League Completes Consensus Process on Immigration
After two years of inquiry and review for the National Immigration Study, Kent League of Women Voters members tackled the most challenging set of consensus questions to come along in several decades. The process occurred during two lengthy meetings in December and January.
The results of local consensus efforts were approved by the Kent League's board at its January meeting and then submitted to the national committee. That committee next will consider responses from thousands of Leagues to frame a national position on immigration. According to the League of Women Voters of the United States' Web site, the national board anticipates adopting a position in early April 2008.
The Kent study committee was comprised of Jane Preston Rose, Cathy Mansor, Roberta O'Keefe, Debby Newberry and Amie Cajka (chair).
The results of the local consensus will not be published in The VOTER because the final national position may or may not resemble the local response. Traditionally, Leagues refrain from publicizing local results and instead wait for the final position to be announced by the national organization. Members are welcome to call Cajka at 330/688-9545 for a copy of the answers that Kent League members submitted to the LWVUS.
Here is how the LWVUS describes the consensus process:
It is easier to say what consensus is not, than what it is. Consensus is not a vote-rather, consensus is mutual agreement of League members arrived at through discussion. During discussion, everyone has the opportunity to express their viewpoints, and the issue is examined from all sides. Discussion follows a lengthy study process where League members look at the history and pros and cons of an issue.
Consensus questions, created by the appropriate study committee and approved by the Board, provide structure for the meeting, as members discuss the pros and cons until it becomes apparent whether or not consensus has been reached on each question. The questions for the Immigration consensus were created by a national committee.
The local study committee analyzes the consensus responses and using this information, creates a statement that will be considered along with responses from other Leagues. Once approved by the national Board, the statement immediately becomes the League's position and is the basis for action on the issue.
This type of member involvement in the organization and its consensus process tends to ensure member commitment to the resulting positions. In addition, members have the opportunity at each Annual Meeting or Convention to decide whether or not to re-adopt these positions.
The unique aspect of a national study is that consensus takes place at the grass-roots level of the organization. As the national study committee reviews the responses from across the country, it will have the Herculean task of determining whether consensus has been reached on each of the questions. The final product will go to the National Board of Directors for approval. Then a position will be in force and will be announced. That position then can be used to influence public policy under consideration by Congress and in every state capitol, county courthouse or city hall.
"We can honestly say it will be a miracle if a consensus emerges because of the diverse opinions among League members across the country," Cajka said. "For those Leagues like Kent that are in areas of the U.S. where immigration issues are emerging, this was an important learning process. Each committee member felt the experience was personally very valuable whatever the outcome.
"I would like to recognize the committee members for their dedication to the process over the past two years. They understood the importance of a thorough examination of the issues in order for our League to be able to participate," Cajka added.
The complete position will be printed in The VOTER after approval at the national level.
A total of 25 Kent League members participated in the two local consensus meetings. Thanks is extended to all of them.
LWVUS Seeks Local Input on Recommendations for National Study
It's time for the Kent League of Women Voter's annual program planning meeting. Mark your calendar for February 23 at the Mental Health & Recovery Board, 155 E. Main Street in Kent. Breakfast begins at 9:15 a.m. followed by the planning meeting at 9:45 a.m.
Program planning is the time for local Leagues to let the national League know what direction they want the League to follow. This year, local Leagues have been asked to select one area to recommend for a national study, similar to the recent immigration study.
At the local meeting in February, focus groups will discuss the plausibility and potential success of a study in the following areas: apportionment, gun control, health care, citizens' right to vote, campaign finance, and military policy and defense spending. The League's state lobbyists will read the local Leagues' current positions and recommended five of those issues for updating. The Kent League's Program Planning Committee believed it necessary to include at least one international position in the discussion. Military policy and defense spending was selected.
Below are summaries of the national League's current position statements. Complete position statements will be provided at the meeting in February. Come for a delicious breakfast and great discussion.
Apportionment
Announced by the national board in January 1966 and revised in March 1982: The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that congressional districts and government legislative bodies should be apportioned substantially on population. The League is convinced that this standard, established by the Supreme Court, should be maintained and that the U.S. Constitution should not be amended to allow for consideration of factors other than population in apportionment. See also the League's Voting Rights position, which recognizes that both the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act require that reapportionment not dilute the effective representation of minority citizens.
Supreme Court Rulings of 1962 and 1964 required that both houses of state legislatures must be proportioned substantially on population transformed this issue from a state to a national issue. Thirty-three states had positions on this issue when the national position was adopted. Both state and local positions were used during the '60s to resist efforts to reverse the Supreme Court rulings.
This position has been the basis for League action to encourage participation in censuses and equitable apportionment and redistricting of all elected government bodies.
