ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
We believe that government has an obligation to work in partnership “with business and labor to support the creation and maintenance of quality jobs, with good wages and benefits for Maine people through economic development that is in keeping with Maine tradition and with the natural and human resources that make our state unique.
We will work to create a statewide network of “growth parks,” to include existing major business park-type facilities to focus regional growth into areas of high unemployment while allowing better environmental land-use planning. We support appropriate tax incentives for businesses locating in such “growth zones,” graduated according to the regional unemployment level and the quality of the jobs created (measured in wage and benefit levels). We support long term state-wide policies to integrate vocational and university education, transport infrastructure, affordable day care, and community planning to support regional” growth parks.”
We advocate a high-quality system of life-long education, which is essential in equipping Maine’s businesses and workers to thrive in tomorrow’s economy, as well as today’s.
We urge the continued development and expansion of a state-of-the-art telecommunication and information-processing infrastructure for Maine. Such a system will allow Maine to compete successfully in the global marketplace.
We will work to establish policy to provide incentives for capital formation and productive investment in Maine. At the federal level, we will press for policies to encourage the repatriation of overseas profits and to discourage the export of capital and jobs.
We support policies that encourage the export of manufactured goods and value-added products rather than our raw materials. We support efforts to market Maine products globally and to help Maine producers develop the capacity to serve global markets.
We will work to establish trade, investment and tourism offices in the major markets. State officials should promote interest in Maine products, Maine as a place to set up shop, and Maine as a place to vacation.
Sustainable industries such as agriculture and aquaculture should be encouraged.
CORPORATE WELFARE REFORM
We believe that the use of the people’s money to support business should be neither a gift nor an obligation, but a tool to further the public good.
We will establish legislation to require that all public support for business, whether in the form of subsidies, tax breaks, Tax Incremental Financing, development bonds, etc., be carefully measured for return on public investment. Actual, quantifiable, job creation and retention, good pay and benefits, environmental responsibility, respect for workers’ rights, and an enforceable commitment to remain in the community for a specified number of years should be among the criteria by which such investment is judged.
Any recipient of such aid should sign a contract with the granting authority, committing them to meeting these and other standards of public benefit. When requests for aid are considered, there should be review and input by the applicant’s employees, their union, and representatives of the local community. Appropriate record keeping should be required to facilitate ongoing compliance review, throughout the life of the contract, by the granting authority, the workers, and the community. Noncompliance should be subject to repayment of the granted assistance, with additional penalties and interest.
DEFENSE ECONOMIC CONVERSION
Maine Democrats will support and initiate legislation to facilitate conversion from military to commercial production and to encourage economic development that preserves and creates jobs. For economic conversion to occur without massive unemployment and community dislocation, five essential policy elements must be put in place.
1. Alternative Use Committees and Worker Involvement
We support legislation which establishes labor-management bodies in plants and on bases to direct conversion efforts and new product development. These Alternative Use/New Product Committees provide labor-management coordination, are a forum for joint exploration of civilian market possibilities, and act as conduits for federal, state, and local conversion and job creation information, programs, and funding. They should be a prerequisite of federal contracts, including clear enforcement criteria. They should be designed to ensure balanced labor-management participation. These Committees should be required when consortia are designed using government incentives or financing.
2. Incentives for Companies to stay in Place and Accountability for Results
Firms and Unions need financial support for product development market assessment, new equipment, training, and marketing. Policy levers such as taxation, extension services, loans, and loan guarantees, and contractual obligations should be utilized to limit plant closings.
Firms that receive public funds and benefit from public programs should be expected to set high standards for labor-management and environmental behavior. In return for public support, companies should be required to invest in research, facilities, and production in the United States and particularly the communities in which they currently operate. Federal contracts should give preference to hiring laid off workers. Firms that take jobs out of their communities after receiving support should be penalized.
