LWVWV members August 2022

members@lists.lwvwv.org

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4 discussions

Aug. 31 @6PM - Virtual strategy session on Amendments 2 and 4
by Julie Archer 27 Aug '22

27 Aug '22

If you were unable to attend last week's grassroots strategy meeting on Amendments 2 and 4, a virtual session has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 31st at 6PM. Details and registration link are below. The session will provide and overview of Amendments 2 and 4, along with best messaging practices. Julie --- Julie Archer (she/her/hers) Co-President, League of Women Voters of WV (304) 610-9094 (cell) www.wvcag.org [1] - www.wvoter-owned.org [2] -------- Original Message -------- SUBJECT: Virtual strategy session on constitutional amendments that take control + revenue from our communities DATE: 2022-08-25 13:55 FROM: Kelly Allen <kallen(a)wvpolicy.org> TO: CC: "LShepherd(a)afsc.org" <LShepherd(a)afsc.org>, Seth DiStefano <sdistefano(a)wvpolicy.org> Hello hello, Hope folks are doing well, and apologies if you receive this information more than once. This November West Virginia voters will consider constitutional amendments that would have significant impacts on funding and control of our communities, our public schools, and the local services that we rely on. If they pass, they would greatly shift control away from voters, communities, and families. Please join us next Wednesday, August 31 from 6-730 pm for a virtual meeting to discuss "what's at stake" with these amendments, to strategize about how we can educate our communities about them, and to coordinate and plug into efforts that are already ongoing. Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAudemvqD8vGtAqvPRFc5FV6d5xYrL-Jr… [3] Please reach out with any questions! Kelly Allen Executive Director WV Center on Budget and Policy 304-612-4180 @kellakelWV she/her Sign up for our weekly newsletter [4] Links: ------ [1] http://www.wvcag.org [2] http://www.wvoter-owned.org [3] https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAudemvqD8vGtAqvPRFc5FV6d5xYrL-Jr… [4] https://wvpolicy.org/newsletter/

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RECORDING - Empty Chair Forums Workshop
by Judy Ball 24 Aug '22

24 Aug '22

Recording of last night’s workshop has been uploaded and is available at https://youtu.be/XFi_3WjCe6M Also, copy of PowerPoint slides & Empty Chair Policy with Pilot Guidelines are attached. Thank you, everyone who attended & everyone who expressed interest in these materials. Anyone with questions, please free to contact me or Effie. - Judy Judy K. Ball, PhD, MPA 9 Palmetto Drive Morgantown, WV 26508 240.997.1222 (cell) BallJK(a)aol.com

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Reminder: Empty Chair Forums Workshop (8/23); Amendments 2 & 4 - Grassroots Meeting (8/24)
by Julie Archer 19 Aug '22

19 Aug '22

Happy Friday! This is just a friendly reminder about two upcoming events: On Tuesday evening, 8/23, LWVWV will host a virtual workshop on Conducting Empty Chair Candidate Forums under the LWVWV pilot adopted for the 2022 General Election. The workshop will be lead by our Co-President Effie Kallas, and our 2nd Vice President and Election Laws Director, Judy Ball. Details and zoom link are below. On Wednesday, 8/24, the American Friends Service Committee, the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, NAACP-WV and the West Virginia Alliance for Local Control are hosting a grassroots gathering in Bridgeport to discuss Amendments 2 and 4, their potential consequences, and how individuals and organizations can get involved to make sure our friends, family, and communities know what's at stake. If you plan to attend, the RSVP deadline is Monday, 8/22. Details and flyer can be found below. -- LWV is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Conducting Empty Chair Candidate Forums Time: Aug 23, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84577274954 Meeting ID: 845 7727 4954 One tap mobile +16465588656,,84577274954# US (New York) +16469313860,,84577274954# US Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 646 931 3860 US +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 444 9171 US Meeting ID: 845 7727 4954 Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kObgGnLj1 -- What's at Stake for Our Communities with Amendments 2 and 4? _On election day, West Virginians will vote on Amendment 2, which would give the state legislature control of $515 million in property taxes that fund our schools and communities. State legislators have already said they plan to use that control to give corporations- many of them located outside of West Virginia- a big tax cut. But what does that mean for our communities, our schools, our local businesses, our parks and libraries?_ _Also on the ballot is Amendment 4, which would essentially give the legislature power to determine school curriculum, further politicize our children's education and have a stifling effect on public education across the board._ _Please join us on Wednesday, August 24th from 10am- 2pm at the Bridgeport Conference Center__ to learn more about Amendments 2 and 4, their potential consequences for our communities, and how you can get involved to make sure your friends, family, and peers know what's at stake. Lunch will be provided._ _If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Kelly Allen at kallen(a)wvpolicy.org__ _ This gathering will be hosted by the American Friends Service Committee, the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, NAACP-WV and the West Virginia Alliance for Local Control. While we'd love to see you in person, we will do our best to provide a virtual or recorded option for those who cannot make it to Bridgeport. -- Julie Archer (she/her/hers) (304) 610-9094

