Government and Law

GOVERNMENT AND LAW

WE SUPPORT:

GL-1 housing for all homeless veterans.

GL-2 full medical care for all veterans.

GL-3 eliminating security clearance backlog and barring use of non-bona fide factors in clearance adjudication.

GL-4 adequate IANG and Reservist family assistance during extended active duty tours.

GL-5 protecting Veterans' Assistance Funds from diversion.

GL-6  reducing VA claims backlog.

GL-7 PATRIOT Act repeal and legislation protecting Americans while guaranteeing civil liberties.

GL-8 equality of all citizens and expanding cultural diversity and civil rights of Iowans.

GL-9 repealing Defense of Marriage Act and support marriage equality for all.

GL-10 legislation protecting same-sex couples' rights in adopting children

GL-11 addition of sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability to anti-discrimination laws, hate crime laws, human rights policies, and civil statutes.

GL-12 the Anti-Bullying Bill, including sexual orientation protection.

GL-13 immediate repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and replacement with nondiscrimination.

GL-14 full restoration of habeas corpus.

GL-15 repeal of REAL ID and oppose all national identity cards.

A GL-16 woman’s fundamental right to personal reproductive decisions.

GL-17 Roe v. Wade.

GL-18 individual's right to privacy in thoughts and beliefs, and constitutional protection from intrusion in all sensitive personal matters.

GL-19 requiring individual written permission before companies share personal, non-public information; compensating individuals when institutions sell their personal data.

GL-20 immigration reform eliminating geographic or racial bias; reflecting broad U.S. skills needs; emphasizing family reunification; respecting national security needs; and providing pathways to earning citizenship.

GL-21 promoting a Welcoming Iowa and protecting civil and human rights of Iowa immigrant families.

GL-22 INS policy upholding fundamental human rights of ALL detainees:

* Prohibiting detainee shackling

* Providing right to attorney

* Providing expedient adjudication process

* Providing for necessary medical needs

* Barring indefinite detention pending deportation.

GL-23 individual right to bear arms with fair, reasonable, and responsible restrictions.

GL-24 fair and simplified tax system, taxing all income equitably and relying on simplified, graduated income tax.

GL-25 tax penalties on corporations sending jobs out of country.

GL-26 raising Social Security payroll tax cap to 100% of taxable earnings.

GL-27 restoring funding of social relief programs aiding vulnerable citizens.

GL-28 publicly-financed elections at all government levels.

GL-29 the First Amendment. Religion is a matter of personal choice the government must neither hinder, nor assist.

GL-30 restoring pre-1954 version of the Pledge of Allegiance.

GL-31 dissolution of Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships*; reallocation of funding and duties to appropriate departments; providing government funds solely through non-sectarian entities.

GL-32 ending costly War on Drugs, refocusing efforts to "harm reduction" and realistic prevention efforts.

GL-33 alternatives to incarceration for drug offenders; alternative sentencing involving treatment and rehabilitation for youthful and first offenders; continuing education assistance during rehab.

GL-34 re-evaluating sentencing for drug-related offenses assuring equitable sentencing.

GL-35 medical marijuana and industrial hemp, with appropriate controls to prevent abuse.

GL-36 decriminalizing marijuana use.

GL-37 eminent domain, when due process is followed, solely for common good and not private interests.

GL-38 private property rights guaranteed by Constitution. Criminal conviction as pre-requisite for property forfeiture; forfeiture a rare exception; individual right to jury trial in forfeiture cases; and eliminating forfeiture's corrupting influence on law enforcement.

GL-39 elected representatives live by the laws they pass without exempting themselves; receiving health care, pensions, and benefits with no more choice or security than voted for constituents.

GL-40 IPERS funding increases of 1% per year for four years; maintaining current 60/40 employer/employee funding split.

GL-41 $10.00/hour federal minimum wage; linking increases to Commerce PCE price index;

GL-42 repealing 2000-foot sex offender law;

GL-43 limiting sex offender law to serious and active predators; distinguishing between violent sex offenders, sex offenders, and pedophiles;

GL-44 federal ban on capital punishment;

GL-45 reversal of corporate personhood;

GL-46 adequate funding for Corporation for Public Broadcasting and continued independence in its operation;

GL-47 restoring authority of FTC to regulate and restrict harmful or deceptive advertising and children's marketing;

GL-48 reinstatement of Fairness Doctrine;

GL-49 repeal of Iowa Drug Tax Stamp;

GL-50 net neutrality protecting open and free Internet;

GL-51 opening unlicensed spectrum for community networks;

GL-52 animal rights; eliminating cruelty; severe penalties for cruelty;

GL-53 sentencing fairness without discrimination;

GL-54  legislation protecting genetic information from insurance companies and other misuses.

GL-55  a re-emergence tax on corporations who seek to sell products once made here.

GL-56  a micro-tax on all securities transactions.

WE OPPOSE:

GL-53 government-sanctioned surveillance without probable cause and due process;

GL-54 replacement of patrol officers by electronic surveillance technologies;

GL-55 provisions in NCLB supplying military recruiters with student names or permitting recruitment in K-12;

GL-56 unfunded state or federal mandates;

GL-57 electronic voting systems without permanent record trail and anonymity of voter election choices

GL-58 media consolidation;

GL-59 the Hyde Amendment.