The Marion County Democratic  Party held their county convention Saturday. The purpose of the county convention is for the recruitment of volunteers and delegates and to write the party’s platform. There were several candidates in attendance and  Joe Kerner, candidate for House District 21  spoke with KNIA/KRLS News about the message he wants people to hear.

“Together we are going to build a better Iowa, better for education. We are going to start focussing on the things that matter most to Iowans. Stop bullying people with our legislative body, and we are going to start being better to each other the way Iowans are raised to.”

Michael Overman who is running for the House District 37 seat tells us why he is running and the changes he would like to make.

“You can only sit at home and complain for so long now it’s time to try and make a change. I’d propose we take back over the house, propose we get the minimum wage to $15 per hour. I’d propose we try to do our best to fix the healthcare system. I have a lot of things I can talk about but for now, that is a good start. 

The Democratic District Convention will be on April 23 in North Liberty Iowa.

2022 MARION COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
The Democrats of Marion County proudly identify themselves with the great Democratic ideals
passed down to us: the vision of the U.S. as the land of opportunity and sustainable economic
prosperity; the conviction of the worth of all people, regardless of citizenship; the assertion that
people have the right and responsibility to care for one another and protect our freedoms; the belief
in the Peace Corps, the pioneering ideas in space exploration, and the new technology that came
with it; the advancement of civil rights and the Great Society to ensure equality; the foresight on
matters of the environment; the intelligence which supported the technological revolution and
showed that peace can bring about prosperity; and pragmatism and commitment to community
through inclusion of all people.
We identify the following guiding principles for all people:
● Commitment to freedom, responsibility and equal rights;
● An emphasis on candidates who will work for the good of all people;
● Commitment to fair elections, campaigns, financing and disclosure;
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● Belief in and commitment to protecting the separation of powers as outlined in the
Constitution;
● Commitment to balancing the budget in ways that share the impact fairly, rather than making
any demographic carry an inequitable share;
● Commitment to reducing the national debt;
● Support for clean air and water as well as conservation and recreation;
● Commitment to an economic structure that generates high quality jobs, while securing jobs
for all people;
● Commitment to available and affordable quality child care and health care for all;
● Belief in and support of public educational opportunities for all ages;
● Support for competent, caring and enthusiastic teachers who are well-prepared and
equitably compensated;
● Commitment to America’s historic role as a world leader, in cooperation with the world
community, to search for a just peace in troubled parts of the world;
● We support the accurate teaching of American history, which includes the contributions of all
Americans;
● We recognize that people are our most important resource, and we are fully committed to
their empowerment and enhanced wellbeing.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. We support the international community in efforts to end abuses of human rights, to improve
the quality of life for all people and to address the international refugee crisis.
2. We favor efforts to peacefully solve international conflicts and work with the world community
before committing the United States to military intervention.
3. We favor normalization of relations and/or improvement of relations with all foreign countries.
4. We support the elimination of nuclear weapons, banning landmines, stopping genocide, and
the rights of Habeas Corpus and the Geneva Convention.
5. We support protecting workers’ core civil and economic rights and environmental protection in
all trade agreements.
6. We support the rights to accept asylum seekers and migrants in accordance with international
law and end abuses of human rights.
7. We oppose imperialism, colonialism and all forms of international exploitation.
8. We support the restoration of funding to the Northern Triangle.
AGRICULTURE
9. We favor funding only those economic development programs that bring in good paying, safe
jobs without making rural areas dumping grounds for waste and pollution.
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10. We support research and monetary incentives for farmers implementing regenerative
agricultural practices such as no-till farming, long-term diverse and multiple rotation cover
crops, grass waterways and buffer strips.
11. We support regulations to ensure humane treatment for all animals.
12. We support research and the use of biofuel technology.
13. We support responsible and ethical efforts to open/maintain/expand world markets to Iowa’s
products.
14. We encourage support and incentives for local, sustainable and organic agriculture.
15. We support country of origin labeling.
16. We support mandatory notification of citizens when airborne applications of chemicals will take
place.
ENVIRONMENT
17. We support full funding for the Resource Enhancement and Protection Program.
18. We believe climate change poses a real threat to current and future generations; therefore, we
strongly support the principles and most aggressive action of the Paris Climate Agreement, the
US Climate Alliance and the Green New Deal.
19. We support the protection and preservation of our natural environment.
20. We urge that for-profit users of public lands reimburse the public at fair market value.
21. We support expanding the Container Redemption Law.
22. We encourage increased energy efficiency.
23. We support a complete transition to clean and sustainable energy sources.
24. We support the reduction of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere.
25. We support clean water initiatives.
26. We support mandatory and voluntary efforts to reduce point and nonpoint source nutrient,
sediment, and chemical pollution in watersheds.
27. We support incentives to develop energy-efficient, accessible public transportation.
28. We support the repeal of tax breaks to oil companies.
29. We believe that eminent domain should only be used for Federal, State or Local public
projects.
30. We support the decrease of packaging and single use plastics and support legislation to do so.
31. We support regulations and accountability of companies to manufacture, produce and use
sustainable packaging, products and methods.
GOVERNMENT
32. We support fair trade over free trade agreements.
33. We support publicly financed election funds and all efforts to overturn Citizens United.
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34. We support the active and humane management of the United States’ borders. Additionally,
