Platform
A work in Progress
Human Rights
A. Equality in well-being
Basic economic rights for all: secure jobs at living wages; decent housing; adequate food and clothing; universal health care; quality education; a safe, clean environment; a progressive tax system; sustainable, safe food production based upon family farms and farm cooperatives; and protection from economic insecurity caused by old age, sickness, accident and unemployment.
B. Police Reform
An elected Citizens Review board, proper training especially in dealing with non-projectial weapons and unarmed protesters, and the means to remove bad police officers from the force.
C. Bill of Rights emphasis and defenseThe Patriot Act is in direct violation of the Bill of Rights. Local control over Federal laws in opposition to the Bill of Rights.
D. Equality in education Includes 2 years of free post secondary education, also to include vocational programs. Teaching about the contributions of all the players in our history. Early language training, including Sign Language.
E. Children’s rights
A Bill of Rights for Washington’s Children, guaranteeing true equality of opportunity, providing equal education for all students, and achieving an adequate standard of health care, nutrition, housing, and safety.
F. Native American Rights: Recognize tribes at the state level, the state should support their efforts for federal recognition. Treaty Rights must be supported. Urban Indians should receive the support due them from treaties signed by their various tribes without having to travel long distances for basic health care. The free college education guaranteed them by the treaties should be offered at state supported schools. No interference with treaty rights
G. Respect for and enforcement of UN principles-Fair Trade, such as buying fair trade coffee, chocolate for use in state offices, cafeterias. No treaties with other nations that undercut Fair Trade.
H. Women’s Rights.Full equality, including equal pay for equal work, the right to make medical decisions with her doctor–without state interference.
I. Fair domestic partnership laws:
If those dwelling in the same household want the right to make medical decisions together, pay taxes as domestic partners, or even to marry, as long as they are not first degree relatives–it is not up to the state to interfere. Those married, as well as single people, who are able to provide a safe and loving home should be able to adopt.
II. Election Reform/Campaign Finance Reform
Although we would prefer Proportional Representation, we are backing Instant Runoff Voting as a good first step. Clean elections laws need to be passed immediately, and Lobbying laws modified to stop unfair influences. We oppose the use of touchscreen voting machines without a paper ballot.
III.Ecology: respect for and conservation of the earth and its living systems.
A. Pure food and drug. Stop the use of heavy metals and brain and nerve tissue from dead animals in fertilizer. Heavy fines for malicious spraying of neighbor’s organic fields.
B. Genetic labeling/right-to-know.Label Genetically-Modified foods.
C. Focus on alternate fuels and energy. Take the tax off biodiesel fuel and fuel alcohol until popularity makes the price go down. Encourage solar energy–including the manufacturing of solar panels.
D. Encourage small farms, small businesses.Lower the B&O tax by taxing profits, not money in. Allow for a "Green Belt" Tax exemption for working farms over 5 acres. Stop handouts as tax cuts to major corporations.
IV. Economic Well-Being
A. Living Wage Amendment. Wages should equal three times the average monthly housing cost.
B. Livable housing for all at a price low income people, such as those on Social Security, can afford.
C. Expand Medicare to all ages.
D. Food for all -no one should starve to death in this great state. Food stamps should be increased for those with special food needs, such as diabetics and Celiacs
E. Tax Reform
1. Take tax breaks away from companies that outsource jobs, even to other states. Return the money to creating jobs in Washington, education and healthcare. Return tax rates for wealthy and corporations to what they were under Eisenhower.
2. Heavy taxes on extraction and polluting industries (includes logging)
3.Special Improvements taxes, such as adding utilites within a single developement, or creating mass transit districts.
G. Focus on Job Training and Creation in WashingtonCooperate with state higher education institutions, unions in training for jobs. Stop funding companies that outsource jobs. Tax breaks only for companies that will create jobs in Washington.
H. Labor Rights: Includes the right To join a union freely without fear of being fired or other retribution To strike without fear of losing one’s job
How We Work
By-Laws
Bylaws of the Progressive Party of Washington
1. NAME
The name of this political party shall be the Progressive Party of Washington, AKA/The Bullmoose party AKA/The Progressive Party.
