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The 2002 Convention was held in Miami, Florida at the
Hotel Fountainebleau. Naomi Glass, Sheila Keeny, Joan Wilson and I were
the Voting Delegates from D.C. Reggie Yancey was the non-voting
delegate. Over 600 voting delegates representing all 50 states and D.C.
attended, plus over 200 non-voting delegates. Kay Maxwell was chosen as
the new LWVUS President.
The Convention approved an increase in the per member
payment (PMP) that each League pays to the National League to $24.35.
The LWVDC budget was constructed before the convention. Thus, we hope
members would be willing to cover the unanticipated, but necessary,
expense, by donating $3 to $5 to defray the shortfall.
We attended the hearing on HR 1193, No Taxation
Without Representation Act, held by Representative Connie
Morelia (R-MD), of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on the
District of Columbia. It was the first hearing held in over 25 years on
voting rights. A panel of witnesses, led by Mayor Anthony Williams and
Council Chairman Linda Cropp, gave support to Full Voting Representation. The ensuing discussion on how to expand the
efforts to
gain support from more sectors emphasized the fact that D.C. cannot use
locally raised revenue in support of voter education. (See Congressional
Representation.)
I attended a meeting at the DC Vote office with other
representatives from other organizations who had participated in the
"D.C. Lobby Day on the Hill." Approximately 30 people
assembled to formulate plans for the next step, including
representatives from Mrs. Norton's Office, the Mayor's Office,
Radioactive Stations, and the Shadow Representatives. A myriad of ideas
evolved, i.e., the a lawsuit to achieve goals, use incremental steps vs.
leap into action, idealism vs. political reality and sponsoring a series
of debates on the solutions. The discussion focused on how various
self-determination and Congressional Representation groups might work
together more effectively, which brought about a spirited dialogue. A
D.C. Democracy Exchange Committee will be established to continue the
discussion and formulate plans.
Remember this is your voter. Comments, letters to the
editor are welcome. Thank you. — Patricia Hallman, President
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MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2002 IS VOTER REGISTRATION
DEADLINE
For September 10. 2002 Primary
If you have moved since the last election or if you
want to change party affiliations, be sure to register to vote by August
12.
Eligible voters (U.S. citizen, D.C. resident, and at
least 18 years old by Election Day) can register to vote in the District
of Columbia by filling out a Mail-In Voter Registration Form available
at D.C. public libraries, fire houses and police stations. Or, contact
the DC Board of Elections and Ethics (BOEE), 441 Fourth Street, NW,
Suite 250N (Judiciary Square Red Line Metro stop). Tel: 727-2525 Hearing
Impaired: 639-8916. . The Mail-In Voter Registration form can also be
downloaded from the BOEE web site: www.dcboee.org.
After August 26, visit www.dnet.org/dc
for LWVDC's online voter's guide about the candidates.
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At the hearing July 19 of the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia of the House
Committee on Government Reform, which was chaired by Representative Constance
Morella,
a panel of seven invited experts offered
testimony in support of full voting rights in
Congress for D.C. citizens -- Mayor Anthony
Williams, City Council Chair Linda Cropp,
Shadow Representative Ray Browne,
Republican Party Chair Betsy Werronen,
Greater Washington Board of Trade President
Robert Peck, DC Appleseed Executive Director
Walter Smith, and Congressional Research
Service analyst Eugene Boyd. Unanimous
agreement was that votes for a representative
and two senators was the desired solution, but
means of obtaining those rights was not
discussed.
Mr. Smith's opinion that Congress had the
right to so legislate was questioned by the
chair, who accepted his interpretation that
ruling by the court in Alexander v. Daley
directed Congress to seek a solution and that
to the best of his knowledge the courts had
never overturned a Congressional action specified by the courts. He also
referred to a case in which the court had specifically pointed
out its reliance on Congress for interpretation. Finally, he suggested that no future Congress
would rescind voting rights for D.C. once passed as it would be too costly to be on
record against the right to vote.
