LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS® OF WEST VIRGINIA » Press Releases

Constitution Month Events

Susan Watkins — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:53:58 +0000

The League of Women Voters of West Virginia is a member of the WV Civics Literacy Council, which was created in 2007 by the state legislature to foster civics education and citizenship among WV’s youth. The council has sponsored celebrations of Constitution Day over the past several years. This year, the council has designated September as Constitution Month and has compiled a list of events and activities taking place throughout the month. In conjunction with the State Dept. of Education, the council has planned the following program:

DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT

. Recognition of 9-11 through recommitment to civic literacy, patriotism and respect for the Constitution

The event will take place on the State Capitol grounds on September 8th at 1:00 pm. This 30 minute program will feature school performances, remarks from a 9/11 volunteer, and the signing of a declaration of commitment reaffirming our dedication to the ideas and values of our Constitution. The Declaration of Commitment will remain at the Cultural Center for all West Virginians to sign.

Hope you can attend the event on the 8th and/or take advantage of some of the other activities that are occurring throughout the month.

Constitution Month Schedule.doc

TELL CONGRESS: Don’t Go Backwards on Health Care Reform!

Jonathan Rosenbaum — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:46:07 +0000

In the next few days, the House is scheduled to vote on repealing the Affordable Care Act, the comprehensive health care reform law passed by the last Congress and signed into law by President Obama. The Affordable Care Act is a major step forward in health care for all. It has already made a difference by improving health care access and coverage for millions of Americans. Repealing it now would be a tragic step in the wrong direction.

Tell your Representative to oppose repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

In just the past few months, the Affordable Care Act has brought about positive changes: children are no longer denied coverage for pre-exisiting conditions, insurers can no longer impose lifetime limits on coverage, adult children can stay on their parents’ health plans up until age 26,and, as of this month, Medicare recipients can have a number of preventive and well-care services without being charged a deductible, co-pay, or coinsurance.

As provisions of the Affordable Care Act continue to be implemented, more and more Americans will have health care coverage while health care costs are reduced for individuals, businesses and communities.

TAKE ACTION

1. Contact your Representative now. You can also call your Representative at 202-225-3121. Ask your Representative not to repeal the Affordable Care Act and to stand firm in support of this law which extends coverage to millions of uninsured Americans.

2. Send this alert to other concerned citizens – your grassroots network, your friends and coworkers. Encourage them to contact their elected leaders.

Pittsburgh Bans Natural Gas Drilling

Shirley Rosenbaum — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 03:30:23 +0000

Adopts first-in-the-nation ordinance – elevates the right of the community to decide, not corporations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2010

CONTACT: Ben Price, (717) 254-3233
benprice@celdf.org

PITTSBURGH: Today, the Pittsburgh City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance banning corporations from conducting natural gas drilling in the city.

The ordinance was drafted by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) at the invitation of Councilman Bill Peduto, and was introduced by Councilman Doug Shields.

Pittsburgh’s first-in-the-nation ordinance confronts the threat of Marcellus Shale drilling – an activity permitted by the state which allows corporations to site drilling activities over the wishes of a community.

Energy corporations are setting up shop in communities across Pennsylvania, to drill for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale formation. The gas extraction technique known as “fracking” has been cited as a threat to surface and groundwater, and has been blamed for fatal explosions, the contamination of drinking water, local rivers, and streams. Collateral damage includes lost property value, ingestion of toxins by livestock, drying up of mortgage loans for prospective home buyers, and threatened loss of organic certification for farmers in affected communities.

Councilman Shields stated, “This ordinance recognizes and secures expanded civil rights for the people of Pittsburgh, and it prohibits activities which would violate those rights. It protects the authority of the people of Pittsburgh to pass this ordinance by undoing corporate privileges that place the rights of the people of Pittsburgh at the mercy of gas corporations.”

Shields added, “With this vote we are asserting the right of the city to make critical decisions to protect our health, safety, and welfare. We are not a colony of the state and will not sit quietly by as our city gets drilled. We encourage communities across the region to take this step and join with us to elevate the rights of communities and people over corporations.”

CELDF’s Ben Price, who is engaging with communities across the state seeking to protect themselves from drilling, said, “Communities are coming to recognize that our state laws and government are not in place to protect their interests, but rather the interests of private corporations.”

