League of Women Voters® of Nevada

LWVNV is watching

Admin — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:35:39 +0000

Hello,

As we well understand the impact of the Nevada 2011 session will be unfolding over the next two years. SB 271, concerning growth and Lake Tahoe, reminds us of tough lessons learned when growth was a driving engine in Southern Nevada. The law maintains that there will be regulation, however , there is a window to move more rapidity in expanding development in the area. We also know that the devil is in the details. The LWVNV will be watching how SB 271 is implemented.

The tie breaker which settled the budget in session 2011 involves home rule. Local governments are now petitioning for return of funds taken to balance the 2009 budget. This too will most assuredly go to the courts. The budget revolves around revenue. The Nevada Tax system can not remain as is.

Citizens look to elected officials to speak for them and to represent their needs and issues. We can look back over 2011 and evaluate the present team of elected officials and reference how they did their due diligence based upon their voting record to decide if they should remain in office or not. Some are looking to move into other elected positions. Name recognition and the fact that in addition to being elected to office they may be nice individuals is not a litmus test for remaining in public office.

Regards,

Sam King LWVNV Grassroots Advocate / Lobbyist

Legislative Alert passed on from Nevada Women’s Lobby

Admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:18:48 +0000

Legislative Alert passed on from Nevada Women’s Lobby:

Assemblywoman Peggy Pierce has four revenue bills heading to hearings.

AB333: Increases taxes on tobacco and alcohol.
AB335: Modeled after similar effective laws in other states, this bill would create a services tax, which could generate revenue missing from declined sales.
AB336: Closes the loophole on outside corporations which don’t pay business taxes. Even with a lower rate than any such tax in surrounding states, this could do a lot to close Nevada’s multi-billion dollar budget deficit.
AB428: A net proceeds tax on mining. For decades, Nevada’s second largest industry has been able to get away with paying a pittance in taxes. It’s time they paid their fair share.

Show your support by attending hearings, giving testimony and signing your name in support!

AB333 will be heard at 9 am on Tuesday, April 5

AB428 will be heard at 8 am on Thursday, April 7

Contact the members of the Assembly Taxation Committee

Marilyn Kirkpatrick – Chair

Harvey Munford – Vice Chair

Elliot Anderson

Teresa Benitez-Thompson

Irene Bustamante Adams

Voice your opinion on public record: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=9ezov8cab&et=1105037269162&s=200&e=001xTMgIyIryagSSUZyFXbEq6zEkStrN8XJC4_ui-Wy5xeAYBNf_EcwhVSP7HLeIlhmoeug6FMj9Jgu5vfgqmkEhvpLRXiejAzNRtv8B3gR1YugqTRwEdbD72xLFwk89hmmgOXfupZHvLZuli4G1xOQ91b7fZxJ41je

Assembly Committee on Taxation

In Las Vegas:

Grant Sawyer State Office Building

555 East Washington Ave

Las Vegas, Nevada

When you arrive at the hearing, please sign your name on the attendance sheet, indicate bill number and check “In Favor.”

If you can’t attend the hearing, view online at http://leg.state.nv.us/MeetingDisplay/AudioVideo/

April Women’s History Highlights and Birthdays

Admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:09:26 +0000

April 2, 1931 – 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell, the second woman to play baseball in the all-male minor leagues, pitches an exhibition game against NY Yankees and strikes out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. The next day, the Baseball Commissioner voided her contract, claiming baseball was too strenuous for women. The ban was not overturned until 1992 .

April 5, 1911 – 100,000 to 500,000 people march in New York City to attend the funeral of 7 unidentified people who died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire in late March.

April 7, 1805 – Sacagawea begins helping the Lewis and Clark Expedition as an interpreter.

April 7, 1987 – Opening of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington , DC , the first museum devoted to women artists.

April 9, 1939 – Marian Anderson sings an Easter Sunday concert for more than 75,000 at Lincoln Memorial.

April 13, 1933 – Ruth Bryan Owens is the first woman to represent the U.S. as a foreign minister when she is appointed as envoy to

Denmark.

April 19, 1977 – 15 women in the House of Representatives form the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues.

April 22, – Earth Day – honor Rachel Carson today, a woman who changed America and greatly influenced the environmental movement.

