2016 State Convention Call Book

Official Call Book
#JoinTheParty
June 18, 2008
Hy-Vee Hall
rd
730 3 Street
Des Moines, IA
Convention Begins at 9:00am
Registration is open from
th
th
4-6pm Friday, June 17 & Saturday, June 18 at 7:00am
Paid for by the Iowa Democratic Party
1
2016 Iowa Democratic Party Leadership
Chair
Dr. Andy McGuire
First vice-Chair
Danny Homan
Second Vice-Chair Jean Pardee
Third Vice-Chair
Omar Padilla
Secretary
Don Ruby
Treasurer
Ken Sagar
First District
Michael D. Blackwell
Jerry Lynch
Andriy Lapitskyy
Karen Pratte
Rosemary Schwartz
RRS Stewart
Norm Sterzenbach
Arlie Willems
Fourth District
Andy Bock
Tedd Herrick
Chris Petersen
Penny Rosfjord
Sue Seedorff-Keninger
Selden Spencer
Marcia Thompson
Kim Weaver
Platform Chair Mike Robinson
Rules Chair
Sandy Dockendorff
DNC Members Scott Brennan
DNC Members Sandy Opstvedt
DNC Members Jan Bauer
DNC Members Mike Gronstal
Second District
Al Bohanan
Sandy Dockendorff
Susan Frembgen
Bill Hanes
Melinda Jones
Marty O’Boyle
Jean Pardee
Bob Thomas
Third District
Bill Brauch
Marcia H. Fulton
Jennifer Lunsford
Carl McPherson
John McCormally
Linda Nelson
Rick Smith
Julie Stewart
State Central Committee-elect
Victor Joseph Banks Sr
Laura Hubka
Brenda Brink
David Mansheim
Evan Burger
Annaleah Moore
Mike Carberry
Jordan Pope
Jeremy Dumkrieger
Kate Revaux
Jessica Fears
Mike Robinson
Jonathan Green
Eleanore Taft
Holly Herbert
Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Native American Chair
Veterans Caucus
Michelle Michalec, Chair
Jim Peterson, Chair
Ron Healey, Chair
Joseph Michaelc, Vice Chair
Mike Robinson, Vice Chair Will Overstreet, Vice
Black Caucus
Ako Abdul-Samad, Chair
Jamie Woods, Vice Chair
Latino Caucus
Paula Martinez, Chair
Sally Goode, Vice Chair
Disability Caucus
Judy Schmidt, Chair
Joe Stutler, Vice Chair
Stonewall Democrats
Devin Kelly, Chair
Evan Anderson, Vice Chair
2
Directions & Parking to the Hy-Vee Hall
th
rd
The exits to Hy-Vee Hall are the 5 Avenue and 3 Street exits off I-235.
Parking for the event will be on the north side of the Convention Complex between
rd
th
3 Street/Crocker/5 Avenue. Cost is $7, additional street parking can
th
th
be found on 7 Street and 8 Street, or in various garages in the north
of downtown Des Moines.
ADA entrance is off of Park Street at the “Iowa Hall of Pride” entrance.
ADA Entrance
3
The Constituency Caucuses will meet at the 8:30am on June 18
st
1 Floor (Lower Level)
Rural Caucus: Room 102
Veterans Caucus: Room 103
Black Caucus: Room 104
Latino Caucus: room 105
Stonewall Caucus: Room 106
Asian/Pacific Islander
Caucus: Room 107
nd
2 Floor (Main Level, Hall B)
Women’s Caucus: Room 1
Native American Caucus: Room 2
Senior/Retired Caucus: Room 3
Labor Caucus: Room 4
Disability Caucus: Room 5
Progressive Caucus: Room 6
4
The YOUTH CAUCUS will meet in rooms 104 & 105 of the Hy-Vee Hall in the
first floor (lower level), beginning at the conclusion of the Constituency Caucus
Elections or at 9:15 AM, whichever is earlier (see map from previous page)
Accessibility & Accommodations requests
Before the convention: If you have any requests for special
accommodations, require assistance, need accessibility information
please call the IDP Accessibility hotline: (515) 661-4993
During the convention: There will be an Accessibility &
accommodations registration for Delegates & Alternates inside the
convention hall.
First Aid
A staffed first aid station will be located inside the Main Convention
Hall C. If you have a need, please contact any members of the
Arrangements committee, Credentials, or Rules committee.
5
Report of the Arrangement Committee 2016
Chair Lee Thielman
Co-Chair Matt Marthese
Secretary Marcia Buttgen
Members:
Bonnie Anderson
Jess Baker
Rob Bingham
Karen Black
Michelle Elliot
Wendy Ewait
Kathryn Huffman
Barbara Ann Kelly
Teresa Kerkman
David Lijadu
Amanda Ludwigs
Jerry Lynch
Valerie Madison
Jim Mueller
Raymond Murray
John Olsen
Jessie Reilly
Calvin Spinka
Julie Stewart
Melissa Tate
The 2016 Iowa Democratic State Convention will be held on Saturday
June 18 at the HyVee Hall. Registration at the Convention Center is open
to delegates and alternates from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, and on Friday June
17 and from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM on June 18.
Please bring this convention booklet with you, or give it to your
designated alternate with the completed Designated Alternate Form.
THE SUGGESTED DELEGATE REGISTRATION CONTRIBUTION IS $40.00.
PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO “THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY”
At no stage of Iowa’s delegate selection process shall any person be required, directly or
indirectly, to pay a cost or fee as a condition for participating. Voluntary contributions
to the Party may be made, but under no circumstances shall a contribution be
mandatory for participation. (Rule 2.D. & Reg. 4.4.)
For questions about Credentials, call 2016 Iowa Democratic Party State
Convention Credentials Co-Chairs Lu Ann Pedrick 515-480-1672 or
Chris Morse 515-979-9807
Identifying Convention Committee Members
Arrangement
committee members:
Credentials
committee members:
Platform
committee members:
Rules & Nominations committee members:
Pink Badges
Yellow Badges
Green Badges
Blue Badges
6
STATE CONVENTION / HALL OF
FAME EXHIBITOR TABLE
ENTITY
Candidate
County Party
Business / Org
STATE
CONVENTION
$100.00
$100.00
$250.00
HALL OF FAME
$100.00
$100.00
$250.00
BOTH
$150.00
$150.00
$400.00
CONVENTION CALL ADVERTISING
ENTITY
Candidate / Individual
County Party
Business / Org
FULL PAGE
$150.00
$125.00
$300.00
HALF PAGE
$100.00
$ 75.00
$200.00
QUARTER PAGE
$60.00.
$50.00
$150.00
To reserve a table, contact Christian Ucles 515-771-5430. Please make check
payable to “Iowa Democratic Party” 5661 Fleur Drive Des Moines, Iowa 50321
Signs
Because the back wall in the auditorium is soft, we will not be allowed to
put up Banners or Yard Signs on it.
Banners or signs may not be placed on the walls behind the stage
without approval of the arrangements chair or co-chair.
You may decorate your table and behind the table as you wish.
NO BANNER OR YARD SIGNS WILL BE PUT ON ANY PAINTED WALLS OR IN THE
BATHROOMS.
All campaign material brought in by anyone SHALL BE REMOVED by the
candidate or group. If not, a FINE OF $ 100.00 will be assessed to that
candidate or group
YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PUT ANY CAMPAIGN MATERIAL
THAT HAS AN ADHESIVE OR STICKY BACKING ON ANY WALLS.
Signs and banners will be put up on Friday June 17, 2016 from 3 - 8:00 PM.
NO SIGNS OR BANNERS WILL BE PUT UP ON SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2016
7
The state convention call booklet is available in alternative forms upon
timely request. Please let us know in advance if you need the booklet in
braille, or audio tape, or in some other format.
Emergency Contact. If necessary, emergency telephone call should be made
to the staff office at: 515-771-5430
Please remember that this is an EMERGENCY NUMBER ONLY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION OR HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS THAT ARE
NOT ADDRESSED HERE, PLEASE CONTACT THE CHAIR OR CO - CHAIRS
IMMEDIATELY. WE WILL MAKE ATTEMPT TO COMPLY WITH EVERY
REASONABLE AND TIMELY REQUEST.
LEE THIELMANN 515-360-3022
E-MAIL [email protected]
8
Report of the 2016 Credentials Committee
Co-Chairs: Lu Ann Pedrick, Chris Morse
Vice Co-Chairs: Sarah Hinds, Kevin Hill
Secretary: Nelson Kraschel
MEMBERS: Alan Schroeder, Angelica Parsons, Barb Boyd, Barbara Hood, Barry Mateer, Beth
Lindberg, Brian Tiffany, Brian Siguenza, Bridget Janus, Carrie Tedore, Cathy Voelkers, Charles
Ahern, Cheryl Scherr, Christie Carlsen, Cindy Riley, Courtney Rowe, Daneil Appau, David
Hinton, Deb Marlin, Dylan Lake, Eileen Williams-Jackson, Gail Blum, Gillian Popenuck, Heidi
Hudson, James Tielebein, Jean Boot, Joan McDermont-Hoffey, Joan Peck, Joe Fulford, Joe
Altmaier, John Anderson, Jon Green, Kate Revaux, Katherine Larsen, Kelli Soyer, Kimberly
Davis, Kirk Wischmeyer, Lindsey Ellickson, Marcia Fulton, Marilyn Josephen, Mary French,
Mary Tarnoff, Michelle Magyar, Mickie Franklin, Mimi Lake-Bardell, Monica Pullman, Nancy
Nieland, Nasser Sahir, Ose Akinlotan, Paula Martinez, Richard Manion, Robert Shields, Sally
Nelson, Samuel Bradley, Sarah Rothman, Shirley Patchin, Steve Bardell, Susan Vallem, Tabatha
Lamb, Terry Destefano, Trina Bishop, Valerie Moeller, Vickie Hook, Vikki Brown, Victor Brown,
Vince Geraci, Wayne Hean.
Special Notes from the Credentials Committee








 The Credentials Committee accredited 1,406 Delegates and 2,566 Alternates
to the State Convention.
 Seated delegates must be Democrats to participate, but Voter
Registration forms will be available at registration.
 A Call letter and Alternate Designation Form was mailed to all Delegates. If you
did not receive your call letter and you believe you were elected as a delegate,
please contact Lu Ann Pedrick 515-480-1672 or Chris Morse 515-979-9807.
 If you are a delegate and will be unable to attend the convention and want to
name an alternate in your place, you must use the form mailed to you. If you
did not receive your mailed copy, you can send an email with your full name
and address to [email protected]. A scanned version of the
document will be emailed to you.
 All unassigned alternates shall register and wait in the alternate area.
 Alternates were mailed a postcard. If you did not receive your postcard and you
plan to attend the convention, please contact LuAnn Pedrick or Chris Morse at
the numbers listed above.
 The rules regarding the seating of delegates is in Article I of the Rules
Report included in this Call booklet, pages 16-17.
 If you need a list of alternates, please contact Lu Ann Pedrick or Chris Morse
to receive a list of appropriate alternates.
 Youth delegates to State Convention should register at the Youth
Delegation table.
9
STATE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
June 18, 2016 at 9:00 A.M.
The state convention shall be called to order at 9:00 a.m. on June 18, 2016.
Registration for the state convention shall be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
on Friday, June 17 and from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 18.
Alternates with a signed alternate assignment form shall
be registered immediately.
Delegates in line at 9:00 a.m. shall continue to be seated. Those arriving
after 9:00 a.m. must check in with the Credentials Committee. The
Credentials Committee will review the situation and determine whether
to seat the individual.
The seating of alternates may begin at 9:00 a.m. and late arriving
delegates are not guaranteed a seat, though they may be provided
preferential seating as an Alternate.
PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE AND PLAN YOUR TRAVEL TO ARRIVE ON TIME
The delay in seating of Delegates and Alternates contributes to the late
conclusion of conventions. No permanent votes will be taken until
everyone is seated, however Temporary Officers shall be appointed and a
motion to approve Temporary Rules will be placed before the delegation as
soon as a quorum of delegates has been seated.
A motion to elect a Permanent Chair and a separate motion to approve
Permanent Rules will take place once all Delegates and such Alternates that
may be seated have been registered and admitted to the Convention Floor.
An opportunity to review the rules with members of the Rules Committee
will take place on Friday, June 17 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm in rooms 107/108 at
HyVee Hall. All Delegates and Alternates are welcome to attend.
10
Opening Agenda
1.
7:00 AM Registration opens
2.
8:00 AM Call for the Constituency Caucus meetings and Provisional Constituency
Caucus meetings (Rules Article VI) See Arrangements report for room assignments
3.
Call for petitions for Platform Amendments to be turned in by 10:00 AM to
Convention Secretary.
4.
Call for petitions for National Delegate Positions to be turned in to Rules and
Nominations Committee Chair following Credentials Committee report.
5.
8:30 AM: Constituency Caucus and Provisional Constituency Caucus meetings shall
convene. (Rules Article VI).
6. 9:00 AM: The Temporary Chair will convene the Convention. 7.
Opening Ceremony
8.
Report of the Credentials Committee certifying a quorum
9.
The Temporary Chair shall appoint Temporary Officers
10. Motion to approve the Temporary Rules
11. Vote on the Temporary Rules
12. Motion to approve the Temporary Delegates
13. Vote on the Temporary Delegates
14. Announcements and Introductions
15. Invited speakers shall address the convention (limited to 10 minutes each).
16. Youth Delegates go to Caucus (Rules Article III)
17. Report of the Credentials Committee certifying the seated delegation
18. Vote to approve the Credentials Committee report
19. Petitions for National Delegate due in 15 minutes
20. The Rules and Nominations Committee Chair shall nominate the Convention Chair.
21. Election of Convention Chair
22. Report of the Rules and Nominations Committee
23. Vote on the Permanent Rules
24. Convention Chair shall appoint Convention Officers
25. Convention Chair introduces the Chairs of all Committees
26. Announcement of Preference Group strengths
27. First Realignment Period begins (Initially 15 minutes)
28. Convention Chair reports the results of the Constituency Caucus elections
29. Balloting explanation and practice
11
Work to be accomplished – Not necessarily in this order







Nominations for and Election of State Affirmative Action Chair (Rules Article V)
Report of the Youth Delegates (Rules Article III)
Report of the results of the First Realignment
Report of the Platform Committee: Platform Statement of Principles.
(Rules Article IV)
Pledged National Delegate Elections by Preference Groups (Rules Articles IX,
X, and XI)
o Election of Party Leader & Elected Official national delegates by preference group
o Election of At-Large national delegates by preference groups







Consideration of Amendments to the Constitution of the Iowa Democratic
Party

Nomination and Election of Democratic National Committee Members
(Rules Article VII)
Nomination and Election of Presidential Electors (Rules Article VIII)





Report of the Platform Committee-debatable and controversial planks
(Rules Article IV)
Ratification of all elections
The Convention Chair shall inquire as to further business to come before
the convention.
Adjournment
To be nominated for any position other than National Delegate, a
form will be available at the Rules and Nominations Committee
Table in front of the Convention Hall. Filling out this form will
ensure that your name appears on the ballot for your election.
Blank National Delegate forms/petitions shall be available at the
Rules and Nominations Committee table in front of the
Convention Hall.
No candidates may be elected without a completed form.