Mr. Browne's achievement of getting endorsements from
11 cities and states in support of full voting rights in Congress for
D.C. made the chair ask for his advice about expanding the effort. He
mentioned Mayor Williams' working with the National League of Cities,
future visits with state governors, and working through the faith
community. Ms Werronen agreed to meet with Mr. Browne and to try to
get reinserted in the platform of the NRP the plank
formerly there in support of our civil rights.
In response to Rep. Morella's urging Ms. Cropp and Mr. Williams to be
more active in the effort Ms Cropp
pointed out the DC appropriation bill again
includes a prohibition against using even locally
raised revenue in DC support of gaining full voting
rights in Congress.
When Mr. Boyd was unable to
answer how many federal districts
allowed their citizens to vote for national legislatures,
an aide brought to the chair a listing from the
DC Vote website.
This is only the
highlights of the hearing, that lasted over two hours. If
you want to discuss it with me, please, feel free to
call 237-5550.
Ilir Zherka has been named Executive Director of DC VOTE. Cleveland
has joined Baltimore, Chicago, Los
Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco as cities
that have endorsed full voting
representation in
Congress for D.C.
On June 14, DC VOTE Board
members and staff, along with a rep
resentative from the DC League of Women Voters, presented testimony
before the Sub-Committee on Labor, Civil Rights, and
Redistricting in support of the "District of Columbia Flag Redesign
Act of 2002." A first reading has been held. A vote is anticipated
in the fall. At the hearing, 23 citizens spoke in favor of the bill; six
wanted different slogans; three opposed any change; and three spoke
without reference to the bill. Chair Phil Mendelson pointed out that
eight states include slogans on their flags, and three others have
recently redesigned theirs. The proposed changes to the DC flag would
not be radical. — Kathy
Schmidt (237-5550) DC VOTE Liaison Back
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SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, Sept. 19th, 2002
Kickoff for 2002-3 Program Year
Fall Luncheon
(Details in September Voter)
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We are sad to report the death on May 28 of June
Roberts Cornog, a member of our Chevy Chase Unit and a retired
psychologist at the National Bureau of Standards. Dr. Cornog retired in
1976 after working at MEMBER NEWS continued NBS for 40 years. She was a
1934 graduate of Pennsylvania State University, where she also received
a doctorate in psychology. During World War II she served on active duty
as a Navy WAVE, and retired from the Navy Reserve as a Commander in
1968.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Dorathea E. Brady, Evelyn
Groves, Ed Lazere.
CONTRIBUTIONS: We gratefully thank and acknowledge
contributions from: Mary A. Amory, Barbara Brooks Atkinson, June C.
Bashkin, Marion K. Bell, Suzanne Campagna, Reba Diggs, E. Patricia
Hallman, Audrey Hatry, Elizabeth Hobby, Ann Ingram, Joan Keenan, Sheila
and Spurgeon Keeny, Johnetta Kelly, Clara Kirkman, Charlotte. V. Kuh,
Anna B.J. and Luther Marsh, Maureen I. McCarthy, Mary L. B. Rankin,
Lorraine , Sinderbrand, Constance P. Gladys C Weaver.
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VOTER SERVICES COMMITTEE: Help Needed for Innovative
Voter Service Efforts
In an effort to give candidate forums a wider
audience, the DC League will be posting transcripts of forums on the
COMMON DENOMINATOR website. If you can help review and correct one or
more of these transcripts, call Elinor Hart at 387-2966. If you have a
computer with Microsoft Word and email, you can do this from your home.
D-NET offers a unique opportunity to provide
information about ANC candidates. If you would like to do this for your
Advisory Neighborhood Commission or help in an overall way, contact
Elinor Hart at 387-2966. If you have a computer and an Internet
connection, this is another way you can help from home. — Elinor Hart
(387-2966), Voter Services Co-chair.