April 26, 1777 – American Revolution heroine Sybil Ludington, 16 years old, rides 40 miles by horseback in the middle of the night to warn the American militia that the British were invading.

April 28, 1993 – First “Take Our Daughters to Work” Day, sponsored by the Ms. Foundation; in 2003 it became “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work” Day.

April Birthdays

April 3, 1934 – Jane Goodall, primatologist and conservationist; world’s foremost authority on chimpanzees

April 4, 1928 – Maya Angelou, author, poet, civil rights activist, actress; composed and read her poem at President Clinton’s inauguration in 1993

April 7, 1944 (2002) – Julia Miller Phillips, film producer; first woman to win a Best Picture Academy Award (1973, “The Sting”) as a producer; also produced “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Taxi Driver”

April 9, 1887 (1953) – Florence Price, first African American woman symphony composer

April 10, 1880 or 1882 (1965) – Frances Perkins, first woman cabinet member, Secretary of Labor in 1933; key contributor to the Social Security Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act

April 10, 1903 (1987) – Clare Booth Luce, playwright, Congresswoman (R-CT), Ambassador to Italy (1953-1956)

April 10, 1930 – Delores Huerta, Chicana activist; co-founder United Farm Workers union

April 13, 1909 (2001) – Eudora Welty, writer, won Pulitzer prize for Fiction in 1973; photographer; winner of Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Literature, and the French Legion d’Honneur

April 14, 1866 (1936) – Anne Sullivan Macy, famous teacher of Helen Keller who was blind, deaf, and mute; the two worked and traveled together

April 25, 1917 (1996) – Ella Fitzgerald, “First Lady of Song”, internationally renowned jazz singer, winner of 13 Grammy Awards

April 27, 1927 (2006) – Coretta Scott King, civil rights, human rights, and peace activist

April 30, 1939 – Ellen Zwilich, first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Music (1983)

Leaders Update

Admin — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 16:54:35 +0000

In This Issue:

March 31, 2011

TODAY: March 31, 1776 – Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband, John Adams, asking him to “remember the ladies” in the anticipated “new code of laws.”

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

President’s Message: In Remembrance (NEW)

ADVOCACY

LAST CHANCE ACTION ALERT: This Is Your Chance to Be Heard! (NEW)

MEMBERSHIP & LEADERSHIP

Register Now: Webinar on How to Conduct a National Study, Thursday, April 21, 3:00 PM Eastern
Northeast Region State Coaches Trained in Growing the League, Mentoring Local Leagues (NEW)
Leadership Change? Update Your League Officers in the Database

EDUCATION FUND (Elections, Fair Judiciary)

Elections: Free Voter Education Materials from U.S. Election Assistance Commission (NEW)
Fair Judiciary: LWV of Kansas in Action (NEW)

OTHER

Leaving a Legacy

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Dear League Leader:

A political pioneer passed away this week. Many of us remember the excitement when Geraldine Ferraro stepped up to the podium in 1984 as the first woman on a major party’s presidential ticket. In that moment, it seemed as though all things were within reach for American women and girls.

By 1984 there had been other important firsts – Sandra Day O’Connor was a justice of the Supreme Court and Jean Kirkpatrick was serving as U.N. Ambassador. Two women, Margaret Chase Smith and Shirley Chisholm had already vied for a presidential nomination.

After 1984, women in high office somehow seemed more natural. Three women have served as Secretary of State, and one has been in serious contention for a presidential nomination. Both parties have now nominated women for vice president.

We owe a lot to the pioneers, including Geraldine Ferraro. Reading and watching the tributes this week, we are reminded of her courage, her humor and her unfailing belief in the democratic system. She will be missed.

As we close Women’s History Month, we remember and salute our pioneers.

In League,

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ADVOCACY

LAST CHANCE ACTION ALERT: This Is Your Chance to Be Heard! (NEW)

The Senate is scheduled to vote very soon on amendments that would limit the ability of the EPA to keep our air clean. Contact your Senators now and voice your concern! If you want more information on the legislation please read this letter to Senators, sent by the League and coalition partners, urging them to oppose amendments to S. 493 that would dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to address life-threatening pollution.

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MEMBERSHIP & LEADERSHIP

Register Now: Webinar on How to Conduct a National Study, Thursday, April 21, 3:00 PM Eastern

If you would like to learn more about the process surrounding a national study, we welcome you to sign up for this webinar. Learn how to help your League get ready to participate in national studies directly from Education Study Committee chair Peg Hill and national Education Fund and Privatization Committee chair Janis McMillen.

