Resolutions

    Resolutions passed during monthly meetings

    Gondola

    Gondola Resolution

    1024 1024 34th Democrats

    Adopted by the membership at the May 11, 2022 meeting.


    A Resolution Stating the 34th Democratic Legislative District’s Preferred Alternative for a West Seattle Extension and Calling for a New Independent Study

    Whereas, Sound Transit (ST) issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the West Seattle Ballard Extension alternatives and is currently receiving public comment on the DEIS; and

    Whereas, ST3 includes light rail construction in South Downtown (SODO) and West Seattle, areas located within the 34th Legislative District: and

    Whereas, the members of the 34th LD Democratic Organization live and work in these areas and have a substantial interest in the location, mode, construction, operation and costs of future transportation in this community; and

    Whereas, having reviewed the DEIS they find the following issues and concerns:

    • The document does not adequately address the years of traffic congestion and obstruction, noise and greenhouse gasses emitted during construction of any light rail alternative. 
    • Nor does it observe the disruption and destruction of mature urban tree canopy, which cannot be replaced. Trees help control stormwater runoff, improve air quality, provide wildlife habitat, and sequester carbon emissions.
    • The DEIS does address the loss of 658 housing units, 120 businesses and 1,140 jobs in the Delridge, Duwamish and Junction neighborhoods of West Seattle alone – not including impacts on the International District. These losses will seriously harm our community and cannot be easily or cheaply mitigated. 
    • The increase in cost of the West Seattle extension and delay in completion until at least 2032 will result in added environmental impacts related to climate altering emissions, air quality and other effects. We are concerned that these impacts make any light rail alternative untenable and speak to the need for a cheaper, more rapidly deployable option.

    Whereas, a new alternative, an urban aerial gondola, has been identified that is not addressed in the DEIS, but shows promise in its cost, faster implementation schedule and reduced environmental impacts; and

    Whereas, such major urban systems have been successfully implemented in cities such as Ankara, Turkey; Mexico City; and La Paz, Bolivia, where they can carry as many as 4,500 passengers per hour, as opposed to the projected 3,200 per hour for the preferred light rail alternative. The cumulative impacts of that differential would be substantial; and

    Whereas, it is projected the gondola system could be operational by 2026, greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced/avoided more than six years sooner than the preferred alternative;

    Whereas, it is also projected that the gondola system would cost 1/10 that of any light rail alternative;

    Now therefore be it resolved, the 34th District Democratic Organization urges Sound Transit to contract with an independent consultant for a new study of the gondola system compared with the light rail for West Seattle, including projected cost, completion date and environmental impacts.

    Be it further resolved, this resolution be sent to the Sound Transit Board as our comments to the DEIS and to the Seattle Mayor and City Council for their consideration.


    Submitted by Randy Litzenberger, co-chair of the Environment, Energy and Land Use Caucus of the 34th District Democrats. 

    Stop Privatizing Medicare

    Medicare Resolution

    1024 1024 34th Democrats

    Adopted by the membership on April 13, 2022 at the monthly membership meeting.


    Whereas, Medicare has been our national health care system for seniors and the disabled in the United States since 1965; and

    Whereas, Medicare beneficiaries are among the most vulnerable populations served by our health care system, and need more, not fewer, benefits and protections; and

    Whereas, traditional Medicare, which does not insert a middleman between the Medicare beneficiary and their chosen health care provider, is a public good and should not be privatized; and

    Whereas, Wall Street has long sought to profit from public benefit programs, such as Social Security, and has rushed to buy up Accountable Care Organizations managing traditional Medicare services; and

    Whereas, the Trump administration opened the door to the complete privatization of Medicare through a Direct Contracting pilot program allowing private equity firms, insurance companies, and corporate health businesses to directly contract to provide Medicare services; and

    Whereas, the Biden administration ended the Direct Contracting pilot and rebranded it as the ACO REACH (Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health) pilot to begin in January of 2023; and 

