Capital City Democratic 2010 Adopted Platform

Preamble

America's greatness comes from the power of individual effort and the collective actions of
its citizens. We seek both to protect the rights of individuals and to empower our government and
non-government institutions to advance the nation's social and economic prospects. Americans are
expected to exercise responsibility for themselves and to offer a helping hand to those in need.
We support and commend President Obama for his continued efforts to move America
forward.
The local, state and national Democratic Parties must improve the quality of public debate
by promptly countering erroneous and specious statements made by pundits and politicians.
The Democratic Party will listen to and include all persons when recommending
government action.

National Legislative Platform

Health Care – Accessible comprehensive health care is a hallmark of responsible societies.

A government-sponsored health insurance option, modeled on Medicare and open to everyone,
which allows purchase of coverage by those under age 65 and which does not preclude private
health insurance plans, is the best solution. A comprehensive health care system includes: medical,
dental, vision, mental health, behavioral, and prenatal care; preventive services; pharmaceuticals
including birth control and diabetic supplies; and long-term and chronic condition care. An
equitable and sustainable reimbursement structure is essential for balancing cost containment with
provider viability. Health care expenditures must not make any individual destitute.
Retiree health plans shall not be reduced if the total retirement benefit is reduced.

Constitution - Respect and preserve the rights and freedoms stated in the Constitution with
equal protection under the law. Preserve a woman's right to choose under Roe vs. Wade as a
personal issue. Enhance the right to privacy for all. Habeas corpus must be available to all
persons.
Repeal the Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act of 2006, and the Real ID Act. Forbid
surveillance without a warrant. Prohibit torture in all circumstances. Ban the use of mercenaries.
Respect and adhere to the Geneva Conventions.

Social Security System - Maintain a viable and funded social security system adequate for
providing retirement benefits based on actuarial studies. Collect Social Security tax without a
wage and salary cap from employers, employees and the self-employed. Eliminate the “windfall”
and the “offset” provisions. Publish separate annual reports for all trust funds. Increase or
eliminate the income thresholds for determining the taxable portion of Social Security benefits.

Congressional Rules - Bills must be single-issue bills. “Ear marks” must be assigned to
stand alone bills for transparency and public debate. Senate rules must change to limit defensive
actions, such as filibuster and nomination holds.

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 Capital City Democratic 2010 Adopted Platform

Education – Federal investment in education must be the highest priority. Financial aid for
college students should be increased. Federal investments should be increased for special areas
including basic adult education and English as a second language.

Energy Policy - Direct economic action is necessary for developing sustainable energy
resources. Increase royalties for all minerals extracted from public lands and remove subsidies for
fossil fuels. Implement a carbon-based tax on fossil fuels to stimulate competitive markets for
renewable and non-polluting energy resources. Initial permits under a cap-and-trade system must
be auctioned. Remove the tariff on imported ethanol. Remove subsidies for domestic ethanol
production. Repeal taxpayer provided guarantees for the nuclear power industry.

Elections - Restrict Presidential election campaigns to six months prior to the general
election and fund them solely with the Presidential Campaign Fund. Presidential elections should
be decided by popular vote.

Corporations -Congress shall declare that a corporation, which can exist into perpetuity, is
not a natural person and is not entitled to the Constitutional rights of a natural person. A
corporation’s actions may be proscribed.

Trade Policy - Goods produced in foreign countries where there is little regard for human
rights, living conditions or environmental degradation shall have additional tariffs applied to them.
US possessions shall meet the same standards for human rights, living conditions and
environmental standards as the mainland US. US corporations must include the earnings from
foreign operations as if they were earned in the US.

Immigration Policy - Comprehensive immigration reform is both immediate and

necessary. Reforms include: passing the “Dream Act” for undocumented aliens who arrive as
minors; imposing deterrent penalties on those who employ undocumented aliens; deporting aliens
convicted of crimes immediately after serving their sentence or as condition of probation; tracking
the undocumented alien population by issuing two year visas with work permits; and issuing time-
limited visas and work permits at the borders allowing legal entry.

National Service – We encourage a national service obligation. This obligation might be

satisfied by military, Peace Corps, AmeriCorp, National Health Service Corps, Civilian
Conservation Corps or other service that benefits the common good.