2.1 Purpose Statement
The purpose of the party is to find and run candidates who reflect Progressive values and principles, to promote reform and help the people to take the government under their own leadership. Reflecting the ideas in RCW 42.17.251, we agree that the people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that serve them..
2.2 Methods
The Progressive Party may use any and all methods of non-violent social change: direct action, community organizing and education, personal empowerment, issue campaigns, ballot initiatives, and/or electoral campaigns; and their related strategies and tactics.
3.1 Application for Membership
Membership in the Progressive Party of Washington is open to any person, regardless of age, race, color, national origin, spiritual belief, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, or physical challenge who pays annual dues or does work in lieu of payment, who also is respectful of their fellow members’ and their rights, and is not pursuing a private agenda. Members must have not only the good of the party in mind, but the Greater Good of the people of Washington.. Steps will be taken to protect the applicant’s anonymity upon request as noted on the application form.
3.2 Powers and Duties of Members
Members may vote on issues and serve on the Coordinating Council and related groups and committees; are eligible to receive the newsletter when it is ready; and can participate in all electronic communications of the Progressive Party. Membership in the Progressive Party is based on mutual respect. Members participate in good faith in discussion and decision-making and resolve conflicts peaceably. Members shall refrain from abusive and disruptive behavior. Any member who fails to fulfill these responsibilities may be subject to suspension or removal (see section 4.13).
3.3 Beginning of Membership
Membership shall begin three weeks after a prospective member’s application form is received by the Membership Coordinator. Powers of membership shall be granted to new members following this three-week period.
3.4 Good Standing
Membership in the Progressive Party of Washington is based on mutual respect. Members participate in good faith in discussion and decision-making and resolve conflicts peaceably. Members shall refrain from abusive and disruptive behavior. Members who fulfill these responsibilities shall be in good standing with the Progressive Party. Any member who fails to fulfill these responsibilities may be subject to suspension or removal. (See Section 4.13.)
4.1 The Coordinating Council Meetings
The state coordinating council will meet at least quarterly face to face. Two of these meetings may be in connection with state conventions.
Other meetings may be by email or by conference call, as needed. Votes made by email are binding if approved as valid. Meetings will by conducted by Robert’s Rules of Order unless those meeting vote to waive this requirement.
4.2 The further structure of the party.
State law clearly states that majority parties will consist of a state party, county councils and district parties. As we grow, a county party may be formed in each county as membership reaches 40 active members. Prior to this point, the party will be known as an incipient party. County parties are charged with the responsibility to help their party grow, nurturing the district groups after they reach a point where the party may grown beyond a county party. County chapters do not have to give a percentage of what money they have raised to the state party, however, all members need to join the state party, and county chapters can buy printed materials and so forth from the state party.
State Convention: A State Party Convention shall be held annually to establish and revise the Party Platform, and to conduct any other business placed on the agenda by a County Committee, the State Committee, or the State Coordinating Committee. The Convention Delegates shall be the members of the District and County Committees. By majority vote, the State Convention may amend these bylaws, and by a two-thirds majority vote, may amend the Party Charter.
State Committee Delegates: The Chairs of the County Committees shall be delegates to the State Committee. County Committees shall elect additional delegates to the State Committee, in proportion to that County Parties membership. Each County Committee is also entitled to elect a number of alternate State Committee delegates up to one half (rounded to the next whole number) of that county’s regular State Committee delegate allotment. An absent State Committee delegate may designate an alternate delegate to vote at State Committee meetings in her/his absence. If no designation has been made, any alternates elected from the County may fill absent delegate slots. If there are more alternates from a County at a meeting than there are absent regular delegates, the regular State Committee members from that County in attendance shall select which alternates may vote. No County delegation to the State Committee may be exclusively male.
Recall and Vacancies: All County Committee officers and Delegates to the State Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the County Committee, and may be recalled and replaced upon a majority vote of the entire County Committee. The County Committee may fill officer, and state delegate vacancies, occurring other than by recall, by a majority vote of those present and voting.