3. Federal, State, and Local Government Purchasing to Foster Conversion and Job Creation
The defense build up created a vast network of firms, communities, and bases dependent upon defense contracts. Instead of just cutting defense budgets, government purchasing at all levels should be used to direct new investment and production. A substantial public commitment to transportation, health technologies, environmental technology, communications, housing, infrastructure improvement, and other areas should be designed to purchase new products from converted defense facilities and bases.
4. Training Linked to Economic Development
Training assistance should be available as existing facilities produce new products and to improve working relationships. Managers and workers will need to be trained to enter new markets and to work together more effectively. Given the extensive skills of many defense workers, training alone can be a dead end. Training and economic development must be linked, so that money and people are not wasted on training for jobs that will not exist.
5. Income Support and Training for Displaced Workers
For those who do not retain their jobs, the current unemployment insurance system pays too little in benefits for too short a time. We need both income for a potentially lengthy training period, and money to do the training that is necessary for new jobs. Training should be customized to the needs of particular workers.
TRANSPORTATION
The Maine Democratic Party recognizes that public provision of appropriate and balanced transport infrastructure is one of the essential functions of government at all levels. From snowplowing to port development, the development and maintenance of transport infrastructure depends largely on public initiatives. We therefore have a special responsibility to pursue policies that balance the dependence of Maine’s economy and jobs on low cost transportation with the responsibility to protect our environment, communities, and public health.
The guiding principles of Maine’s transportation policy must be:
o The reduction of user costs by promoting competition among, and inter-modal links between, differing modes of both freight and passenger transportation. We seek to increase travelers’ and businesses’ options, rather than to focus solely on traditional single-mode highway development.
o Recognition that Maine, as part of the global trading community, is no longer the “end of the line.” Our transportation policy should emphasize Maine’s central location in relation to Atlantic Rim commerce and focus on enhancing our export and trans-shipment capabilities. In order to promote Maine as a major player in global trade, our transportation links must adapt to this new reality if we are to benefit from it.
o The integration of local comprehensive plans and regional planning with statewide economic development initiatives and transport planning. Transportation links define the shape of communities and govern the location of most economic activity. Public input and consultation is, therefore, essential.
o Recognition that the environmental and energy-use impacts of transportation are greater than almost any other category of activity and that transportation planning must consider ways to overcome and mitigate these impacts and promote efficiency.
We must recognize that for Maine to attract jobs, we must offer low cost transportation options between Maine and U.S., Canadian, and global markets. To this end:
o We recognize the strong “not in my backyard” feelings of communities everywhere against new development but believe that carefully directed and planned development in key corridors and sites must be supported as the way to optimize the balance between environmental protection and economic development. We also believe that the environment is best served by more effective use of rail corridors and ports to bring bulk freight closer to Maine businesses.
o We support the development of improved port facilities in Portland, the Searsport area, and Eastport, in accordance with the “three port policy.” These developments should be undertaken with a
o Willingness to pay extra to minimize environmental damage, and should integrate inland rail freight service with Maine’s ocean terminals. Port development planning should serve the variety of Maine’s present and future commercial needs, with emphasis on the export of value-added manufactured products as well as developing the capability to become the ports-of-entry for imports to the US and Canada.
o We support the development of inter-modal terminals, regionally within the state. We furthermore support the maintenance of essential rail infrastructure and the promotion of competitive rail service among Maine’s three interstate rail carriers.
o State support for new road construction should be linked to strategies for economic development, to assist under-served areas.
o We continue to support the intent of the “Sensible Transportation Act.”
o We support development of Maine’s road links to correct the over-dependence on the Maine Turnpike.
o We support the development of Maine’s commercial air links and the provision of infrastructure for renewed passenger rail service, both north and south from Portland, that includes appropriate parking and bus links, and track capable of sustained safe high speed operation.
o We will support initiatives to facilitate safe bicycle and snowmobile use, and to improve the safety of roads for bicycle and motorcycle travel.
o We recognize the responsibility of government to provide for the unique mobility requirements of people who are elderly or who have disabilities, and support improved public transportation provision for these groups.
