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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ® of CONNECTICUT 1890 Dixwell Avenue, Suite 203, Hamden, CT 06514 Tel. 203-288-7996 E-mail - LWVCT@lwvct.org |
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The League is a nonpartisan organization which does not support or oppose political parties or candidates. |
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Home ... November 2009 |
November 2009
LWVCT BOARD REPORT November 12, 2009
CALENDAR 2009
November 2009 In November the Hamden office is closed for Veterans’ Day, Nov. 18 & 19, and Thanksgiving week. Happy Thanksgiving! 11/13 SIR Committee meeting, Hamden 11/19 LWV Mansfield forum on housing
December 2009 In December the Hamden office is closed for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, inclusive. 12/5 LWVCTEF Fall Conference, South Congregational Church, Hartford
Announcements Fall Conference
This year’s LWVCTEF Fall Conference will be held at a new venue: South Congregational Church, 277 Main Street, Hartford. The date is Saturday, December 5, and it will start with registration and a continental breakfast at 9:00 a.m. The topic is “Health Care in Connecticut: What’s Next?” and the speakers will include Dr. Elizabeth Rosenthal of Physicians for a National Health Plan, state Comptroller Nancy Wyman and state Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo. (We’re attaching the sign-up flyer at the end of this newsletter.)
Ed Fund Drive
There’s still time to send your contributions to the LWVCTEF to support its activities in 2009-2010. If you haven’t already sent a check, will you take a moment to do it now?
LWV Mansfield Presentation on Housing
League member Kathy Dorgan will offer a presentation on affordable housing design at LWV Mansfield’s noon meeting on Thursday, November 19th at Angelinos in the Big Y plaza. Kathy is principal of Dorgan Architecture & Planning in Storrs. She is a practitioner of comprehensive community development and has contributed to the development of incremental strategies for neighborhood renewal and community building. Kathy’s presentation is a beginning to the study of “regional proposals for ending homelessness in Windham and area towns,” which was adopted at their annual meeting last May. Please let Carol McMillan (423-3773) or Gloria Bent <gsbent@earthlink.net)> know if you will be attending. Election Laws Study Update
The Study Committee, which currently consists of 6 members with one observer, “met” by conference call on October 29. Assignments have been divided, research is ongoing and committee members are planning interviews and drafting questions. The next “meeting” will take place during the first 2 weeks of January.
Public Issues Team Report Submitted by Cheryl Dunson with Directors Karen Burnaska, Christine Horrigan, Naomi Schiff Myers and Specialists
2009 Legislative Session: Now that the state budget has finally been adopted, a comprehensive post-legislative session wrap-up is posted on our website at: http://www.lwvct.org/issues/action-archives/2009-10/110609-session-wrap-up.htm. Given the continuing dire fiscal situation, the PI Team is expecting another challenging session.
Election Laws/Good Government/Voting Machines: The League is participating again in audit observations following the November elections as part of the Connecticut Citizen Election Audit Coalition, which will help to further inform our advocacy. To find out more info, or to volunteer, visit: www.ctelectionaudit.org
SEEC/Campaign Finance Reform: Please contact your state officials urging action to protect the Citizen Election Program. See 10/27/09 action alert reprinted below.
The Clean Up Coalition (which worked to pass the 2005 public financing law and of which the League is a part) has been meeting regularly. Coalition members are meeting with legislators to encourage them to move forward with a fix. The Attorney General believes that the legislature should do what is best from a public policy point of view. The AG will argue on appeal that the court erred in its decision, regardless of what the legislature does for a fix.
The Action Alert:
League Members Report That Some Legislative Aides Don't Understand!
Thanks to those LWV members who contacted their officials about protecting the Citizens Election Program. Several have reported that the officials or their aides replied that the State was appealing the ruling. Therefore, they thought that no other action was needed.
They're wrong ... and here's why and here's exactly what must be done to save the Citizen's Election Program.
While the Attorney General's appeal is proceeding, your legislators must take two actions:
● Step 1: Immediately repeal the "Reversion Clause" (Section 9-717) of the law that would send us back to the pre-reform days of no clean elections. ● Step 2: Once the clause is repealed, then amend eligibility requirements to respond to the ruling.
Here are the facts: · In late August, Federal District Court Judge Stefan Underhill ruled that Connecticut's Citizens Election Program, which provides public financing for campaigns, discriminated against minor party candidates. · The judge issued an injunction prohibiting the State from operating and enforcing the program. Although a stay of the injunction has been granted, enabling the continuation of the program for now, the program is in serious jeopardy due to the so-called "reversion clause" (Section 9-717). This clause requires the State to return to its former, inadequate pre-reform system of campaign finance in the event of a successful legal challenge. · The State is appealing the ruling but the appeal will take months. · The Government Administration and Elections Committee held an informational forum with speakers from the SEEC, Attorney General's office and others regarding these issues. To view the meeting go to: http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=4850
Please contact your legislators today and tell them to repeal the reversion clause (section 9-717) immediately and then work on amending eligibility and other requirements. They must act now to protect the program.
