Legislative Principles

Health Care. Democrats believe all Oregonians should have:

1. Health care that is universal, comprehensive, and affordable.
2. Medical decisions made solely by the health care provider and the patient.
3. Access to a full range of reproductive health care.
4. Health care with a wellness focus through education and prevention.

Shelter. Democrats believe all Oregonians should have:

1. Clean, safe and affordable housing.
2. Inclusive neighborhood development.
3. Energy-efficient new construction.

Food. Democrats believe all Oregonians should have:

1. A secure supply of safe, healthy and affordable food and water.
2. Food production practices that are safe and environmentally friendly.

Action Items

Health Care: Democrats believe all Oregonians should have:

1. Health care that is universal, comprehensive, and affordable.
   
   1. Implement a universal, single payer insurance plan.
   2. Fully fund Medicare, Medicaid and VA medical services.
   3. Health care that is non-discriminatory, including age, marital status, economic status, sexual orientation, citizenship or immigration status.
   4. Health care should include: prescription medication, dental and vision care, mental health services, hospice services and sex assignment treatment.
2. Medical decisions made solely by the health care provider and the patient.
   
   1. Medical records are private, privileged information between the patient and the health care provider.
   2. All state licensed pharmacists must fill all bona fide prescriptions.
   3. We support current policies of the Death with Dignity Act.
   4. We support the use of physician-prescribed medical marijuana, and availability to patients for whom it is prescribed.
3. Access to a full range of reproductive health care.
   
   1. Contraception should be easily available and affordable.
   2. Emergency contraceptive pills should be available without a prescription.
   3. Abortion should remain safe, legal and affordable. We oppose any restrictions on access to abortion services.
   4. Proper pre-natal care should be available for all women regardless of income.
4. Health care with a wellness focus through education and prevention.
   
   1. Provide early childhood screenings for vision and hearing.
   2. Provide comprehensive inoculation and immunization programs for communicable diseases.
   3. Provide education in public schools concerning sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), reproduction, and contraception.
   4. Provide screening for AIDS/HIV and STDs.
   5. Substance abuse should be treated as a public health issue with an emphasis on education and treatment rather than a punishment-based policy.

Shelter: Democrats believe all Oregonians should have:

1. Clean, safe and affordable housing.
   
   1. Support neighborhood and community revitalization programs.
   2. Support rental and homeowner opportunities for low-income families.
   3. Support homeless shelters.
2. Inclusive neighborhood development.
   
   1. Land use and zoning decisions should include low-income housing that is incorporated with other residential housing.
   2. In municipalities low-income housing should be located near public transportation and schools.
   3. Municipalities should include space for manufactured homes within city limits. Legislation is needed to provide reasonable protection for manufactured home residents.
3. Energy-efficient new construction.
   
   1. All new housing should meet rigorous requirements for heating efficiency. Emphasis should be on heat sources other than petroleum or natural gas, such as efficient electrical heating devices, solar or sustainable resources.
   2. Codes for manufactured housing should include provisions for all-around insulation to minimize the cost of heating and cooling.
   3. State or local governments should provide subsidies or tax credits to homeowners and landlords who increase the energy efficiency of their property through energy saving windows and heating systems.

Food: Democrats believe all Oregonians should have:

1. A secure supply of safe, healthy and affordable food and water.
   
   1. We support a strategic plan to reduce hunger over the next decade.
   2. The Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program, food stamps, and senior coupon food program, free/reduced fee breakfast and lunch programs in schools, as well as other federally-funded, stateadministered food programs should be fully funded.
   3. Community food banks and soup kitchens should be supported by local municipalities.
   4. Complete food product labeling to include nutritional value, and where and how the product was manufactured or harvested.
   5. Provide public education on proper nutrition.
   6. School breakfast and lunch programs should emphasize healthy and nutritious choices.
   7. Because food distribution depends on long-distance trucking, governments should plan for an emergency food distribution system in the event of a major disruption in supplies of petroleum.
2. Food production practices which are safe and environmentally friendly.
   
   1. Food that has been genetically modified (GMOs) must be labeled as such.
   2. Any recognized health threat in animal production should be avoided through adequate and effective regulation and inspection.
   3. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should regulate label accuracy and safety of dietary supplements.