Econ subcommittee
From JC Democratic Platform Wiki
Contents |
[edit] Salutations
Hello, welcome to the subcommittee on economics, commerce, and labor. I will post all of the work done by our subcommittee here, as well as keeping everyone updated on our progress.
[edit] Jan. 19 Meeting
On January 19, 2008 we had our first committee meeting and divided ourselves into subcommittees. The subcommittee on economics, commerce, and labor formed and elected me (Matt Roberts) as chair. For the next meeting, every member of the subcommittee shall submit a half-page of suggested planks on his or her given area of interest by Tuesday, January 21. I will compile these lists and submit them to the Rosemans by the following Thursday. I will also place them here. Great to meet everyone and looking forward to being a part of this historic election season.
[edit] Version 1 (Jan 24)
I took everyone's submissions and compiled the following list of planks, which I submitted to the Rosemans. Please comment if you notice any major problems.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
We support: 1. Incentives for domestic production and consumption of domestic goods (SC 333; SC 338) 2. Employee protection during plant closing or bankruptcy (SC 334) 3. Student loan forgiveness for staying in Iowa (SC 336) 4. A federal jobs/job training program and a WPA-like Program (SC 337) 5. Encouraging local enterprise through loans and development (SC 340; SC 342)
Acronyms: WPA (Works Progress Administration)
TRADE REGULATION
We support: 6. Quotas for US-manufactured goods (SC 357) 7. Labeling countries of origin (SC 358) 8. A progressive fair trade model that provides Cognressional oversight during trade negotiation and preserves control of local manufacturing (SC 359; New Submission) 9. Environmental and labor standards in all trade agreements (New Submission)
We oppose: 10. Foreign currency manipulation (SC 362) 11. Deregulating utilities (SC 363) 12. WTO, NAFTA, and CAFTA (SC 365)
TAXATION
We support: 13. Equitable, progressive taxes (SC 584) 14. Increasing the dependent exemption (SC 585) 15. Rescinding tax cuts for high-income brackets (SC 586) 16. Reestablishing estate taxes (SC 587) 17. Property tax credits for elderly, veterans, and the disabled (SC 588) 18. Equalizing tax benefits and credits for GLBT couples and families (New Submission) 19. Windfall profit taxes on oil companies which will be used exclusively for developing alternative energy (New Submission)
JOB SECURITY/WORKER'S RIGHTS
We support: 20. Economic development assistance, tax breaks and other financial incentives to businesses conditional on their commitment to the environment, good jobs, livable wages, and adequate benefits (New Submission) 21. Laws discouraging “temps” replacing permanent employees (SC 300) 22. Eliminating employee/independent contractor misclassification (SC 301)
We oppose:
23. Efforts to limit or end overtime pay based on an 8-hour day and 40-hour week. 24. Mandatory overtime 25. Employment-at-will doctrine; 26. No-bid government contracts 27. Out-sourcing of jobs 28. Prison labor that displaces non-incarcerated workers 29. Privatization of public jobs and services 30. Replacement workers for those on strike. 31. Temporary immigration status that perpetuates exploitation of workers 32. The inappropriate and unnecessary use of “independent contractor” or temporary worker status. 33. The inappropriate privatization of government jobs. 34. Employment-related polygraph tests 35. Genetic screening as a condition of employment. 36. Mandatory drug testing of employees except where drug use directly affects the safety of the public. 37. Government intrusion in to the Internet.