12
Report of the 2016 State Rules Committee
Co-Chairs: Sandy Dockendorff and Kevin Geiken
Co-Vice Chairs: Michael McKinley and R.R.S. Stewart
Secretary: Julie Morneau
Members:
Andrew Basu, Neil Blair, H Michael Carson, Kevin M Kelly, Buzz Pounds, Rory Sellers,
Valerie Smith, Catherine Crist. Randy Crist, Mary Muehl, Peter Olafsen, Nathaniel Petersen,
Harvey Ross, Susan Frembgen, Chris Laursen, Charles Messmer, Joe Morrissey, Jennifer
Patel, Ellen Cary-Grimm, Ed Cranston, Melva Hughes, Aubrey Jordan, Bonita Miller, Marty
O'Boyle, Frederick Toby, Dylan Funk, Jeannette Hario, Allyne Smith, Max Knauer, Kirk
McDermott, James Peterson, Joanne Tubbs, Danny Homan, June Owens, Marsha Pilger,
Weston Abney, Jessica Fears, John Flecky, Jenny Gernhart, Jon Klein, Heather Stallman,
Catheryn Dingman, Jim Elisason, Connie Jensen, Annalee O'Connor, Dave Somsky
Alternates:
Dianna Anderson, Myrt Bowers, Sarah-Elizabeth Deshaies, Devin Kelly, David McKibben,
Lorin Potter, Roberta Rosheim, Judy Schmidt, Beverly A Hannon, Milissa Hind, Gerald
Huffman, Julia Kottke, Benjamin Lafayette, Cleo Provin, Stephanie Schwinn, Robyn
Plattenburger, Robert Arbuckle, Carson Barry, Christopher Eland, John Dockendorff, Don
Paulson, Penny Schroeder, Laura Shrout, Susan Suverkrup, Patrick West, Joe Christie,
James Marren, Christina Gonzales, Rosemary Kirlin, Mike Kern, Jodee Kern, Matt
Wetmore, Robin Jenkins, Julie Klismith, Sally Goode, Laura Darnall, Kathleen Larson, Dean
Mincer, Shirley Taylor, Joe Hannon
13
I.
A.
RULES GOVERNING THE ORGANIZATION OF THE
CONVENTION
Call to Order
The convention shall be called to order no later than fifteen (15) minutes after
the time announced in the official Convention Call. If the Temporary Chair does
not call the convention to order within this time limit, any delegate may call the
convention to order and the business shall begin.
B.
Governing Documents
The rules of this convention shall be Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised as
modified by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Iowa; the Charter and
Bylaws of the Democratic Party of the United States; the Rules of the Democratic
National Committee, the Delegate Selection Plan, the Constitution of the Iowa
Democratic Party; and the rules adopted by this state convention.
C.
Convention Floor Access
Only delegates, credentialed assistants, youth delegates, committee members,
convention officers, credentialed press, Iowa Democratic Party staff, pages and
personnel authorized by the Rules & Nominations Committee shall be on
the convention floor.
Determining Strength of Preference Groups
For determining the relative strength of preference groups within the
convention, delegates to the state convention shall align with a presidential
preference or uncommitted group when they are registered for the convention.
A delegate shall be asked to designate his/her preference group at the time of
his/her registration, and a delegate who refuses to designate a presidential
preference group shall be registered by the Credentials Committee as
uncommitted. Delegates are not required to align with the same preference
group that selected them at the county convention.
14
D.
E.
Seating of Delegates and Alternates:
1.
Duly elected delegates to the convention shall have the first right to
be seated at the beginning of the convention.
2.
When a delegate does not attend:
a)
A delegate who cannot attend the convention may designate an
alternate in writing, using the designated alternate form
provided. An alternate so designated shall be seated by the
Credentials Committee at the same time as delegates are seated.
b)
In the event that a delegate fails to name an alternate in the
manner prescribed in sub-section 2. a) of this section, the
credentials committee shall seat an alternate based on first come first seated and in following priority order:
(i)
Alternates of the same preference group and County as
the delegate
(ii)
Alternates of the same preference group
geographically similar County as the delegate
and
(iii) Alternates of the same preference group from any County
c)
If the Credentials Committee cannot locate an alternate after a
good faith effort (three (3) calls to the alternate section of the
convention hall), the Credentials Committee shall seat another
alternate. An alternate may not be seated who is not from the same
preference group as the delegate.
3.
A delegate who does not designate an alternate in writing to be seated in
his or her stead, shall NOT have the right to unseat anyone seated by the
Credentials Committee.
4.
Seating of non-designated alternate delegates may begin at 9:00 A.M.
15
F.
Limit on Speaking Time
With the exception of the invited speaker(s), convention speakers recognized by the
Convention Chair shall be limited to one (1) minute speaking time unless specified
elsewhere in these rules. The Convention Chair shall enforce this time limit. If the
Convention Chair fails to enforce this time limit, any delegate may call on the
Convention Chair to do so.
G. Report of the Credentials Committee:
1.
The report of the Credentials Committee certifying a quorum shall be
adopted before consideration of other official business.
2.
The Chair of the Credentials Committee shall present the committee report.
The Chair of the committee may present committee amendments, may
yield to others, and may yield to the presentation and disposition of
minority reports without losing the right to the floor.
3.
In the event of a challenge, the Credentials Committee shall include in its
report the name of the delegate or alternate whom it believes is entitled to
participate in the convention. When a number of challenges are to be
resolved by the convention, the Credentials Committee shall report on
each in alphabetic order by the county in which the delegate seat being
challenged is located. Challenges must comply with Article X of the Iowa
Democratic Party Constitution.
4.
The convention shall vote on each challenge of the Credentials Committee
report as a separate amendment.
5.
Each amendment to the report of the Credentials Committee must be
approved by a majority vote of the convention before either the challenged
delegate or someone else may be seated in that position, vote, or
participate in the convention.
6.
After all challenges have been resolved, the Convention Chair shall ask for
a vote on the adoption of the report of the Credentials Committee with
any amendments previously adopted.
7.
In the event that the report of the Credentials Committee shall fail to
pass, the Credentials Committee shall reconvene immediately to
reconsider its report. A revised report shall be presented to the
convention as soon thereafter as possible.
16
H.
I.
Election of Permanent Convention Chair:
1.
The Chair of the Rules and Nominations Committee shall be recognized to
place in nomination the name of the permanent Convention Chair.
2.
Additional nominations may be received from the floor.
3.
When there are no further nominations, or upon adoption of a motion
to close nominations, the Temporary Convention Chair, after giving each
nominee the opportunity to decline, shall conduct the vote.
4.
In the event no candidate is elected by a majority vote, the top two (2) vote
getters will stand for a run-off election.
5.
The permanent Convention Chair shall then appoint a Secretary,
Parliamentarian, Sergeant-at-arms, Timekeeper, and such other officers as
may be required to assist in the conduct of the business of the convention.
Report of the Rules and Nominations Committee:
The Chair of the Rules and Nominations Committee shall present the committee’s
report on the Permanent Rules of the convention. The Committee Chair may yield
to others and yield to the presentation and disposition of minority reports without
losing the right to the floor.
II. SPECIAL RULES
A.
B.
Special Orders of Business
It shall be in order at any time for the Rules and Nominations Committee to report
to the convention a resolution providing a special order of business for debate of a
resolution, motion, committee report, minority report, amendment to a committee
report, or the consideration of any matter for which provision is not made under
these rules.
Powers and Duties of the Convention Chair
The Convention Chair is authorized to:
1. Appoint any delegate temporarily to perform the duties of the Convention Chair
during the absence of the permanent Convention Chair.
2.
Take such lawful action as may be appropriate and necessary to preserve order
throughout the convention hall.
17
C.
Timing of Consideration of Platform
The consideration of the Platform Committee’s report shall be taken up at
the discretion of the Convention Chair. Rules found in Article IV shall apply to
consideration of the Platform Committee’s report.
D.
Voting
Except as otherwise required, voting shall be by voice vote and, in case of doubt,
a standing division of the house, or ballot vote. If there is doubt from a vote by
standing division, it shall be resolved by a recorded ballot with explicit count. It
shall be out of order to ask for a voting method in any other manner than
prescribed by these rules.
1. Voice vote: with the Convention Chair ruling on which side prevails, or
indicating doubt, as the case may be.
2. Division of the house (standing vote): without explicit count. The Convention Chair
and two Convention Chair-appointed assistants shall independently indicate their
estimates of which side prevails, or doubt, as the case may be. The Convention Chair
shall rule that a given view of the vote prevails if two out of the three are agreed on
that view.
3. Recorded ballot with explicit count using either a short ranked choice or simple run
off. These votes may be cast by delegates using a keypad or paper ballots as directed
for each vote. Each vote thus cast shall be recorded by individual delegate, the file
saved, and only a duplicate file used for tabulating the votes. Voting assistants shall
be made available for those delegates who state upon their registration that they
are unable to use the provided keypads. Paper Ballots, when necessary, for voting
will be collected individually by members of the Rules and Nominations committee
and/or by Tellers who are designated by the Rules and Nominations Committee.
These individuals will be wearing distinctive badges.
4. It shall be out of order to call for a recorded ballot with explicit count until after
the ruling of the Convention Chair on a standing vote.
5. A recorded ballot with explicit vote shall be taken upon the request of one third
(1/3) or more of the delegates present. The Convention Chair shall ask those
favoring the recorded ballot to stand. The Convention Chair shall rule that a view of
the vote prevails if two out of the three official vote estimators agree on that view.
The Convention Chair shall have the ability to rule in favor of a recorded ballot with
explicit vote in case of a reasonable doubt as to whether or not as many as one18
third of the delegates stood. There shall be no appeal to the ruling of
the Convention Chair on this motion.
6. No secret, proxy, or absentee voting is permitted. (IDP Constitution XII.2 and XII.3)
7. Those delegates leaving the Convention permanently prior to adjournment and not
designating an alternate must turn all credentials and balloting material over to
the Rules and Nominations Committee at their designated area.
8. Those delegates leaving the Convention either permanently or for a time specific
greater than one hour and wishing an alternate to be assigned in their place
shall turn in all Credentials and balloting materials to the Credentials Committee
at their designated area.
i. The Credentials Committee shall inform the Rules and Nominations
Committee Chair immediately upon receiving the Credentials and balloting
materials for any delegate leaving the convention.
ii. The Credentials Committee report to the Rules and Nominations Committee
under this paragraph of the rules shall include the delegate number and name
of the previously seated delegate and the name of the alternate seated in place
of that departed delegated and shall include the delegate number that the
alternate shall be voting under.
9. During the counting of the ballots on any issue, the Convention Chair may place a
new main motion on the floor and return to the previous motion after the
counting is completed.
10. Rules Governing Elections:
a. Each nominee will be given an opportunity to decline.
b. Each candidate or his/her designee will be allowed up to one (1) minute to
address the Convention.
c.
No more than a simple majority of the positions to be filled may be elected on the
first round of balloting, unless the number of persons nominated is equal to or
less than the number of positions to be filled.
d. The candidates for each ballot shall be listed by last name and numbered and
projected onto a screen(s) in the front of the convention hall.
e. Each delegate shall vote, using the designated method, ranking the
candidates as directed by the Chair of the Rules and Nominations
Committee.
19
f.
A ballot shall be considered spoiled and not counted if:
i. One or more candidate(s) is ranked more than once per ballot.
ii. Fewer than the total number of candidates are ranked than noted on the
projected instructions to delegates.
iii. The delegate does not vote during the designated time period for that
ballot.
iv. The wrong ballot number is used.
v. The delegate changes the channel on their keypad.
g. The vote shall be counted by the Preferential Block Voting Method, which is a
form of ranked choice or instant run-off voting. A simple tally shall be used if there
are only two choices.
h. At the discretion of the Rules and Nominations Committee, a paper ballot may
be used in place of the electronic keypad.
i. No delegate may cast a vote by more than one method (electronic keypad or
paper ballot) in the same election.
j. In order to be elected, a candidate must receive a simple majority of the ballots
cast for that position.
k. Paper ballots, if used, must be handed in person to a Rules and Nominations
Committee member or their designee to allow them to check that the delegate
number on the ballot matches the Credential. Do NOT pass your ballots to
another delegate.
l. A delegate may only cast votes on the electronic keypad bearing their delegate
number. A delegate attempting to cast votes on a keypad with the designation of
another delegate will have forfeited their right to vote in that election.
E.
Appeals
1. An appeal shall not be in order from decisions on recognition, decisions on
dilatoriness of motions, on a question on which an appeal has just been decided,
or when, in the opinion of the Convention Chair, such an appeal is clearly dilatory.
2.
Before the question is put to a vote on any appeal, the person making the appeal
shall be entitled to two (2) minutes to express his/her reasons for appeal.
3.
The Convention Chair shall be allowed two (2) minutes for an explanation of the
ruling. Without further debate, the Convention Chair shall then put the appeal to
a vote. A simple majority of the delegates present and voting is required to
overrule the Convention Chair.
20
F.
Motion to suspend the Rules
1. The Convention Chair may entertain a motion to suspend the Rules only for a
stated purpose and only for a stated section of the Rules. If seconded, the person
making the motion to suspend the rules shall be allowed two (2) minutes to explain
the need to suspend.
2. The Convention Chair shall immediately recognize the Chair of the Rules and
Nomination Committee, or his/her designee whose remarks shall be limited
to two (2) minutes. The motion shall then be decided without further debate.
A vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the delegates present and voting is required to
pass the motion to suspend.
3. Upon a successful motion to suspend the rules, the convention shall recess for
a period of not more than fifteen (15) minutes to allow the Rules and
Nominations Committee to deliberate and present new rules, which shall be
presented to the Convention delegation for a vote. A simple majority of the
delegation present and voting shall be required to implement the new rules.
G. Minority Reports
1.
Minority reports of committees shall not be considered by the convention unless
adopted by at least ten percent (10%) of the members of the full committee.
2.
The minority shall provide the Convention Chair with a legibly written copy of
the minority report before it is introduced. Members of the minority shall sign
the report.
A minority report must have been considered at a committee meeting.
3.
H. Debate
1.
Any delegate wishing to speak must use one of the microphones located in the
aisles on the convention floor.
2.
All delegates, once recognized, shall state their name and county.
3.
Initial debate on any question shall be limited to six minutes and shall be
divided equally between alternating positions in speeches that do not exceed
one minute each.
4.
No speaker may yield the floor to another speaker.
5.
At the end of the initial debate time, the convention, by a simple majority vote,
may extend the debate for a specified period of time not to exceed six minutes.
21
6. Debate may be closed sooner by unanimous consent or by a two-thirds (2/3)
standing division vote in support of closing debate.
7. A motion for the previous question shall not be in order from a speaker during
the course of his/her debate.
8. A motion to move the previous question shall be made from a microphone.
9.
I.
Debate may be extended beyond the initial extension only by a two-thirds (2/3)
standing division vote of the convention in support of extension for a specified
additional amount of time.
Quorum
1.
Forty percent (40%) of the accredited delegates shall constitute a quorum.
2. No motion questioning a quorum shall be in order after the Credentials
Committee report has been accepted.
J.
Adjournment
1.
A motion to adjourn shall not be in order until all statutory and
constitutional duties have been completed.
III.
A.
RULES GOVERNING THE YOUTH CAUCUS
Registration
1. Youth delegates must register at the same time as other delegates.
2. Any youth who is at least 11 years of age and not yet 18 years of age on the day
of the Convention may participate as a youth delegate so long as they are not
a seated delegate.
B.
The Caucus
1. The youth delegate caucus will be called to order throughout the day to
complete such business as is necessary to come before the group.
2. For the empowerment and protection of the youth delegates, no
person other than the Youth Coordinator, his or her designees, and the
youth delegates will be allowed in the youth delegate caucus room.
22
3. The Convention Chair or his/her designee shall announce the youth delegate
caucus from the podium.
a. Convened by the Youth Delegate Coordinator(s) from the Rules and
Nominations Committee.
b. Elect Permanent officers including chair, secretary, timekeeper, and any
other officers they deem appropriate.
c. Determine times and agendas for other caucus business.
C. Voting and Election Procedures
1. For all elections, nominations may be made from the floor. Nominating
speeches shall be limited to two (2) minutes. No more than two (2) people will
be allowed to speak for each person nominated and the total time shall not
exceed two (2) minutes.
