Issues and Action

Recent activities of National, State and Local LWV

Sunshine Week 2008.  Equal Pay Day press conference.  White House Project.  LWVUS Adopts Immigration Position.  Public Financing of Judicial Elections in Michigan.

Sunshine Week 2008

As part of Sunshine Week 2008, on March 19, the League of Women Voters co-sponsored a successful forum, "Government Secrecy: Censoring Your Right to Know." More than a hundred attendees came to the National Press Club in Washington, DC, and more than 700 individuals registered to watch the live webcast. The event also was webcast to 22 host sites nationwide, where hundreds participated (some calling in or e-mailing questions to the panelists). Five of the host site events were sponsored by Leagues. The LWVs of Benicia (CA), Knoxville-Knox County (TN), New Jersey, Palos Verdes Peninsula (CA), and Salt Lake (UT) are applauded for their efforts.

For a summary of the event and associated resources, please visit http://www.openthegovernment.org. The webcast will be available on that Web site soon for unlimited future access, and DVDs of the program will be available for sale.

Equal Pay Day press conference

The Equal Pay Day press conference will be held Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at the Capitol Building in Lansing. The press conference will take place in Room 65 on the first floor of the Capitol Building at 11:00 a.m. The various representatives of women's groups are being urged to wear red to symbolize the fact that women are "in the red" when it comes to pay equity with men.

So far, the Michigan Women's Commission is working closely with AAUW of MI, MI NOW, LWV of Michigan, Pay Equity Network, and Women Work!, among other groups and organizations, to put the information packets together. AAUW has volunteered to supply the 300 cookies (with a bite out of each one to symbolize the amount women do not receive for their work) for the legislators and the press. Obviously, the cookies are being designed by using two cookie cutters to achieve the appearance of a bite being removed.

Governor Granholm's office has created a Proclamation that Judy Karandjeff will present to AAUW of MI State President, Mickey Edell, since AAUW is responsible for writing the 2007 Behind the Pay Gap report that documents pay inequities in the U.S. Participation by women's organizations is encouraged because we want to show that this issue is a "big deal" and needs to be addressed by Michigan legislators.

White House Project

The White House Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that aims to advance women's leadership in all communities and sectors--up to the U.S. presidency--by filling the leadership pipeline with a richly diverse, critical mass of women. http://www.thewhitehouseproject.org/about/mission/

LWVUS Adopts Immigration Position

After a lengthy and comprehensive study of this complex issue by our grassroots members, including the Ann Arbor Area Chapter, the LWVUS Board of Directors unanimously adopted the League's position on immigration which calls for a path to citizenship for current unauthorized immigrants. Read the full position here http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=LWVUSImmigrationStudy&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=11032

The 18-month study was successful thanks to the hard work of the Immigration Study Committee, led by LWVUS Board Member Carolie Mullan, and the high level of participation + 67 percent (560 Leagues). The new position provides for federal enforcement of immigration laws and full due process rights for immigrants. State and local Leagues may oppose efforts in their communities to deport, detain or harass unauthorized immigrants who have no history of serious criminal activity. As with all League positions, if your League is interested in taking action, please contact LWVUS Grassroots Lobbyist Christina Vamvas at cvamvas@lwv.org.

Public Financing of Judicial Elections in Michigan

Date: May 7, 2008

Location: Three Oaks, Michigan

The League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties will hold a community forum dealing with the public financing of judicial elections in Michigan. Rich Robinson, Executive Director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, will be one of the featured speakers. For more information please visit their website, http://www.lwvbcc.org/calendar.html.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: July 8, 2008 22:48 PDT.

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