RESOLUTION CLIMATE CHANGE. WHEREAS, climate change is the single greatest threat to our continued existence as a species; and

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1 Climate Change US Postal Service Social Security Minimum Wage Increase Gerrymandering Cost of Higher Education Recycling Historically Black Colleges Universal Pre-school Paper Ballot POLICY Support Affordable Health Care Expanding Health Care Drug Cost Public Schools Housing Parity Workforce Housing Alternate Career Tracks Immigration Voting Campaign Finance 21st Century Infrastructure Pursuing our Innovation Agenda Support Small Business Investing in Rural America Building Strong Cities and Metro Areas Promoting Arts and Culture Optional Summer School

2 CLIMATE CHANGE WHEREAS, Texas is ideally situated as a source of wind, water, and solar energy; and WHEREAS, climate change is the single greatest threat to our continued existence as a species; and WHEREAS, we have both the scientific wherewithal to exploit these resources, and an individual grid to foster independence. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the great state of Texas should, like the states of California and New York follow the precepts of the Paris climate accord, whether or not the federal government chooses to comply. U.S. POSTAL SERVICE WHEREAS, the United State Postal Service represents a vital lifeline to the elderly, the disabled, and citizens in rural areas, it is imperative that we support its continued existence as a public service; and WHEREAS, the Republicans have continually tried to privatize the USPS and have inserted a poison pill mandating that they pre-pay their pension system 75 years into the future creating an undue burden and de-stabilizing their finances. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the legislature enact protections to preserve the postal service in its present form, and restore it s viability as a business. SOCIAL SECURITY WHEREAS, many occupations no longer offer job security; and WHEREAS, many employers have 'opted-out' of providing defined-benefit pensions; and WHEREAS, the economy is increasingly heading towards contract labor i.e.. the 'gig economy' where workers are considered to be independent contractors. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that social security, and the network of social services including medicare, and medicaid, are more vital than ever to maintain the dignity of the poor and elderly in retirement. Be it further resolved that these benefits should not only be maintained, but expanded to include as many citizens as need be. MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE WHEREAS, workers have raised the level of productivity to record levels; and WHEREAS, corporations are at record levels of profitability;

3 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that workers should be entitled to a base minimum wage of $15.00 per hour as a downpayment towards achieving a living wage. GERRYMANDERING WHEREAS, they have been found to be deliberately racially discriminating. WHEREAS, the courts of Texas have ruled against our current gerrymandered districts; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the legislature be directed to have the district lines be redrawn immediately by either a bi-partisan or non-partisan third party with equal numbers of both parties present and with judicial oversight. COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION WHEREAS, the cost of higher education has been rising well in excess of the general rate of inflation; and WHEREAS, the wages of the average citizen has remained flat for over forty years; and WHEREAS, the State contribution towards higher education has declined from a high of 86% nationwide to a current average of 12% forcing students and parents to make up the shortfall. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the State of Texas, in the interest of providing a prepared local workforce that will attract employers, gradually increase it s investment in higher education back to it s previous levels. RECYCLING WHEREAS, the majority of citizens would like to recycle what they can; and WHEREAS, the amount of space available in landfills is increasingly limited, and WHEREAS, the recent consolidation of waste removal companies in our area has limited our options. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that all local companies should be encouraged to offer a recycling option by our local legislators. This option can have several levels- free for persons willing to take their waste to a facility, low cost for curbside removal of metals, paper, and sorted plastics, and higher cost for glass and styrofoam processing. All facilities should be periodically inspected to ensure that supposedly recycled materials do not enter the general waste-stream.

4 HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES WHEREAS, Texas as a southern state once had the institution of slavery; and WHEREAS, Texas once adopted the imposition of both Jim Crow laws, and poll taxes; and WHEREAS, Texas once bought into the idea of 'separate-but-equal' education; and WHEREAS, all of the foregoing negatively impacted the state's black population. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the state of Texas be mandated to set aside a substantial stipend to maintain it's historical black colleges in it's bi-annual budget by way of restitution for documented former bad actions. UNIVERSAL PRE-SCHOOL WHEREAS, Texas has been continuously near the bottom of educational attainment; and WHEREAS, it has been slipping farther and farther towards the bottom of the rankings; and WHEREAS, one method that has consistently shown to better educational achievement is pre-school. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that pre-school be provided for any child whose parents wish to avail them of the benefit BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pre-school shall not be mandatory, but an option. PAPER BALLOTS WHEREAS, we have recently received information that the machines that count our votes are insecure and can easily be hacked; and WHEREAS, anything we replace them with can also eventually be compromised; and WHEREAS, we will be unable to replace them in a timely manner in any event. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that henceforward we shall use paper ballots. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these paper ballots shall have receipts so that voters have evidence of having voted, and of what their vote was. SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE WHEREAS, we already have a health care system in place; and