2. Before holding any elections, the chair of the caucus shall read Article
VIII, Section 1 of the Iowa Democratic Party Constitution regarding
minority representation:
Article VIII - Delegate and Committee Selection Procedure
Section 1 - : All caucuses, conventions, committees, and Democratic Party
Officials shall take such practical steps as may be within their legitimate power
to assure that all caucuses, conventions, and committees shall include: men,
women, various age groups, racial minority groups, economic groups, and
representatives of identifiable geographically defined populations - all in
reasonable relationship to the proportions in which the groups are found in the
populations of the respective constituencies. In the spirit of the above, all
caucuses, conventions, and committees will also endeavor to include citizens of
all national origins, ethnic identities, religions, sexual orientations, gender
identities, and disabilities.
3. Ballots shall be written and in the form provided by the Iowa Democratic
Party. Ballots shall be kept for one (1) year.
4. A Rules and Nominations Committee member shall monitor all elections.
23
IV. RULES GOVERNING THE PLATFORM
A.
The platform must contain a “Statement of Principles” and a “Statement of Issues”.
The Constitution of the Iowa Democratic Party requires the Platform Committee to
provide a Report representing the work of the Committee in the Call to
Convention, which is made available to the delegation prior to the convening of the
Convention. The individual planks that comprise the Statement of Issues shall be
consecutively numbered with the numbers NOT restarting with each Section.
B.
Delegates to the Convention wishing to add a plank to the platform must present
the new plank, legibly written or typed, on the form provided in the Call to
Convention, and with 50 signatures of delegates elected to the State Convention
or alternates seated in place of missing delegates no later than 10:00 A.M. the
morning of the State Convention. This petition must be turned in to the
Convention Secretary.
C.
A delegate to the State Convention shall have the right to petition for a given plank
to be debated by providing to the Convention Secretary the signatures of 50
delegates elected to the State Convention or alternates seated in place of missing
delegates no later than 10:00 A.M. the morning of the State Convention.
D.
Appropriately submitted amendments will be posted no later than Noon.
Additional planks shall be numbered consecutively, beginning with the
next number available following the last number of the planks published in
the Platform Report published in the Call to Convention.
E.
Seated delegates to the State Convention shall determine which planks
are included in the final Iowa Democratic Party Platform by voice vote in
the following manner:
1. The Presiding officer of the Convention at the time the Platform is taken up
at the Convention shall move the adoption of the Platform in Sections
starting with the Statement of Principles, then each Section of the Statement
of Issues.
24
2. Prior to voting on a given Section, the Presiding Officer shall ask if there is
a motion to remove a particular plank in that Section for separate
consideration.
a. If no delegate rises to make such a motion, the Presiding Officer shall
ask a member of the Platform Committee for a motion to approve the
Section under consideration and a second shall not be required.
b. If a delegate rises to make a motion to remove a plank in a Section for
separate consideration, they shall do so in the following manner:
i. “First name, Last Name a delegate from County moves that plank
number XX be removed for separate consideration from this section.
ii. A second shall be required.
iii. The Presiding Officer shall repeat the motion and ask for a voice vote
of the delegation who approve of removing the plank for separate
consideration and then those who oppose the separate consideration
of the plank. A simple majority shall decide the question.
iv. If a simple majority of the delegation vote to consider that plank
separately, the Presiding Officer shall proceed to ask a member of
the Platform Committee to move the approval of that plank and
no second is required.
v. Following the vote on the inclusion of that plank, the Presiding
Officer will proceed with the Section under consideration.
3. The Presiding Officer shall ask for those in favor to voice their approval and
then for those not in favor to voice their disapproval of the inclusion of that
Section in the Platform of the Iowa Democratic Party for the next two years. If,
in the opinion of the Presiding Officer, the number of Delegates voting in favor
of including that Section in the Platform exceeds the number voting not to
include that Section in the Platform, then that Section shall be included in the
published Platform of the IDP.
25
F.
Rules governing debate of the platform.
1. Debatable Planks: Those planks deemed debatable by the Platform Committee
shall be debated by the delegates of the Convention.
2. Minority Reports of the Platform Committee shall be automatically
debatable. They shall be listed as a sub-lettered plank to the plank the
majority of the Platform Committee voted for inclusion in the Platform
Report. For example, if the Platform Committee has voted to include plank
18, the minority report related to plank 18 would be listed as 18a. Only one of
those planks may be approved by the Convention, thus a vote for plank 18
would be a vote against plank 18a.
3. Debate on the debatable planks of the Issues Section of the Platform will
follow the rules outlined in Article II, section H, with the exception that the
Platform Committee Chair or his/her designee will move adoption of the
portion of the Platform Report in question and a second is not required. The
representative of the Platform Committee shall have one (1) minute to
explain the portion of the Platform being debated and the Platform
Committee’s position for approving the plank
a. Debate on any plank shall be limited to six (6) minutes and shall be divided
equally between alternating proponents and opponents in statements
that do not exceed one (1) minute each.
b. The Platform Committee Chair or their designee shall present
the debatable issues.
4. Immediately upon completion of debate, the Presiding Officer shall call for a
voice vote to determine whether the plank passes or fails.
5. The debated plank must receive at least a majority of the votes cast to pass.
G.
A final copy of the Platform, including the Statement of Principles and the
Statement of Issues, will be available at the Iowa Democratic Party Website,
www.iowademocrats.org. Those delegates who do not have access to the website
may request a written copy from the offices of the Iowa Democratic Party.
26
V. ELECTION OF STATE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CHAIR
A. Nominations but not nominating speeches will be made from the floor.
B. Each nominee will be given an opportunity to decline.
C. Each candidate and/or her/his designee(s) will be allowed one (1) minute to speak
to the convention. No more than two (2) speakers per nominee will be allowed to
speak during this time.
D. The delegates will vote as directed in Article II, Section D.
E. In order to be elected, a candidate must receive support from at least a simple
majority of the delegates present and voting for that position.
VI.
ELECTION OF STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES
AND ALTERNATES FOR THE CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED CAUCUSES
A. Constituency Caucuses shall convene at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the
State Convention.
B. At such time, the first order of business shall be to elect a caucus chair and
vice-chair. The Rules and Nominations Committee Chair shall assign
representatives to attend each caucus meeting. The current chair of the
caucus shall call the caucus to order and immediately defer to the Rules
and Nomination Committee representative(s) for the purpose of
conducting elections. If the position of Chair of the caucus is vacant or the
Chair is not in attendance, the Rules and Nominations Committee
representative shall call the meeting to order and immediately proceed to
conduct the elections.
C. Nominations but not nominating speeches will be made from the floor.
D. Each nominee shall be given an opportunity to decline.
E. Each candidate and/or her/his designee(s) will be allowed one (1) minute
to speak to the caucus. Candidates will have no more than two (2) speakers
per nominee shall be allowed to speak during this time.
27
F. Using the ballot designated by the Rules and Nominations
Committee representatives, each caucus member shall cast a vote
for one (1) candidate. Each caucus member shall have one (1) vote.
G. A simple majority of the votes cast is necessary to be elected.
H. In the event that no candidate is elected by at least a simple majority of
votes on a given ballot, the two (2) candidates receiving the most votes shall
run again.
I. When the election for chair is completed, the election for vice-chair
will take place following the same rules.
J. When the elections for chair and vice-chair are completed, the Rules
and Nominations Committee representative(s) shall immediately report
the results to the Rules and Nominations Chair.
VII. RULES GOVERNING THE ELECTION
OF DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
A. Nominations but not nominating speeches will be made from the floor.
B. Each nominee shall be given an opportunity to decline.
C. Each candidate and/or her/his designee(s) will be allowed one (1) minute to speak to
the convention. No more than two (2) speakers per nominee will be allowed to
speak in this time.
D. Iowa is required by the Charter and Bylaws of the Democratic Party of the
United States to send a gender-balanced delegation to the Democratic National
Committee.
E. The delegates shall elect one (1) female and one (1) male in separate elections.
F. The delegates will vote as directed in Article II, Section D.
G. In order to be elected, a candidate must receive support from at least a simple
majority of the delegates present and voting for that position.
28
VIII. ELECTION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS
A. The delegation shall elect two (2) Presidential Electors to serve if the Democratic
nominee wins Iowa in November 2016.
B. Nominations but not nominating speeches will be made from the floor.
C. Each nominee shall be given an opportunity to decline.
D. Each candidate and/or her/his designee(s) will be allowed one (1) minute to speak
to the convention. No more than two (2) speakers per nominee will be allowed to
speak during this time.
E. The delegates will vote as directed in Article II, Section D.
F. In order to be elected, a candidate must receive support from at least a simple
majority of the delegates present and voting for that position.
IX. THE ELECTION OF PLEDGED PARTY LEADER AND ELECTED OFFICIAL
NATIONAL DELEGATES
Iowa is allotted six (6) pledged Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) delegates.
A. Pledged PLEO Delegate Filing Requirements
1. Individuals shall be eligible for the pledged Party Leader and Elected Official delegate
positions according to the following priority: big city mayors and statewide elected
officials (to be given equal consideration); state legislative leaders, state legislators, and
other state, county and local elected officials and party leaders.
2. Candidates for the position of delegate or alternate to the Democratic National
Convention shall be required to submit a petition, which is to be filed with the Chair of the
Rules and Nominations Committee no later than fifteen (15) minutes after the Credentials
Committee report is adopted the day of the convention; or candidates may submit their
petitions to the State Chair up to, June 6, 2016, twelve (12) days before the State
Convention.
3. The petition shall be signed by one percent (1%) or sixteen (16), whichever is less, of the
delegates to the state convention.
29
4. No pledged party leader and elected official delegate candidate may be
nominated from the floor.
5. Candidates must include, in addition to filing a petition: a statement of candidacy
designating the singular presidential preference or uncommitted group to which he or
she purports to belong, and a signed pledge of support for the singular presidential
candidate the person favors, if any. A delegate or alternate candidate may modify his or
her singular presidential preference by submitting an updated pledge of support no
later than the filing deadline.
6. Pledged PLEO delegate candidates must be identified as to presidential preference or
uncommitted status.
B. Presidential Candidate Right of Review
1. The State Democratic Chair shall convey to the presidential candidate, or that
candidate’s authorized representative(s), not later than thirty (30) minutes, after
the credentials committee report is adopted, on the day of the convention, a list of
all persons who have filed for a party and elected official delegate pledged to that
presidential candidate
2. Each presidential candidate, or that candidate’s authorized representative(s), must
file with the State Democratic Chair, by thirty (30) minutes after they receive their list
of candidates, a list of all such candidates he or she has approved, as long as approval
is given to at least one (1) name for every position to which the presidential candidate
is entitled.
3. Failure to respond will be deemed approval of all delegate candidates submitted to
the presidential candidate unless the presidential candidate or the authorized
representative(s) signifies otherwise in writing to the State Democratic Chair not later
than thirty (30) minutes after they receive their list of candidates.
4. The State Democratic Chair shall certify in writing to the Co-Chairs of the DNC
Rules and Bylaws Committee whether each presidential candidate (including
uncommitted status) has used their best efforts to ensure that their respective
pledged PLEO delegate candidates meet the affirmative action and inclusion
considerations and goals detailed in the Affirmative Action section of this
Plan within three (3) business days of returning the list of approved pledged
PLEO candidates.
C. Selection of Pledged Party Leader and Elected Official Delegates
1. Pledged PLEO slots shall be allocated among presidential preferences on the same basis
as the at-large delegates.
30
2. Selection of the pledged PLEO delegates will occur at the State Convention on June
18, 2016, which is after the election of district-level delegates and alternates and
prior to the selection of at-large delegates and alternates.
3. These delegates will be selected by the state convention.
4. Candidates for the positions of pledged Party Leader and Elected Official delegates
who are not elected under this category will be automatically considered for AtLarge Delegate positions, unless they indicate to the Rules and Nominations
Committee Chair that they do not wish to be considered.
5. The State Democratic Chair shall certify in writing to the Secretary of the
Democratic National Committee the election of the state’s pledged Party Leader
and Elected Official delegates to the Democratic National Convention within ten
(10) days after their election.
D. Election Procedures to be used within Preference Groups
1. Each candidate and/or her/his designee(s) will be allowed one (1) minute to speak to
the convention. No more than two (2) speakers per nominee will be allowed to speak
during this time.
2. The delegates will vote as directed in Article II, Section D.
3. In order to be elected, a candidate must receive support from at least a simple
majority of the delegates present and voting for that position.
X. THE NOMINATION AND ELECTION
OF AT LARGE NATIONAL DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES
A. The state of Iowa is allotted 9 at-large delegates.
B. The nine (9) at-large delegates will be nominated in accordance with an apportionment
based on the division of presidential preference at the State Convention and Article VIII of
the Iowa Democratic Party Constitution describing the procedure for delegate selection. The
procedure which says that division of presidential preference is determined by taking the
ration of each preference group’s size, the size of the total precinct caucus or convention,
and apply that ration to the total number of representatives to be chosen.
C. At-Large Delegate Filing Requirements
1. Persons desiring to seek at-large delegate positions must file a statement of candidacy
designating the singular presidential preference or uncommitted-group to which he or
31
she purports to belong, a signed pledge of support for the singular presidential
candidate (including uncommitted status) the person favors, and a petition that is to
be signed by one percent (1%) or sixteen (16), whichever is less, of the delegates to
the state convention with the chair of the rules and nominations committee no later
than fifteen (15) minutes after the state convention credentials committee report is
adopted on the day of the state convention. A delegate may modify his or her singular
presidential preference by submitting an updated pledge of support no later than the
filing deadline
2. For the purpose of including information in the convention book that is mailed to all
state convention delegates, candidates may submit their petitions to the State
Chair up to, June 6, 2016, twelve (12) days before the State Convention.
D. Presidential Candidate Right of Review
1. The State Democratic Chair shall convey to the presidential candidate, or that
candidate’s authorized representative(s), not later than thirty (30) minutes after
the credential committee report is adopted, on the day of the convention, a list of
all persons who have filed for delegate or alternate pledged to that presidential
candidate.
2. Each presidential candidate, or that candidate’s authorized representative(s), must
then file with the State Democratic Chair, within thirty (30) minutes, a list of all
such candidates he or she has approved, provided that, at a minimum, one (1)
name remains for every national convention delegate or alternate position to
which the presidential candidate is entitled.
3. Failure to respond will be deemed approval of all delegate candidates
submitted to the presidential candidate unless the presidential candidate or the
authorized representative(s) signifies otherwise in writing to the State
Democratic Chair not later than fifteen (15) minutes after the adoption of the
credential committee report.
4. The State Democratic Chair shall certify in writing to the Co-Chairs of the DNC Rules
and Bylaws Committee whether each presidential candidate (including uncommitted
status) has used their best efforts to ensure that their respective at-large delegate
candidates meet the affirmative action and inclusion considerations and goals
detailed in the Affirmative Action section of this Plan within three (3) business days
of returning the list of approved at-large delegate candidates and at-large alternate
candidates as indicated in section III.D.3.b of the Delegate Selection Plan.
32
E. Fair Reflection of Presidential Preference
1. At-large delegate and alternate positions shall be allocated among
presidential preferences according to the division of preferences among
convention participants, provided that no person participating shall
automatically serve by virtue of holding a public or Party office.
2. Preferences which have not attained a 15% threshold on a state-wide basis shall
not be entitled to any at-large delegates.
3. If no presidential preference reaches a 15% threshold, the threshold shall be the
percentage of the statewide vote received by the front-runner, minus 10%.
4. If a presidential candidate is no longer a candidate at the time of selection of the atlarge delegates, then those at-large slots that would have been allocated to the
candidate will be proportionally divided among the remaining preferences entitled
to an allocation.
5. If a given presidential preference is entitled to one or more delegate positions
but would not otherwise be entitled to an alternate position, that preference
shall be allotted one at-large alternate position.
F. Election Procedures to be followed within Preference Groups
1. Each candidate and/or her/his designee(s) will be allowed one (1) minute to speak to
the convention. No more than two (2) speakers per nominee will be allowed to speak
during this time.
2. The delegates will vote as directed in Article II, Section D.
3. In order to be elected, a candidate must receive support from at least a simple
majority of the delegates present and voting for that position.
