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@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]_._