2008 Wyoming State Platform

ECONOMIC & REVENUE SUSTAINABILITY

Governor Ed Hershler coined the phrase, “Growth on Our Terms.”

 -  We believe in creating industries in addition to mineral extraction to provide sustainable and diverse

revenue generation for a healthy Wyoming economy.

 -  We believe in the systematic replacement and repair of our nation’s infrastructure.

 -  We support cost effective and fuel-efficient modes of transporting people and freight.

 -  We encourage a study of the feasibility of alternative crops.

 -  We support small-business economic development in the State of Wyoming.

 -  We believe that financial incentives/tax breaks that are given to corporate business should also be

offered to small businesses.

 -  We believe that a healthy Wyoming economy cannot be developed without a coordinated

partnership between the public and private sectors.

 -  We encourage the retention of the national Davis-Bacon Act and the effective enforcement of both

Wyoming’s prevailing wage laws and Davis-Bacon Act.

 -  We oppose privatization of public services.

 -  We support legislation that will provide sufficient increases in revenue to allow the state, cities,

counties and school districts to provide the services required by Wyoming citizens.

 -  We support property tax reform.

 -  We believe the Federal and State governments should take measures to prevent the “outsourcing” of

American jobs.

 -  We oppose the excessive outsourcing of technological expertise and services by the state

government and agencies to vendors and contractors based outside the borders of Wyoming.

 -  We support the working people of this country by encouraging the use of products made in America.

 -  We support the Fair Labor Standards Act.

 -  We support eliminating tax breaks to the minerals industry at the expense of Wyoming's citizens and

small businesses.

 -  We support a portion of the interest from the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund being used in creating

economic development programs within Wyoming.

 -  We support establishing a 1% severance tax to provide a State Trust Fund to guarantee state health

insurance, to create medical and dental liability funding pools, to train medical personnel, to

establish health clinic access in Wyoming communities and to build infrastructure, including highways

and schools.

 -  We call for an expanded visa system that allows foreign workers to participate in our economy legally

and with dignity.

 -  We oppose the sale of Federal lands to raise revenue.

 -  We support federally subsidized, statewide expansion of public rail and bus transportation within

existing transportation corridors in Wyoming.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

We believe family, school, community, and state share responsibility for providing a high quality

public education in a productive and safe working and learning environment.

 -  Wyoming Democrats believe the “No Child Left Behind” Act should be repealed.

 -  Wyoming Democrats oppose providing public funds for private education.

 -  We believe free public education from early childhood through post secondary is a necessity for an

informed and responsible citizenry.

 -  We support equitable public school and community college financing, and improved teacher salaries,

to raise the quality of education.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support rigorous certification standards for teachers, administrators, and

specialists that will promote quality competent instruction for all students.

 -  We support high quality humanities and technological training in K-12 schools, community colleges,

trade schools and the University of Wyoming.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support equal access to no cost or low cost childcare and out of school time

programs for all Wyoming children and youth from birth through grade 12.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support comprehensive sex education that goes beyond “Abstinence Only.”

 -  Wyoming Democrats support the adoption of an aggressive plan to end bullying in public schools and

endorse an anti-bullying campaign to address present-day dangers to children that arise within social

networks while attending the public school system to ensure the safety of all children.

 -  Wyoming Democrats believe in accountability for high academic achievement for all students as

measured by growth based measurements as opposed to static standardized models.

THE ENVIRONMENT

Wyoming Democrats support sound scientific research and will stand up and fight for

environmental responsibility at the local, state, national and global levels.

PROTECTING OUR BIRTHRIGHT

 -  Wyoming Democrats value the importance of our clean air, land and water, open spaces, abundant

wildlife and world-class wilderness. The recreational opportunities, such as hunting, fishing, camping

and hiking, offered by our public and private lands are a resource of utmost value. We insist upon the

conservation and protection of these resources in order to maintain our citizens’ quality of life as well

as a sustainable economy.

 -  Wyoming Democrats deplore the censuring of science for political gain and the systematic gutting of

federal environmental regulations and laws by the Bush Administration.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support the creation of statewide recycling and waste reduction programs.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support strict and even-handed enforcement of Wyoming’s air, water and land

quality laws.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support Smart Growth including and not limited to urban infill and

redevelopment, densification of urban areas, and usage of sustainable materials and methods in

public and private projects, as opposed to rural sprawl.

CONFRONTING CLIMATE CHANGE

 -  Wyoming Democrats support sound scientific research and believe that our country must address

climate change by working with others at local, state, national and global levels to reduce greenhouse

gases.

 -  We call for development of alternative, renewable energy resources, including solar and wind power,

through federal and state incentives.

 -  We insist that government policy work to increase energy-use efficiency throughout our economy,

including raising the fuel efficiency of the nation’s vehicles.

BALANCING ENERGY NEEDS

 -  Wyoming Democrat recognize that certain wildlife habitats, migration corridors, and places – such as

Adobe Town, the Wyoming Range and the Jack Morrow Hills – are too important to sacrifice to

industrial use or energy development

 -  We support measures limiting the negative effects of mineral extraction on our ecosystem, including

incentives and penalties to encourage industries’ cooperation.

 -  We support surface owner (split estate) protections for mineral development on private property.

 -  Wyoming Democrats encourage the innovative use of Wyoming coal and support development of

clean coal technology projects.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support protection of the Snake River headwaters under the Wild and Scenic

Rivers Act.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support increased funding for the Wildlife Trust Fund.

HEALTH CARE ISSUES & SOLUTIONS

Preventive care and education should be the foundation of any health care system.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support public funding of a universal health care system, including mental

health, and substance abuse treatment from birth to the end of life recognizing it as a basic human

right.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support reproductive choice as the right of each individual woman.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support the medical use of marijuana when prescribed and supervised by a

licensed physician.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support efficient state funding for comprehensive public health education.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support comprehensive mental health care for America’s veterans.

 -  Wyoming Democrats support funding for stem cell research.