2022 North Dakota Democratic-Nonpartisan League Party Platform & Resolutions As Approved by Convention Delegates on March 25th, 2022
Preamble
We are members of the North Dakota Democratic-Nonpartisan League Party (Dem-NPL) joined together to work to build an ethical government creating a better tomorrow for all people.
Values
The Dem-NPL supports sound economic policies that prioritize families, organized labor, agriculture, and a living wage and that will build North Dakota’s future.
The Dem-NPL believes in the individual’s right to freedom, equality, and justice through the fair and equitable treatment of all persons.
The Dem-NPL leads in building strong, safe communities, with quality education, affordable healthcare and family support services, accessible emergency services, and respect for our veterans.
The Dem-NPL works to provide opportunities for the future generations through quality education and sound economic development.
Platform
Agriculture
The Dem-NPL supports economic stability for ranchers and farmers, inclusive of locally grown, organic, regenerative, and sustainable projects; Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs); continued seed research and development; anti-corporate farming law; the Agriculture Products Utilization Commission; local control on zoning ordinances providing setbacks, odor limits, other environmental impacts. The Dem-NPL supports the study of the feasibility of additional state-operated enterprises.
Business, Labor and Economic Development
The Dem-NPL supports initiatives for the development of entrepreneurial small business in rural and urban areas. Regarding economic changes in coal and oil counties, we call upon the State of North Dakota to expand efforts to support and expand economic diversification, local opportunities, and workforce development so that communities can shape their future with high paying jobs and income.
The Dem-NPL supports fully funding state retirement and pension funds of a defined benefit plan for teachers and public employees; and maintaining separate retirement systems for public employees (PERS) and educators (TFFR), in addition to keeping them as a defined benefit plan.
The Dem-NPL supports expanding education and training programs of workforce development and career transition for both Union and Non-Union “Blue Collar” and “White Collar” workers to meet the needs of the marketplace.
The Dem-NPL supports repealing the constitutional provision “Right to Work” laws and supports education to explain the dangerous and disingenuous use of the phrase “Right to Work.”
The Dem-NPL supports enforcement of legislation that penalizes employers who exploit undocumented workers and their situation.
The Dem-NPL supports passage of an Injured Workers Bill of Rights, which would include support wrap-around services (mental and physical needs of the injured worker).
The Dem-NPL supports fair labor policies for all workers’ rights including a living wage, a safe workplace, and quality affordable healthcare for their families.
The Dem-NPL supports local, state and federal policies that will eliminate the income inequality gap.
The Dem-NPL supports reimbursing the providers the full cost of providing care to people with disabilities, behavioral health needs, foster care, and other care needs.
The Dem-NPL supports the increase of minimum wage to a living wage for all workers, including servers, with annual cost of living adjustments that are indexed to actual inflation.
The Dem-NPL supports broadband equality for all and the reinstatement of a free and open internet through net neutrality.
The Dem-NPL supports the revision of Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI) to include volunteer first responders and firefighters. Our rural areas rely on these volunteers to protect the health and safety of the citizens and community.
The Dem-NPL understands the term “Locked-Out Workers” and supports a change in the ND Century Code that specifies, when a worker is barred from the premises preventing the employee from performing the tasks they were hired to do, the worker will be eligible for unemployment compensation.
The Dem-NPL supports a partnership between the state and the five Tribal Governments in the development of a Tribal Economic Development Plan.
The Dem-NPL supports funding and infrastructure for Economic Development of small businesses in smaller towns and cities.
The Dem-NPL supports bringing back the Project Labor Agreement, paying prevailing wages in state construction projects. (i.e., the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931.)
The Dem-NPL supports the exclusion of any tax on so-called “Cadillac” health plans (i.e.-UPS)
The Dem-NPL supports our Congressional delegation doing all it can to restore a reliable and viable postal service, which includes Saturday delivery.
The Dem-NPL supports reversing the income inequality gap that has been widening for the past three decades and supports local, state and federal policies that will reverse this trend.
The Dem-NPL supports paid family leave that would provide up to 12 weeks of partial wage replacement leave for the birth or adoption of a child, parenting, or care of a seriously ill family member.
Education
The Dem-NPL supports subsidies for post-secondary education, including low interest loans, and two years of tuition-free education for North Dakota high school graduates attending North Dakota Universities, Colleges, and Trade Schools, and full forgiveness of student loans for borrowers residing in North Dakota and making regular loan payments for 60 months. We also support the development of additional vocational and technical programs, summer school programs, resources for libraries and other non-traditional approaches to education, lifelong learning, and critical thinking skills for all age groups.