33
XI. Formation of Presidential Preference Groups
A. Formation of Presidential Preference Groups:
1. (First Alignment) Delegates to the State Convention shall be considered to have
aligned with a presidential preference group when they register for the
convention. A delegate shall be required to designate his/her presidential
preference group at the time of his/her registration. A delegate that refuses to
designate a presidential preference group shall be registered by the
Credentials Committee as uncommitted. Delegates are not required to align
with the same preference group that elected them at their County Convention.
Only delegates to the State Convention who are members of
viable preference groups may vote for National Delegates.
2. The Credentials Committee shall present a report to inform the convention of
the size of each preference group. Any presidential preference group that fails
to obtain 15% of the registered delegates shall be considered nonviable.
4. (First Realignment) The Convention Chair shall announce the start of the First
Realignment period. During the first realignment period (up to one hour), all
delegates may realign. During this period, any delegate wishing to realign
shall fill out a realignment form and turn it in to the Rules and Nominations
Committee. The forms will be available at the Rules and Nominations
Committee table at the front of the convention hall.
5. Following the First Realignment, the Rules and Nominations Committee
shall present a report to inform the convention of the current size of
each preference group.
6. (Second Realignment) Following the report of the Rules and Nominations
Committee and only if there are delegates currently aligned with non-viable
groups, the Convention Chair shall announce the start of the Second
Realignment period. During the Second Realignment period (up to 30
minutes), only members of non-viable groups may realign with or into viable
34
groups. Members of non-viable groups wishing to realign shall fill out
a Second Realignment form and turn it into the Rules and Nominations
Committee.
7. Following the time for the second realignment, Rules and Nominations
Committee shall announce the viable presidential preference groups and
their relative strengths. Only delegates in viable preference groups after
the final realignment period may participate in preference group elections.
8. The Rules and Nominations Committee shall announce the number of
delegates each group is to elect, explain the delegate selection
process, and state the Party’s affirmative action commitment.
B. Voting procedures within presidential preference groups
1. Each preference group shall elect a chair. All elections relating to the
selection of National Delegates will be supervised and monitored by the
appropriate Rules and Nominations Committee Chair or designee.
2. The first formal action of the preference group chair shall be to read the
following statement: “All public meetings at all levels of the Democratic Party
in Iowa shall be open to all members of the Democratic Party regardless of
race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual
orientation, economic status, philosophical persuasion, or disability
(hereinafter collectively referred to as “status”. In order that the Democratic
Party at all levels be an open Party, which includes rather than excludes
people from participation, a program of effective affirmative action has been
adopted by the Iowa Democratic Party. Discrimination on the basis of
“status” in the conduct of Iowa Democratic Party affairs is prohibited.”
3. Preference group chairs will ALSO announce “Only delegates who have signed
an alignment card stating a preference for
may vote to elect
national delegates in this preference group”.
4. All valid and official candidates for national delegate positions shall be
listed on a ballot in alphabetical order and numbered.
35
5. All candidates shall be allowed one (1) minutes to speak to the preference
group or someone may speak on their behalf. The time may be divided into
no more than two (2) speakers.
6. The delegates will vote as directed in Article II, Section D. The ballots shall be
collected and counted under the authority of the Rules and Nominations
Committee. When those elected have been tabulated, their names shall be
read. Balloting shall continue until all delegate positions have been filled.
The Rules and Nominations Committee Chair shall take possession of all the
ballots. The ballots shall be preserved for one year.
36
Report of the 2016 State Platform Committee
State Platform Committee
Mike Robinson, Chair
Sally Frank, Vice Chair
Sue Seedorff-Keninger, Second Vice Chair
David McFarland, Parliamentarian
Carl Olsen, Secretary
Rhonda Fowler, Assistant Secretary
Education
Elizabeth Sandy, Chair
Art Allen, Secretary
Brian Brandsmeier
Deborah Fisch
Bob Jennings
Dr. Gwendolyn Simpson Johnson
Ruth Madden
Kelly McMahon
Julia Peterson
Sunny Story
Government, Law, Military and Veterans
Bart Randolph, Chair
Holly Herbert, Vice Chair
Alex Enriquez, Secretary
Andrew Beswick Allison
Jason Brown
Rodolfo (Rudy) De Los Reyes
Sally Frank
Paul Gandy
Katherine Jaffey
Clodomir Jean-Louis
Barbara Ann Kelley
Jordan Mott
Isaac Murtha
Susie Petra
Susan Reiter
Dennis Roseman
Robin Roseman
Emma Schmit-Stewart
Elyse (Jack) Schuler
Sue Seedorff-Keninger
Tony Steckman
Terry Stewart
Agriculture, Energy & Enviroment
Sheryl Tenikat, Chair
Luke Haffner, Vice Chair
Mary Behrens, Secretary
Penny Creech
Veronica Lack
Matthew Neberman
Rick Smith
Karen Tigges
Donna Winburn
Health & Human Services
AmieBrooke Miller, Chair
Anita Shambo, Secretary
Brenda Romano
Latisha Davis
Lianne (Annie) Goslin
Dava James
Kathleen O’Leary
Madison Osborn
Bryce Rodgers
Marilyn Sims
Carter Smith
Jessica Turner
Sherry Washington
International Affairs
Newman Abuissa, Chair
Mark Chaffee
Troy Fadiga
Edward Klatte
Marcos Rubenstein
Kennan Seda
Michael Tallman
Ruth Walker
Labor, Economy, and Commerce
Rhonda Fowler, Chair
Mary Burke, Secretary
Dustin Mason
David McFarland
Joe Michalec
Mark Olberding
Bruce Sanders-Lehnertz
37
1
2
3
4
5
IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
PLATFORM COMMITTEE REPORT
JUNE 18, 2016
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
6
7
We are proud of our Democratic Party as the party of our nation’s heritage,
8
accomplishments, and diversities. Our American spirit is a beacon to people struggling
9
for their rights throughout the world. No part of that heritage is more valuable than our
10
beliefs in the inclusion of ALL and commitment to ALL, with recognition of the rights and
11
worth of each individual.
12
13 We, the People of the Democratic Party of Iowa, affirm the following:
14
15
We support a strong separation of church and state as envisioned by our founding
16
fathers and incorporated in the constitution of the United States.
17
18 We supported our military and veterans in war and peace.
19
20 We support them now and honor their service.
21
22
We supported the right of all people to be treated fairly and equally under the laws of
23
this nation. We stand as the party for all people.
24
25
We condemn all forms of discrimination. Whenever the rights of any citizens are
26
threatened, the rights of all are endangered. We take seriously the obligation to
27
preserve, protect, and secure basic constitutional and civil rights.
28
29
We supported the working people of this country when they were exploited. We support
30
them now for their right to organize, to achieve decent wages with health and retirement
31
benefits and a safe workplace.
32
33 We supported families in their pursuit of well-being.
34
35
We support them now in their desire to become healthy, educated, and contributing
36
citizens.
37
38 We support the freedom to plan their family.
39
40 We supported the elderly when they were forgotten.
41
42 We support them now in their need for dignity, income and healthcare security.
43
38
44 We supported independent farmers and small businesses when they faced hard times.
45
46 We support them now in their pursuit of prosperity and economic security.
47
48 We supported parents, students, and educators to make education a top priority.
49
50
We support them now in their quest to achieve high standards. We support free and
51
open access to knowledge and information. We oppose attempts to distort science or
52
health education.
53
54 We supported the people of the earth in working for a clean environment.
55
56
We support them now to achieve a responsible, prosperous and sustainable existence
57
with nature.
58
59 We supported people all over the world demanding freedom, justice, and opportunity.
60
61 We support them now, applauding their peaceful progress.
62
63
We believe that our foreign policy should be one of genuine cooperation in global
64
solutions for international problems. We endorse efforts to defend the equality of rights
65
for all persons.
66
67
We support an individual's right to privacy and adequate legal representation. We look
68
forward to the day when all borders are open to the free exchange of ideas, people, and
69
goods.
70
71
We recognize that we will not get everything we want. Compromise is necessary when
72
important values conflict and priorities of different people are not the same. But we will
73
not be bullied into caving on vital issues.
74
75
We believe in and will continue to work for a truly representative government that works
76
for the good of ALL people in a compassionate, responsible and progressive way that
77
works to achieve peace, prosperity peace/prosperity, and a national outlook of
78
confidence and hope.
79
80
STATEMENT OF ISSUES
81
82 AGRICULTURE, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
83
84 Agriculture for Productive Living and a Healthy Food Supply
85
86 We support:
39
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
1.traditional family farms
2.sustainable organic farming
3.environmentally responsible farming practices
4.crop/livestock diversification
5.industrial hemp
6.local food systems
Agricultural Policy
We support:
7.assessing environmental clean-up to all polluters
8.increasing SNAP benefits
9.LFFAJ
10. CRP/CSP
11. lower insurance caps/subsidies
12. CWA compliance for crop-insurance/subsidies
13. anti-trust regulation of seed supply, food production, processing
14. right-to-save seeds
15. GMO safe seed use labeling
16. non-GMO farmers' lawsuit protection from GMO patent holders
17. biological, less water-soluble fertilizers
18. public's right-to-know permit compliances/TRI
19. accessible IDNR well data/testing including lead, arsenic, anhydrous ammonia
20. investments in beginning, small farmers
We oppose:
21. drug testing SNAP applicants
22. vertical integration
23. "Ag-Gag" laws
24. subsidizing large agribusiness
25. growing pharmaceutical GMOs in open fields
Food Supply and Safety
We support:
26. strong standards/safety testing requirements for USDA organic labeling
27. funding studies of agricultural chemicals' effects
28. legal/enforceable definition/testing/regulation/research of GMOs
29. clear food labeling of:
a. GMOs
b. gene-edited organisms
c. irradiation
d. hormones
e. antibiotics
40
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
additives
origin
agricultural chemicals
imitations
processing location
Livestock Management
We support:
30. strict CAFO regulation:
a. moratorium on construction/expansion until regulated as an
environmental and health hazard
b. locally controlled sitings
c. taxing at commercial rates
d. eliminating manure pit tax exemptions
e. tax exemptions for methane digesters and bio-filters
f. mandating/strengthening Master Matrix
g. eliminating hormone/non-therapeutic antibiotic use
h. increased inspections/better enforcement of EPA regulations
31. veterinarians as mandatory reporters for animal abuse
We oppose:
32. livestock odor nuisance protection
33. puppy mills
34. the Dark Act
35. canine BSL
Energy: Combating Climate Change with Responsible Production and Use to
Reverse Destabilization of our Ecosystem
We support:
36. RES Requirements (40 % by 2020; 50% by 2030; 100% by 2050)
37. fossil fuel/nuclear power conversion to clean/renewable energy
38. NREG
39. increasing subsidies, tax credits for RE
40. stronger AE facilities regulation
41. moratoriums on re-licensing/constructing coal/NPP
42. CPP
43. development of alternative bio-fuels and eliminating the ethanol subsidy
[minority report to replace with reducing CO2 with a carbon fee and
dividend with a goal of holding temperatures to no more than 2 degrees
celsius]
44. carbon tax reducing CO2 to 350ppm
45. carbon retention sequestration
41
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
IRPS/NM/FIT for REC and MU
electric vehicle infrastructure/use
higher CAFE standards
expanded green public transportation programs
regulating energy commodity speculation
HE appliances/rebates
divestment from fossil fuels
We oppose:
53. fossil fuels/nuclear power subsidies
54. all pipelines transporting oil
55. fracking
56. deep water and arctic oil drilling
Environment, Stewardship and Livability
We support:
57. environmental protection/public health over corporate profit
58. repeal 1872 Mining Law
59. reduce/reuse/recycle plastics/electronics/batteries
60. municipal composting/recycling, including curb service for multifamily/industrial sources
61. expand beverage bottle bill
62. banning plastic shot/lead shot/tackle/wheel weights
63. strictly enforcing Iowa's drainage laws
64. enforcing EPA-IDNR-ESA-CAA-CWA regulations
65. enacting IEQA
66. banning neonicotinoid pesticides
67. reclaiming mercury and lead
68. funding IWILL
69. permanently protecting ANWR
70. strictly regulating agricultural chemicals/drift
71. eliminating non-biodegradable bags
72. IDNR notification to well owners of all contaminants when IDNR condemns
their well
We oppose:
73. depositing coal ash and industrial waste in unlined/unmonitored fill sites
74. corporate polluters' "grandfather" clauses
75. discrimination by IDNR and USDA-NRCS in enforcement of IDL/CWA to build
illegal drains, polluting aquifers/waterways
76. mercury seals on water pumps
42
217
218
219
220
\\221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
77. clear-cutting/mining/over-grazing/fuel-drilling on public lands/eco-sensitive
areas
Watershed Management
We support:
78. returning waterways to healthy/swimmable/fishable conditions
79. mandatory Nutrient Reduction Strategy
80. creating numerical standards/database for runoff levels and funding
enforcement
81. publicly owned/affordable clean water
82. incentives for implementing DNR's watershed management plan
83. amending the CWA to include intermittent streams/aquifers/wetlands
84. IDNR fertilizer management plans covered in RUSLE2 exams covering
CAFO/anhydrous ammonia nitrogen fertilizers
85. criteria added to RUSLE2 exams be minimum soil depth above tile/use only of
legal drainage outlets/NHEL soils
We oppose:
86. rainwater collection bans
Planning and Zoning
We support:
87. "Smart Growth" planning
88. requiring LEED/2015 IECC/ADA for public buildings
89. minimum 6-inch top-soil replacement for new development
90. notification to landowners/residents within 5 miles BEFORE permitting CAFO
construction/expansion
91. requiring county approval of fossil fuel pipelines
92. county-level zoning/permitting
We oppose:
93. subsidies for urban growth on farm/public lands
94. eminent domain abuse
95. annexation without binding votes of property owners
96. building on flood plains
ACRONYMS USED IN THIS SECTION
ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act
AE – Atomic Energy
ANWR – Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
BSL – Breed Specific Legislation
CAA – Clean Air Act
43
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
CAFE – Corporate Automotive Fuel Economy
CPP – Clean Power Plan
CRP – Conservation Reserve Program
CSP – Conservation Stewardship Program
CWA – Clean Water Act
EPA – Environmental Protection Agency
FIT – Feed-in-Tariffs
GMO – Genetically Modified Organism
HE – High Efficiency
IDL – Iowa's Drainage Laws
IDNR – Iowa Department of Natural Resources
IECC – International Energy Conservation Code
IEQA – Iowa Environmental Quality Act
IRPS – Renewable Portfolio Standards
IWILL – Iowa's Water and Land Legacy
LFFAJ – Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 (S.679 and H.R.1414)
LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
MU – Municipal Utilities
NHEL – Not Highly Erodable Land
NM – Net Metering
NPP – Nuclear Power Plants
NREG – National Renewable Energy Grid
RCRA – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
REAP – Resource Enhancement and Protection
REC – Rural Electric Cooperatives
RES – Renewable Energy Systems
RUSLE2 – Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation Version 2
SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
TRI – Toxics Release Inventory/Chemical Use Report
EDUCATION
Accountability
We support:
97. investing resources in underperforming public schools
98. multiple measures determined by educators for assessing:
student/teacher/administrator/school performance
We oppose:
99. fast-track certification for: teachers/administrators
100. merit pay
Education Funding from State
We support:
44
307
101. fair funding formulas for rural districts
308
102. legislature establishing PreK-12 funding within the first month of a legislative
309
year or default to an automatic 4% annual increase two years in advance
310
103. minimum 4% annual SSA for schools/AEAs/community colleges
311
312 State Education Policy
313
314 We support:
315
104. enforcing Title IX
316
105. extending SAVE permanently
317
106. Iowa DE accreditation for instructors/curriculum/assessment/pupil attendance
318
reporting for on-line/private/home-school/for-profit instruction
319
107. local control of school districts
320
108. state School Board and DE authority to change Iowa Core
321
109. strong policy support for teacher unions
322
323 We oppose:
324
110. allowing all school board members replacement at once
325
111. diverting public monies to for-profit educational businesses/home schooling
326
112. voucher systems/K-12 private school tuition tax credits
327
328 Funding PreK-12 Fully
329
330 We support:
331
113. academic integration of technology
332
114. before/after school programs
333
115. drivers education
334
116. ELL/ESL
335
117. fine/applied arts
336
118. foreign languages
337
119. free, healthy meals for all students
338
120. high-quality, tuition-free public education
339
121. living wages/benefit parity for ESP
340
122. music
341
123. prisons/juvenile detention education (including re-integration) programs
342
124. proactive approach to suspensions, expulsions, recorded referrals using
343
community trained volunteer mediators, student mediators, restorative justice,
344
peace circles
345
125. remedial reading
346
126. SPED/teacher training
347
127. summer school
348
128. TAG
349
129. tutoring
350
130. diversity/multicultural training/resources (staff/teachers/administrators)
45
351
352 Funding PreK-12 Increase
353
354 We support:
355
131. energy efficiency improvements
356
132. TRIO Programs
357
133. competitive compensation for educators in public schools/colleges/universities
358
359 PreK-12 Optimal Learning Environment
360
361 We support:
362
134. collaborative community/parent/teacher/administrator decision-making
363
135. eliminating de-facto public schools segregation
364
136. eliminating racial disparities in discipline policies/suspensions/referrals that
365
create "school-to-prison-pipeline"
366
137. full access to licensed nurses/counselors/teacher librarians/media
367
specialists/social workers/psychologists
368
138. implementing conflict resolution/anger management/civil discourse
369
skills/coping skills training for at-risk behavior
370
139. incentivizing diversity in teacher/administrator hiring/recruitment
371
140. Iowa Safe-Schools initiative, including anti-bullying education
372
141. reduced class size, including budget weighting
373
142. reducing dropout rates; increasing age to 18
374
375 PreK-12 Public School Programming
376
377 We support:
378
143. age-appropriate financial planning instruction
379
144. civics education
380
145. comprehensive, evidence-based health/sex education presented by qualified
381
personnel
382
146. human rights education
383
147. integration of critical thinking across all curriculum
384
148. research-based instruction
385
149. STEAM
386
150. teacher/staff/administrator diversity/multi-cultural competency training and
387
teaching resources
388
151. vocational programs/apprenticeships/dual credit classes
389
152. correction of Native American history
390
391 We oppose:
392
153. religious bias/discrimination
393
154. retention of non-proficient 3rd graders
394
46
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
Post-Secondary Education
We support:
155. Pell grants for inmates
156. proportionate compensation for adjunct educators
157. rape/sexual assault zero-tolerance policy
158. regulating accreditation/credit transferability/financial disclosure of for-profit
schools
159. tuition-free state colleges/universities (equivalent support to students at
nonprofits)
We oppose:
160. enrollment-based funding of regent institutions
161. manipulating party balance of Iowa Board of Regents
Post-Secondary Loans
We support:
162. 100% tax deductible interest
163. retroactive consumer protection practices (e.g. bankruptcy/wage
garnishment/death forgiveness/3% interest cap)
164. separate marital status for repayment plans
ACRONYMS USED IN THIS SECTION
AEA – Area Education Agency
DE – Department of Education
ELL – English Language Learners
ESL – English as a Second Language
ESP – Education Support Professionals
SAVE – Secure an Advanced Vision for Education
SPED – Special Education
SSA – Iowa legislature: Supplemental State Aid to education
STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics
STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics
TAG – Talented and Gifted
TRIO – Educational Talent Search (ETS), Classic Upward Bound (CUB), Veterans
Upward Bound (VUB), Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS), Student Support
Services (SSS), Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC), Training Grant (for Special
Programs Staff and Leadership Personnel (TR), and the Dr. Ronald E. McNair PostBaccalaureate Achievement Program (McNair).
