WHERE WE STAND

What We Have Done in the Past
Positions - League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area
Position Summaries - League of Women Voters of Ohio
Public Policy Positions - League of Women Voters of the US
Principles - League of Women Voters of the US

Program is the League's "Reason for Being," the basis for both education and action efforts. League program consists of those governmental issues that League members choose for concerted study and action at the local, state and national levels. It includes both adopted positions, statements of where the League stands on issues of public policy that are used for action, and issues for study that will lead to a position and action.

League program originates with League members. Some ideas spring from particular interests of individual members. Some grow out of previous League work. Still others come from a review of a League's community survey or from interviews with key leaders.

Once members have been stimulated to think about the widest possible range of choices, the League collects the members' ideas as presented at biennial program planning meetings. On a local, state or national level the procedure is the same. The Board of Directors reviews the suggestions from the planning meetings, evaluates and coordinates them with the rest of the League's projects and then recommends the program, as either recommended or non-recommended study items, to the members at their local annual meeting, state or national convention.

The League program process begins with selection and adoption, continues with study and discussion, followed by consensus/concurrence, and culminates in action and change.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST

"On Friday, October 1, 1920, the first meeting of the executive committee of the League of Women Voters of Cincinnati was held... Political action began immediately."

Throughout the years, many issues have been main stays for the League -- child welfare, women's rights, international peace, education, the environment, good government and fair treatment for all citizens. Below are some of the local issues addressed by the LWVCA to show how we have progressed and why we are still in existence 80 years after our founding.

1920's Early local political action was varied, but often focused on issues still important to us today. In 1921, getting the school board out from under the control of the local political machine was important to the League -- to accomplish this goal, several members spoke to the wives of desirable candidates asking them to not put obstacles in the way of their husband's campaigns. In 1922, the League took on the public library objecting to their policy of not hiring married women as librarians a well as refusing to allow the League to use the library for educational lectures on government. The League had a policy of not endorsing bond issues or tax levies. In 1928, the League established a committee to push for a licensing law for automobile drivers.

1930's League began its attempts to reorganize county government -- a goal which has yet to be achieved, it urged the mayor to appoint a woman to the University of Cincinnati's Board of trustees, and consumer interests (the quality of hosiery and sheets). The League fought to make sure that married women could teach school. League changed its position on endorsement of tax levies and supported several; for schools, parks and the county. It was split on the question of proportional representation.

1940's In the 1940's, special attention as directed toward school curriculum -- LWVCA persuaded Walnut Hills High School to retain Civics as a required course and another committee got the public schools to include the City Manager's Report in the curriculum. The League worked to get a Smoke Abatement Ordinance passed in the city, as well as pushing for the employment of 30 police women. Local planning and zoning were taken up as issues of concern.

1950's The 1950's started with a local agenda "Study and support of desirable measures to extend and generate public services in the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area." New forms of county government were a major concern of the League. At the 1956 annual meeting, the program for the next year was

1. proportional Representation,
2. implementation of the Cincinnati Master Plan,
3. fluoridation of Cincinnati water,
4. reorganization of county government and passage of a county charter,
5. adequate county zoning laws,
6. appointment of qualified people to all Cincinnati and Hamilton County boards and commissions and
7. support of bond issues and tax levies as appropriate.

In 1957, LWV got all of the mayors in the area together for a County-Wide Town Meeting which was well received.

1960's Urban renewal, environmental (especially water) and civil rights were hot topics in the 1960's. The League adopted its strong support for city manager government in Cincinnati. The 1965 annual meeting approved an agenda for modernization of Hamilton County Government, continued support and study of the reorganization of Hamilton County Government and passage of a county charter. LWVCA worked hard to get a school levy passed in 1968 (it failed).

1970's There was more activity around school levies, continued interest in urban renewal and housing as well as more interest in transportation issues, city manager government, comprehensive planning at the regional, metropolitan and county levels, integration of the schools, better rehabilitation programs in the prison systems and the fluoridation of Cincinnati water. In 1976, the League opposed the proposed charter amendment allowing for the direct election of the mayor and supported a proposed a charter amendment allowing City Council to pass campaign finance regulations more restrictive than state laws. As the 70's came to a close, environmental issues became more and more important to the League.

