Advocacy

ACTION AGENDA 2007-2009

GOVERNMENT

ARIZONA ELECTION LAW - Consensus 1972; revised  1973, 1991; Reviewed 1995

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports an accessible system of registration and election, with uniform and standardized procedures throughout the state. Therefore, the League

supports:

·          Mail-in registration procedures, but opposes election day registration at the polls as an invitation to fraud.

·          Increase in pay for legislators.

·          Four-year terms for State Legislators, with no limit on he number of terms which they may serve.

·          An income tax check-off to provide partial funding of legislative elections through the subsidy of some television time for issue discussion by ballot qualified candidates.

·          A requirement for complete financial disclosure by candidates for public office.  A cap on gifts to public officials, and reporting of all gifts.

·          Prohibiting elected officials lobbying for remuneration of any kind for at least one year after leaving office.

·          Prohibiting election officials from using surplus campaign funds for personal use, or from taking them along when leaving office.

·          All government agencies being required to report all their lobbying activities, expenditures and gifts to public officials.

ELECTION SYSTEMS REFORM - Consensus 2005, Amended 2008

The League of Women Voters of Arizona believes in the election system principle of greater vote representation. The LWVAZ maintains the hope that election system reform that provides a stronger voice for the greatest number of voters should have a positive effect on voter participation. Therefore, the LWVAZ:

·          Supports changing the present election systems so that they more accurately represent the wishes of voters:

a)        Adopting the Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) system for single seat races;

b)       Adopting proportional representation for multi-seat races, specifically Ranked Choice Voting.

·          Believes that education of the voting public is important to election systems.

·          Supports giving Arizona voters the option of more choice among election systems.

LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING - Consensus: 1967; Revised: 1979, 1995, 2005                                                     

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports measures to ensure the regular redistricting of Arizona legislative and congressional districts on an “equal population” basis.  The LWVAZ supports:

·          The retention of an independent commission to redistrict legislative and congressional districts at regular intervals, subject to judicial review. The Legislature itself should not be the reapportioning agency.

·          Legislative districts that provide more equitable representation, more accountability and responsibility, and closer contact with constituents.

(Footnote: To allow for greater flexibility, this position was amended on March 5, 2005, by removing the words “single member.” As background information, three points were made: 1) impacts may differ in rural and urban districts, 2) the change is neither an automatic endorsement for multi-member districts nor an automatic opposition to single member districts, 3) even members who strongly favor multi-member districts often do so only when such districts are accompanied by other electoral changes.)

INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM - Consensus: 1976; Reviewed 1995, 2003; revised 2004                       

The League of Women Voters of Arizona believes in the constitutional right of the people to enact direct legislation (enacting, amending, or repealing legislative acts and amending the Arizona Constitution); therefore, the League supports:

·          The requirement that only qualified electors (registered voters) may sign any initiative, referendum or recall petition.

·          The reduction of the required number of signatures on a statutory initiative petition to qualify placing it on the ballot from ten per-cent to not more than eight per-cent of the votes cast for governor at the last gubernatorial election.

·          The amendment of the constitution to limit the power of the Legislature to repeal or amend the initiative or referendum measures by means such as requiring more than just majority approval, or setting a minimum time limit before the Legislature can act on such measures, or some other limitation short of complete elimination of power.

·          Removal of the governor’s power to veto initiative or referendum measures.

·          Funding sources (for initiatives) should be identified, if practicable.

·          The disclosure of financial contributions to committees supporting and opposing an initiative and referendum.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT -  Concurrence 1977; Reviewed 1995

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports an amendment to the Arizona Constitution to

permit counties to decide, by a vote of the people in each county, the governmental structure which best meets county needs.

The LWV of Metropolitan Phoenix supports home rule for Maricopa County. The LWV of Greater Tucson supports a long term goal of consolidated government for Pima County. The League position supporting  local option for county governmental structure gives the LWVAZ a position from which to lobby, but does not restrict other local Leagues from positions they may take regarding their own county government.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM -Consensus 1983; Reviewed 1995                                                                                                                   

The League of Women Voters of Arizona believes that the political process must be open, equitable and honest.  The process must provide opportunity for maximum citizen participation.

There should be limits on the size and type of campaign contributions. There should be full disclosure of contributions and expenditures to combat undue influence in the electoral and governmental processes. 

