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Preamble

In light of the fact that George Bush and the Republican Party have led our nation and the State of Connecticut in the wrong direction with flawed domestic and international public policies and failed political strategies, Connecticut Democrats today reaffirm our commitment to bringing back real leadership to all levels of government –- from local city halls and the Governor’s mansion to the Congress and the White House.

In doing so, we also reaffirm the principles and pledges that form the core of our Party Platform: We hold that the principle of public service must rise above that of self service. We believe that the role of government is to provide a safety net for all citizens while remaining fiscally responsible and maintaining accountability to the public at large. We commit ourselves to bettering the quality of life of all the people of Connecticut, from our largest cities to our smallest towns.

As a party, we pledge to promote equality under the law and respect for all persons regardless of gender, race, disability, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation, while continuing to protect the right of choice for all women as guaranteed by law. We support the principle that same sex couples deserve legal recognition and equal rights and responsibilities under Connecticut law. We support fair and balanced budgets, free of reckless deficit spending, paid for with adequate and equitable taxes. We urge a quick, responsible, and meaningful end to the conflict in Iraq and pledge to do everything possible to support our troops both at home and abroad.

We pledge to ensure not only that basic human needs are met throughout the State, but that the promise of opportunity is fulfilled today and in the years ahead for our children, our workforce, our senior citizens and our veterans. We will strive to uphold individual dignity and to recognize the value of diversity while working to preserve and promote the sense of community that unites us all in our day-to-day struggles and successes.

We will work to establish a government that speaks directly and honestly to its constituents – a government in which our citizens trust and in which they seek to actively participate without fear of retribution or coercion.

Connecticut Democrats are committed to achieving:

1. A Vibrant Economy with Good Paying Jobs in which established businesses can prosper, entrepreneurs can get a strong start, entry-level and skilled jobs can be readily found, in which job retention is valued and achieved, and in which the outsourcing of jobs is opposed at every level.

2. Affordable, Universal Health Care and Insurance for Children and Families that provides easy and timely access to appropriate providers throughout the State and high quality care for all individuals.

3. A Nationally Acclaimed Transportation Network and innovative infrastructure that moves people and goods around the State efficiently and that is developed and implemented in an environmentally friendly manner.

4. Quality Entry Level Housing that Maintains the Unique Character of Our Cities and Towns where everyone, including seniors, families with lower incomes and young adults, can afford to live.

5. Educational Excellence using adequate state funding to provide for all children in Connecticut a public education including state funded universal pre- kindergarten that will allow them to flourish and choose rewarding courses of collegiate and vocational education and to build a competitive workforce and a stronger State.

6. A Safe and Secure State that protects its ports, transportation systems, and communities and that makes the needs of all of our first responders as well as the members and veterans of Connecticut's National Guard and Armed Services a priority, while preserving the personal liberties guaranteed by our United States and State Constitutions.

7. Government Officials who are Guided by Ethics and who are committed to the highest standards of openness, fairness and integrity.

8. Tax Reform that reflects tax fairness and restraint and that ensures a system in which every individual and business taxpayer contributes a fair share, and in which no tax payers, including property tax payers, are unduly burdened.

9. A Healthy, Attractive, and Sustainable Environment in which the quality of our air and water is improved and our open spaces are preserved through a strategic program that not only maintains high environmental standards, but actively works to meet them.

10. A Comprehensive Energy Policy which promotes energy conservation and the implementation of a diverse energy plan that leverages alternative technologies to meet the growing energy needs of Connecticut residents and businesses, while maintaining the health and vitality of Connecticut's environment and natural resources and protecting consumers from price-gouging

11. A Respected International Defense Policy that reflects the development and implementation of a clear, safe and responsible exit strategy for American troops in Iraq in order to alleviate the drain of local and national resources, military and civilian, and that enables democracy in Iraq to develop and flourish in its own right.