LWV logoLWVAL head logo
© 1999 - 2007 League of Women Voters of Alabama and
League of Women Voters of the United States

flagbar gif

The Voter
Spring 2007 Edition

Published March 15

[Note:  For more information about the 2007 LWVAL Convention covered in this Voter, see the Call to Convention. Type when prompted for username "lwval" and for password  "alconref" (without quotes). For assistance contact Jean Johnson at 205 870-3063 or jjohnson@lwval.org. Please do not share username and password with non-League members. Thanks!]

INDEX










small printer gif
Print
The Voter

(all articles)



small printer gif
Print the Index

President's Paragraph


The next few months will be very busy for League members.  The regular Legislative session has started.  Local Leagues will have their annual meetings and elections of the new boards in April.  Be sure to send the names of your 2007-2008 board members to LWVAL. The state convention, "It’s All About League", is scheduled for May 19-20 in Tuscaloosa at the Four Points Sheraton.  Make plans to attend.  You don’t have to be a delegate…. everyone is welcome at Convention.  The Convention Packet will be sent to all local Leagues by March 19th.  Hope to see everyone in Tuscaloosa.

Sandy Robinson
ssrobin4@bellsouth.net

| Top | LWVAL Home |



small printer gif

Print this article





Local League Reports

Auburn

The Auburn League had a very successful meeting on Immigration in
February.  We discovered that there was wide interest in this subject
because we had standing room only.  Our Committee Chair gave us an
overview of the topic using information supplied by the National
League.  The President of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, who is a
member, gave us an idea of labor needs in this area and positions the
National Chamber of Commerce has taken.  We also invited a lawyer who
works at Auburn University whose responsibility is to oversee
compliance with Immigration Law for foreign students and faculty.  We
look forward to future meetings on the issue.

The local League will celebrate its 50th Anniversary at its Annual
Meeting in April.  We became a provisional league in 1957.  We will
reminisce by having members recall events in which they participated
through the decades.    I went to the archives at Auburn University
which has (I believe) 43 boxes of history of local leagues and the
state league.  I was excited to find a list of original members.  There
were 63.  Carolyn Tamblyn was on that list and she is the only member
who has continued to be a member for all 50 years!  When I showed her
the list, she remarked there were only 3 of the original members still
living.  She served as president in 1967-68.  We celebrate Carolyn's
faithful support and the wisdom she has shared with us and the
community through the years.

At our Annual Meeting we will officially become the League of Women
Voters of East Alabama.  Our request for name change was approved by
the state board last summer and the national board last October.  However, we will have to change our bylaws at our Annual Meeting in April to make it official.  

Marilyn Garrett


Baldwin County

Saturday  evening, March 3, 2007 the Baldwin County League cosponsored an open meeting at the Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship Hall, Fairhope, Alabama.    The HBO movie, Iron Jawed Angels, was shown with introduction  and commentary relating to the suffrage movement.  President Jeanne  Lacey provided the background information about the founding of the League  and Alabama women's efforts through the years.  

Senator  Bradley Byrne was the guest speaker on March 8, 2007 at an evening  public forum sponsored by the Baldwin County League of Women Voters (LWVBC)  and the Alabama Citizens for Constitutionl Reform(ACCR) at Westminster  Village, Spanish Fort, Alabama. Senator Byrne, just returning from the  Legislature in session, gave a dynamic outline of  "What we want from a  new constitution and what is our best strategy for adopting those reforms."  Senator Byrne addressed the two-part question and in the follow-up  discussion answered many questions about the changes needed, the process of  getting the Call to Convention, and about the actual creation of a new  document.  He stated that it would be difficult to get the HB 98 and SB 99 passed in either Committee.  

The League of Women Voters of Baldwin County  presents the results of the combined efforts of the participants in the  Baldwin County Environmental Workshop to provide the comprehensive  environmental foundation for the Strategic Plan just completed by the  Baldwin County Commission. The compilation will be completed after the  workshop and made available for use by the participants.

The  post-hurricane assessment is needed to provide the necessary documentation  for updating current environmental standards and regulations.  The  results of the September 2006 workshop were added to the original  post-hurricane workshop results from the fall 2005 workshop by David Yeager,  Director, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program.
 
