New Democrat Update - June 1996
Democratic State Convention
As reported last month, the Colorado DLC worked to get some "New Democrat" initiatives into the party's platform at the June 8 state Democratic convention. While a number of DLC ideas saw the light of day, the experience confirmed that our work is far from done.
As one example, teen pregnancy is not mentioned once in the final document. Democrats must stop wishing this serious social crisis away.
In 1991, 69 percent of teen mothers were unmarried, a rate that had doubled in one generation. Seventy-seven percent of unmarried, adolescent mothers are welfare recipients within five years of the birth of their first child. Two-thirds of births by teenage mothers are fathered by men 20 and older.
The state platform committee unfortunately defeated the DLC strategies to curb this growing social problem. Those initiatives include (1) helping teenage mothers attain self-reliance by providing adult supervision and guidance in "second-chance" homes, (2)) reasserting and emphasizing the responsibility of fathers for contributing to the financial and emotional support of these children, (3) curtailing predatory sexual behavior by adult men 20 and over on young teenage girls through stricter enforcement of statutory rape laws and (4) offering new opportunities and incentives to young women and men who are at risk of becoming parents too soon in life.
On another front at the convention, Governor Romer gave a rousing "New Democrat" speech. His themes focused on economic opportunity, personal responsibility and community.
Politics '96
On July 10, the Colorado DLC will be hosting a panel discussion with Governor Roy Romer, Minority State House Leader Peggy Kerns and representatives from the national DLC. The focus of the session is to discuss a policy message and agenda that works and wins in 1996.
In addition, various other events will be planned throughout the day. Colorado elected officials, candidates, DLC leaders and members will be invited to these important sessions. More details, including times and places, will be available in the very near future.