Iraq and Afghanistan – We support and encourage the President's plans for troop
withdrawal. Expedite visas for individuals and their families who are at risk because of their
employment by or their assistance to the US.

Foreign Policy – We support using diplomacy and aid instead of military might to further
US goals. Foreign policy goals include: elimination of nuclear weapons and land mines from all
countries, elimination of poverty, enhancing self-reliance of countries receiving aid and spending
aid funds in the recipient country for the benefit of their citizens. Prohibit support of autocratic
military and dictatorial governments that deny human rights and freedoms. Normalize relations

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 Capital City Democratic 2010 Adopted Platform

with Cuba. Assist in establishing a viable Palestinian state. Re-evaluate stationing US troops and
maintaining military installations overseas.

Economic Freedom – Make ending poverty a goal for all federal actions. Aggressively
enforce antitrust and consumer protection laws. Allow cross-border purchase of pharmaceuticals.
Require product labeling to openly reveal product contents and product origin. Prevent monopolies
of media ownership. Promote the growth and creation of small business enterprises.

Veterans - Veterans must receive the support they earned. Fully implement the Veterans’
Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act and the relevant portions of the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Improve veterans' care for poly-trauma, vision impairment,
prosthetics, spinal cord injury, women’s health, aging, PTSD and other psychological issues.
Every veteran must have access to affordable technical training or a college education.

National Democratic Party Platform

Super Delegates - Eliminate or restrict the number of “super delegates.”

Nevada State Legislative Platform

Equal Rights Amendment - Democrats support the Equal Rights Amendment to the
Constitution. The next Nevada legislature must ratify this amendment.

Equal Rights - Same-sex marriage is not the same as civil union. The benefits of marriage
should be available to all formally committed adult couples.

Electoral College - Nevada's electors must be proportionate to the popular vote pending
approval of this same measure by all the states.

Collective Bargaining – State employees must be allowed collective bargaining as local

government employees are now allowed. Require public debate and disclosure of terms before
final approval of collective bargaining agreements.

Tax Policy - Nevada requires a reformed and stable tax system. Taxes to be considered
include: end-use energy consumption, resource extraction, expanding sales tax, value-added tax,
corporate income tax, personal income tax, and increased and/or reformed property tax. Mining
and gambling industries should have tax rates no lower than the US average.

Federal Assistance – The State of Nevada must maximize Federal funding for all possible
positions, programs, research and other opportunities to benefit Nevada residents.

Local Government - Local governments, including school districts, are hindered by

Nevada's “top down” management which allows taking funds from local governments. Local
governments must have “home rule” and succeed or fail by their own efforts, subject to review by
their own voters.

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 Capital City Democratic 2010 Adopted Platform

Education – Education is our most important economic development initiative. Create the
conditions and provide funding for reducing classroom size. Entities receiving state education
funds shall be subject to the same oversight as any public school. Public school teachers and
medical professionals who work in rural areas shall have the cost of their education reimbursed or
forgiven. Continue funding education for high demand professions such as nursing and
engineering.

Energy – Renewable energy is vital for Nevada's economic development. All governments
must promote renewable energy development to replace fossil fuels. Local zoning for renewable
energy resource facilities shall allow installations on individual buildings or individual parcels.
Renewable energy resources should benefit Nevada energy consumers before benefiting out-of-
state consumers.
Any new fossil-fueled power plants in Nevada or owned by a Nevada utility must mitigate
carbon-dioxide emissions and must not harm water resources.
Any new nuclear power plants in Nevada or owned by a Nevada utility must include US
based fuel re-processing.

Economic Development - The State of Nevada should build and operate an interstate
electric transmission line to provide a profit to Nevada taxpayers and to create a market for
exporting energy.

Water Resources - Prepare a statewide water resources inventory which includes basins
adjacent to Nevada. Proposed inter-basin transfers shall consider: economic impacts, impacts on
natural resources including plant and animal populations and alternatives to proposed inter-basin
transfers.

Higher Value Resources - Promote investment in Nevada by consolidating all available

data on the locations of rare earth elements and effectively distributing that information.

Carson City Platform

Library and Development - We support Carson City's efforts to expand library services
and to seek all opportunities which foster economic development.

Renewable Energy Zoning - Carson City zoning for renewable energy resource facilities
shall allow installations on individual buildings or parcels.

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