|
|
What's New?
ACTION ALERTS: How YOU Can Make A Difference
Health Care Community Education Series
2008 Voting Information
On-line Voter Registration
Video of 23rd NC Senate District Candidate Debate
Immigration Reform - New Position Announced
Health Care Reform
N.C.'s Public Campaign Fund and the Judicial System
Action Alerts.
Health Care Education Series.
Voting Information.
Online Voter Registration.
23rd District NC Senate Seat Debate.
New Immigration Position.
Health Care.
What is N.C.'s Public Campaign Fund.
Action Alerts
Global Climate Change
Contact your Senators now, by phone or by email, and tell them to strengthen and pass S. 2191, as well as to oppose weakening amendments. Tell them that global climate change is one of the most serious threats to the environment, health and economy of our nation and our world.Global climate change is one of the most serious threats to the environment, health and economy of our nation and our world. With the U.S. Senate expected to take up legislation this spring, now is the time to let your Senators know that they should support strong action to control global warming.
Recent scientific studies show that global warming is already causing environmental changes that will have significant global economic and social impacts. America's Climate Security Act, S. 2191, sponsored by Senators Lieberman and Warner, will establish the basic framework that is necessary to curtail the pollution that is causing climate change.
S. 2191 is a good first step. The bill establishes a "cap and trade" system that will, if properly carried out, achieve two essential goals: cutting green-house gas emissions enough to prevent the worst impacts of global climate change, and doing so in an economically efficient manner. The "cap" sets a limit on allowable emissions from electric power, transportation and manufacturing sources that will decline over time to meet the pollution-reduction goal. The "trading" system sets up a market that allows sources to buy, sell, borrow and trade emission allowances so reductions can be achieved in the most cost-effective ways.
However, the legislation should be strengthened in two ways. First, the bill should ensure that pollution reduction goals are consistent with the best scientific analyses. Currently, the legislation does not achieve all the reductions that will likely be needed, and advances in scientific knowledge may later indicate a need for quicker or greater reductions. Second, the auction system should be expanded to include more emissions earlier in the process. This will both speed compliance and increase the economic efficiency of the program.
Tell your Senators to oppose weakening amendments, particularly loopholes that undermine the emissions cap through such mechanisms as a so-called "safety valve" that would allow sources to purchase unlimited emission allowances.
Sign up to receive Action Alerts directly by email. It's easy to sign up and the League will never share your email with others.
TAKE ACTION
- LWV-NC 2008 Legislative Updates
- Health Care Reform The League believes that quality, affordable health care should be available to all U.S. residents. Other U.S. health care policy goals should include the equitable distribution of services, efficient and economical delivery of care, advancement of medical research and technology, and a reasonable total national expenditure level for health care. Furthermore, the League believes that all Americans should have access to a basic level of care that includes the prevention of disease, health promotion and education, primary care (including prenatal and reproductive health), acute care, long-term care and mental health care.
National Level , State Level, Local
- Natural Resources/Environmental Policy Promote an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of natural resources in the public interest by recognizing the interrelationships of air quality, energy, land use, waste management, and water resources. Promote high water quality standards through monitoring, watershed protection regulation, basin-wide water re- source planning, coastal water resource protection, and equitable financing.
National Level, State Level
- Election and Campaign Finance Reform The cost of political advertising has skyrocketed in the past two decades and has played a major role in driving up the expense of political campaigns. In 2002, candidates, parties and issue groups spent approximately $1 billion on political ads. Escalating campaign costs drive out potential candidates and require those running for office to spend too much time raising money, too often from special interests.
National Level, State Level
- "Tax Reform The League believes that the federal tax system, taken as a whole, should be progressive, not proportional. Federal fiscal policy, according to the League, should provide for adequate and flexible funding of federal government programs through an equitable tax system that is progressive overall and that relies primarily on a broad-based income tax; responsible deficit policies; and a federal role in providing mandatory, universal, old-age, survivors, disability and health insurance.
National Level, State Level
Click on
Heath Care Community Education Series
OUR COMMUNITY, OUR HEALTH CARE, OUR VOTE
The LWVODC and the Clinical Lectures Series of the UNC School of Social Work are sponsoring a series of Community Education Sessions August through October. All sessions are free to the public and requests to attend the sessions will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. All will be from 7:00 - 8:30 pm at the Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill.
