing the import of new nuclear waste to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation keeping the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) intact and the current rate structure

FOREIGN POLICY

The United States of America should lead by example as a beacon of freedom and democracy. We should work within the world community in a spirit of peace, cooperation, compasion and justice.

We support:
non-violent conflict resolution a multilateral approach to foreign policy the original Universal Declaration of Human Rights honoring and upholding the rights, welfare, and environment of all indigenous peoples nonviolent initiatives aimed at rebuilding civil societies encouraging health, safety, and environmental standards worldwide the end of military and economic support to governments that violate human and civil rights increasing federal funding to combat world hunger and disease full participation in the International World Court

GOVERNMENT & POLITICAL REFORM

Government must reflect our values as citizens. Our government must be fiscally sound, operate ethically, and be transparent and accountable to the people.

We believe:
taxes are the price of a civil society; we want our taxes to be levied fairly and spent efficiently the basis of good governance lies in rational discourse and working with opposition parties for progress all government agencies should be appropriately funded

We support:
fair, voter-verifiable, and auditable voting systems an open and fair blanket primary system for Washington State public financing of election campaigns enforcement of all open meeting laws measures that prevent privatizing, or off-shoring of governmental public services.

HEALTH CARE

We believe access to quality mental and physical health care is a basic human right and is essential to national safety and well-being. Our government should guarantee access to affordable health care for all.

We support:
universal, publicly funded, single-payer, not-for-profit, comprehensive health care preserving consumer choice amending the Medicare prescription drug benefit to require pricing negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers improving Medicaid benefits to adequately cover home-care and facility care services regulation, accountability, and inspection of institutional and residential health care systems to assure quality care a sustained focus on making at-home living by those with chronic conditions and disabilities safe and more comfortable a living wage and quality training for caregivers including home-care service providers requiring pharmacists to fill prescriptions authorized by a licensed medical practitioner increasing funding for prevention programs and disease research making coverage for assistance with living wills and end of life issues a part of basic insurance retaining the autonomy of the County Public Health Officer and elimination of political influence on the office.

HUMAN RIGHTS

We believe that equal and unalienable rights of all human beings are the foundation of freedom and justice in the world and are essential to the preservation of democracy. These rights include food, shelter, safety, health care, education, employment, and access to legal counsel.

We believe:
individuals have the right to privacy in all personal matters individuals have the right to sovereignty over their own bodies in the separation of church and state all individuals should have access to health care and human services in public assistance to safeguard those who can not reasonably provide for themselves

We support:
access to legal services for people experiencing discrimination organized efforts to eliminate discrimination, harassment, intimidation and domestic or sexual violence right of confidentiality of financial, medical, and genetic information the rights of all adults including seniors and individuals with disabilities in matters regarding own lives in housing, education, and all other life choices.

INDIAN TRIBES & TREATIES

Tribal sovereignty is to be respected and preserved. Treaties made between sovereign Indian nations and the United States government must be upheld.

We believe:
in adequate funding of tribal governmental services for education, health care, transportation and law enforcement
resources should be provided to reduce crime on Indian reservations, especially to combat drug trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault
there is a special need to increase funds for Indian Health Services;

IMMIGRATION

E Pluribus Unum - From many, one. That unofficial motto of the US boldly proclaims we are a nation of immigrants. Immigrants strengthen America. All immigrants should be afforded full human rights and a fair, safe, and timely path to legal status.

We believe:
all people, regardless of their country of origin or their legal status, deserve to be treated fairly, respectfully, and with dignity,
all children regardless of immigration status are entitled to education migrant workers deserve safe and adequate housing and sanitary facilities; in laws which penalize employers who knowingly employ undocumented immigrants. in using diplomacy and economic development to improve the social, and environmental conditions
that contribute to illegal immigration into the United States

LABOR

We believe that economic fairness is a cornerstone of a democratic society and that a living wage is a basic right. We strive for international trade that supports the Democratic values of fairness, environmental responsibility and strong workers rights.

We support:
equal pay for equal work creating and maintaining a minimum wage that is a living wage adequate funding and resources for programs addressing the problem of homelessness in our communities establishing a progressive tax system at both the state and federal level establishing a fair system of paying for community growth maintaining the rights of all workers to organize and use mediation, arbitration, and the right to strike
without fear of reprisal or replacement maintaining a separate and dedicated Social Security Trust Fund and disabled and dependent survivor Social Security benefits a workers' "Bill of Rights" that includes right of assembly, association and free speech, due process, freedom from discrimination, and democracy within unions oversight and protection to guarantee the security of pension retirement plans maintaining an adequate ratio of low-income and disabled housing unemployment and retraining benefits for workers laid off or locked out by employers a declaration that minimum wage should not include tips access to quality affordable childcare opposing and repealing right-to-work laws designed to bust unions.

LAW & JUSTICE

We affirm liberty and justice for everyone residing in the U.S. according to the Constitution and believe that criminal justice and human rights are linked. We support the legal principles upon which our free and democratic society relies.

We believe:
our constitutionally protected rights are worth preserving , especially in times of national stress violence should not be tolerated in our communities authorities and communities must work together, assume responsibility for safety and prevention of
crime, and make neighborhoods livable in rehabilitation over incarceration for non-violent offenders government should help alleviate the social conditions which contribute to crime comprehensive crime prevention must include youth programs property forfeiture should be permitted only after criminal conviction corporate officers and boards should be held responsible for actions and malfeasance of their
companies mandatory prior approval and supervision by a court in matters involving domestic surveillance supporting the scientific and appropriate use of criminal profiling for public safety includes opposing
the use of racial profiling in any form

We support:
a citizen's constitutional right to own firearms and use them for legal purposes application of the Geneva Conventions to all detainees combating addiction and substance abuse by focusing on treatment and education adequate state funding for indigent defendants in all criminal cases timely DNA testing in criminal prosecutions drug, family and veterans courts.

MILITARY

Democrats have always answered their country's call to duty and are proud of our military contributions to the nation.

We support:
Fairchild AFB, and our National Guard facilities, as an integral part of our community and our national defense by America's armed services, not by mercenaries or contractors expanding coverage including comprehensive psychiatric services for veterans suffering from service-related disorders preservation and complete funding of all VA hospitals and medical treatment facilities for disabled veterans, and increased funding for long-term care treatment at military medical facilities for military retirees the right for service injuries to be declared after a term of service equal compensation for Guard and Reserve members activated for combat operations full training of all American personnel in the mission to which they are deployed the right to serve free of sexual harassment and sexual assault the right and responsibility of each woman in the military to make her own reproductive decisions the VA disability offset from military retired pay eliminating the Survivor's Benefit Plan (SBP) Social Security offset when a widowed military spouse reaches age 62.

TRANSPORTATION

We believe that transportation systems that are efficient, flexible and visionary are key to a healthy economy and environment.

We support:
effective and efficient security of ports, freight, and passenger travel investments in public infrastructure that reduce dependence on the automobile improved facilities and sidewalks for wheelchair, pedestrian and non-motorized movement public involvement in developing transportation plans and systems multiple funding sources for transportation projects tax credits for vehicles that exceed mileage guidelines or use alternative fuels use of alternative fuel, electric and hybrid vehicles public input, review and voting as a part of major airport expansion and major highway construction enhancement of arterials that discourages inappropriate land use and development enhanced support and development of our heavy rail and navigable water infrastructure development of light rail and high speed rail.

This platform was adopted at the Spokane County Convention, 4/29/12