LWV Utah Program Planning 2009-2111

The League of Women Voters at all levels—local, state, and national—is proud of its grassroots, bottom-up program making process. Our members tell their respective boards about their interests, not the other way around. League programs are limited only by member imagination about problems and member womanpower.  This is not a spectator sport—LWVUtah needs your participation. 

Now the question is “What should be included in the League of Women Voters of Utah Program for 2009-2111?  The answer comes from you, the member. 

1. What areas of Utah policy- making are you most interested in?
2. What program areas would inspire you to attend a meeting, work on a study or action committee, or lobby a policy maker or friend?

Please complete the questionnaire and return by April 30 to LWV, 3804 Highland Drive, 8D, Salt Lake City UT, 84106. (You can also respond from our website home page by going to www.lwvutah.org and clicking on “Program Form.”) Your responses will be recorded along with other members and presented to the state board for consideration and to the delegate body at State Convention May 14-15.

*Natural Resources: energy, land use, waste management, water resources, air quality, climate change

*Social Policy: education (including financing, governance, programs, charter schools) education and economic development, corrections, employment, housing, childcare, health, immigration

*Should the League do New Study (ies) in other  areas?     

(Please include study scope, study time-line, committee chair  and committee members—indicate if you are willing to be a chair and/or committee member).   (You are not limited to 2 new studies)

I am very interested in the following program area(s) and want to be involved:

*The 2005-2007 Program (please turn this page) shows current LWV program. The latest information about items has been added.   Please indicate on that page if the topic should be dropped, reworded, or expanded. 
To see a list of the Legislature’s  199 interim committee subjects go to HJR 21 on the Legislature’s site: http://le.utah.gov/~2009/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HJR021.htm

CURRENT LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF UTAH PROGRAM 2007-2009
May 29, 2007 (as corrected)
*This 2007-2009 Program shows current LWV program.  The latest information about items has been added in bold italics.  
Please indicate if the topic should be dropped, reworded, or expanded

I. Promote election process reform.

a. Participate in the implementation of the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

b. Act to improve the election process, including voter registration and election procedures, election equipment, and redistricting for federal and state candidates.

c. Complete and implement consensus on the Utah League Study of Election Systems.

d. Promote campaign finance reform with a primary focus on campaign contribution limits for candidates for state offices, personal use of campaign funds, and lobbyist gifts and contributions. Legislation passed in the 2009 Legislature prohibiting personal use of campaign funds after leaving office, lowering lobbyist gift limits and increasing disclosure of gifts and contributions, and prohibiting paid lobbying by some elected officials for one year after they leave office.

*e. Study the Direct Election of the President, including the National Popular Vote state compact proposal, LWV Electoral College positions, and making Election Day a holiday to increase voter participation.  LWVUS at Convention 2008 adopted the program"Study to look at the advisability of using the National Popular Vote Compact among the states as a method for electing the President.”  Consensus material and questions are on line at lwv.org. Consensus is due on June 1.  LWVSL is discussing at unit meetings in April. Material is posted on lwvutah.org

II. Review all current Utah League positions to resolve inconsistencies and to determine their adequacy for current policy issues.

III. Act to promote community awareness of the issue of health care for the uninsured and review LWVUS policy on health care.

IV. Act to implement League consensus positions regarding nuclear waste.

*V.  Study Alternative Energy, based on LWV Salt Lake’s May 2007 study, “Energy Alternatives for Today and Tomorrow.”  Revised and Updated Study in editing process for local Leagues to use.

*VI.  Study Utah’s Water Allocation. Publication date fall 2009

VII. Act to implement League consensus positions regarding the Utah corrections system.

VIII. Act to protect Utah’s citizen initiative process.

*new items in 2007                                                      Approved April 14, 2007