    Whereas, public health advocates across the country see little difference between ACO REACH and the Direct Contracting pilot, since both pilot programs allow third party private entities to wedge themselves between patients and their healthcare providers and to draw down the Medicare Trust Fund by making huge profits in several ways, including weakening services for Medicare beneficiaries; and 

    WHEREAS, addressing the healthcare resource inequities suffered by BIPOC individuals and communities is best done within the traditional Medicare system and not through a privatized ACO REACH style program; 

    NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the 34th Legislative District Democratic Organization opposes privatization of our Medicare system; and supports terminating the ACO REACH pilot program and closing the door on third party entities in our Medicare system; and

    BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, a copy of this resolution be sent to the Washington State US Senators and Congressional Delegation, and  to President Biden and US Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra.


    Submitted by Karen Richter, 34th LD Democratic Organization member and Co-Chair of the Outreach Committee. Karen also serves as Co-President of Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA}

    Climate Bills Resolution

    Resolution in Support of 2022 Climate Bills

    1024 1024 34th Democrats

    Adopted by the membership on February 9, 2022 at the monthly membership meeting.


    Resolution in Support of Climate Bills Pending in the 2022 Washington State Legislature

    Whereas, our planet is warming faster than science projected even 10 years ago; and

    Whereas, climate change worsens and increases the frequency of freak storms and heat domes, wildfires and droughts, floods and fierce hurricanes around the world; and

    Whereas, Washington State is becoming a leader with legislation to control and mitigate these effects by reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and

    Whereas, fossil fuel energy used in buildings for heating and cooling, water heating and cooking is the fastest-growing contributor to greenhouse gases in this state; and

    Whereas, our laws need to be strengthened and timelines shortened to achieve a faster reduction in Greenhouse Gases (GHG’s) to meet this state’s net zero target by 2050; and

    Whereas, landfills are a top source of methane emissions, releasing 12 percent of the world’s total – equivalent to 800 million tons of carbon dioxide and methane has up to 34 times the greenhouse gas effect as carbon dioxide*; and

    Whereas, the following climate bills have been proposed to strengthen this state’s response to the climate crisis:

    • SB 5666 / HB 1767 – Allowing public electric utilities to reach out to customers and offer incentives to convert from fossil fuel to electric
    • SB 5722 / HB 1774 – Reducing GHGs in smaller existing commercial and multi-family buildings
    • SB 5669 / HB 1770 – Allowing cities to establish their own “reach code” – a stricter building energy code than the code established by the State
    • SB 5731 / HB 1799 – Reducing methane emissions from landfills through better management of organic materials 
    • HB 1619 – Concerning appliance efficiency standards

    Now therefore be it resolved that the 34th District Democratic Organization supports all the climate bills still pending as of February 9, 2022, including but not limited to those related to building standards and methane as described above.

    Be it further resolved that this resolution be sent to Governor Inslee, our legislative delegation and the committees considering the listed bills.

    Submitted by Randy Litzenberger and Annie Phillips, Environmental Energy and Land Use caucus of the 34th Legislative District Democrats

    “Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming” edited by Paul Hawken in 2017

     

    Resolution-Healthcare

    Resolution Regarding Non-discriminatory, Medically Comprehensive Healthcare in Washington State

    1024 1024 34th Democrats

    Adopted by the membership at the January 12, 2022 meeting.


    Whereas, many regions in Washington State have limited health care access; that is, with perhaps only one clinic and/or one hospital; and

    Whereas, mergers and acquisitions in the Washington health care system have led to a near monopoly by certain healthcare institutions and hospitals; and 

    Whereas, some hospital ‘ethics committees’ may not be educated on dangerous health outcomes that surround denials of LGBTQ, and reproductive healthcare; yet all clinics and health care institutions receive significant amounts of federal and state funding through Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements, and may, therefore, be considered federal contractors; and

    Whereas, some Washington State healthcare institutions are placing arbitrary limits on legal, medically accepted health procedures, and legally and medically approved reproductive and LGBTQ healthcare procedures; and

