2020 National Democratic Party Platform

Here’s a link to the 2020 Democratic Platform.

2020 Washington State Democrats Platform (Passed June 13th, 2020)

Here’s a link to the Washington State Democratic Platform.

2018  Platform of the 41st Legislative District Democrats
(Adopted March 24, 2018)

Preamble

We, the 41st Legislative District Democrats, hold to these principles:

That the Democratic Party, with its great diversity of members, its flexibility of organization, its historic adaptability to fruitful change, and its instinctive responsiveness to human needs and aspirations, must provide the leadership necessary in these challenging times. 

We are strongest when we work together to provide our people with responsive and responsible government. That as stewards of the planet, it is our responsibility to protect our environment and preserve it for future generations. 

That every citizen, no matter their race, nationality, religion, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or economic background, is entitled to an equal voice and equal treatment.

That as Democrats, we are proud and upright citizens of our community, Washington State, and the United States of America, and aspire to be a beacon of freedom and justice in the world.

Summary of Platform of the 41st Legislative District Democrats

Economic Opportunity:  We seek economic policies that are just, sustainable, and responsible. Our communities benefit from fair trade and jobs that pay a living wage.

Labor:  We believe in the dignity of work and the right to fair wages and benefits in return. We insist on the right of all workers to join labor unions, to bargain collectively, and to take part in setting their wages and working conditions. 

Environmental Protection:  We must respect the web of life, and preserve it for future generations. Urgent action is needed to combat the climate crisis, preserve the majesty and grandeur of our wild places, protect endangered ecosystems, and keep our air, water, and soil clean.

Transportation and Community Planning:  We support transportation and land use policies that ensure equal opportunity and a greater quality of life for all. Decisions regarding transportation and land use should support the principles of sustainability, affordability, and safety.

Human and Civil Rights:  We believe the rights guaranteed by our federal and state Constitutions are crucial to American democracy, and should not be compromised for any reason. Their preservation requires our vigorous defense. 

Public Safety and Access to Justice:  Law enforcement and our court system should emphasize prevention, restorative justice and rehabilitation. Incarceration alone will not keep our families and communities safe.

Gun Safety and Community Protection:  Gun violence impacts every town in the United States: on an average day, 96 Americans are killed with guns, resulting in nearly 13,000 firearm homicides per year in the United States. The 41st L.D. supports local, grassroots organizing to end gun violence and build safer communities. 

Education:  We believe a free, universal public-school system is the backbone of our democratic society. High-quality preschool should be universal and available to every child, and public universities and trade schools should be tuition-free.

Ending Homelessness:  Every citizen should have a place to call home. As a people, we have a responsibility to take care of each other. As a society, we should provide housing options for those citizens unable to afford market rate housing including those citizens who are unable to work.

Healthcare:  We believe healthcare is a basic human right, and we as a people must recognize we have a mutual responsibility to ensure accessible, timely and affordable quality healthcare for all. 

Free and Fair Elections:  We are committed to a democracy that encourages maximum participation, a voting process that is fair, transparent, and open to all citizens.

Media Reform:  An informed citizenry, a diverse free press, and equal access to the Internet are essential for democracy to flourish. Unchecked media consolidation and concentration threaten the health of our political discourse by allowing a few gatekeepers to set the agenda. High-speed internet connectivity is not a luxury; it is a necessity for 21st century economic success, social mobility, education, health care, and public safety.

Immigration:  The United States was founded as, and continues to be, a country of immigrants from throughout the world. It is no coincidence that the Statue of Liberty is one of our most profound national symbols. We believe immigration is not just a problem to be solved, it is a defining aspect of the American character and our shared history. 

Taking Care of Our Veterans:  Our military personnel and veterans must be accorded the very best in medical care and social services. All service members are entitled to equal treatment regardless of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. 

Economic Opportunity

We seek economic policies that are just, sustainable, and responsible. Our communities benefit from fair trade and jobs that pay a living wage.We support:

  1. Updating and maintaining our state and our nation’s infrastructure including roads, bridges, mass transit, and broadband internet, being mindful of our commitments to public safety and protection of the environment;
  2. Modernization and reform of our regressive tax structure with a fairer, more equitable system that is based on ability to pay;
  3. An increase in the minimum wage so it is closer to a true living wage and continued upward annual adjustment in accordance with increases in the cost of living;

Labor

We believe in the dignity of work and the right to fair wages and benefits in return. We insist on the right of all workers to join labor unions, to bargain collectively, and to take part in setting their wages and working conditions. We support:

  1. Paid sick leave, paid family leave, paid safe leave, and paid vacation leave for working men and women;
  2. Policies to close the gender pay gap;
  3. Access to vocational training and job readiness resources.

Environmental Protection

We must respect the web of life, and preserve it for future generations. Urgent action is needed to combat the climate crisis, preserve the majesty and grandeur of our wild places, protect endangered ecosystems, and keep our air, water, and soil clean.We support:

  1. A transition to a clean energy economy by developing renewable energy sources (solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal), creating green jobs, and reducing our energy needs through conservation;
  2. Tougher energy standards and pollution penalties for violation of our state and federal environmental regulations, such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, and increasing funding to the agencies responsible for enforcing these regulations;
  3. Protecting our public lands and waters, phasing out the extraction and export of dirty fossil fuels to other countries.