1980's The 1980's began with a concentrated effort to change county government, our work with the Coalition to Draft a County Charter lead to a petition drive to get the new charter onto the ballot in 1982. It was decided to not go on the ballot as a restructuring of Cincinnati City government was also on that ballot. Once again, LWVCA maintained its strong support of City manager government and a nine member council elected at large. Clean air and water continued as hot topics as well as pay equity for women. An increase in the Cincinnati Earnings Tax as well as school tax levy were supported. Housing remained a topic of concern.

1990's City of Cincinnati Independent Boards and Commissions were a major study in the early 1990's. A new coalition to write a Home Rule Charter for Hamilton County was started. A shift toward interest in state funding of education also started. There was also a movement toward state funding of housing. Solid waste management was added to the list of environmental concerns. The structure and election method of of Cincinnati City Council was an important local issue throughout the 90's starting with the "Clarke vs City of Cincinnati" court case which alleged that the 9X, at-large system diluted minority voting strength (Cincinnati won the case). Later in the decade, LWVCA changed its position on the election of mayor, advocating for the direct election. LWVCA actively supported a ballot measure for cumulative voting in Council elections. Campaign Finance Reform became a local issue of importance. The Diversity Committee was formed and became active forces in attempting to defeat Issue 3 -- a city ordinance that prohibited the city from enacting any ordinances that protected gay rights.


POSITIONS
League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area

GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES
Support of Modernization of Hamilton County Government
Position: The LWVCA supports the modernization of county government through some form of reorganization, such as adoption of a county charter or one of the alternative forms of county government permitted by Ohio Law.
Criteria to be used in defining/judging "modernization":
Group A
1. The county executive should be appointed by the county governing body.
2. The county executive should have budgetary responsibilities and powers of policy execution and be directly answerable to the county governing body.
3. Hamilton County governing body should have implied powers and some self-taxing ability.
Group B
1. The county governing body should be elected in combination method including districts and at-large and should have 5-11 members.
2. Means of citizen participation should be explicitly provided.
Group C
1. Members of the county governing body should serve 4-year, staggered terms.
2. Means of citizen recourse should be explicitly provided.
3. All county department heads should be appointed.
Background: The LWVCA initially supported county reorganization in 1933 and supported a charter for Hamilton County in 1935. Elsewhere in Ohio, many attempts have been made by counties to adopt various forms of change, but only Summit County (Akron) has succeeded in adopting a charter (1979). Our present LWV position for modernization was adopted in 1967. In 1980, after a two-year study, LWVCA adopted a set of criteria by which to judge any future attempt at county reorganization. In 1981, the LWVCA was part of a coalition which drafted a county charter and circulated petitions to place it on the ballot. Important support in the community was not forthcoming, so the effort ended.

CRITERIA FOR HAMILTON COUNTYWIDE VOTED PROPERTY TAX LEVIES
Position: A model tax levy processwould include:

1. A committee of citizens with the authority to review tax levy proposals and tax levy recipient organizations; to review the requesting agencies’ financial, management and performance audits; and make recommendations to the Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners. This committee must be adequately funded and staffed.
2. Reduction of the total number of voted levies without sacrificing needed services.
3. Timing that prevents placing all levies on a ballot at the same time.
4. Funding county services based on a determined level of need that balances funds, services and resources.
5. Funding broadly defined services that can respond to changing conditions and needs.
6. The provision of meaningful opportunities for citizen involvement, input, monitoring and review.
7. Assuring agency accountability to the Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners for the appropriate use of tax levy dollars.
8. Ballot language that is understandable to citizens and accurately describes services funded by the proposed levy.

Background: At the May 2004 Annual Meeting, members authorized a study on the “Evaluation of the Procedure for Voting on Property Tax Levies in Hamilton County.” The LWVCA County Government Committee’s study included a review of the current procedure in Hamilton County. They explored systems used in other urban counties in Ohio and developed criteria to use in judging a property tax levy review system. With Board agreement to the process and proposed statements, meetings were held and concurrence to the new postion was obtained in November 2005.