GOVERNMENT, LAW, MILITARY AND VETERANS
Campaigns, Elections, and American Institutions
47
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
We support:
165. timely Supreme Court nomination hearings
166. voter-marked paper ballots
167. 5-year ban on paid/compensated lobbying for former congressional
employees/officials
168. mandatory random election audits
169. automatic/same-day voter registration
170. national elections/caucuses as paid holidays
171. publicly-financed elections
172. OCE/RVRA/IRV
173. internet posted lobbying contacts
174. reinstating Fairness Doctrine
175. recall mechanisms
176. voting rights for felons
177. Iowa's redistricting system used nationwide
178. absentee/early voting
179. limiting and requiring public disclosure of contributions to campaigns/PACs
180. open-source voting machine software
181. neighborhood-based voting
182. Iowa's first-in-the-nation status
183. abolishing the electoral college [minority report to delete]
184. holding school board/municipal bond/other elections on the same day
We oppose:
185. voter photo IDs
186. Citizens United
187. establishing English as official language
188. superdelegates [minority report to move to We support]
189. voter suppression
190. gerrymandering
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
We support:
191. non-discrimination for LGBTQQIA+, disability, political, & religious/nonreligious
affiliation
192. enforcing separation of church and state
193. enforcing CRA/ADA
194. federal/Iowa ERA
195. habeas corpus rights
196. removing gender/sex from government forms including voter registration
197. removing gender/sex from state IDs/licenses
198. de-escalation policies, bias training for law enforcement
48
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
199. community policing
200. DOJ investigation of deaths in police custody
201. BLM movement
202. Affirmative Action
203. hate crime legislation including gender identity
204. renaming Columbus Day to First Nations Day
205. marriage equality
206. non-discriminatory adoption rights
207. "Move to Amend"
208. the right of Puerto Rico to declare bankruptcy
209. DC statehood
210. [minority report to add the Nordic Model]
We oppose:
211. constitutional amendments restricting marriage
212. national ID cards
213. warrantless searches, electronic/drone surveillance, traffic cameras
214. mass incarceration, mandatory sentencing
215. private prisons
216. religious exemptions to LGBTQQIA+ anti-discrimination laws
217. corporate personhood
Military and Veterans' Affairs
We support:
218. expediting hiring of qualified candidates for VA positions
219. investigation/prosecution of sexual assault/harassment cases in US civilian
courts
220. VOW
221. recognizing contributions & wartime efforts by all military branches
222. programs to reestablish veterans back into communities, eliminate
homelessness
223. adequate family assistance for reservists during extended active duty
224. living wage for active personnel
225. raising Iowa's Veterans' benefits, education resources
226. equitable benefits for reserve/guard military members
227. fully funding/escrowing military actions, including legacy costs
228. veteran business start-ups
229. bonus programs for military personnel
230. expanding USERRA
We oppose:
231. FISA
49
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
232. budget cuts impacting VA's ability to operate
233. distribution of military combat equipment to law enforcement or any other
public entity
234. indefinite detention provisions in NDAA/military commissions
235. mercenaries/PMCs
236. USA Freedom Act
Transportation
We support:
237. Complete Streets
238. crash prevention engineering
We oppose:
239. privatization of FAA
Taxes and Social Security
We support:
240. a COLA minimum for SS recipients of 1%
241. SCIA/TEA
242. reforming TIF
We oppose:
243. privatization/profitization of government services
244. regressive taxation
245. chained CPI
246. raising retirement age, cutting SS benefits
247. taxation of unemployment, workers' compensation, disability/SS benefits
Gun Safety
We support:
248. President Obama's executive orders on gun control
249. universal background checks
250. requiring registration, licensing, education/testing & liability insurance
251. banning assault weapons
252. gun-free zones
253. closing "gun show loopholes"
254. right to prohibit firearms on one's property
255. temporary confiscation of firearms from individuals under DANCOs
256. guardians' accountability for minors' inappropriate gun access
257. nationwide database of gun ownership
50
569
258. hand gun regulation
570
571 We oppose:
572
259. "Stand your ground"
573
260. open carry
574
575 Immigration
576
577 We support:
578
261. comprehensive immigration reform with reasonable citizenship pathways
579
262. State/federal DREAM Act and DAPA/DACA/TVDL/UAFA
580
263. basic human/civil rights for immigrants
581
264. undocumented immigrants paying taxes/receiving benefits without fearing
582
deportation
583
265. resolving visa applicant backlogs
584
266. judicial review for visa denial/removal
585
267. classifying unaccompanied minors as refugees
586
268. expedite legal entry process
587
269. due process, employment/labor rights regardless of citizenship status
588
270. free legal representation in immigration courts for indigents
589
271. attorney appointments for immigrant minors
590
272. moratorium on detentions/deportations, except for violent/felony convictions
[minority report to replace with moratorium on detentions/deportations,
591
except for violent felony convictions]
592
593
594 We oppose:
595
273. detention of undocumented immigrant minors
596
274. immigrant detention/deportation quotas
597
275. local enforcement of federal immigration laws
598
599 Government Services
600
601 We support:
602
276. aggressively prosecuting government officials for quid pro quo activity
603
277. postal/public banking services
604
278. full access to all public records
605
279. substantive funding for:
606
a. infrastructure & services
607
b. state court system
608
c. Legal Services/public defenders
609
d. ICRC
610
e. CDC gun violence studies/NICS
611
280. fair, independent, merit-based judiciary
51
612 281. creation of a cabinet level Department of Peace and Conflict Resolution 613
614 We oppose:
615
282. solitary confinement
616
283. juvenile life sentences
617
284. judicial elections
618
619 Criminal Justice
620
621 We support:
622
285. expanding statutes of limitations for child abuse/assault, including sexual
623
286. classifying attacks on family-planning clinics as domestic terrorism
624
287. minimum wage for all employed prisoners
625
288. treating addiction as health issue
626
289. reducing/commuting sentences, pardoning nonviolent drug offenders
627
290. expanded use of drug courts, diversion programs
628
291. reforming civil forfeiture laws
629
292. legalizing cannabis/hemp
630
293. legalizing all drugs [minority report to replace with decriminalizing all drugs]
631
[minority report to delete]
632
294. vigorous enforcement/expansion of Whistleblower's Act
633
295. body cameras for law enforcement
634
296. eliminating human trafficking
635
297. de-escalation over use of force
636
298. civilian review boards
637
299. reducing bail requirements, improving jail conditions
638
300. prosecuting white-collar crime
639
301. restorative justice
640
302. process to seal/expunge criminal records
641
303. applying state/federal Supreme Court rulings retroactively to incarcerated
642
defendants
643
644 We oppose:
645
304. racial disparity in criminal justice system
646
305. capital punishment
647
306. mandatory minimum sentencing
648
307. religious/ethnic/racial profiling
649
308. charging defendants for court-appointed attorneys, probation, community
650
service, jail rent
651
309. discriminatory housing policies toward ex-offenders
652
653 Consumer Protection
654
52
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
We support:
310. strengthening/expanding/vigorously enforcing corporate anti-trust laws
311. strengthening laws protecting consumers from predatory lenders and abusive
debt-collection
312. corporate malfeasance penalties that exceed benefits from malfeasance
313. enforcement & strengthening of Dodd-Frank Act
314. foreclosure safety net
315. 36% APR cap on "payday loans"
316. insider trading laws covering government employees
We oppose:
317. excessive collection/retention of personal data by government/private
business
318. collection/use of personal data without express consent
ACRONYMS USED IN THIS SECTION
ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act
BLM – Black Lives Matter
CDC – Center for Disease Control and Prevention
COLA – Cost of Living Adjustment
CPI – Consumer Price Index
CRA – Civil Rights Act of 1964
DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
DANCO – Domestic Abuse No Contact Orders
DAPA – Deferred Action for Parents of Americans
DREAM – Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors
ENDA – Employment Non-Discrimination Act
ERA – Equal Rights Amendment
FICA – Federal Insurance Contributions Act
FICO scores – Fair, Isaac, and Company scores (credit scores)
FISA – Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
FAA – Federal Aviation Administration
FVPSA – Family Violence Prevention and Services Act
FTC – Federal Trade Commission
ICFA – Iowa Consumer Fraud Act
ICRC – Iowa Civil Rights Commission
IPERS – Iowa Public Employees Retirement System
IRV – Instant Runoff Voting
LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
LGBTQQIA+ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex,
Asexual,
Arromantic, and others
NDAA – National Defense Authorization Act
53
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
NICS – National Instant Criminal Background Check System
NSA – National Security Administration
OCE – Office of Congressional Ethics
PII – Personally Identifiable Information
PMC – Private Military Company
RFMA – Respect for Marriage Act
RVRA – Restoring Voting Rights Act
SCIA – Stop Corporate Inversions Act
SLTF – Senior Living Trust Fund
SS – Social Security
SSN – Social Security number
STO – School Tuition Organization
TEA – Taxpayer Empowerment Agenda
TIF – Tax Incremented Financing
TVDL – Temporary Visitor's Driver's License
UAFA – Uniting American Families Act
USERRA – Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
USPS – United States Postal Service
VA – Department of Veterans' Affairs
VAWA – Violence Against Women Act
VOCA – Victims of Crime Act
VOW – Veterans Opportunity to Work
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
General Health
We support:
319. universal access to affordable healthcare
320. single payer health care system
321. ACA
322. Death with Dignity Act
323. rescheduling/expanding access to medical marijuana
324. subsidized non-emergency medical transportation
325. prevention/treatment of chronic/acute disease
326. stem-cell research
327. workforce wellness programs
328. telemedicine
329. longitudinal studies on GMO effects
330. FDA regulation of vitamins/supplements
331. publicizing medical procedure costs
332. person-centered/consumer-controlled care plans
333. comprehensive diversity training for healthcare providers
54
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
334. increased NIH funding
335. sufficient, quality community-based services/other needed services
336. caregiver respite services
337. community integrated employment
338. expanding Native American health services
339. CCO addressing implications of human trafficking
340. funding for research/treatment/prevention of the Zika virus
We oppose:
341. denial/substandard care due to personal/religious bias by
medical/pharmaceutical professionals
342. casino exemptions to SAA
343. prescription drug advertising
Mental Health and Addictions
We support:
344. mental health parity/availability/affordability
345. restoring/expanding MHIs
346. funding tobacco/substance-abuse treatment/programs
347. funding jail diversion programs
348. effective treatment length
349. mental health training/awareness for 911 responders
350. sufficient funding for CMHCs
351. suicide awareness/prevention programs
Children and Families
We support:
352. increasing inspections of childcare centers
353. fully funded services for:
a. child welfare systems
b. child and maternal health programs
c. programs that prevent child abuse/neglect
d. IME services to the annual CDRT
e. high quality, subsidized childcare
f. prenatal and early childhood programs
g. family support programs
h. youth homeless shelters
i. children's mental health system
354. mandatory NCARs
355. WIC expansion
356. background checks for childcare workers
357. gender-neutral guardianship policies
55
785
358. kinship-care/foster-care parity
786
359. funding for foster children through age 26
787
788 We oppose:
789
360. conversion therapy
790
361. non-medical exemptions to immunizations
791
362. surgical gender-assignments at birth
792
363. failure to medically/mentally treat children for religious reasons
793
794 Adults, Aging and Disability
795
796 We support:
797
364. rigorous, timely state inspection of:
798
a. SNF
799
b. ALF
800
c. MIMR facilities
801
365. healthcare staffing based on acuity/care-levels
802
366. protecting LGBTQ elders against discrimination
803
367. increased funding for independent living
804
368. increased funding for:
805
a. OAA/LTCOP
806
b. dementia research while expanding diagnosis/care
807
c. elder-abuse prevention
808
d. AAA
809
369. consumer representation on HHS review boards
810
370. strengthening ADA
811
812 Reproductive Rights
813
814 We support:
815
371. rights of women to make their own reproductive choices
816
372. Planned Parenthood funding
817
373. student access to barrier-based contraceptives in public-schools
818
374. Roe vs. Wade
819
375. contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, abortion access for minors without
820
parental notification with follow-up counseling
821
376. funding HIV/STD testing
822
823 We oppose:
824
377. interference limiting access to reproductive health facilities
825
378. prerequisite waiting periods for abortions
826
379. restricting access to medically necessary abortions
827
380. requiring physician-admitting privileges for abortion providers
828
56
829 Reimbursement and Coverage
830
831 We support:
832
381. sufficient long-term funding for Medicare/Medicaid
833
382. regulating healthcare/prescription drug costs
834
383. expanding Medicare/Medicaid to include LTC
835
384. increasing Medicare/Medicaid/ACA reimbursement to providers/states
836
385. re-importation of FDA approved drugs
837
386. Medicare/Medicaid negotiation for lower drug prices
838
387. Medicare/Medicaid coverage of prescribed hearing aids
839
388. protecting retirees' negotiated health insurance
840
389. permanent, enforceable oversight committee for MMCP
841
390. incontinence/feminine hygiene products as medically-necessary/tax-exempt
842
391. insurance coverage/parity for:
843
a. contraceptives/abortions
844
b. transgender-related healthcare
845
c. alternative/complementary medicine
846
d. compound/natural medications
847
392. COLA for Medicare, disability benefits
848
393. reimbursement rates for providers equal to UCR
849
394. affordable LTC insurance with no hospital stay requirements
850
395. establishing EMS as an essential service
851
396. caregiver tax credits
852
853 We oppose:
854
397. privatization of Medicare/Medicaid
855
398. reimbursements/discounts/kickbacks for PBCs
856
857 Housing and Homelessness
858
859 We support:
860
399. safe, decent affordable housing for all
861
400. expanding HUD to include Sec. 8, 42 programs
862
401. funding domestic violence shelters/relocation
863
402. family-friendly "wet" and "dry" shelters
864
403. mixed-income zoning
865
404. funding transitional programs
866
405. increase funding for job/life training
867
868 Veteran's Health
869
870 We support:
871
406. free healthcare for all Veterans
872
407. expedited VA services for health/disability treatment
57
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
408. additional VA outreach centers and mobile units
409. full entitlement of medical benefits to National Guard, Coast Guard,
Reservists, including activated/training injuries
410. expanding injured Veterans grant program
411. raising Veteran benefits, eliminating backlogs
412. medical care at VA and local facilities
413. official recognition for all Veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and other toxic
substances, regardless of recruitment date
414. covered care including:
a. mental health/family counseling
b. substance abuse
c. suicide prevention
d. non-traditional therapies
e. transportation to/from approved non-VA appointments including
discharge
