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December League Leader Update
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| LWVMA Calendar | |
January 23: LWVMA Board Meeting, Noon-2pm, 133 Portland Street
February 15: Last day to register to vote and change party enrollment for Presidential
Primaries
March 6: Presidential Primary Election
May 5: LWVMA Council
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Save the Date for LWMVA Council
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The November League Leader Update included a short survey on the theme and workshop topics for the upcoming LWVMA Council on May 5. Based on the responses to the survey, the theme will be "Challenges to Democracy: Protecting Voter Rights and the Influence of Money."
The most popular choices for workshop topics were "Multi-League Candidate Nights (Congressional Races)," "How to work with your legislator and LWVMA's current issues," and "Share the success--membership and leadership." The Council planning committee will do their best to focus on these topics for workshops.
Thank you for responding to the survey! We will continue to use short surveys to solicit input from our leaders and members.
Council will feature morning workshops, lunch and a keynote speaker and an afternoon plenary session. The likely venue will be Lasell College in Newton; look for more details on location and specific times as we get closer to May 5.
Please plan with your League to send members to Council.
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| Send a Citizens United Anniversary Letter | | |
The second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, which unleashed a flood of big-money political advertising, is January 21, 2012.
LWVMA is asking all local Leagues to send a letter to the editor of their local newspapers reminding voters of the impact of this decision and asking voters to become informed and to question the political advertising that will be everywhere this election season.
A suggested template for the letter, which you can use as is or modify, is available here. This template was developed by the Concord-Carlisle League's Follow the $ campaign finance reform committee together with League members from Sudbury, Amherst, Newton and Acton. The letter, signed by the local League president, can be sent to local editors any time between now and Jan. 21.
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| Donating to LWVMA | |
A special thanks to all of the local Leagues and their members who participated in the LWVMA Phonathon. We continue to receive donations and will report on the amount raised in a future Update. Year-end contributions can be made by check and mailed to the office or by credit card here. Tax-deductible contributions can be made to the Citizen Education Fund (make checks payable to LWVMA Citizen Education Fund.)
LWVMA has received donations from several local Leagues. If your local League can make a donation to LWVMA, these are most welcome (make checks payable to LWVMA.)
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| LWVUS Legislative Priorities | | |
In January, the LWVUS Board of Directors will be setting the League Legislative Priorities for the upcoming year. Setting these priorities for LWVUS action at the national level is an annual responsibility for the Board. Once again, the Board is soliciting suggestions for LWVUS advocacy priorities from members. If you are interested in making suggestions to the Board, please consider the goals and criteria as listed below. While the LWVUS has numerous positions under which we might take action, the Board must prioritize and consider those issues where we might be able to make a difference.
According to the LWVUS Impact on Issues, the goals for setting priorities to guide the LWV advocacy work are to: (1) Enhance the League's effectiveness by concentrating resources on priority issues; (2) Build the League's credibility and visibility by projecting a focused and consistent image; (3) Ensure that the League has sufficient issue and political expertise to act knowledgeably; and (4) Enable the League to manage resources effectively. In setting legislative priorities, the Board considers the following: (1) Opportunities for the League to make an impact; (2) Program decisions made at Convention and/or Council; (3) Member interest; and (4) Resources available to manage effectively.
If you would like to make suggestions for LWVUS advocacy priorities, please email Advocacy Committee Chair Judy Duffy: jduffylwv@aol.com. Please indicate whether the suggestions are from an individual member, a committee, board or membership meeting. Suggestions must be received by January 15.
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| Legislative Update | | |
HB 338 - An Act to Provide Improved Medicare for All & SB 501 - An Act Establishing Medicare for all in Massachusetts: Testimony in support of these bills was provided to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing on 12/15 by Health Care Specialist, Judy Deutsch.
HB 1228 - An Act to Establish a Public Health Insurance Option & SB 500 - An Act Establishing a Public Health Insurance Option: Testimony in support of these bills was provided to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing on 12/15 by Health Care Specialist, Judy Deutsch.
SB 772 - A Resolution Restoring Free Speech: The LWVMA Board voted unanimously on 12/12 to support this Resolution that calls upon the United States Congress to pass and send to the states for ratification a constitutional amendment to restore First Amendment rights, which were designed to protect the free speech of people - not corporations - in response to the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, which overturned longstanding precedent prohibiting corporations from spending their general treasury funds in our elections. This Resolution is currently in the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and has not yet been assigned a hearing date.
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| IRA Charitable Rollover | |
If you are seventy-and-a-half (70 1/2) or older, you may be able to make direct transfers totaling up to $100,000 per year to the LWVMA without having to count the transfers as income for federal income tax purposes. The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 has extended the IRA Charitable Rollover through the end of 2011. Please email lwvma@lwvma.org if you have any questions.
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Sign Up For LWVMA Emails
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We are tailoring the way you get emails from us so you only receive notices and topics that interest you. Please click here to sign up for the types of League correspondence you would like to get and forward along the link to your League members.
Happy Holidays!
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