July/August Voter

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EVENT: What is Your Civic Duty?

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Memorial Gathering in Honor of Mary Michener

Memorial Gathering in Honor of Mary Michener

As you may know, Mary Michener died on November 19, 2010. With the arrival of spring, her family, associates, and friends will gather in memory of her life and many accomplishments. We anticipate many stories of her life and community projects.

This is both a notice and (for those able to attend) an invitation to the memorial, which will be on May 28, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., at 1706 West Second Street, Lawrence, Kansas, beside the house, under large canopies in case of rain.

Save this for late May, and do not hesitate to pass it on to others.

Charles Michener and family

1706 West Second St.

Lawrence, KS 66044

michener@ku.edu

Cell Phone 785-764-0457

VOTER: April 2011

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Voter Guide: USD 497 Board of Education and Lawrence City Commission

The Lawrence-Douglas County League of  Women Voters has released two Voter Guides for the April 5 elections.

You can download them here:

Voter Guide – USD 497 Board of Education

Voter Guide – Lawrence City Commission

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Voter Events Set

Voter Events Set

The local Voter  Education Coalition has announced plans for a Lawrence school board forum and a Candidate Fair for school and city commission candidates.

A forum featuring candidates for the Lawrence school board is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the City Commission chambers at City Hall. The event will be streamed live on LJWorld.com and broadcast live on Knology Channel 25. Questions for the candidates will be provided by VEC partners and will be accepted from audience members attending the event. Replays of the 90-minute forum will be available after the event at LJWorld.com and OnDemand on the Knology system.

A Candidate Fair for candidates in both the school and city races is planned from 10 a.m. to noon, April 2 at the Lawrence Visitors Center, 402 N. Second. Tables will be provided for all the candidates, who have been invited to pass out materials and meet with voters.

“This is a new event for us, and we hope local voters will take advantage of this opportunity to meet informally with candidates and ask any questions they have before voting on April 5,” said VEC co-chair Pattie Johnston.

The Voter Education Coalition is a nonpartisan partnership of more than 20 community organizations aimed at promoting civil dialogue and voter participation. A full list of partners is available on the VEC’s Facebook page.

VEC co-chairs:

Lucas Houk -  842-3627

Pattie Johnston – 843-3833, ext. 115

Upcoming Candidates Forums

Upcoming Candidates Forums

Tuesday, March 22nd     School Board             7:00-9:00 pm (two 45-minute sessions) at City Hall

Saturday, April 2nd          Candidate Fair          10:00-Noon at the Visitor Center (North Lawrence depot)

Tuesday, April 5^th ELECTION DAY

Legislative Reports

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Download the 2011 LEGISLATIVE E-Report #7

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Download the 2011 LEGISLATIVE E-Report #8

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March 2011 Voter

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Download  the March 2011 Voter

LWVK Legislative E-Report

LEGISLATIVE E-REPORT

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF KANSAS

Ernestine Krehbiel                                                                                                 Issues No. 5

President & Editor                                                                                                 Feb 5, 2011

