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All News and Events
Massachusetts LWV State Convention
The 2019 LWVMA Convention, “100 Years: Looking Back, Moving Forward,” will be held June 7 and 8, 2019 at the Westford Regency Inn and Conference Center in Westford, MA. Convention brings local League delegates together to hear distinguished speakers, approve program for the next biennium, elect a new board of directors, approve the budget, and network with leaders from across the state. We encourage every local League to send their voting delegates, and other members are urged to come as observers.
Noted environmentalist Bill McKibben will be the keynote speaker at the Friday night banquet. McKibben is an author, environmentalist, and activist. He is a co-founder and senior advisor at 350.org, an international climate campaign that works in 188 countries around the world. He is the Schumann Distinguished Scholar in Environmental Studies at Middlebury College and a former staff writer for the New Yorker who continues to write numerous magazine articles.
Details and Registration:
ACTION 5: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019
Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019
“Restoring the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019, H.R.4, S 561, will strengthen democracy by ensuring that race is not a factor in determining who has access to the ballot box.” It “will restore sections of the Voting Rights Act that the Supreme Court stripped in the Shelby County v. Holderdecision in 2013.”
“More than 50 years ago, we saw the most sweeping advancement to voting rights with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which made racially discriminatory voting practices illegal. Since the court’s decision in 2013, voters across the country have faced issues at the ballot box including unlawful purges, shortening of voting hours, and the closing of polling places in communities with large populations of voters of color…
The League of Women Voters implores all members of Congress to support this important legislation.” LWV CEO, Virginia Kase.
What should I say?
Representative Neal – Vote YES for H.R. 4, Restoring the Voting Rights Advancement Act. This is essential to protecting the voting rights of all Americans, especially voters of color.
Representative McGovern – Thank you for cosponsoring H.R. 4, Restoring the Voting Rights Advancement Act. This is essential to protecting the voting rights of all Americans, especially voters of color.
Senators Markey and Warren – Thank you for cosponsoring S561Restoring the Voting Rights Advancement Act. This is essential to protecting the voting rights of all Americans, especially voters of color.
James McGovern
Washington office Northampton office
408 Cannon House Office Building 94 Pleasant St.
Washington, DC 20515 Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: 202-225-6101 phone: 413-341-8700
Fax: 202-225-5759 hours: M-F 9-5:00pm
hours: M-F 9-5:30
Richard Neal
Washington office Springfield office
2309 Rayburn House Office Building 300 State Street
Washington, DC 20515 Suite 200
Phone: 202-225-5601 Springfield, MA 01105
Fax: 202-225-8112 fax Phone: 413-785-0325
https://neal.house.gov/contact Fax: 413-747-0604
Senator Elizabeth Warren. www.warren.senate.gov/contact
309 Hart Senate Office B. Washington phone: 202-224-4543
Washington, DC 20510 Springfield phone: 413-788-2690
Senator Ed Markey www.markey.senate.gov/contact
255 Dirksen Senate Office B. Washington phone: 202-224-2742
Washington, DC 20510 Springfield phone: 413-785-4610
Action 4: Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019
Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019
HR8 and S42 will require Brady background checks for all firearms, which is a position supported by 97% of Americans.
HR8 passed the House!
LWVUS signed the following letter to all members of Congress, along with many other organizations:
“Members of the 116thCongress:
We, the undersigned organizations, strongly urge you to cosponsor and quickly pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Check Act, and S 42, the Background Check Expansion Act, to require Brady background checks for all firearm transfers.
In the 25 years since the Brady Law was enacted, more than 3 million prohibited firearm purchases have been prevented. In 2015 alone, an average of 619 individuals per day were deemed by law to be too dangerous to possess a gun and were blocked by this system.
Background checks are conclusively effective and have saved countless lives. However, because only federally licensed firearms dealers are required to conduct these checks, an estimated one in five gun sales or transfers – those conducted by private sellers, including sales online and at gun shows – are completed without a background check. Felons, domestic abusers and other dangerous people have long exploited these gaps in the law, often with deadly consequences.
H.R. 8 and S. 42 will make us all safer by requiring a background check for virtually every firearm sale and transfer. The bills include narrow, reasonable exceptions like transfers among close family members and short-term gun loans among hunters and sport shooters. The legislation does nothing to impede lawful gun purchases, while closing off a wide and well-known avenue for illegal transactions by prohibited, and often dangerous, buyers. And it enjoys the support of 97% of Americans, including large majorities of gun owners and NRA members.
We urge you to act quickly to pass this life-saving legislation.”
Sincerely,
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, LWVUS, and many others.
Now the Senate must pass S42
What should I say? Thank you Senator Warren, and Senator Markey for cosponsoring S42. Work for swift passage of the Background Check Expansion Act and save countless lives.