Main Switchboard: Senate Democrats (800) 842-1420 or (860) 240-8600 Senate Republicans (800) 842-1421 or (860) 240-8800 House Democrats (800) 842-8267, (800) 842-1902 or (860) 240-8500 House Republicans (800) 842-8270, (800) 842-1423 or (860)240-8700
You can find your legislators e-mail by going to: http://www.cga.ct.gov
Thank you.
Media Issues
Net Neutrality: On 10/22 the FCC asked for comment on proposed rulemaking regarding a free and open Internet. Deadline for comments is 1/14/2010. For more information, go to: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-93A1.pdf.
Community Access TV: The Alliance for Community Media officially recognized a revived Connecticut chapter in September; these are our partners in the PEG TV area. The first membership meeting was held on 11/7 at the Northeast regional conference. LWVCT Media Issues Specialist Pua Ford was part of a panel on policy updates.
Health Care:
In response to LWVUS alert, LWVCT contacted all of the CT Representatives asking for support of the public option.
90th Anniversary Auction, etc.
Did you see the two e-mails that we sent regarding getting donations for our fund-raising auction? Has your League chosen plan A (15% return to you, but you do the solicitation) or plan B (7% but LWVCT does the work)? Also an option: your League’s members can donate their own services (catering, tutoring, whatever). Watch this space for further updates on 90th Anniversary events and activities.
Local League Support Program Planning Coming Up Again …
Local Leagues: Watch out for Program Planning materials that will be sent out in the future...Also, there will be an LWVUS Webinar on November 18th on Program Planning. These materials and webinar will cover planning for the LWVUS’s June 2010 Convention. You can do your own League’s Program Planning at the same time, of course.
Membership Deadline Not Quite Looming
Fall is traditionally the League’s busy season, but we hope that you haven’t been neglecting membership recruitment and renewals. If you’d like suggestions about getting and keeping new members, please contact LWVCT Director/Membership Elona Vaisnys at (203) 248-8035 or elona.vaisnys@aya.yale.edu.
Are you tracking your League’s membership renewals in preparation for the LWVUS’s January 31 PMP deadline? Now is the time to start cleaning up your membership roster in the LWVUS’s database. Have questions about how? Contact Jean Rabinow at the LWVCT office.
Health Care in Connecticut: What’s Next?
A panel discussion including: Nancy Wyman, State Comptroller Kevin Lembo, Healthcare Advocate Elizabeth Rosenthal, MD, Physicians for a National Health Plan (others to be announced) Moderator: Kay J. Maxwell
Single Payer? Public Option? Optional Public Option? How will federal action affect our state? How dependent is Connecticut on the insurance industry? How will the SustiNet Board work?
South Congregational Church is not a co-sponsor of this event.
To register ($15 per person) before Monday, November 30, please send this form with your check made out to LWVCTEF to:
After November 30 or at the door, registration will be $20 per person.
============================================================================== Fall Conference 2009 Registration Name ___________________________________ League_________________________ Phone ______________________________ E-mail _______________________ Number of people_____________________ Enclosed $ ___________________ DIRECTIONS TO 277 MAIN STREET, HARTFORD
From Interstate 84 Eastbound Follow Route 84 East to exit 48B – Capitol Avenue (the exit is split into a ‘Y’; stay to the right). At the end of the exit, turn left onto Capitol Avenue. Continue on Capitol Avenue through 2 traffic lights (at the second light there will be a large statue of a horse and rider on your right). At the third light, turn right onto Hudson Street. At the next light, turn left onto Buckingham Street. The first right is John Street. Parking lots for South Church are located on John Street.
From Interstate 84 Westbound Follow Route 84 West to exit 54 – Downtown Hartford. As you approach the central business district, you will go over a bridge with a light at the end. At this light, turn left onto Columbus Boulevard. Follow Columbus Boulevard through 4 traffic lights and over a little bridge (the silver building on the left will be 50 Columbus). At the fifth light, turn right onto Charter Oak Avenue. Go up the hill to the intersection with Main Street. South Church is across the street on the left-hand side of the intersection. Cross Main Street onto Buckingham Street. The first left is John Street. Parking lots for South Church are located on John Street. From Interstate 91 Northbound Follow Route 91 North to exit 29A – Capitol Area. Stay in the right lane. As you merge with traffic, move over to the far right lane. Take the first exit, Columbus Boulevard. Turn left at the end of the exit onto Columbus Boulevard. At the second light, turn right onto Charter Oak Avenue. Go up the hill to the intersection with Main Street. South Church is across the street on the left-hand side of the intersection. Cross Main Street onto Buckingham Street. The first left is John Street. Parking lots for South Church are located on John Street.
From Interstate 91 Southbound Follow Route 91 South to exit 29A – Capitol Area. Stay in the right lane. Take the first exit, Columbus Boulevard. Turn left at the end of the exit onto Columbus Boulevard. At the second light, turn right onto Charter Oak Avenue. Go up the hill to the intersection with Main Street. South Church is across the street on the left-hand side of the intersection. Cross Main Street onto Buckingham Street. The first left is John Street. Parking lots for South Church are located on John Street. |
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