LABOR
The Maine Democratic Party is the party of working people. We believe in the right of all people to receive fair compensation for their labor, to be able to adequately feed, house, clothe, and nurture themselves and their families and to have universal access to health care. Currently our labor laws, in contrast to those of every other industrial democracy, fail to protect the workers’ right to organize, to protect gains made in the past, and to improve their status in the future. This must change. Our workers’ compensation laws now provide inadequate benefits to injured workers and deny them access to even the limited benefits available. This, too, must change.
The minimum wage should be a living wage. We support increasing and maintaining the federal and state minimum wage above the poverty level.
We support strengthening both the federal and state plant closure, downsizing, and severance pay laws to make clear that parent companies and their successor companies are liable for the severance pay obligation of permanently laid off employees regardless of the size of the workforce. In addition, adequate funding should be provided for federal and state job retraining programs for permanently laid off workers to give them realistic job skills.
We support providing workers with paid training for the enhancement of job skills, enabling Maine workers to grow with their jobs, developing a high-wage, high skill alternative to the export of production jobs.
We support efforts to make the private and public pension Systems more responsive to the needs of workers through expanded pension coverage, portability of benefits, sufficient funding for such plans, and restrictions on the use of those assets for non-pension purposes.
We call for creation of federal and state public-works jobs in infrastructure development, housing rehabilitation, and other areas of unmet public need.
We support all efforts in the public and private sectors to end employment and pay discrimination based on gender, age, minority group membership, national origin, disability, work injury, religious preference, or sexual orientation; to strengthen Maine’s comparable worth law, and to enact such legislation on the federal level; and to redress inequities through affirmative action programs.
We advocate increased penalties for unlawful harassment in the workplace greater employer responsibility to educate employees about harassment.
We support the concept of a shortened workweek with no cut in pay as a means of creating more jobs and reversing the current trend of re-distributing wealth and income towards an ever-smaller and richer sector of the population. Maine Democrats will initiate changes in the wage and hour laws to put a greater share of income in the pockets of working people.
WORKERS’ RIGHTS
Maine Democrats seek to eliminate inequalities between the rights of workers and the power of employers. Employers must not be allowed to set up parallel companies to avoid their obligations under union contracts. Employees must be allowed to express their will through successful organizing and bargaining. Employers must be prevented from interfering with employees’ rights by discrimination, discharge, and other discouraging tactics. We must strengthen the laws outlawing professional strike breaking and strike-breaking companies; provide unemployment insurance to locked out workers; prevent employers from engaging in tactics intended to incite violence; and pass legislation outlawing the permanent replacement of striking workers.
We support the President’s Executive Order, banning companies that utilize permanent strikebreakers from access to Federal contracts, and oppose all efforts to defund its enforcement.
We support the fundamental right of workers to organize into effective unions and oppose so-called “right-to-work” legislation.
We oppose the proposed federal “TEAM Act” and other attempts to legalize company dominated unions.
We support legislation to guarantee that workers enjoy the same rights and freedoms in the workplace as they do in society at large. The private property rights of employers should not continue to take precedence over workers’ freedom of expression and association.
We support labor standards legislation and enforcement at the State and Federal level to assure decent wages and fringe benefits for workers on publicly funded projects.
We strongly oppose all efforts to eliminate, dilute, or defund the federal Davis-Bacon Act Service Contract Act and any similar state legislation.
We support improvements in labor law to permit certification of a union upon sign-up of a majority of bargaining unit employees. We also support expedited negotiation of first contracts.
We oppose the growth of prison labor, which threatens jobs in both the public and private sectors. We oppose legislation-allowing prisoners to perform construction and maintenance work on military bases. We support banning the import and sale of products made by prison labor. Slavery anywhere is a threat to free labor everywhere.
We oppose efforts to de-fund and eliminate the National Labor Relations Board and the Department of Labor.
We oppose allowing legal fees spent to resist organizing to be deductible as a business expense.