    Whereas, some hospitals and healthcare institutions across the State are delaying and denying this legally and medically approved reproductive and  LGBTQ care, using tactics which discriminate primarily against women, BIPOC communities, low income residents, and the LGBTQ community, thus endangering their mental and physical health, if not their lives.  These hospitals and healthcare organizations are trafficking in discriminatory actions leading to neglect, cruelty, lack of service, and poor health outcomes; some healthcare organizations also fail to recognize the right of Washington State patients to use the State’s “death with dignity” law; and

    Whereas, some hospitals and healthcare providers are putting their discriminatory regulations above Washington State laws and regulations and their patients’ well-being; and

    Whereas, no Washington State health care institutions should be permitted to engage in healthcare restrictions that are intrinsically discriminatory against any race, sex, or LGBTQ status, and therefore damaging to patients’ mental and physical health; and

    Whereas, by restricting or eliminating such procedures as family planning and contraceptives, tubal ligations, abortions, vasectomies, IVF treatments, and transgender surgeries, discriminatory health care systems in Washington State force their patients to abide by restrictions that are sexist, misogynistic, and anti-LGBTQ against their will, since in both urban and semi-isolated areas of Washington they may have only one clinic or hospital available to them.  These patients are therefore effectively discriminated against, and prohibited from exercising their own rights in terms of their healthcare, and it is a violation of those patients’ civil rights.  

    Therefore, be it resolved that all healthcare institutions within the boundaries of Washington State cannot restrict any legal medical procedures when requested by patients.  Public policy must protect women in need of reproductive health services, as well as BIPOC and LGBTQ patients, and the medical practitioners who would otherwise be prohibited from providing essential, medically comprehensive, and legal services when in discriminatory healthcare settings; 

    Therefore, be it further resolved that patients must be allowed any legal medical procedure which aligns with their own personal beliefs, rather than that of any institution acting as a patriarchal Big Brother, which could force patients into situations against standard ‘best-practice’ medical advice in Washington State, and therefore dangerous to their personal mental and physical health; this would also be pro forma discrimination under Washington State law;

    Therefore, be it finally resolved that It should fall to the Washington State Department of Health to ensure that all healthcare systems in Washington State, from this time forward, align themselves with best medical practices and best evidentiary outcomes, and that all procedures legal under Washington State law therefore be offered to patients.  No Washington State healthcare provider, or hospital, should be allowed to discriminate in terms of health care services to their patients, whoever those patients are.  Everyone deserves medically comprehensive, legal, quality health care, but not everyone is receiving it at this time.


    Submitted by  Roxanne Thayer as shared from 30th LD and modified by the 34th LD

    Note: In the event that this Resolution affects religious health care institutions, 

    Article 1 of the Bill of Rights recognizes that the United States encompasses a multitude of religions and beliefs, all of which may have differing definitions of ‘morality’, differing definitions of Scripture, and entirely different modes of worship.   Providing and delivering non-discriminatory, medically comprehensive, and legal health care, should be defined and enforced only by the State of Washington.  

     

       

     

    Salmon Resolution

    Resolution on Recovery of Endangered Salmon, Steelhead and Southern Resident Orcas

    1024 1024 34th Democrats

    Adopted at the November 10, 2021 meeting of the membership.


    WHEREAS, between 1991 and 1999, thirteen stocks of Columbia/Snake River salmon and steelhead were listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, including Snake River sockeye, steelhead and spring, summer and fall chinook; and

    WHEREAS, the population of Southern Resident orcas, designated as an endangered species in 2005, has declined from 98 individuals in 1995 to just 74 today, with lack of chinook salmon for food a central cause of the decline; and

    WHEREAS, over the past two decades, six federal agency salmon recovery plans, and the expenditure of $17 billion have left the listed stocks of Columbia Basin salmonids closer to being on a track to extinction than on a path to recovery, and Southern Resident orca populations in continuing decline; and