REORGANIZATION OF THE ARIZONA EXECUTIVE BRANCH - Consensus 1963; revised  1965, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1985; reviewed 1995

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports measures to strengthen the executive branch of state government, and to integrate its administration by centralizing authority and responsibility in the governor’s office.

ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION - Consensus 1983; Reviewed 1995                                                                                                                 

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports the adequate protection and representation of consumers in the Arizona Corporation Commission process.

JUDICIAL

JUVENILE JUSTICE-  Consensus 1999                                                 

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports early intervention programs beginning in elementary schools with the help of:

·          counselors, social workers, psychologists, volunteers in school programs and individualized programs, including those that foster self-esteem,

·          clinics on parenting skills,

·          conflict resolution skills training,

·          drug education.

Funding for the above should come from federal, state, local, private and corporate sources.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports measures for adequate funding with emphasis on prevention, rehabilitation, incarceration and non-incarceration facilities, and intervention

programs, trained personnel and education for parents of problem children. State funding should be dispersed to the local levels.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona believes that programs and policies should be adopted which promote rehabilitation and education within the Juvenile Justice system and should include:

·          schooling while in detention,

·          counseling for the family and the individual while in detention,

·          alternative living and educational programs and experiences to prevent and discontinue gang involvement.

The League Women Voters of Arizona believes that for the protection of the community and schools, delinquent children should:

·          receive swift and firm justice,

·          be removed from dysfunctional homes after family intervention and long-term family counseling,

·          and be treated as an individual according to the age, need and type of crime and be sent first to juvenile court.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports laws that include:

·          swift punishment for weapon possession by juveniles,

·          swift and harsh punishment of adults who provide weapons to juveniles,

·          the exchange of records among schools, court and social agencies but not to the public or the media,

·          a juvenile hearing before transfer to adult court.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports the concept of an approach to juvenile problems through Restorative Justice programs, which give priority to and accountability for wrongdoing by repairing the damage or harm done to victims and the community through a process of victim involvement, community participation, mediation and reparation. Skilled mediators should be involved in this process.

JUDICIAL SELECTION AND TENURE  -Consensus 1969; Reviewed 1995                                                                                                               

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports the selection of judges by appointment, with voter approval for retention; adequate judicial salaries; longer terms; higher qualifications for justices of the peace and magistrates; a judicial nominating commission, responsible to the governor; and a competency review commission.

To assure that our judges are free of political bias and possessed of the proper qualities of

temperament and intellect, and yet retain ultimate control of the courts in the hands of the people, the League of Women Voters of Arizona  supports:

·          Appointment of judges by the governor from list of qualified nominees submitted by a bipartisan commission of legal and lay members.

·          Retention of a judge in office, after an established period of time, only by a “yes” vote of the people, a “no” vote requiring a new appointment by the governor.

(This system of judicial selection and tenure has been adopted for Pima and    Maricopa and         Maricopa counties and is optional for other  counties.  Although we have basically accomplished our goal, we retain the position because in each session of the Legislature, there are efforts to return to the old elective system.)

LOWER COURT REFORM - Concurrence 1983; Reviewed 1995                                                                                                                       

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports legislation which would give Arizona counties the option to consolidate their lower courts in order to promote uniformity in the administration and quality of justice, and effectiveness and efficiency in court administration.

REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE - Concurrence 1983; Reviewed 1995                                                                                                                       

The League of Women Voters of Arizona believes in the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices.

SOCIAL POLICY

HUMAN NEEDS - Consensus 1971; Revised 1985; Reviewed 1995, 

 Amended 2007                                                                                                                      

The League of Women of Arizona supports a state system that provides for a positive program to assist the economically disadvantaged in obtaining a greater measure of financial, physical and personal well-being, with emphasis on meeting basic human needs rather than on maintaining minimum expenditures.

In order to assist persons in need, to assure the basic essentials of health and adequate standards of living, reduce dependency, and break the welfare cycle, the state of Arizona should:

·          Assure supportive programs and services integrated with those for the general public on an available-to-pay basis, including legal services, comprehensive health care, child care, transportation, family planning, home management, family counseling, vocational training, and educational enrichment.

·          Work with private and public agencies, and utilize community services to the fullest.

·          Encourage recipients to work when possible, with child care, counseling,  job training and financial incentives available and to participate in program development and implementation.

·          Disseminate information on welfare programs and interpret the needs of the community to the public.

·          Provide adequate funds for capable, qualified staff, manageable case loads, information and referral services, and accessible office facilities.

