Accomplishments and resolutions

EDITOR'S NOTE: Our friend Marshall Ward, a devout Democrat and newspaper columnist from Murray, lists some historic legislation his party has supported. He also proposes a series of New Year's resolutions. Going into the 2020 election, he thinks his party should shout the accomplishments from the rooftops and adopt the resolutions he suggests.

The accomplishments he cites include:

• TVA, federal loan programs for farmers and businesses
• Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food safety regulations
• Women’s right to vote, Civil Rights Act of 1964,  Voting Rights Act of 1965, Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009
• Consumer protection, FDIC, banking and Wall Street regulations, Security and Exchange Commission
• Funding for the arts and sciences, public education
• NASA, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health, National Endowment for the Arts, public radio and television
• Support for worker’s rights, unions, minimum wage, the 8-hour workday, 40-hour workweek, overtime pay, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, OSHA and MSHA.  
• Veterans benefits, GI Bill
• Vehicle Safety regulations and fuel economy standards

Here's what Ward thinks the KDP should resolve: 

-- We resolve that government works best when public policy benefits ALL Kentuckians, not just the privileged few.

-- We resolve that access to good quality health care is a right, not a privilege based on being able to pay for it. No Kentuckian should ever have to choose between putting food on the table and seeing a health care professional or paying for medicine.

-- We resolve to continue to educate voters on men, women and children's healthcare, pre-existing conditions, the high cost of medications, and opioid addiction.

-- We resolve to oppose any effort to restrict voting and the civil rights of women, minorities and the poor.

-- We resolve that the greatest economic investment is strengthening our public education system from early childhood development through K-12 and beyond to vocational/technical schools, community colleges and universities,

-- We resolve to support businesses but not with irresponsible tax cuts and not by union-busting via a "right to work" law and prevailing wage repeal. We must make sure that we have a well-trained workforce and that we provide opportunities for innovation and support smart incentives to attract high-paying jobs with good benefits through a world-class education system.

-- We resolve to secure our future through acknowledging climate change and embracing strategies to slow it down.

-- We resolve to stand with UMWA President Cecil Roberts, who urges that in addressing climate change we must not forget miners who have lost their jobs through mine closures and competition from cheaper natural gas. We must do all we can to help them transition into other well-paying jobs, such as in solar and wind power.

-- We resolve to support an innovative agriculture industry and investment in infrastructure and high speed internet in all parts of the commonwealth.

-- We resolve to reject budget cuts that hurt children, working class families, and retirees.

-- We resolve to support a fully-funded defined benefit pension system for all public employees.

-- We resolve to support a 21st-century economy.

-- We resolve to fight short-sightedness, greed, and dysfunction in our trade with other countries and support trade deals that are fair to workers here and abroad.

-- We resolve to fight for a forward-thinking vision for the commonwealth and good, honest leadership.

-- We resolve to continue to push for new revenue streams that put Kentucky on par with our neighbors.