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| State
Session 2003 - Resolutions & Results |
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| Download
the complete set of 2003 Resolutions and Results in
.pdf format HERE. |
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1. |
Re:
SOCIAL SECURITY |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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WHEREAS
Social Security funds will be depleted in a few
years, and
WHEREAS Social Security should be a separate fund, and
WHEREAS funds could be furnished by putting a 1% tax on ads, especially
ads on television as we are more or less forced to watch these ads.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the State Grange pass this resolution
to the necessary people for consideration and implementation. |
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SOURCE:
East Central Pomona No. 3 |
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2. |
Re:
ADVERTISING BY PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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WHEREAS
the rising cost of prescription drugs is a major
concern to many Americans, particularly senior citizens,
and
WHEREAS generic drugs that are therapeutically equivalent to name
brand drugs are frequently available at lower cost to the consumer
than the name brand drug, and
WHEREAS the United States is one of the few countries that allows
pharmaceutical manufacturers to advertise their products on television,
radio and in print, and
WHEREAS in 2001 pharmaceutical manufacturers spent more than $15
billion on advertising, and
WHEREAS the seven most heavily advertised drugs in 2000 included
six that are among the drugs most prescribed to older Americans for
chronic conditions, and
WHEREAS this advertising causes consumers to request their doctors
to prescribe drugs by brand name rather than generic equivalents,
and
WHEREAS this advertising also causes some consumers to request prescriptions
for drugs they do not need, and
WHEREAS this advertising ultimately results in higher costs to consumers
for prescription drugs.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Connecticut State Grange opposes advertising
of prescription drugs on television and radio and in newspapers,
magazines and similar media, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Connecticut State Grange seek legislation
that would prohibit such advertising, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this resolution be forwarded to the next
session of the National Grange together with a recommendation for
favorable action thereon. |
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SOURCE:
Enfield Grange No. 151; North Central Pomona No. 13 |
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3. |
Re:
FEES ON MAILED BILLS |
Adopted:
X
Rejected: |
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WHEREAS
as reported in the New York Times on October 29,
2002 some companies as a cost saving measure are
charging consumers fees for bills or statements
sent via the United States Postal Service, and
WHEREAS these companies are compelling consumers to utilize online
(internet) services to obtain billing and statement information to
avoid being charged a fee, and
WHEREAS not all consumers have access to or are comfortable using
online services, and
WHEREAS companies can encourage utilization of online services by
offering discounts to users instead of penalizing non-users.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that regulations be enacted that require
companies give consumers the option of mailed billings or statements
without surcharges, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Connecticut State Grange Legislative
Committee present this to the Connecticut
Legislature for action, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this resolution also be sent to the National
Grange for further action. |
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SOURCE:
Tunxis Grange No. 13 |
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4. |
Re:
STATE MASTER’S SALARY |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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WHEREAS
our State Master’s salary is less than 180
dollars per week, and
WHEREAS our State Master works an average of 30 hours per week, and
WHEREAS the hourly rate is less than 6 dollars.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that our State Master’s salary be
increased to $300 per week. |
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SOURCE:
Windsor Grange No. 2 |
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5. |
Re:
UNREGISTERED VEHICLES |
Adopted:
X
Rejected: |
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WHEREAS
unregistered vehicles are a growing problem, and
WHEREAS license plates may be swapped from vehicle to vehicle, and
WHEREAS many countries have effectively controlled this problem by
adding a decal of that plate affixed to the inside rear window.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this decal procedure be required at
state and national levels. |
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SOURCE:
Windsor Grange No. 2 |
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6. |
Re:
AFFILIATES |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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WHEREAS
many Subordinates have a difficult time raising
a quorum, and
WHEREAS many thrive on affiliates.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that our Charter address this problem by
allowing and encouraging Subordinate and Pomona membership to affiliate
with as many as they wish. |
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SOURCE:
Windsor Grange No. 2 |
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7. |
Re:
NATIONAL STATISTICS |
Adopted:
X
Rejected: |
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WHEREAS
membership counts are a vital statistic to all of
us, and
WHEREAS the National Journal has supplied us with these counts up
until year 2000, and
WHEREAS starting in the year 2001 the new National policy is not
to release membership figures to the general membership.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the general membership demand these
figures on a yearly reporting basis, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 2003 National Journal of Proceedings
provide the figures for 2001 and 2002. |
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SOURCE:
Windsor Grange No. 2 |
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8. |
Re:
RIGHT TO FARM |
Adopted:
X
Rejected: |
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WHEREAS
the State of Connecticut has passed legislation
which the Connecticut State Grange endorsed ensuring
a farmer the right to farm, and
WHEREAS towns and cities are now placing undo burdens on farm property