We support the right of part-time and temporary employees to receive the same benefits on a pro-rata basis as are offered to full-time employees.
WORKPLACE SAFETY
We support legislation, with adequate funding, for workplace health and safety programs, including inspections of both public and private sector work sites. We support the right of employees to refuse to perform duties that a reasonable person would consider a threat to health and safety. We also support restoration of the right to sue in the case of employer negligence.
We support the restoration and expansion of OSHA’s enforcement capabilities and funding. We support increased worker and union involvement in designing and implementing workplace safety programs and in monitoring employer compliance.
We advocate state and federal penalties for workplace aggravated assault in cases of injuries resulting from employers’ intentional or willful disregard of OSHA standards.
We urge legislation-guaranteeing workers’ participation in the development programs to control and minimize the use of toxins in the workplace.
WORKERS’ HEALTH AND WELFARE
We call for reform of the current state laws on workplace drug testing to provide more adequate protection of employee rights while insuring public safety and employer interests. Workplace education and employee assistance programs must be implemented which protect the worker’s confidentiality. Treatment -and rehabilitation, rather than discipline, must be the primary means of correcting problems of substance abuse.
We call for development of affordable and accessible, quality day care to meet the needs of working families, and federal legislation to provide standards and assistance in the provision of day care centers.
We support a public labor/management directed workers’ compensation insurance system that links workers’ compensation rates for employers to the safety records of those employers, financially assists employers to meet safety standards, includes the right of reinstatement to the previous job or equivalent, retrains workers for jobs with equivalent levels of pay, or makes up the difference through the employer for the direct care of the disability, and restores all rights lost. Any proposal to reduce health and disability benefits available to injured workers on the basis of physical disability, preexisting condition, age, or gender should be vigorously opposed as a violation of principles of the Democratic Party. The level and duration of disability benefits should reflect the actual losses sustained by the individual worker.
We advocate equal access of injured workers to legal representation when necessary to assure that benefits promised by law are in fact timely and fully received. When an insurer denies benefits to an employee that are subsequently obtained through litigation, the costs of legal representation should be borne by the insurer.
We call for replacement of the current occupational disease provisions of the Maine Workers’ Compensation Act with those provisions contained in federal law under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act relating to occupational disease.
The Family Leave Act should include continuation of health insurance benefits during leave.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
We must modify current laws to provide federal and state workers with expanded organizing and bargaining rights, to provide for the right to binding arbitration on all issues in contract negotiations, and to create meaningful penalties against federal or state managers who commit unfair labor practices. We must clarify the federal and state right to agency shop/fair share. We must take the necessary steps to assure that state collective bargaining agreements cannot be infringed by either the Governor or the Legislature. Therefore the State of Maine must agree to be bound by decisions of the National Labor Relations Board.
We oppose contracting out or the privatization of the jobs of public employees, unless contractors performing privatized government services meet or exceed the wage, benefit, and service delivery standards of the public jobs they replace, offer first choice of employment to the public employees so replaced, and accept the obligations of any union contract in effect with the government agency being privatized.
We believe that the size and scope of state government is the direct responsibility of the Governor and the Legislature. The people of Maine elect them to do this job. This duty must not be delegated to an ad hoc committee, not responsible to the electorate.
We oppose downsizing schemes that eliminate the jobs of public employees rather than improve the quality and efficiency of government services.
We support full funding of health insurance for retired school employees and retired state employees. We are opposed to raids on the funds of the Maine State Retirement System. The state must provide full funding and scheduled repayments to the System.
We support repeal of Maine’s “little Hatch Act” and the elimination of all restrictions on the right of public employees to participate fully in the political life of the nation and the state.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Maine Democrats believe in the potential of all persons to contribute to society. Given the means to access available opportunities, we believe that individuals will strive to become self-sufficient.
Maine Democrats believe that all Maine people have the right to basic necessities, including food, shelter, medical care, and a quality education. Services must focus on prevention and must be provided in the least restrictive, most cost-effective manner, emphasizing the strengths and needs of the individual and the family.
SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES
Maine Democrats re-affirm our belief that government has the responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in our society and to assure that comprehensive and consistent services are effectively delivered independent of changes in political administrations.
We will work to reform the current welfare system by developing programs which provide transitional support, including education, training, health care, child support, family crisis counseling, and transportation access for persons moving toward self-sufficiency.
Maine Democrats support a strong Social Security system. We oppose any proposals that would weaken the long-term commitments of the system.
We support a similar commitment to other Federal retirement systems, and we also support a like commitment to the Maine Retirement System.
Maine Democrats will work to ensure that all persons have access to safe and affordable housing. We will press for coordination of those agencies responsible for housing, health, education, and human services in Maine to confront homelessness, with special emphasis on the needs of children.
Maine Democrats will advocate for policies which acknowledge the dignity and value of all persons. We support the concepts of equal access and reasonable accommodation, which allow the full participation of people, regardless of age or presence of a disability, in all facets of community life.
We will support efforts to assure safe and violence-free environments for all people, including children and senior citizens, both within the home and outside of the home.
Maine Democrats believe that the test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. Therefore, let this 1996 convention here and now declare war on poverty.
HEALTH CARE
The Maine Democratic Party believes that universal health care is a basic right that should be available to all people.
We recognize that mental illness is a treatable medical condition that should be covered by health insurance. Mental health care, both community-based and institutional, is an obligation of our society.
Maine Democrats, support initiatives to make a continuum of home and community-based options the primary objective of long-term care.
We support the Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Assistance Act and other efforts to discover, the cure for Parkinson’s Disease and other debilitating diseases.
EDUCATION
Maine Democrats believe that education is a right. We will work to ensure quality and equal educational opportunities for all residents and adequate funding of public education. We support full funding for federal and state mandates, including special education and gifted and talented programs.
We believe that early childhood education is a long-term investment in the future of Maine. We reaffirm our support for programs which prepare children to learn and to take full advantage of their educational opportunities by providing the essential support services they need.
We support state university and technical college systems and the promotion of accessibility and affordability, including the availability of student loans, for persons of all ages.
Maine Democrats urge continuation of strong support for public radio and television, libraries, museums, historic preservation organizations, and other important educational and cultural tools.
We will work to coordinate and link information systems, educational programs, and businesses; to advance effective and ongoing employees education and retraining; to bolster capacities for research and development; and to identify ways of utilizing available and developing technologies for the delivery of education.
Maine Democrats are committed to establishing a “Multi-Cultural Learning System” within the public schools. It is a system that meets the needs and addresses the concerns of all children including students of color. It is a system that values and supports racial and ethnic diversity.
We support a curriculum that awakens all children to the value of their culture in society, prepares them for later professional and technical training and helps them adjust normally to their environment, with a strong sense of self-esteem. Educators must be sensitive to the education, culture and resources of children and students of color.
HUMAN RIGHTS, JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION, AND GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
The Maine State Democratic Party is committed to the principle that all persons are equal under the law, and we oppose any discrimination against any person. We encourage the promotion of economic opportunities for all people, and we are particularly concerned by the degree of discrimination that still exists in both the public and private sectors.
Under the laws of a just society, the government must take responsibility for the care of those who are disadvantaged or disenfranchised.
HUMAN RIGHTS’
The Democratic Party has traditionally stood for the rights of individuals, according respect and equal rights for all. We believe that the state has the responsibility to guarantee basic human rights to all people regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, age, national origin, disability, religious preference, or sexual orientation.
We believe that reproductive decisions are a matter of personal choice and should not be regulated by any governmental body. We support access to health information and health care services so that responsible choices can be made. We oppose the use of threats, coercion, or intimidation by individuals or organizations which attempt to deny women their constitutional right to choose. We will work to assure that public funds for these services are available to those in financial need.
Maine Democrats support the passage of a Women’s Bill of Rights which would restore the Maine Women’s Commission and provide funding for domestic violence prevention, family planning, and reproductive health.