REGISTRATION: Must be received by August 14, 2008. Flyer and Registration Form
August 28, 2008
Session I. Insurance In North Carolina Mark Holmes, Ph.D., MPH, VP North Carolina Institute of Medicine will use the newest census data to inform us about the situation of insured/uninsured in our State. Participants will gain an understanding of the impact of these populations on health care costs in North Carolina.
September 18, 2008
Session II. Creative Health Care Solutions: The North Carolina Community Health Center Annette DuBard, MD, MPH and Barbara Rowland, MD will talk about creative solutions to working with Medicaid, Medicare, and uninsured patients. Participants will gain knowledge about how the award-winning NCCHC model works, its financial viability, and how to work with patients with limited financial means and other access barriers.
September 25, 2008
Session III. Are Drugs Making Your Wallet Sick? David Work, Executive Director, Emeritus, NC Board of Pharmacy and Mia Yang, UNC medical student and Pharm-Free Coordinator for UNC will inform us about drug pricing and how physicians who accept gifts from drug companies open the door to influence. Participants will gain an understanding about how pharmaceutical
companies contribute to health care costs.
October 30, 2008
Session IV. How Do The Candidates Match Up? Thomas C. Ricketts, III, Ph.D., MPH, and a panel of student health policy experts will provide the results of their analysis of the health care reform positions of all the major candidates for Governor and for President. Participants will go to the polls a few days later with a greater understanding of all candidates' health care platforms.
Voting Information
Information regarding the 2008 Presidential election and responses to LWVUS questions from the 2008 Presidential candidates can be found at http://www.Vote411.org and in the 2008 Presidential Voters' Guide
How Are Your Members of Congress Voting on Key Good Government Issues? One of the best ways to arm yourself for taking action on key issues is to understand how your elected officials have reacted to important legislation. The League has compiled the results of recent congressional votes including nine Senate votes and six House votes on key legislation ranging from ethics reform to civil liberties, from children's health care to global climate change. This includes a list of each member of Congress and his or her votes on the League's priorities issues.
Online Voter Registration
Register to Vote Online and/or Change Your Registration with the League of Women Voters' Voter Registration Tool. This tool is a quick and easy way to register to vote.
Websites of Interest
23rd District NC Senate Seat Debate
On Wednesday, April 9, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, EmPOWERment, Inc., and the League of Women Voters hosted a debate between the two democratic candidates running for the 23rd District NC Senate seat. To view and listen to the debate, click on the video below.
Video of the debate.
Immigration Reform
LWVUS Board Adopts Immigration Position
After a lengthy and comprehensive study of this complex issue by the League's grassroots members, the LWVUS Board of Directors unanimously adopted the League's position on immigration, which calls for a path to citizenship for current unauthorized immigrants.
The 18-month study was successful thanks to the hard work of the Immigration Study Committee and the high level of participation -67 percent of the 560 Leagues across the country. The new position provides for federal enforcement of immigration laws and full due process rights for immigrants. State and local Leagues may oppose efforts in their communities to deport, detain or harass unauthorized immigrants who have no history of serious criminal activity.
Health Care Reform
Affordable health care is ranking near the top of citizens' concerns nationally and locally. Many states around the country have been taking action to provide better health insurance coverage for all their residents. Some states have expanded existing plans such as Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and created high risk pools. Other states have launched plans that combine both requiring and subsidizing insurance. The LWVODC Health Care Reform Advocacy Committee is working together with LWVNC to educate and advocate our community about health care reform issues.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
N.C.'s Public Campaign Fund and the Judicial System
In some states, special-interest groups spend millions to influence who gets elected as a judge.
In N.C., judicial candidates have another option: They can get "clean" campaign money from the NC Public Campaign Fund, if they accept strict fund raising limits. The fund also gives the public a useful Voter Guide about candidates for the NC Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Find the question on your NC income tax form about the Public Campaign Fund. Then say YES to help protect our state courts and elections from wealthy special interests.
Saying YES does NOT change your tax bill or refund. It just sends $3 to the Fund from whatever taxes you pay.
For more information, go to LWVNC or NC Judges or call Democracy North Carolina at 1-888-OUR-VOTE, Project Vote Smart
Video from LWVUS Convention on Judicial Independence
Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our
webmaster.
Last revised: July 23, 2008 11:03 PDT.
© Copyright
League of Women Voters of Orange-Durham-Chatham, North Carolina. All rights reserved.
|
![[LWV]](images/lwv76.gif)