1. Relationships with other governments and service providers
2. Accountability and responsiveness
3. Taxes, fees and assessments
4. Quality of service.

I. The LWVCA believes the following features are of primary importance in judging new proposals for service delivery whether directly by government unit, public/private contract or a special district:
A. In regard to relationships with other governments or service providers, service provider should take part in cooperative planning for the region. In the case of special districts, the proposal should include firm guidelines for dissolution or merging with another district or governmental unit.
B. In regard to accountability and responsiveness, there should be 1) clear responsibility for planning and delivery of the service, 2) a clear line of recourse for unsatisfactory service, 3) preannounced open board or council meetings, 4) accountability to citizens through an elected official and 5) annual financial and program reports readily available to the public.
C. Elected officials should approve fees and assessments.
D. The service delivery plan should be the best service delivery option in terms of cost-effectiveness (assuming cost-effectiveness means the best service for a reasonable price, not just low bid); provide for qualified staff to plan, to write RFPs (requests for proposals) and contracts and to monitor and evaluate service.

Other features considered important but without consensus on the level of importance are:

1) the service provision not be duplicated by another source,
2) the proposal not have an adverse effect on prospects for change in county structure,
3) annual financial and program reports be reviewed at state and local level with results of that review published, and
4) there be a public referendum on new taxes.

It is the intention that these criteria for service delivery be applied in Cincinnati and other municipalities and townships as well as at the county level.

II. LWVCA members support special districts, contractual arrangements (both public/private and intergovernmental) and general purpose government as appropriate means of service delivery.
Background: In 1986, determining that the chances for a major structural change in county government seemed remote, the LWVCA approved a study of alternative methods of service delivery in Hamilton County. Material for unit discussions on special districts (1987) and privatizing and contracting out of services (1988) led to consensus (April, 1988) on the criteria for judging new proposals for service delivery.

Support of the Council/Manager Form of City Government for Cincinnati
Position: The LWVCA supports the council-manager form of government for the City of Cincinnati including:

1. support for at-large election for City of Cincinnati council members using semi-proportional (weighted or cumulative voting) or proportional representation (that is, the single transferable vote) method of election,
2. support of a nine-member council for the City of Cincinnati,
3. support of a four-year term of office for members of Cincinnati's City Council including the mayor,
4. support for separate, direct election of Cincinnati's mayor by majority vote on a non-partisian ballot at the general election. Support for the mayor as a regular voting member of council with such powers as would enhance the role of mayor as council leader within the council-manager form of government.

Background: The LWVCA has supported the council/manager form of government from the time of the adopting of the 1926 Home Rule Charter in Cincinnati. This position has been reaffirmed numerous times after review and consensus in 1963, 1970, 1982, and 1986-87 in response to proposed changes in the city's governmental structure Support for four-year staggered terms was added in 1970 support for a nine-member council. In 1982, and for an expanded description of at-large elections in 1993.

The 1986 Annual Meeting authorized a restudy of this position. At September 1986 unit meetings, LWVCA members decided to retain the present position on the selection of the mayor. After review of the method of electing city council in September 1987, LWVCA members agreed to continue to support at-large election, but there was no consensus on which system to use. About half the membership was satisfied with the 9X method, and the other half was interested in modifying the system, about equally divided between Proportional Representation (PR) and a mixed system. Support of a nine-member council and four-year staggered terms of office was reaffirmed.

At the May 1992 Annual Meeting the following study was adopted: "A Study of Election Systems and Their Possible effects on Citizen Participation and Involvement in Government in Cincinnati." In the Spring of 1992 a suit was filed in U.S. District Court challenging the "9X" system of electing City Council members as an unlawful dilution of black voting strength. Because of the altered conditions in the community, a special membership meeting was held in February, 1993 to discuss alternatives to Cincinnati's 9X at-large system of elections. Initial discussion centered on criteria for choosing an electoral system. There was support for a system that produced a council which would encourage participation, represent the diverse interests, take a city-wide view and be effective. This resulted in support for semi-proportional or proportional methods of election because these systems provide representation based on interests rather than geography. There was strong opposition to a district system.