5 WHEREAS, it is functioning as intended. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that legislators be directed to continue to support the Affordable Health Care plan as it is presently written. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that they shall be directed to expand Medicaid at the state level, until such time as either Medicare for All is adopted, or any other universal health care plan. EXPANDING HEALTH CARE WHEREAS, coverage at present is scanty at best. WHEREAS, as Democrats we believe that health care is a human right; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that all the existing programs be expanded to cover eye care, dental care, mental health issues, physical therapy, and drug treatment. DRUG COST WHEREAS, the cost of prescription pharmaceuticals has become increasingly unaffordable. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Medicare, and Medicaid should be permitted to negotiate volume prices just as the Veteran's administration is able to. PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHEREAS, public schools' are precisely that, public services that we, as a society have chosen to educate our children; and WHEREAS, they take all comers, in all conditions, and with every level of preparation, or lack thereof. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that legislators shall henceforward NOT direct public funds towards private schools, charter schools, parochial schools or home schooling parents. All of these entities are the choice of the given parents or guardians, and thus should be at their expense. HOUSING PARITY WHEREAS, the cost of housing has risen alarmingly in recent years; and WHEREAS, the property taxes have risen in tandem with the cost of housing; and WHEREAS, the cost of rental apartments have also risen above the level of inflation; and

6 WHEREAS, wages have remained flat for approximately forty years, causing local residents and workers to be displaced. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that property developers to required to provide a percentage of lowercost housing in every residential sub-division approved for building. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that incentives should be offered to builders willing to undertake either green design, or the provision of, or available choice to provide solar panels to interested buyers and renters. WORKFORCE HOUSING WHEREAS, The cost of housing has risen alarmingly in recent years; and WHEREAS, the property taxes have risen in tandem with the cost of housing; and WHEREAS, the cost of rental apartments have also risen above the level of inflation; and WHEREAS, wages have remained flat for approximately forty years, forcing many local residents to commute to workplaces in the larger cities in order to earn a wage sufficient to secure housing; and WHEREAS, the longer commutes for local residents place an undue burden on the workers, weaken the local economy, increase traffic on major roadways and contribute to the pollution of our air. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that property developers be required to provide a reasonable percentage of lower-cost housing units in line with the wage of the average annual salary earned in the community that would bring the monthly mortgage or rent to no more than 30% of the area s average annual wage in every residential sub-division and multi-family rental development approved for building BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that incentives should be offered to builders willing to undertake either green design, or the provision of, or available choice to provide solar panels to interested buyers and renters. ALTERNATE CAREER TRACKS WHEREAS, the cost of higher education is increasingly unaffordable for many students and parents; and WHEREAS, not every young person desires to attend college. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that alternative career tracks be made available for youth who do not wish to pursue a four year degree (e.g. culinary arts, hospitality, licensed practical nursing, mechanics, plumbers, home health care aides, physical therapists, barbers and hairstylists, electricians, air conditioner technicians, building trades of all sorts, etc.). BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that paid internships should be offered to young people who have not yet decided what they'd like to do. A program like Americorp where youths can perform various forms of

7 needed public service like delivering meals to the aged and infirm, or assisting the homeless, or helping teachers in overcrowded classrooms. IMMIGRATION WHEREAS, our present immigration system is dysfunctional and does not address our needs either as a state or as a country. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that our legislators should be directed to set up a uniform system that encompasses the various different types of immigrants we'd like to welcome. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we require young families to replace our aging and dying work force; priority should be given to educated workers particularly in any STEM or medical field, refugees fleeing from danger, either from violence, or from natural disasters, and to relatives of American citizens. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that immigrants should be welcomed on the basis of merit, not subject to any arbitrary preferences as to race, ethnicity, religion, or sexuality. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that persons who would like to study in our country, or would like to work as agricultural laborers should be allowed to do so with renewable seasonal visas. VOTING WHEREAS, it is our belief as the Democratic party that all eligible citizens be allowed to vote. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that all impediments to voting recently enacted be rescinded. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any registered Texan with a driver's license, or ID from DPS should be allowed to vote. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all partisan, or racially selected gerrymandering be undone as per court direction with all due haste. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any citizen can vote absentee, by mail, or early as he or she prefers. CAMPAIGN FINANCE WHEREAS, the Citizen's United ruling that said money is speech has detached lawmakers from any responsibility to listen to voters; and WHEREAS, receiving money from large corporations and rich individuals has totally corrupted our democracy. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that candidates should be financed from public funds, relieving them of the obligation to fundraise, and allowing them to vote their consciences rather than their coffers.

