VoteM4ANoMatterWho 🌹 🔥

Michael Lighty discusses AIDS and Reagan, saying states should be given federal support for single-payer. Reminds us that the 2020 Dem platform is virtually identical to 2016! (How'd that work out for you, Dems?)

Lighty: "States all over the country are considering single-payer. Proponents of the public option have nothing to fear! After all, the theory is, 'competition is good' - that's the basis of the public option. So what is the concern in enabling states to do single payer?"

Chris Jennings again, to no surprise, speaks in opposition to any changes to Biden's platform. Says states' ability to do this would be like Republicans supporting states' rights. The votes on amendment #048416, federal support to states' single-payer: 36 Yes 131 No 2 Abstain

Clem Balanoff proposes language change for amendment 331611: to add "provided that no US aid may be used to facilitate annexation or violate Palestinian rights", to add phrase "without occupation", and to replace "settlement expansion" with "settlements."

Balanoff quotes Obama: "Palestinians endure the daily humiliations, large and small, that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable." Balanoff: "Obama said this in 2009. Why can't the Democratic Party say this in 2020?"

Balanoff: "People living under occupation are afforded certain rights under international humanitarian law. Those rights must be upheld and protected. The Israeli right wing and their US backers have long sought to erase those rights." Points out this is a racial justice issue.

Balanoff cites 2019 poll: 56% of Americans say US should NOT give unconditional $/military assistance to Israel. Dan Shapiro says platform is good as is. Says it states opposition to Israeli settlement expansion, so being clear about "occupation" unnecessary.Invokes party unity.

Wendy Sherman (ambassador): "Israel has no better friend than Joe Biden. Our assistance to Israel is a mutually beneficial investment." Sherman opposes changes to the platform, saying supporting it would divide the party.

DNC votes on pro-Palestinian amendment changes: 34 Yes 117 No 5 Abstain

Kim: "Citizens who have completed their sentences average $13,000+ in fines & fees--meaning the very policy Dems say they support in this platform to enfranchise returning citizens is MEANINGLESS b/c fines and fees will continue to disenfranchise a majority of these citizens."

Jane Kim proposes change to amendment 125598. Discusses 13th amendment, voter disenfranchisement, voter suppression, poll taxes, racial disparities. Those in the margins are continuing to be voiceless and unrepresented; this damages our democracy. Ademola Oyefeso opposes.

173 Yes 2 No Amendment passes.

Steve Kerrigan (Biden supporter, CEO of Kennedy Community Health Center in MA): moves to increase funding for community health centers, which treat all patients regardless of their ability to pay. Sara Innamarato (PA Rep): gives nod to Sanders, supports proposal. Votes: 172 Yes

The fact that committee members overwhelmingly opposed all iterations of M4A and Medicare expansion, yet unanimously approved expanding CHCs when it was introduced by a Biden supporter, suggests that Dem policies are all a sham and they vote based solely on party loyalty.

Alex Padilla (Biden) proposes support for USPS re: mail-in ballots, mandatory and statistically meaningful post-election audits, full transparency of all election results and data, voters must be informed of opportunity to fix any problem with their ballot, secure &timely counts.

Clem Balanoff speaks in support of the USPS part of this amendment to help enfranchise voters; adds that funding needs to be included in next stimulus package for USPS. Votes: 167 Yes

Travis Mooney, 2016 and 2020 Bernie supporter who now supports Biden, proposes removing requirement that expats who have no taxes to pay must still file (which is costly). Ends the threat of double taxation for those who already pay taxes in their country of residence.

Alejandro Garcia (Biden, Puerto Rico) opposes this, saying the party platform isn't the place to discuss these provisions. Votes: 19 Yes 135 No 9 Abstain

Dennis Obduskey (CO) proposes amendment legalizing marijuana. Highlights racial targeting in criminalization of marijuana. 92% of all drug arrests in 2018 were for possession. A quarter of the US population has full legal access to recreational and medical marijuana.

Obduskey notes that in CO legalized marijuana funds education, mental health, and a quarter million jobs. Stacey Walker (Biden) echoes incarceration/overpolicing statistics and says as a Black man he supports the proposal. Says legalizing would add $131.8 billion to fed.

Walker: 2/3 of voters back marijuana legalization. Can increase electoral margins by supporting this proposal and excite the base in the process. Bakari Sellers (SC - Biden) also speaks in support of legalization of marijuana. Cleo Fields opposes it.

After 3 Black men speak in favor of legalizing marijuana, DNC Platform Committee votes: 50 Yes 106 No 3 Abstain

Now a bunch of people just speaking on the topic of the platform:

Ryan Dietsch speaks passionately on gun violence, talks not from a policy standpoint, but "from the way that it affects people every day." Malcolm Graham (NC - Biden) on gun violence: sister killed in Charleston shooting, supports universal background checks, closing loopholes.

Emilio Vicente "undocumented, queer, unafraid": important to move beyond talking about Dreamers; this affects entire families, 11 million people, must do more to talk about everyone who aren't seen as the perfect immigrant. Must talk about root causes; ICE terrorizes communities.

Jene Magania (Biden) speaks vaguely on immigration, diversity, Trump. Rev. Wendell Anthony (Biden), pres of NAACP branch, endorses Dem platform. Anastasia Somoza (Biden): 30th anniv of Am Disabilities Act. Every issue is a disabilities issue. Support caretakers/home services.