The Dem-NPL supports state assistance for school districts providing universal early childhood education and the expansion of Head Start, English Language Learners, and job training for all New Americans and immigrants, as well as free transportation and lunches for all students.
The Dem-NPL is committed to providing before and after school learning programs, as well as funding for the local portion of special education consistent with the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), adequate health services, social workers, with compensation for all educators and support staff that is regionally and nationally competitive.
The Dem-NPL supports collective bargaining rights for all educators and support professionals.
The Dem-NPL supports Native American curriculum for all elementary, secondary, public and non-public schools in North Dakota that includes the everyday tribal culture, language, and teachings of the past, present, and future.
Effective Government
The Dem-NPL opposes all efforts to privatize Social Security or weaken Medicare; The Dem-NPL supports an elimination of the cap on taxable earnings for Social Security taxes;
The Dem-NPL supports the elimination of income tax on Social Security income;
The Dem-NPL supports an election process free of procedural barriers that disenfranchises or discourages any voters;
The Dem-NPL supports requiring paper copies of ballots for auditing and canvassing purposes for all voting methods;
The Dem-NPL supports decisive action and effective funding of the Ethics commission to achieve full implementation;
The Dem-NPL supports the funding of the infrastructure of all political subdivisions, including all areas impacted by flooding;
The Dem-NPL supports annual legislative sessions within the 80-day biennial limit;
The Dem-NPL supports a constitutional amendment to create a non-partisan citizen-driven redistricting commission;
The Dem-NPL supports a constitutional amendment to reverse the “Citizens United” Supreme Court Decision;
The Dem-NPL supports the DREAM Act and other efforts that provide pathways to citizenship, and supports the regulation of immigration through non-discriminatory criteria; and
The Dem-NPL supports the cultivation of future leaders at the local level.
Energy, Environment and Natural Resources
The Dem-NPL supports “A No Drilling Policy” on public lands. The Dem-NPL supports a more comprehensive state policy on oil and gas drilling that addresses impacts on air, land, water, housing, other infrastructure, and wild game hunting.
The Dem-NPL supports that the State ensures that any expansion or modernization of pipelines, transmission lines, and additional oil refining capacity be done in an environmentally and culturally responsible manner by creating an exit plan to close down and repurpose into renewable energy powerhouses.
The Dem-NPL supports the State in investing and the development of the infrastructure necessary to have our own natural gas utility, crude oil refining facilities, on site power generation, and own wind power, and solar power manufacturing facilities.
The Dem-NPL supports a significant increase in funding for research and development of new and renewable fuels and supports incentives to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels.
The Dem-NPL supports state and federal legislation that would require oil companies using the technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, to disclose the chemicals contained in the injection fluid to the North Dakota Department of Health for public disclosure.
The Dem-NPL supports state and federal legislation that considers environmental responsibility first and foremost in all energy development. Consideration should be given to landowner rights, with damage and reclamation costs being borne by the energy companies.
The Dem-NPL supports actual “pre-bonding” and insurance of energy companies, and their activities, rather than “self-bonding” for spills, incidents, and remediation. We believe companies with a spill record should not be allowed to continue operation until the entire spill is cleaned up and the land is returned to its original state.
The Dem-NPL supports the protection of special places in ND. Appropriate state and federal agencies must review every drilling permit application for areas within 2 miles of sacred sites, burial sites, locations designated as Tribal Historic Preservation sites, communities, National and State Parks, National and Historic Sites, US Forest Service Backcountry Recreation Areas, The Missouri, Yellowstone, and Little Missouri Rivers, State Game Management Area and Federal Waterfowl Production Areas and National Wildlife Refuges, and similarly designated areas, to ensure best possible siting of well pads and the roads leading to them.
The Dem-NPL supports research into ending reliance on coal as a power source and if possible, making coal more environmentally responsible.
The Dem-NPL urges the legislature to undertake a study and change the unitization law to protect the mineral owners including that state’s mineral interests by making unitization for secondary recovery only.
The Dem-NPL supports legislation allowing for flaring of natural gas for only the first 30 days after a well begins producing, with significant, binding penalties for non-compliance.
The Dem-NPL supports increasing oversight and enforcement of the dumping of toxic and radioactive waste. Furthermore, we support constitutional protection for local jurisdictions and landowners to approve or deny any waste site within their realm, the study of additional means of cataloging tracking, disposal, and containment of toxic and radioactive materials.
The Dem-NPL supports no reduction in fines, stricter enforcement of existing rules and regulations on current energy development industries, and establishment of an oversight agency that is non-partisan.
The Dem-NPL supports moving the Public Service Commission positions to a non-partisan race on the ballot.
