Resolution in Support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
Approved unanimously at the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee meeting on November 11, 2009
Whereas qualified, hardworking Americans are denied job opportunities, fired, or otherwise discriminated against just because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT), and
Whereas there is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination, and
Whereas it remains legal in 29 states to discriminate based on sexual orientation, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression.
Whereas as a result, LGBT people face serious discrimination in employment, including being fired, being denied a promotion and experiencing harassment on the job, and
Whereas the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would provide basic protections against workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, and
Whereas all basic civil and human rights should be available, without question, to every American citizen, and
Whereas it is long past time for LGBT citizens to share in the full rights and responsibilities inherent in American citizenship,
Therefore let is be resolved that the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee urge members and fellow citizens to promote the passage of the “Employment Non-Discrimination Act” by communicating with elected officials, and
Therefore let is be further resolved that the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee urge elected federal officials to cosponsor and further the passage into law the provisions of “Employment Non-Discrimination Act” contained in HR 3017 and S 1584.
Resolution LGBT Rights Resolution
Approved unanimously by the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee on November 11, 2009
Our nation is in crisis.
Whereas American citizens of the Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender (LGBT) community continue to face inequity and discrimination, and
Whereas establishment of piecemeal equality, granting basic civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens via disparate municipal, county, state, and federal laws result in unequal protection, and
Whereas in all but five states LGBT citizens are denied the right to marry the person of their choice, and
Whereas LGBT citizens are denied the right to openly serve their country in the military even when their exclusion damages the mission, and
Whereas LGBT in too many jurisdictions, have no protection against discrimination in the matters of housing, employment, and public accommodation, and
Whereas LGBT citizens are denied in Florida the right to adopt children though they are able to serve as outstanding foster parents, and
Whereas LGBT citizens are denied the right to sponsor a partner for legal entry in to the country under existing immigration laws and regulations, and
Whereas all of basic civil and human rights should be available, without question, to every American citizen,
Therefore let it be resolved that the ACDEC request members of the Florida Congressional delegation cosponsor and that the ACDEC support all pending federal legislation that would guarantee LGBT citizens full rights, responsibilities, and privileges inherent in American citizenship.
Resolution Supporting Single-Payer Health Care
On Wednesday, October 14, 2009, the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee passed the following resolution:
Our nation is in crisis.
People everywhere are experiencing the effects of economic dislocation and insecurity. The absence of a universal, comprehensive, single-payer health care system is a major contributor to this desperate situation for too many Americans. The Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee (ACDEC) has a special responsibility to aggressively address the social injustice of a broken health care system and lead the attack on the institutional causes of its perpetuation. Health care is a right, not a privilege.
Whereas the U.S. health care system continues to treat health care as a commodity distributed according to ability to pay, rather than as a human right to be dispersed according to medical need, and
Whereas true health care reform would end deductibles and co-payments, and provide an effective mechanism for controlling skyrocketing costs while covering all Americans, and
Whereas true health care reform would save billions annually by eliminating administrative costs, overhead, and excessive profits and apply these saving to expanded and improved coverage for all, and
Whereas true health care reform including single-payer health care will provide a major stimulus to the economy, create millions of new jobs, positively increase the GDP, and generate billions in new tax revenues.
Therefore be it resolved, that the ACDEC adopts this resolution and endorses true health care reform including the provisions of H.R. 676, the “United States National Health Care Act”, and
Be it further resolved, that the ACDEC encourage all citizens to contact elected local, state, and federal officials to express this support, urge co sponsorship of the legislation, and to further its becoming federal law.
A Resolution on the Employee Free Choice Act
Passed by the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee, Wednesday, April 8, 2009.
Whereas the Employee Free Choice Act will protect workers’ freedom to choose a union and bargain without management intimidation, and
Whereas the Act will allow more workers to freely join unions and bargain with their employers over conditions of employment, and
Whereas the Act will help rebuild the middle class by expanding health care, improving retirement security, and raising the standard of living for America’s working families,
Therefore, we urge our elected officials to support the enactment of the Employee Free Choice Act. We ask all members of Congress to co-sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act, and
Furthermore, we urge the elected officials of the State of Florida to vigorously oppose HJR 1013 and its companion SJR 1908 since this legislation seeks to place in the Florida Constitution language to override federal law represented by the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.
