®
The League of Women Voters of Metro
480-966-9031 2510 S. Rural Rd. #102 Tempe, AZ 85282 480-968-7437 (fax)
POSITIONS
How the League decides on a position for an issue:
The Leagues hallmark is its unique grassroots approach to study and action. Leagues at every level have positions based on study and consensus among members. During the consensus process, members draw on balanced, pro/con materials, develop their own resources, turn to technical experts and public officials for information, and reach out to the community through public meetings, surveys and media coverage.
The League has positions at the national level, the state level, and the
local level.
Once a position is reached, the League marshals all of its tools to influence the shape of public policy. Work is focused on priority issues every year, in order to channel the League’s citizen power for the greatest effect. Grassroots lobbying efforts are the key to the League’s legislative success. Strategies include testimony, letters and phone call to key legislators, working in coalition with other groups, community outreach and media campaigns.
In addition to the positions of the League of Women Voters of the United States, the League of Women Voters of Arizona works on the following issues:
Campaign Finance Reform
Clean Elections (Prop
200) was passed by a vote of citizens in the 1998 fall election, providing an
alternative to the current system of raising money to finance campaigns and
creating public funding for candidates who choose to utilize its
provisions. Any attempts by the
Legislature to change or amend the initiative will be closely monitored.
Independent Redistricting Commission
The current system of
redistricting congressional and legislative districts has produced
non-competitive, gerrymandered districts.
The LWV supports legislation or an initiative to establish a bi-partisan
commission to draw districts that will be compact, contiguous, protect
community and natural boundaries and respect Supreme Court ruling.
Charter Schools
The League Continues to Support:
Election Laws: An open system of registration and election
with uniform procedures throughout the state.
Initiative and Referendum: The constitutional
rights of the people to enact direct legislation.
Legislative and
Constitutional Redistricting: Regular redistricting on an equal population basis by a
bipartisan commission; single member districts for state representation.
Campaign Finance: Clear legal definition
of Political Action Committees and public identification of their affiliations;
limits on PAC and individual contributions; prohibition of contributions to one
candidate being transferred to another.
Reorganization of the
Executive Branch: Centralization of authority and responsibility in the Governor’s
office.
Corporation Commission: Adequate protection of
residential (utility) consumer; funding for adequate staff to assess utility
company data.
Judicial Selection and
Tenure: Appointment of judges
by the governor from a list of qualified nominees submitted by a bi-partisan
commission, with voter approval for retention.
Lower Court Reform: Legislation to allow
counties to consolidate their lower courts.
Juvenile Justice: A separate legal
category for status offenders; guidelines for referral of juveniles to
community-based facilities rather than detention; and emancipation of minor
law.
Human Needs: State programs to assure basic elements of health and
adequate living standards to persons in need, while striving to reduce
dependency and break the cycle of welfare.
Children at Risk: Support policies and
programs that promote the well being, development and safety of all children.
Victimization of Children and Interfamilial Abuse: State and local government programs to serve and protect the
abused; proper training of those who deal with these issues.
Public School Finance: Provide for the
equitable distribution of state funds, including capital funding. Ensure that all schools using public funds
irrespective of their formation, such as Charter Schools, are held fiscally
accountable.
Land Use: Statewide land use planning which should include economic,
social, and environmental components; basic services, transportation, best use
of natural resources, and encouragement of regional planning.
Water: Water management
policies that conserve water and prevent harmful contamination; water laws that
treat all water as interrelated; define and quantify ground and surface water
rights and give priority to domestic and municipal uses authority at state
level to monitor and limit water use.
The League of
Women Voters of Metro
Charter Home Rule for
Energy: The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Phoenix supports measures to encourage conservation and the use of renewable energy.
Education: The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Phoenix supports adequate and appropriate vocational education.
Water: The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Phoenix supports measures to encourage water conservation.
Open Primary: The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Phoenix supports a primary system that encourages full participation of all voters in elections regardless of party registration. It is our belief that a more inclusive system would encourage a diversified field of candidates.
Election Systems Reform
Position: The
League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Phoenix (LWVMP) believes in the election
system principle of greatest voter representation. The League further maintains
the hope that election system reform that provides a stronger voice for the
greatest number of voters would have a positive effect on voter participation.
Therefore, the LWVMP:
1. Supports changing the present election systems so that they more
accurately represent the wishes of voters.
1.a. Adopting the Instant
Runoff Voting (IRV) system for single seat races.
1.b. Adopting proportional representation for
multi-seat races; specifically systems such as Approval Voting,
Cumulative Voting,
Limited Voting OR Single Transferable Voting (STV).
2. Believes that education of the voting public is important to
election systems.
3. Supports giving