    WHEREAS, the Northwest can replace the power generated by the four lower Snake River dams with a combination of new wind, solar, and demand-side resources (energy efficiency, demand response, and energy storage) that are all achievable in the next ten years; and improved alternatives to the current irrigation infrastructure and barge transportation practices can be developed, and

    WHEREAS, resolutions from the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and from the National Congress of American Indians have emphatically called for breaching the lower Snake River dams, in order to honor the U.S. government’s obligations under treaties with Northwest Tribes; and

    WHEREAS, Senator Patty Murray and Governor Jay Inslee have committed to working “…with our Northwest Tribes, states, and all the communities that rely on the river system to achieve a solution promptly” and added, “We, too, want action and a resolution that restores salmon runs and works for all the stakeholders and communities…;”

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the 34th Legislative District Democratic Organization recognizes and honors the claims of Northwest Tribes, and applauds the leadership of Senator Murray and Governor Inslee in stepping up to drive a timely resolution of these issues; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that breaching the four lower Snake River dams, accompanied by investments to meet the needs of stakeholders and communities from the Columbia Basin to the coast, must be the twin cornerstones of any lawful and effective salmon and orca recovery plan; and

    BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that we call on the Biden Administration to work with Northwest Tribes, states, other stakeholders and elected officials to meet the U.S. Government’s legal and treaty obligations and to provide robust funding to make all this happen as soon as possible.


    Submitted by the Environment, Energy and Land Use Caucus of the 34th LD. 

    Resolution in Support of a SELECT COMMITTEE FOR CLIMATE in the Seattle City Council

    1024 1024 34th Democrats

    Approved by the membership at the 9/8/21 membership meeting.


    Resolution in Support of a SELECT COMMITTEE FOR CLIMATE in the Seattle City Council

    Whereas, 70% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) come from cities* and Seattle is the largest city in the state; it is thus essential that Seattle reach its GHG reduction goals if King County and Washington State are to achieve their goals.

    Whereas, citizens of Seattle need to see that the goals of the City’s Green New Deal are being addressed in a systematic, transparent and effective way, with special consideration of underserved neighborhoods.

    Whereas, achieving Seattle’s climate goals will require legislation that is currently overseen by at least six different council committees, and six committees working separately cannot produce a coherent set of agreed-upon, city-wide goals, priorities and strategies for action.

    Whereas, as a committee of the whole Council, a Select Committee will enable the establishment of consistent city-wide, multi-sector priorities for goals, strategies, actions, council staffing and work plans, and it would enable the Council to assess city-wide progress on GHG emission reductions that cut across multiple sectors in a way that no single standing Committee could accomplish, and 

    Whereas, since citizen participation is absolutely essential to the achievement of the City’s climate goals, a Select Committee would enable citizens to understand, track and hold the Council accountable for achievement of those goals, and it would highlight, in a way that only a committee of the whole could, the central priority the City is giving to climate change.  

    Now, therefore, be it resolved that the 34th Legislative District Democrats request that the Seattle City Council immediately form a Select Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Justice.

    Therefore, be it further resolved that the Select Committee shall ensure agreement on priority strategies to achieve the City’s GHG reduction goals, actions needed to accomplish the agreed City-initiated strategies, the schedule and budget allocations for implementation of essential actions, and a detailed plan for monitoring its success. 

     

    * World Bank report:  “The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that urban areas currently account for over 67 percent of energy-related global greenhouse gases, which is expected to rise to 74 percent by 2030.”  Link:  http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTUWM/Resources/340232-1205330656272/4768406-1291309208465/PartIII.pdf

    National Geographic article:  “ The world’s cities emit 70 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide—and that’s likely higher when consumption emissions are included, says report author Michael Doust, program director at C40 Cities, a network of the world’s cities committed to addressing climate change.” Link:  https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/city-consumption-greenhouse-gases-carbon-c40-spd/

    Greenhouse Gas Protocol for Cities:  “Responsible for more than 70 percent of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, cities represent the single greatest opportunity for tackling climate change. “  Link: https://ghgprotocol.org/greenhouse-gas-protocol-accounting-reporting-standard-cities


    Submitted by Randy Litzenberger and Annie Phillips, Environmental Energy and Land Use caucus of the 34th Legislative District Democrats. Submitted and authored by members of the 43rd LD Democrats.