Maine Democrats believe in the promotion of human rights throughout the world and denounce criminal acts committed by governments, including those committed against citizens of their own countries.
We support Bill HR 2652 introduced by Representative Joseph Kennedy (D-MA) calling for closing of the School of the Americas, and establishing an academy for democracy and civil-military relations.
JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION
We support vigorous efforts to reduce crime in Maine and to maintain our sense of dignity, safety, and community. We believe that President Clinton’s policy of community policing has significantly contributed to the reduction in crime during the past two years. Efforts to insure that 100,000 new police officers are dispersed around the United States should be initiated as soon as possible.
We propose a crime prevention strategy that includes education, job training, and law enforcement. We feel there should be a special emphasis placed on community policing. Law enforcement agencies should respect the individual privacy and safety of all citizens.
We remain unalterably opposed to capital punishment in the State of Maine and in the nation.
We support rehabilitation services, psychological services, substance abuse treatment, and job training in prisons, correctional centers, and youth centers and for follow-up services. We support research and implementation of alternative sentencing for non-violent offenders.
We call for the establishment of a Family Court System. We support expanding law enforcement efforts aimed at reducing and preventing domestic violence, and we strongly encourage speedier trials for all crimes of domestic violence. We oppose the use of threats, coercion, or intimidation by individuals or organizations which attempt to deny women their constitutional right to choose. We favor implementation of inter-state agreements by appropriate agencies to force payment of child support orders. We believe a bill should be passed that would suspend all licenses (driver, hunting, etc.) to parents that refuse to pay child support. If parents refuse to support their child(ren), efforts to withhold a portion of their paycheck for child support should be initiated.
We favor continued funding of legal services for persons in financial need as a means of promoting equal justice under the law.
Maine Democrats believe that state corrections facilities should remain under the administration of the state.
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Maine Democrats support comprehensive campaign finance reform that includes spending limits for candidates, public funding of campaigns, and limitations on the funds received by individual politicians from political action committees.
We strongly support full disclosure of activity by lobbyists and consultants, both on the state and federal level.
Maine Democrats believe that honoraria or gifts of substance should be banned at the national and state levels of government. This ban should not apply to compensation for activities by government employees that is unrelated to their government work.
Maine Democrats believe that leadership positions, chosen by the majority party after the inauguration of legislators following the general election, should be maintained until the next election regardless of post election party switches.
Maine Democrats support District of Columbia equal voting rights in Congress.
TAXES
Maine Democrats support a review of the State and Federal tax structure. Any changes in the tax structure must be progressive.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND TRADE
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The Maine Democratic Party believes that the primary objectives of United States foreign policy are to promote the security and interest of the United States and to advance the ideals of freedom, peace, justice, and democracy in the world. These goals require maintenance of a strong national defense establishment and dependable alliances. We also recognize that in the changing world climate, threats to American security are becoming increasingly non-military in nature.
Maine Democrats believe that our armed forces must be up to date as to equipment, training, and support and must be capable of offsetting any direct threat to the security of the United States and of doing our share to ensure a peaceful world. At the same time, we must avoid profligate spending on weapons systems.
Maine Democrats believe that the best hope of avoiding war is through cooperation among all nations. To this end we must work with our NATO partners and in the framework of the United Nations to deter aggression, using diplomatic and economic means whenever possible.
The United Nations is the essential vehicle for achieving a stable world system. Maine Democrats will urge the United States to take the lead in reforming the U.N. to take into account the changes in the world since the Charter was written in 1945 and to improve the U.N.’s ability to function as a democratic association of the world’s nations.
The United States, as the world’s most powerful nation, must not shrink from participating in legitimate peacekeeping missions, recognizing that, while some casualties may result failure to assume our share of the international burden could produce far more casualties–military and civilian-later on.
We will insist that the United States pay its agreed upon share of the operating expenses of those international organizations to which it belongs.
