Already in this important election year, new Super PACs are flooding elections with huge expenditures from million-dollar donors. Because they are supposedly “independent” from the candidates, and with new loopholes from the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts from corporations and individuals, and they can do so with limited disclosure.
While there are different avenues that can be taken to fight back against Citizens United and cut the influence of special interests, you can join us by taking the first step today by urging President Obama to appoint new commissioners to the FEC. Among other duties, the FEC can define what election efforts are “independent” from the candidates.
The FEC is supposed to be the agency that enforces campaign finance laws, but it is dysfunctional. Of the six commissioners at the agency, three of them staunchly refuse to enforce the law, and five of the six are serving despite expired terms. It is time to clean house.
Don’t just sign it yourself; post the petition on Facebook, Tweet about it and forward this note to all of your friends. Together we can make sure that the citizen’s voice is heard.
For extra reading, click here for an interesting discussion of the new Super PACs presented by PBS.
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 7:00 PM Vienna Public Library 23rd St. at River Rd., Vienna, WV
Free and open to the public Refreshments
Nearly half the electricity consumed in the US comes from burning coal, 16 pounds per day for every person in the country. Thirty percent of that coal comes from Appalachia. Burning coal is the major source of greenhouse gases worldwide. Mountain top removal mining has destroyed 500 mountains in Appalachia, destroyed 1,000,000 acres of forest, and buried 2000 miles of streams. Nearby residents suffer health effects. Whole communities are uprooted. How long can this go on? Is there a better way?
The documentary film, The Last Mountain, looks at how we meet our energy needs, alternate energy sources, and how citizens can affect the energy choices our country makes.
Presented by The League of Women Voters of Wood County
Privatization of Governmental Services is a study sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the US and will be the topic of discussion/consensus at League of Women Voters meetings all over the United States.
Federal, state and local governments own extensive assets and are major employers. Governments often consider selling assets, and outsourcing some functions and services to the private sector, including “core” government services such as providing for the safety, security and general welfare (public well-being) of citizens, the economy, and our country. Privatization of these government assets, services, and functions has been occurring for decades at all levels of government. The consequences of “privatizing” a government service or function, in particular, may enhance the function or service. Alternatively, it may reduce or alter functions and services. Government revenues may be reduced or lost and jobs may be cut. In some instances, this may have a detrimental effect on the “common good” or public well-being.
The purpose of this study is to identify policies and parameters that should be considered when any governmental entity is planning to undertake some type of privatization process.
The League of Women Voters of West Virginia is a member of the West Virginia Civics Literacy Council which was created in 2007 by the state Legislature to foster civic education and citizenship. For the past five years, the Council has planned events to celebrate Constitution Day on September 17.
In 2012, the Council is expanding beyond the focus on a single day and asking people to think about the place of the Constitution in their lives as citizens: What does the Constitution mean to you? Do you have a personal connection to the Constitution? What does it mean to be patriotic?
As you ponder these questions, the League of Women Voters invites you to sign a Declaration of Commitment to the basic tenets and principles set forth in the Constitution of the United States. The Preamble to the Constitution exemplifies those principles:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
I pledge a renewed commitment to the basic tenets and principles set forth in the Constitution of the United States, a living document that has provided the framework for our constitutional democracy for over 200 years.
VoterWinter2012.pdf
January 2012 Voter.doc