4.4 Coordinating Council
The Coordinating Council of the Progressive Party of Washington will consist of a Chair, a Co-Chair and a Treasurer. Treasurers are encouraged to be trained by the PDC. CC members must be members in good standing of The Progressive Party. New officers will be added as needed.
4.5 Coordinating Council Sessions
The Coordinating Council shall meet at least once a month. The time, place, and agenda shall be publicized to all members. Any Progressive Party member in good standing may propose agenda items, but only Council members may vote. The meeting shall be open to all Progressive Party members. The meeting shall be open to non-members at the discretion of the Coordinating Council.
4.7 Coordinating Council Terms of Service
The Coordinating Council members shall be elected for one-year terms by the Membership. They shall be limited to two consecutive terms, after which they shall be ineligible for service for a period of not less than one year. The only exception to this rule is the first two years of the party organization. While we lack members, those who are willing and able to fill those offices may fill them for as long as it takes to build membership to the point where term limits make sense.
4.9 Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for taking and publishing minutes of all Membership and Coordinating Council meetings, notifying the membership of upcoming meetings, and keeping and making available accurate records. The Secretary shall exercise special care to make all records, announcements, and other important communication easily accessible to members without Internet access. The Secretary shall assist in developing the agendas for the CC and convention.
4.10 Treasurer
The Treasurer shall prepare yearly budgets and monitor ongoing expenses. The Treasurer shall keep the accounting, or arrange with a qualified professional to do so, and will report monthly to the Coordinating Council and the Membership Meeting. The Treasurer and one other specified Coordinating Council member may sign checks. Checks may not be signed and co-signed by members of the same household or immediate family members. The Treasurer shall work closely with the Fundraisers to provided needed information.
4.13 Suspension and Removal
Any member of the Coordinating Council or of the The Progressive Party may be suspended or removed for cause by a 3/4-vote of the Coordinating Council. The term of suspension or removal shall be determined by the Coordinating Council. A suspended member is not in good standing, and may not participate in decision-making, voting, or electronic communications. A removed member is restricted as a suspended member is, and additionally may not attend meetings, except those portions of meetings where the appeal is part of the agenda.
4.14 Appeals
Any member who is suspended or removed from membership may appeal her/his suspension or removal. Appeals may be made to the Coordinating Council or directly to the Membership. One appeal may be submitted per term of suspension or removal.
4.15 Executive Committee
The Coordinating Council shall establish an Executive Committee to make urgent decisions between CC meetings. Three individuals from among the CC members shall comprise the Executive Committee.
4.16 Caucuses
A caucus of like-minded members may form at any time. A caucus shall be free to work with the CC, or the General Membership. A caucus should be consulted by other bodies of the organization on issues dealing with their area of interest.
4.17 Circle of Advisors
The Coordinating Council may appoint individuals (The Progressive Party members or non-members) to the Circle of Advisors. Members of the Circle of Advisors shall advise the Coordinating Council, or Caucuses. They shall be invited to participate in the Annual Retreat, and allow their names to be used in Progressive Party communications. Any member of the The Progressive Party may recommend an appointee for this body to the Coordinating Council.
5.1 Methodology
A 3/4-majority vote is needed for passage of a major proposal. A simple majority will be used for minor decisions.. Significant minority concerns shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
6.1 Procedure for Amendment
Proposed amendments to these Bylaws must be submitted to the Secretary no later than three weeks prior to the Membership Meeting at which the proposed Amendments shall be considered. In order to be considered, an Amendment must have the support of three members in good standing.
6.2 Notification
The Secretary shall communicate to all members at least two weeks in advance of a Membership Meeting at which an amendment or amendments to these Bylaws are to be considered [a] the date of the meeting, [b] the complete text of the amendment(s) under consideration, and [c] any other information useful in considering the value of the proposed amendment(s).
6.3 Ratification
Amendments to these Bylaws may only be adopted by a three-fourths vote of a Membership Meeting.
By-Laws may not be placed in a particular order which results in moving specific by-law proposals to the end of the voting time with the idea of preventing a vote on them. All by-laws amendments will be voted on, or moved to the very next meeting. At a convention, resolutions proposed at the convention and proposed by-laws changes will take precedence over all business except nomination and voting in of officers or candidates.