League of Woman Voters of Northampton Area

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Pass the Freedom to Vote Act

CALL SENATORS WARREN AND MARKEY: END THE FILIBUSTER AND PASS THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT

League of Women Voters Thanks President Biden for Directing Senate to End Filibuster   1/11/2022

WASHINGTON — Today, the League of Women Voters of the United States CEO Virginia Kase Solomón issued the following statement in response to President Biden and Vice President Harris’s speech at the Atlanta University Center Consortium. Virginia was honored to attend the event on behalf of the League of Women Voters.

“Today we heard the President issue a bold call to end the Senate filibuster rule, which has blocked progress for the American people for far too long. The League of Women Voters thanks the Biden administration for heeding the months-long call from activists to take a strong stance against the filibuster for voting rights.

“In his speech, the President forcefully called out those who would obstruct democracy, rightly laying the onus of democracy protection on the US Senate. State legislatures across the country have passed anti-voter bills with a simple majority, while the President noted that the US Senate requires a supermajority to pass voting rights protections.

“We commend the President for acknowledging the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Congressman John Lewis, asserting that we must ‘translate eulogy into action.’ The Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will protect and expand the freedom to vote, especially for Black and brown Americans, who are disproportionately targeted by state anti-voter laws. The Senate would sully the legacy of Dr. King and Congressman Lewis by invoking their names without passing these bills.

“Finally, the League of Women Voters thanks the thousands of activists who joined together, calling on the White House and the Senate to protect our freedom to vote. Thousands of phone calls, letters, protests, and even arrests galvanized the President’s commitment today.

“The League will continue our pressure on the US Senate and the Biden Administration to get federal voting rights legislation across the finish line.

“After today’s speech, we are confident in the power of the President’s directive to the US Senate that nothing must stand in the way of voting rights for the American people.”

 

 

Complexities of the Filibuster: The Accidental Rule That Is Interrupting the Democracy We All Deserve

CEO Virginia Kase comments on the filibuster. Our country cannot move forward on the issues that matter most until we’re freed from partisan gridlock.
That’s why we support filibuster reform that will enable us to strengthen our democracy. Read here.

Sizzle Real: LWVMA Celebrating 100 Years of Accomplishments

Click on image to watch the video. LWVMA Sizzle Reel-100 Year Timeline. It sizzles!

Click to read the 100 Years special section in the Hampshire Gazette, 9/24/2020

Rest in Power, Justice Ginsburg

100th Anniversary Ad in Hampshire Gazette, May 23, 2020

100th Anniversary Ad in Hampshire Gazette, May 23, 2020

Offshore Wind: Game Changer for Net Zero

Offshore wind is the future of renewable energy in the Commonwealth. Check out the LWVMA recent webinar to learn more: Click on graphic.

CALL THE White House!

Missed the Holyoke Mayors Candidate Forum? Watch and Read about it here.

Watch forum in Spanish here.

Watch forum in English here.

“Candidates spar over experience at forum,” Hampshire Gazette, Oct. 27, ’21. Read here.

Missed Holyoke At-Large City Councilors Forum? Watch and Read about it here.

Holyoke Media You Tube.

“At-Large Council Candidates Air Views At Forum,” Hampshire Gazette, Oct. 16, ’21. Read here.

MINUTES JUNE 8TH ANNUAL MEETING

Northampton Area ANNUAL LEAGUE MEETING held on June 8, 2021.  In place of our regular dinner meeting, we held a lively ZOOM meeting, including making plans for our September book sale. Read the minutes here.

Medicare For All: Contact the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

We need equitable health care coverage for all persons in the Commonwealth. H.1267/S.766 An Act Establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts, is now before the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.
  • If your state representative and/or state senator is on this committee, contact her/him with a personal note of your support for the bill.
  • All LWVMA members please contact all the members of the Health Care Financing Committee here via email or a phone call (617-722-1432 and 617-722-2430). Ask that this bill be voted favorably out of committee in a timely manner so we can have an equitable health care bill discussed and passed in the 192nd session.
  • Senate committee chair: Email Sen Cindy F. Friedman here
  • House committee chair: Email Rep. John J. Lawn, Jr. here

Pass the VOTES ACT. Contact your Senator and Representative

If you have not yet done so, please email your state Senator and Representative and ask them to contact the Joint Committee on Election Laws and leadership to report the VOTES Act out of committee in its entirety and soon. The bill will make permanent the election reforms, including expanded voting by mail and expanded in-person early voting, that were enacted on a temporary basis for last fall’s elections. Please emphasize that you want same day voter registration included in the legislation the committee reports out. Click here for more details on the bill.

S.1/HR1, ForThePeopleAct is critical to America’s future. Demand that Congress make elections fairer and puts power back in the hands of the American people. Ask your representative to support automatic voter registration, restore the Voting Rights Act, and reduce the influence of big money in politics.

Click to watch Northampton LWV member, Chris Flory, discuss Medicare for All in MA.