Northeast Region State Coaches Trained in Growing the League, Mentoring Local Leagues (NEW)

State coaches from across the Northeast Region and Ruth S. Shur Fellows joined LWVUS Board members and staff in Providence, RI, for a three-day intensive training in best practices to grow the League, develop new leaders and hone mentoring skills. In the months to come, these state coaches will help the national League train local Leagues within their states to grow the organization from the grassroots up. Find more information here. These trainings are made possible by the Leaders for Leadership Fund.

Leadership Change? Update Your League Officers in the Database

If your League has a change in leadership, don’t forget to update your League’s officers’ information in the LWVUS database. Find instructions on how to make these changes here. If you have any questions or need help, contact Betty Taira.

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EDUCATION FUND (Elections; Fair Judiciary)

Elections: Free Voter Education Materials from U.S. Election Assistance Commission (NEW)

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has a variety of new materials available to help voters and elections officials navigate the elections process. Visit the EAC’s election resource library to see what materials are available. To order free printed materials for your League’s voters service work, call the EAC toll free at 866-747-1471 or submit an email request here.

Fair Judiciary: LWV of Kansas in Action (NEW)

The LWV of Kansas highlighted its successful state-wide education campaign, “Quest for a More Diverse Judiciary,” at a press conference on March 24, attracting more than 100 attendees. This “League Day at the Capitol” event featured Washburn University Professor Jeffrey Jackson and Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss. Local television stations WIBW and KTKA provided coverage. On March 25, the LWV of Kansas, the Office of Judicial Administration and the American Judicature Society co-sponsored a training day for about 60 judicial nominating commissioners, who represent districts from across the state.

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OTHER

Leaving a Legacy

Including the League of Women Voters Education Fund in your will is among the easiest ways to offer support of the LWVEF’s work for years to come. We suggest the following language to include the League as a beneficiary of a will or trust: ” I give, devise, and bequeath to the League of Women Voters Education Fund, a charitable organization formed in the District of Columbia, with offices at 1730 M Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20036, {the sum of $___ } {___ percentage of my residuary estate}.” If you already have a will, you can have your attorney add a codicil to include the LWVEF. After you’ve added the League, please contact Lauren Frank so we can list you as a member of our Carrie Chapman Catt Legacy Society.
“Like” the League on Facebook at www.facebook.com/leagueofwomenvoters

Donate to the League on our Facebook Causes page.

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March 2011 Newsletter

Admin — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 16:49:42 +0000

March 2011

Continuing to Make History!

March is Women’s History Month, and we’ve been celebrating! After all, the League’s roots and long history are woven into U.S. women’s history. So, as we applaud the advances women have made, we remain focused on our mission – strengthening our democratic system and increasing the public’s participation –and our current concerns, – protecting voters’ rights; fighting for the Clean Air Act; and preserving the gains from one-year old health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act.

We want to hear from you, too. Let us know your thoughts on our Facebook page and blog.

Elisabeth MacNamara

President, LWVUS

Voter Protection

Through the Public Advocacy for Voter Protection (PAVP) project, the League continues to battle new barriers to voting in state legislatures across the country. Leagues are working in seventeen states that have voter photo ID (VPID) bills moving in their legislature. To date we believe we have been able to stop legislation in AR, CO, IA, NM and VA. The greatest threats for passage in the next few weeks include OH, TX, KS and SC with prospects for ID laws in MO, MT, NH, PA, RI, TN, and WI increasing. State Leagues have been working diligently in pushing back these efforts. It’s hard to believe that in this time of budgetary crisis and joblessness, legislatures are focused on creating new government programs that will not only cost millions of dollars to enact but also take away people’s voting rights.

In this letter calling on President Obama to remedy dysfunction at the Federal Election Commission, the League and its partners urged him to nominate five new commissioners to fix the continuing meltdown.

Clean Air Defense

The League spoke out in support of the EPA-proposed Mercury and Air Toxics Standard: “This long overdue…critically important action…will save 17,000 American lives and prevent 120,000 asthma attacks.”