By 1995, City Council was under attack from many quarters for its inability to get anything done; much of the problem was attributed to a 1987 Charter amendment (passed by voters) that provided for the Councilmanic candidate receiving the highest number of votes in the municipal election to be declared mayor. An initiative to change this situation -- but which threatened the Council/ Manager partnership -- was put on the ballot for a special election in August; it was defeated by the electorate. Following this defeat, a panel representing a cross-section of Cincinnati's citizen groups was established and charged with the task of developing a new system of choosing the mayor, as the previous methods were deemed inadequate for today's political, economic, and social environment.

The LWVCA's City Government Committee, recognizing that change was inevitable and that the League should have a hand in designing the course of that change, reexamined our position in support of the Council/manager form of government and developed concurrence statements for members to discuss and vote upon. With Board agreement to the process and proposed statements, meetings were held and concurrence to the new position was obtained in January-February, 1996.

Support of Independent Boards and Commissions in the City of Cincinnati
Position: LWVCA supports provisions in the Cincinnati City Charter for the existence of independent boards and commissions in the functional areas of parks, city planning, health, and recreation.
The League also supports measures which would make more effective the operations of the independent boards and commissions.

Background: The May 1988 Annual Meeting adopted as a study item, "An Evaluation of the Structure and Function of Independent Boards and Commissions in Cincinnati Area Local Governments." The study committee chose to focus on the four boards and commissions in the city of Cincinnati commonly thought of as "independent" -- the Park Board, Recreation Commission, Board of Health, and City Planning Commission. Each of these independent boards and commissions grew out of grassroots citizen initiatives which predated the city's Charter of 1924.

Following a Public Forum on the topic in March 1990, concurrence on a position on independent boards and commissions was conducted through VOTER response forms in April 1990. League members agreed that independent boards and commissions are a unique tradition of citizen involvement in decision making in Cincinnati government and that they should be continued and strengthened.

PLANNING
Support of Comprehensive Planning at the Municipal, County, and Regional Levels
Position: The LWVCA supports the following criteria for evaluating planning proposals. Such proposals should:

1. be responsive and adaptable to changes;
2. provide for citizen education and participation at all stages;
3. consider social and environmental values as well as physical and economic development;
4. be concerned with preserving historical and cultural assets of the local areas of the region;
5. be fair and non-discriminatory, considering the welfare of the entire region rather than that of special interest groups;
6. be able to be implemented under existing financial and political constraints, but allow for possible
changes, e.g., changes in national or state laws, change in governmental structure, etc.;
7. take into account the goals and priorities of all levels of planning (municipal, county), striving to avoid duplication and to promote compromise;
8. be compatible with the established goals of the regional planning authority.

Background: LWVCA first became interested in land use planning in 1951 and has restudied and expanded its positions since then, arriving at the present statement in 1971. Meanwhile, land use became a concern of League members nationwide; in 1972 the LWVUS convention added a land use study item to its program. By 1985 we had a national consensus, now stated as "Action to support responsible management of our finite land resources and developed environment to ensure consideration of public interests and private rights."

TRANSPORTATION
Support of a Publicly-Owned Transportation System for the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area
Position: The LWVCA supports the establishment of a public transportation agency, such as an authority or a district, on as wide a geographic base as feasible. The League prefers a nine-county base (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana); the next most desirable would be a tri-county base; or at least one including all of Hamilton County. The LWVCA believes that local governments share the responsibility to assure the existence of an adequate mass transportation system. The LWVCA supports public ownership of a mass transit system, and opposes subsidies to privately-owned transit systems.

