Jun
26
Written by:
Andy Hogue
6/26/2010 4:18 PM
CORPUS CHRISTI -- Texas Democratic delegates quickly approved a platform that sees government as, in the words of platform committee chairman Rep. Garnet Coleman, "not as a hindrance, but one that gives opportunity."
Delegates, as is the practice in the Democratic state conventions, did not have a printed copy of the platform report to scrutinize. Still, delegates had few questions on the document.
Coleman read a summary of the report that covered a wide range of topics such as: Bringing down utility rates; ensuring "access to good retirement;" closing the "donut hole" in Medicare coverage; fairness in administering capitol punishment; "nurturing" agriculture in rural Texas; and putting sexual orientation up there with race and gender in terms of anti-discrimination laws.
The platform also called for formal declarations of war as an alternative to "funding police actions around the world."
A delegate or two worried about a lack of specificity on the definition of "naturalized citizens," and concerns over global warming and pollution. Coleman said there was plenty of verbage covering those topics. Discussion on the topics did not last longer than 10 minutes.
"I'm very proud that as a party," Coleman said, "we have a diversity of points of view so that we can put together a platform that represents our broad values as a Democratic party. Unlike the other party, it's a platofrm we can be proud of ..."
Coleman said a full copy would be made available on Tuesday.
In addition to the platform report, delegates approved a series of resolutions. A few included: ending diversion of funds from Transportation Fund 6; inviting those who "mistakenly" signed a Green Party ballot placement petition to cross over to the Democratic Party; not denying homosexual couples adoption rights; calling for requiring background checks at gun shows; and supporting the transfer of the State Board of Education's textbook approval powers to the Texas Education Agency.
There was a narrow division on a resolution which passed decrying the "personhood" or corporations, inspired by a recent Supreme Court decision which gave businesses the same rights as individuals in donating to candidates.
Interestingly, a resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty passed without a hitch.
Several memorial resolutions including one memorializing a motorcycle riders' rights activist named Sputnik. In honor of Sputnik, a further resolution supporting motorcycle safety and driver awareness was swiftly approved.
With resolutions concluded, the convention ended at 6 p.m.