Jeanne Lacey


Birmingham

LWVGB has supported instituting a county manager form of government in Jefferson County since 1985.  Before the November 2006 election, the three Republicans on the Commission (Bettye Fine Collins, Jim Carns and Bobby Humphryes) supported changing to a county manager form of government in their campaigns. The Birmingham News has published numerous articles, both from citizens and News editorial staff, calling for a county manager.  At the LWVGB January membership meeting, Shelby County Commissioner Ted Crockett and Shelby County Manager Alex Dudchock discussed the governing organization that helps manage the fastest growing county in Alabama. LWVGB members have subsequently used information from this meeting, through letters to the Birmingham News editor and to the Jefferson County commissioners, to call for change in Jefferson County. We are  planning to lobby intensely for HB110 and SB37, sponsored by Rep. Paul DeMarco and Sen. J.T.Waggoner , respectively,  authorizing the Jefferson County Commission to employ a county manager.  

At our February membership meeting, Dr. Joyce Lanning, retired professor from UAB's School of Public Health and LWVGB member, shared information on the science of global warming with a program based on Al Gore’s slide show on climate change. She also provided information and resources for individuals who want to take action to reduce their personal “carbon footprint.

Our 2006-07 league year will end with a viewing on March 29th of "It's a Thick Book", sponsored by the ACCR Foundation, and our Annual Business Meeting on April 19th.                                                                             

Yvonne Brakefield

| Top | LWVAL Home |



small printer gif

Print this article




Report of the 2007 LWVAL Nominating Committee


The following members are nominated to the board and nominating committee for 2007-09:

LWVAL Board
President Mary Lynn Bates (Birmingham)
1st Vice-President Scarlett Gaddy  (Tuscaloosa)
2nd Vice-President TBA
Secretary Yvonne Brakefield  (Birmingham)
Treasurer Virginia Bennett  (Auburn)
Directors:
Judy Jones  (Auburn)
Sarah McDonald (Birmingham)
Anne Permaloff  (Montgomery)
Leonette Slay  (Birmingham)
Charlotte Ward (Auburn)
Ruth L. Wright (Auburn)
TBA
TBA
Nominating Committee
Nancy Ekberg (Birmingham), Chair
Jeanne Lacey (Baldwin County)
Sandy Robinson (Auburn)


Respectfully submitted,

    Sarah McDonald, Chair
    Jean Johnson
    Scarlett Gaddy

| Top | LWVAL Home |



small printer gif

Print this article



Program Planning for Convention


Responses by Local Leagues to the request for participation in Program Planning for 2007-2009 were considered by the LWVAL Board on March 3.  The Program proposed by the Board will be sent to Local League Presidents by March 19 in the official Convention Packet.  It will also be posted on the LWVAL web site, www.lwval.org.

The Leagues agreed to readopt the existing support positions for the 2005-2007 Program.  The Board will recommend two studies:  (1) Continuation of the study of Initiative and Referendum previously adopted as Phase II of the Legislative Study.  If completed as planned by Council 2008, League should meet its goal of having a position before a Constitutional Convention can address the topic.  That committee is Charlotte Ward, chair; Sarah McDonald and Nancy Ekberg.  (2)  A new study of Election Issues specifically forms of off-site voting like absentee ballots and early voting.   The topic, recommended by two Leagues as an addition to the existing position, is a core League concern.  We should have well-grounded views on these voting issues.  A two-year study is projected, with additional topics if League resources permit.

In addition, the Board proposes to appoint a committee to review the LWVAL Health Care position, which received more comments from members than others in the 2005 and 2007 Program Planning.

The Election Study and the Health Care Review Committee will be seeking members with interest and experience to contribute.

| Top | LWVAL Home |



small printer gif

Print this article





Proposed Bylaws Changes
  


Underlined:  Proposed new language
Bracketed:  Proposed deletions

ARTICLE II.  PURPOSES & POLICY.
Sec. 1.  Purposes.
The purposes of the LWVAL are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation [of citizens] in government and to act on selected governmental issues.

Reason for Change:  To conform to a change in LWVUS Bylaws.  The first three articles of State League Bylaws are required to conform to the first three articles of LWVUS Bylaws.


ARTICLE III.  MEMBERSHIP
Sec. 2. Types of Membership
[The membership of the League shall be composed of voting members and associate members;]
(a)     Voting Members. Citizens at least 18 years of age who join the LWVAL shall be voting members of local Leagues, [&] state Leagues [of the place of joining] and of the LWVUS; (1) individuals who live within an area of a local League may join that League or any other local League; (2) those who reside outside the area of any local League may join a local League or shall be state members-at-large; hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as MALs; (3) [those who make a lump-sum life membership payment to the LWVUS shall be paid life members and] those who have been members of the League for 50 years or more shall be honorary life members excused from the payment of dues.

(b)  Associate members.  All others who join the League shall be associate members.

Reason for Change:  To conform to LWVUS Bylaws.  The first three articles of State League Bylaws are required to conform to the first three articles of LWVUS Bylaws.  Substantive changes to LWVAL bylaws in this Section (1) eliminate the reference to lump-sum life membership payments which are no longer accepted by LWVUS and (2) provide that individuals who live within the area of a local League may join that or any other local League.