Background: Following studies in 1966-67 and 1972, the LWVCA arrived at the present support position on transportation. In 1969, the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) was created by Hamilton County. SORTA's area of jurisdiction is Hamilton County. However, under state law any contiguous county is permitted to join the transit authority upon a vote of its county commissioners. In 1972, enabling legislation was passed, allowing a vote on taxes for mass transit by individual townships and municipalities instead of on a county-wide basis only.

In August 1971, SORTA presented a one-half mill property tax levy to the voters, which, coupled with two-thirds matching funds from the federal government, would be used to purchase Cincinnati Transit, Inc. This levy was defeated. The League was not able to act since we had no consensus on public ownership. In November, 1972, the City of Cincinnati placed a charter amendment on the ballot, proposing a raise of .3% in the city earnings tax to be used for public transit purposes only. Following passage of the amendment, the city purchased the bus system and contracted with SORTA as the public body to run it. The LWVCA actively supported the passage of the charter amendment based on a position reached in March 1972. Proposals in 1979 and 1980 to expand SORTA's funding base by replacing the .3% city earnings tax with a 1% county-wide sales tax were defeated by voters in Hamilton County. The LWVCA supported the tax levy both times.

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Support of Policies and Programs Leading to Improved Educational Opportunity
Support of Different Techniques to Achieve Improved Integrated Education
Position: Integrated Education: The LWVCA supports different approaches to achieve high quality integrated education for every child. Methods of desegregation that the LWVCA supports include: alternative schools, open enrollment, pairing of schools, redistricting. The LWVCA supports a program of educating the public for school desegregation. We support the League's participation in the desegregation plan. The LWVCA supports open enrollment in all Hamilton County area schools if there is no financial burden to the receiving district.

Background: The consensus on integrated education was reached in 1976. In February, 1984, the Cincinnati Public Schools, the NAACP and the Ohio Department of Education reached a tentative out-of-court settlement (approved by the court in June, 1984) ending ten years of litigation in the Bronson suit and avoiding a bitter court battle. In the Agreement the Cincinnati School District agreed to reduce racial isolation over the next seven years, using standards established by the Agreement, and was given the discretionary authority to select the methods of meeting that responsibility.

Position: For the Cincinnati School District: The LWVCA supports tax levies and bond issues to implement policies for operations and improvements in the system.

Background: Since 1920 the League has been involved with the Cincinnati Schools. During 1968-69, League members undertook a new study of the Cincinnati Public Schools based on the Coleman Report and came to consensus on changes they could support "in the organization, administration and program of the Cincinnati Public Schools which lead to improved integrated educational opportunities for each child in the system". This position was reviewed by League members in 1974 and left unchanged. However, at the Annual Meeting in 1984, the entire position was dropped except the tax levy and bond issue statement since there had been no update in ten years, and it was perceived that current League interest in the schools focuses more on financing of schools rather than on program or organizational areas. LWVCA Board failed to take a position on the 1987 school tax levy. In 1998, the membership instructed the Education Committee to review the wording of the current position concerning the support of tax levies and bond issues. At the 1999 Annual Meeting, the following directions were given to the Board, (No motion was made to change the existing education position)

"The Board, in determining LWVCA action on a proposed Cincinnati Public Schools tax levy or bond issue, should consider the following information: proficiency scores, drop-out/graduation rates, the spending per student, the condition of the physical facilities, the socio-economic background of the the student body, programs offered, and student/parent satisfaction survey results. The trends for these data should be that the district is showing improvement toward meeting its announced goals, and where progress is not being made, remediation efforts are in place.

In addition to the above information, the Board should examine the CPS budget to determine what monies are coming into the district and how they are being spent. Moreover, before any position is taken, the Board must be confident that the LWVCA members have been thoroughly updated on the state of the CPS and that their activities are being routinely monitored."

Position: For the Wyoming School District: The LWVCA is in support of all prevailing community priority for quality education for Wyoming students:

• continued emphasis on meeting the individual educational needs of all Wyoming students;
• increased interaction between school and community to utilize citizen resources, both volunteer and monetary, for the Wyoming Public School System;
• financing necessary to maintain the educational objectives of the WPSS;
• capital improvements to preserve and enhance the educational facilities of the Wyoming Public School System.

