Health Care, Shelter and Food

Health Care. Democrats believe all Oregonians should have:

1. Health care that is universal, comprehensive, and affordable.
2. Medical decisions made solely by the health care provider and the patient.
3. Access to a full range of reproductive health care.
4. Health care with a wellness focus through education and prevention.

Shelter. Democrats believe all Oregonians should have:

1. Clean, safe and affordable housing.
2. Inclusive neighborhood development.
3. Energy-efficient new construction.

Food. Democrats believe all Oregonians should have:

1. A secure supply of safe, healthy and affordable food and water.
2. Food production practices that are safe and environmentally friendly.

Public Education

Public education has been and should continue to be the foundation of our democracy and therefore
deserves our strongest commitment.

1. General Policies - Policies that promote a quality education system will value educators and will reaffirm successful traditional principles such as appropriate student-teacher ratios, academic freedom, and the separation of church and state.
2. Funding - Funding for public education should reflect its importance in our society. Education for the 21st century will require generous funding.
3. Access - Universal access to education is essential to equality of opportunity.
4. Programs - Public education programs must support not only economic objectives, but also the cultural, artistic, and scientific understandings, which make our lives fuller and richer.
5. Family Health - Early childhood education programs like Head Start are a proven success. The promotion of good health, nutrition, and parenting skills is a cost-effective investment.

Revenue Policy

Taxes represent the continuing investment in society. That investment funds the development and maintenance
of an effective thriving civil society including education, infrastructure, economy, support services and defense.
Further, those who have benefited the most in the society have an obligation to invest in society.

1. Oregon’s tax system and the Federal Tax system should be more progressive.
2. Tax systems should be fair and equitable to all involved.
3. Oregon’s mix of taxes should provide adequate revenue to meet the State’s commitment to quality education and to other services.
4. Oregon’s tax system needs to be stable to allow for long term planning.

Business and Economic Development

1. Businesses that demonstrate a verifiable commitment to long-term sustainability and worker dignity should be identified and targeted for tax breaks and other fiscal incentives.
2. State government should work with educational institutions and businesses to identify future higher paid occupations and prepare Oregonians for those positions.
3. Higher education and community college systems should help small business be successful.
4. Government should support a quality higher education system to produce the scientists, engineers, and other highly qualified individuals that can fill the higher paying jobs that new technologies will produce.
5. Tax breaks, incentives and exceptions to land use regulations should not be given to businesses that pay low wages, have poor benefit packages, or damage the environment.
6. We support regulation of the credit card and payday loan industries so that vulnerable citizens are not exploited.

Labor

1. We believe that full time work (not to exceed 40 hours per week) under a minimum wage should provide a living wage.
2. We support a minimum wage law that applies to all workers, including guest, migrant and seasonal agricultural employees.
3. We support a Workplace Privacy Policy regarding non-work/non-safety invasion of privacy.
4. We oppose privatization of public jobs and outsourcing of private jobs.
5. We support collective bargaining for all workers.
6. Labor policies must be worker and family friendly.
7. We oppose job discrimination based on age, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, political activity, union membership, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.
8. Retirement benefits must be assured.
9. We support protected political activity by employees.
10. We support international fair-trade agreements, including union organizing and non-exploitation of workers and children.
11. We encourage public support for safety and training of workers.

Election Reform

1. We support the right of every American citizen to vote in all local, state and national elections.
2. We support uniform standards for conducting secure, open and accurate federal elections.
3. We support increased transparency during all stages of the initiative process and a weekly disclosure of contributions to initiative campaigns.
4. We support honest, fair and transparent campaigns and media equity for national candidates.
5. We support enacting instant runoff voting to determine a majority winner in a single election wherein the voter’s choices are ranked.
6. We oppose any ballot measure or legislative act that inhibits workers rights to a collective political voice.

Civil Liberties, Justice and Public Safety

1. Many of our basic rights and freedoms are threatened and, in fact, have been eroded. We expect government to respect and protect the rights guaranteed by the Oregon and U.S. Constitutions and the U.S. Bill of Rights
2. Given the vast range of diversity among people in a multi-cultural world, we commit to understanding and embracing human differences. We support the non-discrimination and equal treatment of all peoples within the United States.
3. We support the constitutional separation of church and state, and reaffirm the critical value of religious freedom.
4. We recognize and honor the sovereignty and treaty rights of the Native American nations.
5. Priority must be given to preventing the conditions that lead to crime or otherwise threaten public safety. While all people have basic needs for a sense of safety and security, government must balance these needs with protecting personal freedoms.
6. Reproductive self-determination is a basic human right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

Foreign Policy

We believe the U.S. must be a responsible citizen of the world, and that the rule of law must be supported worldwide. We believe the US must take a leadership role that emphasizes diplomacy, international cooperation, and human rights.
We advocate a foreign policy that promotes:

1. The Advancement of Human Rights – We support the adoption of democratic principles and practices by all nations, the equal rights and fair treatment of all people, and we urge the US to affirm and ratify international human rights treaties and conventions.
2. The Establishment of Economic Justice – We support fair trade agreements that emphasize environmental and labor protection and we oppose any “free” trade agreement which jeopardizes fair labor and environmental practices in the US and elsewhere.
3. The Creation of World Peace and Security – The US must peacefully resolve international conflicts and reduce the threat and proliferation of nuclear, biological, chemical and space-based weapons.
4. International Cooperation – The US must lead through diplomacy rather than military force and economic coercion, while respecting other nations’ sovereignty and fostering cooperation among nations.
5. Eradicating the Roots of Terrorism – The US must address the root causes of terrorism by recognizing and empowering socially disenfranchised groups, advancing humanitarian programs, and expediting an exit strategy in Iraq that involves the United Nations and transfers complete control of all US military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan to the host nations.
6. Safeguarding the Environment – We support conventions, treaties, agreements and protocols that protect the environment.
7. Respect for UN Resolutions, International Law and Court Systems – We support a strong and more effective United Nations to build concensus and agreement to solve international problems. The US should fully support international legal and court systems.
8. Increased Foreign Health Aid – We support the development of a foreign aid policy based on the economic and health needs of each country. The foreign health aid policy should stress women’s health, family planning programs, AIDS prevention and treatment, and eliminating hunger.

Environment, Energy and Transportation

ENVIRONMENT - Democrats believe Oregon needs to:

1. Reduce human contributions to global warming-induced climate change and prepare for its destructive consequences.
2. Ensure an adequate supply of healthful water, food, soil, and air for all citizens.
3. Preserve natural resources, critical habitat, and healthy wildlife populations.
4. Involve diverse people in all stages of decision-making that affects the environment.
5. Oppose efforts to weaken existing laws that protect the environment and natural resources.

ENERGY - Democrats believe Oregon needs to:

1. Maximize energy conservation.
2. Maximize sustainable energy production, grow the economy and preserve our national security through investment in renewable energy and encourage "energy entrepreneurship."

TRANSPORTATION - Democrats believe Oregon needs to:

1. Plan and implement an accelerated program for the production of mass transit systems.
2. Encourage the development and use of other energy-efficient transportation technologies.