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We have lots of ideas for membership involvement and
activities. Please join us for planning a fall fundraiser and other
membership activities on Tuesday, August 6, at 6:45 prn at the LWVDC
office, 733 15th Street, NW Suite 432. Street parking is available on H,
15th, New York Ave., and around the block on 14th.
For more information, call Linda Softli, 667-8210.
— Linda Softli, Membership Chair
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Grace Malakoff, a longtime League expert on
transportation in the region, has agreed to serve as D.C. League
Transportation Chair and Director on the Board for the coming year.
Grace writes: "We will be participating in an NCA study of
interstate compacts that looks promising. This is always a lively issue.
I welcome any suggestions, not to mention participants on a
committee." Grace can be reached at 387-7540.
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Many members and non-members have supported the
League by gifts of remembrance. Instead of buying yet another gift for
that someone who has everything, consider giving a donation to the
League in their honor. Use anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, and other
special occasions to express your appreciation for a friend or loved
one. Consider substituting a donation to the League in place of funeral
flowers -- a living memorial!
A letter will be sent to the honoree (or family of)
acknowledging your gift, will be reported in the DC VOTER, and will be
appreciated by League members for years, as we appreciate the many
people who have used this avenue of giving. A lasting gift! — Chris
Matthews
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Unit Chairs and Co-Chairs held a final Unit Council
meeting of the program year at the home of Sheila Keeny, outgoing Unit
Director. The Units that held a Units Choice meeting in June described
their events. These were, diverse, ranging from the SW Unit's discussion
of neighborhood issues like affordable housing and the new arts center
to a report on Convention 2002 at the Upper Sixteenth Street Unit and a
visit to the NW Evening Unit by Kathy Patterson, Ward 3 Councilmember,
and Jason Washington, representing Adrian Fenty, Ward 4 Councilmember.
All current Unit Chairs and CoChairs agreed to continue in their present
posts in the coming program year. — Sheila Keeny, Outgoing Unit
Director
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Following are excerpts from a letter to Mayor
Williams from Pres. Pat Hallman sent July 12 regarding affordable
housing:
"On behalf of not only of the League, but also the other eleven
organizations listed at the end of this letter, thank you for your
leadership on affordable housing ...we are especially grateful that your
pivotal support ensured full funding for the Housing Production Trust
Fund."
..."In order to make the Trust Fund fully
operational as soon as possible, we urge you to take three critical
actions before the end of July: 1) Appoint the Trust Fund Advisory
Board. 2) Issue proposed revised Trust Fund regulations. 3) Issue a
Notice of Funding Availability based on the current Trust Fund
regulations."
The organizations for which the letter speaks are:
the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development, the
Fiscal Policy Institute, Independent Living for the Handicapped, Inc.,
Manna, Inc., National Housing Trust, Shaw Education for Action, Somerset
Development Company, So Others May Eat (SOME), Washington Innercity Self
Help (WISH), and Washington Regional Network for Regional Communities.
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Hats are off to all of the volunteers who assisted with one or
more private elections since August 2001. Whether you stuffed envelopes,
affixed labels, issued or counted ballots, each action was a
contribution to the task at hand. This has been a stellar year as we
conducted or monitored twelve elections, three of which were pro bono.
Over $13,000 has been received for these endeavors over the last six
months. The League thanks you.