The Dem-NPL supports developing a plan that addresses the short and long-term needs for safe drinking water, which includes attention to flood control and mitigation.
The Dem-NPL urges the North Dakota Legislature to enact measures that would require forfeiture of leases on the part of energy and mining companies that do not meet the bonus payment terms of a mineral lease.
The Dem-NPL supports frequent inspections of disposal wells for pressure tests, and immediately shut down wells that do not meet current standards.
The Dem-NPL supports pre-testing of the air, land and water prior to the development of any new oil refineries or processing structures (to develop a baseline for tests after the facility is in operation); any new construction of an oil refinery should require a full site review and public hearings by the Public Service Commission.
The Dem-NPL supports the separation of the marketing and regulation of mineral interests.
The Dem-NPL supports taking science-based actions to reduce the threat of climate change and address the economic, social, and environmental impact on North Dakotans and future generations, and in making ethical policy decisions to remediate the environmental and economic effects of climate change.
The Dem-NPL supports the creation of a state-funded study commission to identify and evaluate fiscal impacts from climate change and create policies to address this issue. We support tax breaks for the installation of solar panels or other renewables. We encourage the installation of solar panels and other renewables on publicly owned buildings.
The Dem-NPL supports creation of a state-owned recycling plant.
The Dem-NPL supports legislation aimed at levying a carbon tax on plants and factories that pollute the air.
The Dem-NPL supports legislation to protect hunting, fishing areas for public access.
The Dem-NPL opposes oilfield fracking companies to purchase water from aquifers. Aquifer water must be preserved for farming and ranching.
The Dem-NPL calls upon the State of North Dakota to expand its workforce development and career transition programs in renewable energy and energy storage.
The Dem-NPL encourages funding of a green new deal, supports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and opposes any attempt to de-fund its operational budget to a level that it cannot function.
The Dem-NPL supports the Just Transition plan for workers in the fossil fuel industry to the renewable energy industry, and the injection of funds raised from fossil fuel production into the expansion of the North Dakota renewable industry to a commensurate size to accommodate these workers.
The Dem-NPL supports pre-testing of the air, land, and water prior to the development of any new oil refineries or processing structures (to develop a baseline for tests after the facility is in operation); any new construction of an oil refinery should require a full site review and public hearings by the Public Service Commission.
The Dem-NPL supports the separation of the marketing and regulation of mineral interests.
The Dem-NPL supports taking science-based actions to reduce the threat of climate change and address the economic, social, and environmental impact on North Dakotans and future generations, and in making ethical policy decisions to remediate the environmental and economic effects of climate change.
The Dem-NPL supports the creation of a state-funded study commission to identify and evaluate fiscal impacts from climate change and suggest mitigating policies.
Foreign Policy
The Dem-NPL supports the lawful use of all four elements of national power – diplomacy, information, military, and economics – in a cohesive, multi-domain campaign plan before, during, and following international conflict, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.
The Dem-NPL condemns all wars of aggression and all crimes against humanity.
The Dem-NPL supports increasing free trade with Cuba.
Health and Human Services
The Dem-NPL supports universal single-payer healthcare, implementation of the medical marijuana legislation, access to reproductive pre- and post-natal care, and accurate sexual health education for all students. The Dem-NPL opposes abstinence-only sexual health education.
The Dem-NPL supports capping the costs of life-saving medications, such as insulin.
The Dem-NPL supports increasing support for regional and tribal addiction treatment centers, the use of vouchers to secure all mental health and substance abuse treatments in the Medicaid program, statewide access to regional medically-based psychiatric services, comprehensive support services to pregnant minors and review of laws related to consent for pregnancy testing, prenatal care, and pain management.
The Dem-NPL opposes any attempts to repeal the federal Affordable Care Act or Medicaid Expansion.
The Dem-NPL supports veterans with full health and dental care, services that address all mental health issues, ensure coverage for children, continued state funding for stroke registry, training and public education.
The Dem-NPL supports expansion of Division of EMS administrative support and partial loan forgiveness for those who serve in rural communities, providing health benefits and Workers Compensation to volunteer firefighter and emergency responders, the full implementation of Mental Health parity for both public and private insurance, and continuing programs that enhance the lives on individuals with disabilities. We also support direct services for critical needs of all workers in times of economy/job stress.
The Dem-NPL supports increased physical and behavioral health of all North Dakotans, the retention of Medicare’s guaranteed benefits, full funding of Indian Health Services, ongoing training of healthcare professionals, reciprocity of healthcare professionals’ licensure from other states, and paid maternal, paternal, and family leave for all full-time and part-time employees.