protected as 490 lands through their Inland Wetlands and Zoning Committees.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Grange support legislation that
would further protect the farmer’s right to farm by not allowing
towns to impose stricter standards on farms than are required under
State Law, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Department of Agriculture be
identified as the lead agency in interpreting the standards. |
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SOURCE:
Riverton Grange No. 169; Mountain County Pomona No. 4 |
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9. |
Re:
REORGANIZATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT |
Adopted:
X
Rejected: |
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WHEREAS
the State of Connecticut’s bureaucracy has
grown astronomically and many agencies have cross
jurisdictions, and
WHEREAS these agencies are not willing to give up any areas of responsibility
to streamline state government.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Grange support legislation to appoint
a Blue Ribbon Commission to do a function study of the State Government
and propose reorganization of agencies on a function basis to eliminate
cross jurisdictions. |
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SOURCE:
Mountain County Pomona No. 4 |
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10. |
Re:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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WHEREAS
the last State Budget passed calls for the Department
of Agriculture to be merged into the Department
of Consumer Protection, and
WHEREAS agriculture is still an important part of the State’s
economy, and
WHEREAS agriculture is diverse and has ever-changing products and
problems.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Grange seek to have legislation
introduced to keep the Department of Agriculture, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislation increase the duties of
the Department to include pesticide use, forest practice and farm
public health issues, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that if this legislation fails, that the State
Grange Legislative Committee work to ensure that the head of the
agriculture section of DCP be a Deputy Commissioner. |
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SOURCE:
Mountain County Pomona No. 4 |
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11. |
Re:
DAIRY COMPACT |
Adopted:
X
Rejected: |
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WHEREAS
New England, and the nation is losing dairy farms
at an alarming rate, and
WHEREAS not only is farming a demanding, seven day a week occupation,
it is a fact that the price farmers are paid for their milk is lower
than their cost to produce the product.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Grange go on record as supporting
the Dairy Compact. |
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SOURCE:
Ekonk Grange No. 89; Quinebaug Pomona No. 2 |
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12. |
Re:
CROSSWALKS ON BUSY ROADS |
Adopted:
X
Rejected: |
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WHEREAS
many children are hit as they cross roads, both
in cities and rural areas, and
WHEREAS the speed limits are frequently disregarded by drivers.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the state highway department be encouraged
to mark additional high traffic areas with crosswalks, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Granges be encouraged to work with other
community groups to place signs in front of any buildings that children
frequent (i.e., libraries, town halls, community centers, etc.). |
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SOURCE:
Ekonk Grange No. 89; Quinebaug Pomona No. 2 |
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13. |
Re:
DAIRY FARMING |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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WHEREAS “Agriculture
is the first and noblest of all occupations,” and
WHEREAS the first priority of the Grange is to promote all phases
of agriculture, and
WHEREAS the dairy farmer in Connecticut is losing more and more money
every year, and
WHEREAS Washington Grange has taken a positive stand in favor of
dairy farming in Connecticut.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Grange go on record as being in
complete support of this action, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be forwarded
to the Connecticut State Grange for further action. |
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SOURCE:
Ashford Grange No. 90; Quinebaug Pomona Grange No. 2 |
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14. |
Re:
NON-CARBONATED BEVERAGE CONTAINERS |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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WHEREAS
non-carbonated beverages besides soda often end
their lives along our roadsides or in landfills
and not recycled, and
WHEREAS this causes extra expense to clean our roadways, and
WHEREAS these containers can be recycled into other useful products,
and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that these containers have a deposit like
that of soda placed on them, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Connecticut State Grange actively
pursue legislation to this end. |
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SOURCE:
Highland Grange No. 113; Quinebaug Pomona No. 2 |
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15. |
Re:
INTERNET PURCHASES |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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WHEREAS
people are making purchases over the internet for
which no sales tax is being paid, and
WHEREAS states are collecting less sales tax, and
WHEREAS state budgets are being strained due to the lack of revenue,
and
WHEREAS the internet spans not only the United States but the world,
and
WHEREAS the Federal Government has the power to set uniform national
laws.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Grange in all of its legislative
power create legislation for the federal government to institute
a federal sales tax on internet sales, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Federal sales tax supersede and
replace all state sales taxes on internet sales, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the new Federal sales tax be divided
among the states, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this resolution be sent to the National
Grange for consideration. |
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SOURCE:
Highland Grange No. 113; Quinebaug Pomona No. 2 |
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16. |
Re:
DUES EXEMPTION |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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WHEREAS
we as Grangers are charged by our founding fathers’ ritual
to help the fatherless and widows, and
WHEREAS residents of convalescent homes have virtually no income,
