DEC, DWC, and FYD Present Policy Suggestions to Grall, Mayfield
The Indian River County Legislative Delegation comprised of Representative Erin Grall and Senator Debbie Mayfield heard presentations from three Indian River County Democratic affiliations on Wednesday, November 29th at the Board of County Commissioners chambers. Adriana de Kanter, vice-chair of the Democratic Executive Committee (DEC), Lanie Frame, president of the Democratic Women’s Club of Indian River (DWC), and Megan Hoots, chair of the Florida Young Democrats (FYD) of Indian River, presented on the topics of voting restoration rights, sensible gun control, and banning single-use plastic bags in Indian River County.
The Democratic Executive Committee Supports a Constitutional Amendment to Place Restoring Voters’ Rights on the 2018 Ballot
de Kanter, citing the Florida Democratic Party’s resolution, Ending Felon Disenfranchisement in Florida, noted that “The Florida Democratic Party supports the automatic restoration of voting rights to Floridians with felony convictions after they have completed all terms of their sentence (including parole and probation).” Florida is only one of three states, along with Iowa and Kentucky, that permanently rescinds the right to vote for citizens with felony convictions. In 2018, it will be necessary to reintroduce the Restoration of Civil Rights Act in the Florida Legislature.
The Democratic Womens’ Club is Pushing for Common Sense Gun Control Legislation
Frame referred to the many horrific mass murders of Americans by pre-meditated killers using automatic or semi-automatic assault weapons stating that, “Gun violence has become an epidemic in our country, with mass murders defining so many American sites . . .We can no longer continue to ignore gun safety issues.”
Florida Young Democrats Push for a Bag Ban in Florida and Indian River County
Hoots, who was recommending a plastic bag ban across the State of Florida like those that have been passed in California, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C. (with pending legislation in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Illinois), pointed out that plastic pollution is a global issue and Florida should be at the forefront of the solution.
“Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year and this means the average American family takes home almost 1500 plastic bags a year. Only 1 percent of those bags are turned for recycling. These bags take an astounding 500 or more years to degrade in a landfill. However, they never really completely degrade. The micro-plastics they become absorb toxins and continue to pollute the environment by making their way into the food chain, on our dinner plates, and ultimately, into our bloodstreams. At least 267 different species have been affected by plastic pollution in the ocean and a staggering 44 percent of seabirds have plastics in their bodies.”
In concluding, Hoots noted, “I ask you to go to Tallahassee and work to ban the use of plastic bags in the state of Florida. A statewide ban will not be easy but Florida has too much at stake to ignore this environmental hazard any longer. We must implement measures to safeguard our state’s future as an ecological gem and lead in this fight for the environment.”
Democrats of Indian River Policy Positions
The Democrats of Indian River have passed environmental resolutions against fracking and the Sabal Pipeline, as well as a resolution calling for an ordinance banning single-use plastic bags. We have passed resolutions for common sense gun control, for the rights of Dreamers, and for voter rights restoration. The Democrats of Indian River have also made statements against hatred, such as the racist events in Charlottesville and the mass murders from gun violence in Las Vegas. Democrats are working for the working families of Indian River County.