f. prosthetics
ACRONYMS USED IN THIS SECTION
AAA – Area Agencies on Aging
ACA – Affordable Care Act
ALF – Assisted-Living Facilities
CCO – Comprehensive Care Option
CDRT – Child Death Review Team
CMHC – Community Mental Health Centers
COLA – Cost of Living Adjustment
EMS – Emergency Medical Services
FDA – Food and Drug Administration
GMO – Genetically Modified Organism
HHS – Health and Human Services
HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HUD – Housing and Urban Development
IME – Iowa Medical Examiners
LGBTQ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning/Queer
LTC – Long-Term Care
LTCOP – Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
MHI – Mental Health Institutions
MIMR – Mental Illness Mental Retardation
MMCP – Medicaid Managed Care Program
NCAR – National Child Abuse Registries
NIH – National Institutes of Health
OAA – Older Americans Act
PBC – Pharmacy Benefit Consultants
SAA – Smokefree Air Act
58
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
SNF – Skilled Nursing Facilities
STD – Sexually Transmitted Disease
UCR – Usual and Customary Rates
VA – Veterans Administration
WIC – Women, Infants, and Children
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Peace and Security
We support:
415. peaceful conflict resolution, normalized US diplomatic relations with all
countries, and multi-lateral solutions to international problems
416. closing Guantanamo Bay detention facilities
417. human rights and habeas corpus protection
418. federal court access for non-US detainees
419. promoting human dignity, resolving global poverty, protecting clean air and
water, improving education, and reducing hunger and disease
420. eliminating all WMDs
421. territorial integrity of all nations
422. cultural/educational exchange programs
423. taking an equitable, active role with US conflict partners in MENA conflict
424. maintaining present NATO security alliances
425. gender equality/empowerment of women
426. taking military action only with clear national defense goals, informed
Congressional consent and funding, and whenever possible, international
cooperation
427. ending violence against women, including genital mutilation/honor
killings/forced marriage/rape
428. prosecuting human traffickers, protecting victims
429. free/fair/open elections
430. strengthening cyber-security
431. stricter enforcement of FARA
432. repealing 2001 US AUMF
We oppose:
433. injustice, economic exploitation, human rights denial
434. persecution based on race/religion/sexual orientation/gender identity
435. US-sponsored regime changes, coups, juntas, unelected governments
436. use of weaponized drones without declaration of war [minority report to
replace with indiscriminate use of weaponized drones]
437. genocide
438. terrorism
59
959
439. imperialism
960 440. preemptive military action without an imminent attack on US soil 961
962 Iran
963
964
We support:
965
441. Iran Nuclear Agreement and diplomatic engagement
966
967 Israel/Palestine
968
969
We support:
970
442. equal human rights for Palestinians and Israelis
971
443. right of return/just compensation for displaced Palestinians
972
444. rights of BDS
973
445. escrowing aid to Israel until further settlements outside 1966 borders are
974
stopped and Israel recognizes Palestine at 1966 borders
975
446. Palestinian statehood/UN membership
976
977
We oppose:
978
447. Israel Separation Barrier, settlement activities, and moving the US Embassy to
979
Jerusalem prior to final resolution
980
981 Afghanistan/Iraq/Syria
982
983
We support:
984
448. reconstruction and refugee resettlement through international cooperation
985
449. resolving the Syrian conflict and providing humanitarian assistance
986
450. US acceptance of 100,000 Syrian refugees
987
451. regional cooperation to contain/resolve conflict with ISIL
988
989
We oppose:
990
452. military intervention
991
992 Ukraine
993
994
We support:
995
453. peaceful conflict resolution
996
997
We oppose:
998
454. Russian territorial annexation
999
1000 Central and South America and the Caribbean
1001
1002 We support:
60
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
455. normalized relations with Cuba
456. closing WHISC
457. investigating any US government involvement in 2009 Honduras
coup/subsequent activists' killings
Rainforests
We oppose:
458. clear-cutting
Africa
We support:
459. famine relief
460. funding economic/agricultural development
Asia
We support:
461. containing North Korea’s nuclear weapons diplomatically
462. peacefully resolving disputed Pacific islands
463. [minority report to add resolving human rights violations in North Korea]
Development Assistance
We support:
464. culturally sensitive/non-exploitative foreign aid and fair trade agreements
protecting human rights, public health, workers’ rights, the environment
465. ending dependence on non-renewable energy
466. unfettered access to voluntary reproductive health/family planning
467. local control of natural/agricultural resources
United Nations
We support:
468. US participation/full dues payment without preconditions
469. ATTCC
470. Meeting SDG
Treaties and Conventions
We support:
471. adding sexual orientation/gender identity to Human Rights agreements
472. ratification and/or full participation in:
61
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.
p.
q.
r.
s.
t.
u.
v.
UDHR
ICESCR
CEDAW
CRC
CTBT
BWC
Paris Agreement Under the UNFCCC
CWC
UNCRPD
UNCLOS
GFATM
START
RSICC
NPT
APMBC
ICRW
ICJ
HRC
US Action Plan on UNSCR 1325
CCM
OPCAT
ICPPED
ACRONYMS USED IN THIS SECTION
APMBC – Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention
ATTC – Arms Trade Transfer Code of Conduct
AUMF – Authorization for Use of Military Force
BDS – Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
BWC – Biological Weapons Convention/1925 Geneva Protocol
CCM – Convention on Cluster Munitions
CEDAW – Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
CRC – Convention on the Rights of the Child
CTBT – Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
CWC – Chemical Weapons Convention.
GFATM – Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
HRC – Human Rights Council
ICESCR – International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
ICJ – International Court of Justice
ICPPED – International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance.
ICRW – International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
ISIL – The Islamic State of Syria and the Levant
FARA – Foreign Agents Registration Act
MENA – Middle East and North Africa
NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization
62
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
NPT – Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
OPCAT – Optional Protocol to the Convention on Torture
RSICC – Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
SDG – Sustainable Development Goals
START – Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
UDHR – Universal Declaration of Human Rights
UNCLOS – United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
UNCRPD – United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
UNFCCC – 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNSCR 1325 – UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security
WHISC – Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation
WMD – Weapons of Mass Destruction
LABOR, ECONOMY AND COMMERCE
Labor, Wages, Worker's Rights, & Safety
We support
473. "Fair Share"
474. EFCA
475. reducing inequity between executive and worker compensation
476. improving unemployment insurance benefits
477. worker's right to choose providers for workplace injuries
478. reopening Iowa Workforce Offices
479. expanding Davis-Bacon to include all publicly funded projects
480. repeal "Right-to-work"
481. banning hiring replacement workers for laid-off/striking Union workers
482. "Equal Pay/Equal Work"
483. protecting public employees' rights by maintaining Chapter 20 in its current
form
484. paid family leave
485. workplace lactation rooms
486. union apprenticeship/membership
487. ENDA
488. Right of workers to strike while maintaining essential services
489. all employees eligible for employer benefits
490. OSHA/MSHA
491. expanding FMLA/covering all employees
492. public sector open scope-of-bargaining
493. EEOC Green Factors
494. expanding workers' rights
495. UPC
496. unemployment benefit eligibility for all education support professionals
including adjunct professors
63
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
497.
498.
499.
500.
501.
502.
503.
504.
constructing/maintaining power plants by union workers only
NLRB/IPERB
Temporary employees working 90 days becoming permanent employees
replacing minimum wage with "living wage" annualized to CPI
paying tipped workers minimum wage
criminal/civil penalties for violating labor contracts/arbitration agreements
SEIU efforts to organize fast food workers
the Paycheck Fairness Act
We oppose:
505. mandating overtime/limiting overtime pay
506. employment-at-will
507. employer, insurance screening based on personal credit, polygraph, genetic
information
508. job misclassification
509. employer wage theft
510. employer-issued debit cards
511. privatizing public-sector jobs
Pension & Insurance
We support:
512. actuarially fully funded IPERS/MFPRS for long-term financing
513. creating hybrid COLA to replace depleted FED in IPERS
514. public employees' statewide health insurance program
515. pension portability
516. protecting workers' pensions/healthcare benefits
517. maintaining door-to-door, six-day postal delivery
518. 2013 Postal Delivery Standards
We oppose:
519. privatizing "Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation" fund
Economic Development
We support:
520. public infrastructure spending
521. incentives creating/retaining/returning jobs to US
522. AERLP
523. increasing public transportation including rail
524. supporting/developing small businesses
525. investment in poverty-stricken areas
526. accountability for all public funds provided to/disbursed by corporations
64
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
We oppose:
527. American businesses shifting assets out of the country, reducing American
jobs
528. systematic use of no bid contracts
Budget & Taxation
We support:
529. more progressive tax structure, taxing all income as earned income
530. eliminating social security taxable wage cap
531. applying social security taxes to all forms of income
532. taxing high-frequency trading
533. taxing large employers whose employees are eligible for public assistance
534. annual DOD audits by CBO
535. increasing/expanding EIC
536. combined corporate reporting for tax purposes
We oppose:
537. "Corporate welfare"
538. tax breaks for companies outsourcing US jobs
539. off-shore tax shelters by US individuals, corporations, foreign subsidiaries
Commerce & Trade
We support:
540. equitable trade agreements assuring full transparency, protecting workers'
rights/environment
541. governmental entities purchasing US union-made products
542. US manufacturing military components
543. anti-trust restrictions on media consolidation
We oppose:
544. fast-tracking trade agreements
545. TPP/NAFTA/WTO
546. gender pricing
Business Regulation
We support:
547. regulating financial speculation
548. "Too-big-to-fail" legislation
549. 21st Century Glass-Steagall
Internet
65
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
We support:
550. Net Neutrality
551. internet designated a utility
552. online privacy rights
553. universal broadcast/broadband expansion/access
554. immediate notification of PII compromise
We oppose:
555. censoring internet
556. NSA bulk data collection
557. coercing telecommunication companies to release private data
558. social networking identification/password as condition of employment
559. cyberbullying
ACRONYMS USED IN THIS SECTION
AERLP – Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program
CBO – Congressional Budget Office
COLA – Cost of Living Adjustment
CPI – Consumer Price Index
DOD – Department of Defense
EEOC – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
EFCA – Employee Free Choice Act
EIC – Earned Income Credit
ENDA – Employment Non-Discrimination Act
FED – Favorable Experience Dividend
FMLA – Family Medical Leave Act
IPERB – Iowa Public Employment Relations Board
IPERS – Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System
MFPRS – Municipal Fire & Police Retirement System
MSHA – Mine Safety Health Administration
NAFTA – North American Free Agreement Trade
NLRB – National Labor Relations Board
OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PII – Personal Identifying Information
TPP – Trans-Pacific Partnership
UPC – Uniform Plumbing Code
WTO – World Trade Organization
66
Constitution of the Iowa Democratic Party
With Proposed Amendments
Preamble
None
Article I - Name and Membership
None
Article II - Precinct Caucuses
Amendment A:
Section 2: Add new paragraph b as noted and re-letter
the previous paragraph b to “c.”:
Rationale: The Caucus Review Committee will be making
recommendations once they have heard from Iowans across the state. One
outcome is likely to define some parameters of where caucuses should and
should not be held. That information should be captured and made available
for future use. The Standing Rules is the appropriate place to maintain the
lessons learned from one caucus to convention cycle to another. The IDP
Constitution should define where that information can be located.
Section 2 - In Even-Numbered Years: precinct caucuses shall be held each even-numbered year
upon a call issued by the State Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, which call shall be subject to
the approval of the State Central Committee of the Party.
The State Chair shall issue the call at least 90 days before the date of the precinct caucuses.
The call shall be issued to all County Central Committee officers and all major news media in
the state. The call shall also specify the dates and times for the County, District, and State
conventions. A precinct caucus shall be convened for each precinct within the state. In
presidential election years, County Central Committees shall arrange for the caucus sites
according to the following priority order:
a. Precinct caucuses shall be held at public meeting facilities or sites used for
public meetings located within the precinct boundaries where possible.
67
b. Additional requirements for locations, staffing, and training for precinct caucuses shall
be maintained in the Iowa Democratic Party Standing Rules.
. If no public meeting facility is available within the precinct boundaries, a public meeting
facility in an adjacent or nearby precinct may be used. In nonpresidential years, county
central committees may arrange for several precinct caucuses to meet at a common site. Each
precinct will conduct separate business at that site. Public meeting facilities shall be used
whenever possible.
Notification of each precinct caucus shall be as prescribed by law.
Amendment B:
Add underlined language to Section 3, paragraphs “c”,
“d”, and “e”.
Rationale: to clarify and inform. The practical effect of the deletion of the
stricken sentence is to bring this section into compliance with other
convention levels and to increase the number people who may participate.
Section 3 - Responsibilities: Those members of the Iowa Democratic Party in attendance
who are eligible to vote at a caucus, as provided by the Statutes of the State of Iowa shall:
…
c. Elect delegates and alternate delegates to represent the precinct
County
Convention. The number of delegates to be elected shall be determined based upon the size
of the County Convention and a formula of proportional representation outlined in the Iowa
Democratic Party Standing Rules. In presidential years, the election of delegates to County
Convention may be by Preference Group as outlined in the Iowa Delegate Selection Plan.
d. Discuss and may indicate priorities regarding such issues of national, state, and local
importance or interest as those in attendance may determine. Platform esolutions or issue
statements adopted by a precinct caucus shall be forwarded to the County Platform Committee
in the manner and as directed in the packet of information provided by the Party.
e. Elect by majority vote
members and alternate members of the Platform Committee and the Committee on
Committees for such County Convention – to represent and cast the votes to which the precinct
is entitled on those committees and their subcommittees. Alternate members of the convention
Committees may only replace an elected member from the same precinct who is unable to
fulfill their responsibilities.
68
Amendment C:
Add the underlined words in Section 4, paragraphs
“a” and “b”.