     

    Whole WA

    Resolution Supporting Whole Washington Health Trust 

    1024 1024 34th Democrats

    Approved by the membership at the 9/8/21 meeting.


    PROPOSED Resolution Supporting Whole Washington Health Trust 

    WHEREAS Article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets forth that “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control” establishes a fundamental right to healthcare1; 

    WHEREAS, in the Declaration of Independence,  a foundational document of the Constitution of the United States, declares the responsibility of government to protect certain unalienable rights which include but are not limited to the preservation of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” we conclude that healthcare is a prerequisite for the latter, and as such is indeed a human right; 

    WHEREAS in Washington State, 498,000 have no health coverage and even more residents are underinsured, and lives could be saved by ensuring access to healthcare; 

    WHEREAS COVID-19 demonstrates that healthcare should not be tied to employment; 

    WHEREAS the 2020 platform of the Washington State Democratic Party affirms that “healthcare is a basic human right,” and that “An affordable universal single-payer system is essential to provide the most equitable and effective health care, serving both individual and public health needs2” and; 

    WHEREAS the 2020 State Democratic Party Platform calls on “Washington State to establish a single-payer system for Washington residents until such time as a single-payer system is enacted nationally;” 

    WHEREAS a single-payer resolution was adopted by the Washington State Democratic Central Committee in April of 20173; 

    WHEREAS people of color, people with disabilities, and low income people are the most likely to lack affordable, comprehensive healthcare4; 

    WHEREAS Whole Washington has crafted a bill5 (SB 5204), introduced by Senator Hasegawa and 6 other cosponsors, guaranteeing universal healthcare to all Washingtonians, with a funding mechanism devised by a noted economist, reviewed by the Department of Revenue and the Employment Securities Department, which demonstrates that Washington state residents will save billions of dollars annually when universal healthcare is implemented; 

    THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the [Enter Your Org] endorse the Whole Washington universal healthcare bill; 

    THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT the upon adoption of this resolution, it be sent to the Seattle Times, and all state representatives in the Washington Legislature. 

    1. http://www.un.org/en/udhrbook/pdf/udhr_booklet_en_web.pdf 
    2. https://www.wa-democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/WSDCC-2020-Final-Platform.pdf  
    3. https://www.wa-democrats.org/sites/wadems/files/resolutions/WSDCCRES%20-%20817%20-%20170422%20-%20PASS%20-%20HEA%20-%20Single%20Payer.pdf
    4. http://www.epi.umn.edu/let/nutri/disparities/causes.shtm 
    5. http://www.wholewashington.org/faqs 

    Submitted by Jen Nye, member and co-lead of the Healthcare Policy Caucus.

    Pro Act

    Resolution in Support of the Protecting the Right to Organize (“PRO”) Act

    1024 1024 34th Democrats

    Adopted by the membership at the August 11th, 2021 membership meeting.


    Whereas history shows that increased unionization has the power to dramatically decrease economic inequality and build broadly shared prosperity; and

    Whereas making the economy work for working people will restore faith in our economy and our democracy; and

    Whereas union contracts are the single best tool for closing racial and gender pay gaps while ensuring fair and dignified treatment of workers and protecting against discrimination in employment or the workplace; and

    Whereas the last significant federal labor legislation was the National Labor Relations Act (“Wagner Act”) of 1935, which has been weakened over time by Congress, by courts, and by legislation in many states; and