we support adequate funding needed to secure our ports, water supplies and infrastructure.
35. We embrace Iowa’s bipartisan history of being welcoming to all people of all backgrounds,
including refugees.
36. We support limited use of tax dollars for financing private business. Businesses that are
recipients of those tax advantages must have a contract with the local government, clearly
stating what benefits will be provided to the local community.
37. We oppose the privatization of government services.
38. We recognize a need for funded and staffed, functioning, governmental services.
39. We support public financing of all Public Broadcasting.
40. We support federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National
Endowment for the Humanities.
41. We oppose voter suppression. We believe that every legal vote should be counted and
recorded as cast.
42. We favor requiring judges standing for election or reelection to present voters with a summary
of their legal background and judicial record at least 90 days before the election date.
43. We favor rebuilding and expanding our infrastructure on a local, state and national level.
44. We support that all lobbyist activities with any government official be made a part of the public
record.
45. We believe that government bailouts must be transparent. Institutions and their corporate
officers must be held accountable to the public.
46. We support necessary and consistent regulations of financial institutions including
commodities/securities and trading regulations.
47. We support a progressive tax system so that funding the government is a fairly shared
responsibility.
48. We support closing tax loopholes for both individuals and corporations, making it more difficult
for offshore tax schemes to exist.
49. We support the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizures.
50. We support balanced funding for immigration judges, support staff and facilities.
51. We recognize and advocate for the rights and worth of every human being.
52. We support free speech and the right to assemble.
53. We believe in the independence of publicly funded libraries including public school libraries and
we support the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights.
HUMAN RESOURCES
54. We favor protections to ensure the integrity of all pension, retirement and unemployment funds.
55. We favor maintaining or increasing funding for the federal Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program.
56. We support access to quality, affordable childcare.
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57. We support preserving and strengthening, but not privatizing, Social Security to ensure the long
term financial stability of the program.
58. We support immigration laws that encourage and promote citizenship for law abiding people,
DACA Recipients, documentation of workers and a guest worker program.
59. We support the protection of union organizations and repealing Iowa’s Right to Work Law.
60. We support equal pay for equal work.
HEALTH CARE
61. We believe Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement should be equitable for all medical services
regardless of the area of the country.
62. We support investing in the training and retention of healthcare professionals, including public
health professionals.
63. We support investment in a robust rural health system.
64. We support the elimination of direct advertising to consumers of prescription pharmaceuticals.
65. We believe the federal government should negotiate reasonable drug prices.
66. We support universal healthcare.
67. We support providing our veterans with quality medical services.
68. We support parity for mental health services and insurance reimbursement.
69. We support funding to provide family planning services including education, information about
sexual health, contraceptives and reproductive health care for all.
70. We oppose constitutional restrictions regarding healthcare and bodily autonomy.
EDUCATION
71. We oppose diverting public money from public schools to fund vouchers, tuition tax credits, or
private schools and for-profit education businesses.
72. We support universal preschool and increased funding of Head Start and similar programs
including transportation and parenting education.
73. We support the continued funding of public technology programs providing students the
opportunity for distance learning and access to information.
74. We support an interest-free direct lending program and other grant programs that assist
qualified students with funding postsecondary education.
75. We support a national service option to help young people attend public college and graduate
debt free.
76. We support index-based funding increases for educational priorities including teacher
compensation, school facilities and other education infrastructure.
77. We support the establishment of quality programs with measurable standards for students,
including additional teachers to ensure smaller classes, wider opportunities for advanced
classes.
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78. We support increasing quality public education through the bachelor degree level or trade
school.
79. We have confidence in and respect for professionally trained educators and our public
education community.
CIVIL AFFAIRS
80. We favor a penal system that accomplishes two purposes: to rehabilitate and reintegrate as
many offenders as possible through education and training; and to securely incarcerate violent
criminals safely, adequately and humanely.
81. We support the Supreme Court decision on Roe vs. Wade.
82. We oppose all government efforts that would restrict access to reproductive services or intrude
upon our privacy, including parental notification requirements.
83. We resist government intervention into our private lives.
84. We support the enforcement and collection of financial support from noncustodial parents.
85. We support reasonable gun safety laws that respect the Second Amendment while ensuring
the safety of our communities.
86. We support full funding for the Violence Against Women Act, including closing the boyfriend
loophole. We support permanent stable state funding for services to crime victims.
87. We support eliminating the death penalty.
88. We support the rights of workers to organize without interference from employers.
89. We support the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision for the right of same-sex couples to marry, and
for the equal protection under the law.
90. We support the right of Iowa families to choose where, when and with whom to give birth.
91. We support the decriminalization of marijuana and the expungement of criminal records related
to possession.
92. We support the decriminalization of possession of psychedelics and hallucinogens.
93. We support medical research in the field of mind-altering drugs.
94. We support an automatic restoration of voting rights for felons who have fulfilled their sentence.
95. We support the automatic and same day registration of voters for all US Citizens obtaining a
driver’s license in Iowa.