·          Administer funds and programs wisely, according to sound management and accounting. principles, while preserving the rights and dignity of recipients.

VICTIMIZATION OF CHILDREN AND INTRAFAMILIAL ABUSE - Adopted 1985; Revised 1995          

The League of Women Voters of Arizona believes that government, both state and local,

including the state legislature and state and local agencies, should assure that necessary services are readily available to serve and protect the abused. These persons should be the focus of careful and timely long- range planning by these agencies and by the courts.

Adequate resource allocations shall be made within child protective and state agency budgets, within police and law enforcement budgets, and within the court system to assure the proper training and education of those who deal with these issues.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports violence prevention programs in all communities and action to support:

·          Public and private development and coordination of programs that emphasize the primary prevention of violence.

·          The active role of government and social institutions in preventing violent behavior.

·          The allocation of public monies in government programs to prevent violence.

EDUCATION                                                     

PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE              - Consensus 1975,1979; Reviewed 1995;  Revised 1997; Concurrence 1999, Restated 2000   

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports a funding plan for public education that enhances the equal opportunity of all students. Such a plan should:

·          Provide for the equitable distribution of state funds, including capital funding.

·          Establish criteria for a quality education for all students prior to determining the formula for the distribution of monies.

·          Recognize the differences in the needs of school districts.

·          Provide funds for the special needs of school districts.

·          Include measures to equalize the ability of school districts to finance those portions of their budgets for which they are responsible on the local level.

·          Require governmental entities that establish mandated programs to continue funding.

                  for duration of the project.

·          Budget for transportation, social services and special education needs separately from base maintenance and operation support.

·          Ensure that all schools using public funds, such as Charters are held as fiscally accountable as are schools in regular established public school districts.

FUNDING SOURCES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The League of Women Voters of Arizona recognizes the inequities of the local school property

 tax.  Therefore, the League supports these measures:

·          Decrease reliance on the local school district property tax.

·          Utilize statewide taxes for support of public school education.

·          Require development impact fees to be paid to local school districts.

·          Continue use of trust land monies.

·          Maintain a policy of local control on spending decisions.

·          New monies should be additional funds and not supplant present state funding.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona also supports the following aspects of funding for public schools:

·          School districts in Arizona retain ability to bond for building or renovation of schools and for capital expenditures.

·          School districts retain the ability to hold override elections.

·          Bond and override elections are determined by a simple majority vote.

·          Legislature levies taxes for schools by a simple majority vote.]

·          Realistic allowances are made for inflation.

·          Continued centralized collection and distribution of funding to local school districts enabling distribution of these funds to provide:

o         a certain basic amount of money for each student,

o         financing over and above the basic amount to ensure equal opportunity for each child,

o         equal or equivalent maintenance of buildings,

o         equal or equivalent supplies,

o         strong leadership and quality teaching.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports the principle that the governmental entity closest to the school district constituency can best make decisions that will enhance the equal educational opportunity of all students. Therefore, the League suggests these policies:

·          The state distributes public school funds equitably to school districts and set minimal general educational guidelines without inhibiting local decision making.             

·          Local school districts determine how funds are allocated in school district budgets.

·          Citizen participation is essential, including funding and representative decision making.                                                                                                        .

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports policies and practices that encourage responsive government and informed citizen participation in the school district budgeting process. Therefore, the League  supports the following:           

·          The school district budget format should call for specific information, such as program detail, salary schedules, and capital improvement programs.

·          The school district budgeting schedule should include citizen input in time to allow for citizen influence on the allocation of funds in the budget.

·          Advisory committees, open to all citizens in the school district community, should provide citizen input into the budgetary process.

ADDITIONAL CONCERNS:

The League of Women Voters of Arizona is also committed to these goals:

·          Public funds should be used only for public schools and not for vouchers to private schools, including tuition tax credits, waivers, or direct payments to parents for school expenses of their children.

·          Reorganization of any school districts should be to enhance the educational opportunities of all students.

·          Funding for charter schools may negatively impact funds available to local school districts and standardized sequential curriculum may not be utilized.

CHARTER SCHOOLS - Concurrence 1999        

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports the following:

LIMITATIONS

·          Length of charter shall be reduced from the present fifteen years to five to seven years.

·          School districts shall be allowed to charter schools only within their own school district geographic boundaries.

·          Only school districts in compliance with the USFR (Uniform System of Financial Reporting) shall be qualified/permitted to charter schools.