It is an interesting and enlightening people experience. If you would
like to volunteer to assist in any capacity for the upcoming year,
please call the office and sign up. Thanks again to: Cielle Block, Guy
Coriden, Minnie Fitzhugh, Naomi Glass, Audrey Grey, Jean Fleming, Vinna
Freeman, Patricia Hallman, Elinor Hart, Audrey Hatry, Jackie Jones,
Barbara Kemp, Paula McKann, Anna Marsh, Christine Matthews, Elaine
Melmed, Ken Vesper, Abigail Nichols, Susan Rao, Mary Rodgers, Leona
Rumsey, Kathy Schmidt, Constance Tate, Sheila Willet, Joan Wilson, and
Barbara Yeomans, Elaine Melmed has volunteered to be Co-Chair of Private
Elections. — Reggie Yancey (726-1929), Co-chair, Private Elections* Back
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A recent letter to President Pat Hallman from an
"admirer of the national and the DC League and its sanity on the
big issues" expressed shock to read the story in the June DC Voter
headed "Global Warming Not Occurring", and disbelief that the
DC League "took such a position". In her response, President
Hallman explained that positions on Global Warming are the
responsibility of our national organization, which has in fact lobbied
against actions that undermine progress in international negotiations to
stop global warming.
The article in question was a report of a small group
of Leaguers who participated in this year's Great Decisions program, a
series of seminar discussions based on briefing materials prepared by
the Foreign Policy Association and conducted by, but not limited to,
members of the International Relations Committee. It was not a consensus
meeting, and was unrelated to local League program. Other topics in the
Great Decisions program this year were India and South Asia, Colombia
and Drug Trafficking, and Aids in Africa.
The International Relations Committee plans to hold a
special Brown Bag meeting on Friday, September 13, to hear an opposing
position on global warming. Our speaker will be Dr. Steve Fetter,
Professor of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, where he is
also Associate Director, Joint Global Change Research Institute. Details
will be in your September Voter. — Sheila Keeny (966-1692) Vice
President for National Program
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DC Tax "FREE" Sales Tax Holiday
August 9 -18, 2002
10 days, 2 weekends
Shoppers in DC will get a break from paying DC sales
taxes August 9 -18, 2002 on qualified articles of clothing (wearing
apparel for humans), footwear (except skis, swim fins, roller blades and
skates) or school supplies (including pens, pencils, stationery, book
bags, lunchboxes, calculators, and notebooks for use in the classroom,
at home, or for any school activity) will be excluded from DC sales tax
during this period. For further information call DC Customer Service
Center at 202 727-4TAX (4829).
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FUNDING FOR D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Brown Bag Briefing
by Mary Levy On May 20, 2002
Mary Levy, who is among those most knowledgeable on
D.C. Public School finances, briefed a "Brown Bag" gathering
of Leaguers and guests at LWVUS Headquarters on May 20, 2002. She has
lent major assistance to Parents United for D.C. Public Schools, a
citywide organization which was formed in response to the D.C. budget
crisis of the 1980s. She is currently on loan to DCPS from the Lawyers'
Committee on Civil Rights. She presented a detailed package of financial
data, on file at the League Office. Below is a summary of major
features.
DCPS has nearly 66,000 pupils. As of May 20, the
Mayor's proposed FY 2003 budget for DCPS totaled around $773 million.
About $576 million is for DCPS operations, including special education
programs conducted within the system. About $197 million covers
state-level costs, and about 95% of these functions pertain to special
education outside DCPS, i.e., tuition for DC students in private
institutions and related transportation. State-level funding has risen
noticeably since 1997.
Since 2000, funding for the school system and
individual public charter schools has been determined by a per pupil
funding formula. For FY 2002, the basic level is $5,900 per pupil plus
add-on percentages for different grade levels, special education, and
English as a Second Language instruction. For FY 2003, the basic level
is $6,555 per pupil, plus revised add-on percentages. Public Charter
schools must receive the same per-pupil funding as DCPS, but they do not
receive state-level funding.
Allocations of funds are determined by the Board of Education. The Mayor and Council
have authority to determine the total amount. Major categories of expenditures (with
approximate levels for FY2002) are Central Instructional Supervision/Support ($27.4M);
Central Non-Instructional Services ($18M); Central Administration ($16.9M); State-level
Functions, non-DCPS ($170M); State Agency Functions, non-DCPS ($6M); and non
attributable ($0.8M).