Background: The LWVCA has studied the educational facilities of the Wyoming Public School System and as a result of the LWVCA Wyoming unit's study and evaluation (1971-74), updated in 1989 and again in 1999, it is felt that School Financing and General Fund Operating Budget reflect the community priority for quality education. The LWVCA supports the current high standard of budgeting and operation.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Support of the Little Miami River as a Scenic River
Position: The League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area supports the protection of the Little Miami River from its source to its mouth at the Ohio River in the State System of Scenic Rivers and in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Systems

    The LWVCA believes that continued action is needed to protect, maintain, and improve available water resources of the Little Miami River. Ground water recharge areas should be protected. Ground water that seeps into the river provides the base flow--the low flow that is sustained through the driest part of the year--and is an important source of public water supply. Citizen action is also needed to safeguard the ecosystem, some rare species of wild life, irreplaceable historic sites, and an open area for the recreational use of thousands of people.
    The LWVCA favors restrictions on any industry located in the flood plain of the Little Miami River through zoning restrictions and strict enforcement of present and future regulations.
    The LWVCA opposes any highway construction that threatens the future
status of the Little Miami River as a State and National River, its ecosystem or its historic sites.
    After the Little Miami River is designated as Scenic or Recreational, the LWVCA favors seeking funds for its maintenance and administration from federal, state, local (government) or private sources, or a combination of them.

POSITIONS  HAMILTON-FAIRFIELD

Through the years, the LWV Hamilton-Fairfield Area conducted member studies, reached agreement and adopted the following local positions. Hamilton-Fairfield merged with LWVCA in Fall 2001. At the May 15, 2002 Annual Meeting, LWVCA voted to add the Hamilton-Fairfield positions to the LWVCA local program.

GOVERNMENT

The LWVCA H-F Unit supports charter revisions for the city of Hamilton to provide for
1. Four year rotating terms for members of council.
2. The assumption of duties of office by council members on the first Monday in December following the election.
3. The selection of Mayor by a majority vote of the electorate. The person receiving the next highest number of votes should become Vice-Mayor. 4. A replacement procedure should a vacancy occur on council.
5. The council should have the powers to establish the salaries of council effective at the beginning of the succeeding term and to provide additional compensation for the Mayor beyond his/her salary as a member of council.
6. Separate law directors for the city and the Board of Education.

The LWVCA H-F Unit supports a sound vocational program that will:

1. Prepare students for available jobs in the community.

2. Prepare students for further formal education.

3. Provide transportation as needed.

4. Improve attitudes towards vocational education.

5. Encourage the formation of an advisory board to help develop and evaluate curriculum.

1. Professional diagnosis and treatment of social, learning, medical and psychiatric disabilities.

2. Innovation and coordination of preventative and rehabilitative programs.

3. Provision for quality temporary care.

PUBLIC HEALTH:

1. Provide adequate financing for the control of communicable diseases, collection and recording of vital statistics, handicapped services, public and health laboratory services, health education for the general public and environmental sanitary control (The city of Fairfield contracts with Butler County for services.)

2. Supports a public health trained administrator as Director.

3. Encourage cooperative agreements or consolidation among other public health agencies at all government levels.

POSITION SUMMARIES
League of Women Voters of Ohio

GOVERNMENT
Constitution
Support clear, flexible, organized, and internally consistent constitution. Support specification that taxation is a General Assembly responsibility and that funding should be flexible. Support independence of judges, with preference for merit selection.

Districting
Support an impartial districting process with opportunity for citizen participation. Support districts that are compact, contiguous, bounded by a non-intersecting line, and follow political boundaries as much as possible.

State Government Finance
Support taxation that is fair and equitable, provides adequate resources for government programs while allowing flexibility for financing future program changes, is understandable to the taxpayer and encourages compliance, and is easy to administer.

SOCIAL POLICY
Education: Primary and Secondary
Support the use of public funds only for public schools. Support an elected State Board of Education whose responsibility is policy making/planning. Support state education standards as a method of attaining a high quality education. Support state funding for education that guarantees a realistic and equitable level of per pupil expenditures, and support local school districts' assuming a reasonable share of the financial burden.

