Author: Dylan Workman Resolution 001 Resolution to Encourage the ...

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South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Southeast Technical Institute,. Augustana University, Black Hills State Uni
Author: Dylan Workman Resolution 001 Resolution to Encourage the South Dakota Government to Fund a Statewide ACT Test for All 11th Grade Students WHEREAS, the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Southeast Technical Institute, Augustana University, Black Hills State University, and Mount Marty College all require either ACT or SAT test scores as part of their acceptance process, and, WHEREAS, the South Dakota Democratic Party supports legislation which guarantees equal access to all education opportunities, and WHEREAS, it is the State of South Dakota’s duty to help all its citizens reach their highest potential, NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the South Dakota Democratic Party encourages the state legislative and executive branches to establish a statewide holiday in which all 11 th grade students to take the ACT or SAT, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the aforementioned testing be provided through state funding, free of charge to said students.

Author: Mark Winegar Resolution 002 Resolution Regarding Ethics in Governance WHEREAS the reputation of the state has been tarnished by recent scandals, NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the South Dakota Democratic Party calls for greater transparency in government and an ethics commission.

Author: Mark Winegar Resolution 003 Resolution Regarding Gender Equality WHEREAS, females are a significant portion of the population and make significant contributions to the quality of life, NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the South Dakota Democratic Party calls for gender equality in all aspects of life including wages and salaries.

Source: Agriculture and Rural Life Subcommittee Resolution 004 Resolution to urge the State of South Dakota to use Premium fuel blend E-30 in all state non flex-fuel vehicles. Whereas, doubling ethanol’s current demand will add hundreds of millions of new wealth to agricultural resources, associated businesses, and create thousands of jobs; Whereas, wide acceptance of ethanol’s high octane, low carbon premium blend E30 will double demand for ethanol; Whereas, E-30 replacing gasolines benzene related octane will slash benzene and related known human carcinogenic tail pipe emissions adversely effecting us; Whereas, petroleum octane’s emissions are today’s neurotoxic equivalent to lead and like lead, especially harms on our youngest children; Whereas, E-30’s higher octane and oxygen content assure a cleaner burn reducing carbon deposits extending engine like; Whereas, other states have followed our installation of blender pumps and ethanol plan building boom; Whereas, most importantly auto manufacturers followed South Dakota’s creation of the nation’s first E-85 flex fuel auto by producing their own versions. Therefore, South Dakota can lead other states to challenge EPA’s misperceptions that E-30 will damage non flex-fuel vehicle engines and is illegal to use in non flex-fuel vehicles; Therefore, South Dakota would set a precedent by being the first state to put stateowned vehicles on E-30. NOW, THEREFORE, Be it resolved, that the South Dakota Democratic Party will seek bipartisan support and our governor’s support to put all state owned non flex-fuel vehicles on Premium E-30.

Author: Tribal and Native American Subcommittee Resolution 005 Resolution Regarding Indian Health Service Funding WHEREAS, the Indian Health Service is traditionally underfunded and frequently runs out of annual funding well before the end of the fiscal year, and WHEREAS, other federally-funded services such as the Veterans’ Administration and Bureau of Prisons are funded near 100 percent of need, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the South Dakota Democratic Party call upon Congress to fund the Indian Health Service at 100 percent of need.

Author: Tribal and Native American Subcommittee Resolution 006 Resolution Supporting the Expansion of Medicaid WHEREAS, 50,000 South Dakotans still do not have affordable healthcare, and WHEREAS, expanded Medicaid would increase funding for Indian Health Service facilities, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Dakota Democratic Party call upon the South Dakota Legislature to expand Medicaid.

Author: Kristina McSweeney Resolution 007 Resolution in Support of Marijuana Legalization Whereas: South Dakota law prohibits the possession and usage of marijuana, and Whereas: The existing South Dakota marijuana laws violate the commitment to meeting every individual's basic human rights to promote respect for diverse lifestyles and viewpoints and to live in a community without fear of discrimination, and Whereas: The medical benefits of marijuana would help countless South Dakotans who suffer from Glaucoma, Parkinson’s Disease, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, various psycho-physiological disorders, and many other conditions, and Whereas: The existing marijuana laws inhibit economic growth and opportunity, and now therefore be it Resolved: That the South Dakota Democratic Party supports regulation and taxation of marijuana in a manner similar to that of alcohol, and be it Further Resolved: That the South Dakota Democratic Party urges state and federal governments to implement a plan to provide for the safe and affordable distribution of marijuana to all medical marijuana patients, and be it Further Resolved: That the South Dakota Democratic Party supports the legalization of industrial hemp which can be grown and used to produce renewable food, oil, wax, resin, rope, cloth, paper, and fuel in support of a sustainable fullemployment society.