Unlike any other U.S. school system, since 1996 the
Superintendent no longer appoints the school system's Chief Financial
Officer or Budget Director. In August 1996, the District's Chief
Financial Officer took over DCPS finances and cast aside the systems
producing data designed to meet schools' needs for information, such as
enabling detailed analysis pertaining to students, and forecasting
requirements for skills and services, e.g., for special education.
Instead the current financial systems focus on accounting concerns aimed
only at tracking funding and spending levels.
The Superintendent no longer has control over the
budget. Since 1996, the DCPS has had seven Chief Financial Officers and
ten Budget Directors. DCPS no longer has a rational basis for financial
accountability.
Moreover, there has been a massive turnover of
central personnel, and current data systems are now a disaster. Even the
longevity of Superintendents has become dangerously short. In the past,
they might have served five or more years, the current tenure has become
two to three years. A new Superintendent needs a year to understand DCPS,
and another two to put any new programs in place.
Teachers still have to provide many of their own
supplies and pursue related fund raising privately. Because of the poor
level of procurement assistance, principals have to spend a lot of time
walking papers through the system. Similarly, they have to "bird
dog" the hiring process. The old inefficient system for paying
salaries is still in place. Human Resources may have performed poorly
before, but Ms. Levy views it now as a "disaster".
The schools will still have to comply with the new
testing requirements, and many standardized tests are being used for
purposes for which they were not designed. This is especially a problem
if only one test is used for making a critical decision, like evaluating
a principal or retaining a child in grade. Further, there are now
standards for succeeding and failing schools. If, as may. well be
likely, one school that is doing satisfactorily is robbed to
reconstitute another, there could well be a series of failing schools.
There are simply not enough good principals to go around, and many may
choose to retire, to work in other jurisdictions or in charter schools.
— Barbara Yeomans for Anna Marsh, Brown Bag Dialogue Coordinator
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LWVDC FEATURED IN COALITION ON-LINE NEWSLETTER
LWVDC is a member of the Coalition for Non-Profit
Housing and Economic Development (CNHED). The Affordable Housing
Committee works closely with CNHED to bring about affordable housing in
the District. The July Chronicle, CNHED on-line newsletter, can be seen
by going to www.cnhed.org and
clicking on the tab "News and Events."
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In a recent news release, Board of Elections
Executive Director Alice P. Miller announced that Election Day Workers
are needed to work at the polls for the upcoming 2002 election cycle -
Primary Election on September 10 and General Election on November 5.
The news release continued by indicating that
training is required of all pollworkers, with classes provided by the
Board of Elections staff prior to each election. The pollworkers hours
are from 6:15 am to about 9:00 pm on Election Day, and approximately two
to three hours on Monday before the election for polling place setup.
Poll workers are paid a stipend of $100.
Individuals interested in applying for a pollworker
position should contact the Board of Elections by calling 727-0823.
Individuals with hearing impairments can call the Board's TDD at
639-8916. Citizens can also apply online at the Board's web site at www.dcboee.org.
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A Tea Commemorating the 82nd Anniversary of the
passage of the Woman Suffrage Amendment
Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Tysons Westpark Hotel
401 Westpark Dr., McLean
Costs: $19
Reservation Deadline is Sat. August 10th.
Send check made payable to LWVFA for $19 per person to
LWVFA Suffrage Tea
4902 Regina Drive, Annandale, VA 22003
For additional information and directions,
call Sheila Richardson @ 703 256-8416
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VOTE PINS A SUCCESS AT CONVENTION
During the LWVUS National Convention held in Miami, Fla., LWVDC shared
a table with NCA to sell and promote our "VOTE" pin. We are
happy to announce that we made $1079.87 for our endeavors. Thanks to
Naomi Glass and Joan Trafton of LWVMD, LWVUS will be advertising our
pins on a website. Please call the local DC office and order your pin
before the election. — Reggie Yancey (726-1929) Back
to top of page
Dr.