Rationale: Improve clarity.
Section 4 - Meetings in Odd-Numbered Years: Meetings shall be held upon the call of the
State Chair with the approval of the State Central Committee; in the first quarter of oddnumbered years, within precincts and/or jointly in centralized convenient locations within
counties, and by vote of those members of the Iowa Democratic Party in attendance, shall:
a. Discuss and may indicate priorities regarding platform resolutions on such issues of
national, state, and local importance or interest as those in attendance may determine; and
forward such resolutions to the County and State Platform Committees for such action as
their members may wish to take.
b. Nominate a committeeperson if a vacancy has occurred in that post between the election
year caucus and the off-year county central committee meeting. The committeeperson
nominated at the off-year meeting shall stand for election by the County Central Committee,
and if elected, serve until the completion of the term of the predecessor.
Article III – County Central Committees and Conventions
Amendment D:
Add the underlined words and delete the words with
lines drawn through them in Article III, Section 1.
Rationale: Correct an error that was created when a previous amendment
moved the biennial organizational meeting to the odd years and to improve
clarity. The additional language in the last paragraph of Section 1 is to
resolve a frequently asked question about how to fill vacancies on their
county central committees.
Section 1 - County Central Committees - Structure: The County Central Committee
shall composed of committeepersons elected at the precinct caucuses.
Members term of office shall begin immediately
following the Call to Order of the next County Central Committee meeting
69
and shall continue for two years until the successor is
elected and qualified; unless he or she is sooner removed by the County Central
Committee for non-residency, inattention to duty, incompetence, or support of a
candidate for public office who is running against a candidate nominated by the
Iowa Democratic Party.
The biennial organizational County Central Committee meeting shall take place in the
odd numbered years at a time set by the County Central Committee between March 1
and April 1. Members of the County Central Committee assembled shall forthwith elect
a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as they may
deem necessary. Such officers need not be selected from the County Central Committee
membership; however, they shall be qualified voting members of the Iowa Democratic
Party. The term of office for each officer shall begin immediately upon election by the
County Central Committee, and shall continue for two years, and until the successor is
elected and qualified; unless he or she is sooner removed by the County Central
Committee for non-residency, inattention to duty, incompetence, or support of a
candidate for public office who is running against a candidate nominated by the Iowa
Democratic Party.
…
If no alternate precinct committeepersons are elected at the precinct caucuses, the
vacancy shall be filled as soon as possible from a pool of Democrats nominated by one
or more members of the central committee by majority vote of County Central
Committee members attending any official committee meeting provided that due notice
of such election was previously given.
…
Amendment E:
Add the underlined words and delete the
words with lines drawn through them in
Section 2 of Article III.
Rationale: Reduce duplication and provide clarity. ALL meetings
require notice.
Section 2 - County Central Committees - Meetings: County Central Committees shall
meet at least once every three (3) months. The Committee may, by majority vote of
those committee members attending any official committee meeting, direct the Chair
to call regular meetings at times and places selected by the Committee. The Chair shall
70
cause notice of all meetings to be mailed (postal or electronic) to each member and
officer of the Committee at least seven (7) days before the date set for each meeting.
Upon receiving a petition signed by twenty-five (25) percent of the members of the
County Central Committee, the Chair shall call a special meeting, which must be
held within twelve (12) days of the receipt of such petition.
Amendment E:
Add and remove language as specified in Article III,
Section 3, paragraphs “a” and “b” to improve clarity.
Rationale: the language indicated a false timeline of electing a
state delegate that was also a district delegate. The amendment
puts the conventions in the proper order and further defines what
is meant by
“resolutions” in paragraph b.
Section 3 - Conventions/Responsibilities: County Conventions by vote of
the accredited delegates shall:
a. Elect delegates and alternate delegates to the Congressional
Convention. Such delegates and alternate delegates so elected shall also represent the
county at the Convention. No delegates to District or State Conventions shall
represent less than one vote.
b. Approve, adopt, and may indicate priorities regarding county platform resolutions.
Article IV - Legislative District Organization
None
Article V - Congressional District Committees and
Conventions
Amendment F:
71
Add the underlined and strike the words with lines through them
in the printed Sections of Article V.
Rationale: Improve clarity, fix nonsense and duplicative sentences, and
to remove the barrier of being elected as a delegate or alternate to serve
on a State Convention Committee. Remove the specification of 75% in
Section 5 that is already specified in the Delegate Selection Plan and
may create a dilemma in the future should the DSP change.
Section1 - Congressional District Central Committees:
a. Congressional District Central Committees shall exist. The membership shall
consist of the District Committeepersons on the State Central Committee, and one
person for each full 5,000 votes cast for the Democratic candidate for Congress in the
last two General Elections. Each county shall have at least three members.
b. One member shall be the County Chair or the Chair's designee. Others shall be
elected by the County Central Committee at their first regular meeting following their
biennial organizational meeting specified in Article III, Section 1.
c. The Chair of the District Central Committee shall be elected by the District Central
Committee from among the District Committeepersons on the State Central
Committee. The primary purpose of the District Central Committee shall be the
election of a Democratic member of Congress.
The District Central Committee shall also be responsible for assisting the election
of legislators from districts which cross county lines.
d. Each County may elect alternates to the district committee to serve as substitutes at
District Central Committee meetings if the elected committee person is unable to
attend. The number of alternates should not exceed twice the number of apportioned
county representatives to the district committee. It is the responsibility of the county
chair and the elected representative to notify an alternate if they are to be a substitute
for them at a given meeting.
e. The District Central Committee shall hold a minimum of one meeting every three
months. A report of the financial status and programs of the State Central
Committee as well as the financial status of the district shall be presented.
f. The District Central Committee shall conduct a district workshop in oddnumbered years which shall be open to all active Democrats. This workshop
may be one of the required meetings.
The Chair of the District Central Committee shall propose programs of
activities for the Committee.
g.
72
Section 2 - Conventions, Call and Apportionment: Congressional District Conventions,
composed of delegates elected at County Conventions to represent their respective
counties at such District Conventions, shall be held each even-numbered year within
the Congressional Districts. The State Chair shall, subject to the approval of the State
Central Committee, issue a call for such conventions in the same manner and at the
same time that the call for precinct caucuses is issued. The number of votes to which
each county shall be entitled in such conventions shall be the same as for the State
Convention as based upon the weighting required by Article VIII, Section 7.
Section 3 - Conventions, Responsibilities: District Conventions, by vote of
their accredited delegates present, shall:
a. Elect eight district committeepersons, by majority vote, four of whom shall be men
and four of whom shall be women, who shall represent such district on the State Central
Committee of the Democratic Party of Iowa, and whose terms of office shall commence
immediately following the next State Convention, and shall continue for two years, and
until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
b. Elect
members and alternates of all committees for such Convention, to
represent and cast the votes to which such District is entitled on such committees. At
least fifteen (15) days prior to the District Convention each of the Convention
Committees shall nominate individuals to serve on the corresponding committees of the
State Convention. At the District Convention further nominations may be accepted.
Elected alternates to State Convention Committees may only replace an elected
convention committee member from their own district.
d.
Section 5 - National Convention Delegates' Election: In each Presidential election
year, District Conventions shall elect their District's proportionate share of Iowa's
delegates and alternate delegates to the National Democratic Presidential Convention.
Amendment G:
INTENT: To remove apparent conflict between the text of Article V, Section 1 Congressional District Central Committees and the spirit of Article XV, Section 2 - Scope
73
of Bylaws, and to bring the pool of candidates eligible for District Chair into line with
the pool eligible for County Chair and State Chair.
AMENDMENTS PROPOSED:
1) Amend Article V, Section 1, Subsection c. to read:
"Members of the District Central Committee assembled shall elect a Chair, a ViceChair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as they may deem necessary,
at their first meeting following each District Convention. Such officers need not be
selected from District Central Committee membership; however, they must be
eligible members of the Iowa Democratic Party and reside in the relevant District."
2) Move the existing final sentence of Article V, Section 1, Subsection c., reading
as below, to be included in Article V, Section 1, Subsection a.:
"The primary purpose of the District Central Committee shall be the election of a
Democratic member of Congress. The District Central Committee shall also be
responsible for assisting the election of legislators from district which cross
county lines."
3) Amend Article VI, Section 2 - State Central Committee Structure, by adding
the words
indicated in italics: The State Central Committee shall be composed as follows:
The District
Committeepersons and District Chair from each congressional District…”.
Article VI - State Central Committee and Convention
Amendment H:
Strike the list of caucus groups in Section 2. Add to the list of
Constituency Caucus groups as noted in the second (unnumbered)
paragraph of Section 2.
Add the underlined wording in the last half of the
unnumbered paragraph of Section 2.
Rationale: to clarify the structure of the State Central
Committee and defines the caucuses as “Constituency
Caucuses” improving clarity of purpose.
74
Rationale: These additional groups were provisionally approved by
the State Central Committee. The additional groups conform to
longstanding similar groups of the Democratic National Committee.
Rationale: specifies a choice of when and where the Constituency
Caucuses may elect their representation and provides a
mechanism for filling a vacancy
Section 1 - State Central Committee Authority: The State Central Committee of the
Iowa Democratic Party shall be the governing body of the Party when the State
Convention is in adjournment; however, such actions by the State Central
Committee shall be in accord with the expressed policies of the State Convention
and the provisions of this Constitution.
Section 2 - State Central Committee Structure: The State Central Committee shall be
composed as follows: The District Committeepersons from each Congressional District,
the National Committeepersons, the Chair of the State Affirmative Action Committee, the
President of the Iowa Young Democrats, State Rules Chair, State Platform Chair, and
chairs
The Constituency Caucuses, including the Black, Latino,
Asian &
Pacific Islander, Disability, Stonewall, American Indian, Women, Senior/Retirees,
Labor, Rural, Progressive and Armed Forces
caucuses. Membership of these
constituencies caucuses shall consist of all of each
Amendment I:
INTENT: To preserve the number and promote the diversity of voices on the
State Central Committee: AMENDMENTS PROPOSED:
75
1) Change the last sentence of Article VI, Section 2, Paragraph 1 - State Central
Committee Structure, to read as follows (change in word order and additional
language indicated in italics): The Caucus Vice-Chair shall vote only in the absence of
the Caucus Chair, or if the Caucus Chair is already voting in another capacity.
2) Insert the following text as Article VI, Section 2, Paragraph 2:
"If any person holding one of the positions listed above (in Article VI, Section 2
Paragraph 1) is subsequently elected to any of the caucus or committee leadership
positions listed there, the body electing him/her to that additional position shall also
elect a second person to represent that body on the State Central Committee and cast
its vote there until such time as the leader in question resigns, or no longer holds any
other position listed in Article VI, Section 2, Paragraph 1. In the case of the
constituency caucuses, the voting role would automatically be filled by the Caucus
Vice-Chair, unless s/he also already holds a seat on the State Central Committee."
Amendment J:
Add the underlined language in Article VI Sections
2 and 3.
Rationale: Clarification and recognizes that the term of office of
the Constituency Caucus Chairs and Vice Chairs may not coincide
with the State Democratic Convention held in the even years.
Election of officers: The State Central Committee shall meet and organize no later than
thirty (30) days following the adjournment of the State Convention. Members of the
state Central Committee shall elect a Chair, Vice-Chair, a Secretary, and a Treasurer
and such other officers that they may deem necessary within ninety (90) days following
the general election. Such officers need not be members of the State Central Committee
however, they must be eligible members of the Iowa Democratic Party. The term of
office of each officer shall be for two years and until his or her successor is elected and
qualified.
Meetings of Committee: The State Central Committee shall meet at least once every three
(3) months. Meetings of the Committee may be called by the Chair as deemed necessary.
Regular meetings at stated times and places may be scheduled by a majority vote of the
Committee in attendance at an official meeting. A special meeting of the Committee may be
called by any ten (10) members of the Committee, provided they cause to be mailed (postal
or electronic) to all other members and officers of the State Central Committee a
76
signed petition designating the time and place proposed for such meeting, which shall be held
no less than five (5) days after the mailing of the petition. The State Chair shall cause five (5)
days notice by mail or three (3) days notice by electronic mail or telephone, to be given to
each member and officer of the Committee for all other meetings, regular or special.
Quorum: The State Central Committee shall conduct no business in the absence of a quorum,
which shall consist of a simple majority of the voting members.
Elected and Party Leaders: The Democratic floor leader in the House of
Representatives and Senate of the Iowa General Assembly, and the Democrats holding
offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House, the elected
representative of the Democratic County Elected Officials Organization, and the elected
representative of the Association of Democratic County Executives shall be extended
an invitation and may attend all meetings regular or special of the State Central
Committee in ex-officio, nonvoting status.
Section 3 - Members' Terms and Vacancies: The term of office of a member of the State
Central Committee shall begin immediately following the adjournment of the State
Convention and shall continue for two years and until his or her successor is elected and
qualified, with the exception of the Constituency Caucus Chairs and Vice Chairs elected
during the Constituency Caucus Convention whose term of office shall begin upon their
election and continue until their successor is elected When there is a vacancy on the State
Central Committee which has occurred other than at the expiration of a regular term, a
new member shall be elected by a majority of votes cast by the County Chairs and
County Vice-Chairs of the Congressional District in which the vacancy occurs. These
County Central Committee officers shall cast the number of votes allotted to their
respective counties in the last previous State Convention. If a Chair and Vice-Chair from
the same county cannot agree on a candidate, each shall be allowed to cast one-half of the
number of votes to which their county is entitled for the candidate of his or her choice.
Amendment K:
Add the underlined language in the last sentence of Section 6 of
Article VI.
Rationale: Brings the language into conformance with the SCC
ByLaws and reflects current practice.
Section 6 - Treasurer: The Treasurer, in concert with the State Central Committee, shall
determine who shall have custody of the funds for the Party which shall be under the control of
the State Central Committee. He or she shall cause written accounts of receipts and
disbursements to be prepared prior to each regular meeting of the State Central Committee.
These written accounts shall be a record of all receipts and disbursements subsequent to the
77
last previous report and shall be presented to the members of the State Central Committee at
each regular meeting. He or she shall also make a report of total receipts and disbursements
subsequent to the last previous State Convention, to each State Convention. Bonds and
Audit: The Treasurer, and any other officer or employee who may be responsible for the
handling of the State Central Committee funds shall be under bond, the amount to be
determined by the State Central Committee. The State Central Committee shall cause an
audit of all financial records and transactions of the State Central Committee accounts to be
made by a certified public accountant at least once in each calendar year, and at such
other times as may be directed by the State Central Committee. A copy of the findings
of each audit shall be sent to each member and officer of the State Central Committee
upon completion.
Amendment L:
Remove the words with lines through them and add the
underlined words in Article VI, Section 9, subparagraphs
c.1 and c.2.
Rationale: This is a companion to a previous amendment
recognizing that the split between the percentage of national
delegates elected at any given level is set by the Delegate Selection
Plan and clarifies what is required to win an election to one of
those seats.
Section 9 - State Convention Responsibilities: The State Convention by vote of
its accredited delegates present, shall:
a. Approve, adopt, and may indicate priorities with respect to a party platform.
b. Determine all other matters of party concern.
c. In each year, when the election of the office of President of the United States is to be
held, the State Convention shall:
1) Elect the remainder of the delegates and alternate delegates to the National
Democratic Convention not elected at the District Conventions and,
2) Elect the National Committeepersons by majority vote of the delegates present and
voting at the state convention.
78
Article VII - Restrictions on Delegates Prohibited
No Amendment
Article VIII - Delegate and Committee Selection Procedure
Amendment M:
Remove the sentence with the line through it in Article VIII, Section 3
and Section 4 and make the two grammatical corrections in Section 4.
Rationale: The sentence in Section 3 is unnecessary. No one is required to be
present to be accredited. The process of accreditation is what the Credentials
Committee does when preparing the lists of delegates and/or alternates that
certifies that they are eligible to be seated. The removal of the sentence in Section
4 is the first step in simplifying the process to run for National Delegate and will
not actually change the process until there is a similar change in the Delegate
Selection Plan, but making the change allows a future change in the Delegate
Selection Plan to be made. Having a single, day-of-convention rule for turning in
paperwork makes it less likely that a mistake will occur and prevent someone
from being able to run for National Delegate.