and
WHEREAS in our business meeting we inquire if any member is sick
or in distress, and
WHEREAS our Golden Sheaf members are no longer honored with dues
free from the National and State Granges.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Patrons who permanently enter a convalescent
home be dues exempt from Subordinate and State dues including those
dues that are forwarded to National Grange, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be sent to the National
Grange. |
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SOURCE:
Highland Grange No. 113; Quinebaug Pomona No. 2 |
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17. |
Re:
COMPLETE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS FOR ALL CAREGIVERS/EDUCATORS |
Adopted:
X
Rejected: |
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WHEREAS
all children have the right to a safe environment,
and
WHEREAS some children, while in the care/custody of others via school/day
care, are subjected to physical, verbal, and emotional abuse, and
WHEREAS minimum background screening is required for these caregivers/educators,
and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Connecticut State Grange urge legislation
that would require COMPLETE background checks for ALL caregivers/educators.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these background checks include all CRIMINAL
convictions and/or involvement. |
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SOURCE:
Madison Grange No. 120 |
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18. |
Re:
GUBERNATORIAL TERM LIMITS |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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WHEREAS
we feel dissatisfied with the performance of our
present Governor who is on his third four year term
in office, and
WHEREAS he has proposed to consolidate the Department of Agriculture
into the Department of Consumer Protection, and
WHEREAS he has significantly cut funds for services to the disabled
and those on welfare, and
WHEREAS we feel the Governor’s spending priorities are with
the big cities rather than with the rural communities.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we request the State Constitution be
amended to limit the Governor to two four year terms. |
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SOURCE:
Brooklyn Grange No. 43 |
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19. |
Re:
DEADLINES FOR RESOLUTIONS FOR STATE SESSION |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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WHEREAS
deadlines have been long established, usually by
Sept. 15, for resolutions to be considered for the
State Session in October, and
WHEREAS resolutions presented at/after the opening session of State
Session may be ill conceived at the last minute, can be poorly written
and may simply duplicate and/or confuse an issue that has already
been addressed, and
WHEREAS such resolutions, so conceived, may lengthen debate and need
to be returned to committee, and
WHEREAS failure to meet deadlines may/many not be a calculated attempt
to elude due process, and
WHEREAS failure to meet deadlines may indicate slothful, procrastinating,
unfocused, undisciplined thinking which Grange discourages and discourages
us from enabling.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that at the 2003 Annual Session, that to
better HUSBAND our resources, that we absolutely forbid the entertainment
of resolutions by any individual or group which violates our previously
established due dates and of those dates set in 2004 for the due
process of presenting resolutions to the 2004 Annual State Session. |
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SOURCE:
Madison Grange No. 120 |
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20. |
Re:
QUARTERLY MAILING LIST ENABLING |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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WHEREAS
the National Grange passed a Digest change in the
2000 National Grange Session requiring Subordinate
secretaries to provide quarterly updated mailing
lists (Section 6.16.1), and
WHEREAS the National Grange has doubled the membership dues paid
in the year 2002 by their action in the 2001 National Session, and
WHEREAS the most efficient way of transmitting useful mailing lists
is in computer readable form.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Grange be required to
provide the equipment and instructions required through the Connecticut
State Grange to each Subordinate Grange for providing the computer
readable membership mailing lists quarterly. |
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SOURCE:
Granby Grange No. 5 |
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21. |
Re:
TEACHER UNION CANDIDATE SUPPORT |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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WHEREAS
employees of the United States Government are forbidden
from entering politics so that they will have no
part in picking their elected leaders, and
WHEREAS teachers are mostly employed by local governments, and
WHEREAS teacher’s unions are organized groups of teachers seeking
to improve teaching positions and have, in the past, endorsed particular
candidates for government office, and
WHEREAS national and local governments have ties of many kinds.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Grange go on record as supporting
legislation which would make illegal the endorsement of political
candidates by unions of mostly public school teachers, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Grange Legislative Committee
be asked to support such legislation. |
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SOURCE:
Granby Grange No. 5 |
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22. |
Re:
CONNECTICUT LEARNER’S PERMITS |
Adopted:
X
Rejected: |
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WHEREAS
Connecticut has passed new laws and restrictions
on teen drivers in an effort to make the State’s
roadways safer, and
WHEREAS Connecticut’s D.M.V. Learner’s Permits currently
expire on the 18th birthday of the holder, and
WHEREAS no testing of any kind is required for new drivers aged 18
and over until they take the actual law and road tests, and
WHEREAS this loophole in the law permits new drivers to be on the
State’s roads under the premise of learning to drive, without
having demonstrated even the most basic knowledge of the rules of
the road.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the State of Connecticut institute
a special Learner’s Permit Testing Program for new drivers
18 and older to ensure that learning drivers in that group have the
basic knowledge required to safely operate a motor vehicle on the
state’s roadways. |
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SOURCE:
Winchester Grange No. 74 |
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