    Whereas the Protecting the Right to Organize (“PRO”) Act, which has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and attracted 47 co-sponsors in the Senate, would – among other needed reforms – override states’ so-called “right-to-work laws, end the ban on secondary boycotts, implement card check, ban captive-audience meetings, enable independent contractors to organize collectively, and impose monetary penalties on companies and executives that violate workers’ rights – thus contributing significantly to a leveling of the playing field between workers who want to form a union and employers who’ve been exploiting weaknesses in the current law by intimidating and interfering with workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively;

    Therefore, be it resolved that we thank Senators Murray and Cantwell for co-sponsoring the PRO Act, and encourage them to continue their efforts to rally support from 60 or more Democratic, Republican and Independent Senators in order to prevent a filibuster from being used to block its passage; and

    Be it further resolved that we will vocally support the PRO Act and encourage our members to publicize our support via electronic means, at meetings, in “Letters to the Editor,” on social media, and in their precincts, neighborhoods, and communities; and

    Be it further resolved that we will send copies of this resolution to the Washington State Democratic Central Committee, MLK Labor, the Washington State Labor Council, and the Washington State AFL-CIO. 


     Submitted by Ann Martin, member of the Resolutions & Endorsements Committee. Authored by Brent McFarland and Thom Garrard from the 32nd Legislative District Democrats.

    Sustainable Mobility

    Resolution on Sustainable Mobility

    1024 1024 34th Democrats

    Adopted at the August 11th, 2021 membership meeting.


    WHEREAS Washington State, and in fact the whole country, is in the midst of a climate crisis, a housing crisis, and a failure to protect residents and visitors from vehicular accidents, with transportation creating 45%1(and increasing2) of Washington State’s greenhouse gases; and 

    WHEREAS Washington State has developed a massive backlog of deferred maintenance on existing roadways, of which 57%—$6.9 billionis unfunded, making Washington the eighth worst in the country for its share of roads (27%) in poor condition.4 At the same time, more than three-fourths of the state’s spending on roads went toward expansion—fourth highest in the nation, while the State, County, and City governments continue to build more lanes of highways and roads while underfunding investment in transit, passenger and freight rail, non-motorized mobility, and general mobility safety, and while these non-vehicular modes of transportation have been repeatedly demonstrated to create more culturally and economically vibrant neighborhoods and cities; and 

    WHEREAS Washington State has a history of racial/ethnic and income inequity in transportation infrastructure, including building highways—such as the 509 extension5through communities with higher percentages of color or lower incomes; and

    WHEREAS Washington State’s 18th Amendment creates a structural inequity by limiting gas tax revenues to highways purposes, and the legislature has created new funding sources with carbon pricing that have not yet been committed to carbon-reducing projects, and the legislature is likely to take up the issue of transportation funding in a special session later this year; and 

    WHEREAS We have an opportunity with carbon pricing revenues to invest in proven methods to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gasses, increase public safety, and reduce sprawl with mode shifts to non-car-based mobility including transit, bike lanes, pedestrian access, and “15-minute cities” while using the gas tax to fund for salmon recovery, the ferry system, and road maintenance; 

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the 34th District Democrats call for an end to the financially and environmentally unsustainable expansion of roads and highways, especially those through predominantly BIPOC or lower income neighborhoods, and instead use the gas tax in an equitable manner to adequately fund maintenance and repair of our highways, roads and ferry system, including modifications needed to meet our obligations for salmon habitat recovery; and

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the 34th District Democrats call for a true investment in environmentally sustainable mobility, public safety, and “15-minute cities” by dedicating 100% of the carbon pricing revenue, road use fees, and expanded car tab weight fees in a transformational investment by state, counties, and cities in non-vehicular mobility, that cannot be funded by the gas tax, including transit, passenger and freight rail, bike lanes, ADA compliance, and walkable, safe streets; and 

    BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this resolution shall be forwarded to the Chairs and Ranking Minority Members of the Washington House and Senate Transportation and Environment Committees, the legislative delegation from the  34th District, and the State and County Democratic Central Committees. 