While the position has been used in conjunction with the Voting Rights position to support remedying racial gerrymandering, it does not address and thus does not allow us to take action on such innovative remedies as majority-minority districts or multiple-member districts.
Gun Control
The gun control position was adopted in 1990 from a statement proposed by the LWV Illinois and later amended in 1994 and 1998. It urges the passage of federal legislation to control proliferation of handguns and semiautomatic assault weapons in the U.S. The League supported the Brady bill, requiring a waiting period and background check to buy a handgun. Identification verification, gun safety education, and annual license renewal were also advocated. LWVUS found that the Second Amendment was a right only in connection with service in a regulated militia, which is known today as the National Guard. This narrows the definition of "right to keep and bear arms" from an individual right to a collective right. However, it does not prohibit gun ownership on behalf of an individual; it only confers the right to the National Guard. Lastly, this position supports regulation of firearms for consumer safety, as hand gun and assault weapons are cited as a major health and safety threat to citizens.
Health Care
The health care position was last updated in 1993 after a two-year study. LWVUS supports a basic level of health care at an affordable cost with equitable distribution of services. The League supports a national "single-payer" health insurance plan financed through increased taxes, so long as cost control strategies are employed. Managed care, regional planning, malpractice reform and other methods of cost controls could enhance efficiency and economical delivery of services. Administration of the system could either be a combination of private and public sectors or a combination of federal, state, and/or regional government agencies. LWVUS opposes a solely private model of financing the health care system. However, a patient's ability to pay should not be a consideration for allocation of resources.
Citizens' Right to Vote
Adopted in 1982, the League position simply states, "The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that voting is a fundamental citizen right that must be guaranteed." While the position statement does not affirm much, the League continued to remain active in the area of election law reform by discouraging conduct in campaigns that frustrates voter participation, sponsoring the "Take a Friend to Vote" campaign, publishing numerous materials on how to improve the voting system, etc. However, all of the efforts for reform have not transferred to the position statement.
Campaign Finance
The League's position on campaign finance was updated in 1982. It states that "methods of financing political campaigns should ensure the public's right to know, combat corruption and undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office and allow maximum citizen participation in the political process." LWV has sought to reduce the influence of big money in elections and has supported public funding for presidential elections.
Military Policy and Defense Spending
Announced by the national board in April 1984 and revised in April 1986: The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that the U.S. Government should seek to protect its interests at home and abroad through the use of nonmilitary measures, including diplomacy, mediation and multilateral cooperation. These measures reflect the importance that the League attaches to U.S. efforts to strengthen international organizations, reduce tensions among nations, and minimize the risk of conflict worldwide.
The League believes that military force should be viewed as a tool of last resort . . .
The League believes that nuclear weapons should serve only a limited and specific function-that of deterring nuclear attack on the United States-until such time as these weapons are eliminated through arms-control and disarmament agreements . . .
Nuclear Deterrence: The League believes that the United States should vigorously pursue arms-control negotiations in order to ensure that all nations reduce and eventually eliminate their stockpiles of strategic nuclear weapons . . .
North Atlantic Treaty Organization: The League believes that the defense of NATO allies should continue to be a shared responsibil-
ity . . .
The League believes there is no appropriate role for U.S. nuclear weapons in the defense of NATO allies . . .
Other Commitments: The League supports the U.S. commitment to defend Japan with conventional forces . . .
Defense Spending: The League believes that defense spending should be examined in the same way as spending for other national needs . . .
In summary, the League believes that national security has many dimensions and cannot be limited to military policy alone. It can be defined as ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense and promoting the general welfare. Key elements include the country's ability to implement social and environmental programs and to maintain cooperative relationships with other nations. Other important components are effective political leadership and a strong economy. Therefore, in decisions about the federal budget, political leaders should assess the impact of U.S. military spending on the nation's economy and on the government's ability to meet social and environmental needs.
Note: The above text is excerpted from the full national position, which will be available at the program planning meeting on February 23.
Recruitment Brunch Set for March
Round 'em up, and bring 'em over-prospective new Kent League members, that is. It's all happening on March 8 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the home of Karen and Doug Fuller, 1431 River Edge Blvd. in Kent.
The "Wither Higher Education" event is being held to recruit new members and reinvigorate current members. Featured guests are former Kent State University President Carol Cartwright and State Rep. Kathleen Chandler.
The Fullers volunteered their home for this casual afternoon of socializing and updates on how higher education is weathering the storm from the statehouse. Be sure to join in the fun, conversation and education. Men are welcome, too!
So mark your calendar and bring yourself, lots of prospective League members and some goodies to share.
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