Remember that the Conference is free for the student and the local League; the only cost to the local League is to arrange for the student to get to Albany and back home (either by train, bus, parent car or League member car).

Do you like to travel? Would you like to meet and discuss political issues with foreign officials when you travel? Then, Travel Concepts may be for you! This travel agency was developed by a League member and organizes tours around the globe with a interest in political issues. Also, your local and state League get a small donation when you travel with Travel Concepts. Check out their upcoming trips here. 

Do you manage social media for your League or want to learn more about using Social Media sites? Do you want to learn about how social media can help your League? Great! Join the LWVUS on Facebook, where it has created the League of Women Voters New Media Group to help you and your League become more social savvy. You will need to click on the "ask to join the group" button on the right hand side at the top of the page. Once you do this, the button will indicate that your request was sent. This Group will provide links to articles, trainings and other useful resources to help you become more active on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. You will also be able to share your experiences and learn what has worked for other Leagues.

2012 Legislative Agenda -

Sally Robinson

2012 Legislative Agenda

Based on the responses we had from local leagues with suggestions for the 2012 legislative agenda, and consideration of both resources and legislative opportunities for the next year, the Board adopted the following as the League's 2012 Legislative Agenda.

Steps To A Better New York (2012 LWVNYS Legislative Agenda)
# Election Reform
Improve election processes to extend, encourage and protect voting, including paperless and Election Day registration, better ballot design, improved polling place management/ poll worker training, and measures to ensure the integrity of all ballots

# Campaign Finance Reform
Support lower contribution limits, increased disclosure and public financing. In particular, support stronger and effective campaign finance enforcement with increased civil and criminal penalties for violations.

# Other Government Positions
Support structural reform to legislative redistricting; support effective ethics enforcement and open and transparent government processes; monitor impact of the property tax cap on localities and schools.

 # Health Care
Support affordable and effective health care for all New Yorkers.

#Natural Resources
Support protection and management of New York's natural resources in the public interest.

 # Other League Positions
The League also has positions on the Judiciary, State Finances, and Social Policy under which we can and do take action

The Legislative Agenda brochure will serve as a guide to the details contained in the legislative packet we send out to local leagues for purposes of lobby visits with their legislators after the budget is done. Remember, as is indicated on the brochure, we can and do take action on all issues on which we have positions as opportunities arise. The brochure is for free to local Leagues; be sure that your local League places an order by Dec. 30, 2011.

All local Leagues were very active this fall with local candidate forums, voter registration drives, get-out-the vote events, etc. Congratulations to all on a great election season! Be sure to send photos, media coverage, voter guides and other literature to the state League office. We will use the photos on the website, in the Voter and in a montage of League activities.

At the recent state Board meeting, the board discussed a new opportunity for voter registration: Occupation of Wall Street. See if there's a spin off in a city or town near you and help to organize a voter registration drive. It's never too early to start registering voters for next fall.

Election Day 2011 

Although LWVNYS did not ask members to participate in a survey of voter experiences at the polls as we did in 2010, we are always interested in hearing about what you observed. New York voters are getting used to voting on paper ballots and using optical scanners, but there are still kinks in the process for both voters, inspectors and election administrators. Your anecdotal reports, as well as local newspaper reports, are valuable for the State League to know, especially if they indicate that solutions could be addressed through legislation or with the State Board of Elections. Please send your reports to me at 85aimee@nycap.rr.com

"Shoebox Program"

County Boards of Elections still have HAVA funds available for multi purposes. The NYS Board of Elections has recently created a "Shoebox Program" to enable counties which did not use all of their HAVA funds to apply for and be reimbursed for implementing HAVA-related purposes, for example, voter education and inspector training. The duration period of the Shoebox Program is until 3/31/14 or until there are no HAVA funds remaining in the county's specific HAVA allocation. See PDF attached to this report ("Funds for Poll Worker Training") for the full description of the program. Leagues should contact their county boards of elections and ask how the county intends to use their remaining allocation.

NYS Assembly Hearing on Administration of Elections in NYS in compliance with the federal HAVA, in New York City, Thursday, December 1, 10:30 a.m. The stated purpose of the hearing is to examine the impact of the enacted State Fiscal Year 2011-2012 state budget on NYS's implementation of the HAVA on the State Board of Elections and local boards of elections and to identify any legislation that may be needed to promote the efficient administration of elections. LWVNYS will be testifying. If you have any relevant information from your local perspective, please get it to me by Saturday, November 26.