Steve Fetter, Professor of Public Policy, University of Maryland, will
speak on
Global Warming
on Friday, September 13, 2002. This is a departure from our normal
last Monday of each month. The time and location remain the same:
11:30 am - 1:00 pm at 1730 M Street, NW, Suite 1000. Bring a brown bag
lunch. — Anna Marsh (554-7719), Brown Bag Dialogue Coordinator
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Beginning August
26th, LWVDC will be highlighting all candidates in the Sept.
10th Primary Election on LWV's Democracy Network (DNet). Issue
questions will be mailed to each candidate in July with an invitation
to participate in the interactive website: www.dnet.org/dc.
Candidates
may update their portion of the site as issues arise. NBC WRC TV 4 will again link DNet to their Voter Guide segment
on their website (www.nbc4.com/) to
disseminate candidate information
to a wider audience. — Sheila Willet (588-1734),
LWVDC DNet Administrator Back
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Click on this link for a printable
membership form.
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| SUN. |
MON. |
TUE. |
WED. |
THU. |
FRI. |
SAT. |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
| 4 |
5 |
6 6:45 p.m.
Membership Committee |
7 |
8 |
9 Start DC
Tax Free Sales Tax Holiday |
10 |
| 11 |
12 Voter
Registration Deadline for Sept. 10 Primary |
13 Deadline
for Sept. DC Voter |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
| 18 DC Tax
Free Sales Tax Holiday Ends |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23
September DC Voter mailed |
24 |
| 25 LWVFA
Tea |
26 See
candidates for Sept. 10 Primary on www.dnet.org/dc |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
Plan Ahead — Mark Your Calendar: Tues., Sept. 10, Primary Election;
Fri., Sept. 13, Brown Bag Dialogue, Topic: Global Warming; Thurs., Sept.
19, “Kickoff for 2002/2003 Program Year” Fall Luncheon to be held in
the great hall at Charles Sumner School.
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82ND ANNUAL MEETING
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The 82nd Annual Meeting of the League of Woman Voters of the
District of Columbia was held at the Kellogg Conference Center on the
campus of Gallaudet University on April 25, 2002. As the members
gathered, Jeannette Senacal, League of Woman Voters of the United
States, was offering demonstrations of DemocracyNet (DNet), a
web-based
resource for election information
(Editor's Note: The web address for DNet for the District of Columbia is
www.dnet.org/dc)
Other members were busy examining and purchasing jewelry donated to
the league for the fund-raiser. For those members
who had not, yet, purchased their "Vote" pins, Reggie Yancey
was ready to meet their needs.
Shortly after 6:00 p.m., President E. Patricia Hallman called the
meeting to order. The agenda was adopted as presented. Joan Domike was
appointed parliamentarian for the meeting. The minutes of the 2001
annual meeting were accepted.
Chris Matthews presented the Treasurers Report for fiscal year
2001-2002. The deficit of $8611 was attributable to a significant
revenue shortfall. Expenses were actually more than $5000 under plan.
For the time being, the league's activities are sustained by its cash
reserves.
Joan Domike, chair of the Budget Committee, introduced the proposed
2002-2003 budget. Adoption of the budget was moved and
seconded. Hallman initiated the discussion by indicating the need for
a major fundraiser and asked for ideas. The budget, as presented,
requires approximately $20,000 in gifts to be fully funded. She also
announced that she would appoint a fund raising committee. Elizabeth
Martin proposed that the planned use of reserve funds be explicitly
recognized. She moved that Line 301 be reduced to $3000 and that a new
line, labeled "From Reserves," in the amount of $6090 be
inserted. Martin's motion passed overwhelmingly. The budget was
approved as amended. Hallman thanked the members of the budget
committee for their efforts.