Senator Elizabeth Warren. www.warren.senate.gov/contact
309 Hart Senate Office B. Washington phone: 202-224-4543
Washington, DC 20510 Springfield phone: 413-788-2690
Senator Ed Markey www.markey.senate.gov/contact
255 Dirksen Senate Office B. Washington phone: 202-224-2742
Washington, DC 20510 Springfield phone: 413-785-4610
Civics Education Lobby Day
LWVMA Civics Education Lobby Day
March 5, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Boston State House, House Members Lounge
Join the league and our partners in the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition for the Civics Trust Fund Lobby Day.
Last session the legislature passed the civics education bill to fanfare and cheers. But the Governor’s proposed 2020 budget does not include the necessary funding for the Civics Project Trust Fund, which would implement that legislation. Register here so a meeting with legislators can be set up.
If you are unable to attend the lobby day, you can contact your state Senator and Representative (more info) and urge them to endorse $1.5 million in funding in the 2020 state budget for the newly-established Civics Project Trust Fund to support implementation of the civics education law. Information on the trust fund is available here.
Movie: Fix It – Healthcare at the Tipping Point
Fix It – Healthcare at the Tipping Point
March 4, 2019, 7 pm
Pathways Cohousing, Community Room, Mountain Laurel Path, off Florence Rd, Florence
Movie followed by discussion
Fix It is a powerful documentary that reaches across the political and ideological divide. It makes the case for business leaders’ support for major healthcare reform and takes “money in politics” head on.”
Discussion will be led by a panel with Dr. Christopher Flory, LWV member, Nancy Talanian, Western Mass. Medicare-for-All, and Dr. Larry Pareles Northampton Medicare for All team.
Action 3: Vote YES on Public Lands Package
BIG ENVIRONMENTAL VICTORY!
PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED THE LAW 3/12/19
The LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND IS PERMANENTLY AUTHORIZED & FUNDED
INFORMATION FOR ACTION 3
This is a huge opportunity to protect wildlife and wild public lands and waters!
The Senate just passed (2/21/19) a public lands package that will:
1. Permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
2. Protect over a million acres of wilderness.
3.Protect hundreds of miles of wild and scenic designation for rivers.
4. Include additional sporting conservation bills.
This would be an historic win if it just gave permanent funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, but it includes additional extensive conservation measures!
Last year our league wrote many post cards urging our members of Congress to fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund for 2018. It does not cost taxpayers a dime. Every year $900 million of royalties paid by oil and gas companies is set aside for the LWC fund. But each year Congress decides how much of that money will be kept for conservation and how much they will divert to other uses. This vote would forever prevent Congress from raiding the fund for other purposes.
Land and Water Conservation Funds are used for big public areas like national parks, as well as for small conservation projects in every county in every state. Massachusetts has received over $229 million for projects, including improvements to Look Park. There was recently a column in the Hampshire Gazette that explained the importance of the LWC fund and how it has been used in MA.
Contact your Representative: James Mc Govern or Richard Neal
What should I say? Vote YES for the Public Lands Package, which will permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Act, and protect over a million acres of wild public lands and hundreds of miles of our waterways.
James McGovern
Washington office Northampton office
408 Cannon House Office Building 94 Pleasant St.
Washington, DC 20515 Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: 202-225-6101 phone: 413-341-8700
Fax: 202-225-5759 hours: M-F 9-5:00pm
hours: M-F 9-5:30
Richard Neal
Washington office Springfield office
2309 Rayburn House Office Building 300 State Street
Washington, DC 20515 Suite 200
Phone: 202-225-5601 Springfield, MA 01105
Fax: 202-225-8112 fax Phone: 413-785-0325
https://neal.house.gov/contact Fax: 413-747-0604
Action 2: Fund the Civics Project Trust Fund
Fund the Civics Project Trust Fund
The civic education law was passed in 2018.
No funds were appropriated for it.
We must work to keep it from becoming an unfunded mandate.
In 2018 the Northampton Area league sent hundreds of post cards urging our legislators to vote for the civic education law. LWVMA was a major supporter of the bill, S.2631, working as a member of the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition. We all celebrated when it passed.
The new law provides for funding for the professional development of teachers to teach civics effectively, the opportunity for students to participate in civics-based projects, and establishes civic education as a priority for school districts across the state.
“Understanding how government works is the essence of power. To be a strong citizen, you need to know how the structures of our government work and how to operate within them,”wrote Stefanie Sanford, chief of global policy of the College Board. A few years ago, the leaders of the College Board, those who write the SAT exams, identified the two most important areas of knowledge that students would need to become engaged citizens: the U.S. Constitution and computer skills. Thomas Friedman described the focus of the College Board this way, “if you want to be an empowered citizen in our democracy – able to not only navigate society and its institutions but also to improve and shape them, and not just be shaped by them – you need to know how the code of the U.S. Constitution works.” “The Two Codes Your Kids Need to Know,” Thomas Friedman, NYTimes,2/12/19.