·          The number of schools chartered on an annual basis shall be limited.

FUNDING

Charter schools shall be fiscally responsible:

·          Shall be in compliance with USFR.

·          Shall be required to have an annual external financial review.

·          “Start up”/”Stimulus” funds (from the state) shall be eliminated.

·          Funding shall be on a monthly basis and shall be based on current monthly enrollment.

·          The formula for transportation funding for schools chartered by a school district shall

      be the same as for schools chartered by the State Board of Education, Charter School

      Division, or by the State Board for Charter Schools.

·          Transportation funding shall be “tied” to actual expenditures for transportation of students.

·          Charter schools shall be operated on a not-for-profit basis.

Action for noncompliance, fraud, school closure, etc.

·          A percentage of state funding shall be withheld.

·          Property/equipment bought with state money shall revert to the state.

QUALIFICATIONS

·          Charter schools must submit and have as part of their complete charter, the following: a mission statement, a sound business plan, curriculum, evaluation plan, governing board procedures and recruitment, and a statement of compliance with the state’s open enrollment law, which mandates that all public school enrollment shall be open to all geographic areas.

·          A proportion of teachers in each school shall be certified, those teachers not certified shall meet requirements of education and/or equivalent experience.

·          The applicants, operators and governing board members (as well as teachers) shall be fingerprinted and shall submit to a background check.

OVERSIGHT

·          The State Department of Education shall be responsible for the annual financial and academic review and compliance of all charter schools.

·          If a charter school is out of compliance, the State Department of Education has administrative and financial oversight and review.

·          In event of fraud, illegal use of money, or abuse, the law shall permit the immediate closure of the charter school without the 90-day waiting period. The chartering entity shall then promptly arrange the transfer/placement of the students into other schools.

INPUT/INVOLVEMENT

·          Mechanism for citizen input/involvement shall be an integral part of governing boards.

·          Information regarding Charter schools shall be readily and easily available to the public.

AIMS:HIGH-STAKES TESTING (Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards) - Consensus 2005

The League of Women Voters of Arizona believes that no single “high-stakes” test (AIMS) should be the deciding factor for graduation from high school. The LWVAZ supports a diploma being awarded to students who satisfactorily complete their course work.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports the use of AIMS (or other government-mandated tests) for the following purposes:

·          Identifying and alleviating students’ academic difficulties, in a timely manner;

·          Identifying necessary changes in curriculum, methods, and materials.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona believes it is important for government-mandated tests to be well-crafted, meaningful, and well-matched with the Arizona Standards. Therefore the LWVAZ supports the following:

·          Utilizing Arizona educators from K-12 to develop and write the questions and educators from institutions of higher learning to evaluate the tests in their areas of expertise.

·          Validating the tests to be sure they reflect the Arizona Standards and appropriate grade levels.

If “high-stakes” testing for high school graduation continues in Arizona, the LWVAZ recognizes that provisions need to be made for those who fail. Therefore, the LWVAZ supports retesting students who fail AIMS during their high school years.

Curricular areas not specifically tested on AIMS (such as vocational/technical/career education, visual and performing arts, social studies, science, health and physical education) shall be encouraged and shall not be curtailed.

NATURAL RESOURCES                                                                        

LAND USE - Consensus 1975; Reviewed 1995      

The League of Women Voters of Arizona supports:

·          Action to achieve a physical environment beneficial to life, with emphasis on achieving an optimum balance between human needs and the carrying capacity of the land and its resources.

·          Statewide land use planning which should include economic, social and environmental components, basic services, transportation, new concepts of community design, the best use of resource conservation measures in land use planning, with emphasis on the effects of population growth and distribution.

·          Measures to preserve open space and natural habitat, identify and regulate areas of critical concern, including fragile areas, historic areas, riparian habitats, renewable resource lands, and natural hazard lands.

·          Statewide authority over areas and activities outside of local government jurisdiction, or which their governmental bodies fail to regulate.

·          Protection of private property in accordance with the Fifth Amendment, but retaining the government’s right to regulate the use of land through its power to protect the public health, welfare and safety, the decision whether a regulation constitutes a partial taking should be determined by the courts.

·          Requirements for evaluation of economic, social and environmental impacts of major land use projects, whether initiated by government agencies or by private interests.

·          Policies which assure the quality of the environment for people of all economic levels.

·          Policies which assure the quality of the environment for people of all economic

      levels.