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SAMPLE RESOLUTIONS FOR CAUCUS MARCH 2, 2004
GOVERNMENT SECRECY
Whereas Open Meeting laws are now operable at state and local levels of government, and Whereas Constitutional Law, Statute
Law, and Judicial Law all stress openness in the functioning
of government, therefore Be it resolved that "Executive Privilege" be overturned, and Be it further resolved that "National Security" as an excuse for secrecy in the Executive Branch be allowed only after determination by a joint House/Senate committee to be composed of one member from each party represented in both bodies, these to be elected by Party Caucus within each body. SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS Whereas the School of the Americas, renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, is known to have trained men in tactics of intimidating and terrorizing their own citizens when they return to the countries, and Whereas such trainees have assassinated not only their own citizens but also U.S. citizens residing and working there, and Whereas such training of foreign military is an act of the U.S. infringing in the affairs of sovereign states, therefore Be it resolved that the U.S. Congress cease funding said school and order the U.S. Military and Pentagon to desist such training of foreign mercenaries. PATRIOT ACT Whereas the misnamed U.S. Patriot Act unconstitutionally infringes upon the rights of citizens by limiting the rights of Free Speech, of Free Assembly, of an attorney, and the right to be free of unreasonable search and seizure, therefore Be it resolved that Congress repudiate this act and restore to all U.S. citizens their Constitutional Rights. ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES Whereas tough screen voting machines can be manipulated by anyone with some knowledge of computers, and Whereas touch screen voting machines have no paper trails to verify elections, therefore Be it resolved that all elections have verification of election data so that questions and challenges may be answered, and an accurate vote count is secured. TAXATION Whereas taxes are the means to pay for roads, bridges, schools, parks and playgrounds, police and fire protection, and help our fellow citizens who have a need for assistance, therefore Be it resolved that wealth is of primary consideration in the levying of taxes. PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS Whereas the financing of general-election campaigns are problematic for the majority of citizens who would consider running for office, and Whereas money from corporations and wealthy patrons may hold the campaigner to grant them favors, and Whereas the wide range of campaign funds creates an unequal field for campaigners to speak to the issues, therefore Be it resolved that public financing be used to fund candidates of any party, and that contributions by citizens can be no more than $100.00. LIVING WAGE Whereas the majority of people in need of financial assistance are working, sometimes two jobs to earn a living, and Whereas these citizens contribute to the welfare of all by paying taxes, and Whereas it is immoral to demand that people work full time at a wage which will not take care of their basic needs, therefore Be it resolved that our government set a living wage which will provide for the minimum standard of living as defined by the Department of Labor and indexed to inflation. UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE Whereas Canada and most European countries have had successful universal Health Care for years, and Whereas national polls indicate a majority of U.S. citizens favor Universal Health Care, therefore Be it resolved that the United States adopt a Universal Health Care Program with a single payer. TREATIES Whereas other nations have entered into treaties and agreements in good faith with the United States, and Whereas these agreements have prevented war, and Whereas these agreements have improved the quality of life for the nations involved, therefore Be it resolved that the United States return to keeping their commitments with other nations. DEPLETED URANIUM Whereas depleted uranium has been used in weapons during the two wars in Iraq, and Whereas depleted uranium has been responsible for the spike in cancer, other health related illness, and birth defects among the people who have had contact with it, and Whereas the United States Government has been made aware of these effects of depleted uranium, therefore Be it resolved that the U.S government provide our veterans and military personnel with health care for the resulting medical problems, accept and act on its responsibility in restoring the areas that have been contaminated, and retire depleted uranium use in our arsenal. FARM POLICY Whereas the Freedom to Farm Act gives aid to corporate farmers who are the least in need, and Whereas a few conglomerates control all phases of food production (grain companies, packers, chemical corporations), and Whereas the health and vitality of rural communities is based not on the number of acres farmed or number of animals owned but on the number of family farmers who live in the community, therefore Be it resolved that a new Farm Bill be written to the benefit of family farms, and Be it further resolved that firms with monopoly power in the Farm Industry be faced with antitrust action. RESOURCES IN MN Whereas the world supply of oil and coal is non-renewable, and Whereas our state's energy supply relies heavily on these resources, and Whereas the money for the purchase of these non-renewables flows out of our state, therefore Be it resolved that we provide incentives to encourage development, production, and use of solar, wind and other renewable sources of energy. SPORTS CORPORATIONS IN MN Whereas Minnesota has budget shortfalls that impact our most vulnerable residents, and Whereas Professional Sports has a huge appetite for creative ways to invade our state purse, therefore Be it resolved that the Professional Sports
Corporations are denied any access to public money. |