    Submitted by Annie Phillips, 34th LD Democrats member, co-lead, Environment, Energy and Land Use Caucus, and 34th PCO, for consideration by the 34th Legislative District Democrats. 

    filabuster

    Resolution in Support of Eliminating the Senate Filibuster

    1024 1024 34th Democrats

    Adopted by the general membership at the July 14, 2021 membership meeting.


    Resolution in Support of Eliminating the Senate Filibuster

    WHEREAS The the authors of the United States Constitution intended legislation to be passed by simple majority vote1, and the Constitution mandates supermajority votes in only a few specific cases;2 and 

    WHEREAS The Senate filibuster was created unintentionally in 1806 after Senators removed what they thought was redundant language in the Senate rules, and was not part of the design of the Senate;3 and

    WHEREAS The use of the Senate filibuster was rare throughout much of the 19th century, and when employed it was generally used to delay and influence but not obstruct legislation, with most filibustered legislation eventually passing;4 and

    WHEREAS Senator John Calhoun and Southern Senators began to use the Senate filibuster successfully to preserve slavery prior to the Civil War5 and then to block voting rights for Black citizens during Reconstruction;6 and

    WHEREAS The Senate adopted the “cloture rule” in 1917 in the midst of a national security vote to allow a two-thirds vote to end a filibuster;7 and

    WHEREAS While Senate filibuster was used rarely8 “from the 87 years between when Reconstruction ended until 1964, the only category of legislation against which the filibuster was employed to actively stop bills in their tracks was Civil Rights legislation”,9 including 200 bills outlawing lynching,10 bills ending poll taxes and employment discrimination, and the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1964;11 and

    WHEREAS The Senate rules were changed in the 1970s to reduce the cloture vote to 60, to institute a “tracking system” and the “silent filibuster” that allows other legislation to proceed while a bill is being filibustered, and to allow a Senator to filibuster without even needing to be present;12 and 

    WHEREAS The use of the filibuster has skyrocketed since the 1970 and in recent years been used to block progressive legislation, including bills on worker rights, lobbying reform, voting rights and election reform, wage discrimination, a public option for healthcare, consumer protection, banking regulations, Social Security benefits, the DREAM Act, climate change legislation, and gun violence prevention in the wake of the Sandyhook mass shooting;13 and

    WHEREAS The Senate filibuster rule has created a de facto supermajority requirement to pass any legislation;14 and

    WHEREAS The filibuster has for several decades allowed Republicans to set the legislative agenda even when not in control of the Senate and despite representing a minority of the population of the United States;15 and

    WHEREAS The U.S. House of Representatives has introduced H.R. 1, The For the People Act,16 which would expand voting access, reduce the influence of big money in elections, and reverse the Republican Party’s assault on voting rights in many states;17 and

    WHEREAS The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 5, The Equality Act,18 which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation;19 and

    WHEREAS The U.S. House of Representatives has introduced H.R. 536, The New Way Forward Act,20 which would reform the process for enforcing the immigration laws of the United States;21 and

    WHEREAS A national $15 minimum wage was a central campaign promise of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and many Congressional Democrats and is supported by a large majority of Americans;22 and

    WHEREAS Discussions are underway regarding a New Civil Rights Act;23 and

    WHEREAS The 43rd District Democrats support24 Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico statehood;25 and

    WHEREAS The above legislation will likely be blocked by the requirement to achieve a 60-vote supermajority to end not just a filibuster but to overcome even just the threat of a filibuster26 despite Democrat control of the U.S. House, Senate, and Presidency; and

    WHEREAS Abolishing the filibuster will benefit Democrats and a progressive legislative agenda that will improve and strengthen the United States;27and

    WHEREAS Eliminating the filibuster will enable moderate Senators to “work across the aisle” and pass bills which have the support of a bipartisan majority;28 and

    WHEREAS Failing to fulfill our campaign promises because of an arcane Senate rule is unacceptable to Democratic voters and constituency groups, and would further embolden the rise of the authoritarian right;29 and