ARTICLE XIV.  AMENDMENTS.

Sec. 1. Amendments.
The bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote at any convention of the LWVAL, using the following procedure:
a.    Proposals for changes shall be submitted by any local League board in Alabama to the board of directors of the LWVAL, at least three months prior to the opening date of the convention.
b.    All such proposed amendments together with the recommendations from [for] the board of directors of the LWVAL shall be sent to the local League presidents at least two months prior to the opening of convention and published in the state Voter prior to the opening of the convention.

Reason for Change: To correct a previous typographical error.


Submitted by LWVAL Board Bylaws Committee composed of Mary Lynn Bates and Jeanne Lacey.  Approved for recommendation to the Convention by the LWVAL Board on March 3, 2007.
                     

| Top | LWVAL Home |




small printer gif

Print this article




LWVAL Priorities for Advocacy, 2007


At its winter meeting, the LWVAL board selected the following items for emphasis during the current legislative session.

Issue Defending LWVAL Position 

(Read the LWVAL Issue Positions)
Tier One
  • Ban PAC to PAC transfers
Campaign Finance position and Legislative position, V.
  • Constitutional Reform by Citizens’ Convention
Constitutional Reform positions
  • Require lobbyists to report expenditures at a level significantly lower than the current $250 per day per legislator.
Legislative position, V.  Ethics position may permit additional advocacy.
Tier Two
  • Merit Selection of Judges
Constitutional Reform position, II.C.  Nonpartisan Elections have not been studied.
  • Natural resources
The environment, ADEM reform, Strategic Plan
Natural Resources positions
  • Voting issues
Consider opposing Voter ID
LWVUS opposes any picture ID as a barrier to voting. LWVAL can express concerns without a specific state position on Voter ID.  Bills will be    monitored, and investigation of specific practices is planned.
  • Fuel revenues for public transit
Transportation position
  • Accountability and transparency of the legislature in accordance with legislative positions, as opportunities arise.
Legislative positions, broadly interpreted
  • Open records law
Ethics position III
Tier Three
Others as opportunities arise, if supported by League positions.


Procedures
  

These priorities were established at Board Meeting January 7, 2007 after discussion of bills likely to be considered in the 2007 session and League positions.

Tier I will receive highest investment of effort, by both state and Local Leagues.
Tier II issues are considered likely to arise. They will be monitored for appropriate advocacy.  

During the Regular Session, March 7 to mid-June:
  • The provisions of the specific bills will be studied by members of the Advocacy Team and changes monitored as they progress through the legislative process.  
  • The Advocacy Team is responsible to the Board and will consult in cases where the relationship between a specific version of a bill and the League’s positions requires interpretation.   
  • Local Leagues will receive Action Alerts for President to contact their legislators or others in the name of the Local League.
  • Members with email and MALs will also receive Alerts to take action in their own names of individuals.  If members with emails will pass on the alert to those without, our efforts will be more effective.

A Legislative Report will be posted by Monday of each week on the LWVAL web site, www.lwval.org, with the latest activity on bills of interest to League.


Members of the Advocacy Term


Sue Flood (Auburn) registered lobbyist for LWVAL; Mary Lynn Bates (Birmingham); Anne Permaloff (Montgomery); Sandy Robinson (Auburn); Becky Sylvester, (Birmingham); Charlotte Ward (Auburn); Ruth L. Wright (Auburn).     

Send comments and questions to Ruth L. Wright, Program Chair, at 334-821-8617,
ruthlwright@mindspring.com, or 125 Cary Drive, Auburn, AL 36830.

| Top | LWVAL Home |



small printer gif

Print this article




ACCR Report:  Legislators Sponsor Constitutional Convention Bills

In remarkable unison, Alabama Legislators sponsored and co-sponsored bills in the House and Senate that call for a constitutional convention to rewrite the 1901 Alabama Constitution.


House Bill 98, calling for a constitutional convention, was filed in the House by Speaker Pro Tem Demetrius Newton last week and was co-sponsored by 16 of his fellow House members.   Similarly, today, Senator Ted Little filed Senate Bill SB 99 that calls for a constitutional convention and was supported by five Senate co-sponsors

The bills, if passed by the House and Senate, will allow Alabama citizens to vote for or against a constitutional rewrite by citizen delegates. That vote by Alabama citizens will take place next winter during the Presidential primary.

