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League of Women Voters of Santa Monica
Hard, Soft or Dark Money 
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Our Mission
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Diversity Policy
The League of Women Voters of Santa Monica in both its values and practices, affirms its belief and commitment to diversity and pluralism, which means there shall be no barriers to participation in any activity of the LWV on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin or disability.
 

November 10, 2015  

Many Hands Holding the Red Words Join Today in the Sky

A membership invitation/reminder for
a few different reasons:

There are still several of you who have not renewed your membership that expired on September 31. We are not removing you from our distribution list or anything like that--not yet.  But the holidays are coming, life is getting busy, and we just want to remind you.

Others of you have indicated an interest--if you opened this email you have some interest--but have just not gotten around to joining. This is your open invitation. There are interesting activities planned every month. October was a very interesting meeting about amending the constitution of the United States. Next week we will look at Money in Politics/Campaign Finance Reform and how the rules have changed since Citizens United. More on that below.

After the first of the year we will be looking at Public Higher Education in California--see LWVC News--and at how we purchase electrical energy in Santa Monica, among other topics. Join us so you can be an active participant in what we are doing. Only a click away in the upper left corner of this page.
LWVC News
Public Higher Education in California

The League of Women Voters of California
is pleased to announce full information for the study of Public Higher Ed in our state is now on our website.

We are trying something new this year, an outreach to high school and college students to see what they think. A separate reporting form, but the same questions.  Check it out.   
LWVUS News
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Money in Politics

The LWVUS position on Campaign finance was first adopted in 1974 and revised in 1982. This position served us well for many years, but things have changed with recent Supreme Court decisions. This study looks at the rights of individuals and organizations, under the first amendment, to express views through independent expenditures and funding of elections and how these rights should be either protected or reconciled with our current position.

We will look at three issues:
  • Campaign Finance regulations in terms of democratic values
  • First amendment rights like free speech and freedom of the press applied in a campaign finance context
  • Methods of campaign finance regulation
We have long considered both hard money, that given directly to a campaign and regulated; and soft money, previously that given to a party for party building purposes, now also independent expenditure campaigns but still reported; but now there is dark money, money given to organizations that do not need to report names either to election officials or the IRS or money that is passed through one committee to another.

Much detailed material is on line that you can read, but our committee will be prepared to explain it all and lead us through the questions. Please join us.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS
        
November 15, 12:00noon New date and time  
Consensus meeting on Money in Politics
RSVP for address and directions

November 22, 12:00noon* 
What a Way to Go -- Bike, Bus, Expo
Climate Action Santa Monica at
The Church in Ocean Park
Www.casmtransitforum.eventbrite.com

November 25, 6:30p.m. 
LWVSM Board meeting
All members are welcome
Call or email for address and directions

December 11, 6:30p.m.  
Holiday Open House
Special guest: Senator Ben Allen
Save the date

March 24, 2016, 7:00p.m. 
Save the date, mark your calendar!
Women Who Shape Santa Monica 
Our Event-of-the-Year

*not an official League event
   
DID YOU KNOW
dollar_beach.jpg
Minimum Wage in Santa Monica
$15.00 by 2020

Community Meeting, Thursday, Nov. 12
6:00-8:00p.m.  Main Library Second floor Multi-purpose room.  Much more info here, 
League of Women Voters of Santa Monica
P. O. Box 1265
Santa Monica, CA 90406
Phone: 310-692-1494
www.lwvsantamonica.org