Author/Source: Miller Cannizzaro Resolution 008 Resolution to urge the legislature to appropriate funds for public defenders. WHEREAS, a right to counsel is provided by the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the United States Constitution, and WHEREAS, a right to counsel is similarly provided by Article VI § 7. of the South Dakota Constitution, and WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) that defendants have a right to an attorney at no cost the accused, and WHEREAS, the State of South Dakota currently provides indigent defendants attorneys at a cost of ninety-two dollars per hour, NOW, THEREFORE, Be it resolved, that the South Dakota Democratic Party encourage the South Dakota Legislature to fully fund public defenders as prescribed by the United States Constitution, the South Dakota constitution and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Author: Ray Ring and Kathy Tyler Resolution 009 Resolution Regarding Evaluating the Fairness of South Dakota’s Tax Structure WHEREAS, South Dakota’s tax structure has not been evaluated in detail for more than 25 years; NOW THEREFORE, Be it resolved, that the South Dakota Democratic Party supports an in-depth study of the state’s tax structure, looking for greater incentives for economic development with lower taxes on lower-income individuals.

Author: Ray Ring and Kathy Tyler Resolution 010 Personal Conscience Resolution WHEREAS, we recognize that members of our party have deeply held and sometimes differing views on issues of personal conscience; NOW THEREFORE, Be it resolved, that the South Dakota Democratic Party recognizes that individual members have a right to abide by their conscience on difficult issues and are welcome participants at every level of the party.

Author: Jim Powers / Labor & Employment Committee Resolution 011 Resolution to Urge the South Dakota Democratic Party to support the passage of Initiated Measure 23.

WHEREAS, the South Dakota Democratic Party supports the rights of South Dakotans to organize and collectively bargain, and WHEREAS, the South Dakota Democratic Party recognizes that organized labor is essential to improving life in South Dakota, and, WHEREAS, all workers benefit from union representation in the workplace, NOW, THEREFORE, Be it resolved, that the South Dakota Democratic Party encourage all South Dakotans support the passage of Initiated Measure 23. An initiated measure to give certain organizations the right to charge fees.

Author: Paul Thronson Resolution 012 Resolution to support legislation that protects employees from wrongful and improper termination WHEREAS, The investment by ownership in human resources through careful selection of qualified employees and the maintenance of good relations with such employees over the long term results in mutual economic benefit, and WHEREAS, When employees and employers cooperate for mutual benefit, the result is the stabilization of competitive wage rates and working conditions within and between industries, in addition to an optimal flow of goods and services, and WHEREAS, The retention of supervisors who rely on intimidation and/or manipulation of their employees can result in less costly management that may be effective short term, but in the long term distresses workers, commerce, and community, and WHEREAS, The deliberate depression of fair wages by ownership through the unfair discharge of tenured employees in favor of unexperienced low wage employees might be effective short term, but in the long term distresses workers, commerce, and community, and WHEREAS, The protection for employees from wrongful termination, whether through incompetence or general practice, is fairly balanced with an employer's need for protection from employee poor performance, and WHEREAS, That states such as Montana have provided statutory protection from wrongful discharge since 1987 with positive economic results. Therefore, be it RESOLVED, For the betterment of workers, community, and commerce, the South Dakota Democratic Party calls for the support of legislation that protects employees from wrongful and improper termination by their employer after a certain probationary period, set by the employer but to be no longer than 6 months.

Author: Jim Powers / Labor & Employment Committee Resolution 013

Resolution Opposing Referred Law 20.

WHEREAS, the South Dakota Democratic Party supports equal pay for all workers, and WHEREAS, the citizens of South Dakota voted to support an increased minimum wage for all, NOW, THEREFORE, Be it resolved, that the South Dakota Democratic Party oppose REFERRED LAW 20, an act to establish a youth minimum wage.

Author: Ali Moran and Nancy Hilding Resolution 014 Resolution Regarding Sacred Sites WHEREAS, the Black Hills are sacred to many native nations; and WHEREAS, Bear Butte, located in Meade County, Pe Sla located in Pennington County and other Native American sacred sites, are of special spiritual convocation; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the South Dakota Democratic Party supports the protection and preservation of Bear Butte, Pe Sla, other Native Americans sacred sites and their immediate surrounding areas for future generations.