Higher Education
Support funding by the state to ensure that all qualified Ohio citizens have access to higher education that provides general education and job preparation. Support Board of Regents, appointed by the Governor with confirmation by the Senate, to be a planning, coordinating board with broad policy-making powers.

Juvenile Justice
Support community-based, least restrictive placement; rights and humane treatment of children who are juvenile offenders; alternative educational services; gender-specific treatment programs; unbiased treatment regardless of race or ethnicity; statewide uniform standards for dealing with juvenile records. Oppose holding children in adult jails.

Capital Punishment
Support abolition of the death penalty and a moratorium on use of the death penalty.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Water
Support policies and procedures that provide for joint, cooperative planning and administration along watershed lines and across political boundaries; stringent water quality standards accompanied by strong enforcement and means of implementation; and adequate state financing, including incentives to local governments and industries for expediting water pollution abatement.

Solid Waste
Support the philosophy that solid waste, from generation to ultimate disposal, must be purposefully and systematically controlled by all levels of government in order to provide efficient service, protect the environment, and achieve successful resource recovery. Support measures to forestall depletion of our natural resources and to recover nonrenewable resources.

Hazardous Materials
Support state policies and programs that emphasize the following hazardous waste management options in order of priority: waste reduction, toxicity reduction and waste elimination; waste separation and concentration; energy/material recovery; waste exchange; chemical, biological, physical, and thermal treatment; and underground injection and land disposal.

Land Use
Support both urban revitalization and farmland preservation and the curbing of urban sprawl. Support the role of the state in providing authority and incentives for local governments to exercise innovative additional land use planning and regulatory techniques such as land banking, planned unit developments, purchase and transfer of development rights, limited development ordinances, scenic easements, agricultural districts, cluster development, conservation reserves, and land trusts, urban enterprise zones, environmental impact assessments, impact fees, tax abatement, and zoning efforts. Support use of eminent domain under certain circumstances.

Interbasin Transfer of Water
Support diversion of water only after study of the ecological, economic, and social implications indicate that diversion would be sustainable and only after the development of a plan to protect the affected areas during all stages of development, operation, termination, and post-termination. Support public participation in the decision-making process. Support participation of all concerned governments in Great Lakes resource decision-making.


PUBLIC POLICY POSITIONS
League of Women Voters of the United States

Whatever the issue, the League believes that efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibilities, adequate financing, coordination among levels of government, effective enforcement and well defined channels for citizen input and review.

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
Promote an open governmental system that representative, accountable and responsive.

Voting Rights
Citizen's Right to Vote. Protect the right of all citizens to vote; encourage all citizens to vote.
DC Self-Government and Full Voting Representation. Secure for the citizens of the District of Columbia the rights of self-government and full voting representation in both houses of Congress.

Election Process
Apportionment. Support apportionment of congressional districts and elected legislative bodies at all levels of government based substantially on population.
Campaign Finance. Improve methods of financing political campaigns in order to ensure the public's right to know, combat corruption and undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office and promote citizen participation in the political process.
Election of the President.Selection of the President. Promote the election of the President and Vice-President by direct-popular vote and work to abolish the Electoral College. Support uniform national voting qualifications and procedures for presidential elections. Support efforts to provide voters with sufficient information about candidates.

Citizen Rights
Citizen's Right to Know/Citizen Participation. Protect the citizen's right to know and facilitate citizen participation in government decision making.
Individual Liberties. Oppose major threats to basic constitutional rights.
Public Policy on Reproductive Choices. Protect constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices.

Congress and the Presidency
Congress. Support responsive legislative process characterized by accountability, representativeness decision-making capability and effective performance.
The Presidency. Promote a dynamic balance of power between the executive and legislative branches within the framework set by the Constitution.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Promote peace in an interdependent world by working cooperatively with other nations and strengthening international organizations.

United Nations
Support a strong, effective United Nations to promote international peace and security and to adderess the social, economic and humanitarian needs of all people.