The Dem-NPL supports tobacco reduction programs, and continuation of North Dakota Tobacco Settlement funding of prevention/cessation programs, training people to do CPR, emergency defibrillators being places in public locations, and “Help Lines” for parents who have concerns with overly abusive or violent children.
Housing, Childcare and Quality of Life
The Dem-NPL supports making North Dakota’s childcare quality rating and improvement system available to all early care and learning settings ensuring children have optimal opportunities, to include developmental optical and psychological support.
The Dem-NPL urges the state legislature to develop a needs-based formula to assist with rental costs, with an emphasis on the elderly, veterans, young families and people with disabilities.
The Dem-NPL supports providing Bank of North Dakota loan guarantees available to cover the housing appraisal gap especially in rural and oil patch regions and to assist localities in fighting homelessness and providing housing affordability for all.
The Dem-NPL supports increased funding for developing professional childcare services throughout North Dakota.
The Dem-NPL supports providing educational and training opportunities to childcare workers, grants to licensed childcare providers to assist with facilities and equipment, childcare tax credits, and business government partnerships.
The Dem-NPL supports adequate funding of State staffing for on-site visits to childcare facilities and to review and investigate any concerns.
The Dem-NPL supports increasing the childcare assistance program funding and creating tax incentives for businesses who pay all or a portion of their employees’ childcare expenses.
The Dem-NPL supports assistance to low-income and homeless families who have no access to daycare.
The Dem-NPL supports the Legislature taking action toward the plight of the homeless; recognizing that despite the closure of shelters, every North Dakotan should have a guaranteed right to shelter.
Human Rights
The Dem-NPL supports defending the rights of each individual to live up to their full potential, thus promoting ways to build peace, protecting democracy, championing human rights defenders, and safeguarding all North Dakotans. We support the work of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition and support the development of a stand-alone Commission on Human Rights to nurture respect and dignity.
The Dem-NPL affirms the value of people of color and Native Americans, promotes anti-racism education, and denounces racism and all forms of bigotry and intolerance.
The Dem-NPL supports programs for seniors that enhance their lives and living situations, especially their ability to live independently, secure affordable housing and prescription drugs, and work against elder abuse and exploitation.
The Dem-NPL supports veterans receiving the care and benefits they have earned, increasing veteran educational benefits and job training, and fighting to end chronic homelessness.
The Dem-NPL affirms our sacred obligation to our Native American population, honoring the land on which they first lived, the treaties and federal statutes, and acknowledging past and current injustices which destroy Native American economies, social and religious systems, and compound intergenerational trauma.
The Dem-NPL affirms offering hospitality to refugees fleeing violence, providing them with opportunities for growth and success in our state. We support strengthening relationships between community members, seeking ways to end racial and ethnic profiling.
The Dem-NPL values religious freedom for all and rejects the misuse of religion to discriminate. We also seek ways to end discrimination against all disabilities, and advocate for complete access to quality healthcare and programs.
The Dem-NPL denounces all forms of youth and adult sexual assault, gender-based violence, human trafficking, and all forms of violence against Native American women and children. We support adequate funding for programs supporting Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
and Persons. To ensure the rights of LGBTQ+ youth and adults, we oppose discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Dem-NPL supports enactment of hate crime legislation and condemns the rhetoric and illegal activities of hate groups and supremacists.
The Dem-NPL supports data privacy rights and opposes the exploitation of people by any entity that claims the human experience as free raw material for hidden commercial purposes of extraction, prediction and sales.
Infrastructure
The Dem-NPL supports a significant increase in funding for transportation infrastructure.
The Dem-NPL supports repairing and rebuilding our roads and bridges with a focus on resilience, climate change mitigation, equity, and safety for all users.
The Dem-NPL supports helping to connect every North Dakotan to reliable high-speed internet.
The Dem-NPL supports preparing more of our infrastructure for the impacts of climate change, cyber attacks, and extreme weather events.
The Dem-NPL supports increased public transportation with a focus on providing to seniors, the disabled, and healthcare needs, including electric and renewable options.
The Dem- NPL supports the establishment of passenger rail, including high-speed rail where feasible.
The Dem-NPL supports all North Dakotan communities having clean, affordable, and safe drinking water as a human right.
The Dem-NPL supports the development of a network of electric charging stations, updating vehicle and traffic codes to safely incorporate driverless vehicles.
The Dem-NPL supports funding and promotion of biking trails, and protect cyclists’ rights to the road.
The Dem-NPL supports the subsidy of small regional airports.