Price applauded the city for taking a stand on behalf of community rights. “Some will say that the municipality doesn’t have the authority to ban this noxious practice associated with gas drilling. The only way that’s true is if the state has the authority to strip the residents of their rights, and it doesn’t.”

Under the ordinance, corporations that violate the ordinance or that seek to drill in the city will not be afforded “personhood” rights under the U.S. or Pennsylvania Constitution, nor will they be afforded protections under the Commerce Clause or Contracts Clause under the federal or state constitution.

In addition, the ordinance recognizes the legally enforceable Rights of Nature to exist and flourish. Residents of the city shall possess legal standing to enforce those rights on behalf of natural communities and ecosystems.

The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, has been working with people in Pennsylvania since 1995 to assert their fundamental rights to democratic local self-governance, and to enact laws which end destructive and rights-denying corporate action aided and abetted by state and federal governments.

Supreme Court Public Financing Pilot Project Press Conference

Jonathan Rosenbaum — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 01:49:05 +0000

Kathy Stolz spoke on behalf of WV League of Women Voters at this press conference put together by Natalie Tennants office. The Supreme Court public financing pilot project would provide funding to participating candidates for the 2012 Supreme Court races.

Supreme Court Public Financing Pilot Project Press Conference from SoS Natalie Tennant on Vimeo.

Morgantown: Candidates Forum – Delegates – 2010 General Election

Kitty Lozier — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 01:28:46 +0000

The League of Women Voters is sponsoring a Candidate Forum for the 10 candidates running for the West Virginia House of Delegates. It will be on Wednesday, October 20, at 7 pm at the Suncrest United Methodist Church on Van Voorhis Road. The public is invited.

The candidates attending are 4 Republicans: Amanda Pasdon, Kevin Patrick, Jr., Kevin Poe, and Chris Walters, and 4 Democrats: Tony Barill, Steve Cook, Barbara Fleischauer, and Charlene Marshall. Paul Brown, an Independent, and Tad Britch, a Libertarian will also be present.

The candidates will introduce themselves and then answer questions submitted by the audience. Afterwards there will be refreshments and time to talk individually with the candidates.

LWVUS Press Release about DISCLOSE

Jonathan Rosenbaum — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:46:09 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 23, 2010
www.lwv.org

Contact: Kelly Ceballos
202-263-1331
kceballos@lwv.org

OBSTRUCTIONIST POLITICS PREVAILS OVER CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

Voters on the Losing Side of Political Gamesmanship

Washington, DC – The League of Women Voters of the U.S. issued the following statement by national League President Elisabeth MacNamara on the obstructionism that prevented the Senate from beginning debate on the DISCLOSE Act today. The DISCLOSE Act aims to restore transparency to U.S. elections after the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.

“Voters lost and special interests won today. It is sad to see Senators cling to partisanship and obstructionism once again, instead of working together to find a middle ground on the DISCLOSE Act. This is a failure for which voters will have to pay this November and in elections to come. We were particularly disappointed that Senators Brown, Snowe and Collins, each of whom understands the importance of reform and of fair elections, chose not to stand up for their beliefs.

“In the wake of Citizens United, the DISCLOSE Act is essential. It requires CEOs to stand by their ads, and exposes special interest groups behind last-minute attacks. It stops manipulation of elections by fly-by-night hit groups, and prevents U.S. corporations controlled by foreign – or even hostile – governments from pumping secret money into our elections.

“How can individual voters compete with organizations that not only have vested interests in Washington, but millions of dollars to make sure those interests are protected?

“The bottom line is that voters deserve to know who is paying for election advertising. This is not only common sense – it is crucial if voters are to remain the cornerstone of our democracy.

“We would like to know what these opponents have to fear from disclosure of election advertising. Furthermore, what is to prevent them from falling victim to the deceitful advertising which they are refusing to bring into the sunlight?

“The League will continue to fight for enhanced disclosure. Our democracy belongs to the voters — not special interests.”

Health Care Reform Passes!