Section 3 - Naming Own Replacement: In case a delegate may be temporarily or
permanently absent from the proceedings of any convention, the delegate may choose
a temporary or permanent replacement from among the alternates of the delegate's
preference group. If the delegate refuses or is unable to select a replacement, the
delegation shall choose one of the alternates from the same preference group to replace
that delegate.
Section 4 - National Convention Delegates: Candidates for the position of delegate or
alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention shall be required to submit
a petition which is to be filed with the
Chair of the Rules and Nominations Committee at the Convention by the time
stated in the published rules. Each petition shall include a signed statement of support
for a Democratic Candidate for President and also be signed by one percent of the
delegates to the convention. Each presidential candidate’s state or district representative,
as appropriate, shall have an opportunity to approve or disapprove the inclusion of each
National Delegate candidate in a process outlined in the Delegate Selection Plan. A valid
petition for the national delegate position shall be considered a valid petition for the
national alternate delegate position.
79
Article IX - Affirmative Action Committees
Amendment N:
Add new Section 3 to Article IX.
Rationale: Codifies the creation and continuation of the new
Constituency Caucus Convention in the odd years and adds an OPTION
for holding officer elections at a different time than the morning of the
even-year State Democratic Conventions which may allow and encourage
more participation.
Section 3 – A Constituency Caucus Convention shall take place each oddnumbered year to afford the Constituency Caucus groups an opportunity
for networking with the State Affirmative Action Committee and amongst
the groups. The election of the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the
Constituency Caucuses MAY take place during this convention rather
than the state convention in the even-numbered years.
Article X - Credentials Challenges
No Amendments
Article XI - Minority Reports
No Amendments
Article XII - General Provisions
Amendment O:
Remove reference to the IDP Bylaws and insert the appropriate
reference to the Standing Rules in Article XII, Section 9.
Replace “14” with “7” in Section 9, paragraph a.
Replace “7” with “3’ in Section 9, paragraph d.
Rationale: The IDP Bylaws were officially replaced with Standing Rules by
a vote of the State Central Committee and this Amendment brings the
Constitution into alignment with that change.
80
Rationale: Printing the booklet and mailing it required seven (7) days’ notice,
but posting the booklet online and sending a letter required fourteen (14) days’
notice. The Amendment requires the same amount of notice regardless of
method used to communicate with delegates before each convention.
Rationale: Brings the time requirement to provide individual
delegates with a paper copy into line with the mailing deadlines.
Section 8 - Accessibility: Where possible and giving priority to all Democratic
polling places, caucus sites, district convention sites, state convention sites, and
meeting sites are to be totally accessible to the handicapped.
Section 9 - All County, District, and State Convention organizing committees duly
elected under the applicable provisions of the Code of Iowa, this Constitution and
Rules shall publish a booklet containing the reports
of the Arrangements, Rules and Nominations, Credentials, and Platform committees, and
such other information as may be deemed necessary for the operation of the convention.
The Arrangements committee shall cause this booklet to be physically distributed as a
paper booklet or distributed in electronic format no later than seven (7) days prior to the
start of the convention. The Arrangements committee shall have the option of publishing
the booklet in electronic format under the following conditions:
a. A separate paper credential document, which shall include an alternate designation form
and instructions for obtaining a paper version of the booklet, must be mailed to each duly
elected delegate to the convention. This credential will be mailed no later than
seven
) days prior to the start of the convention.
d. All convention committees publishing electronic booklets must provide paper copies
to any delegate on request no later than three 3) days prior to the start of the
convention. The credential document shall include instructions informing delegates
how to obtain a paper copy of the booklet and the responsible party to contact to get a
paper booklet.
Amendment P:
INTENT: To ensure members of the Disability Community are
in fact allowed to participate fully in all Iowa Democratic Party
activities; to promote outreach and encourage more diversity;
and to ensure that the intent and purpose of the following are
respected and accomplished:
81
● The Preamble to the Iowa Democratic Party Constitution,
● Article I - Name and Membership, Sections 2 and 4 Eligibility to Participate and Members
● Article II - Precinct Caucuses, Section 3 - Responsibilities;
● Article III - County Central Committee and Conventions;
● Article V - Congressional District Committees
and Conventions;
● Article VI - State Central Committee and Convention;
● Article VII - Restriction on Delegates Prohibited, Section 3Restrictions;
● Article VIII - Delegate and Committee Section Procedure,
Section 1- Proportional Representation; and ● Article IXAffirmative Action Committees;
Background: When voting or other activity such as a meeting or
convention is held in a location which was not initially designed for those
purposes, such as School Auditoriums, the effect is that People with
Disabilities are segregated and as a result are not able to fully participate
in voting and other activities of Caucuses, Committees, and Conventions.
Additionally, when input on accessibility is not openly requested and/or
encouraged and a mechanism to receive requests for accommodations is
not made available, it negatively impacts all of us.
AMENDMENT PROPOSED:
1) Amend Article XII - General Provisions, Section 8
- Accessibility, to read as follows:
(words or letters to be removed from existing language are
struck through, those to be added are italicized for reading
purposes only):
In accordance with the guiding principles of the Iowa Democratic
Constitution, at no time shall it be acceptable to prevent the
participation or abridge the rights of an otherwise qualified
participant in Democratic Party activities. Where possible and
82
All Democratic polling places, Precinct Caucus
locations,
County, District, and State Convention sites (including
Convention Committee and Constituency Caucus sites) and all
Central Committee and their Constituency Caucus Meetings at all
levels are to be totally accessible to
People with
Disabilities for the purposes of the type of activity to be
conducted at each site.
Additionally, it shall be the responsibility of the Temporary/Permanent
Chair of any event to ensure that there is a timely and appropriate
opportunity for those who have a need for an accommodation to
request such, and barring an extraordinary burden on the Iowa
Democratic Party, such accommodation be made. It will be acceptable
and encouraged for coordinators of any activity to anticipate requests
for accommodation, whether received or not, and to act proactively. At
no time will the members of the majority require a minimum number of
people to make the same request.
Amendment Q:
Proposed Amendment to IDP Constitution—
“Priority Platform Planks”
Add this paragraph to follow at the end of Article XII
Section 6 Subsection A.
d. The State Convention shall identify twelve (12) platform
planks as Priority Platform Planks, which shall thenceforth
be listed separately at the beginning of the planks of the
final platform as “Priority Platform Planks.” Elected
Democratic officials and Democratic candidates for office
who, in their official capacity, do not support, promote,
advocate for, and vote for enactment of all Priority Planks
shall be sanctioned by the Iowa Democratic Party, and shall
thenceforth not receive any resources or support from the
Iowa Democratic Party for elections, campaigns, and
communications until such time as they support, promote,
83
advocate for, and vote for enactment of all Priority
Platform Planks.
Article XIII - Affiliated Organizations
No Amendments
Article XIV - Amendments
No Amendments
Amendment R:
Remove Article XV.
Rationale: Brings the IDP Constitution into conformance with
other documents. The State Central Committee voted to replace the
document previously titled, “IDP Bylaws” with one titled, “Standing
Rules”. The new Standing Rules provides a mechanism for capturing
best practices from one caucus-to-convention cycle to the next,
preventing the need to “reinvent” those processes every two years,
and providing guidance during the non-presidential cycles when
there is no effective Delegate Selection Plan.
84
convention subcommittees, convention caucuses, central committees, and central
committee subcommittees to elect their own leadership and representatives - but they
may specify procedural rules, committee roles, and leadership roles to be observed
by those groups within the party
85
Resolution: All Delegates Are To Be Pledged Delegates
Whereas, democratically-elected representation that is freely chosen by,
responsive to, and accountable to the majority will is the very essence of what
the Iowa Democratic Party stands for, and;
Whereas, the Caucus-to-Convention Delegate Selection Process is throughout
dedicated to the democratic election of delegates by preference groups, according
to their proportionate size, except for the one notable, glaringly undemocratic
exception of the selection of unpledged delegates according to position, history,
or status, and;
Whereas, the top-down imposition of unpledged delegates to the National
Convention according to party position, history, or status, rather than their
democratic election by the Iowa Democratic Party that such delegates purport
to represent, is fundamentally undemocratic and opposed to the most sacred
tenets of the Iowa Democratic Party, and;
Whereas, the very existence of such unaccountable, unpledged delegates
compromises the integrity of the nomination process, and of the Democratic Party
itself, through making the undue influence of money, support, and favors, in
return for support and votes, whether in fact or in appearance, whether direct or
indirect, and whether immediate or promised in the future, easy to commit, and
difficult to detect, and;
Whereas, as declared in the Constitution of the Iowa Democratic Party, Article
VI, Section 7: “The State Convention is the supreme governing body of the Iowa
Democratic Party,” this 2016 State Convention of the Iowa Democratic Party has
the power and the responsibility to determine its own representatives to the
National Convention of The Democratic Party,
Therefore, Be It Resolved, That:
1. It is the will of this 2016 State Convention of the Iowa Democratic Party that the
Constitution of the Iowa Democratic Party, Article VIII Section 4, be amended to
include the following: “All National Delegates shall be pledged delegates, elected by
preference group at the District and State Conventions,” and;
2. It is the will of this 2016 State Convention of the Iowa Democratic Party that
all Democratic National Committee members seek to have this amendment,
and all changes needed to effect this amendment, made in the Charter and ByLaws of The Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee, and to
the Delegate Selection Plan.
86
2016 Iowa Democratic Party State Convention
Request to Amend or Debate the Platform
PLEASE PRINT
A.
As noted in Section IV of the Rules Report, the Statement of Principles shall be voted on
as a whole and the Statement of Issues shall be voted on by subcommittee section unless
fifty (50) delegates sign a petition to reserve a paragraph of the Statement of Principles
or a specific issue of the Statement of Issues for separate debate and vote. Petitions for
separate debate and vote shall be submitted to the Convention Secretary by 10:00 AM
the day of the convention.
B.
Amendments to either the Statement of Principles or Statement of Issues must be in
writing, legible and accompanied by a petition in support thereof, signed by fifty (50) of
the seated delegates to the convention, and submitted to the Secretary of the Convention by
10:00 AM the day of the convention.
I wish to amend the Statement of Principles or Statement of Issues of the State Platform at
line number ______ to read as follows OR I wish to add a plank to the Statement of Issues as
follows:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
OR
I wish to reserve the paragraph of the Statement of Principles or the specific Issue in the
Statement of Issues of the State Platform as noted at line number __________ for debate
by the convention.
Respectfully submitted by ______________________________, delegate number __________.
Printed Name: ________________________________________________________________
Printed Address: ______________________________________________________________
Printed Email Address: _________________________________________________________
Signatures and delegate numbers on reverse are required
87
2016 Iowa Democratic Party State Convention
50 Signatures of seated delegates to the 2016 State Convention Required
Del #
Signature
Del #
Signature
88
89
90
.
91
SOM BACCAM FOR DELEGATE
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
The story of my journey to America.
As far back as I can remember, I had dreams of coming to America. Little did I
know at that time my dream of becoming an American immigrant would begin as
that of a refugee.
In May of 1975 as the war in southeast Asia exploded beyond the borders of
Vietnam into my homeland of Laos. I was an 11-year-old Tai Dam girl forced to
leave behind my home in Laos to pursue the dream of survival. My journey
began with my family on the Mekong River in Laos to a refugee camp in a
Buddhist Temple in Thailand and ended in Story City, Iowa in October of 1975.
I have been in America for over 40 years now. I did most of my growing up here
but still remember and cherish the culture and traditions of my ethnic Tai Dam. I
am living the American dream! The road to success is not easy to navigate, but
with hard work, drive and passion, it’s possible to achieve the American dream.
Som Baccam RN
Polk County Hospital Board of Trustees – Member
I came to this great state of Iowa as a refugee on October 27, 1975. I’ve overcome many obstacles in my life by
getting right to the point and confronting challenges head on -- even if this means going against the grain. I am
empowered by expectation and duty as a citizen and my virtue is the commitment to serve and advocate justice for
all people.
!
Caucus Precinct Captain for John Kerry, Barack Obama & Hillary Clinton.
!
Elected to the Iowa Democratic Party State Central Committee 2003-2006.
!
Elected National Delegate for Democratic National Convention in 2004.
∀
∀
∀
∀
∀
∀
∀
∀
Dawn’s List Local Elected Official Award Recipient 2015
Elected to Polk County Hospital Board of Trustees 2014- present.
Board of Directors for Iowa Asian Alliance 2010-2013.
President of Tai Village Inc. 2008-2015.
Appointed by Mayor Frank Cownie as a Commissioner for Des Moines Human Rights 2006-2013.
Recipient of Iowa Council for International Understanding Passport to Prosperity
Honoree in 2003.
Elected to Des Moines Public School Board 2002-2005.
Received Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award in 2001.
Vote SOM BACCAM for National Delegate
92
Veronica Lack for Hillary Clinton Delegate
to Democratic National Convention
As a Delegate I will support:
 Strict enforcement of Clean
Water Act with RUSLE III
 Equal Civil Rights and Equal
Justice under our Laws
 Strict enforcement of drainage
laws/to protect Iowans Water
 Public Access to IDNR well test
data - especially contaminates



Veronica Lack

 
 

Retired Iowa Farmer
UNI Graduate
Twice Delegate to Democratic County, District & State Conventions
Union Member of: National Farmers Union, United Cement, Lime
& Gypsum Workers Union and Boilermakers Union AFL-CIO
Promoting: NRCS-RUSLE III evaluations done for Iowa DNR permits for
the application of CAFO and Anhydrous Ammonia Nitrogen (both very
water soluble) fertilizers, including extended criteria for:
1. Use of only Legal tile and surface drainage outlets on farms
2. Buffer distances for application from sinkholes, swales, ponds, lakes,
farm-through waterways, intermittent streams, and rivers
3. Minimum soil depth above tile draining land and farm chemicals
4. NHEL soils
District 3 – Dallas County – 319-430-3957 – [email protected]
93
Barbara Stanislav
~Candidate~
National Delegate
Please consider me to proudly represent Iowa as a National Delegate at the National
Convention in Philadelphia. I would take great honor in representing the Iowa
Democratic Party to nominate Hillary Clinton as the next President of the United States
of America. I ask for your
~Vote~ to be one of OUR State’s representative’s as an Iowa Democratic Delegate at
the National Convention in Philadelphia.
Please VOTE for BARBARA STANISLAV
to represent
Iowa at
the National Convention.
Thank you very much!
Barbara
LINN County~ Preference Group: Persons with Disabilities
Former ESL Teacher Abroad, Studied and Worked Abroad, Experience in
Media, Non-Profit Work/Organizations, Public Policy and ManagementMPA Degree, Experience and background in Small Business and Corporate
positions. Lifelong Democrat that is passionate about Women’s Issues,
Healthcare and the Concerns of Persons with Disabilities.
94
Dennis Cole for
Presidential Elector









Lifelong rural iowan
Committed democrat
Former page county chair
Father of two
Spouse of a gov’t teacher
According to FairVote.org, since the founding of the
Electoral College, there have been 157 “faithless
electors”, most recently in 2004. A faithless elector is
a member of the
Electoral College that does not vote for their party’s
designated candidate. I am running to ensure this
does not happen in Iowa in 2016. I will vote for the
Democratic nominee without fail. This election is
too important to take chances on.
Vote Dennis Cole for Presidential Elector!
95
VOTE TO RE-ELECT
PAULA A. MARTINEZ,
CHAIR 515-669-6812
AND
ARECELI GOODE, VICECHAIR 515-689-4956
FOR
THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC LATINO CAUCUS
SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2016
8:30 A.M. ~ Room 105
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK
Latino Caucus: facebook.com/groups/IowaDemsLatinoCaucus
96
97