For Americans to be truly safe in today’s world, we must deal forthrightly with non-military threats, such as poverty on a global scale, an ever expanding world population, recurrent famine in various countries, and the rapidly deteriorating ecology of our planet.
We will advocate that the United States increasingly work with other nations to halt massive deforestation, extinction of endangered species, depletion of natural resources and food supplies, and practices that tend to thin the ozone laver, contribute to global warming, or cause acid rain. We must not allow the export or import of environmentally damaging products or dangerous consumer items. We will actively oppose the import of goods produced by processes more damaging to the environment or human health than domestic standards would allow.
We urge cooperation with other nations toward stabilization of the world’s population, consistent with human rights standards.
We will continue to support the work of international organizations which address the spread of AIDS and other devastating diseases.
We will support efforts to achieve a worldwide ban on nuclear weapons testing.
We will support worldwide negotiations for the elimination of all nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and land mines and of facilities for their production.
We Maine Democrats regard the spread of democracy and of a regard for human rights as essential ingredients of a stable world. As leaders in this movement we must continue scrupulously to oppose any and all attempts to undermine or overthrow the legitimate governments of other countries. The human rights records of countries which receive American aid should be considered an important factor in determining the continuation or level of that aid.
We believe the following principles apply worldwide:
1. To support and assist nations and people who are striving to establish democratic futures for themselves;
2. To support and assist nations and peoples who are striving to negotiate solutions to long-standing regional disputes or to overcome internal divisions among their various ethnic or other groups;
3. To seek improvement in human rights and ensure that no goods produced by political prison inmates reach U.S. markets;
4. To support the rights and well-being of minorities and indigenous peoples everywhere;
5. To accept legitimate political refugees without regard to race, nationality, disability, or ideology and never force such refugees to return to areas where they could be in danger.
We will actively press for ratification of those United Nations Conventions on human rights to which our government is a signatory.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
The Maine Democratic Party recognizes, as a cornerstone of democracy, the right of the people and their governmental institutions to regulate the economy, to protect the environment and to promote the general welfare, including enforcing high standards of labor and human rights.
Our government should foster conditions in which United States businesses and workers can compete effectively in global trade.
Nations which enjoy free access to the US market must give the US free and equal access to their markets.
Penalties for failure to abide by free and fair trade principles should be commensurate with the magnitude of the offense, with special consideration given to the effect of unfair trading practices upon United States workers.
We recognize that the United States cannot dictate trade policy to the world. We support American participation in international trade agreements as they seek to lower trade barriers and eliminate unfair subsidies.
NAFTA, GATT and other multi-national trade agreements form the governance structure, the 11 constitution” of the emerging global economy. They should be renegotiated to include the highest standards of human rights, labor rights, environmental protection, and democratic participation.
We support passage of the “NAFTA Accountability Act,” requiring objective analysis of NAFTA’s performance in these and other areas of public impact, triggering remedial negotiations where needed and de-authorization of NAFTA, should remediation fail.
NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Maine Democrats believe that our economic health and the future of our State depend on prudent management of our natural resources. We recognize that we are stewards of the environment. Tourism, recreation, agriculture, commercial fishing, forestry, and other industries based on renewable resources all rely on our constant vigilance for their survival. Education and advocacy are critical in these areas.
We will advocate for increased coordination among state agencies regarding land use and natural resource management.
WATER RESOURCES
Democrats will work to ensure that government maintains water conservation policies to provide for the purity of our water resources and to preserve biodiversity. Maine’s watersheds, rivers, lakes, aquifers, wetlands, and marine resources must be vigorously protected. We will work to ensure that Maine’s water resource programs take into consideration historic and future economic uses of the resource, prevention of flood damage, the needs for navigation, and recreation. We favor incentives for farmers and other landowners to maintain wetlands.
We will press for coordinated management practices which will protect and sustain Maine fisheries and jobs which depend on them. We must consider the creation of marine wildlife sanctuaries.