Take action now to support Clean Air! The House of Representatives is expected to consider legislation that would permanently block the EPA from regulating harmful carbon pollution. Urging opposition, the League sent a letter to the entire House and joined with coalition partners in a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman and Ranking Member, while the League’s volunteer Lobby Corps visited select members of the House. At the grassroots, Leagues’ letters to the editor, published in their local and state newspapers, urge continued support of the Clean Air Act.

On the international front, the League, in a letter, urged Senate leaders of the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee to support appropriations for international investments to address the causes and consequences of a changing climate.

Health Care Defense

One year ago last week the Affordable Care Act became law! Already, some provisions of the law are making a difference: Current beneficiaries of this historic Act are children with pre-existing conditions, young adults to age 26 who can now stay on their parents’ health plans and those whose coverage had lifetime limits. We laud those states that have started important groundwork for implementing provisions of the complex Act. As for those states working to overturn the law through court action and members of Congress intent on repealing, defunding, and simply whittling away at the law, our fight continues. Going backwards is not an option, and the anticipated financial and human cost of such a move, as noted here, is indeed great.

Money in Elections

Late last month, the League and its coalition partners filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Arizona’s public financing law. Oral arguments in the case, McComish v. Bennett, were held this week.

Redistricting

Leagues Take Charge to Impact Redistricting: Leagues across the country are working to promote a more transparent and fair redistricting process in 2011. Last week, the Virginia League hosted a special event to announce winners of the Virginia College and University Redistricting Competition, in which student teams from 13 Virginia colleges produced maps of new districts in an effort to promote public participation and awareness about the impact of redistricting. In Florida, the League is active in leading the diverse Fair Districts Florida coalition that is urging state leaders to properly implement the new state redistricting rules overwhelmingly approved by Florida voters last year. Learn more by visiting our redistricting page.

Congressional Ethics

Concerned over the stalled ethics investigation, the League and coalition partners sent a letter to the House Committee on Ethics leadership asking when the inquiry into possible ethics violations by Representative Maxine Waters will be resumed and completed. Read the media coverage in Roll Call, Washington Post, TPMMuckraker and The Hill.

Openness in Government

As noted on the League’s blog, the LWVEF co-hosted the 6th annual Sunshine Week national panel discussion with experts from inside and outside government, who presented a thoughtful assessment of transparency at the federal level. Webcast live and later broadcast on C-SPAN, “The Road Forward on Open Government” is available here.

The Quest For A More Diverse Judiciary

At this month’s “League Day at the Capital,” the League of Women Voters of Kansas held a press conference to highlight key successes of the state-wide education campaign, “Quest for a More Diverse Judiciary.” The event featured Professor Jeffrey Jackson, Washburn University, and Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nussurt. See the media coverage here.

Promoting Global Democracy

The League’s latest group of American Legislative Fellows recently returned from Colombia where they met with a variety of officials at all levels of government, members of civil society, and the press. Read about their 10-day experience here.

Support The League

You Can Make a Gift That Helps Your League at All Three Levels!

Some things never change even in these challenging economic times. The League of Women Voters Education Fund continues to be at the forefront of public policy issue education which allows citizens to thoughtfully engage in the democratic process. By making a gift of cash or securities of $5,000 or more to the LWVEF Pooled Income Fund, you can receive an immediate income tax deduction for a portion of the gift’s value and continue earning a quarterly return on the interest earned for life. Best of all, you can name your state and/or local League, along with the LWVEF, to benefit from the residual funds when you’re gone. For more information, please contact the Development office at 202-263-1355 or plannedgiving@lwv.org.

Join Us On…

Help us reach our goal of 9,000 “Likes”

Fun Facts

LWV of Connecticut Uncovers Rare 1918 Memoir

League member’s 1918 memoir reveals Connecticut state legislators’ views on suffrage as recorded from personal interviews.

Member in the Spotlight

Working with my local League has enabled me to meet some remarkable people, gain leadership skills and become a better public speaker. I wouldn’t trade my League experience for anything.

Nikole Wolfe, LWV of Lexington, KY

Leaders in the Spotlight

League Leaders Energized to Grow the League to Make Democracy Work

League Shop

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In The Assembly Committee…

Admin — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:03:40 +0000

The League of Women Voters operates by maintaining our focus. The League of Women Voters of Nevada works within our mission and focus to advocate for Nevadans. The power of our voice is strengthened by our individual efforts to study and research proposed bills as this legislative process moves forward. Proposed legislation must be dissected so that the how what when where and why within them becomes transparent and an educated decision about the bills translates into support, undecided or opposed.