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LWVWV OPPOSES THREE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON FALL BALLOT
by Julie Archer 13 Aug '22

13 Aug '22

LWVWV OPPOSES THREE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON FALL BALLOT On July 15, The League of Women Voters of West Virginia Board voted to oppose 3 of the 4 amendments on the November general election ballot [1]. Oppose Amendment 1: Clarification of Judiciary's Role in Impeachment Proceedings Oppose Amendment 2: Property Tax Modernization Oppose Amendment 4: Education Accountability Amendment 3 concerns the incorporation of religious denominations and churches. The LWVWV has no policy position regarding this issue, and so has no recommendation. The basis for the League's opposition to three of the amendments follows: Amendment 1: Clarification of the Judiciary's Role in Impeachment Proceedings The LWVWV and the LWVUS believe in representative government that all powers of the government should be exercised within the constitutional framework of a balance among the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The League also believes firmly in the individual liberties guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, and that individual rights now protected by the Constitution should not be weakened or abridged. (See pages 10 and 51 of LWVUS Impact on Issues [2]). For these reasons the LWVWV opposes this amendment. This amendment would cut loose future impeachment proceedings of the state legislature from all constitutional restraint, potentially denying a public official faced with impeachment their right to due process, thereby eroding existing checks and balances between the three branches of government and undercutting public trust in the political process. Amendment 2: Property Tax Modernization Amendment This amendment would authorize the Legislature to exempt business related machinery and equipment from taxation. The LWVWV opposes this amendment because of the potential effect on local funding of important services like schools, libraries and parks. Communities in our state should be able to rely on a stable, long term source of revenue (like taxes on personal property used for business activity). Removing this revenue source from localities reduces their options for local investment. This amendment is inconsistent with LWVWV positions to support a state tax system that relies on diverse sources of income and provides an adequate, stable yield, and to oppose any tax reform or change which negatively affects the state's or local government's ability to provide necessary services. Amendment 4: Education Accountability This amendment would make policies by the State Board of Education subject to legislative review. In 1958 the voters amended the state constitution to give general supervisory authority over the school system to the State Board of Education. LWVWV supported that change. The State Board of Education is comprised of citizens from diverse backgrounds and education expertise who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. This model provides stability in terms of educational programming and allows timely response to educational issues. Granting the state legislature authority over state education rules and policies will, in the words of the Board of Education [3], only make our system of education "less efficient, more chaotic and subject to partisan politics." Please keep an eye our for educational materials and event from the LWVWV. In the meantime, you might be interested in the following. SAVE THE DATE: What's at Stake for Our Communities with Amendments 2 and 4? On election day, West Virginians will vote on Amendment 2, which would give the state legislature control of $515 million in property taxes that fund our schools and communities. State legislators have already said they plan to use that control to give corporations- many of them located outside of West Virginia- a big tax cut. But what does that mean for our communities, our schools, our local businesses, our parks and libraries? Also on the ballot is Amendment 4, which would essentially give the legislature power to determine school curriculum, which would have a stifling effect on public education across the board. Please plan to join us on Wednesday, August 24th from 10am- 2pm at the Bridgeport Conference Center to learn more about Amendments 2 and 4, their potential consequences for our communities, and how you can get involved to make sure your friends, family, and peers know what's at stake. Lunch will be provided. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Kelly Allen at kallen(a)wvpolicy.org by Monday, August 22nd. _This gathering will be hosted by the American Friends Service Committee, the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, the West Virginia NAACP and the West Virginia Alliance for Local Control. While we'd love to see you in person, we will do our best to provide a virtual or recorded option for those who cannot make it to Bridgeport. _ _For now, you can read more about Amendment 2 and its potential consequences__ __here_ [4]_ and__ __here_ [5]_._ -- Julie Archer (she/her/hers) (304) 610-9094 (cell) Links: ------ [1] https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Pages/Proposed-Amendments2022.aspx [2] https://www.lwv.org/impact-issues [3] https://s3.amazonaws.com/wvmetro-uploads-prod/2022/03/2022-WVBE-HJR102-Stat… [4] https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwvpolicy.… [5] https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wvloc…

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LWVWV members August 2022