Democrats support funding of a statewide testing program of all water sources, especially our coastal waters and public water sources, for possible contamination and to locate the sources of any pollutants found.
FOREST RESOURCES
Democrats will actively promote enforcement of state and federal laws and regulations that require “best forest management practices” designed to protect biodiversity. We advocate manufacture of value-added finished products from raw materials before they leave the state.
Democrats will press for public involvement in the review and approval of any plans developed which focus on tree cutting on public lands for revenue-generating purposes. Funds must be dedicated to forest management of the public lands.
ENERGY
Democrats urge the establishment of a public/private commission to develop a long-range energy plan for Maine. Democrats favor shutting down the aging Maine Yankee Power Plant as soon as possible. We favor repeal of the Price-Anderson Act, which limits producer liability for nuclear power plant accidents. We oppose new construction of nuclear power plants in Maine and in the United States.
We support ending the monopoly power of Central Maine Power, Bangor Hydro, and Maine Public Service. We support controlled deregulation of electrical energy marketing, thereby allowing all Maine consumers to choose the lowest cost alternative through competitive bids. This will lower costs and increase conservation through the private market.
WASTE MINIMIZATION, RECYCLING, AND DISPOSAL
Democrats support continuation of recycling legislation with enhanced recycling goals. We support educational efforts and incentives for towns and cities to increase recycling efforts. We will stimulate, through legislation, the market for diverse recycled products made in Maine. We will commit to source reduction by use of recyclable containers.
Democrats will promote greater research efforts to develop safe ways to dispose of the wastes that our state produces, including municipal solid waste, toxic waste, and nuclear wastes. We support continued source reduction legislation and enforcement of illegal dumping violations.
AGRICULTURE
Democrats will encourage government to provide appropriate incentives for those Mainers working in agriculture, such as promoting Maine agriculture in the world market. We advocate maximum flexibility for local communities to create incentives that may exceed state incentives to protect open space and operating farms. Democrats will promote small farms and local marketplaces to encourage the next generation of farmers. Maine Democrats support an equitable distribution of government resources to assist the farmer to produce in a cost effective manner.
We will support a sustainable agricultural policy that requires ecologically sound, non-polluting practices, minimizes use of toxic chemicals, renews and develops healthy soil, preserves clean air and clean water, and conserves energy.
We will advocate to maintain federal funding of farm credit programs which are important for the survival of Maine’s family farms. These programs should continue to operate through local banks and should require accountability through submission of a farm management and marketing plan.
Democrats will work to ensure that there is state inspection of all potatoes intended for commercial markets.
MAINE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MINORITY REPORT, ADOPTED AS PART OF THE PLATFORM MAY 189 1996, DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION
o WE BELIEVE in living within our means.
DEMOCRATS will balance thrifty budgets. We favor simple progressive taxes and less dependence on property tax,
o WE BELIEVE health care for all citizens will evolve into a rational system.
DEMOCRATS will work so children and the elderly will have better health care now.
o WE BELIEVE the best welfare reform is a job, with a living wage, health and childcare.
DEMOCRATS encourage personal and family responsibility.
o WE BELIEVE America needs a raise.
DEMOCRATS will raise the minimum wage.
o WE BELIEVE new jobs depend on our continued commitment to education, a clean sustainable environment and capital formation.
DEMOCRATS support small business, good education, effective infrastructure and improved knowledge of our natural environment.
o WE BELIEVE families should be free from fear.
DEMOCRATS will protect a woman’s right to choose, a family’s freedom from abuse, the environment, the safety of our streets, homes, workplaces and the nation.
o WE BELIEVE in equal opportunity. We respect the differences between people.
DEMOCRATS will fight discrimination based on religion, gender, race, sexual orientation and economic opportunity.
o WE BELIEVE the world at peace works better.
DEMOCRATS support a nuclear test ban, a chemical weapons ban and the end of land mine production.
WE BELIEVE you should work with us.
DEMOCRATS will ask for your vote.
Source: Copy provided by Carl E. Pease, Windsor, 2008.