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A VOICE FOR CITIZENS, A FORCE FOR CHANGE
In This Issue
LWVSB Annual Meeting
Moving Forward
Supreme Court Decisions
Voting Rights Action Alert
Happy Birthday Medicare
Videos Online
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
OF SANTA BARBARA
LWVSB Holds Annual Meeting

New Officers Elected
Amanda Pelch and Lindsey Baker will serve as the new co-presidents of LWVSB. They were elected, along with other officers, at the June annual meeting. Amanda, whose term will be for two years, is co-president for administration, membership and community education. Lindsey, whose term ends in 2016, is co-president for program and action.

Other officers are: Bonnie Lassen, vice president, administration; Connie Hannah, vice president program and advocacy; David Landecker, treasurer, and Linda Mayo and Laura Wallin, co-secretaries. Directors are: Susan Shank, voter service; Jane Benefield, publicity; Linda Phillips, state and national action; Beverly King, membership, and Vicki Allen, communications coordinator.

Government Position Changed
Members attending the meeting voted to remove from the League's Government Position support of "at-large election of council members" since a recent lawsuit settlement resulted in district elections for the Santa Barbara City Council.

Also adopted was this addition under Government:
  • Support for on going voter registration and voter education to achieve maximum participation in the process of government.
  • Support for government that is open, transparent and ethical, in which office holders act in the best interests of the whole community.
  • Objective: Effective, honest, participatory government, with all eligible voters registered to vote, informed, voting and sharing responsibility for governing.
Speaker: Hannah-Beth Jackson
Guest speaker at the annual meeting was State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, who reported on her legislation for women.

The Legislative Women's Caucus, which Jackson chairs, has focused on equal pay and job opportunities, access to childcare, family friendly workplaces and building economic security by addressing poverty.
Moving Forward 
Continuing an annual tradition, the outgoing and incoming boards will meet Saturday, July 11. On Thursday, July 23, the board and interested members will gather for a potluck lunch and discussion to plan community forums for the coming League year. The meeting will be 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at a private home. email vp@lwvsantabarbara.org for details.
Outgoing Co-Presidents Susan Shank and Joanie Jones 
LWVUS On Supreme Court Decisions
As the U.S. Supreme Court's term came to a close, it issued critical decisions in two key cases the League had been watching. In both instances, according to LWVUS, the American people were the real winners.

* The Court upheld access to health care subsidies in the federally-operated health care exchanges provided by the Affordable Care Act. That means that those individuals who are accessing health care through those exchanges will continue to be able to receive subsidies to better afford their insurance coverage. Currently, 34 states rely on federally-operated exchanges. Had the Court rejected the subsidies, millions of Americans could have lost their insurance coverage.

* The Court also ruled that voters in Arizona had the right to set up an independent redistricting commission. The decision reinforces a key principle in redistricting reform--that voters should choose their representatives rather than letting politicians choose their voters. Over a dozen other states, including California, have used a similar independent commission process to prevent partisan gerrymandering.

The League of Women Voters of the United States filed amicus briefs in both of these cases. The League of Women Voters of Arizona has been a leader on redistricting reform in their state, supporting the original ballot initiative that led to the independent commission as well as fighting the legislature's challenge.

"Both of these decisions represent tremendous victories for Americans across the country. Leagues nationwide will continue to work on the ground to ensure that the Affordable Care Act is implemented properly in their states. Leagues will also continue to push for redistricting reform to prevent partisan gerrymandering. Thank you for standing with us!"
Action Alert: Tell Legislators
To Restore Voting Rights Act of 1965

On the eve of the second anniversary of the Shelby County v. Holder U.S. Supreme Court decision that gutted key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), bicameral legislation was introduced to renew a nearly two-year effort to restore the historic law and its vital voter protections.

"We are very pleased that new legislation has been introduced in both houses of Congress," said Elisabeth MacNamara, President of the League of Women Voters of the U.S. "This is an important step but there is so much more work to be done with the 2016 elections are quickly approaching."

"In the past two years, Congress has done nothing to repair the damage to the VRA inflicted by the U.S. Supreme Court's Shelby decision," MacNamara said.
"As a result of this inaction, there has been more voter discrimination taking place at ballot boxes across the nation and we are getting dangerously close to having our first presidential election in 50 years without the critical protections once embodied in the VRA."

"The League has been standing its ground on the fight against discrimination and for voting rights protections for 95 years," said MacNamara. "Barriers to the ballot box may look different than when the League was founded, but discrimination continues and must be stopped. Every day the League is Making Democracy Work® by doing what we can to keep our elections fair, free and accessible."


"Each and every eligible American voter deserves to be treated fairly at the ballot box. For nearly two years Americans have lived without some of the most basic yet important protections afforded to their right to vote," concluded MacNamara. "Many of us hope that what happened in Congress will act as a rallying cry for those who believe in free and fair access by every eligible voter." 

 

To learn more and to contact Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and Rep. Lois Capps, see "Protecting Voters" on the LWVUS website.
Our Channel Voter is now being mailed only to members without email addresses. There is no newsletter during the summer. But you will continue receiving League information via these emails, the occasional letter and on the  website. You can also view the latest Channel Voter online. 

We hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,

Amanda Pelch and Lindsey Baker
Co-Presidents
League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara 


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