The budget hearings continue much to digest.

I would like to report that as I attend meetings for outreach LWVNV ‘s participation is noted and appreciated

Regards,

Sam

Bills in Hearing 3/25/2011

Support AB211 – Gender Equity

Watch SB 119/ SB 121 Revises government agency commission nuclear projects – leaning to support

Watch– Education Bills SB 196 Empowerment- SB 216 Reading skills- SB 229 Parents State Board SB 230 nutrition (obesity children )

Oppose SB 271- Negating the Tahoe inter state Compact

Support SB 286 Medicare Fraud oversight

Watch education bills SB196 empowerment SB 216 SB 229 SB230

Watch SB359 Transparency contracts with government entity

Support AB 17—public utilities

Support SB 377—public private contracras

Hanging onto Health – Top Concern for Nevadans 50+

Admin — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 19:06:36 +0000

Public News Service-NV
February 24, 2011

LAS VEGAS – Staying healthy is the top concern for Nevadans age 50 and older, according to a survey being released today.

The AARP survey finds older Nevadans divided on the wisdom of state budget cuts, but agreeing on areas that should not be cut – with K-12 education topping the list.

A whopping 98 percent of older Nevadans say their number-one concern these days is staying healthy and mentally sharp. Deborah Moore Jaquith, associate state director of communications for AARP-Nevada, says these Nevadans are also very concerned about how cuts to Social Security and Medicare could impact their health.

“They don’t believe that they necessarily have what they need in order to stay healthy. Only 32 percent believe they have the resources they need to stay healthy.”

Only one in four older Nevadans surveyed have strong confidence that they could afford three years of long-term care, should the need arise, Jaquith says.

Older Nevadans are nearly evenly split on state budget cuts, with 44 percent supporting a budget that reduces public benefits while reducing the deficit, and 43 percent opposing the cuts. Jaquith says a surprising number of older Nevadans ranked education tops in what not to cut.

“The state services that older Nevadans are most concerned about protecting are: K-12 education with 78 percent, home-care services that allow people to stay home at 71 percent, and public safety at 70 percent.”

The most popular ways to raise state revenue for 50-plus Nevadans would be taxing liquor, beer, wine and cigarettes, the survey found. Older Nevadans also support closing tax loopholes for certain businesses.

A majority, 58 percent of those responding, were not members of AARP, marking the first time the group included non-members in a Nevada survey. The survey sampled more than 400 Nevadans and will be posted on the web today at aarp.org/nv.
Click here to view this story on the Public News Service RSS site and access an audio version of this and other stories: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/18654-1

Message to NV Lawmakers: Teacher Pay Cuts Top 20% for Many

Admin — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 18:58:41 +0000

Public News Service-NV
February 24, 2011

CARSON CITY, Nevada – Gov. Brian Sandoval stressed the need for shared sacrifice in proposing state budget cuts, but education advocates say teachers are getting hit extra hard when it comes to sacrificing pay.

Lynn Warne, president of the Nevada State Education Association (NSEA), plans to tell state lawmakers today that when all Sandoval’s proposed changes that impact teacher compensation are totaled, the hit to their paycheck in many cases adds up to much more than 5 percent.

“The cuts being recommended by the governor are a lot deeper than are being portrayed. Quite frankly, we feel that, for example, the 5 percent compensation cuts he’s talking about go up to 20 percent or higher.”

Sandoval is holding fast to his stand that the state needs to live within its means and that the budget deficit can be reeled in without raising taxes.

Warne expects lawmakers will have a more open mind concerning the revenue side of the equation when she testifies today. She says Sandoval informed superintendents that he is aiming for 70 percent of the cuts to be shouldered by district employees. Warne says that approach hurts veteran teachers the most at a time when they are greatly needed in Nevada.

“The longer an educator is in the classroom, that experience translates into more effective instruction; and so the governor would remove the incentive for remaining in the classroom just to get those additional years of experience.”

Warne is to testify before the Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance joint K-12 Subcommittee.

Click here to view this story on the Public News Service RSS site and access an audio version of this and other stories: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/18654-2