LIVING WAGE
We Support: 38. Raising the federal minimum wage to $10 immediately, and index it to the Federal Cost of Living (SC 324) 39. “Living Wage” as minimum wage (SC 324) 40. Public entities paying prevailing wages in contracted projects (New Submission)
PENSION/INSURANCE
41. Incentives for long-term and retirement savings (New Submission) 42. The right to choose one's caregiver for job injuries (New Submission) 43. Allowing the IPERS contribution rate to be determined by the system’s actuary within a limit of 0.5 percent per year, creating an independent board of trustees, and funding to make the COLA for pre-1990 retirees and the favorable experience dividend for post-1990 retirees sustainable forever (New Submission) 44. Secure portable retirement and healthcare plans (SC 325) 45. Non-discriminatory parental leave benefits (SC 326) 46. Requiring large employers to contribute to health care coverage (SC 327) 47. The Railroad retirement system and FELA (SC 329) 48. Part-time employees receiving proportionate wages and benefits (D2 205) 49. Unemployment benefits for those involved in labor disputes (D2 207) 50. Keeping IPERS solvent, incoporating a cost of living increase, and increasing the contribution rate (D2 232)
[edit] Jan. 26 Meeting
Very productive meeting for our subcommittee. First, we drafted all of the principles we want in the final platform. Second, we reviewed each item from the initial report and edited for content. This was a major step because of the word limit we are trying hard to fit. In the end, we decided that Johnson County does not need to create an entire platform for the national party and that it is O.K. to omit parts of a platform in order to emphasize the needs of Johnson County. Ultimately, Johnson County is different from the rest of Iowa, so our economic platform should reflect our unique economy. Lastly, we agreed to look for holes in the platform and add anything major that might be missing.
[edit] Final Report, Part 1: The Planks (441 words)
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
We support:
1. Employee protection during plant closure or bankruptcy
2. Student loan forgiveness for staying in Iowa
3. A government-run jobs & job training program and a WPA-like program
4. Encouraging local enterprise through loans and development
5. Creating US competitiveness in intellectual properties and removing impediments to its creation*
6. Encouraging mortgage servicing companies and investors to mediate with borrowers to explore modifying loans*
TRADE REGULATION
We support:
1. A Fair Trade model that provides Congressional oversight during trade negotiation and preserves US control of manufacturing*
2. Environmental and labor standards in all trade agreements*
TAXATION
We support:
1. Increasing the dependency exemption
2. Reestablishing estate taxes
3. Property tax credits for veterans and elderly & disabled people
4. Windfall profit taxes on oil companies used for research & development of alternative energy
5. Rescinding tax cuts for the highest earners
6. Closing corporate tax loopholes
JOB SECURITY & WORKERS’ RIGHTS
We support:
1. Laws discouraging “temps” replacing permanent employees
2. Eliminating employee/independent contractor misclassification*
3. Expanded job security, including more flexibility for single parents
4. Safety for every workplace
5. Benefits and protections for those on strike
6. Workers negotiating Fair Share Clauses into labor agreements*
7. Whistle blower protection for publicly funded employees and health care workers*
8. Equal workers’ rights and employment opportunities for GLBT people
9. Equal pay for equal work by women
10. Sanctions on employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers and on firms who knowingly contract with such employers*
We oppose:
1. Efforts to limit overtime pay
2. Mandatory overtime
3. Right-To-Work laws*
4. Employment-at-will doctrine*
5. Prison labor that displaces non-incarcerated workers
6. Privatization of public jobs
7. Mandatory genetic screening, polygraph tests, and drug tests in employment except in cases where public safety or significant job performance is at risk.
8. Employer monitoring of personal internet usage
BUSINESS REGULATIONS
We support:
1. Strong fair labor standards*
2. PLAs on public works construction*
3. Bidders’ safety records for government contracts
4. Strengthening OSHA and NIOSH through funding, staffing, and increasing participation by employers and unions
5. Strengthening the NLRA, including full funding for the NLRB
LIVING WAGE
We support:
1. Raising the minimum wage to $10 immediately, and index it to the Federal Cost of Living
2. Public entities paying prevailing wages in contracted projects
PENSION/INSURANCE
We support:
1. Incentives for long-term and retirement savings
2. The right to choose one’s caregiver for job injuries
3. Keeping IPERS solvent, incorporating a cost of living increase, and increasing the contribution rate
4. Secure portable retirement and healthcare plans
5. Non-discriminatory parental leave benefits
6. Part-time employees receiving proportionate wages and benefits
[edit] Final Report, Part 2: Statement of principles and comments on planks
[edit] PRINCIPLES
We believe that economies that exist specifically within cities represent unique interests, including those of corporate workers, racial minorities, and workers in the service sector. Therefore, we believe that appropriate economic policy represents those unique urban interests and their complementarity with economic growth.
