As part of the Strategic Planning sessions earlier this year, the following drafts were prepared for consideration in the Platform. Thanks to Gerrit Rosenthal for a lot of hard work on this.
5.1 DRAFT Democratic Position Statements – MARCH 2007 - Gerritt Rosenthal
Working Class Support
Washington County Democrats are 100 percent aligned with the hard-working middle-class people of the county and fully support their right to earn fair compensation for their labors, at a level that will support their families, in a safe environment with no discrimination, and to organize if they so wish.
Washington County Democrats recognize that to provide family wages, businesses must be successful. Toward this worthwhile outcome, the Democrats strongly encourage employees and management to work cooperatively toward their mutual goals.
Pro-Immigrant
Washington County Democrats join with other Americans in acknowledging the proud history of immigration in this country, and we strongly encourage our elected officials at all levels to develop and actively support humane and fair treatment of our immigrants, while also recognizing the potential problems when immigration is uncontrolled or when immigration laws are not enforced. As a nation of immigrants, we recognize that everyone gains both socially and economically from the contributions of our newest residents and citizens.
Forward Thinking
Washington County Democrats recognize that the county is an integral part of a rapidly changing technological society and that such changes also create great challenges. The County Democrats seek always to use the best information and science available in order to plan for the orderly transition to the future with the least negative impact on our families, our children’s futures and our way of life. We look forward with great hope.
Environmentally Reasonable
Washington County Democrats strive to be progressive in seeking solutions to the impacts our lifestyle choices make on the world around us. We work diligently to conserve our natural resources, including working to achieve solutions to the looming problem of global warming. We seek to protect our open spaces, our air and water, our productive soil and the wildlife and natural habitats that surround us. Smart businesses also understand that their future is tied to a healthy environment, and we support smart businesses.
DRAFT - 5.4 PROPOSED PROCEDURES REGARDING ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND LEGISLATORS G. Rosenthal, March 2007
Goals and rationale. Communication from our Congressional representatives (Senators & Representatives) is important for us in order to actively and accurately represent them to Democrats in our County. However, their focus is more on voters, and less on general resolutions of the WashCoDems and their opportunities for direct contact with us are limited by distance and schedules. Therefore our goal regarding Congressional representatives is to encourage them to interact with our Party on key issues, to provide the most accurate information possible to our members, and to encourage and facilitate our members in their communications on key issues.
Our goals regarding our Oregon State delegation are somewhat more direct. We have every reason to expect them to listen closely if we have strong leanings on specific issues. The opportunities for their direct communication with us are more direct than for Congresspersons since they remain in the region and are in session for limited time periods.
Much of the content of these suggestions comes directly or indirectly from Laird Haystay.
Our goal is to establish processes for facilitating communication both TO and FROM both Congress-persons and Legislative Representatives.
1. Establish Regular Communication FROM Congressional Representatives
Procedure #1: To facilitate greater exchange of information from our Congressional delegation we will periodically, as issues present themselves, formally request (a request from the Central Committee) that a member from their staff meet with us (at their office) to clarify the Congresspersons (Senator or Representative) considerations and perspectives on the issue. These meetings should be generally less than one hour per month and the person(s) meeting with the Congressional staff will report back to the Central Committee. Issues will be identified by consensus, by direction of the Executive Committee, or by a request of the Majority of the Central Committee. The ExCom and CC may want to establish standing committees to conduct these meetings, or they may want to delegate “key stakeholders” for each identified issue.
2. Establish Communication FROM State Legislators
To encourage communication from State Legislators, we will maintain a standing invitation for up to two legislators (or their representative) to discuss issues of critical legislative concern at each CC meeting. We will also hold an issue forum at the CC meeting following the close of the Legislative session at which all representatives will be invited to discuss key topics. This forum may be further defined by the ExCom.
3. Instigate Communication TO Congressional Representatives
In order to invigorate communications to our Congresspeople (Senators and Representative), each CCC meeting will have available postage-paid post cards addressed to different representatives. Attendees will be encouraged to write postcards on key issues identified either by consensus, by the Exec Com or by motion of the CC. The postcards will be stamped, tabulated, and sent by WashCo Dems so that we maintain a record of the number of postcards on specific issues.
4. Encourage Communication TO State Legislators
We will periodically pass resolutions regarding state and regional policies and initiatives to be forwarded on to the appropriate legislator. We will actively seek guidance from our representatives on how we can more effectively interact with the legislature.