Update on Transportation Issues 

* As expected in my March, 2011 report to you, transit systems in upstate are hurting for shortage of funds from NYS, known as State Transit Operating Assistance (STOA).  The current budget levels are squeezing upstate transit systems and require them to consider fare increases and service cuts, at the very time when increased usage by riders is boosting demand for their service.  Actions to take: contact your NYS legislators and ask them to write Gov. Cuomo in  support of increasing STOA in the 2012-2013 budget; connect with your transit agency, to encourage them to communicate the need for STOA with their riders; write letters to editors of local news outlets.

* The project to replace the Tappan Zee bridge shows recent movement.  Gov. Cuomo is pushing for a final decision about the project, so that construction can begin.  Extensive public participation has revolved around whether to include infrastructure for public transit.  In the rush to jump-start the project, the website for this project suddenly dropped all the documents relating to public participation-- unleashing a storm of protest.  The LWVNYS supported that protest, and shortly thereafter the documents were restored to the website.  

* Roads and bridges are crumbling everywhere in New York State.  The upkeep of NYS roads and bridges is supposed to be funded through the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund, established in 1991 and nourished by the gas tax.  But this fund has been raided regularly, and is now supporting the operations of the Department of Motor Vehicles, snow and ice removal for NYS roads, and NYS debt service.  

Bill S1071, the "bridge and road investment and dedicated fund guaranteed enforcement (BRIDGE) reform act," was introduced in the previous legislative session and passed the Senate but stalled in the Assembly.  This act would restore the Fund to its original intent.  Actions to take: Leagues may advocate for this legislation, to see it re-introduced and passed by the whole legislature.  This legislation may also be take up as an effort to promote good government, since the BRIDGE act pushes NYS to abide by the law enacted in 1991. 

The NYS League of Women Voters has had a long-standing advocacy position on court restructuring. The current system of nine separate trial courts is confusing to the litigants and costly to everyone involved in the courts: the litigants, the court system itself, and the taxpayers.

By the summer of 2011, the Fund for Modern Courts began a new effort to finally get a restructuring constitutional amendment on the way. The government efforts under Governor Andrew Cuomo have been strongly directed towards consolidation and efficiency. In this sense, the timing seems right to make a new push towards court consolidation. Modern Courts has put together a working coalition to advocate for first passage of a constitutional amendment to streamline the trial courts. The task force has been meeting bi-monthly to strategize, and different members of the group have begun to meet with the governor's counsel, OCA, Bar Associations and various advocacy groups. I represent the LWVNY on this task force. We are hoping for strong support from the League because of its long-standing commitment to this issue. In the past, a long list of advocacy groups has been supportive, and these groups are solicited once again to come on board.

One of the selling points in this stressed state government budget is the anticipated savings in a more streamlined system. But most importantly, the litigants stand to gain in a court system that allows them to deal with one judge and one court for their individual cases. Elevating more judges to the Supreme Court level would also create a fairer distribution of resources and a more diverse pool of justices eligible for the appellate division of the courts. The League is strongly encouraged to support a new effort for first passage of a court restructuring constitutional amendment.

I hope all Leagues were successful in garnering pre-and-post event publicity for your candidate debates. Forty of the 57 Leagues in NYS now have websites. I've sent a questionnaire to the eight known Leagues that are on Facebook--Albany County, Buffalo-Niagara, Eastern Putnam County, Mid-Hudson Region, NYC, Rochester Metro, Rye/Ryebrook/Portchester, and Saratoga County--to gather their experiences. If there are any others, please let me know.

November marks the end of candidate's forums. Forums allow for an active and informed public. They give the community the opportunity to get to know the candidates. The League moderated many candidate forums this fall. Several Leagues reported that they had a good season with healthy turnout at each forum.

Even though it is not a major election year, many leagues have busy registering voters. The LWV of Plattsburgh Area continued their long tradition of holding a combination voter registration drive and bake sale at the Clinton Community College. Voter registration drives were conducted at the Mohawk Valley Community College by the LWV of Utica/Rome. They registered 48 new voters. And, the LWV of Broome-Tioga Counties also held several voter registration drives, and registered 12 new voters. The LWV of Chemung County organized a candidate forum for hte Elmira Mayoral race.

 The Rochester Metro League helped the Fellows Program at Nazareth College with an informational meeting for students who were interested in becoming election inspectors . Sheila Abeling shared voter/election inspector information with the students.

LWV of Buffalo/Niagara published online and print editions of the 2011 Voter's Guide. This fall, the Rye, Rye Brook & Port Chester LWV again produced and distributed a bi-lingual Voter's Guide. This helps ensure that the public has access to factual and trustworthy information about the candidates who are running for office and other important information about the election. They distributed more than 20,000 copies of the guide. The guide was distributed throughout the area in libraries, community centers, schools, faith-based organizations, and retail stores. It was also printed in the Rye Record and The Westmore News.