Speaker Pro Tem Demetrius Newton, (D) of Birmingham sponsored HB 98 that was filed last week.  He is joined by 16 Representatives from the House; Alvin Holmes (D) of Montgomery, Bill J. Dukes (D) of Decatur, Priscilla Dunn (D) of Bessemer, Thomas Jackson (D) of Thomasville, Pebblin Warren (D) of Tuskeegee, James Gordon (D) of Saraland, Rod Scott (D) of Fairfield, John Knight,Jr. (D) of Montgomery, Sue Schmitz (D) of Toney, John Robinson (D) of Scottsboro, Alan Harper (D) of Aliceville, Barbara Bigsby Boyd (D) of Anniston, Patricia Todd (D) of Birmingham, Mary Moore (D) of Birmingham, Mac Gipson (R) of Prattville and Mike Hill (R) of Columbiana

In similar action today, the opening day of the new Legislative Session, Senator Ted Little filed Senate Bill SB99 and was joined by five Senators who co-sponsored the bill with him:  Bradley Byrne, (R) of Fairhope, Steve French (R) of Birmingham, Rodger Smitherman (D) of Birmingham, Linda Coleman, (D) of Birmingham and Vivian Figures ( D) of Mobile.

"This is a memorable time for Alabama," said Lenora Pate, State Co-Chair for the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform organization. 

Both bills can be read at the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform Website www.constitutionalreform.org                                          

Nancy Ekberg

| Top | LWVAL Home |



small printer gif

Print this article




Public Transportation

"Transportation Means Business." a statewide conference on the need for public transportation is scheduled for April 18th in Montgomery. The event will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., in the Capitol city’s Embassy Suites Hotel. Featured speakers will include Norman Mineta, former National Secretary of Transportation. Joe McInnes, Director of the Alabama Department of Transportation, Bill Millar, President of the American Public Transit Association and Governor Bob Riley. The conference is sponsored by the Alabama Road Builders Association, several cities and counties and business/commerce organizations. Seating is limited. The fee for all day including lunch is only $35.00.   Check out www.transportationmeansbusiness.org.  You can register online.

Nancy Ekberg is representing our League in the planning committee which includes more than thirty organizations and governmental units. Montgomery’s "Envision 2020" is coordinating the event.

| Top | LWVAL Home |


small printer gif

Print this article





LWVAL Responds to Judicial Selection Articles

In response to recent reports and editorials on the merit selection of judges, the LWVAL has submitted the following letter to the "My Turn" column in The Birmingham News. Watch for it on a Sunday soon.

Judicial Selection

Alabamians are grateful to The Birmingham News and former Chief Justice Houston for their recent articles and editorials on the judicial selection process.  It is time to reconsider the partisan election of judges for the appeals courts---Supreme Court and Courts of Criminal and Civil Appeals.  Only nine states use partisan elections.  The League of Women Voters of Alabama shares the belief that large expenditures by political parties and special interests and negative advertising in recent campaigns undermine citizens’ confidence in the courts.  
 
The League of Women Voters of Alabama studied judicial selection when Judge Howell Heflin and Alabamians passed the Judicial Article in 1972.  We favored Judge Heflin’s original recommendation for merit selection.  The Governor appoints from a list of qualified candidates compiled by a commission.  The judge goes before the voters after six years with one question, retain or remove.  The people have a record of six years to evaluate.
 
Judges need first rate legal abilities and training, sufficient experience, and a judicial temperament if they are to administer justice wisely.  These qualities are best judged by a qualified representative commission that can study the candidates and then by citizens who have observed the judge over time. Whether a candidate for judicial office will interpret the law wisely and enforce it fairly can rarely be determined by a purely political process or conveyed in 30 second ads.   Along with The News and many others, the League believes Judge Heflin was right.

In merit selection, the recommending commission must not be biased for or against any group, but must represent the interests of all Alabama citizens by recommending candidates who will uphold the rule of law. As The News observed, the experience of the sixteen states that use merit selection and Alabama history can help Alabama structure its merit system fairly.   The idea of appointment with retention elections is not foreign to Alabama.  Six counties already use that method to fill vacancies in trial courts.
 
Our position on judicial selection endorses merit selection and does not specifically address nonpartisan elections.  We do note with interest the report that nonpartisan elections in Georgia broke spending records with $1.3 million from one interest group. Given the current trend toward higher spending on ever more negative campaigns and significant funding of ads by special interests, it seems prudent to ask whether nonpartisan elections will provide enough change in the cost and tone of judicial elections.  

We urge all citizens to consider what form of judicial selection is best for Alabama.  It should promote citizens’ belief in a fair and independent judiciary and respect the unique role of the courts in our traditional system of government.
 
Sandy Robinson,
President of the League of Women Voters of Alabama

| Top | LWVAL Home |


small printer gif

Print this article




LWVAL Board of Directors



small printer gif

Print this article