8 21ST CENTURY INFRASTRUCTURE WHEREAS, the infrastructure we have was largely built during the Depression through the 1950's; and WHEREAS, it was never intended for the amount of traffic we have today; and WHEREAS, we have neglected to provide funds for it's mere upkeep, much less it's improvement over the course of many decades. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we need our legislators to make a conscious effort to invest in our roads, bridges, tunnels, dams, streets, highways, water and sewage systems, electrical grids, and the provision of high speed internet service throughout the country. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all new physical infrastructure MUST take into account the impact of projected climate change using a 'worst case' scenario as all previous projections have understated the threat. PURSUING OUR 'INNOVATION AGENDA' WHEREAS, we have been investing less and less in our young people's education; and WHEREAS, prior to the Reagan administration our public schools were the envy of the world; and WHEREAS, we are conspicuously lacking in the areas of science, research, computers, and other forms of technology. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we have to consciously invest in innovation. We have to prioritize research the way we did for the Manhattan Project, or the moon landing, gathering the ideas of all the best minds and teaching those ideas to the next generation. SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS WHEREAS, small businesses are the primary driver of employment; and WHEREAS, financing from commercial banks is difficult to come by. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Small Business Administration be allowed to offer, in addition to advice, small loans. WHEREAS, they are increasingly at risk from competition by the internet, and 'big box' stores; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that they shall have representatives available at every facility that has military recruitment, and at every major post office.

9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the source of funding for this initiative shall be paid for with a transaction tax on every Wall Street trade. INVESTING IN RURAL AMERICA WHEREAS, large numbers of young people leave rural areas because of a lack of opportunity; and WHEREAS, there is an increasing need for younger people to stay on the land as the average age of the present generation of farmers is over 65; and WHEREAS, the number of small farms being lost is increasing. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that local colleges and universities establish on-line resources for free or at reduced rates to rural students offering agricultural education. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Farm Bureau be empowered to offer loans to young would-be farmers for land purchase, or organic crop certification. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that higher education should be offered for free to anyone agreeing to work for the Park's Department (local or national) as a Park Ranger or wildlife or plant life expert, or anyone willing to work in a rural fire department BUILDING STRONG CITIES AND METRO AREAS WHEREAS, our cities are allowed to grow by unsightly sprawl; and WHEREAS, the various neighborhoods are separated by highways; and WHEREAS, Texas cities are desperately in need of public transportation. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that builders be required to submit a plan to the city concerned their subdivision's impact on traffic, pollution, and resources, and that nothing further be built without some consideration to lower-cost housing (a percentage, 10% minimum), a green space and/or sidewalks, and connection to any existing public transportation. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that should no public transportation be available that plans should be drawn up for it. PROMOTING ARTS AND CULTURE WHEREAS, culture and the arts contribute greatly to the quality of life; and WHEREAS, they are a draw to employers, tourists, and to affluent retirees; and WHEREAS, we are blessed particularly with an excess of musical talent.

10 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we should request that our legislators promote the continued well being of our arts community by investing in it's existing institutions, and seeking to train young talent. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we should invest in an arts facility for older indigent artists when they are no longer able to perform. OPTIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL WHEREAS, many Texas families do not have the wherewithal to permit a parent to remain at home during the summer; and WHEREAS, extended family and/or daycare do not exist (and/or are unaffordable); and WHEREAS, some families need their children to have food assistance whether for breakfast or lunch; and WHEREAS, some children need additional assistance with academic subjects; and WHEREAS, many students forget what they've recently learned with such a long intervening interval; and WHEREAS, some teachers might choose to supplement their inadequate pay. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that a summer session of school be offered ending two weeks after the Spring session, and continue until one week before the Fall session. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Summer session shall not be mandatory, but an option.