Public Safety
The Dem-NPL is committed to enhancing public safety while diminishing prison costs by supporting state funded use of devices that sense when offenders are using alcohol and drugs and supporting state funded regional substance abuse treatment programs as an alternative to incarceration for those convicted of nonviolent drug violations. To reduce the stress of overdose on our medical infrastructure and public safety workers, the Dem-NPL supports Safe Injection Sites and other on-site consumption sites for the public; and access to narcan and fentanyl testing strips.
The Dem-NPL is committed to making changes needed to reduce prescription drug abuse in the state including increased support for regional and tribal addition treatment.
The Dem-NPL supports legalization, regulation and taxation of cannabis and the full expungement of non-violent drug offenses. The Dem-NPL opposes the corporatization of recreational and medical cannabis industries, and thus supports and individual’s right to grow reasonable amounts of cannabis for self consumption.
The Dem-NPL supports the funding of research to develop useful tests for law enforcement to detect impairment due to an excessive use of controlled substances.
The Dem-NPL supports common sense regulation regarding the safe use of firearms for North Dakotans.
The Dem-NPL supports requiring North Dakota unlicensed gun sellers at gun shows and private gun dealers to conduct the same background checks that licensed dealers conduct using the National Criminal Instant Background Check system.
The Dem-NPL supports secure process for students and adults to anonymously report suspected gun violence behavior, along with organized community forums where groups can share ideas, parents and kids can learn where to turn to help, and training is provided in the community to learn the signs of potential danger, and provides information on how to seek intervention.
The Dem-NPL supports mandatory certified firearm safety training for any first time purchaser of a firearm.
The Dem-NPL supports railroad safety and will oppose any possible legislation to require only one person in the railroad engine area.
The Dem-NPL supports protection, safety measures, and long term planning for EMS workers and law enforcement.
The Dem-NPL supports expanding the 24/7 sobriety program.
Tax Structure
The Dem-NPL strongly urges the State Legislature to address inequities and deficiencies in the current property tax system.
The Dem-NPL supports a full reversal of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act Tax Reform. The Dem-NPL supports a state Earned Income Tax Credit.
The Dem-NPL is committed to providing tax relief to residential renters through income tax credits.
The Dem-NPL is committed to strong state financial support resulting in a reduction in school property tax while at the same time allowing local school boards adequate authority to fund an essential education program.
The Dem-NPL supports expanding the Homestead Property Tax exemption to more North Dakota residents.
The Dem-NPL supports that the State of North Dakota should not profit from the property losses suffered when declared natural disasters strike our citizens. The State of North Dakota should provide, with the approval of the local government, sales tax reductions, property tax reductions, and North Dakota income tax credits for the uninsured losses in the event of a governmentally-declared natural disaster.
The Dem-NPL supports committing more of the state collected oil production tax to the oil producing counties for support services and infrastructure needs.
The Dem-NPL supports an enhancement of the formula used to fund State Aid Distributions Fund.
The Dem-NPL supports a sales tax exemption on clothing, feminine hygiene products, prescription, and OTC medications.
The Dem-NPL supports the flat, workable oil extraction tax of 6.5%.
The Dem-NPL supports a systematic review of specific State created fund categories which have a significant fund balance.
The Dem-NPL supports oil companies paying for infrastructure damages.
The Dem-NPL supports the adequate funding paid for by refiners of rural roads leading to and from refineries to relieve the burden on townships.
The Dem-NPL supports legislation that all allocated taxes. are assured by law to go to that department.
The Dem-NPL supports the continued Legacy Fund collections to supplement State priorities in periods of need.
Resolutions
Be it resolved; the Dem-NPL requests Mr. Leonard Peltier receive immediate release and be granted clemency.
Be it resolved; the Dem-NPL opposes the long term incarceration of nonviolent offenders, which is unreasonable and unproductive.
Be it resolved; the Dem-NPL supports the creation of publicly-owned banks that offer retail banking service at the local level.
Be it resolved; the Dem-NPL supports the maintaining the current constitutional initiated measures vote threshold of 50%+1, and opposes the initiated measure that has been proposed by “Project North Dakota’s Constitution.”
Whereas the North Dakota Legislature rescinded North Dakota’s ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment; Be it resolved; the Dem-NPL strongly condemn this action and declare our support for the Equal Rights Amendment.
Be it resolved; the Dem-NPL supports the Fairness for Farmers Campaign that fights for stronger enforcement of antitrust laws to break up corporate monopolies that use their size to take unfair advantage of farmers and ranchers while forcing consumers to pay higher prices.
Be it resolved; the Dem-NPL supports the examination of the impact of intergenerational trauma and discrimination reflected in the disproportionate representation of Native American children in foster care; Native children represent less than 6% of the state’s under 18 population but represent over 40% of children in foster care.
Paid for and authorized by the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. Not authorized by any candidates or candidate's committee.