Author: Mary Claus and Miller Cannizzaro Resolution 015 Resolution condemning the use of the justice system to generate revenue WHEREAS, the justice system has used fees, court fines, and programs to generate revenue at the expense of civil rights, and due process and WHEREAS, specific groups have been profiled, resulting in the victimization of by the court of transient and economically challenged citizens and WHEREAS, this victimization has been ordered by courts without specific sentencing of a crime and WHEREAS, the judicial system has been unchallenged and unaccountable in this abuse, NOW, THEREFORE, Be it resolved, that the South Dakota Democratic Party condemns this abuse of justice, encourages greater awareness of corruption of justice, and recommends a study of the system to identify issues present in the justice system.

Author: Dylan Workman Resolution 016 Resolution to Advocate for the Lowering the South Dakota State Legislative Age Requirement from 21 to 18 WHEREAS, South Dakota law currently requires legislative candidates to be 21 years of age, and WHEREAS, candidacy age requirements discourage both political activism and voting among younger generations, and WHEREAS, young voters increase the electability of all Democratic candidates, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the South Dakota Democratic Party supports lowering the candidacy age requirement for the State Legislature from 21 to 18 years of age, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Party encourages Democrats in the State Legislature to introduce legislation that will propose an amendment to the South Dakota State Constitution to lower the candidacy age requirement.

Author: Ina Winter Resolution 017

Resolution to call on the South Dakota State Legislature to write all laws in gender neutral language

WHEREAS, the South Dakota statutes apply to all South Dakota citizens regardless of gender, and WHEREAS, the South Dakota population includes more than the male gender, and WHEREAS, the 2016 US Democratic Party Presumptive Presidential nominee is not a male, and WHEREAS, progress has been made in including all genders in society as a whole, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Dakota Democratic Party call for the use of non-gender language in the formation of future laws and the existing statutes be corrected to the gender-neutral form as appropriate.

Author/Source: Sara Gran Resolution 018 Resolution Calling for Policies that Provide Adequate Healthcare to All People Deemed Wards of the State of South Dakota WHEREAS, there is currently a shortage of healthcare staff, including behavioral health, employed by the state of South Dakota to provide adequate diagnoses and treatment of physical and mental health conditions in state-run facilities, and WHEREAS, there is not currently adequate funding for state-run facilities, to provide adequate services, i.e., nursing, dental, substance abuse, psychiatrists, and mental health counselors, and, WHEREAS, there is not adequate funding to help sustain treatment services and medication plans upon being discharged from state-run facilities, and WHEREAS, People who are able to have their health issues identified and treated accurately are less likely to commit crimes and/or recidivate back into state-run facilities, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the South Dakota Democratic Party calls upon the South Dakota Legislature to enact legislation which requires higher standards for early identification of needs treatment and programs that help sustain positive outcomes.

Author: Nancy Hilding Resolution 019 Resolution Advocating the Adoption of Medicare for All WHEREAS, insurance companies make profit from insurance sales, thus increasing the cost of medical care, and WHEREAS, the state is capable of managing insurance just as well as insurance companies, without having to give profits to investors, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the South Dakota Democratic Party believes the Affordable Care Act is just a stepping stone to a better future solution, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Party believes that for a better future the federal government should take over management of health care financing and benefits as advocated by "Medicare for All" proponents and encourages the Democratic National Convention to embrace the vision of the "Medicare for All” policy that has been advocated by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Authors: Mary Claus and Sarah Gran Resolution 020 Resolution to identify proper placement for criminals and mental health patients Whereas, there is no adequate system in place to properly identify mental health patients versus criminals, and Whereas, mental health patients should not be held in jails and violent criminals should not be held in a mental care facility, and Whereas, resolution supporting that all people have the opportunity for identification and attempted treatment of any mental health conditions is provided, and Whereas, accurate diagnoses and treatment reduces recidivism, and Whereas, high number of inmates with mental health issues could be treated in the community, and Whereas, inmates having several contradicting diagnoses by multiple doctors need collaboration within the system, and Whereas, criminals with violent and dangerous behavior should not be housed in mental health care facilities but placed in adequate security with professionally trained staff, and Whereas, citizens incarcerated with mental health issues should not be housed in the criminal justice system, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that, the South Dakota Democratic Convention strongly recommends a study and legislation submitted to improve this issue.