Contact your state Representative and Senator.
What should I say?
It is of paramount importance to fund the Civics Project Trust Fund. I encourage you to support this funding in both the supplemental budget for 2019 and for the FY20 operating budget.
Senator Adam Hinds Senator Jo Comerford
24 Beacon St. 24 Beacon St.
Room 109-E Room 70C
Boston, MA 02133 Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617-722-1625 Phone:617-722-1532
Adam.hinds@masenate.gov Jo.Comerford@masenate.gov
Senator Donald Humason, Jr.
24 Beacon St.
Room 313-A
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617-722-1415
Representative Daniel Carey Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa
24 Beacon St. 24 Beacon St.
Room 33 Room 443
Boston, MA 02133 Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617-722-2060 Phone:617-722-2460
Daniel.carey@mahouse.gov Lindsay.sabadosa@mahouse.gov
Action 1: HR 1 For the People Act
Thank you all for speaking out for HR 1. A big victory for the LWV! On 3/8/19 the House passed the For the People Act.
Mitch Mc Connell is blocking the vote in the Senate. Read more: Only One Roadblock on the Road to Reform: Mitch McConnell
Let’s not give up. LWVUS is asking us to pressure our Senators to pass this historic bill. Now the companion bill is in the U.S. Senate. LWVUS urges all League members to ask their Senators to support this bill. Even though Senator Warren and Senator Markey are strong supporters, sending an email thanking them for that support and letting them know their constituents are behind this bill helps when they try to persuade their colleagues in the Senate to vote yes.
Senator Elizabeth Warren. www.warren.senate.gov/contact
309 Hart Senate Office B. Washington phone: 202-224-4543
Washington, DC 20510 Springfield phone: 413-788-2690
Senator Ed Markey www.markey.senate.gov/contact
255 Dirksen Senate Office B. Washington phone: 202-224-2742
Washington, DC 20510 Springfield phone: 413-785-4610
HR 1 For the People Act
As an organization with a mission of empowering voters and defending democracy, the League of Women Voters is proud to support legislation that does the same. The For the People Act will improve American elections by making our election system more free, fair, and accessible to all eligible Americans.
Why we need a comprehensive package of democracy reforms: (Graphic and information from LWVUS).
- It should be easier, not harder, to vote. The For the People Act improves access to voting with reforms like Same Day Registration and Automatic Voter Registration.
- More needs to be done to protect voters’ voices. The For the People Act requires independent redistricting commissions ends voter roll purges based on failure to vote, and restores the Voting Rights Act.
- Our government should respond to the will of the people, not the interests of powerful corporation and wealth donors.
The For the People Act is a large policy reform package. LWV will focus on these key democracy provisions:
- Expanding voter registration. Modernizing the registration process through the expansion of automatic voter registration, online voter registration and same day registration.
- Implementing fair redistricting. It’s time to end gerrymandering once and for all so that voters select their elected officials – not the other way around. It mandates that all states must establish independent citizen redistricting commissions for all Congressional districts.
- Outlawing voter purging. Prohibiting illegal voter roll purging will ensure that eligible voters will not find themselves wrongfully stopped of the right to vote.
- Restoring the Voting Rights Act. Restoring the VRA will strengthen our elections by cutting back the obstructive laws that have kept eligible voters from exercising their right at the ballot box.
- Campaign Finance reform. Passing the Disclose Act would provide strong provisions for improving transparency in campaign finance. Corruption occurs in Washington when wealthy donors and powerful interests use political money to by influence from officeholders. A small donor, public matching funds system would greatly reduce the power and influence of big money funders. They would be far less important in elections and have far less influence over government policies if candidates can obtain sufficient campaign funds elsewhere.
Contact your Representative: James Mc Govern, Richard Neal
What should I say? As a member of the LWV, which helped to write HR1, I thank you (Mc Govern or Neal,) for cosponsoring this package of democratic reforms. It will make our election system more free, fair, and accessible to all eligible Americans. It deserves support from all members of Congress.
Not a member of the league? – just say thanks for cosponsoring. There is no companion bill yet in the Senate.
James McGovern
Washington office Northampton office
408 Cannon House Office Building 94 Pleasant St.
Washington, DC 20515 Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: 202-225-6101 phone: 413-341-8700
Fax: 202-225-5759 hours: M-F 9-5:00pm
hours: M-F 9-5:30
Richard Neal
Washington office Springfield office
2309 Rayburn House Office Building 300 State Street
Washington, DC 20515 Suite 200
Phone: 202-225-5601 Springfield, MA 01105
Fax: 202-225-8112 fax Phone: 413-785-0325
https://neal.house.gov/contact Fax: 413-747-0604
Board meeting: members welcome
Members are welcome. Contact us.