On November 21st,the Brookhaven League will hear from Dean Murray, NYS Assemblyman, 3rd AD and Steve Englebright, 4th AD (invited). The discussion will focus on Issues in New York State Government, and cover topics such as campaign finance, redistricting and ethics.

Earlier this fall, League members and friends of LWV Syracuse traveled to Seneca Falls to tour the National Women's Hall of Fame and the National Women's Rights Historical Park. The program also included lunch and a tour of the home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton.  

Hydrofracking has been the topic of discussion at many local League events. The Utica-Rome LWV members and guests were educated about issues related to hydrofracking within the Marcellus and Utica shale deposits. Attendees were treated to discussions related to the science underlying the process as well as the political backdrop of this contentious issue.The LWV of Tompkins County had a wonderful and informative meeting with Rep. Barbara Lifton on November 2nd. For over two hours they met and discussed the issues surrounding fracking and the legislation Rep. Lifton is initiating or supporting. They have also begun to plan their February program. Their goal is to have a program that does not focus on fracking, but rather looks at alternative ways to meet our energy needs.

The LWV Saratoga County invited League members and the community to an educational session on the environmental dangers of hydrofracking. Attendees were able to make their concerns known to their legislators through a postcard campaign. The timing of this session is critical as comments on the DEC draft hydrofracking regulations need to be received by DEC by December 1.

The B.E.T. LWV sponsored a two-part program on hydrofracking. A workshop was held on the evening of October 12th and featured Susan Van Dolsen of Westchester for Change. After an informal presentation to the audience, all gathered around a long table, and wrote letters. One League participant reported, "It was a very productive meeting and presented us with an excellent model for action."

As part of an ongoing study of alternative sources of energy, LWV of the Hamptons Natural Resources Committee visited the 20-acre Mahoney Farm & Nursery on Long Lane in East Hampton to view Steven Mahoney's Bergey Wind Turbine. The turbine is connected to the national grid. A solar data collection panel tracks the wind speed, temperature and electrical output. After one year of use the turbine is producing enough electricity to power the farm.

The LWV of Huntington held a health care forum "Health Care: Where Are We Now? " at which Mary Dewar of the Long Island Coalition for National Health Care was the key note speaker and addressed the changes that have already gone into effect with the passage of the Affordable Care Act and what changes will be taking place over the next several years  should it remain in effect as it was passed. The LWV of White Plains held two extremely informative Health Care Forums in October. The first, Health Care is a Human Right, occurred on October 16th. Featured speakers were Assemblyman Richard Gottfried and Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal. NYS Assemblyman Gottfried, sponsor of the NYS Assembly Single Payer bill, spoke first and emphasized that UNIVERSAL is the strong point. The State plan, New York Health for All, allows for thoroughly comprehensive coverage for every resident of the state; and would be run by a broadly appointed Board accountable to all New Yorkers. It would be funded by broad based taxes based on the ability to pay. The second Forum, Understanding the Affordable Care Act, took place on October 20th and featured Charles Bell of Consumers Union and Assemblyman George Latimer. Both discussed the need for a health care system that afforded coverage for all New Yorkers. The speakers were informative and kept the audiences engaged. The questions and answers took up half the program time.

At their Fall Luncheon, Schenectady County LWV featured guest speaker David Little from the NYS School Boards Association. He shed light on a number of the Study topics and provided an overview of the state of education in NYS, and the rest of the country.

On November 16, the NYC League's "Lunch with the League" series will focus on the national League study of the federal role in public education. Elisabeth MacNamara, president of the LWV of the United States, will be speaking at the meeting on December 14th about the League as an Advocate.

Rye, Rye Brook and Port Chester LWV will host an Affordable Housing Issue Forum on Tuesday, December 6th at 7:30pm. The featured panelists will include: The Mayors of Rye City and of the Villages of Rye,Rye Brook and Port Chester., Representatives from the County Executive's Office, The Federal Monitor, HUD, and a local Affordable Housing builder and developer.

LWV of Albany is reinvigorating its Observer Corps. A meeting was held to provide information to members about this important function of the League and to recruit new observers.

Don't forget to send your newsletter, photos and event announcements to the state League office (by email or regular mail); we want to include information from all leagues!

"Only the Message Matters"
Music and Lyrics honoring Susan B. Anthony
CDs available with a portion of sales donated to the LWVNYS