    WHEREAS More than 60 organizations and unions30 have joined in calling on the Senate to abolish the filibuster;31

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 43rd District Democrats support the elimination of the Senate filibuster, including by using the so-called “nuclear option”32 if necessary; and,

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 43rd District Democrats call on Senators Murray and Cantwell to make a public statement in support of ending the Senate filibuster, and to sponsor, support, and actively work to end the Senate filibuster in 2021 and pass the aforementioned legislation; and, 

    BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be submitted to Washington State Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Washington State Representative Pramila Jayapal, each of the Legislative District Democrats organizations of Washington State, and members of the media.

    Notes

    1. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/231040419.pdf 
    2. https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/full-text  and https://www.thoughtco.com/the-supermajority-vote-in-us-government-3322045 
    3. https://www.brookings.edu/testimonies/the-history-of-the-filibuster/ 
    4. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/case-against-filibuster 
    5. https://www.npr.org/2021/01/12/956018064/the-racist-history-of-the-senate-filibuster 
    6. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/case-against-filibuster 
    7. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/origins-of-filibuster-united-states-senate 
    8. https://www.brookings.edu/policy2020/votervital/what-is-the-senate-filibuster-and-what-would-it-take-to-eliminate-it/ 
    9. https://www.npr.org/2021/01/12/956018064/the-racist-history-of-the-senate-filibuster 
    10. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/06/senate-filibuster-monument-white-supremacy/613579/ 
    11. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/democracy/reports/2019/12/05/478199/impact-filibuster-federal-policymaking/ and also https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/06/senate-filibuster-monument-white-supremacy/613579/
    12. http://www.columbia.edu/~gjw10/rules_committee_statement_final.pdf 
    13. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/democracy/reports/2019/12/05/478199/impact-filibuster-federal-policymaking/ 
    14. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/all-the-lies-they-told-us-about-the-filibuster.html 
    15. https://www.latimes.com/politics/newsletter/2021-02-26/filibuster-threat-shapes-democrats-agenda-essential-politics 
    16. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1/text 
    17. https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a35296946/hr1-for-the-people-bill-reform-money-in-politics/ 
    18. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5/text 
    19. https://thehill.com/homenews/house/540558-house-passes-sweeping-protections-for-lgbtq-people  
    20. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/536/text 
    21. https://www.injusticewatch.org/news/immigration/2021/prison-deportation-pipeline-chuy-garcia-new-way-forward-act/ and https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/it-is-time-for-a-new-way-forward/
    22. https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/minimum-wage-white-house-low-wage-workers-1134878/ 
    23. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/18/opinion/biden-must-champion-new-civil-rights-act/ 
    24. https://www.43rddemocrats.org/s/2018-Final-Platform-1.pdf  
    25. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/20/puerto-rico-washington-dc-statehood-politics  
    26. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/origins-of-filibuster-united-states-senate 
    27. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/all-the-lies-they-told-us-about-the-filibuster.html 
    28. https://theweek.com/articles/963069/how-ending-filibuster-could-actually-foster-bipartisanship 
    29. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/21/opinion/biden-inauguration-democrats.html 
    30. https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/05/60-groups-and-unions-senate-democrats-end-harmful-gridlock-and-dysfunction 
    31. https://www.fixoursenate.org/press/full-page-new-york-times-ad-calls-on-senators-to-eliminate-the-filibuster-end-mcconnells-ability-to-continue-gridlock-and-dysfunction-from-minority 
    32. https://www.brookings.edu/policy2020/votervital/what-is-the-senate-filibuster-and-what-would-it-take-to-eliminate-it/ 

    Submitted by Camille Gix, Policy & Advocacy Committee Chair, 43rd LD Democrats, and Paul Chapman, 43rd LD Democrats member and PCO, for consideration by the 43rd Legislative District Democrats at their March 16, 2021 meeting.