Also, we urge that Florida legislators avoid placing themselves in the precarious position of voting for a state law that would supersede federal law should the Employee Free Choice Act pass.
And finally, we direct that this resolution be circulated to all Florida State Legislators, members of Congress, and other officials and organizations as may be deemed beneficial.
A Resolution on the Proposed Amendment to the Florida Constitution Regarding the Property Taxes to be Voted on the January 29, 2008 Ballot
On Wednesday, January 9, 2008 the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee passed the following resolution:
WHEREAS, adoption of Amendment #1 (the Property Tax Amendment) to the Florida Constitution would cut revenues to Florida counties and cities by up to $9.6 billion dollars over the next five years, and
WHEREAS, this same Amendment would cut revenues to Florida schools by up to $2.8 billion over the next five years, and
WHEREAS, the impact of these cuts would seriously affect the safety, education and quality of life for the citizens of Florida, and
WHEREAS, this same Amendment creates potential inherent conflicts within the Florida Constitution regarding the equal treatment of Florida homesteaders and new residents of Florida, and
WHEREAS, the taxation proposed by this Amendment is grounded only in the value of the property and is therefore inherently regressive and disadvantageous to those of low and middle income,
THEREFORE be it resolved that:
The Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee calls upon all citizens in Alachua County to oppose this Amendment and to vote NO on this Amendment on January 29th, 2008.
A Resolution on the January 29, 2008 Elections
On Wednesday, September 12, 2008 the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee passed the following resolution:
WHEREAS the Florida Presidential Primary will be held, by state law, on January 29th, 2008, and
WHEREAS the Property Tax Amendment referendum has been set for the same date, and
WHEREAS crucial municipal elections in Gainesville will be held on that date:
Now, therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Alachua County Democratic Party, dedicated to participatory democracy, affirms the importance of the elections on January 29th, and the rights of all Floridian voters to participate in the Presidential selection process; and be it further
RESOLVED that the Alachua County Democratic Party, recognizing that the nation will be watching and that the results will have an enormous impact, urges all Democrats to vote in this election; and be it further
RESOLVED that the Alachua County Democratic Party encourages all concerned Democratic organizations to resolve their differences in the interest of electing a Democratic President in 2008.
A Resolution Urging Immediate Action in Darfur
On Wednesday, June 14, 2006, the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee passed the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the State Department has designated the events taking place in Darfur, Sudan as genocide; and
WHEREAS, The United States has a moral responsibility to fight genocide and terror around the world; and
WHEREAS, rape and murder are being used as weapons of error by the Janjaweed as supported by the Sudanese Government; and
WHEREAS, the United States has said following many occasions of genocide, including the Holocaust of WWII and the Rwandan Genocide �Never Again�; now, therefore be it
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee urges the United States, working through the United Nations, to take immediate action in the Darfur Region of Sudan.
A Resolution on the War Against Iraq
On Wednesday, February 12, 2003, the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee unanimously passed the following resolution:
The Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee (ACDEC) expresses its patriotic concern that the United States government plans to wage war against the nation of Iraq. Granted that since its defeat in the Persian Gulf War of 1991 the government of Iraq has failed to heed seventeen United Nations Security Council resolutions, granted that its dictator Saddam Hussein has brutalized his own people, and granted that Saddam has not been forthcoming to the United Nations inspectors about his weapons program, still Iraq has not since its defeat practiced armed aggression outside its borders against the United States or the international community.
For the United States to make a �preemptive strike� against Iraq, whether alone or in concert with other states, would ignore the fact that Iraq has not threatened us in any way with injury. The ACDEC opposes such a strike and urges the President of the United States to permit the work of UN inspectors to expand and to continue for the months that the inspectors beg for. Every alternative peaceful means to resolve the problem of Iraq must be pursued. The moral principles of warfare call for nothing less. The United States is strong enough to be patient. There is no need for a rush to war. Armed conflict must truly be a last resort.
The ACDEC is particularly mindful of the innocent Iraqi population, already so painfully bruised by their own leader, who would be the most vulnerable victims of the war that is planned. As we call upon our government to ensure that our own servicemen and women not be placed unnecessarily in harm�s way, we urge that all Americans also keep the Iraqi people in their thoughts and prayers.
Cost of the War in Iraq
$412,812,532,391
To see more details, click here.