Transportation and Community Planning

We support transportation and land use policies that ensure equal opportunity and a greater quality of life for all. Decisions regarding transportation and land use should support the principles of sustainability, affordability, and safety.We support:

  1. Working across city lines to focus new development near transit hubs to increase access from residents’ homes and apartments and easing strain on our roads;
  2. Expansion of local bus service in the greater Puget Sound region, including the 41st Legislative District, enhancing access from underserved neighborhoods to Link Light Rail, Express bus, and other transit services;
  3. Incentivizing development that fosters deeply inclusive and equitable neighborhoods and communities.

Human and Civil Rights

We believe the rights guaranteed by our federal and state Constitutions are crucial to American democracy, and should not be compromised for any reason. Their preservation requires our vigorous defense. We support:

  1. A woman’s right to make her own reproductive health decisions;
  2. An end to systemic and institutional racism in our state, and a deep commitment to embedding racial equity and inclusion in our values, actions, and solutions;
  3. Equal rights in all areas for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, including access to health care and public facilities for transgender persons.

Public Safety and Access to Justice

Law enforcement and our court system should emphasize prevention, restorative justice and rehabilitation. Incarceration alone will not keep our families and communities safe.We support:

  1. A fair and fully funded justice system that does not put unjust fees on the backs of those on whom we currently load excessive court fees;
  2. An end to mass incarceration, systemic racism, the militarization of our police forces, an end to for-profit prison contracts;
  3. Abolition of the death penalty at the state and federal level.

Gun Safety and Community Protection

Gun violence impacts every town in the United States: on an average day, 96 Americans are killed with guns, resulting in nearly 13,000 firearm homicides per year in the United States. The 41st L.D. supports local, grassroots organizing to end gun violence and build safer communities. We support:

  1. Mandatory, universal registration and licensing, safety training, safety locks and secure storage of all firearms;
  2. Sellers of guns should be held liable when negligently selling guns to those who commit a violent crime;
  3. Common-sense restrictions on civilian purchase of semi-automatic firearms, large capacity ammunition magazines and large capacity magazine feeding devices.

Education

We believe a free, universal public-school system is the backbone of our democratic society. High-quality preschool should be universal and available to every child, and public universities and trade schools should be tuition-free.We support:

  1. Full and equitable compliance with the Supreme Court’s McCleary decision, which holds that the Legislature is failing to uphold the state’s paramount duty to provide ample provision for the education of all children residing within Washington’s borders;
  2. Smaller class sizes for grades four through twelve, and increased pay for our hardworking public-school teachers;
  3. Robust school curricula that includes civics, arts, social sciences, physical education, and vocational education in addition to STEM subjects.

We oppose:

  1. The use of public money to fund religious schools.

Ending Homelessness

Every citizen should have a place to call home. As a people, we have a responsibility to take care of each other. As a society, we should provide housing options for those citizens unable to afford market rate housing including those citizens who are unable to work.We support:

  1. Utilizing shelters as a transition to permanent housing and implementing a rapid rehousing policy for families who need help to maintain school and community ties while finding new homes;
  2. Increased funding to end homelessness in our cities and county once and for all, through targeted investments to provide the necessary outreach, social services, and housing options for all populations experiencing homelessness
  3. Demand greater contributions from housing developers in the affordable housing market, and institute a system of incentives and penalties to ensure participation.

Healthcare

We believe healthcare is a basic human right, and we as a people must recognize we have a mutual responsibility to ensure accessible, timely and affordable quality healthcare for all. We support:

  1. Continued implementation of the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama;
  2. Expanding Medicare and Medicaid to all Americans, decoupling healthcare from employment to free the burden from small businesses;
  3. Allowing the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to negotiate prices for medical devices and drugs We oppose privatization of Medicare and health insurance voucher programs.

Free and Fair Elections

We are committed to a democracy that encourages maximum participation, a voting process that is fair, transparent, and open to all citizens.We support:

  1. A prohibition on large, special-interest campaign contributions in our campaign finance system, and reversal of the Citizens United decision;
  2. Increasing the number of available ballot drop boxes in King County to ensure easy access to all;
  3. Publicly financed elections to mitigate corruption and the influence of money in politics;

Media Reform

An informed citizenry, a diverse free press, and equal access to the Internet are essential for democracy to flourish. Unchecked media consolidation and concentration threaten the health of our political discourse by allowing a few gatekeepers to set the agenda. High-speed internet connectivity is not a luxury; it is a necessity for 21st century economic success, social mobility, education, health care, and public safety.We support:

  1. A free and open internet, we oppose any effort to roll back net-neutrality rules;
  2. Stronger media ownership rules that encourage local ownership and deconsolidation of media monopolies;
  3. Laws and policies that encourage broadband competition and access, especially in underserved areas.

Immigration

The United States was founded as, and continues to be, a country of immigrants from throughout the world. It is no coincidence that the Statue of Liberty is one of our most profound national symbols. We believe immigration is not just a problem to be solved, it is a defining aspect of the American character and our shared history. We support:

  1. Continued compliance with Washington Executive Order 17-01, making Washington a welcoming jurisdiction and preventing misuse of state executive or small cabinet resources for targeting or apprehension of undocumented individuals beyond what is required by federal law;
  2. Sensible policies for border management that respect the constitutional rights and civil liberties of all Americans and guests of the United States, and we reaffirm our nation’s commitment to refugees and asylum-seekers from around the world;
  3. Comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level that provides a pathway to citizenship for new Americans, including enactment of the level DREAM Act.

Taking Care of Our Veterans

Our military personnel and veterans must be accorded the very best in medical care and social services. All service members are entitled to equal treatment regardless of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. We support:

  1. Local policies to ensure that no veteran is without a home;
  2. Increased educational benefits and job training for our returning veterans;
  3. Stronger health and human services at the state level to provide mental health treatment, mental and physical rehabilitation, and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.