Jonathan Rosenbaum — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:15:15 +0000

HOUSE FINALLY PASSES COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE REFORM
“Monumental, Historic and Transforming,” Says League

Washington, D.C. – Statement from Mary G. Wilson, President of the League of Women Voters of the United States:

“Today’s votes by the U.S. House of Representatives mark an historic milestone in American political history. The path that began with Social Security and continued with Medicare is reaching fruition with this health care legislation. Comprehensive health care reform will begin to undo decades of neglect and inaction that has left millions of Americans uninsured and at risk.

“This legislation is a monumental step in the fight for social justice.

“Too many citizens lack adequate health insurance coverage and rising costs threaten everyone. Passage of comprehensive health care legislation greatly expands coverage to include millions more Americans; protects the coverage that currently delivers care to most; reduces costs over the long term; and accomplishes these goals at a reasonable cost.

“It would be difficult to overstate the importance of today’s actions, and we commend our elected representatives for standing up for Americans and having the courage to do what needs to be done to confront the health care crisis in our country. The League congratulates the House leadership on a closely-fought victory.

“We can expect transformational reform from these bills. Access to health care will be extended to all Americans. Mechanisms to control rising costs will be put in place. And the marketplace will be expanded and safeguards put in place to protect consumers.

“Truly, this legislation is monumental, historic and transforming.

“Today we took the critical step in dealing with the current health care crisis. Tomorrow, many Americans will wake up to a new week and a new future that looks a great deal more promising.”

Reporters may contact Kelly Ceballos (kceballos@lwv.org or 202-263-1331) to set up media interviews with President Mary Wilson.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

2010 Legislative Priorities

Shirley Rosenbaum — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:01:05 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 25, 2010

2010 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

The League of Women Voters of West Virginia (LWVWV) has established the following issues as priorities for the 2010 legislative session. The League supports public campaign financing for all qualified candidates for the Supreme Court of Appeals in 2012, supports laws and regulations that ensure the protection of West Virginia’s water quality and supply now and in the future and supports adequate mental health care treatment. Susan Watkins, state president of the LWVWV, is encouraging the current session to follow through on the completion of these important priorities.

The League believes that the election process would be improved by minimizing the role of campaign contributions and offering candidates the option of running with public financing. In states where public financing has been in use, candidates find that voters view their running without accepting private contributions as a positive factor in assessing candidates. The Governor’s Commission on Judicial Reform recommended a pilot project offering public financing for one of the two open Supreme Court of Appeals seats in the 2012 election. While the League supports that recommendation, we would prefer that it include making it an option for all candidates for the Supreme Court of Appeals. Allowing the choice for all candidates would increase the likelihood of having enough candidates willing to participate to demonstrate the system’s appeal to voters.

West Virginia’s most precious resource is its water and we must protect it. What are some of the hazards to our waters? The drilling of gas wells in West Virginia’s Marcellus Shale formations and its use of fracturing the formations to access the gas have resulted in environmental hazards. Some remedies to these hazards include requiring synthetic liners for drilling pits, new construction standards for waste pits and water storage impoundments, public disclosure of the chemicals in the fracturing fluids, and safer disposal of the wastewater. It is also imperative that the legislature require the companies to report the amount of water they are withdrawing from the streams. The legislature should require a water quality standard for total dissolved solids. Such a standard might have prevented the environmental disaster in Dunkard Creek resulting in a thirty mile fish kill from an overrun of an alien golden algae.

Another concern is the disposal of sludge from separating coal from rocks. The sludge is the result of washing the coal with water and chemicals. It is disposed in impoundments and underground closed coal mines. The legislature should require that coal slurry be dried and disposed of in a safer way than current methods of disposal.

Mary Wilson, LWVUS President, has stated the need for universal health coverage that will make it possible for all Americans who cannot obtain coverage through traditional employer-sponsored plans to have access to needed care. Universal insurance coverage is a fundamental issue in this year’s debate and struggle for national health care reform. The LWVWV has set as one of its priorities the support of adequate Mental Health Care treatment coverage in all public and private health care plans. Because people with mental health and substance use disorders are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured than the national average it is critical that health care reform address this disparity. There are 209,000 uninsured in West Virginia today. Without health care reform, 37,480 will have lost coverage from January 2008 to December 2010.

The League of Women Voters encourages the 2010 Legislative Session to develop programs that will cover the areas of public campaign finance, protection of water quality and mental health care treatment.

###