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Report from Paul Johnson LWVK Legislative Liaison BUDGET UPDATE The review of the Governor’s proposed FY 2012 budget is now happening since the Kansas Legislative Research Department Staff have completed their review. Numerous budget subcommittees are starting their work. ANY MORE CUTS COMING TO THIS CURRENT YEAR’S BUDGET? (FY 2011 that ends June 30) The Kansas House and Kansas Senate are still reviewing the proposed reductions by the Governor to the FY 2011 budget that ends June 30. The January tax revenues came in $29 million over projections. The hope and prayer is that this is a trend that will continue over the next few months. If so, some of the reductions in the proposed FY 2011 budget such as funding per K-12 pupil and special education may be restored. The Kansas House has voted their version out of the Appropriations Committee with floor action postponed until February 8. The Kansas Senate Ways & Means committee has not completed their action and may be waiting to see what happens with the version from the Kansas House. UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS ALL ARE ISSUES ON WHICH THE LEAGUE AS STRONG POSITIONS 1:30 Tuesday February 8 and Wednesday February 9 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 346-S, Kansas House Federal and State Affairs committee will hold hearings on HB 2006 – Repeal of KSA 76-731a which grants residency for tuition purposes to certain aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States. This is aimed at children who were brought to the US by undocumented immigrant parents but grew up in Kansas and graduated from Kansas high schools. The LWVK opposes this repeal based on our national position on immigration. 9:00 a.m.  Wednesday February 9, in Room 546-S The LWVK and other opponents to HB 2067 – Voter photographic identification requirement – will be heard before the Kansas House Elections committee 9:30 a.m. Wednesday February 9 in Room 159-S, the Kansas Senate Ethics and Elections SB 66 — Elections; campaign finance; public service advertisements near elections; civil fine SB 43 – Campaign finance; transfer of campaign money to another candidacy. (Bills can be viewed at: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2011_12/year1/measures) DEFINING A ‘SUITABLE EDUCATION’ The State Constitution gives the Kansas Legislature the responsibility to find ‘suitable provisions’ to fund public education. The Kansas House was assigned the responsibility by the Governor to define a ‘suitable education’. There is great debate over who has this responsibility? Kansas has a constitutionally created State Board of Education that establishes educational standards. The voters in Kansas have turned down a few times through constitutional amendment ballots the opportunity to eliminate the State Board. There are some conservative lawyers who argue the Kansas Legislature can overrule the State Board of Education in setting educational standards. Will Governor Brownback come forward next year with a proposal to eliminate the State Board of Education? If not, the Kansas Supreme Court may have to ultimately decide who defines ‘suitable education’. PROPOSED LEGISLATION Senate Bill 98: Elimination of certain sales tax exemptions, imposition of sales tax on certain services, provision of sales tax exemption for certain purchases of food, and reduction of sales tax and certain income tax rates. (This is the start of the tax debate in Kansas proposing that corporate income taxes be ended, sales tax exemptions be dramatically reduced and some provision be made to take sales tax off of groceries. Doubtful that this debate will fully blossom this year but be held for the Governor’s preference next year.) HCR 5008: State constitutional amendment relating to the reapportionment of senatorial and representative districts. Explanatory statement. The purpose of this amendment is to eliminate the adjustment of census taken by the United States bureau of the census regarding nonresident military personnel and nonresident students when reapportioning the Kansas senate and house of representatives. “A vote for this amendment would eliminate the adjustment of census taken by the United States bureau of the census regarding nonresident military personnel and nonresident students when reapportioning the Kansas senate and house of representatives. “A vote against this amendment would continue in effect the requirement for the adjustment of census taken by the United States bureau of the census regarding nonresident military personnel and nonresident students when reapportioning the Kansas senate and house of representatives.” New development in Holcomb coal plant issue By Scott Allegrucci of Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy If you aren’t following this story, you might want to: http://www.cnbc.com/id/41433972 In a letter date-stamped February 3rd, 2011, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks advises the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) that there are a number of deficiencies with the air quality permit granted by KDHE on December 16th, 2010 to Sunflower Electric for the Holcomb 2 coal-fired power plant. In the letter, Brooks notes that KDHE did not respond adequately to concerns about the permit expressed previously by EPA.  The concerns about the permit outlined in the letter focus primarily on emission allowances for Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2). Sulfur dioxide (SO2) contributes to respiratory ailments and ischemic stroke, and creates acid rain, which has destructive and costly impacts upon infrastructure, agriculture, and habitats. Nitrogen oxides (NO2) contribute to acid rain and are ozone precursors that affect the respiratory system, exacerbating asthma and causing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and stunted lung development in children. Furthermore, the letter clearly states that EPA “disagrees with KDHE’s interpretation of federal law” on the issue of ensuring new National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Brooks invites Sec. Moser of KDHE to establish a dialogue on how to address the deficiencies in the permit, and the (mis)interpretation of federal law by the state agency, and requests Moser contact EPA “in the very near future” to set up a meeting. Stay tuned.  This could get interesting. To read the letter from Brooks of EPA to Moser of KDHE, click here. To read the 12/16/2010 statement by KDHE Acting Secretary John Mitchell concerning the Holcomb 2 permit, click here. To read more about the health and environmental impacts of coal-fired power plant emissions, click here. Scott Allegrucci scott@gpace.org of Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy GPACE remains dedicated to promoting a well-informed, open, and bipartisan debate over energy policy in Kansas.  GPACE.org

 

 

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LawrenceLeague.com