Anna Marsh, chair of the Nominating Committee, introduced the slate of
candidates. The nominees were:
1stVice President- Vacant
3rd Vice President - Sheila Keeny
Treasurer - Barbara Yeomans
Directors - Elaine
Melmed, Judith Smith, and Joan Wilson
Nominating Committee - Elizabeth
Yancey (Chair), Elinor Hart, and Sue Whitman
The floor was opened for nominations
for
1st Vice President, but none was received. Acceptance of the slate
was moved, seconded, and approved.
Hallman indicated that her annual report was printed in the program.
She noted that the league currently has only 338 members, thus many
key leadership positions are not filled. The league currently needs
chairpersons for housing, membership, transportation, and-Units. A
grant writer is also needed.
Hallman recognized a number of guests in attendance including Arlene
Calaby, representing the National Capital Area LWV, Betsy Grater of
the Howard County LWV, Jeanette Senacal, who provided D-Net
demonstrations, Joe Grano, Nelson Rimensnyder, and our guests speakers
for the evening Walter Smith and Lois G. Williams.
Hallman adjourned the business meeting at 7:00
After dinner, 2nd President Naomi Glass introduced
Walter Smith, Executive Director of DC Appleseed Center. Mr. Smith
noted that Appleseed
is
involved in three issues of interest to the league: congressional voting representation,
the CareFirst conversion, and the "commuter tax" lawsuit. He added that
since our second speaker would be addressing the lawsuit, he would focus on the first two
issues. Regarding congressional
voting
representation, Smith stated that the proponents must
focus
on two things: bringing national attention to the issue and organizing
the business, legal, and educational communities within DC. Regarding the CareFirst
conversion to for profit status, Smith declared that the goal of the coalition is to
ensure that the conversion, if allowed to proceed, is in the public interest. To that
end, the coalition is gathering evidence and retaining expert witnesses with the goal of
providing detailed, credible testimony to the insurance commissioner, the DC council, and
the U.S. Congress. Smith believes that the regulatory process could take 1-2
years.
Elinor Hart introduced Lois G. Williams, a long-time practitioner of
pro bono activities on behalf of the citizens of the District of
Columbia. Williams spoke about the indignities of the limitations
within the Home Rule Charter that limit the district's ability to tax
income earned within its borders. This restriction applies only to the
district; states and territories, even Puerto Rico, are not similarly
restricted. Two-thirds of the income earned in DC is non-taxable
because of limitations on
taxing
nonresidents although the district must provide state and local
services for these wage earner's. A lawsuit to overturn this
restriction is being prepared by Williams and others. They will argue
that it is unlawful for Congress to make laws that discriminate
against district residents who have no voting representation in the
deciding legislative body. This discrimination forces the residents of
DC to pay more in taxes than the residents of the surrounding
jurisdictions. The historical answer was the federal payment, but that
is no longer adequate, nor just. Williams indicated that the group
sponsoring the lawsuit needs help with publicity and education
activities.
Hallman adjourned the 82nd Annual Meeting at 8:55 p.m. — Report by Ken Nesper, Secretary
Back to top of page
Some 634 delegates from all the states, all the State Leagues, many of
the InterLeague organizations, and 423 local Leagues attended the
League's biennial Convention, held at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami
from June 14 to June 18. The DC delegation, headed by LWVDC President
Pat Hallman, included Vice Presidents Naomi Glass and Sheila Keeny and
Board member Joan Wilson. Reggie Yancey, Board member, also attended
-- working in the wares market to sell our VOTE pins, and establishing
her title of "poet-laureate" in a verse inviting the
delegates to attend the 2004 Convention to be held in Washington, DC.
The Convention adopted national program for the
2002-2004 biennium,
approved a budget for 2002-2004, and elected a slate of officers
headed by Kay Maxwell of Connecticut, the new President of LWVUS.
Outgoing President Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins gave evidence of her sense
of humor and skill in moving a large group of independent-minded leaguers through the agenda without rancor.
As recommended by the Board,
the
Convention voted to retain the League's current positions in the areas
of Government, International Relations, Natural Resources and Social
Policy.