We believe in strong and prosperous communities and protecting the interests of hardworking American families, and a commitment to helping the excluded, the disenfranchised and the poor strengthen our nation by earning themselves a piece of the American Dream. We affirm the rights of all urban, agricultural, industrial and service workers to be treated equally including protections under organized labor unions, access to health care and affordable housing.
We believe that America must be proactive in its attempt to close the widening gap between wealthy and poor people. It should act in the form of regulations and incentives for empowering American workers and limiting the power of major businesses.
We believe that the only appropriate way to tax citizens is to establish progressive taxation that maintains proportionate rates among all income levels.
We believe that the United States trade policy should provide progressive protection for US industry, farming, international labor, the environment, and safety for US citizens.
We believe that all taxes, job security protections, and family benefits must be equally accessible for all citizens, regardless of sexuality or gender identity.
[edit] Notes
Economic Development #5: Because the United States is facing new challenges overseas to competitiveness in many manufacturing and industrial sectors, it must seek ways to re-establish its economic competitiveness and preserve its status as an economic power. Because the US maintains strong research and university systems, it has the potential for a huge competitive advantage in the development of intellectual properties like patents. Rather than resisting this development with unnecessary bans on research, the US should create a solid infrastructure for competing in the intellectual property market.
Economic Development #6: To prevent the destabilizing effect of a surge of mortgage foreclosures on the national and local economies, we encourage mortgage servicing companies and investors to mediate with borrowers to explore modifying loans so that payments can continue to lenders, borrowers can remain in their homes and neighborhoods stay strong.
Trade Regulation #1: Because predatory middlemen take advantage of producers of imported goods in the Free Trade model, US trade policy should be re-shaped to ensure that farmers and manufacturers receive a substantial portion of the import cost.
Trade Regulation #2: Because free trade has neglected the obligation to protect the environment and labor standards, the US should establish a “bottom-up” trade policy that insists on progressive environmental and labor standards as a condition of all trade agreements.
Job Security # 2: Because employers can bypass regulations by classifying a worker as an independent contractor instead of as an employee, the US should close this loophole by guaranteeing protections for independent contractors or by banning the misclassification practice.
Job Security #6: A “Fair Share” clause ensures that every member of a bargaining unit pays a fair portion of the costs of a contract.
Job Security #7: “Whistle blower protection” guarantees that employers cannot retaliate against employees who report the employers’ illegal actions.
Job Security #10: It is important to distinguish between a policy that punishes an undocumented worker for his or her employment and a policy that punishes the employer of these workers. Because employers can use undocumented workers to bypass labor protections and threaten job security of documented workers, US economic policy should ensure that employers are held accountable for their illegal actions.
Job Security #3 (oppose): A Right-To-Work law weakens unions by allowing employers to hire workers who do not join a union. Because this can be abused to eliminate the influence of organized labor, this loophole should be closed in labor policy.
Job Security #4 (oppose): Employment-at-will laws enable employers to terminate employees without cause. Because of the threat this represents to a worker’s long-term financial interests, and because it can be used to discriminate against workers, it is a legal option that should be closed.
Business Regulations #1: Fair labor standards generally establish living wages, child labor protections, overtime pay, and other fundamental worker considerations.
Business Regulations #2: Project Labor Agreements are agreements between employers, contractors, and employees that determine the conditions of labor prior to being hired. This means that a person cannot be surprised by the conditions of his or her labor.
