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From the Convention Floor: Party Platform and Castro Preparation

July 2016
Ryan Poppe
/
TPR News

The Democratic Party released its platform that calls for higher taxes on wealthier Americans, abortion rights, and marriage equality, something that’s never been a part of the platform before.

The platform now says the Democratic Party “supports the right of all families to have equal respect, responsibilities, and protections under the law.”

“We support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples. We also support the freedom of churches and religious entities to decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament without government interference.”

The party is opposed to “discriminatory federal and state constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny equal protection of the laws to committed same-sex couples who seek the same respect and responsibilities as other married couples. We support the full repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act."

The Brothers Castro

State Rep. Joaquín Castro said it’s just like home where people call him Julián, and vice versa. and while their hearts are pounding - even at rehearsals - he says he knows they’ll both do great. Tonight, Joaquín will introduce his brother to the convention and nation.

Joaquín said many of the issues remain the same, but there is a need to unify behind President Barack Obama.

“Everybody’s concerned about the economy," he said, "so creating jobs obviously is a very big deal, locally and in terms of the national platform. Medicare and social security, we do very different things and so on all of these things that are covered in the platform, they’re important to us as Democrats.”

Ryan Loyd was Texas Public Radio's city beat and political reporter. He left the organization in December, 2014.