This meant accepting the new positions on Trade and the United Nations
reached through individual member concurrence during the past year.
The new UN position now includes League support for the International
Criminal Court despite its rejection by the Bush Administration.
The Convention also adopted the Board-recommended "review of the government position on Election of the
President,"
which calls for direct election of the President and abolition of the
Electoral College. This review was called for by 61 local Leagues in
the program planning process, more than twice as many as the next
contender, military policy and defense spending. Also adopted was a
review of our position on reapportionment in 2003-2004, subject to
availability of funds.
In another significant step, the Convention approved the LWVUS budget
which, when combined with the LWVEF budget, comes to $4.629 million in
unrestricted income and $4.740 in expenses. Despite an increase in the
amount per member that each League pays LWVUS every year, known as the
Per Member Payment (PMP), LWVUS reserves will be needed to make up the
anticipated shortfall. It was agreed that the PMP for FY 20022003 of
$24.35 (increase from $21.00) will drop to $23.00 for the fiscal year
20032004. An effort must be made at all levels of League to husband
our resources and increase income. At the same time, we must recruit
new members (membership has dropped to 74,140, down from 77,280 as
recently as January 2001).
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"IT'S A CAPITAL IDEA" |
|
(Song words) |
(Refrain) |
|
WE INVITE YOU TO DC IN 2004 |
It's a Capital Idea |
|
TO MEET IN WASHINGTON DC |
It's a Capital Idea |
|
TO LOBBY, LOOK AND SEE |
It's a Capital Idea |
|
TO PLAN FOR 2004 |
It's a Capital Idea |
|
TO KNOCK ON SOME DOORS |
It's a Capital Idea |
|
TO MAKE DEMOCRACY WORK |
It's a Capital Idea |
|
TO VOID BARRELS OF PORK |
It's a Capital Idea |
|
THAT IT'S UP TO US |
It's a Capital Idea |
|
TO MAKE THAT YEAR A PLUS! |
|
AN INVITATION FROM LWVDC: The final day of the Convention
offered a special opportunity to LWVDC when President Hallman and NCA President Barbara Sherrill invited
all to attend the 2004 Convention in Washington. The invitation came in the form of a poem written by our
multi-talented Reggie Yancey, delivered by Pat arid Barbara from the dais, over the main microphone.
Acting on detailed instructions from Kathy Schmidt, who could not
attend the convention, your delegates distributed information provided
by
DC VOTE
and designed to keep our "voteless" condition apparent to
all the attendees. Barbara Sherrill, President of the NCA League,
proposed that the national Board establish an "Advocacy Support
Task Force" composed of former national Board members and charged
with considering how best to advance positions when opportunities
arise, even if the positions have not been designated as priorities,
without further burdening our advocacy staff, diminished because of
our budget difficulties. This is especially important for us since DC
issues have not been designated as priority issues thus far, although
it's relevant for advocates of other positions as well.
Not all the Convention's time was spent in debate. There were three
programs for the education of delegates: 1) a panel moderated by
Hodding Carter with five Floridian experts discussing changes in state
electoral proceedings resulting from the 2002
election hassle; 2) an update by a State Department spokesperson on
the role played today by Women in
Afghanistan, including their participation in Karzai's cabinet and the
recent Loya Jirga; 3) a talk by Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT)
on the bill he sponsored with Representative Marty Meehan (D-MA) on
campaign reform and his concerns for what still must be done.
Congressman Shays thanked the League and its President for
"making the difference" in getting campaign reform finally
to a successful vote.
All of your DC delegates shared a deep sense of admiration for the
passionate commitment of so many women and men to the work of the
League, their tenacity, their skill in civic promotion, their depth of
experience working in political arenas, their energy and drive for
making democracy work. It was downright inspiring, and we wish all of
you could have been there. —Pat Hallman, Naomi Glass, Sheila Keeny, Joan Wilson, and Reggie
Yancey
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