Trade
Support U.S. trade policies that reduce trade barriers expand international trade and advance the achievement of humanitarian, environmental and social goals.

U.S. Relations with Developing Countries
Promote U.S. policies that meet long-term social and economic needs of developing countries.

Arms Control
Reduce the risk of war through support of arms control measures.

Military Policy and Defense Spending
Work to limit reliance on military force. Examine defense spending in the context of total national needs.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Promote an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of natural resources in the public interest.

Natural Resources
Promote the management of natural resources as interrelated parts of life-supporting ecosystems.

Resource Management
Promote resource conservation, stewardship and long-range planning, with the responsibility for managing natural resources shared by all levels of government.

Environmental Protection and Pollution Control
Preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the ecosystem, with maximum protection of public health and the environment.
Air Quality. Promote measures to reduce pollution from mobile and stationary sources.
Energy. Support environmentally sound policies that reduce energy growth rates, emphasize energy conservation and encourage the use of renewable resources.
Land Use. Promote policies that manage land as a finite resource and that incorporate principles of stewardship.
Water Resources. Support measures to reduce pollution in order to protect surface water, groundwater and drinking water.
Waste Management. Promote policies to reduce the generation and promote the reuse and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes.
Nuclear Issues. Promote the maximum protection of public health and safety and the environment.

Public Participation
Promote public understanding and participation in decision making as essential elements of responsible and responsive management of our natural resources.

Agricultural Policy
Promote adequate supplies of food and fiber at reasonable prices to consumers and support economically viable farms, environmentally sound farm practices and increased reliance on the free market.

SOCIAL POLICY
Secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all. Promote social and economic justice and the health and safety of all Americans.

Equality of Opportunity
Equal Rights. Support ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and efforts to bring laws into compliance with the goals of the ERA.

Education, Employment, Housing
Support equal access to education, employment and housing.

Fiscal Policy
Tax Policy. Support adequate and flexible funding federal government programs through an equitable tax system that is progressive overall and that relies primarily on a broad-based income tax.
Federal Deficit. Promote responsible deficit policies.
Funding of Entitlements. Support a federal role in providing mandatory, universal, old-age, survivors, disability and health insurance.

Health Care
Promote a health care system for the United States that provides access to a basic level of quality care for all U.S. residents and controls health care costs.

Meeting Basic Human Needs
Support programs and policies to prevent or reduce poverty and to promote self-sufficiency for individuals and families.
Income Assistance. Support income assistance programs, based on need, that provide decent, adequate standards for food, clothing and shelter.
Support Services. Provide for essential support services.
Housing Supply. Support policies to provide a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family.

Child Care
Support programs and policies to expand the supply of affordable, quality child care for all who need it.

Early Intervention for Children at Risk
Support policies and programs that promote the wellbeing, development and safety of all children.

Violence Prevention
Support violence prevention programs in communities.

Gun Control
Protect the health and safety of citizens through limiting the accessibility and regulating the ownership of handguns and semi-automatic weapons. Support regulation of firearms for consumer safety.

Urban Policy
Promote the economic health of cities and improve the quality of urban life.

Death Penalty
The LWVUS supports the abolition of the death penalty.

PRINCIPLES
League of Women Voters of the US

The League of Women Voters believes in representative government and in the individual liberties established in the Constitution of the United States.

The League of Women Voters believes that democratic government depends upon the informed and active participation of it citizens and requires that governmental bodies protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records accessible.

The League of Women Voters believes that every citizen should be protected in the right to vote; that every person should have access to free public education that provides equal opportunity for all; and that no person or group should suffer legal, economic or administrative discrimination.

The League of Women Voters believes that efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing, and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government.

The League of Women Voters believes that responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people; that government should maintain an equitable and flexible system of taxation, promote the conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest, share in the solution of economic and social problems that affect the general welfare, promote a sound economy and adopt domestic policies that facilitate the solution of international problems.

The League of Women Voters believes that cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to world problems and that development of international organization and international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace.



July 2007